and sent, the family carriage was at the door, and
every body nearly ready to get into it, when there was an arrival.

Harold and Herbert had come over on horseback, Rosie and Evelyn in the
Ion carriage.

They came running in with their "Merry Christmases and Happy New Years,"
to receive a return in kind.

"Don't think for a moment that we have come to prevent you from
accepting your invitation to Ion as promptly as possible," said Herbert
gaily; "we've come after you, and are glad to perceive, in your attire,
signs of readiness to depart."

"But we want to peep at your tree first," put in Rosie, "that's one
thing that brought us."

"And we've a proposal to make," said Harold; "namely that you all
accompany us to the Oaks for a short call on Uncle Horace and the
rest--and their Christmas tree of course--before going over to Ion. The
air is delightfully bracing, the roads are good, and if we find there is
time, perhaps we might as well extend our ride to the Laurels, and give
Aunt Rose a call, in case we reach there before the family have left
home for Ion. What do you say captain? and you Vi?"

Both approved, and the children were much pleased with the idea. But
they wanted first to have time to show their presents to Rosie and
Evelyn.

That was granted, the callers were all taken in to see the tree, dog,
bird and pussy were exhibited, the pretty things found in the stockings
also, and when all had been duly admired they set out upon their jaunt.

The four little girls, Rosie, Evelyn, Lulu and Grace, had the Ion
carriage to themselves, and full of life and spirits, enjoyed their
drive extremely.

Both calls were made, only a short time spent at each place--hardly more
than enough for an exchange of greetings and a hasty examination, of
the Christmas trees and gifts--then they drove on to Ion, and the
holiday festivities so long looked forward to by the young people with
such eager expectation and delight, began.

The first thing of course was to take a view of the Christmas tree and
the presents.

Rosie and Evelyn had declined to tell what they were until they could
show them, even refusing to answer Lulu's eager query, put while they
were driving to the Oaks, "O Rosie, did your mamma give you the set of
pearls you wanted so badly?"

"Wait till we get to Ion and I'll show you all my presents; I received a
good many and ought not to fret if I did not get everything I wanted,"
was what Rosie said in reply