A SFALSKIN JACKET AT HOME 297 



" Watchman! tell us of the night, 

 AVhat its signs of promise are. 

 Traveller! o'er yon mountain's height 

 See that glory beaming star ! " 



The children's voices warbled as sweet and fresh as 

 the notes of birds ; even the Brownies caught up the 

 tune, though the words were unknown to them. As 

 they finished the last verse, Olive opened the long win- 

 dow softly and the snowy hills showed clearly in the 

 piercing starlight. Then she whispered, " Wish the 

 stars a ' ^lerry Christmas,' and let peace and happiness 

 in at the window ! Alother taught nie to do it when I 

 was a little girl." 



" Merry Christmus ! Bress de chile ! / remem- 

 bers ! " cried Mammy Bun. 



Then they went to bed, and Billy Coon, who had 

 been crouching behind the chimney and was entirely 

 forgotten, came out to forage for more popcorn. 



