the children, who looked on its wonders with a calm that Kate was unable to shake, were reported to Joe as having been "absolutely speechless! If you could have seen those little faces!"
She did her best to make Charlotte and Hoagland go into ecstasies.
"Isn't it a lovely tree, Charlotte?"
"Yes, thank you, Aunt Kate."
"Did Santa Claus bring you a beautiful tree like this, Hoagland?"
"Our tree's bigger," said Hoagland, firmly,
"See all the little icicles!"
"Those aren't icicles; they're glass."
"And see the little wax angel, Charlotte. Isn't that sweet? And see all the lovely Christmas presents Santa Claus brought little Jodie!"
"Did he bring him a pair of skates?"
"Why, no, Hoagland! Jodie's too little to skate yet."
"Santa brought me a pair of double-runner skates."
"Well, wasn't that kind of him? And see the little silver sailboat, Charlotte—see, when Aunt Kate shakes the bough it goes up and down as if it were sailing over the waves, doesn't it?"
"Yes, Aunt Kate."
"Mrs. Green. Mrs. Green. Mrs. Green"
"Yes, Hoagland?"
"Did Santa Claus bring Jodie a Regina music box? I gave Jodie that cow. It goes moo! Look! When
