“O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing.”
Suddenly the windows of the Merrill parlor turned a warm crimson. From them streamed a soft red light.
“Oh, look, Father! Look, Dora!” exclaimed Lucy. “Now, we have a red light, too!”
“I thought Mother would fix it somehow,” said Mr. Merrill.
Mrs. Merrill came out while the children were still exclaiming. “How did you do it?” Dora asked.
“With Dan’s red silk scarf,” said Mrs. Merrill, pulling on her gloves again, and looking back at the pretty light.
“Safe against fire, Molly?” asked Mr. Merrill. “We wouldn’t like to go to church and come home to find the house burned.”
“It can’t take fire,” said Mrs. Merrill.
The minute they entered the vestibule, spicy smells of spruce and evergreen greeted them. The church was warm and all the rafters were draped with festoons of green. The only light was in the chancel and what came from two big Christmas trees on either side of the chancel arch. They were strung with wee red bulbs, and at the top of each tree shone a star. Between the trees stood the manger for the gifts.