Page:Danish fairy and folk tales.djvu/95

 "I never heard the like! Ada says she intends to keep Christmas here for her pup, and we are invited, all three!"

How could Ada think of such a thing! Well, there is no moment to be lost; it is already late in the afternoon. A number of hurried visits are made to many different stores, and at length the preparations are finished.

A beautiful Christmas-tree is lighted in Uncle Peter's study. His furniture locks quite amazed at the strange spectacle.

But the door is opened, admitting the surprised faces of mama and papa. Uncle Peter nods and beams upon them with his large, benevolent face.

"Children, children!" exclaims mama. "Why did you run away in such a manner? Papa and I were very uneasy about you."

"We could not come home yet, mama," objects John. "Ada keeps Christmas for her puppy, and we are all invited, you know!"

A ray from the Christmas star kisses his eager, upturned face, and his mother follows its example.

"Follow me," whispers the twinkling star, "to narrow dwellings, where hearts grow faint and