came from
Laddie.

And so the children began to talk about Christmas, and what they wanted
Santa Claus to bring them.

The weather was now cold and blowy and blustery, with a snowstorm nearly
every day. But the six little Bunkers went out often to play, even if it
was cold. They had lots of fun.

Now and again the queer noise would sound, but, though each time the
grown folks went to look for it, they could not find it. It seemed to
sound all through the house, almost like the blowing of Mr. Thompson's
horn, only not so loud.

"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Grandpa Ford after one night's search, when
nothing had been found, "this surely is a mystery!"

"I could make a riddle about it, only I'd never know the answer," said
Laddie. "And a riddle without an answer is no good."

"That's very true!" said his grandfather, laughing.

The days passed. Christmas came nearer and nearer. There was to be a
tree at Great Hedge, and the children were also going to hang up their
stockings. Grandpa Ford and Daddy Bunker went out into the woods and cut
the tree, which was placed in the parlor, and the doors shut.

"It wouldn't do for any of you to go in there from now on," said Mrs.
Bunker. "You might surprise Santa Claus, and he doesn't like to be
surprised."

Finally came Christmas Eve. The children listened to the reading of
Bible stories as they sat before the fire, and then went early to bed
so "morning would come quicker."

But, in spite of the fact that they wanted to go to sleep, it was some
time before the older ones dropped off into Slumberland. Then, in the
middle of the night, it seemed, there sounded throughout the house the
sound of a horn being blown.

"Oh! Oh!" exclaimed Rose, suddenly awakening and sitting up in bed. "Is
that--is that the----"

"It's the horn of Santa Claus!" cried Mrs. Bunker. "Wake up! It's
Christmas morning!"

And so it was.

CHAPTER XXV

THE GHOST AT LAST

"Merry Christmas!" called the six little Bunkers.

"Merry Christmas!" answered Grandpa and Grandma Ford and Daddy and
Mother Bunker. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" called Dick as he tramped in from the barn, all
covered with snow.

And such a jolly Christmas as it was! If each of the six little Bunkers
did not get exactly what he or she wanted, all got something just as
good.

There were toys, dolls, sleds, games and picture books. There was a
magic lantern for Russ--something he had long wanted. There w