trimming. Emma and Frances immediately offered to string
pop-corn and cranberries, and went to work with great ardor, having at
the same time to bribe the General to attend to his own affairs, with
wonderful stories of Santa Claus, and the toys he had in store for good
boys.

Emma was as happy as a lark. In past years the Sunday-school tree had
been all she had to look forward to, and the thought of having one in
the house was almost too much. Gladys also condescended to help with the
pop-corn, although she was rather scornful of such home-made
decorations.

"I suppose I may invite Gladys to our tree, mayn't I?" Frances asked one
evening of the busy circle gathered around the table in Miss Sherwin's
studio.

"I should think so," her mother replied.

"I know a girl I'd like to ask. She is in my class, and she lives in
Texas, and I do not believe she has a single friend in the city." As she
spoke, Miss Moore carefully smoothed out the photograph she was
mounting.

"You do it beautifully," said Mrs. Morrison, looking over her shoulder.

"It is the 'Holy Night' by Plockhorst, as you see; we are going to give
one to each of our infants, and I offered to mount them. I like to
paste; it is my one talent."

"For a Christmas picture, this is my favorite," and Miss Sherwin took
from a portfolio a photograph of the Magi on the way to Bethlehem.

Emma and Frances left their cranberries to look at it.

"How wonderfully simple and dignified it is! The wide sweep of the
desert, and the stately figures of the Wise Men, as they follow the
star," remarked Mrs. Morrison.

"But no one has answered Miss Moore. Wouldn't it be nice to invite her
girl?" said Frances, going back to her work again.

"Why, of course, and perhaps we'll find some one else who is not likely
to have a happy day," her mother answered.

"There's Mrs. Gray," said Frances meditatively; "I wonder if she likes
Christmas trees?"

So it began, and before they knew it the original plan was quite
outgrown.

When Mark arrived he proved to be a tall, bright-faced boy of sixteen,
overflowing with good spirits, who contrived to get acquainted with all
the inmates of the house before twenty-four hours had passed.

He took a lively interest in the tree, and suggested having it in his
uncle's study. Then on Christmas Eve the cases could be moved out of the
way in the shop, and both rooms be given up to the frolic.

As the Spectacle Man was more than willing, thi