stor entertained his guests. Alete seemed very
busy. She called the servants--had the position of the furniture
changed--sometimes talked loudly, and then whispered. Some mysterious
scene occupying the thoughts of Ireneus was taking place there.

Toward evening the mystery was explained. Alete came to take the arm of
the pastor in triumph, and he, M. de Vermondans, and Ireneus, went toward
the room. Drapery of many colors covered the wall, and bouquets of moss
and artificial flowers, candelabras reflected from the mirrors, boughs of
trees, all made the light soft as that which penetrates the forest. On a
large table was the Christmas tree, full of lights, and adorned with bows
of ribbon. The pastor had asked Alete to arrange everything as she chose,
and to place in the best possible light the presents intended for his
friends. With them Alete and Ebba had placed those they intended to make,
and all had been arranged most tastefully. Of the pine branch she had
made a tree, miraculously bearing silk dresses, portfolios, slippers,
embroidered collars, gold ear-rings, &c. The branches bent beneath the
weight.

M. de Vermondans gathered a meerschaum mounted with silver: Ireneus
several pieces of silk worked by his cousins, and a wooden cup, very
beautifully carved by an Angermanian peasant. Exclamations were made as
the different objects were detached from the mystic tree, for Alete had
taken care to wrap each article with a double and triple envelope, in
order to prolong the expectation of the spectators, and to enjoy their
surprise. Afterward the servants came in, and also the farmer's boys,
none of whom were forgotten, and who kissed the hands of the old priest.
The Christmas tree was stripped of its treasures, and all deserted it, as
barren and useless. Alas, for human ingratitude!

The pastor, taking advantage of a moment when none were looking, went to
the solitary tree, and took from it a letter with a red seal. Then
calling his future daughter-in-law, he said, "Since when, dear Alete,
have you become so careless of the good things of this world, or so
negligent, as to abandon the Christmas tree, without ascertaining all
that hangs from it?"

"I do not know that I can get anything from it, except a few pieces of
ribbon and half-burnt lights."

"You think so, do you? Well, look here."

"What?" said Alete; "a letter, with Eric's name on it. This is a surprise
for him. What is it? That puzzles me. Look, Eric--one d