“But wouldn’t the policeman catch him then?” asked poor puzzled Rosa, whose only idea of trees was of those in the city parks.
“But, Rosa, there are woods,” explained Lina,—“great fields full of nothing but trees,—that’s in the country. Mina Schaeffer went there once to visit her cousin, and she told me. People may cut them if they like, and there are no policemen; only I don’t think Herr Westermann could bring one on a dray because it is so far, Lieb. I’ll tell you, though: I think they bring them on the railroad to the markets, and then the people can buy them. I saw some once—very tall and full of green prickles, and Biddy said they were for Christmas trees. I guess Herr Westermann bought his, Lieb.”
“Well, perhaps he did,” answered Lieb, sleepily; “and a ladder,—O yes, a ladder! You may be sure it’s the father and mother do it, Lina.”
“And we have no father—no mother,” said Rosa, with a sigh. “We have nobody,—at least we have only Bert.”
“And Bert could not make a Christmas tree,” added Lina, sadly.
“Yes, Bert tould!” cried little Fritz, giving Lina a vigorous punch with his stout little fist. Fritz had been lying broad awake listening to all this wonderful talk without understanding it in the least; but he firmly believed that his Berty could do anything, and so he felt bound to defend her from Lina’s assertions. “I tell ’ou,” said he, “Bert tould,—Bert tould had a laddy and make a kissmas tee for Fitzy, and the bu andel tould hep her.”
It was just here, at these words of little Fritz’s, that the wonderful wish came into Bertha’s heart, and set it throbbing, so that the poor child forgot all about her troublesome work,—noticed no longer the children’s talk, or the waning candle; but just sat with her hands clasped in her lap, till the children were fast asleep and the candle quite burnt out, thinking and thinking; then crept away to her place by Fritzy’s side, and lay awake far into the night, thinking and thinking still.
Perhaps you can guess now what was Bertha’s wish; at least, if you cannot, you must be almost as stupid as was Gottlieb with his ladder.
