WHAT THE STARS SAW.
The stars were yet winking through the pine trees on Christmas morning,
when the little Paysons went shouting their "merry Christmas" through
the house.
Santa Claus had filled their stockings with just what they most wanted.
Strange that he should know so well!
There could be no more morning naps now, and while the stars were
shutting their eyes Bridget prepared the early breakfast, so the
children might go with their happy hearts and their gifts to gladden
those who needed kind words and good deeds.
After the family had joined in their morning worship, Mr. Payson said,
"Now, my children, we will go and see some sad faces smile, while mamma
prepares the Christmas-tree; for she says we must not have a peep at it
till our friends come this evening."
By the time the sun was looking over the tree tops, Mr. Payson and the
children were riding toward Mrs. Grant's with a basket of good things
and a great many kind words.
They found the little Grants in quite an uproar. They had hung up their
stockings for the first time in their lives, and now they were spreading
out Santa Claus's wonderful gifts with great glee.
The basket was carried in, and Mr. Payson told Mrs. Grant what more
would be done for her every-day comfort.
Tears came in her eyes when she thanked him and the children.
"It almost made me feel like crying," said Rebecca, when they had left
the house, "to see poor lame Harry's face look so happy."
At Mrs. Fisher's they found a gloomy and unhappy scene.
Mr. Fisher sat with his hair falling over his half-shut eyes, while the
hungry and cold children were huddled around the half-warmed stove on
which their mother was trying to cook something for breakfast.
"My children have come to bring some smiles to yourself and your little
ones this Christmas morning," said Mr. Payson to Mrs. Fisher, as they
stepped into the miserable home.
"Mamma says, will you please have a good dinner?" said Rebecca, as she
and Joshua carried the basket to Mrs. Fisher, whose eyes filled with
tears at this unexpected kindness.
Mr. Payson gave her the tickets for coal and food, and told her that his
wife would call sometimes and see how she enjoyed them.
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.