_Mr. R_. No need to harness up, old friend. Here I am! Ah! I knew how it would be. _Tommy_ [_capering about_]. Hi! Hi! Ho! Isn't it great, May? I shall have Harry to play with. _May_ [_clapping_]. And I shall have Sadie. _Lucy_. Oh, what a delightful surprise! Oh, Mr. Remsen, I am glad, so very glad, that you have come. We will send for the others at once. _Mr. R_. Why, they're all here, too. You may be sure we all came together. [_Opening the door._] Come! come in! It's all right, as we knew it would be. [_Enter_ MRS. REMSEN _and her children_, HARRY _and_ SADIE, _who immediately run to_ TOMMY _and_ MAY.] _Mrs. B. [to Mrs. R_.] Welcome, welcome, dear friend! This _is_ kind. _Lucy_. Now Christmas Eve is what it ought to be. _Mrs. R_. Oh, Mrs. Burton, I am happy again now. I was afraid that Christmas would not bring love and joy for us this year. We could not help coming. Old memories were too strong for us. _Mr. R. to Mr. B_. Ah! neighbor, it's a sad thing to interrupt that "peace on earth" of which the angels sung. There's my hand; take it kindly. _Mr. B_. And there's mine, with all my heart. We'll not let a bit of land divide old friends. _Mr. R_. Aye, aye! We'd better divide the land. _Mr. B_. It seems easy to settle now. But no more of that to-night. Come, let us sing our Christmas carol. It will be sweeter than ever. Take your harp, friend, and turn minstrel again for the occasion. [Illustration] With wond'ring awe, Tho wise men saw The star in Heaven springing, And with delight In peaceful night, They heard the angels singing, Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna to His name! By light of star, They traveled far To seek the lowly manger; A humble bed Wherein was laid The wondrous little stranger. Hosanna, hosanna, Hosanna to His name! And still is found, The world around, The old and hallowed story; And still is sung In every tongue The angels' song of glory: Hosanna, hosanna, Hosanna to His name! The heavenly star Its ray afar On every land is throwing And shall not cease Till holy peace, In all the earth is glowing. Hosanna, hosanna, Hosanna to His name! [Illustration] JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT. A MERRY CHRISTMAS to you, my darlings! It's cold weather--too cold for any but a Scribner Jack-in-the-Pulpit to be out-of-doors--but our hearts are green, and there's a fine bracing air. Christmas will not be here when you first get the December magazine, I know, but ST. NICHOLAS likes to get a good start. He has Dutch blood in his veins, and he knows well that in Holland St. Nicholas' Day comes on the 6th of December.