Patricia

s. Custard Kirby," she bent to pat the small curly black dog, stretched lazily out on the he

front door. "Come and a

e center of the broad square room stood the t

had to go out. Maybe you don't think I've been busy to-day, Daddy! I don't know

said, pulling one of Custard's long ears. "An

ain every-day necessity! And not such

comes to Chri

it's beginn

l right," the doctor said; then, as the te

sk one or two rapid questions; then he hung up

he eastern express-they are bringing the injured up here to the hotel.

e could tell her was that it seemed to be a pretty bad affa

a good many, dear," he

hristmas eve-and down there at the curve! Patricia choked back a sudden sob, as she went to

the hotel, where help would be needed. And she al

ould help." She closed the library door; the sight of the Christ

as down at the gate talking over the accident with the maid from next door. Presently, across the street, a fam

nning over. "Patri

addy. Aunt Julia's go

t me go with her. O Patrici

and stay; I'm under order

crimson shade. Then she came to sit beside Nell on the broad old lounge. "Nell, aren't you wild to hel

ted wond

in the open doorway, her eyes

ou talking

airs. "I got Mrs. Brown, down at the hotel, o

rt; frightened out of their wits, and their own people too hurt to look after them. And when I asked if I might

Patr

Aunt Julia's room and mine. It won't do to turn Da

unt-" Nell

g before the deep fireplace in her aunt's room, pili

y, from the doorway. "Yo' know Miss Julia don' like a fire in

calmly; "and I particularly want the room cheerful; you know,

ia, what yo'

ricia e

doin's! I'd jus' like ter know who done gib yo' commission ter do this,

now. Start a fire in my room, please, Sarah, and make up a bed on my lounge

he hotel, and from within it five white, f

ungest one, a two-year-old girl.

her way right to a child's heart; and without a moment's hesita

ts and coats and gently rubbed the cold little hands. "Why, you're not much more than

sister Totty." She pointed to the baby on Patricia's lap. "She keep

er right now. He's the best doctor in the whole world!" She turned to the two little bo

ome 'quainted. He's only five; I'm five 'an half. I'm

es filled. "So

little four-year-old girl on N

do?" Nell ask

ractised fashion. "There, there, honey! Yo's goin' have yo' mother pretty soon. What yo' wants now's

d very far away to Tommy was an old colored mammy. He refused to let Sarah put him down, so she took him with her while she got rea

figger out," she declared a few moments later, guiding the sleepy Tommy's sp

bout the table, "that just at

Well, it's sure got ter be a bath for them all

pstairs, Tommy in her arms, Patric

dn't it be perfectly lovely?" Patricia said. "Think o

as isn't over yet, Pat; it

hang up their stockings for them.

P'tricia?" Sarah asked, suddenly; "'pears like a

eir things weren't very get-atable. We'

n; he didn't want to wear a girl's things; he wanted to go h

ices rose in instantaneous lamentation, e

ia implored. "Nell, what does your moth

," Nell answered, trying

ctly of the "I-told-you-so" order, "yo' won't go 'vitin

a sudden halt before Archibald, lying face down on the floo

ld rolled over on his ba

do

re i

rs-in the

he lik

hen th

his eyes. "I'm

upstairs on his own account. As Sarah said, he seemed "ter sense the situation," for he trotted about maki

alf an hour later, all five children, well wrapped in shawls and blankets, were gat

em off to bed in Miss Kirby's room. "An' mercy knows what Miss Julia

up in bed. "I

ah expostulated. "What yo' think Marse S

nt Cu

im, Sarah!" Pat

ow that onery dog

the insult to

nder it, if it'l

hion, dropping him, an astonished, but entirely

in Patricia's bed, and Norma and Totty

aid, "I's goin' get you a

tricia and Nell comfortable at a small ta

ose stockings with, Pat?" Nell ask

ad heaps of things given me, but if I could get out-of-doors, and had something alive to play

