X.
THE CHRISTMAS-TREE ON THE CLIFF.
It was lucky for the Children of the Valley, as Maria said, that Master Will got home from the woods and put his heart into his books before Christmas-time. “There’d been no Christmas-tree,” said she, “if that child’d got lost in the woods. I declare it makes my blood run cold a-thinkin’ of them catamounts!”
But still the very day before Christmas had arrived, and the expectant little southern children saw with some dismay no preparations for a Christmas-tree about the house. They had, themselves, prepared the most elaborate gifts in their power for the grown-up people. Jack had made a wooden paper-knife for Old Uncle, whittling and sand-papering it to a fine edge; and Janet had made Uncle Billy a pen-wiper, and for its central ornament Ally had given her tiny glass goose, which Janet had fastened in; and Essie had made Aunt Susan a blotter, and pasted her best paper doll on the cover, daubing herself stiff with the mucilage. But except for the scarf of pink wool for Aunt Rose, in the knitting of which all had taken turns, they had not been able to do more; and they had decided to make an exchange of possessions for each other.
“I’d rather give the paper-cutter to Will, now he’s going to college,” said Jack, a little wistfully, as twilight fell on Christmas Eve, and they were feeling a trifle misused. “Old Uncle won’t want it, and he’ll only grunt.”
“He’ll be very pleased inside,” said Essie.
“Hurrah!” said Will, coming in just then, “you’re all to be allowed to sit up, and we’re all bound for a big sleigh-ride as soon as supper’s over!”
“Isn’t there any Christmas-tree?” asked Essie.
“Oh, yes! there’ll be a Christmas-tree,” said Will.
And then Aunt Rose swept them all out to their hot milk and zweibach, and the thin pancakes rolled in jelly, which were a special treat. And after that, there was a wild hustling up-stairs and into thick clothes and wraps; and the sleigh-bells were jangling and wrangling, and they were rushing out and in, and the hot soap-stones were at their feet, and the furs tucked round them, and Pincher was driving—and it was certain that the whole household were along, either in the big sleigh or the little ones, except Uncle Billy and Charlie.