Chapters 25 and 26 Summary

A few days before Christmas, the family manages to find a puny evergreen and they make decorations for it, including cotton bolls to represent snow, which they've heard of but never seen. They have invited the minister from their church for Christmas Eve dinner. He comes for dinner once a month and is the only guest Granddaddy enjoys, since they discuss religion vs. science. Callie would prefer to go to church with Viola because she likes the music and spirit she has heard coming from her church, but she knows this would never be allowed. After church, the family and Rev. Barker walk home and have dinner. Rev. Barker asks whether there has been any word about the plant, but Granddaddy says no, science takes time. Gifts are exchanged, including the socks Callie made for all the males in the family...