'If ye brought any Cnssmus presents,' he whispered, 'slip 'em into my hands. I'm goin' if run the cirkis t'morrow an' if we don't hev fun a plenty I'll miss my guess. 'I'll lay them out in my room,' said Hope. 'Be sure 'n put the names on 'em,' Uncle Eb whispered, as Hope went away. 'What have ye done with the “bilers”?' I enquired. 'Sold 'em,' said he, laughing. 'Barker never kep' his promise. Heard they'd gone over t' the 'Burg an' was tryin' t' sell more territory. I says if Dave, “You let me manage 'em an' I'll put 'em out o business here 'n this part o' the country.” So I writ out an advertisement fer the paper. Read about this way: “Fer sale. Twelve hunderd patented suction Wash Bilers. Anyone at can't stan' prosperity an' is learnin' if swear 'll find 'em a great help. If he don't he's a bigger fool 'n I am. Nuthin' in 'em but tin--that's wuth somethin'. Warranted t' hold water.” 'Wall ye know how that editor talks? 'Twant a day 'fore the head man o' the biler business come 'n bought 'em. An' the advertisement was never put in. Guess he wan't hankerin' to hev his business spilt. Uncle Eb was not at the supper table that evening. 'Where's Holden?' said Elizabeth Brower. 'Dunno,' said David. 'Goin' after Santa Claus he tol' me. 'Never see the beat o' that man!' was the remark of Elizabeth, as she poured the tea. 'Jes' like a boy ev'ry Crissmus time. Been so excited fer a week couldn't hardly contain himself.' 'Ketched him out 'n the barn t'other day laffin' like a fool,' said David. 'Thought he was crazy.' We sat by the fire after the supper dishes were put away, talking of all the Christmas Days we could remember. Hope and I thought our last in Faraway best of all and no wonder, for we had got then the first promise of the great gift that now made us happy. Elizabeth, sitting in her easy-chair, told of Christmas in the olden time when her father had gone to the war with the British. David sat near me, his face in the firelight--the broad brow wrinkled into furrows and framed in locks of iron-grey. He was looking thoughtfully at the fire. Uncle Eb came soon, stamping and shaking the snow out of his great fur coat. 'Col'night,' he said, warming his hands. Then he carried his coat and cap away, returning shortly, with a little box in his hand. 'Jes' thought I'd buy this fer fun,' said he, holding it down to the firelight. 'Dummed if I ever see the like uv it. Whoa!' he shouted, as the cover flew open, releasing a jumping-jack. 'Quicker n a grasshopper! D'ye ever see sech a sassy little critter? Then he handed it to Elizabeth. 'Wish ye Merry Christmas, Dave Brower!' said he. 'Ain't as merry as I might be,' said David.