All that week, the children had a jolly time. They made holly wreaths dotted with red berries, and yards of evergreen trimming. Grand-daddy set the cedar tree in one corner where it looked very grand.
Uncle Squeaky slipped into the Giant's pantry one evening, when his keen nose smelled pop-corn, and came back with a load of the fluffy white stuff.
"Get your needles, children," called Mother Graymouse, "and we will string some pop-corn for the tree."
They sat in a circle upon the barn floor around the heap of corn and sewed it into strings which Granny Whiskers tossed upon the branches of their tree. Granny was as interested as the youngsters in the Christmas doings.
Another evening, Uncle Squeaky brought home some peppermints and checkermints.
"Here, kiddies, sew some thread through these candies and hang 'em on your tree," he grinned.
"Oh, how pretty!" cried Dot, when the pink and white candies were swinging among the green branches.
At last came Christmas Eve.
"We have a Christmas tree and it is all trimmed lovely," lisped Tiny, "but do you s'pose there'll be any presents like Ruth and Robert Giant had on their tree?"
"They say that Santa comes down from the North Pole on his sled drawn by swift reindeer and brings a great pack filled with presents for good little mice," said Grand-daddy.