into the
big south room with a cry of, "Oh, Mother! Mother! Daddy! it's just
fine!"

"Happy, son?" asked his mother as he snuggled down beside her on the
bed.

He nodded. Happy? Who wouldn't be with all those treasures in his
possession? Mr. Fletcher chuckled.

"There's a box on your mother's bureau which we forgot to put under the
tree," he said. "You can open it here if you wish."

The boy was up and back in a trice, this time to his father's bed, where
he sat and tugged at the pink string fastenings until a set of doll's
dishes came in sight.

"That's in answer to that list of yours," he was told. "Think those will
do for your flat, son?"

"Louise'll like 'em," he smiled unabashed. "I'll give 'em to her with my
other present."

More chuckles, more smiles, and more laughter. What matter if all else
in the world went wrong, if the Spirit of Christmas reigned supreme in
that family for the day?

"What did you see in the parlor, John?" asked his father.

"Something in the parlor?" The boy was on his feet again. "Where?"

"Wait a minute until I get my bathrobe and I'll go with you."

A little later, the two descended the stairway, hand in hand. John's
gaze followed his father's pointing finger as they stood on the parlor
threshold. In front of the dead grate, was a three foot, denim-covered,
cabinet. From the square opening at the top hung half a dozen or so of
limp, dangling figures.

"Punch and Judy!" John could scarcely believe his eyes. "Oh, Daddy!
Daddy!"

In a moment, Punch was on his right hand and Judy on his left as he
wiggled his fingers back and forth to see if they worked as did the
showman's at Neighborhood Hall. Judy bobbed up on the stage as his
father beamed down at him.

"Mr. Punch, Mr. Punch," she called. But her voice had neither the range
nor the strength which Judy demanded to be successful, and he drew the
marionettes off his fingers.

"Here," he said to his father, "you work 'em. Mine don't act right."

Nothing loath, Mr. Fletcher stretched himself out on the floor behind
the little cabinet. John shifted to the front and watched eagerly with
his head resting on his hands.

What a Punch and Judy show it was that ensued! Mr. Fletcher, drawing on
his fertile imagination, invented a new set of domestic quarrels for the
unhappy couple, brought in a doctor and a clown, (two lifelike dolls
which supplemented the original, limited performers), and kept John
shrieking with laughter un