THE SNOW OWL'S CHRISTMAS PARTY 141 



dropped its wonderful fruit into their hands, and 

 at last the candles burnt out one by one. 



Tommy-Anne looked out at the sky, where 

 S i r i u s, the Dog-Star, 

 winked gravely at her. 

 She wondered if Heart 

 of Nature was near, 

 and if he would soon 

 ^ come to take away 

 the Magic Spectacles 

 that he had lent her 

 to wear until Christ- 

 mas Eve. The fire flick- 

 ered cheerfully, and the 

 winds whispered out- 

 side. 



"I am here," said the Voice, but this time it 

 came from the Christmas tree. 



" Have you come for the spectacles, dear Tree 

 Man ? " asked Tommy-Anne, anxiously. " It is so 

 dark that I can't see you, and this is the time, 

 Christmas Eve. Do you know about Christmas 

 Eve, dear Heart of Nature ? " 



" Do I know ? Yes, little House Child ; this is 

 the anniversary of the night when the Three 

 Hearts met and understood one another, Heart 

 of God, Heart of Nature, and Heart of Man ; 



A 



