THE GIVE-AWAY BOX
When Peter and Polly got home, they ran into the house.
"Mother, mother!" they shouted. "The Christmas tree is coming. Father has it."
"Why, mother," said Polly, "what makes the house smell so sweet? It smells just like the woods."
"It is the green wreaths, Polly. I have them in all the rooms. There is one on the front door, too. These wreaths smell better than the ones that we buy. You may help me make the rest of them. We need more."
So the children went into the kitchen. On a table were pieces of evergreen boughs.
They helped their mother twist the pieces into circles. On each circle she wound many small twigs. When done, the wreaths were firm and thick and green.
"How good it does smell, mother. I like Christmas smells. But see my hands."
"That is the pitch from the greens, Polly. Just rub on a little butter. It will take off the pitch. Then wash your hands in warm water. I will clean up the rest of the greens. When this is done, we will pop our corn."
That was always fun. Polly liked to shake the popper. She liked to see the white kernels of corn hop up and down. She liked the good smell, too.