eaves and cones.
And icicles hung upon it,
And crystals of snow gleamed white;
And soon as the sun rose on it,
It sparkled and flamed with light.
Then two birds perched in the tree top,
And half a dozen elves
Climbed gayly into the branches
And safely hid themselves.

"And the little girl came to the window,
And wide her shutters flew.
She cried, 'I dreamed of a Christmas tree,
And here is my dream come true!'"

Then the presents were taken from the Christmas tree and given round among
the little girls and boys who were present.

[Illustration]

Just as the last gift was handed down, the last candles went suddenly out,
and, at the same time, clocks began to strike all over the house.

The Journeying Man picked up his stick. "Time to go to bed!" he cried.

Amos and Ann were astonished. "To bed?" they repeated, unbelieving. "To
bed, in Zodiac Town?"

"No, in your own home," replied J. M. "Come along, Amos and Ann!"

[Illustration]

And when they still held back, he gave them a funny little scolding all in
rhyme, which pleased them so that they followed him out into the dusk with
never a word!

"It's strange how things can differ so!
Now, take two kinds of fruit--
Banana chap and Orange--
And watch each doff his suit.

"Banana's swift and nimble,
His way is safe and slick;
He gets out of his trouser-leg
With a wiggle and a kick.

"But Orange makes a big to-do;
Indeed, it is distressing
To happen by quite suddenly
And see that lad undressing.

"He clings to every single rag
With obstinacy and vim;
It takes ten fingers and a will
To part his clothes from him.

"And when he feels the poor clothes go,
All raggedy and mussy,
He sheds an acid tear or two,
And keeps on being fussy.

"It's strange how things can differ so!
To be quite frank and truthful,
It isn't only things, you know,
But people, chiefly youthful,

"Who show these different traits and tricks
When bedtime hour comes duly--
Banana-kind and Orange-kind;
Now which kind are you, truly?"

"Banana-kind!" cried Amos and Ann, as well as they could for laughter.

"Don't be _too_ quick. Don't be Grape-kind," said the Journeying Man.

"Grape-kind?" they echoed.

"And jump out of your skins," said J. M.

At that Amos a