which made him, for the first time, cease to envy his father.
While for Bella there was the prettiest little brooch she had ever seen.
It was only a little frosted silver daisy with a yellow eye, but to Bella,
who had never possessed but one brooch, and that an old one of her
mother's, which she was afraid to wear, it was perfect, and filled her
with rapture. For Aunt Emma there was a nice jet hat-pin, and for their
father two white handkerchiefs.

No little Christmas-tree that ever existed could have given more pleasure
than that one did, and even after it was relieved of its burden of
presents, the children could not tear themselves away from gazing at it,
until the candles had burnt right down in their sockets, and there was no
light left to gaze by.

With a sigh of regret that the joy of it was over, they all turned away,
but only to gather round the fire, as happy a little party as one could
find that Christmas Day. The mingled scent of the flowers and the
fir-tree made the kitchen sweet, the pretty glass toys on the little tree
caught the light of the fire and flashed back its glow. Father put on his
warm slippers, and Aunt Emma her apron and little shawl, Charlie dropped
on the rug before the fire to examine his knife again by its light,
and Margery sat at her father's feet hugging her doll in an ecstasy of
delight.

"Let us have some carols, children, shall we?" said their father
presently. "Aunt Emma and I haven't heard any yet, and Christmas doesn't
seem perfect without a few carols."

So on they sat in the firelight and sang all they could remember,
one after the other, until at last the fire died down, and the room grew
dark.

"I think it is time now to light the lamp and see about having some tea,"
said Aunt Emma, rising from her chair. "What does every one say to that?"

"I don't know that I want any tea, but I should like the lamp to be
lighted," said Margery, with a deep sigh of pleasure; "for, though I know
what my doll feels like, I can't say I have seen her properly yet.
But I've been busy all the time, I've been thinking about a name for her,
and I've made up my mind that I'm going to call her 'Christmas.'"

CHAPTER XI.

A STEP FORWARD.

"Aunt Maggie," said Bella, "what does that line in the Carol mean,
'And hear the angels sing'?"

It was the day after Christmas, and Bella was having tea with Mrs.
Langley. For a moment Aunt Maggie sat gazing thoughtfully into the fire.
"I a