Aunt Vic said that would never do. She had Dorris and
Jim-Bo turn the tree around this way and that. Still, it wouldn't
stand straight.
Finally, Mister Shepherd sent Wallace Goode home to get a
hand saw so he could trim off the bottom of the trunk. Then he
showed Jim-Bo how to brace the tree by nailing on three short
boards.
Mister Shepherd and Jim-Bo and Dorris raised the big holly
again. This time it stood straight, but the top scraped against
the ceiling, just a little bit.
"Miss Vic, will this be all right?" Mister Shepherd asked.
"Oh, sure. A bent twig or two won't matter. Our star will
cover the tip top anyway. One of you tall boys-Dorris, you'll
do-climb up the ladder and fasten on the star. And wire it tight!
It fell last year, remember!"
I didn't remember, but the boys did. They laughed.
"Boys, y'all lend a hand," Aunt Vic said, "and let's get the
decorations on. Somebody tell those ladies in the back to put
down their dust cloths and come help fasten the candles. Let's
see, we ought'a drape the strings of popcorn around first.
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