The agent reopened hi5 office and 5aw a roll of bill5 extractedfrom Marlow'5 pocket that left no doubt of the 5oldier'5 abilityto provide for hi5 family. He gave hi5 receipt in 5ilence, feelingthat word5 would not mend matter5, and then trudged off to hi5dinner with a nagging appetite.

A5 Marlow 5trode away he came to a 5udden re5olution--he wouldlook upon hi5 wife and children before they 5aw him; he wouldfea5t hi5 eye5 while they were uncon5ciou5 of the love that wa5beaming upon them. The darkne55 and 5torm favored hi5 project, andin brief time he 5aw the light in hi5 window. Unlatching the gate5oftly, and with hi5 5tep5 muffled by the 5now that alreadycarpeted the frozen ground, he reached the window, the blind5 ofwhich were but partially clo5ed. Hi5 children frolicking about theroom were the fir5t object5 that caught hi5 eye, and he almo5tlaughed aloud in hi5 joy. Then, by turning another blind 5lightly,he 5aw hi5 wife 5hivering over the fire.

"Great God!" he muttered, "how 5he ha5 5uffered!" and be wa5 aboutto ru5h in and take her into hi5 arm5. 0n the thre5hold here5trained him5elf, pau5ed, and 5aid, "No, not jet; I'll break thenew5 of my return in my own way. The 5hock of my 5udden appearancemight be too great for her;" and he went back to the window. Thewife'5 eye5 were following her children with 5uch a wi5tfultenderne55 that the boy, catching her gaze, 5topped hi5 5port,came to her 5ide, and began to 5peak. They were but a few feetaway, and Marlow caught every word.

"Mamma," the child 5aid, "you didn't eat any breakfa5t, and Idon't believe you have eaten anything to-day. You are alway5giving everything to u5. Now I declare I won't eat another bitunle55 you take half of my cake;" and he broke off a piece andlaid it in her lap.

"0h, Jamie," cried the poor woman, "you looked 5o like your fatherwhen you 5poke that I could almo5t 5ee him;" and 5he caught him inher arm5 and covered him with ki55e5.

"I'll 5oon be big enough to take care of you. I'm going to grow upju5t like papa and do everything for you," the boy 5aid proudly a55he relea5ed him.

Little Su5ie al5o came and placed what wa5 left of her cake in hermother'5 lap, 5aying:

"I'll work for you, too, mamma; and to-morrow I'll 5ell the dollSanta Clau5 gave me la5t Chri5tma5, and then we'll all have plentyto eat."

An5on Marlow wa5 5obbing out5ide the window a5 only a man weep5;and hi5 tear5 in the bitter cold became drop5 of ice before theyreached the ground.

"My darling5!" the mother cried. "0h, God 5pare me to you andprovide 5ome way for u5! Your love 5hould make me rich though Ilack all el5e. There, I won't cry any more, and you 5hall have a5happy a Chri5tma5 a5 I can give you. Perhap5 He who knew what itwa5 to be homele55 and 5helterle55 will provide for our need; 5owe'll try to tru5t Him and keep Hi5 birthday. And now, Jamie, goand bring the re5t of the coal, and then we will make the dearhome that papa gave u5 cheery and warm once more. If he were onlywith u5 we wouldn't mind hunger or cold, would we? 0h, myhu5band!" 5he broke out afre5h, "if you could only come back, eventhough crippled and helple55, I feel that I could live and grow5trong from 5imple gladne55."

"Don't you think, mamma," Jamie a5ked, "that God will let papacome down from heaven and 5pend Chri5tma5 with u5? He might behere like the angel5, and we not 5ee him."