Mary, Martin, and Nell raised their hands.

"It is the tree, as I see it," acclaimed he.

"But it isn't fair," Tim objected. "James Frederick didn't vote."

At this everybody laughed and whatever tension there was vanished.

"Oh, James Frederick would vote for the tree," Mary said. "He is so
little he couldn't eat turkey if we had it, could he, Mother?"

"I'm afraid he couldn't," smiled her mother. "He hasn't teeth enough."

"Then it is a tree! A tree!" cried Martin exultantly.

"Wait!" Captain Dillingham put up his hand. "We haven't finished with
this matter yet. You've got your tree from your mother; now I can give
you a turkey if you decide you want me to. But first you are to listen
to what I have to say. A Christmas tree and a turkey mean a great deal
for one family to have in these days when so many people are having so
little. The O'Dowds, for example, are to have neither a Christmas
dinner nor a tree; I happen to know that. Joey has been sick and there
are doctor's bills to pay. Beside that, Mr. O'Dowd has been out of work
and has no money to spend this year."

The little McGregors regarded their uncle with solemn faces.

"Oh, dear!" breathed Mary sympathetically.

Carl scowled soberly; then his face glowed with a sudden idea.

"Couldn't we----" he hesitated awkwardly.

"Oh, Uncle Frederick, if you _were_ really going to buy a turkey,
couldn't we give it to them?" flashed Mary, smiling toward her brother.
"Would you mind giving it away to somebody else? You see, if you were
going to buy it anyway----" she regarded her uncle timidly, "we could
have something else for dinner, couldn't we, Mother? Perhaps corn
chowder. We all like that. And maybe we could have a pudding and some
nuts."

"Bully, Mary! I'm with you!" Carl rejoined.

"I'd like to do that, too," agreed Martin. "I wouldn't mind so much
about the turkey if we had the tree."

"What do you say, Tim?" inquired Captain Dillingham.

"I don't see why we should give our turkey to somebody else," grumbled
Tim sullenly. "We never have one all the year--never! You know we
don't, Mother."

"No, dear; I'm afraid we don't," Mrs. McGregor said.

"Then why should we give ours away," went on Tim in an argumentative
tone. "Don't we want turkey as much as the O'Dowds, I'd like to know?"

"Oh, Timmie!"

"Don't be such a pig, Tim," cut in Carl with brotherly directness. "If
we were hard up, wouldn't you like somebody to send you something for
Christ