"When I was a little shaver," Abel said, "they used to have me stand in the open doorway Christmas Eve, and hold a candle and say a verse. I forget the verse. But I've always liked the candle in doors or windows, like to-night. Look at mine over there now--ain't it like somebody saying something?" "Well," said Simeon, not to be outdone, "when we come by my window just now, the light hit down on it and I could of swore I see the saint smile." "Like enough," said Abel, placidly, "like enough. You can't put Christmas out. I see that two weeks ago." He looked back at his own window. "If the little kid that come in the store last Christmas Eve tries to come in again to-night," he said, "he won't find it all pitch dark, anyway. I'd like to know who he was...." Near the corner that turned down to the Rule Factory, they saw Ebenezer Rule coming toward them on the Old Trail Road. They called to him. "Hello, Ebenezer," said Abel, "ain't you coming in to Mary Chavah's to-night?" "I think not," Ebenezer answered. "Come ahead," encouraged Simeon. As they met, Abel spoke hesitatingly. "Ebenezer," he said, "I was just figuring on proposing to Simeon here, that we stop in to your house--I was thinking," he broke off, "how would it be for you and him and me, that sort of stand for the merchandise end of this town, to show up at Mary's house to-night--well, it's the women have done all the work so far--and I was wondering how it would be for us three to get there with some little thing for that little kid that's coming to her--we could find something that wouldn't cost much--it hadn't _ought_ to cost much, 'count of our set principles. And take it to him...." Abel ended doubtfully. Ebenezer simply laughed his curious succession of gutturals. "Crazy to Christmas after all, ain't you?" he said. But Simeon wheeled and stared at Abel. For defection in their own camp he had never looked. "I knew you'd miss it--I knew you'd miss it!" Simeon said excitedly, "cut paper and fancy tassels and--" "No such thing," said Abel, shortly. "I was thinking of that boy getting here, that's all. And I couldn't see why we shouldn't do our share--which totin' coffee-pots and warming ovens _ain't_, as I see it." "Well, but my heavens, man!" said Simeon, "it's Christmas! You can't go giving anybody anything, can you?" "I don't mean give it to him _for_ Christmas at all," protested Abel. "I mean give it to him just like you would any other day. We'd likely take him something if it wasn't Christmas? Sort of to show our good will, like the women with the supper? Well, why not take him some little thing even if it is Christmas?" "Oh, well," said Simeon, "that way. If you make it plain it ain't _for_ Christmas--Of course, we ain't to blame for what day his train got in on." "Sure we ain't," said Abel, confidently. Ebenezer was moving away.