Polly opened the door, and the children rushed in.
"Oh! Oh!" said Polly.
"Oh! Oh!" said Peter.
Such a beautiful tree they had never before seen. It was hung with
strings of popped corn and red cranberries. It was covered with colored
balls and big gold stars. Over it was white, shiny stuff that looked
like snow.
It had candy bags and oranges. At the top, there was a doll with wings.
And there were many boxes and packages.
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" said both children again.
"Do you like it?" asked mother.
"I never saw anything so pretty," said Polly. "Is that a fairy at the
top?"
"I think it is Santa Claus's little girl," said Peter. "I should like to
have her for my own."
"Should you rather have that than anything else here?" asked father.
"I think so, father. May I?"
"Walk around the tree and see if you are sure, my son."
Peter did as he was told. He had not taken many steps when he jumped
back with a cry.
"What is it? What is it?" he asked.
Polly ran forward, and what do you think she saw?
On the other side of the tree something moved. Polly saw two large eyes,
two long ears, a brown head, and then she knew that it was a pony.
"Peter, Peter!" she cried, "here is the pony! It is on the Christmas
tree! O Peter, Peter, Peter!"
"Lead her out," said father. "She will come with you. She likes
children."
So Polly took hold of the little strap. And the pony walked out into the
room after her.
"Her name is Brownie," said father. "She is grandmother's present to you
and Peter. She is half yours and half Peter's."
"O grandmother!" cried Polly. "I thank you now, but I will thank you
better by and by."
"Which half is mine, grandmother?" asked Peter.
"Half of both halves," said grandmother. "Why?"
"Nothing," said Peter. "I love both her halves. And I love you, too. And
I love the tree, and Christmas, and everybody."
"And so you should," said father. "Come now, we will take Brownie to her
stable. Then you may get the presents off the tree."