was sufficiently brilliant to dazzle their
eyes for a moment. In one corner of the dining room stood the great
tree, radiant with gilt and silver ornaments. At the top was a huge
silver star, while the branches were wound with glittering tinsel, and
heavily laden with beribboned bundles of all shapes and sizes, while the
space around the base of the tree was completely filled with presents.

At one side of the tree stood a graceful figure clad in a white robe
that glittered and sparkled as though covered with diamonds. She wore a
gilt crown on her head and carried a scepter, while over her shoulder
trailed a long garland of holly fastened with scarlet ribbons. It was
Grace Harlowe in a robe made of cotton wadding thickly sprinkled with
diamond dust, gotten up to represent the spirit of Christmas.

On the other side of the tree lay old Father Time, apparently fast
asleep, his sickle by his side. His long white cotton beard flowed
realistically down to his waist, and in his folded hands was a placard
bearing these words, "Gone to sleep for the next hundred years," while
in the opposite corner his sister and the rest of the guests had grouped
themselves, and as the old gentleman stepped over the threshold, a
chorus of laughing voices rang out:

"Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!"

Then Grace glided forward and escorted the judge to a sort of double
throne that had been improvised from two easy chairs raised to a small
platform constructed by the boys, and draped with the piano cover, and a
couple of silken curtains, while Santa Claus performed the same office
for Miss Putnam.

After they had been established with great pomp and ceremony, Santa
Claus awoke Father Time by shaking him vigorously, apologizing to the
company between each shake for doing so, and promising to put him to
sleep the moment the festivities were over.

Then the fun of distributing the presents began, and for the next hour a
great unwrapping and rattling of papers ensued, mingled with constant
exclamations of surprise and delight from all present, as they opened
and admired their gifts.

The judge was particularly pleased with the little personal gifts that
the girls themselves had made for him, and exclaimed with the delight of
a schoolboy as he opened each one. At last nothing remained save one
rather imposing package.

"This must be something very remarkable," said the judge, as he untied
the bow of scarlet ribbon and unwrapped the folds of