Do not allow the tips of the boughs or the end buds to get broken or rubbed off.
"Bring six smaller firs, ten feet tall, to set in a half circle on each side of the large tree.
"Bring us also a large box of 'lion's-paw,' as much as four or five bushels of the trailing vines.

And another large box of holly, carefully packed in more of the same soft vines, so that the berries shall not be shaken off.
"And, if you can find them, bring a dozen witches' brooms." The order was from the superintendent of a Sunday school at Portland.
This was the winter after our first memorable venture in selling Christmas trees in the city, when we had left the two large firs that we could not sell on the steps of two churches.

The _Eastern Argus_ had printed an item the next day, saying that the Sunday-school children wished to thank the unknown Santa Claus who had so kindly remembered them.
I suppose we should hardly have given away those two trees if we could have sold them; and my cousin Addison, who was always on the lookout to earn a dollar, sent a note afterward to the Sunday schools of both churches, informing them that we should be very glad to furnish them with Christmas trees in future, at fair rates.

Not less than five profitable orders came from that one gift, which did not really cost us anything.
"What in the world are 'witches' brooms' ?" Addison exclaimed, after reading the order.

Theodora echoed the query.