Yet bright red apples there you'll see, And oranges of high degree-- Apples and oranges on one tree!" "That sounds very strange," quoth little Willee. "No flowers bloom there, snowy white, Yet with these fruits--a curious sight-- Are oft seen flowers both red and white! Should you climb to the top without a fall, Your head might bump against the wall, But not against the sky, you see, For indoors-stands the Christmas-tree!" "You tell very big stories," quoth little Willee. "No birdie there doth build its nest, No king-bird, blue-bird, robin redbreast, Yet eggs thereon are often seen. Of beautiful colors, pink, and green, And purple, and lavender, fit for a queen. Even eggs with pictures on them are found. And with golden bands which circle around. But from all these eggs so fair to see Are hatched no birds in that Christmas-tree; Instead, are hatched candy and gumdrops!" said he. "Are you telling the truth?" asked little Willee. "I've not told half, I do declare, Of all those wondrous branches bear. Bear? They bear dolls and whips and drums, Tops, whistles, taffy, sugar-plums, And candy sheep, and candy cats, And candy birds, and candy rats, And India-rubber girls and boys, Bear trumpets and all kinds of toys, Bear books, and jumping-jacks, and mittens, And little cotton-flannel kittens; And over the whole of this Christmas-tree Candles are burning right merrily! What think you of this? my sweet Willie-wee?" "I think you are fooling!" said little Willee. Next morning young Willie, with serious air, Put earth in a flower-pot, and buried up there A seed of an apple with very great care. "Pray, what are you doing, you rogue Willie-wee?" "I am planting a seed for a Chrissermas tree! Is not that good to do?" asked little Willee. --There came from that seed a green little shoot Which put out its leaves and firmly took root, And so finely did thrive that at last it was found Too large for the house and was set in the ground, Where it grew up, a tree, one scarcely knew how. Look down by the wall; it is standing there now. It blossoms in springtime, and many a nest Has been built there by king-bird and robin redbreast; And other birdies too oft come to the tree And sing there and swing there, oh, so merrily; They make it all summer our joy and delight; And in fall of the year 'tis a beautiful sight When the clustering wealth of its apples is seen-- Its ruby red apples all set in their green! --And Willie? Yes, he grew up, too, young Willie- wee, And went as a sailor-boy over the sea. He sailed in a ship to some far distant shore;