"I don't know, and it isn't worth while to consider," replied Lulu, with a grown-up air she occasionally assumed, much to Max's amusement. "But my writing's done, and I'm going to bed, for I'm tired and sleepy. So good-night." "Good-night," returned Max. "I sha'n't be in a hurry to get to bed, for it won't be worth while to get up early to catch other folks, as all the things have been given to-night. I almost wish they had let us wait till to-morrow morning." Perhaps the remark was intended to throw Lulu off her guard; at all events he was at her door with a "Merry Christmas," before any one else was stirring but the servants. Lulu was awake, too, sitting up in bed and trying, in the dim light of the early dawn, to undo a small paper parcel she had found on her pillow. Max had opened the door and given his greeting in a subdued tone that there might be no danger of disturbing any sleeper in the vicinity. "Oh!" cried Lulu, in a voice of suppressed eagerness, "the same to you! Come in and see what Santa Claus has brought me." Max stepped in, closed the door, and tiptoeing to a window, raised the blind and drew back the curtain. "O Max, Max; just see!" cried Lulu, as he turned toward her again. She had succeeded in her efforts, and was now holding up her hand in a way to display to advantage a very pretty gold ring. "Yes; oh, I'm glad, Lu! And there's something else, isn't there?" "Money! a good deal, isn't it, Max?" she asked, holding out a crisp new bank-note. "Five dollars," he answered, taking it to the light. "And I have just the same; found it on my pillow, from papa; and s'pose yours is, too. A gold pencil from Mamma Vi was there also." "Yes; from papa," she said, examining the writing on the back of the envelope from which she had taken the note, "and the ring's from Mamma Vi. She always finds out just what I want. I'd rather have had a ring than almost anything else." "There, we have waked her and Gracie, I'm afraid," said Max, in a tone of self-reproach, as the voices of the two were heard coming from the next room. "Merry Christmas, Max and Lulu," both called out in cheery tones, and the greeting was returned with added thanks to Violet for her gifts. "I have some, too," Gracie said; "a lovely picture-book and two kinds of money. I think I'm the richest." She had received a one-dollar bill, crisp and new like the others, and a quarter eagle in gold, and could not be convinced that the two did not amount to more than Max's or Lulu's five-dollar note. The other members of the family had fared quite as well. The children had a very merry day; the older people were quietly happy.