_Childhood:_ Then let's have a bright light so that we may begin! (Lights of the room flash on.) (Spirit takes packages one by one from the stocking and reads the name. Then she holds the package while Happyheart reads from Childhood's Record what the book has to say of each person. After this has been read Joy with dancing step takes the fairy package to the person named. This goes on until every one in the audience has received a gift.) _Spirit_ (throws stocking down): The stocking is empty! _Happyheart:_ The fairy gifts are all gone! _Childhood_ (shakes finger at audience): But each one of you has a wish that will come true, just as sure as sure can be; for you have received a fairy gift! _Happyheart:_ And now they will be happy! _Goodwill_ (claps her hands together as if with a happy thought): Let us send the Jesters to bring in to them the Christmas Bowl! If they drink our fairy brew they will never, never forget this Christmas! _Happyheart:_ And they will always believe in the Christmas Spirit! _Spirit:_ And in the Christmas Fairies! _Goodwill:_ Go, Jesters, and bring in to them the Christmas Bowl! (Jesters go out quickly.) _Spirit:_ Now, fairies, we must stop our work! We've worked overtime already, and you know there is an eight-hour law now for fairies. _Merrylips:_ Yes, but we've helped these poor grownfolks! _Happyheart:_ Let us say farewell to them! Now, one--two--three! _Chorus_ (waving hands): May the brew that we've mixed you make every heart light, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night! (Fairies dance out, followed by the Spirit. Jesters, blowing horns, enter the room, bearing a tray upon which is placed a punch bowl filled with Nora's best cider punch.) * * * * * Loud applause demanded the return of the fairies and then all gathered in a merry group around the punch bowl while Mr. Lee toasted the youthful cast. "I suspect you, Miss Bab, of a hand in those records," he cried, shaking a finger at Barbara. A paper crown was set rakishly on his head. Behind the laughter in Mrs. Lee's eyes was shining something very like tears as she drew little Alice to her. Across the brightly-crowned heads of the children her glance caught Mr. Lee's. "I feel as if my heart _had_ been brushed by fairy wings to-night," she said with a happy sigh. CHAPTER XX SHADOWS "William, it _can't_ be true!" Keineth, pausing on the threshold of the dining-room door, overheard the words. Peggy and Billy had gone to school; she was starting out for her music lesson and had stopped to ask Aunt Nellie a question. The tone of Aunt Nellie's voice, the seriousness of Mr. Lee's face, made Keineth's heart turn cold with fear! "Aunt Nellie." They both turned towards her, startled. Involuntarily Mrs. Lee slipped the newspaper she had been reading under her napkin. "Keineth, dear!" She held out her hand, her eyes filling with tears.