"To secure you an opportunity to prepare a pleasant surprise for them,"
supplemented Harold.

Their work was finished, its results surveyed with satisfaction, and the
door of the room closed and locked upon it, before the return of the
carriage bringing Capt. Raymond and his merry, happy little flock.

Dinner filled up the greater part of the interval between their
home-coming and return to the school-house on the corner of the estate,
to witness the distribution of gifts to the poor whites of the
neighborhood; and by a little management on the part of their father,
Violet and her brothers, they were kept from the vicinity of the room
where the Christmas tree stood, and got no hint of its existence.

Their thoughts were full of the doings of the morning and the coming
events of the afternoon, and their tongues ran fast on the two subjects.
Their father had to remind them once or twice that older people must be
allowed a chance to talk as well as themselves; but his tone was not
stern, and the slight reproof, though sufficient to produce the desired
effect, threw no damper upon their youthful spirits.

They were in the carriage again soon after leaving the table, Violet
with them this time, Harold and Herbert riding on horseback alongside of
the vehicle, for they desired a share in witnessing the bestowal of the
gifts.

They found teacher and pupils there before them; every face bright with
pleasurable anticipation.

The Jones children, whose mother had died the year before, and who had