"Tell me about it," I said, "I have heard about these Christmas celebrations, but have never seen any." "Well," said Paula, "sit down here, close to the fire, and I'll tell you what we did last year. Four of our men went to the mountains and cut down a beautiful pine tree. They had to go up to their waists in snow, and what a job it was to bring it all the way down to Villar. But they were all very strong. My father was one of them. They dragged the tree into the church because there wouldn't have been room for everybody in the little school-house. We all helped to decorate it with gold and silver nuts, and we hung apples and oranges everywhere on its branches. But the beautiful part were the candles. There were hundreds of them in blue, green, red, white and yellow. If you could only have seen how beautiful it was, Lisita, when the candles were lit, especially when they crowned the top of the tree with a lovely white angel. We sang the wonderful Christmas hymns. Then the pastor gave us a fine talk about the Saviour. At the close, each of us children was given an apple, an orange, a little bag of sweets, and a beautiful little book." "Oh," said I, "how happy I should be if father would let us go to see it all. It must be a beautiful country!" "It is the most beautiful in the world," Paula assured me, her eyes sparkling. "We too shall go and live there when we grow up; shall we not, Paula?" "Yes, indeed, Lisita." "You know, Paula, father always gives us a New Year's present," as I saw tears come into Paula's eyes as she thought of her old home. "What would you like to have if you could choose?" "There's just one thing I want," said Paula, "and that's my little Bible." "But that wouldn't be a present," I said. "No, but it would give me more pleasure than any present," sighed Paula. * * * * * New Year's Day dawned with splendid weather. It had snowed during the night and the whole countryside was dressed in white. The sparrows flew back and forth under our windows, seemingly remembering our custom to scatter crumbs for them on such an occasion. Of course, we soon satisfied their hunger. In the dining-room a huge fire burned, and Teresa with Rosa's help prepared the New Year's breakfast. Paula helped Catalina to dress, for Catalina, contrary to her custom, decided to breakfast with us, although against Teresa's advice, for she feared such early rising would tire her too much for the rest of the day. "Yes, but I wish to be on hand when father distributes his New Year gifts," our invalid said. So Teresa had to yield. Our father was late in coming so Paula ran to tell him that breakfast was ready, and soon back she came with her hand in his, with that affecting grace that was so habitual to her. When he had received our "Happy New Years" father asked us if we wanted the presents before or after breakfast. "Before! Before!" we all cried.