THE CHRISTMAS TREE 155 



**And I," said a work-basket, ''was the 

 withes of a willow." 



''We were part of a pretty birch tree/' ex- 

 plained the spools in the basket. 



"Whoever would dream that I was once a 

 spruce tree ? ' ' inquired the book. ' ' Little bal- 

 sam, of all my forest friends, you alone remain 

 unchanged.'' 



"Our good old forest days are over," replied 

 Cho-koh-tung, "but new service has begun— 

 to gladden the hearts of children. Little will 

 the children know of the tree-lives given up 

 for their sake, yet a sacrifice is not a sacrifice 

 that brings a greater j oy. " 



"Love should inspire service," responded 

 the book, "and service be the keynote of ac- 

 tion." 



"So, one and all, we rejoice in this end," 

 said Cho-koh-tung. 



"And our aim shall be to give all the joy that 

 we can," exclaimed the pop-gun. 



"I move we pass a resolution to that effect," 

 said the express-wagon. 



'Pon't 'put the cart before the horse,' " 



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