CHRISTMAS IN ALASKA. 265 
good season, and dressed in their best blue fox for 
the day. 
Early in the afternoon, as the sun sank again behind 
its fir draperies, the Christmas tree was brought in, and 
set up near the fire. The boys and men were now all ban- 
ished to their own quarters, while the others decked the 
boughs with the little gayeties they had prepared. In 
the first place, a dozen tiny candles, " dipped " in bear's 
grease, were fastened on with pins. Then, some of Pees- 
chee's rose-hips, and streamers of gray moss, were added, 
and a lot of Mrs. Button's precious crab-apples hung here 
and there, giving a really gala effect to the whole. 
A few bits of bright-colored ribbon completed the 
adornment of the tree — but not its mission ; for now 
the gifts were placed among its branches, carefully 
labelled. Flossie clapped her hands, and fairly danced 
about it, as the candles were lighted and blazed up 
bravely. 
" Call the boys, Chloe, call the boys ! " said Mrs. But- 
ton ; and, with a vast deal of stamping and laughing, in 
they all came. A splendid fire was blazing on the hearth, 
with a huge "Yule Log" on top, sending a glorious sheet 
of red flame up the rude chimney. But the object in the 
room was the tree ! 
How those Indians did stare, to be sure, and glance 
apprehensively at the ceiling, to be sure the whole 
building was not on fire ! Never a word they said, how- 
ever, and you might have thought, after the first moment. 
