e girl
was playing with the Indian arrowheads her father had brought her the
night before. She was singing the words of the old psalm:

"Shout to Jehovah, all the earth,
Serve ye Jehovah with gladness; before
him bow with singing mirth."

"Ah, child, methinks the children of Old England are singing different
words from those to-day," spoke Hannah at length, with a faraway look in
her eyes.

"Why, Hannah? What songs are the little English children singing now?"
questioned Remember in surprise.

"It lacks but two days of Christmas, child, and in my old home everybody
is singing Merry Christmas songs."

"But thou hast not told me what is Christmas!" persisted the child.

"Ah, me! Thou dost not know, 'tis true. Christmas, Remember, is the
birthday of the Christ-Child, of Jesus, whom thou hast learned to love,"
Hannah answered softly.

"But what makes the English children so happy then? And we are English,
thou hast told me, Hannah. Why don't we keep Christmas, too?"

"In sooth we are English, child. But the reason why we do not sing the
Christmas carols or play the Christmas games makes a long, long story,
Remember. Hannah cannot tell it so that little children will
understand. Thou must ask some other, child."

Hannah and the little girl were just then near the two women on the
deck, and Remember said:

"Mistress Brewster, Hannah sayeth she knoweth not how to tell why Love
and Wrestling and Constance and the others do not sing the Christmas
songs or play the Christmas games. But thou wilt tell me wilt thou not?"
she added coaxingly.

A sad look came into Mistress Brewster's eyes, and Mistress Standish
looked grave, too. No one spoke for a few seconds, until Hannah said
almost sharply: "Why could we not burn a Yule log Monday, and make some
meal into little cakes for the children?"

"Nay, Hannah," answered the gentle voice of Mistress Brewster. "Such are
but vain shows and not for those of us who believe in holier things.
But," she added, with a kind glance at little Remember, "wouldst thou
like to know why we have left Old England and do not keep the Christmas
Day? Thou canst not understand it all, child, and yet it may do thee no
harm to hear the story. It may help thee to be a brave and happy little
girl in the midst of our hard life."

"Surely it can do no harm, Mistress Brewster," spoke Rose Standish,
gently. "Remember is a little Pilgrim now, and she ought, methinks