146 FOREST FANCIES 



forest. ^ * Those trees grew in painted tubs and 

 stood in warm rooms with tinsel and tapers on 

 their branches. They were Christmas trees.'' 



''What is a Christmas tree? And are tin- 

 sel and tapers the fruit of a Christmas tree?" 

 asked the balsam-fir ; but little Emily only in- 

 haled her fragrant breath. 



''Now I know how Christmas trees look be- 

 fore they come to the city," Emily continued. 

 "They are all steeped in sunshine and full of 

 the sweet, smelly breath of the woods, and I 

 think that is how they are able to make us so 

 happy — more happy even than the beautiful 

 gifts on their branches make us." 



" 'Gifts?' " repeated the balsam-fir. "Are 

 gifts the fruit of a Christmas tree?" 



While Cho-koh-tung was wondering what 

 kind of a tree a Christmas tree was. Alec came 

 shouting around the pine tree. ' ' Here is a real 

 Christmas tree. See, Sister, it has green 

 candles all over it." 



Emily looked at the soft new tips of the pine 

 tree, erect like tapers. 



"Yes, this must be one, too," she said. 



