"Oh, dear! it seems as though Christmas Eve never would come," sighed
Bertha, as she settled herself for sleep beside her sister.

It was quite a cold night, but they were cosy and warm. Why
shouldn't they be? They were covered with a down feather bed. Their
mother had the same kind of cover on her own bed, and so had Hans.

But Christmas Eve did come at last, although it seemed so far off to
Bertha the night before. Hans and his father brought in the bough of
a yew-tree, and it was set up in the living-room.

The decorating came next. Tiny candles were fastened on all the
twigs. Sweetmeats and nuts were hung from the branches.

"How beautiful! How beautiful!" exclaimed the children when it was
all trimmed, and they walked around it with admiring eyes.

None of the presents were placed on the tree, for that is not the
fashion in Germany. Each little gift had been tied up in paper and
marked with the name of the one for whom it was intended.

When everything was ready, there was a moment of quiet while the
candles were being lighted. Then Bertha's father began to give out
the presents, and there was a great deal of laughing and joking as
the bundles were opened.

There was a new red skirt for Bertha. Her mother had made it, for
she knew the child was fond of pretty dresses. Besides this, she had
a pair of warm woollen mittens which Gretchen had knit for her. Hans
had made and carved a doll's cradle for each of the girls.