"I am going to help," said Gracie earnestly, having caught the drift of Tom's question. "I have made up my mind what I shall send the little girl cousin Tom told me about."
"Suppose I should take you to see her?"
"I should like that! If mamma will let me go."
"I think she will. Auntie, will you let me have Gracie for an hour this morning? I will take good care of her."
"O, mamma!" expostulated Louise, "he is going to take her among his poor people! She will be sure to get a fever or something!"
"I am going to take you, too," said Tom; "and I am not going to take either of you into any dangerous places."
Louise arched her eyebrows as she replied, "Going to take me! We'll see." But she went. She generally did whatever Tom suggested.
I am not certain whether it was the package of warm clothing, the basket containing the Christmas dinner, the toys which Gracie had packed, not forgetting a bead necklace, or the presence of the beautiful child and lovely young lady in that home, that brought the most of happiness upon that Christmas day to the sad heart of Karl Ritter and his lonely little girl. But this I do know, that the visitors carried away as much happiness as they brought, for Gracie declared it was the nicest Christmas she had ever spent, and even Louise confessed that there was a new joy in her heart that day, for she had tested the truth, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Faye Huntington.
