“What’s up now?” she asked, scarcely with her accustomed deference.

“I want so much to have a little treat for my friends, if you will only help.  It all depends on you.”

“Why certainly; it’s my place to cook for all the parties you choose to make.  It’s not my place to dictate how the victuals is to be used.”

“You do not understand me.  It is not here that I wish to entertain my friends.  Mr. Winthrop has given his permission, on condition you are willing.”  She was greatly mollified at this and responded heartily.  “Of course I’m willing; and, bless me, there’s plenty to give a good share to them that needs it; and I guess it’s them you’re wanting to give it to.”

“Thank you very, very much.  Now you must come to my Christmas tree, and see how much pleasure you have been able to confer.  Without your consent nothing would have been done.”

“Yes, I’ll come and help you too, and you’ll need me,” she said, with much good humor.  I did not wait long in the kitchen, so much now must be done.  Alas, Christmas day was so near I could not celebrate my festival on that day; but another day might find us just as happy; and after all it would be “curdling” too much joy into one of the shortest of our days.

I put on my wraps and went immediately to confer with Mrs. Blake.  I found her, like every one else, in the midst of busy preparations for Christmas.

“Dan’el got me a twelve-pound turkey and lots of other things; and he wants a regular old-fashioned Christmas, with all the Larkums here; and then I have one or two little folks I’m going to have in to please myself.  Poor little creatures, with a drunken father and no mother worth speaking about.”

“Have you very much trade now?”

“Well, consid’able; but if you’re wanting me for anything I can set up later to-night.”

“Oh, no, indeed.  I just wanted to consult you about something, and I will help you stone these raisins while I sit with you.”

“Dear heart, you needn’t do that; I’ll get the pudding made in plenty of time, but what kindness have you in your plans now?”

“A Christmas tree.  I want you to tell me what to do, and where to have it.”

“Why, the Temperance Hall, of course, just past the mills.  I guess you’ve never seen it.”

“That will be excellent.  I did not know you had one here.  Now, when shall we have it?  To-morrow will be too soon, I am afraid.”

“Yes, and it seems a pity to have so many good things all to onct.  Most everybody has a Christmas of some sort.  How would Friday do.”

“Very nicely.  That will be two days after Christmas.  Little folks will have recovered from the effects of their feasting by that time.”

“Well, Dan’el ’ll get a tree and fix up the Hall; and tell, then, who you’ll want to invite.”

“All the children on the Mill Road may come.  We will have something for each of them.”