suggestion met with no favor at all.

At last Mr. Loudon advised that they should ask Aunt Matilda what she
would like to have for a present.

"There's no better way of suiting her than that," said he.

So Harry and Kate went down to the old woman's cabin that afternoon,
after school, and asked her.

Aunt Matilda did not hesitate an instant.

"Ef you chil'en is really a-goin' to give me a present, there ain't
nothin' I'd rather have than a Chrismis tree."

"A Christmas tree!" cried Harry and Kate both bursting out laughing.

"Yes, indeed, chil'en. Ef ye give me anything, give me a good big fiery
Chrismis tree like you all had, year 'fore las'."

Two years before, Harry and Kate had had their last Christmas tree.
There were no younger children, and these two were now considered to
have outgrown that method of celebrating Christmas. But they had missed
their tree last year--missed it very much.

And now Aunt Matilda wanted one. It was the very thing!

"Hurrah!" cried Harry; "you shall have it. Hurrah for Aunt Matilda's
Christmas tree!"