152 FOREST FANCIES 



children could see me now! I wonder, oh, I 

 wonder — yes, the wish that led me from my 

 forest home is to be realized: I am to be a 

 Christmas tree!'' 



She was so overjoyed at the thought that the 

 star trembled. ^* There must be a draft in the 

 room,'' said the mother. 



Cho-koh-tung rejoiced in the silver paper 

 icicles, the glittering balls, the festoons of tin- 

 sel, the tapers, the dancing dolls, and the dolls 

 with gilded wings that fluttered to her 

 branches. In the tub at her feet they put green 

 moss and a whole barnyard of wooden animals, 

 and all around were placed the blessed toys. 



*^The children will gather around me to re- 

 ceive their gifts," she thought; ^^yet sweetest 

 of all, I shall give them myself!" 



The mother and father stood off and sur- 

 veyed the tree, smiled at each other, glanced 

 upward where four cherubs were sleeping, 

 turned out the stars that hung from the ceil- 

 ing, and tiptoed from the room. 



But, so great was her anticipation, the little 

 balsam-fir could not sleep. With all her gay 



