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aeronautics, Mr. Lee declared; but Dick good-~
humoredly took the teasing.

Then the little tree was brought in and it was
decided to trim it then and there, instead or
waiting till after dinner. Amy Lou was much
excited when all the trimmings were brought
out. But she sighed as she recognized some
favorite decorations saved from the old days
in the village. "And I used to think that Santa
Claus brought them!" she said with some regret.

"Don't you believe in Santa Claus now?"
asked Doris.

"No. Do you?"

"Mother says Santa Claus is the 'Spirit of
Christmas,'" returned Doris.

"Yes. But it would have been so nice if he
could have been just himself and really, you
know, come down the chimneys."

"Oh, well, we'll keep on pretending, and hang-
up our stockings just the same."

"Yes," brightly Amy Lou answered. "It's
just as true as it ever was, I suppose."

Mrs. Lee and Betty, who were listening,
turned aside to hide their smiles at Amy Lou's
philosophy. "Poor little soul!" whispered
Betty. "But she will be happy when she sees
all we have for her!"

They need not have pitied Amy Lou at all,


[[150]]
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