feast being over, the Ruggleses lay back in their chairs languidly,
like little gorged boa-constrictors, and the table was cleared in a
trice. Then a door was opened into the next room, and there, in a corner
facing Carol's bed, which had been wheeled as close as possible, stood
the brilliantly lighted Christmas tree, glittering with gilded walnuts
and tiny silver balloons, and wreathed with snowy chains of pop-corn.
The presents had been bought mostly with Carol's story-money, and were
selected after long consultations with Mrs. Bird. Each girl had a blue
knitted hood, and each boy a red crocheted comforter, all made by Mamma,
Carol, and Elfrida. ("Because if you buy everything, it doesn't show so
much love," said Carol.) Then every girl had a pretty plaid dress of a
different color, and every boy a warm coat of the right size. Here the
useful presents stopped, and they were quite enough; but Carol had
pleaded to give them something "for fun." "I know they need the
clothes," she had said, when they were talking over the matter just
after Thanksgiving, "but they don't care much for them, after all. Now,
Papa, won't you _please_ let me go without part of my presents this
year, and give me the money they would cost, to buy something to amuse
the Ruggleses?"

"You can have both," said Mr. Bird, promptly; "is there any need of my
little girl's going without her own Christmas, I should like to know?
Spend all the money you like."

"But that isn't the thing," objected Carol, nestling close to her
father; "it wouldn't be mine. What is the use? Haven't I almost
everything already, and am I not the happiest girl in the world this
year, with Uncle Jack and Donald at home? You know very well it is more
blessed to give than to receive; so why won't you let me do it? You
never look half as happy when you are getting your presents as when you
are giving us ours. Now, Papa, submit, or I shall have to be very firm
and disagreeable with you!"

"Very well, your Highness, I surrender."

"That's a dear Papa! Now what were you going to give me? Confess!"

"A bronze figure of Santa Claus; and in the 'little round belly that
shakes when he laughs like a bowlful of jelly,' is a wonderful
clock--oh, you would never give it up if you could see it!"

"Nonsense," laughed Carol; "as I never have to get up to breakfast, nor
go to bed, nor catch trains, I think my old clock will do very well!
Now, Mamma, what were you going to give me?"

"Oh,