Si Quinn had not finished his stay at the Shackleys, so the coast was clear. The Saturday before Talitha, with the aid of Billy and his sister, had given the cabin such a scrubbing as it had never known. The fireplace was newly whitewashed and filled with odorous pine and balsam boughs. There was also a huge pile of wood in one corner of the room. Only the finishing touches were lacking to make the preparations complete for the great surprise to be precipitated upon the schoolmaster, and in these all his former patrons were to have a hand. The children had brought their arms full of holly and pine, and now they ran out for more while Talitha tried to give a festive air to the poor little place. She smiled to herself as she did so, wondering meanwhile what the old man would say to such “vanities”—as he would have called them a year ago. Presently there was a heavy step at the door, and Porn Ethers staggered in, his arms weighted with bundles of all shapes and sizes. There was a veritable Santa Claus twinkle in the grey eyes under the shaggy eyebrows. “Thar’s a heap more things in the wagon, Tally. I couldn’t git hit nearer’n the big rock, but I can pack ’em up easy ’nough, I reckon. Law, but Si’ll think hit air Chris’mus fer sure! Thar’s three flitches of bacon and a ham, and Mis’ Spurlock’s sent one of her puddin’s,” enumerated the wagoner as he deposited the offerings upon the table. “The Shackleys and the Twilligers hev fairly outdone theirselves. What I’m afeard of is thet now the schoolmaster’ll be gittin’ the dyspepsy; too much eatin’ air right down onhealthy—so I’ve heerd. But I’d be willin’ ter take the resk if hit war me.” The grey eyes twinkled again. Billy and Sudie came in with another armful of greens and hurried to Porn Ethers’ assistance. In a comparatively short time the contents of the wagon were neatly stowed away on the shelves, the bed made up with the new blankets and blue coverlet, and the table set in Talitha’s most approved fashion with some of the choicest goodies surrounding a large bunch of holly. “When the fire is burning and the candles lighted it’ll look real Christmas-y,” decided the young teacher as the finishing touches were completed. “I shall have to run ahead and see to that. How I wish Martin were here to-night,” she sighed as she started homeward. XI CHRISTMAS DOINGS THE dusk of Christmas Eve had gathered when Talitha set out for the schoolhouse, leaving the rest of the family to follow later. The place was already warm, but the candles must be lighted; the company would gather at an early hour. Already there was the sound of wheels, the tread of oxen on the wagon track, and the chatter of voices. Every man, woman, and child in Goose Creek, able to hobble forth, would be present.