ered. When supper was over, while Patricia went, as she called

ers white with snow, "will these do?" She laid a toy engine, a tr

doll in the top of Norma's stocking. "This is goin

a mighty sad one f

was going on down at the hotel came to her. For a moment the girl's lips quivered and the hand that held Tommy's empty stocking trembled. "But, Nell," she said slowly, "I am sure-oh, I know they

not talk about it, Patricia. Shall I p

g it. Poor Aunt Julia! She's got a lot of surprises coming her way." Patricia stuffed out the toe of Lydia's stocking

all sleeping quietly, and even Custard barely op

th Custard; and just what could have brought about this most delightful state of affairs was

ulia will rebel at this, old fellow; but Archibald's got

, as they went downstairs again

ment on the front steps, "I can't make it seem like

e street seemed deserted, but here and there, wher

ext door, came the sou

e herald

the new-b

gh the still, snow-laden

healing in

life to al

Sun of Rig

ven-born Prin

ristmas eve, Nell. And, O Nell, at least w

l said grav

a 'merry Christmas'," Pat

s came a pro

Patrici

y drove slowly up the snow-covered drive. "I am afraid Patri

brother answered; "the door would have bee

a's half-opened doors; and although ordinarily she did not care for a fire in her room at night, the knowledge that there was one awaiting

in the middle of her room, staring with wide

ldren a

the sleepers. Two children and a dog! Could it be the ef

of not disturbing his companions, or he may have concluded that possession was nine-tenths of the

om. A moment after, the doctor heard he

wrong?"

Miss Kirby was a

cia is

ed the way to her room, poin

"Upon my-" his lips twitched. "No one fr

Patricia's room," M

ne brief, comprehensive glance; then

gasped. "I'

room. Patrick, these must be children from-th

faces; seeing the stockings hanging ready for the morning from the mantelpiece; seeing, and here his glance rested longest, Patricia in

content to sit idle, when just at hand was s

ke Patricia?" Miss K

is-exactly like Patricia." Crossing the room, he care

ad you're back! But, please, please, be very careful not

nstairs, Pat, and explain this invasion of the premises t

her father's chair, Pa

your room, Aunt

e, Pat

a; but Archibald wouldn't be comfort

ed into a hospital ward; where on this Christmas eve more than one

Patricia went on, "so as to have two comm

admit how much, in her present weari

eping those children wonderfully out of the way. I wish their po

of pleasure. "And we'll kee

things. By the way, where d

-room, with Aunt Julia," Pa

that Patricia's activities would not

who woke Miss Kirb

ermitted on one bed seemed to Custard sufficient warrant for getting on another. Miss Kirby woke with a start to find a little wrig

f dismay awo

ith laughter, "I'll tell Daddy-how y

dived beneath the bed-clothe

tard, his forefeet firmly planted on Miss Kirby's chest, his

, in search of Patricia, and making, at sight of her, as swift an onslaug

as morning began merri

t to the hotel, stopped outside Patricia's open

ing Tommy's shoes. "Merry Christmas, Daddy

hurry and confusion of the moment he had found time for a few comforting words to the f

g her on his knee. "What i

. Ho

ht her breath. "Your mother was resting very quietly when I left her just now, dear," he said

nodded. "I

many dolls. They all crowded about him, claimi

full, Daddy?"

It had been a merry Christmas for the little travel-wrecked strangers; and

me to lean against Patricia

tell her all about i

to-morrow?" Norm

er had to leave them, to go down to the hotel, she we

as possib

-with good new

e so,

ace. "But at least," she thought, taking Totty

ay, had retired to his basket-a disillusioned dog. To-night Archibald was finding all the solace needed in a gaily painted Noah's Ark. Miss Kirby

cia, I think Norma and Totty may see their mother to-morrow. I have brought you

ddy, I've been thinking; I don't see how we're ever go

king is what your 'family' would have done for th

tricia's eyes