Again the sisters joined hands, and, with united voices, chanted, as at first,—
“Maiden, from the fields of air
We have winged our rapid flight,
Bringing gifts both rich and rare,
On this frosty Christmas night.
Faith and Hope and Charity!
Earthly maiden, sisters three,
These the gifts we bear to thee.”
Their voices died away, and they were gone. Bertha opened her eyes, and, lo! it was all a vision that had come to her on this Christmas night. The morning sun was shining brightly through the window-panes. Noisily over the frozen snow dashed the sleighs; and their bells rang a merry peal in honor of Christmas Day. Bertha glanced at the well-filled stockings that hung in front of the fire, and then she knew that St. Nicholas had been there with his budget of gifts; and the words sung by the sisters came into her mind:—