"Yes, pa!"
"I intend to let you have a Christmas tree this year."
"O, a Christmas tree! Dear, good pa, how I do love you!" said Minnie, as she threw down her pencil upon the slate; and, clapping her hands, she danced round the room for joy.
As Christmas was nigh, it was proper to talk over the proposed tree and the party who should be invited. "You may select as many of your schoolmates as you may choose," said her father, in reply to her question about the number of the party.
"O, thank you, pa. I will ask Fanny, and Rhoda, and Jeannie, and Lillia, and Ettie, and——"
Here her father interrupted her, by asking,—
"Why do you think of asking Lillia, my child?"
"Because she has been my enemy, pa, and I want to make her love me, if I can."
"That's right, Minnie. Christ will love and bless you, if you always try to return enmity with kindness."
The list was now completed by the addition of several other names. Arthur Ellerslie was among the boys to be invited. And that night, I think, Minnie had a dream. And the principal object in that dream was a Christmas tree, sparkling with lighted wax tapers, and loaded with choice presents for boys and girls.