A fine large Christmas tree was set up in it, another in the school-house for the blacks at Ion.

The colored people employed on the Fairview estate attended there also, and were to have a share in the entertainment provided for those of Woodburn and Ion; so the children of the three families united in the work of ornamenting first one building, then the other, finding it great sport, and flattering themselves that they were of great assistance, though the older people who were overseeing matters, and the servants acting under their direction, were perhaps of a different opinion.  Yet the sight of the enjoyment of the little folks more than atoned for the slight inconvenience of having them about.

Christmas came on Wednesday and the holidays had begun for them all the Friday before.  Lessons would not be taken up again till after New Year’s day.

It had been decided at Woodburn that they would not go to Ion till Christmas morning, as they all preferred to celebrate Christmas eve at home.  The children were going to hang up their stockings, but had not been told that they would have a tree or any gifts.  They thought, and had said to each other, that perhaps papa might think the money he had given them to spend and to give, and the privilege of selecting objects for his benevolence, was enough from him, but the friends at Ion and Fairview always had remembered them, and most likely would do so again.

“Still they may not,” Lulu added with a slight sigh when she talked the matter over with Max and Grace that morning, for the last time; “for they are all giving more than usual to missions and disabled ministers, and poor folks, and I don’t know what else; but it’s real fun to give to the poor round here; I mean it will be to help put things on the trees and then see how pleased they’ll all be when they get ’em:  at least I do suppose they will.  Don’t you, May?”

“I shall be very much surprised if they’re not,” he assented, “though I begin to find out that ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’  And yet for all that if I get some nice presents to-night or to-morrow I—­sha’n’t be at all sorry,” he added with a laugh.

“Max,” said Lulu reflectively, “you knew about the Christmas tree beforehand last year; hasn’t papa told you whether we’re to have one this time or not?”

“No, not a word; and as he tells me almost always what he intends to have done about the place,” the boy went on with a look of pride in the confidence reposed in him, “I’m afraid it’s pretty good evidence that we’re not to have one.”

For a moment Grace looked sorely disappointed; then brightening, “But I’m most sure,” she said, “that papa and mamma won’t let us go without any presents at all.  They love us a great deal, and will be sure to remember us with a little bit of something.”

“Anyway it’s nice that we have something for them,” remarked Lulu cheerily.  “Papa helped us choose Mamma Vi’s, and she advised us what to make for papa; so I’m pretty sure they’ll both be pleased.”