d plans. Besides the great
tree here in our school for the entire neighborhood, the workers and
teachers expect to have seven or eight trees in other localities, thus
bringing brightness and cheer and the Christmas story into many sad and
colorless lives. I should have been glad to have a tree over on Trigger;
but a gathering there in the present state of feeling would be extremely
dangerous, and by Nucky's advice, I have abandoned the hope. "I'd like
to have you come over," he said; "but Trigger haint no place for women
or women's doings now."

Another excitement is the telephone just set up in our village,
connecting us with the railroad and the outside world.--All the boys
went down this afternoon to see and hear the marvel.

_Wednesday Morning._

I have begun teaching some of the beautiful old English carols to our
boys and girls,--it seems peculiarly fitting that these children of pure
English stock should sing the carols centuries ago upon the lips of
their ancestors. But the task is an uphill one with the boys,--they
refuse to take any interest in this or any other Christmas preparation.
When I reproached them to-night for their apathy, Philip said,

"Nothing here to take no interest in,--won't be no chance for no
Christmas doings till we git away from here."

"But there will be great Christmas doings," I said, "just the very best
that can be thought of."

"What,--you women aiming to lay in a store of liquor and do a lot of
shooting?" he asked, with dawning hope.

"Horrors, no!" I exclaimed.

"Them's the good times I allus seed a-Christmas."

"Me, too!" echoed the other eleven.

"Didn't you ever hang up your stocking, or have a tree or get presents?"

"Never heared tell of the like till I come here."

"But it's the greatest possible fun," I insisted.

"Fun enough for women, may be, but men,--gee!"

"Gimme a big jug of moonshine!" shouted Joab.

"And a galloping nag!" cried Nucky.

"And a pistol in both hands!" added Killis.

"Boys," I said, "is it possible you can be willing to spend the holy
season of Christmas in drinking and shooting?"

"Only way I ever heared of anybody spending it," said Philip;
"everybody does it. If there's ary boy here," he added, "that haint been
drunk, or tried to, every Christmas he can ricollect, hold up your
hand!"

Not a hand moved, till suddenly, as if by an afterthought, Killis's went
up. "I weren't last Christmas," he said; "when paw got shot and la