[Illustration: THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
“Oh, if he would only look this way!”]
[Illustration: THE EMPTY STOCKING.]
[Illustration: HOPE.]
[Illustration:
“If yer please, mum, Santa Claus can’t get into our room ’cause they
ain’t no chimley, an’ I want ter know if yer won’t hang up this
stockin’ when yer a-hangin’ up the children’s, an’ I’ll call in the
mornin’ fer it.”]
[Illustration: ST. VALENTINE’S DAY AT THE “BEND.”