It was on a dark Christmas Eve, when Little Miss Primrose was, according to Jack's idea, about four years and a half old, that, as she sat at the parlour window gazing out into the darkness at the big castle on the hill, and trying to coax Jack into a promise to take her some day to its frowning summit, she suddenly made the startling announcement; "Dad, dad, I can see the Star in the East! Come quick, and look!" Now Jack, who knew well that it was snowing fast, and that no stars were visible, and who, moreover, was very busy finishing off a new pair of boots for a customer to wear on Christmas morning, did not look up from his work, and believing that the Bible stories he had told Primrose on the previous evening had turned her small brain, took no notice, beyond saying in an abstracted tone; "There are no stars to-night, my pretty. Come away from the window; 'tis cold for you to be standing there, whatever." "Dad," said the child, drawing herself up with dignity, "Little Miss Primrose can see the star--a bright red star, up on the hill. You mustn't contradict Primrose--and you've told a story!" This terrible reproof drew the boatman to her side with a laugh, and sure enough she was right, for far away in the blackness in which the Castle Hill was shrouded a bright red star shone steadily, gleaming straight down upon the river, and, as it were, gazing fixedly in at Jack's little window. "There!" said the child triumphantly. "The Star in the East, dad! You told me Christmas was coming to-morrow. Let us go up quick, dad, and find the little cradle. Would the little Baby be inside it yet, do you think?" "Bless thy little heart, my precious!" said Jack humbly. "You always speak the truth, and your old dad didn't know what he was talking about. Yes, there is a star indeed, and I'm sorry I contradicted you, Primrose;" and he gave her an apologetic embrace. "Well, come and find the little Baby, dad," urged the child, quite satisfied, and tugging at his hand impatiently. "Come quick!" "It was Christmas morning He came, my pretty," said Jack; "very, very early Christmas morning, while you and I would be asleep in our beds. It wouldn't be any use for us to go up now, Primrose. You shall sit and look at the star awhile, and then you must be fain to shut those great wondering eyes, and to go to sleep as fast as you can. Then it will be quite Christmas when you wake in the morning, and dad will tell you all over again about the little Baby." "And we will go and see Him?" said Primrose eagerly. "We'll see," said Jack, "we'll see. Maybe it will snow too hard. Look how the snow comes down. Verily it is a cold night." And having succeeded in diverting the baby's mind from her impossible request, he turned his own to the subject of supper, muttering, as he prepared it, "'Tis a pretty fancy of the child's, but for all that it's nothing but a light in one of the castle windows, and that is passing strange, for who is there to