w
a blast long and terrible, and Joel immediately following, all quiet was
broken up, and the wildest hilarity reigned.

"I don't know as you'll want any breakfast," at last said Mrs. Pepper,
when she had got Phronsie a little sobered down.

"I do, I do!" cried Joel.

"Dear me! after your candy?" said Polly.

"That's all gone," said Joel, tooting around the table on his whistle.
"What are we going to have for breakfast?"

"Same as ever," said his mother; "it can't be Christmas all the time."

"I wish 'twas," said little Davie; "forever and ever!"

"Forever an' ever," echoed little Phronsie, flying up, her cheeks like
two pinks, and Seraphina in her arms with her bonnet on upside down.

"Dear, dear," said Polly, pinching Ben to keep still as they tumbled
down the little rickety steps to the Provision Room, after breakfast.
The children, content in their treasures, were holding high carnival in
the kitchen. "Suppose they should find it out now--I declare I should
feel most awfully. Isn't it elegant?" she asked, in a subdued whisper,
going all around and around the tree, magnificent in its dress of bright
red and yellow balls, white festoons, and little candle-ends all ready
for lighting. "Oh, Ben, did you lock the door?"

"Yes," he said. "That's a mouse," he added, as a little rustling noise
made Polly stop where she stood back of the tree and prick up her ears
in great distress of mind. "'Tis elegant," he said, turning around
in admiration, and taking in the tree which, as Polly said, was quite
"gorgeous," and the evergreen branches twisted up on the beams and
rafters, and all the other festive arrangements. "Even Jappy's isn't
better, I don't believe!"

"I wish Jappy was here," said Polly with a small sigh.

"Well, he isn't," said Ben; "come, we must go back into the kitchen, or
all the children will be out here. Look your last, Polly; 'twon't do to
come again till it's time to light up."

"Mammy says she'd rather do the lighting up," said Polly. "Had she?"
said Ben, in surprise; "oh, I suppose she's afraid we'll set somethin'
a-fire. Well, then, we shan't come in till we have it."

"I can't bear to go," said Polly, turning reluctantly away; "it's most
beautiful--oh, Ben," and she faced him for the five-hundredth time with
the question, "is your Santa Claus dress all safe?"

"Yes," said Ben, "I'll warrant they won't find that in one hurry! Such a
time as we've had to make it!"

"I know it," laughed Pol