©randmother’s ©hristmas Gree.

OW busy the children were, knitting
and sewing
For grandmother’s Christmas-tree!
There were lace caps and wristers
and woolen shoes growing
Into beautiful objects to see!

 

It was the notion of Susie, the youngest of all,

That the surprise should be grandma’s this
year;

‘‘She’s such a nice lady, in such a nice shawl,

And her footsteps are trembling and queer!

“She’s got bonbons that nobody scolds me
for eating,

And dolls that ave tiny and stout,

Which she gives me when somebody else
has been treating

Me badly!’ Sue lisped, with a pout.

So it soon was decided to accept these rea-
sons

Why grandma should have this great honor;

And her presents were made on the sly at
all seasons

With loving delight by each donor.

Dear grandma was dressed in silken array,

When the bright Christmas Eve had come
round;

And the doors flung aside, lo! out shot a ray

From each twig on the huge fir’s dark ground!

And presents—they dangled in crowds every-
where, ;
Till it looked like a fairy’s bazar;
And the children cried out, with pride in
their air:
“This fine tree is for you, grandmamma!”

Then grandmother stared, and grandmother

laughed,

And she courtesied in old-fashioned style,

And she piped: “I declare, I believe I’ve
gone daft,

Or have fallen to dreaming awhile!

 

“Well, well, little pets, I’ll accept the bright
tree,
That shall light me far on my old way;
And now take your presents, which I hope
will be
Worthy children so kind and so gay!”

So down sat old grandma inher high-backed
old chair;

But they brought to her gift after gift,

With many a speech and well-wishing prayer,

Till her treasures she scarcely could lift.

“For nobody else,” cried the children in glee,

“Can have presents at this Christmas-tide!

Papa says perhaps that at New Year’s there’ll
be

Something for us!” (Their hope they can’t
hide).

“But, grandma, you have been so kein and
so sweet,

And asked nothing of us at all,

That no wonder we gave you these presents
so neat— .

Are you sure that you've quite seenthem all?”

And up the old lady got then with a look

That shone as a girl’s for delight;

And raising both hands, which like autumn
leaves shook,

She blessed them on left and on right,

The effect upon Sue, of the blessing, was this,

That she sang out a nursery song,

And danced down the room with a face full
of bliss,

While the others all scampered along;

And round the tall tree they joined hands in
a ring,
And capered and crowed full of glee;
Their kind thoughts had made such a capital
thing
Of their gay Christmas ye: as you see,
—Rose HawTHorne Larurop,