162 FOREST FANCIES 



I gave myself : for the real fruit of a Christmas 

 tree is what lies back of gifts and giving." 



**I know, I know," cried Emily, as the bal- 

 sam-fir seemed to stoop and enfold her, *Hhe 

 real fruit of a Christmas tree is love I" 



''And to love is to give." 



Someone had missed Emily and was calling 

 her. 



'^Good-night, little Christmas tree!" she 

 said, lifting her sweet face once more to the 

 glad touch of the evergreen bough. 



"To-morrow she will think it all a dream," 

 thought Cho-koh-tung, watching Emily pass 

 through the dim light and up the dark 

 stairs. 



Then the Christmas tree, feeling no more 

 the weight of her decorations, lovingly 

 drooped her head, drooped it a little lower 

 over her gay burden of children's joys. They 

 seemed to be falling from her, even as her win- 

 ter burden of snow used to vanish in the sun- 

 light. Was she sleeping? 



"Sleej), little tree, sleep!" sang the wind 

 without. 



