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<h2> XXIII. CHRISTMAS IN THE BARN* </h2>
<p>* From "In the Child's World," by Emilie Poulssen, Milton Bradley Co.,
Publishers. Used by permission.</p>
<p>F. ARNSTEIN</p>
<p>Only two more days and Christmas would be here! It had been snowing hard,
and Johnny was standing at the window, looking at the soft, white snow
which covered the ground half a foot deep. Presently he heard the noise of
wheels coming up the road, and a wagon turned in at the gate and came past
the window. Johnny was very curious to know what the wagon could be
bringing. He pressed his little nose close to the cold window pane, and to
his great surprise, saw two large Christmas-trees. Johnny wondered why
there were TWO trees, and turned quickly to run and tell mamma all about
it; but then remembered that mamma was not at home. She had gone to the
city to buy some Christmas presents and would not return until quite late.
Johnny began to feel that his toes and fingers had grown quite cold from
standing at the window so long; so he drew his own little chair up to the
cheerful grate fire and sat there quietly thinking. Pussy, who had been
curled up like a little bundle of wool, in the very warmest corner, jumped
up, and, going to Johnny, rubbed her head against his knee to attract his
attention. He patted her gently and began to talk to her about what was in
his thoughts.</p>
<p>He had been puzzling over the TWO trees which had come, and at last had
made up his mind about them. "I know now, Pussy," said he, "why there are
two trees. This morning when I kissed Papa good-bye at the gate he said he
was going to buy one for me, and mamma, who was busy in the house, did not
hear him say so; and I am sure she must have bought the other. But what
shall we do with two Christmas-trees?"</p>
<p>Pussy jumped into his lap and purred and purred. A plan suddenly flashed
into Johnny's mind. "Would you like to have one, Pussy?" Pussy purred more
loudly, and it seemed almost as though she had said yes.</p>
<p>"Oh! I will, I will! if mamma will let me. I'll have a Christmas-tree out
in the bam for you, Pussy, and for all the pets; and then you'll all be as
happy as I shall be with my tree in the parlour."</p>
<p>By this time it had grown quite late. There was a ring at the door-bell;
and quick as a flash Johnny ran, with happy, smiling face, to meet papa
and mamma and gave them each a loving kiss. During the evening he told
them all that he had done that day and also about the two big trees which
the man had brought. It was just as Johnny had thought. Papa and mamma had
each bought one, and as it was so near Christmas they thought they would
not send either of them back. Johnny was very glad of this, and told them
of the happy plan he had made and asked if he might have the extra tree.
Papa and mamma smiled a little as Johnny explained his plan but they said
he might have the tree, and Johnny went to bed feeling very happy.</p>
<p>That night his papa fastened the tree into a block of wood so that it
would stand firmly and then set it in the middle of the barn floor. The
next day when Johnny had finished his lessons he went to the kitchen, and
asked Annie, the cook, if she would save the bones and potato parings and
all other leavings from the day's meals and give them to him the following
morning. He also begged her to give him several cupfuls of salt and
cornmeal, which she did, putting them in paper bags for him. Then she gave
him the dishes he asked for—a few chipped ones not good enough to be
used at table—and an old wooden bowl. Annie wanted to know what
Johnny intended to do with all these things, but he only said: "Wait until
to-morrow, then you shall see." He gathered up all the things which the
cook had given him and carried them to the barn, placing them on a shelf
in one corner, where he was sure no one would touch them and where they
would be all ready for him to use the next morning.</p>
<p>Christmas morning came, and, as soon as he could, Johnny hurried out to
the barn, where stood the Christmas-tree which he was going to trim for
all his pets. The first thing he did was to get a paper bag of oats; this
he tied to one of the branches of the tree, for Brownie the mare. Then he
made up several bundles of hay and tied these on the other side of the
tree, not quite so high up, where White Face, the cow, could reach them;
and on the lowest branches some more hay for Spotty, the calf.</p>
<p>Next Johnny hurried to the kitchen to get the things Annie had promised to
save for him. She had plenty to give. With his arms and hands full he went
back to the barn. He found three "lovely" bones with plenty of meat on
them; these he tied together to another branch of the tree, for Rover, his
big black dog. Under the tree he placed the big wooden bowl, and filled it
well with potato parings, rice, and meat, left from yesterday's dinner;
this was the "full and tempting trough" for Piggywig. Near this he placed
a bowl of milk for Pussy, on one plate the salt for the pet lamb, and on
another the cornmeal for the dear little chickens. On the top of the tree
he tied a basket of nuts; these were for his pet squirrel; and I had
almost forgotten to tell you of the bunch of carrots tied very low down
where soft white Bunny could reach them.</p>
<p>When all was done, Johnny stood off a little way to look at this wonderful
Christmas-tree. Clapping his hands with delight, he ran to call papa and
mamma and Annie, and they laughed aloud when they saw what he had done. It
was the funniest Christmas-tree they had ever seen. They were sure the
pets would like the presents Johnny had chosen.</p>
<p>Then there was a busy time in the barn. Papa and mamma and Annie helped
about bringing in the animals, and before long, Brownie, White Face,
Spotty, Rover, Piggywig, Pussy, Lambkin, the chickens, the squirrel and
Bunny, the rabbit, had been led each to his own Christmas breakfast on and
under the tree. What a funny sight it was to see them all standing around
looking happy and contented, eating and drinking with such an appetite!</p>
<p>While watching them Johnny had another thought, and he ran quickly to the
house, and brought out the new trumpet which papa had given him for
Christmas. By this time the animals had all finished their breakfast and
Johnny gave a little toot on his trumpet as a signal that the tree
festival was over. Brownie went, neighing and prancing, to her stall,
White Face walked demurely off with a bellow, which Spotty, the calf,
running at her heels, tried to imitate; the little lamb skipped bleating
away; Piggywig walked off with a grunt; Pussy jumped on the fence with a
mew; the squirrel still sat up in the tree cracking her nuts; Bunny hopped
to her snug little quarters; while Rover, barking loudly, chased the
chickens back to their coop. Such a hubbub of noises! Mamma said it
sounded as if they were trying to say "Merry Christmas to you, Johnny!
Merry Christmas to all."</p>
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