It's nearly Christmas day.

  Then a man comes gayly
    With his axe so bright, _(e)_
  He chops down the spruce tree _(f)_
    Early one fair night.

  Then on Christmas morning
    Children dance to see, _(g)_
  Many lovely presents
    On that stately tree. _(h)_


       *       *       *       *       *

=Christmas Stories.=

By LETTIE STERLING.

    (These stories may be said and done in concert, or each little
    child may give one verse by himself.

    _a_. Hands held straight up so tips of fingers point toward
    ceiling.

    _b_. Touch palm of hand with thumb, bring it back quickly.

    _c, d, e, f_. Repeat _b_ with 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th fingers.

    _g_. Double the hand up.

    _h_. Place the doubled-up hand on the back of the other.

    _i_. Lift thumb and hold it up.

    _j_. Lift 1st finger.

    _k_. Lift 2d finger.

    _l_. Lift 3d finger.

    _m_. Lift 4th finger.

    _n_. Hold hands in a listless way, with tips of fingers
    pointing toward floor for two first lines, and let the fingers
    gently swing. Near the close of the verse make the fingers
    still and rigid and hold them close together.

    _o_. Have hands doubled up and held so that the child's eyes
    can look down upon the palm or the hand and see the nails of
    the four fingers--thumb out of sight.

    _p_. Let fingers fly up quickly

    _q_. Hold left hand as in _a_. Use the index finger of the
    right hand as a match, scratching it on the palm of the left
    hand and lighting the tips of each finger as if the fingers
    were candles.

    _r_. Make a circle of a thumb and index finger of the right
    hand and slip it on and off each finger on the left hand.

    _s_. Bunch fingers of left hand together so they can all touch
    the tips of the thumb and form an opening for the window.

    _t_. Bring the fingers of the right hand near and let them be
    boys and girls peeping in.

    _u_. Double up hands, but instead of having thumb inside, let
    it stand straight up to be a tower.

    _v_. Snap the fingers of one hand, then of the other.

    _w_. Point far away with index finger.

    _x_. Point toward an imaginary star.

    _y_. Hold up the three middle fingers.)

  Chimneys standing in a row, _(a)_
  Down each one will Santa go.
  He goes down one, comes back alive, _(b)_
  And then tries two, _(c)_ three, _(d)_ four, _(e)_ and five. _(f)_

  Santa has a wondrous pack, _(g)_
  This he carries on his back; _(h)_
  From it he takes candies, _(i)_ drums, _(j)_
  Dolls, _(k)_ books, _(l)_ trumpets, _(m)_ when he comes.

  Near the chimney stockings swing,
  What to them will Santa bring?
  All of them I'm sure he'll fill,
  Make them round and stiff and still. _(n)_

  Morning kisses curly heads
  Lying snugly in their beds, _(o)_
  O how quickly they hop out, _(p)_
  Seizing stockings with a shout!

  On the hemlock and the pine,