lay went forward through a new and altogether delightful chapter of the
Punch family's existence. Amid the laughter which followed its
conclusion, John disappeared silently and came back into the room with a
box of tapers.

"Now, daddy, light the tree."

Nothing loath, Mr. Fletcher obeyed. Candle after candle on the tinselled
branches sprang into life until the fir stood in a flickering blaze of
glory while the boys stood back and watched with a feeling akin to awe
at the beauty of it. At a propitious moment, he reached carefully
between the waving lights and brought out snap crackers and little tin
horns from the branches. There was one of a kind for each excited guest.

"Wish there were girls," said Perry to Red, as they tugged at their
respective ends of a snapper. "Then it's more fun. They always act
'fraid cat, and scream when it goes off." He unrolled the little
cylinder of paper which had been concealed in the foil wrapping. "My
hat's pink. What's yours?"

Cornucopias came next, four to a boy. They donned their hats, and
munched candy after candy silently while the candles burned low. At last
Mr. Fletcher clapped his hands.

"Form in line and march into the dining-room and back by the tree, five
times, and blow hard as you can on your horns!"

The procession started. Passers-by on the sidewalk stopped and looked in
through the lighted window to see the cause of the disturbance. A flame
sputtered as it burned perilously near a resinous twig.

"Halt!" called Mr. Fletcher. "Everybody blow!"

The lower flames vanished two and three at a time. Those higher up
followed more slowly. At last but one flickering beacon at the top of
the tree remained to defy all the boys' efforts. John's father watched
in amusement, then gathered him up in his arms.

"Now, hard!" And the last candle went out.

Mrs. Fletcher suggested "Hot potatoes," and the minutes sped joyously
past until the telephone rang.

"Tell Perry to come home for supper," was the message. That youngster
slipped on his overcoat sulkily.

"Wish'd there wasn't any old telephones," he snapped as he opened the
door.

His departure was a signal for a lull in the festivities. Mrs. DuPree
sent a servant over for Sid, and the other boys followed shortly,
leaving the family to watch in the darkness beside the parlor grate.
Mrs. Fletcher broke the silence.

"It's been a beautiful Christmas," she said softly. "A beautiful
Christmas."

John nodded contented