The next day, after Christmas day, a very sad company gathered in the home of our two little friends. Uncle Mark was gone, never to return; and when it was all over, they talked together of their sorrow.
“Uncle Mark had a Christmas anyway, didn’t he?” said little May, who could not understand.
“Yes, yes, child,” said Mama.
“Wasn’t that a beautiful tree!” exclaimed Dorothy; but she should have known better than to speak. For Uncle Mark had a Christmas indeed, with Jesus in heaven, where there is no hospital, or sickness, or sorrow, but only joy and praise for evermore. And I am sure both little girls, when they came to understand, were glad that they sang him a Christmas song, even if they had no tree and no Christmas at home.
Buddy’s Christmas Tree
“Whyfor no snow, Unc’e Don?”
Uncle John went right ahead at his walk and said nothing.
“Whyfor no snow, Unc’e Don? Kismas come soon.”
Buddy seemed to have the idea fixed in his head that there ought to be snow at Christmas time. He had been sucking his thumb industriously for some time, and finally broke out in the above remark.