sed
babies go dangling and dawdling about without names, for months and
months, was enough to ruin them for life. She also said that if one
could not make up one's mind in twenty-four hours it was a sign
that--But I will not repeat the rest, as it might prejudice you against
the most charming woman in the world.

So Donald took his new velocipede and went out to ride up and down the
stone pavement and notch the shins of innocent people as they passed by,
while Paul spun his musical top on the front steps.

But Hugh refused to leave the scene of action. He seated himself on the
top stair in the hall, banged his head against the railing a few times,
just by way of uncorking the vials of his wrath, and then subsided into
gloomy silence, waiting to declare war if more "first girl babies" were
thrust upon a family already surfeited with that unnecessary article.

Meanwhile dear Mrs. Bird lay in her room, weak, but safe and happy, with
her sweet girl baby by her side and the heaven of motherhood opening
again before her. Nurse was making gruel in the kitchen, and the room
was dim and quiet. There was a cheerful open fire in the grate, but
though the shutters were closed, the side windows that looked out on the
Church of Our Saviour, next door, were a little open.

Suddenly a sound of music poured out into the bright air and drifted
into the chamber. It was the boy choir singing Christmas anthems. Higher
and higher rose the clear, fresh voices, full of hope and cheer, as
children's voices always are. Fuller and fuller grew the burst of melody
as one glad strain fell upon another in joyful harmony:--

"Carol, brothers, carol,
Carol joyfully,
Carol the good tidings,
Carol merrily!
And pray a gladsome Christmas
For all your fellow-men:
Carol, brothers, carol,
Christmas Day again."

One verse followed another, always with the same sweet refrain:--

"And pray a gladsome Christmas
For all your fellow-men:
Carol, brothers, carol,
Christmas Day again."

Mrs. Bird thought, as the music floated in upon her gentle sleep, that
she had slipped into heaven with her new baby, and that the angels were
bidding them welcome. But the tiny bundle by her side stirred a little,
and though it was scarcely more than the ruffling of a feather, she
awoke; for the mother-ear is so close to the heart that it can hear the
faintest whisper of a child.

She opened her eyes and drew