whole parish. He spent his evenings making skates, for he knew, he said, that in a few weeks they would be needed.     

       At length the last passenger made her appearance,—OLD MOTHER DECEMBER! The dame was very aged, but her eyes glistened like two stars. She carried on her arm a flower-pot, in which a little fir tree was growing. “This tree I shall guard and cherish,” she said, “that it may grow large by Christmas Eve, and reach from the floor to the ceiling, to be adorned with lighted candles, golden apples, and toys. I shall sit by the fireplace, and bring a story-book out of my pocket, and read aloud to all the little children. Then the toys on the tree will become alive, and the little waxen Angel at the top will spread out his wings of gold leaf, and fly down from his green perch. He will kiss every child in the room, yes, and all the little children who stand out in the street singing a carol about the 'Star of Bethlehem.'”      

       “Well, now the coach may drive away,” said the sentry; “we will keep all the twelve months here with us.”      

       “First let the twelve come to me,” said the Captain on duty, “one after another. The passports I will keep here, each of them for one month. When that has passed, I shall write the behavior of each stranger on his passport. MR. JANUARY, have the goodness to come here.”      

       And MR. JANUARY stepped forward.     

       When a year has passed, I think I shall be able to tell you what the twelve passengers have brought to you, to me, and to all of us. Just now I do not know, and probably even they do not know themselves, for we live in strange times.     

  

       LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY     

       (FEBRUARY 12)     

  

       HE RESCUES THE BIRDS     

       BY NOAH BROOKS (ADAPTED)     

 Prev. P 32/262 next