and I have grown too old for such things," he added in a tone of melancholy resignation and with a slight sigh.
"A very sensible conclusion, my son," said the captain cheerfully, with a twinkle of amusement in his eye. "But now that you have grown so manly you can enjoy more than ever giving to others. The presents you have bought for your little cousins can be sent to be put on their trees, those for the poor to the schoolhouses; and if you choose you can be there to see the pleasure with which they are received. Remember what the Bible says: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
"Oh, yes, so it is!" cried the little fellow, his face brightening very much. "I do like to give presents and see how pleased folks look that get them."
"And as papa is so liberal to all of us in the matter of pocket money, we can every one of us have that pleasure," said Grace.
"Yes; and I know we're going to," laughed Ned. "We didn't go so many times to the city and stay so long there for nothing. And I don't believe grandma and papa and mamma did either."
"No," said his mother; "and I don't believe anybody – children, friend, relative, servant, or poor neighbor – will find himself neglected. And I am inclined to think the gifts will be enjoyed even if we have no tree."
"Oh, yes, mamma! and I'm glad to be the big fellow that I am, even if it does make me have to give up some of the fun I had when I was small," Ned remarked with an air of satisfaction.
"And to-night will be Christmas Eve, won't it, papa?" asked Elsie.
"Yes, daughter; and some of us will be going this afternoon to trim the tree in the schoolhouse. Do you, Elsie and Ned, want to be of the party?"
"Oh, yes, sir! yes, indeed!" was the joyous answering exclamation of both. Then Elsie asked: "Are you going too, mamma? Sisters Lu and Gracie too?" glancing inquiringly at them.
All three replied that they would like to go, but had some work to finish at home.
A part of that work was the trimming of the tree, which was brought in and set up after the departure of the captain, Elsie, and Ned for the schoolhouse.
Violet's brothers, Harold and Herbert, came in and gave their assistance as they had done some years before when Max, Lucilla, and Grace had been the helpers of their father at the schoolhouse. The young girls had enjoyed that, but this was even better, as those for whom its fruits were intended were nearer and dearer. They had a merry, happy time embellishing the tree with many ornaments, and hanging here and there mysterious packages, each carefully wrapped and labelled with the name of its intended recipient.
"There!" said Violet at length, stepping back a little and taking a satisfied survey, "I think we have finished."
"Not quite," said Harold. "But you and the girls may please retire while Herbert and I attend to some small commissions of our good brother – the captain."
"Ah! I was not aware that he had given you any," laughed Violet. "But come, girls, we will slip away and leave them to their own devices."
"I am entirely willing to do so," returned Lucilla gayly, following in her wake as she left the room.
"I, too," said Grace, hastening after them, "for one never loses by falling in with papa's plans."
"What is it, Harold?" asked Herbert. "The captain has not let me into his secret."
"Only that his gifts to them – his wife and daughters – are in this closet and to be taken out now and added to the fruits of this wondrous tree," replied Harold, taking a key from his pocket and unlocking a closet door.
"Ah! something sizable, I should say," laughed Herbert, as four large pasteboard boxes came into view.
"Yes; what do you suppose they contain?" returned his brother, as they drew them out. "Ah, this top one – somewhat smaller than the others – bears little Elsie's name, I see, and the other three must be for Vi, Lu, and Grace. Probably they are new cloaks or some sort of wraps."
"Altogether likely," assented Herbert. "Well, when they are opened in the course of the evening, we shall see how good a guess we have made.
And here," taking a little package from his pocket, "is something Chester committed to my care as his Christmas gift to his betrothed."
"Ah! do you know what it is?"
"Not I," laughed Herbert, "but though a great deal smaller than her father's present, it may be worth more as regards moneyed value."
"Yes; and possibly more as regards the giver; though Lu is evidently exceedingly fond of her father."
"Yes, indeed! as all his children are and have abundant reason to be."
Herbert hung the small package on a high branch, then said: "These large boxes we will pile at the foot of the tree; Vi's at the bottom, Elsie's at the top, the other two in between."
"A very good arrangement," assented Herbert, assisting him.
"There, we have quite finished and I feel pretty well satisfied with the result of our labors," said Harold, stepping a little away from the tree and scanning it critically from top to bottom.
"Yes," assented Herbert, "it is about as attractive a Christmas tree as I ever saw. It is nearing tea time now and the captain and the children will doubtless soon return. I think I shall accept his and Vi's invitation to stay to that meal; as you will, will you not?"
"Yes; if no call comes for my services elsewhere." And with that they went out, Harold locking the door and putting the key into his pocket.
They found the ladies in one of the parlors and chatted there with them until the Woodburn carriage was seen coming up the drive. It drew up before the door and presently Elsie and Ned came bounding in, merry and full of talk about all they had done and seen at the schoolhouse.
"We had just got all the things on the tree when the folks began to come," Elsie said: "and oh, Mamma, it was nice to see how glad they were to get their presents! I heard one little girl say to another, 'this is the purtiest bag, with the purtiest candy and the biggest orange ever I seed.' And the one she was talking to said, 'Yes, and so's mine. And aint these just the goodest cakes!' After that they each – each of the girls in the school I mean – had two pair of warm stockings and a woollen dress given them, and they went wild with delight."
"Yes; and the boys were just as pleased with their coats and shoes," said Ned. "And the old folks too with what they got, I guess. I heard some of them thank papa and say he was a very good, kind gentleman."
"As we all think," said Violet, with a pleased smile. "But come upstairs with me now; for it is almost tea time and you need to be made neat for your appearance at the table."
They were a merry party at the tea table and enjoyed their fare, but did not linger long over it. On leaving the table, Violet led the way to the room where she, her brothers, and Lucilla and Grace had been so busy; Harold produced the key and threw the door open, giving all a view of the Christmas tree with its tempting fruits and glittering ornaments.
Ned, giving a shout of delight, rushed in to take a nearer view, Elsie following close in his wake, the older ones not far behind her. Christine, having another key to the door, had been there before them and lighted up the room and the tree so that it could be seen to the very best advantage.
"Oh, what a pile of big, big boxes!" exclaimed Elsie. "And there's my name on the top one! Oh, papa, may I open it?"
