randma Elsie's college boys, Harold and Herbert Travilla, had come home
for the holidays, arriving the latter part of the previous week. This
morning they had come over to Woodburn, very soon after breakfast, "to
have a chat with Vi while they could catch her alone," they said, "for
with all the company that was to be entertained at Ion they might not
have so good a chance again."

They stood with her at the window watching the carriage as it drove away
with the captain and his children. It had hardly reached the gate
leading into the high road when Harold turned to his sister with the
remark,

"Well, Vi, we've had quite a satisfactory talk; and now for action. As I
overheard the captain say to the children, 'there's no time to lose.'"

"No; we will begin at once," returned Violet, leading the way to the
large room where the Christmas tree had been set up last year.

A couple of negro men were carrying in its counterpart at one door, as
Violet and her brother entered at the other.

"Ah that's a fine tree, Jack!" she said addressing one of them; "the
captain selected it, I suppose?"

"Yes, Miss Wi'let, de cap'n done say dis hyar one was for de Woodburn
chillen; an' we's to watch an' fotch 'em in soon's dey's clar gone out
ob sight."

"Yes," she said, "we want to give them a pleasant surprise. I think they
are doubtful as to whether their father intends that they shall have a
tree this year," she added, aside to her brothers.

"Then the surprise will be the greater," Harold returned; "and it is
half the fun. I supposed they were pretty certain of the tree, and would
be surprised only by the nature of the gifts."

"They will have a goodly supply of those," Violet said, with a pleased
look, glancing in the direction of a table heaped with packages of
various sizes and shapes. "Do you know, boys, when Christmas times come
round I always feel glad I married a man with children; it's such a dear
delight to lay plans for their enjoyment and to carry them out."

"Just like you, Vi," said Herbert, "and I like to hear you talk in that
way; but you have your own two."

"Yes; but even Elsie is hardly old enough yet to care very much for such
things."

The tree was now in place and the work of trimming it began.

"It's very good in you boys to come here and help me instead of joining
in the fun they are doubtless having at the school-house," remarked
Violet, as she handed a glittering fairy to Harold who was mounted up