THE CHRISTMAS TREE 163 



*^ Will you wake me when morning comes ?" 

 she asked. 



*^ Sleep, little tree, sleep!" said the wind 

 soothingly. 



** Sleep I" sang the drowsy snow. 



''Nay, you will not wake me, and so I will 

 not sleep," said the Christmas tree, cheerfully 

 holding up her ornaments. 



'^ Sleep, sleep!" everything seemed to whis- 

 per. 



And so at last she fell peacefully asleep, 

 dreaming that happy children were circling 

 around her, clasping their Christmas gifts, yet 

 loving her best of all ; and still she seemed to be 

 sleeping, in the morning light, when the little 

 boys came to her for a last look on their way 

 to school ; and still she slept as Emily touched 

 her lightly at parting. 



**Last night I dreamed the prettiest dream 

 of you and me, ' ' laughed Emily gaily. 



But the Christmas tree did not hear. 



An hour later. Mother and the maid took off 

 the festive decorations and laid them away for 

 another year and another tree. 



