x86 7 .]
in the clear evening sky one star after another began to peep
forth, so that when Stoger glanced upward they gleamed down
upon him with all their starry splendor.
The dark features of his countenance became intensified. He
could endure the sight of the stars no more than he could the
pleasures of childhood, and he hastened to draw the blind.
As he did so a window directly above him was opened and
three little heads, pressed closely together, came to view.
“Christ-child, dear Christ-child,” cried one of the children,
“ only fifteen days till Christmas. Shall we tell you what we
want? ” Then, after a short pause, the questioner began:
“ I want a sword—not a wooden one —but one of really tin,
add a helmet with a plume, and —”
“ And I,” piped a fine voice, “ I want a dolly—a real, real
pretty one, dear Christ-child, and a little bed—”
‘‘ I want a donkey, ’ ’ broke in a third; ‘ ‘ and a horse— ’ ’
‘ ‘ And some soldiers —’ ’
‘‘ I want some kitchenware —’ ’
“ And a railway—”
“Audi, and I—”
At that moment a star fell and shot with a glittering trail across
the sky.
“Oh! oh! oh!” shouted the children.
child. ’ ’
With a loud crash the old man closed his window and the chil
dren, frightened, withdrew. A reproving woman’s voice was
heard and then all was silent as before.
The contractor rang violently for his landlady. ‘ ‘ What chil
dren are these in the house?” he shouted, as she entered. “ Did-
I not forbid any such thing ? An awful racket. ’ ’
‘ ‘ ‘A racket?’ Have the children been noisy ?’ ’ asked the woman,
somewhat surprised. “ Why, they have been very quiet hereto
fore. I did not want to give them the rooms at first,” she
added, apologetically, when she saw how impatient Stoger was;
‘ ‘ but they pleased the young woman because they were light ahd
airy, and she, with her sister, begged so kindly not to be sent'
away that —’ ’
‘ ‘ What do I care ? Either they leave on New Year’s or I shall.
I’ll have none of them in the house.”
“ It was only on account of the poor young lady,” ventured the
talkative landlady; “ she looked so pale and so delicate, and her
Christmastide.
‘ ‘ That was the Christ-