*

Away down in an obscure street, where you would not look for anything
kind or beautiful, lived a brother and sister, who made each other very
happy in their love. Their names were Johnny and Susan. Johnny was a
lame, sick boy, who could not run out of doors and play like other
children. It was Christmas morning there too, even, and early had Susan,
his sister, awoke to think of the pleasant visit she should make in the
afternoon at her teacher's house; and she had even stolen from her bed
up to Johnny's bedside to see if he, too, was awake; and when she saw
that he was awake and his countenance thoughtful, they began to talk
together about the day's pleasure, and how Susan was to remember
everything to tell it over by night to Johnny.

"O," said Susan, "to think how beautiful it will be, and I never in a
fine house before, and the two sixpences we have earned this week! How
glad shall I be to put them in my teacher's hand! Johnny dear," said
the little Susan, looking tenderly on her poor brother, "do you not
think you need the sixpence yourself? I could buy you a sweet orange, or
something nice for you to eat, it is so long since you had anything but
bread and water."

"No," said Johnny, "I'd rather much give it to the Christ-child. I love
to lie here and think about it, and of those children so far away, who
will be glad when they, too, know of this beautiful day. I think of them
so much that I love them, Susan, and I wish I had more than the sixpence
to send them."

Susan busied herself in preparing the breakfast of bread and water, and
then, when it was over and the work done up, she sat down by the side of
Johnny's bed, and read to him out of the little book she had brought
from her Sunday-school; and Johnny forgot, in the quiet peace of the
day, how hard it was to lie still upon the bed, when he so often longed
to run out and play; thoughts of love came into his heart, and tears of
gentleness into his eyes.

Their dinner was very different from the one Helen had eaten; but they
were happy, their hearts were full of expectation,--and Susan had got
herself quite ready, and, wrapping the two pieces of silver in a piece
of paper, she kissed Johnny, and set off on her way to the teacher's
house.

But when Susan came among the children there, somehow they all shunned
her. In their plays, if they had occasion to speak to her, they passed
on quickly, with a suppressed smile and hurried glance on each other.
If