to the stove, he knelt
down and drew out of the oven, a black, odorous mass, which with a
crest-fallen air he brought to Polly.

"I'm no end sorry I made such a mess of it," he said, "I meant it for
you."

"Tisn't any matter," said Polly kindly.

"And now do you go on," cried Joel and David both in the same breath,
"all about the Tree, you know."

"Yes, yes," said the others; "if you're not tired, Jasper."

"Oh, no," cried their accommodating friend, "I love to tell about it;
only wait--let's help Polly clear up first."

So after all traces of the frolic had been tidied up, and made nice for
the mother's return, they took seats in a circle and Jasper regaled
them with story and reminiscence, till they felt as if fairy land were
nothing to it!

"How did you ever live through it, Jasper King," said Polly, drawing the
first long breath she had dared to indulge in. "Such an elegant time!"

Jasper laughed. "I hope I'll live through plenty more of them," he said
merrily. "We're going to sister Marian's again, father and I; we always
spend our Christmas there, you know, and she's to have all the cousins,
and I don't know how many more; and a tree--but the best of all, there's
going to be a German carol sung by choir boys--I shall like that best of
all."

"What are choir boys?" asked Polly who was intensely fond of music.

"In some of the churches," explained Jasper, "the choir is all boys; and
they do chant, and sing anthems perfectly beautifully, Polly!"

"Do you play on the piano, and sing?" asked Polly, looking at him in
awe.

"Yes," said the boy simply; "I've played ever since I was a little
fellow, no bigger'n Phronsie."

"Oh, Jasper!" cried Polly, clasping her hands, her cheeks all
aflame--"do you mean to say you do really and truly play on the piano?"

"Why yes," said the boy, looking into her flashing eyes. "Polly's
always crazy about music," explained Ben; "she'll drum on the table, and
anywhere, to make believe it's a piano."

"There's Dr. Fisher going by," said Joel, who, now that they had gotten
on the subject of music, began to find prickles running up and down his
legs from sitting so still. "I wish he'd stop."

"Is he the one that cured your measles--and Polly's eyes?" asked Jasper
running to the window. "I want to see him."

"Well there he is," cried Ben, as the doctor put his head out of the gig
and bowed and smiled to the little group in the window.

"He's just lovely," cried Polly, "oh