and I do love you, and beg you to forgive me."

And the roguish face stooped over the pillow to be kissed; and out of a
pocket in the hooded coat came forth the Christmas Angel. In the face
it bore a strong family likeness to the drayman, but its feet were
hidden in folds of snowy muslin, and on its head glittered a tinsel
star.

"How lovely!" said the child. "Father told me about this. I like it
best of all. And it is very kind of you, for it is not your fault that
I caught cold. I should have liked it if we could have done it, but I
think to enjoy being a snowman, one should be snow all through."

They had tea together, and then the invalid was tucked up for the
night. The dray was put away in the cupboard, but he took the angel to
bed with him.

And so ended the first of the Three Christmas Trees.

* * * * *

Except for a warm glow from the wood fire in the stove, the room was
dark; but about midnight it seemed to the child that a sudden blaze of
light filled the chamber. At the same moment the window curtains were
drawn aside, and he saw that the spruce fir had come close up to the
panes and was peeping in. Ah! how beautiful it looked! It had become a
Christmas tree. Lighted tapers shone from every familiar branch, toys
of the most fascinating appearance hung like fruit, and on the tip-top
shoot there stood the Christmas Angel. He tried to count the candles,
but somehow it was impossible. When he looked at them they seemed to