The children were so full of the play , and telling all about it , that they forgot their tree till after supper ; but when they went to look for it they found it gone , and in its place a great paper hand with one finger pointing down stairs , and on it these mysterious words in red ink : `` Look in the Browns ' back parlor ! '' At the door of that interesting apartment they found their mother with Will and Petkin , for another hand had suddenly appeared to them pointing up . The door flew open quite as if it were a fairy play , and they went in to find a pretty tree planted in a red box on the centre table , lighted with candles , hung with gilded nuts , red apples , gay bonbons , and a gift for each . Mr. Chrome was hidden behind one folding-door , and fat Mrs. Smith squeezed behind the other , and they both thought it a great improvement upon the old-fashioned Santa Claus to have Miss Kent , in the white dress she made for the party , with Mrs. Blake 's roses in her hair , step forward as the children gazed in silent rapture , and with a few sweet words welcome them to the little surprise their friends had made . There were many Christmas trees in the city that night , but none which gave such hearty pleasure as the one which so magically took the place of the broken branch and its few poor toys . They were all there , however , and Dolly and Polly were immensely pleased to see that of all her gifts Petkin chose the forlorn bird to carry to bed with her , the one yellow feather being just to her taste . Mrs. Blake put on her neat bonnet , and was so gratified that Miss Kent thought it the most successful one she ever trimmed . She was well paid for it by the thanks of one neighbor and the admiration of another ; for when she went to her party Mr. Chrome went with her , and said something on the way which made her heart dance more lightly than her feet that night . Good Mrs. Smith felt that her house had covered itself with glory by this event , and Dolly and Polly declared that it was the most perfect and delightful surprise party ever seen . It was all over by nine o'clock , and with good-night kisses for every one the little girls climbed up to bed laden with treasures and too happy for many words . But as they tied their round caps Dolly said , thoughtfully : `` On the whole , I think it 's rather nice to be poor when people are kind to you . '' `` Well , I 'd rather be rich ; but if I ca n't be , it is very good fun to have Christmas trees like this one , '' answered truthful Polly , never guessing that they had planted the seed from which the little pine-tree grew so quickly and beautifully . When the moon came to look in at the window on her nightly round , two smiling faces lay on the pillow , which was no longer wet with tears , but rather knobby with the mine of riches hidden underneath , -- first fruits of the neighborly friendship which flourished in that house until another and a merrier Christmas came . III . THE DOLLS ' JOURNEY FROM MINNESOTA TO MAINE . Mr. Plum lived in St. Paul , Minnesota , U.S.A. . There were six little Plums , all girls , varying in ages from fourteen to seven , and named Kate , Lucy , Susy , Lizzy , Marjory and Maggie . There was no mamma , but Mrs. Gibbs , the housekeeper , was a kind old soul , and papa did everything he could to make the small daughters good and happy . One stormy Saturday afternoon the children were all together in the school-room , and papa busy at his desk in the library , with the door open because he liked to hear the pleasant voices and catch glimpses of the droll plays that went on there . Kate lay on the sofa reading `` The Daisy Chain '' for the fourth time .
Susy , XXXXX and Lizzie were having a select tea party in their own recess , the entrance to which was barricaded with chairs to keep out the `` babies , '' as they called the little ones , who were much offended at being excluded and sat up in the cushioned window-seat pensively watching the rain .
Daisy Dolly Kate Lucy Paul afternoon bonbons first night pine-tree