ANTA CLAUS!" exclaimed Ned, half mockingly.
"Yes," insisted Mamie, "what's he going to bring you, Ned?"
"I don't know, and I don't care much," he answered, "for there isn't any Santa Claus."
"Why, Ned!" cried Mamie, in astonishment. "Even my big brother Harry believes in Santa Claus. He's coming home from school to-night, and we're going to hang up our stockings."
"Pshaw!" said Ned, "I must go home. Good-bye."
Merry little Mamie stood in amazement, and then ran in-doors to her mother with her perplexity.
"Why, mother!" she cried, "Ned Huntley said there wasn't any Santa Claus—and he was real cross about it, too."
"Well, Mamie," said her mother, "I wouldn't take any notice of Ned's being cross about Christmas-time. The Huntleys don't keep Christmas."
"Don't keep Christmas!" exclaimed Mamie, astonished beyond measure.