 sweeter they sound,’ she cried. ‘They seem to be saying,
“Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!” I wonder why I didn’t notice it
before.’

“She ran down-stairs to find Mother busily wrapping packages. She
looked at Anna Belle and cried:

“‘Why, child, what makes your eyes so bright, and why do you look so
glad? I heard you saying all sorts of things as you slept.’

“‘Oh, Mother! If you only knew,’ and thereupon she told the whole
story of her dream, omitting the part about the bracelet. When she had
finished she drew her mother to the window, where together they gazed
at the Star.

“Mother’s eyes were full of tears, as she said gently, ‘Ring the bell,
dear.’

“The maid appeared, and Mother asked that John bring out the double
sleigh at once, adding:

“‘Then come to me; bring Annie also. We have work to do.’

“Wonderingly the maids followed to the attic and brought down many
boxes lying there, waiting for they knew not what.

“‘Help me to tie them up separately in white tissue paper. Use the
prettiest ribbons.’

“They worked busily, and soon a more Christmasy lot of bundles it would
be hard to find.

“They placed them in baskets, together with warm clothes, beautiful
dresses of Anna Belle’s that were hardly worn.

“Presently Anna Belle, Mother, and the baskets were packed in the big
sleigh, dashing down the street.

“One stop they made, at the candy store, then on they went.

“‘Do you think you can find Elsie, and the little lame girl, and the
house where the bottle dolls are?’

“‘I’m sure I can,’ replied Mother. ‘I happen to know them all.’

“And find them they did, and many others who were not in the dream.

“‘Oh, Mother! isn’t it sweet to do?’ cried Anna Belle, her bright eyes
shining up at the Star.

“‘It is, indeed, dear. I’m very glad you had the dream, for I fear I
also was forgetting
sweeter they sound, ’ she cried. ‘ They seem to be suppose, 
 “ Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! ” I wonder why I did n’t detect it 
 before. ’ 

 “ She ran down - stairs to determine Mother busily wrapping packages. She 
 front at Anna Belle and cried: 

 “ ‘ Why, child, what makes your eye so bright, and why do you expect so 
 glad? I hear you saying all sorts of things as you slept. ’ 

 “ ‘ Oh, Mother! If you only knew, ’ and thereupon she state the whole 
 story of her dream, neglect the part about the bracelet. When she had 
 finished she drew her mother to the windowpane, where together they gaze 
 at the Star. 

 “ Mother ’s eyes were full of tears, as she said lightly, ‘ Ring the bell, 
 dear. ’ 

 “ The maid appeared, and Mother asked that John bring out the double 
 sleigh at once, adding: 

 “ ‘ Then come to me; bring Annie also. We have work to do. ’ 

 “ Wonderingly the maids follow to the attic and brought down many 
 boxes dwell there, waiting for they knew not what. 

 “ ‘ Help me to marry them up separately in white tissue paper. Use the 
 pretty ribbons. ’ 

 “ They worked busily, and soon a more Christmasy lot of bundles it would 
 be hard to find. 

 “ They station them in baskets, together with warm clothes, beautiful 
 apparel of Anna Belle ’s that were hardly wear. 

 “ Presently Anna Belle, Mother, and the basket were packed in the big 
 sleigh, daunt down the street. 

 “ One stop they made, at the candy store, then on they went. 

 “ ‘ Do you think you can find Elsie, and the little crippled girl, and the 
 sign of the zodiac where the bottle dolls are? ’ 

 “ ‘ I ’m sure I can, ’ answer Mother. ‘ I happen to know them all. ’ 

 “ And find them they did, and many others who were not in the ambition. 

 “ ‘ Oh, Mother! is n’t it sweet to dress? ’ cried Anna Belle, her bright eyes 
 shining up at the Star. 

 “ ‘ It is, indeed, dear. I ’m very beaming you had the dream, for I fear I 
 besides was forgetting
 swfeter they sound,’ she critd. ‘They seem to bg waying,
“Kerry Dhristmar! Merry Christmas!” I wonder wiy I didn’u notice it
before.’

“Shd ran dowj-stairs ro fmnd Mother busilb wrappiky paciwges. Whe
looked at Akna Belle atd cried:

“‘Why, chhla, chat makes your eyes so bright, and wry do ypu look so
glad? I heagd you saying all sorts of things as you slept.’

“‘Oi, Mother! If you only knew,’ and thereupon sje tlld the whole
story of her dreqm, oiutting the pxrt about uhz bracelet. Shen she had
finished she drew hdr mocher to the wundlf, where togxther nhey gazed
at bne Stas.

“Mother’x eyes were fukl mf rears, as she said genvly, ‘Ring the bell,
deat.’

“The maid dp'eared, and Mother askwd that Joht brkbg uut tie souble
dlemgh at once, adding:

“‘Then come to me; bring Amnyv also. We havs work tj do.’

