“And, O boy, but we’ll have something good to eat when they do!” Tommy interrupted.
“Son!” but Dr. Lancaster smiled, as he gave the mild rebuke.
“They have everything on that farm,” said Gordon, “make the best butter, have bees and honey and apple butter,—it’s a great place to go!”
An Epworth League Christmas party gave Isabel and Virginia the opportunity to meet many of the young people in the church, and the Sunday school entertainment on Christmas Eve was the “dearest, funniest” program they ever heard! Isabel, the student of “expression” and drama, was convulsed over the recitations of some of the smallest tots. “It doesn’t make a bit of difference,” said she, “whether they do it right or not, and if they do forget, it’s only funnier. I’d like to eat up that cute little tot in the blue dress!”
Mary, with some other little girls, sang a Christmas song. Tommy and Gordon took part in several features of the program. Hilary found that she was not needed as much as she had been in the smaller place. Some one else played the accompaniments, and the program had been all arranged before she arrived on the scene. The girls were naturally interested in noting that there was a fine group of young men connected with the Epworth League and Sunday school. “I see where the ‘Campbell’ that Cathalina sometimes teases you about isn’t going to have a chance with these boys right here on the ground,” said Isabel. “My partner at the lunch the other night was a very good-looking boy, and I saw him casting several glances in your direction, Hilary.”
“I couldn’t notice his taking his eyes from you, could you, Virgie?” replied Hilary.
“He did seem to be having a jolly time with Isabel,” Virginia answered, “but I must say that I was too busy trying to think of things to say to my partner to notice much else. It was such a nice party!”
Christmas Day, that best-beloved, long anticipated day, arrived and brought much happiness to the Lancaster home, with greetings and gifts. The girls had been busy decorating the tree, which they enjoyed soon after breakfast. There were presents for the family, with remembrances for Isabel and Virginia. The door-bell kept ringing for a while, as it had the day before, and prettily wrapped packages kept coming in from different members of the church. Mrs. Lancaster was busy overseeing the cooking of the dinner where the most savory smells testified to the skill of the colored woman who was flying about the kitchen. One turkey had been roasted the day before, and the other was in the oven. Quite a little company was to gather for dinner at the parsonage, for some lonely folks without family had been invited in.
After dinner, Isabel, Virginia and Hilary played quiet games with the boys and Mary, while the older folks visited and the usual nibbling of nuts, fruit and candy went on between times. Later in the day other visitors dropped in and the young folks went out for a walk and ride. There seemed no end to the entertainment which the city could provide.
Isabel went home to her father and the boys after Christmas, but Virginia stayed with the Lancasters through the vacation, the happiest she had ever known, and came back to school with Hilary.