The  streets  were  so  full  I  could  hardly  make  my
way  through,  and  the  sale  of  trees  went  on  more
rapidly  than  ever.  These  were  commonly
branches  of  pine  or  fir,  set 'upright  in  a  little
miniature  garden  of  moss.  When  the  lamps
were  lighted  at  night,  our  street  had  the  appear-
a nee  of  an  illuminated  garden.  We  were  pro-
hibited from  entering  the  rooms  up  stairs  in
which  the  grand  ceremony  was  to  take  place,
being  obliged  to  take  our  seats  in  those  arranged
for  the  guests,  and  wait  with  impatience  the
hour  when  Christ -^indchen  should  call.  Sev-
eral relations  of  tho  family. came,  and  what  was
more  agreeable,  they  brought  with  them  five  or
six  children.  I  was  anxious  to  see  how  they
would  view  the  ceremony.  Finally,  in  the  mid-
dle of  an  interesting  conversation,  we  heard  the
bell  ringing  up  stairs.  We  all  started  up  and
made  for  the  door.  I  ran  up  the  ^teps  with  the
children  at  my  heels,  and  at  the  top  met  a  blaze
of  light  coming  from  the  open  door,  that  dazzled
me.  In  each  room  stood  a  great  table,  oil  which


120  VIEWS  A-FOOT.
the  presents  were  arranged,  amid  flowers  and
wreaths.  From  the  centre,  rose  the  beautiful
Christinas  tree  covered  with  wax  tapers  to  the
very  top,  which  made  it  nearly  as  light  as  day,
while  every  bough  was  hung  with  sweetmeats
and  gilded  nuts.  The  children  ran  shouting
around  the  table,  hunting  their  presents,  while
the  older  persons  had  theirs  pointed  out  to  them.
I  had  quite  a  little  library  of  German  authors
as  my  share ;  and  many  of  the  others  received
quite  valuable  gifts.
But  how  beautiful  was  the  heart-felt  joy  that
shone  on  every  countenance !  As  each  one  dis.
