The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-28

Say, L We thought oil something"
exclaimed Sidney,who had not spoken
for about ten minutes. cts better
than hanging up stockings, and most
as good as going to Fairview."
Janey concluded not to cry.
do tell us what it is!'' said Mabel
SWELL havea Christmas tree here!"
he announced.
"Here" cried both little girls.
"Of course mamma'll let us have
the front room," Intercepted Sidney.
Eyes, indeed" said she, "and we'll
have a good fire in there all day."
But l don't see where you're
going to get tree" said Mable.
1--WE don't have any evergreens
round here"
II guess it'll be Christmas tree,
all the same, if it isn't evergreen"
said Sidney. "We can wind the
branches with cotton batting, to look
like snow"
"That'll be awful nice," cried the
little girls, clapping their hands,
II have box of tissue paper of
different colors," said mamma, "that
Aunt Mary sent me to make paper
flowers with; we'll see what we can do
with that"
"And there's box of bright yarn
and worsted left over from my knit
ting" said grandma. "I'll see what
| can do with those"
'And now the little folks must get
ready for bed," said mamma, "for
we'll have lots to do tomorrow"
mabel" said Janey, as they were
undressing before the kitchen fire,
'are you going to pray for it to clear
off tomorrow"
No" returned Mabel, Il don't care
now whether it's fair or not. But /
wish we'd thought to say something
bout it, last night; then maybe
'twould been pleasant today"
However, it didn't storm Christmas
Day, though the sun stayed out of
sight, and the snow was SO deep the
little girls couldn't go out of doors.
Mr.. Gilmore went down to the
creek with Sidney, and helped him
bring up young cottonwood, and
after the snow had been brushed off,
it was set up in cheese box in the
front room.
"In the first place it was frosted
over with cotton batting Their
mamma made paper flowers, and
grandma her balls of bright wool;
and Sidney popped corn, and he and
the little girls strung yards of it to
hang in festoons. There was some
gold and silver tinsel paper, too,
among mammals treasures, and Sid
ney cut out stars and remarkable
figures of birds and animals to aid in
decoration.
Mamma gave them some candles
which Sidney cut into short lengths
and stuck literally over the tree.
They worked all day, and were SO
happy and interested, that even the
turkey and plum pudding failed to
awaken the ususal enthusiasm.
1t was quite dark when the tree
was all decked out in holiday attire
and mamma hurried the little work
ers out to their supper.
Then Janey and Mabel had to BE-
dressed in their holiday gowns, and
Sidney put on his best suit, and by
the time they were ready, mamma had
tied the presents on the tree, and
lighted the candles, and the audience
were admitted.
"Oh, isn't it be-yu-ti full" ex-
claimed the little girls, jumping up
aud down and clapping their hands.
1t really did look very nice, as the
tinsels glittered and the bright flow
ers and gaily-colored balls swung to
and fro. Mamma had added some
red apples and golden oranges, too,
and altogether it was a very fine
tree.
The children hadn't begun to be
tired of admiring it, before they heard
a sound of sleigh bells at the door,
and in bounded-was it really-Santa
Clauss
There was the fur coat anyway,