The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-12-26

"Oh, Marion, Will 1t have my WORK
box ?" cried Hester.
"And my doll ?" said Fannie.
"And my set of china-tea things? You
know you promised me new set?"
And, fairly started, all the children
Joined in the list of demands, making a
perfect Babel of the parlor.
The little mantel clock struck nine
AS the last stroke died away, Marion
pointed with smile to the clock, and the
children rose, kissed their sisters, and
! went merrily up stairs to bed, Fannie
leading Eddie, while Hester and Lizzie,
little girls of eleven and twelve, went up
arm in arm.
''There is so much to do tomorrow,
Gracie," said Marion, as the chamber
door closed, shutting out the sound Of
merry voices, "there are SO many things
to attend to that l think we will dress the
tree this evening. We can shut the fold
ing doors, and keep the children from the
back parlor tomorrow, and it will not
take many minutes to hang Aunt Lizzie's
presents upon the tree, when they arrive
in the morning"
go yes, we will dress it now. I'll call
father" And the young girl danced off
to the Office, humming merry tune
Marion, in the meantime, went out to a
closet in the entry, and brought in large
baize covering for the centre of the floor.
1t was green, and meant for the founda-
tion Of the beautiful show Marlon's tree
always made. Grace and the Doctor soon
came in, and the process of making a
Christmas tree commenced in good ear
nest
The square of green baize being tackled
down, large stone jar was placed In the
middle of it, and in this the tree stood
nobly erect. Damp sand was put round
the stem till the large green tree stood
firmly in its place. A founee Of green
chintz round the jar concealed its stony
ugliness, and over the top, round the tree,
was soft cushion of moss. 1t was a large
evergreen, reaching almost to the high
ceiling, for all the family presents were to
be placed upon it. This finished, the pro-
cess of dressing commenced. From
basket in the corner, Marion drew long
strings of bright red holly-berries, thread
ed like beads upon fine cord. These were
testooned in graceful garlands from the
boughs of the tree, and while Marion was
thus employed, Grace and the Doctor ar
| ranged the tiny tapers. This was deli
| cate task. Long pieces of fine wire were
passed through the taper at the bottom,
and these clasped over the stem Of each
branch, and twisted together underneath.
Great care was taken that there should be
clear space above each wick, that moth
ing might catch fire. Strings of bright
berries, small bouquets of paper flowers,
strings of beads, tiny flags of gay ribbons,
stars and shields of gilt paper, lace bags
filed with colored candies, knots Of bright
ribbons, all homemade by Marion's and
Grace's skillful fingers, made a brilliant
show at very trifing cost, the basket
seeming possessed of unheard-of capaci-
ties, to judge from the multitude and va
riety of articles the sisters drew from it
Meantime, upon the wick of each taper
the Doctor rubbed with his finger drop
of alcohol, to insure its lighting quickly.
This was process he would intrust to no
one else, for fear the spirit might fall upon
some part Of the tree not intended to catch
fire.
Marion, unconscious that her fathers
eye followed her in every movement, tried
to keep up cheerful smile, for her SIS
would come up from her overcharged
heart as the contrast between these gay
| preparations for festivity and the weight
of her own sorrow struck her. at last,
all the contents of the basket were on the
tree, and then the more important pres
ents were brought down from an upper
room. There were many large articles,
seemingly too clumsy for the tree, but
Marion passed around them gay-colored
ribbons till they formed a basket work,
and looped them over the branches till
even Hester's work-box looked graceful.
Dolls for each OF the little girls were seat
ed on the boughs, and large cart for Ed
die, with two horses praneing before 1t,
drove gayly amongst the top branches, as
if each steed possessed the wings of Pc
gasus. On the moss beneath the branch
es Marion placed set Of wooden animals
for Eddie, while from the topmost branch
was suspended gilded cage, ready for
the canary-bird DR.. Grantley had purcha-
sed for the pet-loving Lizzie.
Various mysterious packages, wrapped
in paper and marked Grace, Marion, OF
Papa, were put aside, that all the deli
cious mystery Of Christmas might be pre-
served.
AT length all was ready, and, carefully
/ locking the doors, the trio went up tC
their respective rooms.
| 1t was Christmas evening. All the
J presents were on the tree, aud Marion was