When the choir came, in place of their usual white cottas, they wore bright red ones. How Christmas-y the church did seem!
There were carols and Christmas hymns and then one by one, the classes took up their mite-boxes and placed them in the manger. People had brought other gifts for the poor. All the children looked over their toys and selected something to go to the Children’s Hospital.
Lucy chose a doll of which she was not very fond. Dora brought a set of blocks, which she liked very much. She did not often play with them now, but because she had enjoyed them so much herself, she thought children who were not very sick—just beginning to get better—might care for them.
The Christmas eve service did not last long, but it left everybody with a pleasant and peaceful feeling.
All the red lights were yet burning and almost every house had wreaths in the front windows. The children were pleased as they came near the brown cottage to hear people speak of how pretty the red lamp looked.
“You’ll let it burn a long time, won’t you, Mother?” begged Dora.
“It may burn until Father and I go to bed,” said Mrs. Merrill. “You children had better be off early, so as to give Santa Claus a chance.”
“There is to be a surprise for you, to-morrow,” said Dora, and she and Lucy both giggled.
“There will be surprises for everybody,” said Mrs. Merrill, “but I think the biggest one will be for Dora.”