The library was a bower of evergreen and radiance.

In the centre was a great tree of crystal and stars which reflected the light of a myriad twinkling candles.

It had undoubtedly come from fairy-land, if the place was not fairy-land itself, on the border of which they stood amazed.
Kitty was asked by Mr.Livingstone to lead the other children in, and as she approached the tree she found facing her a large envelope addressed to, _Santa Claus's Partner, Miss Kitty Clark._ This she was told to open and in it was a letter from Santa Claus himself.
It stated that the night before, as the writer was engaged in looking after presents for some poor children, he saw a little girl in a shop engaged in the same work, and when he reached a certain hospital he found that she had been there, too, before him, and now as he had to go to another part of the world to keep ahead of the sun, he hoped that she would still act for him and look after his business here.

The letter was signed, _Your partner, Santa Claus._ The postscript suggested that a few of the articles he had left on the tree for her were marked with names, but that others were unmarked, so that her friends might choose what they preferred, and he had left his pack at the foot of the tree as a grab-bag.
This letter broke the spell and next moment every one was shouting and rollicking as though they lived there.
In all the throng there was no one so delighted as Mr.Clark.
Livingstone had had no idea how clever he was.

He was the soul of the entertainment.