How, then, may we keep our friends? Easy enough—by cultivating them; and we cannot keep them in any other way. We should take time to be friendly. Little notes, little presents, little visits, little social entertainments, little kindnesses—these things, and things like them, go a great way in cementing our friendships, in tying people to us, as it were, with hooks of steel. We should not neglect these means of keeping our friendships in repair. Always give your friends a cordial welcome in your homes, and at your little children’s parties; let them feel, make them feel, that their coming adds to your pleasure without increasing your burdens. Don’t be selfish and narrow; be broad-minded and liberal. Keep your friendships in repair, and then see if you do not find your horizon broadened, your life sweetened, and the weary weight of this sad old world lightened.
Poor little Annie, the cripple, awoke and turned her eyes towards the corner where she had hung her stocking the night before.
Surely, she thought, as she watched it, there could not be very much in it, because it didn’t seem to be any larger than it was when she had hung it up. After awhile she crept slowly to where it was.
She did not take her crutches, for fear she would disturb her mother, who slept in the same bed with her. It was hard for her to move around without her crutches, but she persevered and finally she reached her stocking.
[Illustration: “SHE PUT OUT HER THIN LITTLE HAND AND FELT IT.”]
She put out her thin little hand and felt it. Yes, there was something in it! Then she put her hand inside and took out something which seemed round and soft. She took it out and looked at it. It was a little cake. Poor little Annie smiled, and put her hand back into the stocking. This time she found something which was done up in paper. She opened the paper and found a whole dozen of gumdrops. How brightly her little eyes flashed! She was only six years old and she had never had so much candy at one time in all her life.
By-and-by her mother awoke. She raised her head and saw Annie’s happy face. “Poor girl,” she thought, “how happy I would have been to have bought something else for her, but I wasn’t able. I hope she will be happy with what she has.”