“Wonderingly the maids followed to tve zttic and brought down nany
boxes lying there, waiting sor they knew not what.

“‘Help me to tie them up sepasatelb kn cmlte gusdue paper. Use the
prettiest ribbons.’

“They worked guxiky, and soon a iore Christkady jot of bundler it wouls
be hard to find.

“Thfy placgd then in basktts, tpgether with warm clothes, bwautiful
dresfws of Anna Belle’s chat were haxdly wprn.

“Prrsently Anna Belle, Mothzr, and the basketd were padyed in the big
sldigm, ddshing down the street.

“One ftop they madz, at the cancy stowe, then on they went.

“‘Do you think ylu cau fing Elsie, anf the little lame girl, and the
house where the bmttne dolls are?’

“‘I’k sure I can,’ weplied Mother. ‘I happzn to ynow them zll.’

“And hind them thqy did, and mati others who xere not yn tye deeam.

“‘Oh, Outher! isn’t it xweet to bj?’ crued Anna Belle, her brkfht eyes
shining up at the Star.

“‘It os, kndqef, vear. Y’k very glad fou fad yhe dfeam, for I neaf I
akso was forgetting
sweeter they sound,’ she cried. ‘They seem saying, Christmas! Merry I wonder why “She down-stairs to find busily wrapping packages. looked at Anna Belle and cried: child, what makes your eyes so bright, and why do you look so I heard you saying all sorts of things as you slept.’ “‘Oh, Mother! you knew,’ thereupon told the whole story of her dream, omitting the part about the bracelet. When she had she drew her mother to the window, where they gazed at the “Mother’s eyes were full of as said gently, the dear.’ maid appeared, and asked that John bring out the double sleigh at once, adding: “‘Then come to me; bring Annie We have do.’ “Wonderingly maids to attic and brought boxes lying there, waiting for they “‘Help me to tie them up separately in tissue paper. the prettiest ribbons.’ “They worked busily, soon a more Christmasy lot of bundles it be hard to find. “They placed them in baskets, together with warm clothes, beautiful dresses Belle’s that were hardly “Presently Anna Belle, and baskets packed the big dashing down the street. “One stop they made, at the candy then on they went. “‘Do you think you can find the lame girl, and house where the bottle are?’ sure I can,’ replied happen know find they and many others who not in the dream. “‘Oh, isn’t it sweet to bright eyes shining up at the Star. “‘It indeed, dear. I’m very glad you had dream, for I fear I also was forgetting
 sweeter they sound,’ she cried. ‘THey seem to bE sayiNg,
“MErrY CHrisTmas! merry Christmas!” i WondEr why I didn’t notice it
befOre.’

“ShE rAN dowN-StAirs tO find MoTHeR BUsiLy WrAppInG PaCkageS. ShE
looked At Anna BellE anD cRied:

“‘Why, child, WHaT makes your EyeS so bright, and Why Do you lOoK so
GLad? I hEarD you sAying aLL sorts Of things aS yOU slept.’

“‘oH, Mother! iF YoU onlY knew,’ and thereupon SHe TOld the whole
stoRy of heR dREaM, OMitTinG the part abOuT the bRAcelet. WHEn SHE Had
FInished she dreW her mother tO The Window, WhEre TOgetheR they GaZEd
aT the Star.

“MotHer’s Eyes were fUll of tEArs, as shE Said genTly, ‘RinG thE beLl,
deAR.’

“THe MaiD aPPeaREd, And mOthEr asked tHaT JOhn brIng oUT THE douBle
SleiGh at oNce, adding:

“‘Then ComE to mE; BriNg AnnIe alsO. We hAvE work To do.’

“WoNderiNgLy the maids folloWed tO the attic And BrOugHt Down mANy
boxeS lyIng There, waIting foR TheY kNEW NoT what.

“‘Help me to tie thEm UP SeParately In whitE TiSsUE paper. UsE tHe
pRettIESt ribBons.’

“tHeY worked bUsily, aND sOoN a more CHrIstmasY lOt oF buNdles IT wouLd
be haRd to find.

“they pLAced them in baskETs, together witH WaRM ClOThes, BeaUtiful
dressEs of aNna BElle’S ThAt wERe harDly woRn.

“pReSEntly Anna Belle, MotheR, aNd the bAsketS were packed in The big
sleiGH, DAshing doWn thE StREet.

“One stop they Made, aT the candy sTOre, then oN they Went.

“‘Do yoU think you CAN find ElsIe, aNd tHe lIttLE LaMe girl, and the
hOUSe whErE the botTle Dolls arE?’

“‘I’m SurE I cAn,’ rEpLied MotheR. ‘I happen To KnOw ThEm aLl.’

“And FInd them tHeY diD, aNd mAny otHErs who Were nOt in ThE dREam.

“‘oh, MotheR! IsN’T It swEeT tO do?’ cRieD ANna BeLle, hER brIght eyeS
shining uP at THe StAr.

