Everybody talked about it, a great many laughed at it, and nearly everybody seemed inclined to give something to hang upon its branches.
Kate brought a large box containing the decorations of her last Christmas tree, and she and Harry hung sparkling balls, and golden stars, and silver fishes, and red and blue paper angels, and candy swans, and sugar pears, and glittering things of all sorts, shapes, and sizes upon the boughs.

Harry had a step-ladder, and Dick Ford and five colored boys held it firmly while he stood on it and tied on the ornaments.

Very soon the neighbors began to send in their contributions.
Mrs.Loudon gave a stout woollen dress, which was draped over a lower branch; while Mr.Loudon, who was not to be diverted from his original idea, sent an army blanket, which Kate arranged around the root of the tree, so as to look as much as possible like gray moss.

Mr.Darby, who kept the store, sent a large paper bag of sugar and a small bag of tea, which were carefully hung on lower branches.

Miss Jane Davis thought she ought to do something, and she contributed a peck of sweet potatoes, which, each tied to a string, were soon dangling from the branches.