THE SNOW OWL'S CHRISTMAS PARTY 133 



Aunt Prue thought it was taking a double risk 

 of fire to light them twice, as Obi and the Miller's 

 children were not coming for their gifts until 

 eight o'clock, but she finally consented, after set- 

 ting a pail of water nearby, in case of accident. 



Tommy- Anne waited anx- 

 iously until her aunt had left 

 the room, and then hastened 

 to the window. There was a 

 ;^ serious expression on her 

 face, and she seemed to 

 have grown taller since 

 morning. 



A sigh came from 

 the chimney, and a 

 voice that seemed to 

 come from the logs 

 said, "What is the mat- 

 ter, Tommy- Anne ? You 

 are thinking about some- 

 thing. Are you not pleased with your Christmas 

 gifts ? " 



" My dear Tree Man, are you here ? I was 

 wishing and wishing to see you." 



"That is why I came, Tommy- Anne." 

 "But, dear Heart of Nature," she said, almost 

 sobbing, " I'm not Tommy-Anne any longer. I've 



