st all
make speeches to Peepsy, because that is the proper thing. Countess
Kinchinjunga, produce the feast!" Nibble said this with a very lordly
air, and waved his hand with great dignity; but unfortunately at that
moment he lost his balance, and rolled off the hay-cock, to the great
amusement of the other mice. But Brighteyes uttered a cry of distress.
"Oh! Nibble, you have rolled on Tomty's cup of tea and upset it. What
shall we do?"

"Never mind, Miss!" said Tomty, smiling, "sure I'm not hungry, Miss, let
alone it's almost dinner time. And thank ye kindly all the same, Miss
Brighteyes."

[Illustration]

"Well, Tomty, you shall hear the speeches, anyhow," said Nibble,
consolingly, "and that will be the best part of it; though I am very
sorry I upset the tea," he added, "and you shall have my gingerbread
bird, if you like, instead." But Tomty declined the bird, with many
thanks; and now the "party" began in earnest. Grim was untied, and a
sharp whistle from Tomty brought Gruff and Grab to see what was going
on. Each dog received a huge bone as his share of the feast, and each
showed his delight in his own way. Then the five gingerbread birds were
distributed, and the wooden turkey, which was certainly a work of art,
was placed before Peepsy's cage with a great deal of ceremony. Peepsy
himself manifested no excitement, but no doubt he enjoyed himself in his
own way. Then the turkey was handed round to all the dolls, Fanny
Elssler and Katinka and Sally Bradford; and Puff declared that they all
had as much as they could possibly eat, which was probably true. When
the feast was over, Nibble rose and said, solemnly, "the speeches will
now begin. Tomty, you are the oldest, and you shall make the first
speech to Peepsy." "Is it the little tin fowl in the cage, sir?" asked
Tomty. "Well, Mr. Peepsy, I've lived forty years, men and boy, and never
made a speech yet, sir, but here's wishing you good health, and long
life to you, Mr. Peepsy; and if you live till you sing a song, you'll
come to a good old age, I'm thinking." And Tomty sat down, amid the
applause of his audience.

"That was a very good speech, Tomty," said Nibble, with a patronizing
air, "though it was short. Now hear mine, all of you. Ahem!" and the
young orator, standing on the top of his hay-cock, struck an imposing
attitude. "Friends, Romans, and Tomty, lend me your ears! this is
Peepsy's birthday, and he is one year old. I bought him myself at Jane
Evans's