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What Might Have Been Expected by Frank R. Stockton
page 45 of 206 (21%)
was suspended near the top of the tree. Kate did not fancy the
appearance of the jug, and she wreathed it with strings of glittering
glass balls; and the shoulder of bacon she stuck full of red berries and
holly-leaves. Harry contributed a bright red handkerchief for Aunt
Matilda's head, and Kate gave a shawl which was yellower than a
sunflower, if such a thing could be. And Harry bore the general expenses
of the "extras," which were not trifling.

When Christmas eve arrived everybody came to see Aunt Matilda's
Christmas tree. Kate and Harry were inside superintending the final
arrangements, and about fifty or sixty persons, colored and white, were
gathered around the closed door of the old cabin. When all was ready
Aunt Matilda made her appearance, supported on either side by Dick Ford
and John Walker, while Uncle Braddock, in his many-colored
dressing-gown, followed close behind. Then the door was opened, and Aunt
Matilda entered, followed by as many of the crowd as could get in. It
was certainly a scene of splendor. A wood fire blazed in the fireplace
at one end of the cabin, while dozens of tallow candles lighted up the
tree. The gold and silver stars glistened, the many-colored glass balls
shone among the green pine boughs; the shoulder of bacon glowed like a
bed of flowers, while the jug of molasses hung calm and serene,
surrounded by its glittering beads. A universal buzz of approbation and
delight arose. No one had ever seen such a Christmas tree before. Every
bough and every branch bore something useful as well as ornamental.

As for Aunt Matilda, for several moments she remained speechless with
delight. At last she exclaimed:

"Laws-a-massey! It's wuth while being good for ninety-five years to git
such a tree at las'."
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