It was greeted with a burst of admiration and applause.

“What a beauty!” cried Rosie and Lulu, clapping their hands.

“And how large!” exclaimed Max, “three times as big as any I ever saw before.”

Walter and Gracie were no less enthusiastic in their admiration.  “May we go close up, mamma?” asked the latter.

“Yes, ’course we may,” said Walter, seizing her hand, “we’ll walk round it and look hard at the things, but not touch ’em.”

Older people followed the lead of the little ones, and the tree was thoroughly examined by many pairs of eyes, gazed at from every point of view, and highly extolled, before the work of despoiling it was begun.

The gifts were far too many to mention in detail.  The older people seemed much pleased with some easels, brackets, and picture-frames carved for them by Max and Lulu, and with specimens of Zoe’s and Rosie’s handiwork in another line; also with some little gems of art from the pencils or brushes of Lester, Elsie, and Violet, while the children were made happy with presents suited to the years and taste of each.

Lulu was almost wild with delight over a set of pink coral, as nearly like that she had lost by her misconduct some months before, as Grandma Elsie had been able to find.

Then there was a beautiful, thoroughly furnished work-box from Mamma Vi, with “actually a gold thimble in it,” to encourage her in learning to sew.  One for Gracie also exactly like it, except that Lulu’s was lined with red satin and Gracie’s with blue.  Each had beside a new doll with a neat little trunk packed full of clothes made to fit it, and a box filled with pretty things to make up into doll clothes.

Max was greatly surprised and delighted by finding himself the possessor of a watch, doubly valuable to him as his father’s gift.

The gold thimbles of the little girls were also from papa.

They had a number of other presents, but these were what they valued most highly.

It took quite a good while to distribute the gifts and for each to examine and admire all his own and those of his neighbors; then Gracie, tired with excitement and the long drive of the afternoon, was ready to go to bed.

Mamma Vi went with her, as was her custom, and Max and Lulu followed.  They had grown quite fond of Violet’s half-sisterly, half-motherly talks with them at the close of the day, and to her it was a source of deep joy and thankfulness that she could perceive that she was influencing them—­her dear husband’s tenderly loved offspring—­for good.

She warmly sympathized in their pleasure to-night, chatted with them about what they had given and received, praising highly the picture-frame and easel they had presented her—­and in regard to the entries to be made in each of their diaries.

She left them in her boudoir busy with these when she returned to the parlor.

“O Max,” said Lulu, “how different Mamma Vi is from Aunt Beulah.”