During the long vacation they must spend most of their time at work out in the rice-fields under the hot sun. So they would rather go to school than have vacation. With the new schools and the American schoolteachers a great opportunity has come to the young people of the Philippines. New books with beautiful illustrations have been introduced, new songs, and a new way of studying. It would amuse you if you were to hear them read. "I do not see the pretty bird" they would pronounce, "Ee doa noat say day freety brud." The roll-call also sounds a good deal different from that in our own schools, where we have our Williams, Johns, and Henrys; but the Filipino names are very pretty (mostly names of Spanish saints), Juan, Mariano, Maximo, Benito, and Torribio for boys; Carnation, Bernarda, and Adela for the girls. The boys especially are very bright, and they are learning rapidly, not only grammar and arithmetic, but how to play baseball and tag and other games that make the child-life of America so pleasant. Chapter X. Christmas in Filipinia. While you are in a land of starlight, frost, and sleighbells, here the cool wind brushes through the palms and the blue sea sparkles in the sun. "In every Christian kind of place" it is the time of Christmas bells and Christmas masses. Even at the Aloran convent--about the last outpost of civilization (only a little way beyond live the wild mountain folk--sun-worshipers and the Mohammedans) the padre has prepared a treat of nuts and raisins for the boys and girls--somewhat of a Christmas cheer even so far across the sea. They have been practicing their Christmas songs, Ave Maria and the "Oratorio," which they will sing around the streets on Christmas eve. The schoolboys have received their presents--dictionaries, sugared crackers, and perfumed soap--and now that their vacation has begun, their little brown heads can be seen bobbing up and down in the blue sea. Their Christmas-tree will be the royal palm; and _nipa_ boughs their mistletoe.