The colored people employed on the Fairview estate attended there also,
and were to have a share in the entertainment provided for those of
Woodburn and Ion; so the children of the three families united in the
work of ornamenting first one building, then the other, finding it great
sport, and flattering themselves that they were of great assistance,
though the older people who were overseeing matters, and the servants
acting under their direction, were perhaps of a different opinion. Yet
the sight of the enjoyment of the little folks more than atoned for the
slight inconvenience of having them about.

Christmas came on Wednesday and the holidays had begun for them all the
Friday before. Lessons would not be taken up again till after New Year's
day.

It had been decided at Woodburn that they would not go to Ion till
Christmas morning, as they all preferred to celebrate Christmas eve at
home. The children were going to hang up their stockings, but had not
been told that they would have a tree or any gifts. They thought, and
had said to each other, that perhaps papa might think the money he had
given them to spend and to give, and the privilege of selecting objects
for his benevolence, was enough from him, but the friends at Ion and
Fairview always had remembered them, and most likely would do so again.

"Still they may not," Lulu added with a slight sigh when she talked the
matter over with Max and Grace that morning, for the last time; "for
they are all giving more than usual to missions and disabled ministers,
and poor folks, and I don't know what else; but it's real fun to give to
the poor round here; I mean it will be to help put things on the trees
and then see how pleased they'll all be when they get 'em: at least I do