THE CHRISTMAS TREE 151 



homesick. She began to talk to the chairs, 

 which seemed quite at ease, and asked them 

 why she was kept a prisoner. 



**Wait and see," answered the armchair. 



So the little balsam-fir was patient. 



By-and-by, when it really was night, two 

 people entered the room, and the man lit three 

 great stars hanging from the ceiling. Cho- 

 koh-tung could now see that the trees which 

 had been made into furniture looked very com- 

 fortable and at home. 



**I hope that I, too, may become part of this 

 pleasant home, ' ' she thought wistfully. ' ' Per- 

 haps after awhile they will let the children 

 come to me, when I will tell them stories of the 

 forest. I may have a long and happy life 

 here." 



She stood like a statue in her tub, very much 

 interested in what the people were doing. 

 They brought in boxes and baskets and a step- 

 ladder, and the man fastened a great gold star 

 to her topmost branch. 



' ' Thank you, ' ' said the little balsam-fir. ' ' I 

 am sure it looks very pretty. How I wish the 



