Poor Mrs Herzchen nearly began to cry. If only she had not been so silly! Never, never would she neglect to get a tree again! She ought to have considered other people's prejudices, and Christmas--O well, Christmas only comes once a year. "I've got a surprise for mother," whispered Gretel, aged ten. "I am going to recite a Christmas poem." "And I am going to tell the Christmas story from the Bible," said Hansi. "I have made a letter-box for father," said Fritz. "Hush, hush! the bells are ringing--don't you hear them across the snow?" the children whispered to one another. "But what is that other bell, so soft, so musical and clear!" "That is the summons for us all to enter," said Paul. The door flew open, and there stood the most lovely Christmas tree they had ever seen or imagined, all dazzling with silver; silver cones, silver fish, silver nuts and acorns, and red candles, and over all an exquisitely spun cobweb of frost. "That's my surprise for you all," said Hansi, who could hardly contain herself for joy. "I found the tree, and the dear, darling Heinzelmen brought it home for me." Mrs Herzchen was speechless with astonishment, and her husband not less so. "How very extravagant," they said, "but how elegant and beautiful! Who can have given it to us?" But now the children began to sing the sweet German carol sung in every house on Christmas Eve: "O peaceful night, O holy night," and then, in her earnest, childish way, Hansi told the story of the birth of the Christ-child in the Manger of Bethlehem. Gretel then stood up eagerly to recite the carol she had learnt at school. THE CHILDREN'S KING. "Dear children come On Christmas night, Put on your gowns Of purest white. Speak not a word Until you see The sweet Christ child On Mary's knee. There lies the Babe An Infant frail. Is this the King Whom nations hail? A helpless King! His mother's arm Must hold him safe From threatened harm. A tender King, Most young and sweet, With dimpled hands And tiny feet! A Baby King: Yet cherubim Veil their bright eyes To look on Him. A mighty King! For God above Has crowned Him Lord And King of Love. Come kneel and pray, Ye children dear, The children's King Is lying here!" A glow of warmth and happiness illumined the whole family, and they felt nearer to one another than ever before. The tears actually came into their mother's eyes, when she realised that they had so nearly missed this moment of supreme joy. She felt a little ashamed of her presents, and for once in a way suspected herself of having been _too_ sensible. "We are not so very poor after all," she thought. "I might have bought a few toys that would have delighted the children's hearts, and not have cost much money. But now it is too late!"