"What for?"
"Oh, something," replied John Henry, mysteriously and evasively.
Jim Mills's gray eyes took on a sudden sharpness. "What d'yer mean?"
"Oh, nothing. I rather guess you'll get something more this time, though."
"Say what you heard, John Henry Lewis!" Jim Mills questioned, eagerly.
"I didn't say I'd heard anything. You just better go to the Christmas tree, though; if you don't, you'll be sorry."
"You're fooling?"
"No, I ain't fooling!"
Finally Jim Mills agreed to go to the Christmas tree; in fact, John Henry made him promise solemnly, though he would not give his reason. However, Jim Mills went home in a state of bewildered expectation and elation. He was finally convinced that somebody was going to hang something fine on the Christmas tree for him, that John Henry knew it, and had promised not to tell. The tree was to be in the district school-house. All Tuesday afternoon John Henry, with some other boys and girls, worked hard decorating the school-house with evergreen. The tree had been set up in the morning, and people had begun to bring the presents; the teacher and some of the older girls were tying them on. Now and then John Henry made a détour in that direction, and peeped furtively. Before he went home he made quite sure that all the presents which he expected were there. He counted them over as he trudged home over the moonlit snow-crust. A deep snow had fallen on Sunday, and so averted the danger of a green Christmas. The moon was full, and considerably above the horizon, though it was still early. John Henry hurried, for he had much to do.
Supper was all ready when he reached home, and he ate it so hastily that his mother was afraid he would have indigestion. After supper he went up to his room and put on his best clothes, which his mother had laid out on the bed for him. Then he watched his chance—standing at the head of the stairs, and making sure that the doors below were shut—of stealing softly down and out of the front door.