Year: 1873

.J3SN'T that bootiful?' asked little Emma.


$ leaning on Welter's knee and spreading
before him picture book on which was
painted Christmas tree blooming with the
marvellous fruit such evergrecps bear


"She pores over that picture, day after
day." said mother, smiling. 10:


II know everything on it," said. Emma
'''rhat's dolly, and that's box of sugar
plnms. and that's an orange, and there's a
rum-and so on to the topmost twig, where
sbone bright silver star.


..When we get rich, you shall have inst
such tree" said Walter, kissing her "But
this year you can hang up your stocking, and
have good time with that"


After the little one was fast asleep, Walter
said-''l wish we could trim little Christ>
mas tree for Emma-it would please her so
much! I could make her little sled for her
doll. Couldn't we afford new head for it
Ion could dress it up. We might buy her
few candies and bunch of raisins"


They discussed it while and came to the
conclusion that the little girl should have her
Christmas tree, though it was to be kent q
secret from her until the time camo.


Walter cut little evergreen down by the
mill, brought it home after dark, and took it
mp to his room after Emma was asleep. He
liked it firmly into nail kes by tacking cross.
pieces on the top and putting in some stones
at the bottom for weights. Then he tackled
brown paper smoothly around the keg. aud
over that pasted fringed sheet of green
tissue paper. Mother made roses of pink and
white tissue paper, and fastened them on the
outer twigs. Then she made few little
cornucopias of bright paper. and filed one
with popcorn, another with ckorynut meats.
another with raisins, and the last with CANDY.
They looked very pretty indeed on the tree.
There was little birds nest on each side
made of half an esgshell, dipped in paste and
then IN handful of green moss and lichens
picked from the wood>pile. The inside was
lined with cotton wool, and four pale blue
sugar plums put in for eggs


''Now if we only had bird to put on n
twig jnst over it ~ said Walter, as he viewed
the effect enthusiastically. Mother was grow
a pair Of dainty little eegshol vases. and
dressed Emmas doll in a beautiful holiday
suit of tarlatan over pink, with pink sash
and sleevcknots. 1t was, indeed, beautiful,
tasteful little tree, and the whole outlay on it
had not been over twenty-five cents.


1t was safely locked up in Walters closet
when he was at school, but was soon brought
out when he came home for the evening
Mother felt it was good lesson of love and
kindness to his little sister, which she was
very glad to encourage. Such lessons are
worth more than money. Miss Lottic came
IN one day to bring a warm scarf she had
bought for Walters Christmas gift. and a
dainty little one of white aud blue. with
heavy silken tassels and buttons, for little
Emily. They were rolled in paper and given
to her mother privately, when Emma was
busy in the bedroom


81 must show you lite surprise Walter is
planning for his sister," said the mother. and
tho two went quietly into the hall and up
stairs.


Isn't that cunning ?" exclaimed Lottie.
II must have hand in that 7 can send
Walter number of little things that will
help brighten it up still more. I have
little bird I once wore on hat that would
just suit these little nests"


'The very thing he was wishing for" said
the mother. "But, dear Lottie, YOU have
done enough for us-more than we can ever
repay"


But the good girl ran home. and ransacked
the honse for something nice to put on the
tree. There was little covered basket she
filled with "lady finger" cakes, and sent as
git from h"r mothcr-a pretty China cup
and saucer from hersclf-and various little
toys from the children, not forgetting bright
star that had once adorned the top of their
Christmas tree.


A gold mine would hardly have given
more delight to the hoy than that little packs
age of treasures His happiness seemed com.
rlete-he had everything he wished for, and
more than he had ever dreamed of.


Little Emma awoke before light. to see if
her stocking was hanging still by the chim-
ney. But Walter had been up before her,
and the room was warm and light. Mother
was preparing breakfast. But what was that
fairy vision that me. her view as she stood in.
the doorway? ga real, true Christmas tree. :"
ell brightly lighted by the big globe lamp
which stood on the stand behind it


1t was almost too much for the little one.
and she could not speak for excitement for
while Walter wrapped mothers shawl abou.
her, and took her in his arms, and let her
view it on all sides to her hearts content
Then she dressed, and happier little
girl that Christmas day could not be found in
that town.


blessed is the hand that prepares Joy for
child Make the most of the birthday and
holiday times, for the evil days will come
soon enough, when they shall say, 81 have no
pleasure in them.'


CpcoANur CAkE.-One cup of butter, two
cups of sugar, four eggs, one teaspoonful soda,
two of cream of tartar in cup of milk
One grated cocoanut should be mixed with
-four, aud the white of the eggs beaten to a
frnth Flour enough to make az stiff as q