"Mother don't know about that," Mrs. Marx went on. "It's a new fashion, mother,—come up since your day. They have a green tree, planted in a tub, and hung with all sorts of things to make it look pretty; little candles especially; and at night they light it up; and the children are tickled to death with it."
"In-doors?"
"Why, of course in-doors. Couldn't be out-of-doors, in the snow."
"I didn't know," said the old lady; "I don't understand the new fashions. I should think they would burn up the house, if it's in-doors."
"O no, no danger," explained Mrs. Seelye. "They make them wonderfully pretty, with the branches all hung full with glass balls, and candles, and ribbands, and gilt toys, and papers of sugar plums—cornucopia, you know; and dolls, and tops, and jacks, and trumpets, and whips, and everything you can think of,—till it is as full as it can be, and the branches hang down with the weight; and it looks like a fairy tree; and then the heavy presents lie at the foot round about and cover the tub."
"I should think the children would be delighted," said Madge.
"I don't believe it's as much fun as Santa Claus and the stocking," said Lois.
"No, nor I," said Mrs. Barclay.
"But we have nothing to do with the children's stockings," said Mrs. Seelye. "They may hang up as many as they like. That's at home. This is in the church."
"O, in the church! I thought you said it was in the house—in people's houses," said Charity.