118 THE SEVEN LITTLE SISTERS.

their mother’s room. Their father comes home
with his great-coat pockets very full of some-
thing; but, of course, the children don’t know
what. Hecomes and goes, up stairs and down;
and, while they are all at play in the snow, a
fine young fir tree is brought in and carried up.
Louise knows it, for she picked up a fallen
branch upon the stairs; but she doesn’t tell
Fritz and Gretchen.

- How they all wait and long for the night to
come! They sit at the windows, watching the
red sunset light upon the snow, and cannot think
of playing or eating their supper. The parlor-
door is open, and all are waiting and listening.
A little bell rings, and in an instant there Is a
scampering up the broad stairs to the door of
mother’s room; again the little bell rings, and
the door is opened wide by their father, who
stands hidden behind it.

At the foot of their mother’s white-curtained
bed stands the little fir-tree; tiny candles are
burning all over it like little stars, and glitter-
ing golden fruits are hanging among the dark-
green branches. On the white-covered table are