Mr. Fisher hung his head in shame as the bright faces of the little Paysons left. But a ray of light had shone into that gloomy home, and Mrs. Fisher's sad face smiled when she saw her children spreading out their Christmas gifts. Each one had been kindly remembered and was bright with happiness.
Joshua, and Rebecca, and Newton rode toward home, carrying hearts filled anew with love, and gentleness, and kindness.
Mr. Payson next knocked at Mr. Kelly's door. Mrs. Kelly was sitting, wrapped up, in a rocking chair, sick, but having a pleasant smile. Little Martha was doing the morning work, and looked with surprise at the early visitors and their good gifts.
The children soon had the food spread out for Mrs. Kelly to see what a nice dinner she would have; and Martha fairly danced around the room, holding up a good Sunday frock for herself and a pretty story book.
"This is a happy Christmas," said Rebecca as they rode home.
"We learn, my children," said Mr. Payson, "that those who try to do their duty may be rich in happy hearts and smiling homes though they are very poor.
"But bad hearts and bad ways make the sunshine seem gloomy in the finest parlors."
When the sun went down that night, friends, both old and young, gathered in Mr. Payson's parlors, to pluck gifts from the well-loaded Christmas-tree.
Fruits from all parts of the world were hanging in its branches, and toys and books peeped out from the green leaves.
When little eyelids were closed in sleep that night, the stars winked and smiled over little hearts that were brimful of love; because, by giving, they had grown rich.