Then he went
on talking. "You see if it hadn't been for Scrubby I wouldn't be alive
at all. She heard somebody say that I needed to have the dirt loosened
about my roots, and to have plenty of water. So she dug around me at a
great rate, and watered me until I was almost drowned. She cut off a
good many of my roots, and once she threw hot water all down this side
of me; but she didn't know. I'm not much of a tree, I confess; but
Scrubby did what _she_ could, and if she wants me she shall have me."

"Come on, then," said the chicken, "for I'm so cold my bill chatters."
And they went.

It was a very funny procession they made going back to the house,--the
horse prancing along with the sled, the three dolls taking a
sleigh-ride in their queer way, Spot racing about everywhere with Minx
on his back, and the tree hopping along after the sled as fast as his
one foot could go. The chicken rode back on one of Norway's branches,
and fluttered and squawked more than ever.

When they started, they looked about and called for the sparrow, Mrs.
Squirrel, and Mr. Rabbit, but they had all disappeared; so the rest
went back without them, shouting, laughing and singing.

IV.

It was a brave sight they saw when Jumping Jack opened the door to let
the party in.

Luce had got away from her little bedfellow at last without waking her.
She knew that the others had gone to get a tree for little Scrub, and
she knew that a tree was just no tree at all without plenty of things
to hang upon it. So she went to work, and by the time Jack opened the
door she had a great deal done. It was astonishing how many things she
had found to put on that tree; but then she had been rummaging among
Scrubby's old playthings up in the garret.

There were old dolls, little and big; there were old toys of all sorts;
there were pretty little pictures, and quantities of flowers made of
bright paper. A great many of the things Scrubby had thrown aside so
long ago they would be new to her now; and some of them mamma had put
away very carefully, so that the little girl should not altogether
spoil them.

Lucy had found them all and had brought them down-stairs; and now she
had them in a heap on the floor, trying to keep them in order, for they
were all very lively at being brought out again.

"Well, Luce, you _have_ done it!" Jack said.

"Of course, I have," answered Lucy. "Do keep that horse away, Jack, and
not let him run over these babies."

"Oh de