"Yes," said Mrs. Payson. "It was when I was a young girl that I attended the funeral of little Fritz.

"Mr. Wilc.o.x, who keeps the great store of baskets in town, where you have sometimes stopped with me to see how beautiful they are, is the little Jim whom Fritz taught to be good and useful.

"He has always taken tender care of his mother, who is now so old she remembers but little; but if you ask her about Fritz she will talk a long time about him, whom she calls 'G.o.d's dear child.'"

"Your true story, mamma, is better than made-up ones," said Joshua, as he walked away to the window.

"When I look at my little work-basket, mamma," said Rebecca, "that you bought of Mr. Wilc.o.x, I shall think of Fritz, and the basket will help me to be good."

"So you see, my darling," said Mrs. Payson, "when our bodies are turning to dust in the ground, the deeds which we did may be helping others to be good or bad."

CHAPTER III.

HOW? ANSWERED.

When the family were gathered in the parlor, after dinner, Mrs. Payson said, "We will now see how we can help poor Mrs. Fisher; for there are none who more need kind words and deeds than helpless ones whom a bad husband and father leaves to suffer, and sometimes to perish, with hunger and cold."

"But how can we give Mrs. Fisher any thing, if her husband sells it?"

asked Joshua.

"There is an honest woman living next to Mrs. Fisher's," said Mrs.

Payson, "who has washed for me sometimes. I will hire a place in her little yard for coal, and send some there. I will give Mrs. Fisher tickets for getting a half bushel at a time, when she needs it, so she can have a fire."

"And I will give her tickets for getting bread at the bakery, and meat and potatoes in market," said Mr. Payson. "She must get a little at a time, and not keep any in the house for her husband to carry off."

"That will be good," said Rebecca; "the little hungry children will smile."

"I will give half of my money to buy some shoes for d.i.c.k Fisher," said Joshua.

"And I will give half of mine to buy a flannel petticoat for Mrs.

Fisher," said Rebecca.

"Here is my money, mamma," said Newton, who had run to bring his little box.

"May we send the children some of our toys?" asked Rebecca.

"You may send what you please," said Mrs. Payson. "We will put them in a basket with enough food for a good dinner, and you may carry all to her, Christmas morning, with the tickets."

"O, mamma," said Joshua, "it will be pleasant to see how surprised and happy they will look."

"Now, what shall we do for Mrs. Grant?" asked Mrs. Payson.

"Several neighbors have promised to join me in giving her coal, flour, and meat, as long as she needs such help," said Mr. Payson.

"I will prepare some clothes for herself and her children," said Mrs.

Payson.

"And we will give them some toys and books," said Joshua.

"Will you please, papa," said Newton, "send word to Santa Claus to carry his pack to the top of Mrs. Grant's chimney? And I will tell little lame Harry to hang up his stocking."

"Yes," said Mr. Payson smiling, "I will send word to Santa Claus to have his eight tiny reindeer jingle their bells right merrily over Mrs.

Grant's chimney."

That night Mr. Payson's three children went to bed feeling very happy; for they were trying to do something to make others good and happy.

CHAPTER IV.

WHAT THE STARS SAW.

The stars were yet winking through the pine trees on Christmas morning, when the little Paysons went shouting their "merry Christmas" through the house.

Santa Claus had filled their stockings with just what they most wanted.

Strange that he should know so well!

There could be no more morning naps now, and while the stars were shutting their eyes Bridget prepared the early breakfast, so the children might go with their happy hearts and their gifts to gladden those who needed kind words and good deeds.

After the family had joined in their morning worship, Mr. Payson said, "Now, my children, we will go and see some sad faces smile, while mamma prepares the Christmas-tree; for she says we must not have a peep at it till our friends come this evening."

By the time the sun was looking over the tree tops, Mr. Payson and the children were riding toward Mrs. Grant's with a basket of good things and a great many kind words.

They found the little Grants in quite an uproar. They had hung up their stockings for the first time in their lives, and now they were spreading out Santa Claus's wonderful gifts with great glee.

The basket was carried in, and Mr. Payson told Mrs. Grant what more would be done for her every-day comfort.

Tears came in her eyes when she thanked him and the children.

"It almost made me feel like crying," said Rebecca, when they had left the house, "to see poor lame Harry's face look so happy."

At Mrs. Fisher's they found a gloomy and unhappy scene.

Mr. Fisher sat with his hair falling over his half-shut eyes, while the hungry and cold children were huddled around the half-warmed stove on which their mother was trying to cook something for breakfast.

"My children have come to bring some smiles to yourself and your little ones this Christmas morning," said Mr. Payson to Mrs. Fisher, as they stepped into the miserable home.

"Mamma says, will you please have a good dinner?" said Rebecca, as she and Joshua carried the basket to Mrs. Fisher, whose eyes filled with tears at this unexpected kindness.

Mr. Payson gave her the tickets for coal and food, and told her that his wife would call sometimes and see how she enjoyed them.

Mr. Fisher hung his head in shame as the bright faces of the little Paysons left. But a ray of light had shone into that gloomy home, and Mrs. Fisher's sad face smiled when she saw her children spreading out their Christmas gifts. Each one had been kindly remembered and was bright with happiness.