tes before you go to bed. You can all cuddle down in a pile on the
big bearskin."

A moment later the flames formed a brilliant background to a pretty
picture, and Mrs. Harold was repeating softly, as the upspringing flames
filled the room with, their light and rested lovingly upon the young
faces upturned to here:

"Each night when three bells strike the hour
Up in the old clock's lofty tower,
A flashing beam, a darting ray
Their message of good faith convey.

"Those wavering, clear, electric beams,
Who'll guess how much their message means?
Or dream the wondrous tale they tell?
'Dear Little Mother, all is well.'

"Yes, out across the peaceful night,
By moon and stars made silvery bright,
This message comes in gleaming light:
We've kept the faith; Good-night! Good-night!

"Our token of a duty done,
An effort made, a victory won;
The bond on which we claim the right
To flash our message, our 'Good-night.'

"Dear Little Mother. Precious name!
None sweeter may a woman claim,
No greater honor hope to gain
Than this which three short words contain.

"To win and hold a love so pure,
A faith so stanch, so strong, so sure--
To gain a confidence so rare--
What honors can with these compare?

"No wonder as I flash my ray
Across the night's dividing way,
In deepest reverence I say:
God keep you true, dear lads, alway."

The girls' good-nights were spoken very tenderly. The message of the
lights had carried one to them as well.

CHAPTER XIII

YULETIDE

"We are one real old-timey family, sure enough," said Captain Stewart
heartily, as he gathered his girls about him in Mrs. Harold's
sitting-room Saturday morning. "But, my-oh, my! I wish I were that
Indian-Chinese-Jap god, what's his name? who has about a dozen, arms.
Two are just no account," he added laughingly as he held Peggy in one
and Polly in the other, while all the other girls, Gail included,
crowded around him, all talking and laughing at once, all demanding to
know what would be the very first thing on the day's program.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold, Mrs. Howland, Constance and Snap were seated about
the room, highly amused by the group in the center, for the girls had
gathered about Captain Stewart as honeybees gather about a jar of
sweets.

"Come close! Come close, and I'll tell you. Can't talk at long ran