“To-night,” said gran’pap, solemnly, having approached the greater joy through the less, “to-night we make our plans for Christmas!”
“For Christmas?” said Thomas and Eliza together.
“Why, you act as though you never seen or heard of Christmas!” mocked the old man. “As though you were heathen!”
“We haven’t seen Christmas,” said the little girl.
“I did once,” corrected Thomas. “There was a tree with bright gold things on it and lights. We had it in the house. I guess ’Lizie couldn’t remember; she was very little.” He drew closer to the old man and spoke in a low tone, “He was here still.”
“But last Christmas and the Christmas before. You had a tree then?”
“No,” insisted the little boy.
“Why, there’s trees in plenty!” cried gran’pap. “But perhaps,” added he, hurriedly, “perhaps she couldn’t get any one to cut it for her. But you had presents!”
“The Snyder children had a present,” said little Eliza. “It was a sled, Sandy Claus brought it.”
“But you had presents,” insisted gran’pap.