The chapter opens with a description of a Christmas tree, which the narrator assures us is not a real tree, but rather a "treachery" of naughty children. The narrator then launches into a long rant about naughty children and the evils of "animal hell" and "turer bird brains" . The children are cleaning the tree, and the narrator wonders if they should climb down to the chimney and boil some water to clean it. He then wonders if it is necessary to clean the tree after it has been "washed" with soap and water. He also wonders if there are any naughty boys or girls in the house, and wonders if "dark santa" , a traditional German folk figure, is there. He is like a foil to Santa Claus, who punishes the naughty children, and so the children should be cleaned up before they go back to the house.
The chapter opens with a description of a Christmas tree, which the narrator assures us is not a real tree, but rather a "treachery" of naughty children. The narrator then launches into a long rant about naughty children and the evils of "animal hell" and "turer bird brains" . The children are cleaning the tree, and the narrator wonders if they should climb down to the chimney and boil some water to clean it. He then wonders if it is necessary to clean the tree after it has been "washed" with soap and water. He also wonders if there are any naughty boys or girls in the house, and wonders if "dark santa" , a traditional German folk figure, is there. He is like a foil to Santa Claus, who punishes the naughty children, and so the children should be cleaned up before they go back to the house.