sing."

As they walked home the air and the words still rang in her head:--

"And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the arduous way,
With painful steps and slow;
Look now! for glad and joyous hours,
God's messengers will bring.
Oh, rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing."

As she sang them her thoughts flew first to her father, and then they
travelled back over the past twelve months, and all the trials and changes
it had brought to them, and all the good things too. God had been very,
very good to them. He had given them their father back, they had wanted
for nothing, and He had enabled them to keep a home for their father to
come back to.

It rested with them still to keep a roof to shelter him, to find food and
clothing, and everything that was needed, but Bella did not let herself
feel afraid.

"I am not going to worry, God will help us," she thought, with childlike
faith in Him. "He has taken care of us so far, and I am sure He will go
on taking care of us."

"How quiet you are! What are you thinking of?" cried Margery, tugging at
Bella's hand.

"Oh, rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing,"

Sang Bella, softly, as they turned into May Lane, and Tom took up the
refrain.

"Look! look! look! There's father, standing at the gate! Oh, do look!"
cried Margery excitedly, and, taking to her heels, she dashed to meet him,
followed by the others.

Father had to hear all about the service, and the carols, of course, but
before he had heard a half, and admired the new gloves, and shown off his
own new muffler, Aunt Emma was out, to say he ought not to stand about in
the cold, and that dinner would soon be ready, and the children had better
come in and get their hats and coats off.

Such a dinner it was, too, and such appetites they all had. There were
two roasted fowls, a piece of bacon, a suet pudding, and potatoes and
Brussels sprouts of their own growing; and after that there was Aunt
Maggie's Christmas pudding.

"I think it has been a lovely dinner!" said Margery, with a deep sigh of
content; "and I s'pect presently I shan't feel as though I had eaten such
a 'normous lot. I think I'll be comfor'abler when I don't," and she was
surprised that the others all laughed.

They sat a long time over their dinner, talking and enjoying themselves,
and the short December d