The Christmas Tree and Other Christmas Tales. Sarah P. Doughty

yesterday. But oh, mother! did you ever see so many pretty things? Am I not very happy?”

      “I hope so, indeed, my dear boy,” answered Mrs. Duncan, smiling; “but pretty things do not always make us happy.”

      “Not unless we are good, you mean, mother. But I will try to be good. Only look at this humming-top!”

      “It is a fine one, Willie. Here is a cord. Try if you can spin it.”

      The top was soon whirling merrily upon the floor, and humming so loudly that Willie had to clap his hands once more; and even baby, who was pillowed up in his crib, unpacking his own wee little stocking, dropped the china pussy-cat, which he had just taken out, and stretched his little hands toward the top, crowing with delight.

      But now mother said that both Willie and baby must put by their toys, and be dressed for breakfast; and she gave Willie a basket to put all his new treasures into, that he might carry them down stairs easily, and exhibit them to his father.

      “And what will you buy with the gold dollar, Willie?” asked Mr. Duncan, after he had examined and admired all the pretty gifts.

      Willie looked very thoughtful as he replied, “I should like to do some good with it, father. I think I ought to,—do not you?”

      “We ought always to try to do good, Willie; but I am not sure that I quite understand what you mean.”

      “I heard you say the other day, father, that we should love to share with others the blessings which the Lord gives to us.”

      “That is right, my son: I did say something of the kind.”

      “Well, father, I have a great many blessings this morning,—all these pretty toys; and so I think I ought to spend the gold dollar for other people.”

      “I am glad you think so, Willie. And who would you like to spend it for?”

      “If you are willing, father, I should like to give it to lame Georgie to buy a book. He told me, a few days ago, that he wanted very much to buy a book called ‘Rollo at Work,’ because there is a story in it about a lame boy named Georgie, just like him. You know Georgie’s father is poor; and I do not think he can spare the money to buy a book. May I give him my dollar, father?”

      “Certainly, Willie: you may take it to him as soon as you have eaten your breakfast.”

      Willie’s eyes sparkled with delight. His breakfast was quickly eaten, and his warm comforter and mittens put on.

      “May I go to the bookstore and buy the book for Georgie, if he wishes me to, mother?” he asked; “and may I stay with him a little while?”

      Mrs. Duncan readily granted her permission; for although Georgie’s father and mother were poor, yet they were very worthy people, and had taught him to be an obedient, good boy, so that Willie’s parents were quite willing that he should sometimes go to play with him.

      Willie found Georgie sitting in his usual seat by the fireside, with a small stand placed near him, on which were a little box and a new gimlet.

      “O Willie,” he exclaimed joyfully, as Willie entered, “I am so glad you have come! Only see what nice Christmas-gifts I have got! Father bought me this new gimlet; and a kind lady, who comes to see my mother sometimes, sent me this pretty dissected map. I have been playing with it all the morning.”

      As Georgie spoke, he opened the box which stood upon the stand, and showed Willie that it contained a map of the world, cut into small pieces, which could all be neatly fitted together. Willie had several maps of this kind at home; and he was just going to say that he did not think this was much of a present, and to tell Georgie how many pretty toys he had received, when he remembered that it would not be kind to do so; and he said, pleasantly,—

      “It is a very pretty map, Georgie: I am glad the lady gave it to you. And what a nice gimlet! You can bore large holes with this.”

      “Yes,” replied Georgie: “you know I have a small one; and I have wanted a large one for a long time. But tell me about your presents, Willie; for I am sure you have had a great many.”

      “Yes, I have had a good many,” answered Willie; “and I have brought one of them to you.”

      So saying, Willie took out the little box, which contained the gold dollar, and handed it to Georgie.

      “What a pretty little box!” said Georgie: “I never saw so small a one in my life. Thank you, Willie!”

      “Open it, Georgie!” exclaimed Willie, laughing: “it has got your new book in it.”

      “My new book!” said Georgie: “it must be a very small one, then. O Willie, what a beautiful gold dollar!” he exclaimed, as he took off the cover. “Do you mean to give all this to me?”

      “Yes, Georgie: it is to buy the book that you want so much.”

      “You are very kind, Willie! I shall be so happy to have that book! I wish I could walk to the bookstore, and I would go for it this minute.”

      “I can go,” replied Willie. “Mother gave me leave; and, when I come back, we will read the book, Georgie, and I will tell you all about my presents; for I can stay with you a while.”

      Georgie was very glad to hear this; and Willie took the gold dollar, and ran joyfully away.

      He very soon returned, with the much-wished-for book in his hand.

      “Here it is, Georgie,” he said; “and here is a half-dollar in change: that is enough to buy another book, if you wish.“

      “But I think you ought to keep the half-dollar, Willie. This book is enough for you to give me. I am sure I am very much obliged to you.”

      “Oh, no, Georgie! I meant to give you the whole dollar. Shall I run back to the bookstore, and buy another Rollo book? There are a great many different kinds.”

      Georgie thought for a moment; and then he said,—

      “No, Willie: I think it would not be right. I have my new map, my gimlet, and this pretty book: I am very happy to have such beautiful presents. And now, if you are so kind as to give me this half-dollar, I should like to buy something to give to some one who is not so happy as I am.”

      “That is right, Georgie,” said Willie. “Father says we should always be willing to share our blessings with others. But what will you buy, Georgie?”

      “There is a little girl in the other part of this house,” replied Georgie, “who has been ill for a long time. Her mother is poor, and cannot buy her many nice things, such as sick people need. I think I should like to buy some nice grapes with the half-dollar, and give them to her for Christmas.”

      “Oh, yes, Georgie!” exclaimed Willie. “She will like them, I am sure: for once, when I was ill, my mother bought a bunch of grapes for me; and they tasted so good!”

      Georgie’s mother now came into the room; and Georgie showed her the book, and asked her if he could buy grapes for the sick girl with the half-dollar. She was quite willing, and said that she was going out for a little while, and would take the money, and buy the grapes.

      “And please come home before Willie goes away, mother,” said Georgie; “for I want him to go with me to give Mary the grapes.”

      Georgie’s mother said she would not stay long; and then she put on her bonnet and shawl, and went away, while the two little boys amused themselves very pleasantly with the new book and the map. Willie also told Georgie about his Christmas-gifts, and promised to bring the humming-top to show him the next time that he came.

      Very soon Georgie’s mother came, with a paper containing some beautiful bunches of white grapes; and Georgie took his crutches, which he was obliged to use in walking, and, asking Willie to bring the grapes, he led the way to the part of the house where little Mary and her mother lived.

      They found the little sick girl lying upon a small cot-bed.