Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

and when we brought it in we made (as we thought) a lot of noise about it: once we scraped the ceiling under Mother’s bedroom. The tree was about a foot too tall, so we cut that off. Then we began decorating it; Frances + Louise had gotten everything ready to tie on, and soon the tree was all a-glitter with all sorts of spangles and baubles, gold + silver stuff and the other decorations. Then, putting on the candles, the others told me I had to go to bed, as there was a surprise for me too. As I went into my room I asked Fred, who was still awake, if he had heard anything and he replied “No.” A moment later Frances came up and asked him the same question!
         Altho its only about ten o’clock now, still I’m rather sleepy, but I can hardly wait until to-morrow to see what I’ll get, for I haven’t the slightest idea – I never asked for anything.
                                                                 Dec. 26 1910.
         This morning I was awakened by a certain vague bustling going on, and while sleepily wondering what it was all about. Joe rushed in and told me to get up; then I realized what was going on, so I jumped out + dressed hurriedly. In startlingly short time we were all ready, telling Mother + Fred to