lowing their father and
Violet into the house.

A Newfoundland dog, a magnificent specimen of his race, met them almost
at the threshold.

"Oh!" cried the children, in excited chorus, "where, did he come from?
Whose dog is he?"

"Max's; a Christmas gift from papa," answered the captain.

"Oh!" exclaimed Max, his face sparkling all over with delight, "what a
splendid fellow! Papa, thank you ever so much! You couldn't have given
me a more acceptable present."

"Ah? I'm glad you like him. But come into the library, all of you, for a
moment. It is not quite tea time yet."

The captain led the way as he spoke, everybody else following.

"Howdy do? Where you been?" called out a rather harsh voice, and sending
a surprised, inquiring glance about in search of the speaker, the
children presently spied a cage with a parrot in it; an African parrot;
grey, with a scarlet tail.

"Polly wants a cracker!" screamed the bird. "Time for breakfast, Lu!
Where you been?"

"How will Polly suit you for a Christmas gift, Lulu?" asked the captain,
smiling down into the flushed, delighted face of his eldest daughter.

"O papa, is it for me?" she cried half breathlessly.

"Yes, if you want it, though I fear she may prove a rather troublesome
pet. Here is Gracie's gift from papa," he added, pointing to a beautiful
Maltese kitten curled upon the rug before the fire. "We mustn't let
Max's big gift swallow your little one. I trust that in time we can
teach them to be friends."

Grace loved kittens and was no less delighted with her present than her
brother and sister with theirs.

"O the pretty pet!" she exclaimed, dropping down on the rug beside it
and gently stroking its soft fur. "I'd like to take you on my lap,
pretty pussy, but you're fast asleep, and I won't wake you."

"That is right, my darling; I am glad to see my little girl thoughtful
of the comfort of even a cat," her father said, bending down to stroke
Gracie's hair with tenderly caressing hand.

"I s'pose they have feelings as well as other folks, papa," she said,
smiling up affectionately into his face. "I mean to be very kind to this
pretty pussy; and oh I'm ever so much obliged to you for her!"

His reply was prevented by a sudden, loud bark from the dog, as he spied
pussy on the rug.

"Turn him out into the hall, May," the captain said, hastily stepping in
between dog and cat. "Don't be alarmed for your pet, Gracie; he shall
not be permitted to harm her."

"N