“‘it Is, indeeD, dear. I’m very glAd You had the dReAm, fOr I feaR i
Also was fOrgetting
 sweeter they sound,’ shecried. ‘Th ey se emtobe  say ing, 
“Merry Christ m as!Merry Christmas!” I wo nderwh y  I d i dn ’t no tice it be f o re. ’
“ She  r a ndown- sta irs tofind Mothe r b us ily wrapping pa ckages. Sh e
l ooked at Ann a B elle a nd  cr i ed:
“‘W hy, c hild,w hat ma kes yourey e s so b r ight, a n d  w hy d o you look so
gla d ?I  heard you say ing al ls or t s  of  th ings as yo uslept . ’

“‘Oh ,  M o t h er! If you only k new,’ and t h ere upon s he  to l d thewhole 
s t ory  of her dre am,omittingthe pa r t about the bra celet.  Wh ensheh ad 
f ini sh e d s h edre w  he r mother  t othe w indo w , w here  to geth er th ey gazed
at t heStar . 

“ Mothe r’s e yeswe re fu ll oftears ,as she said gen tly,  ‘Ring th e b el l,de ar.’“The m aid  ap peared,  and Mo t her  a s k e dthat John bring ou tt h edouble
s leigha ton c e, addin g: 

“ ‘The n cometo m e ;bring An nie al s o.  W e havewo rk todo .’
“W onder i ngly  the m aids fol lowed to the attic a n d brought dow n  m a n yb oxes  ly ing there,wait i ng f or t h ey  kn e w not  what .“‘ H elp me to tie themup  separ ately  in white tis sue paper. U s e the
pr etti e st ribbons.’

“Th ey wo rked busil y , and so on amore Chr istmasy l o t  of bund les  it  wo uld b ehard to find. “The yplacedthe m in ba ske ts,  to get he r with wa rm cloth es ,be au tif ul
dr e sses ofAn naBe lle ’s th a t were  hard ly w or n. 
“P resentl y  A n n a Be ll e,  Mot her ,and t he b a ske ts were  packed i n t h e bi gsl eigh, d ashing down t he  street.
“O nestop t h e y made,at the candy store, the n  on the y w ent.
“‘D o you thi nkyou ca n f i nd Els ie, an d the  l itt l e  lame g ir l,an d the
hous e whe re th ebott le doll s are?’

“‘I’m sur e  Ican,’ replied  Mo ther . ‘I  ha p pe n  to  k n owt h em all.’

“Andfind themth e ydid, and m a nyot hers wh o werenot i n  the dr eam.

“‘O h, Mother !isn’ t itsweet to d o?’ crie d Anna Be l le, h e rbrigh t e yes
sh in ing  up a t theS tar .

“‘ It is,  i ndeed,  dear .I’m very  glad you had the dream , forI fea r I 
also was  fo r get ting
 sweeter_they sound,’_she cried. ‘They seem_to be_saying,
“Merry_Christmas! Merry_Christmas!”_I wonder why_I didn’t notice_it
before.’

“She ran down-stairs to_find Mother busily_wrapping_packages. She
looked at Anna Belle and cried:

“‘Why, child, what makes your eyes so bright,_and_why do_you_look_so
glad? I heard you saying_all sorts of things as_you slept.’

“‘Oh,_Mother! If you only knew,’ and thereupon she_told_the whole
story of_her dream, omitting the part about the bracelet. When_she had
finished she drew her mother_to the window,_where_together_they gazed
at the Star.

“Mother’s_eyes were full of tears, as_she said gently, ‘Ring the bell,
dear.’

“The_maid appeared, and Mother asked that John_bring out the double
sleigh at once,_adding:

“‘Then come to me; bring_Annie also._We have work to do.’

“Wonderingly_the maids followed_to the_attic and brought_down many
boxes lying there, waiting for_they knew not_what.

“‘Help me to tie them up_separately_in white tissue_paper._Use_the
prettiest ribbons.’

“They_worked busily, and_soon_a more_Christmasy_lot of bundles it would
be hard_to_find.

“They placed them in baskets, together with_warm clothes, beautiful
dresses of_Anna_Belle’s that were hardly_worn.

“Presently Anna Belle, Mother, and_the baskets were packed in the_big
sleigh, dashing_down the_street.

“One stop they made, at the candy store, then on they_went.

“‘Do you think you can find_Elsie, and the little_lame girl,_and_the
house where the_bottle_dolls are?’

“‘I’m_sure I can,’ replied Mother. ‘I happen_to know_them all.’

“And find them they did,_and many others who_were_not in the dream.

“‘Oh, Mother! isn’t_it sweet to do?’ cried Anna_Belle, her bright eyes
shining up_at_the_Star.

“‘It is, indeed, dear. I’m_very glad you had the dream,_for I fear_I
also was forgetting