34 CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR SABBA 7H HlOURS.

door, they had to 'run the gauntlet' of tletoe, according to the good, old English
all the uncles and aunts and cousins custom. Some chose Loulie or pretty
and finally were led in triumph to a quiet Emma or Maude, while Archie, amid
corner, where sat grandma, a dear, old shouts of applause, selected grandma;
lady, who was just as loving as when but Maude would not look at any one
she was able to walk about with the rest but dear 'dranpa' and, running to him,
 Finally, grandpa came in, bringing she climbed into his lap and gave him
Maude in his arms, and kissing her all twenty kisses at once, under the mistletoe
the way. Grandma smiled peacefully in bough.
her corner, all the aunts and uncles I love dranpa bestest, don't I, dran-
talked and laughed, and the children pa?" she asked. And grandpa said-
raced about and laughed and joked and Of course, my pet! to Maude's great
almost turned the house upside down. delight.
What fun they had, that night, playing It was a merry Christmas time to all,
games and doing all sorts of things; and did not end with Christmas Eve,
finally going off to bed, quite tired out but the next day they enjoyed the best
with sport! A happy time it was, even dinner that was ever prepared and ate
to Archie, though Robbie was not for- all they possibly could stow away of the
gotten. great Christmas pudding. Then they told
 The next day was spent in trimming stories and played games and enjoyed
the parlor with evergreen boughs, holly every minute.
and mistletoe. All the boys helped do Finally, the partings came and each
that and, meanwhile, the aunts arranged family went its separate way. Maude
the tree with candles and red apples and was quite laden down with parcels and
gilt stars, and hung on it all the presents, Loulie and Archie each carried a bag
in readiness for evening. containing their own especial gifts. Papa
 At last it was Christmas Eve. The had threatened to buy an extra trunk;
tree was lighted, and they all rushed in but that was not considered quite neces-
to see it and receive their presents- sary. They reached home in safety, and
which were so varied and numerous that went to bed that night to dream over all
I could not begin to tell you all that they the pleasant times at grandpa's.
had. The children were wild with pleas- The next day Mr. Spencer made a beau-
ure and the room was filled with all tiful little speech, in which he tl11:'il:.lhe
manner of sounds-drums, trumpets and boys for the "cuckoo-clock," and Loulie
musical boxes, to say nothing of talking wore her new fur mittens to school; while
and laughing. little Maude spent the whole day in trying
 When that was over, everybody chose on the new dresses that were given her
some one to kiss under a bough of mis- with her new wax doll.