you couldn't eat another morsel."

"It wasn't a little while ago; it was hours," Tim affirmed. "We've been
to walk since then and I'm hungry."

"Hungry! Did you ever hear the likes! Hungry! And the bairn swallowing
down turkey until I expected every second he would have apoplexy!"

"I'm hungry, too," rejoined Carl with shame-faced candor.

"So am I!" piped Martin.

"Well, I never saw your match!" cried their mother, holding up her
hands. "One would think you were cobras, anacondas, or something else
out of the zoo. Still, I don't see as I can let you starve. If you're
hungry there's the pantry with its shelves groaning aloud with food.
Run in and help yourselves."

Her family needed no second bidding. Above everything else they loved a
meal where all superfluous accessories such as knives, forks, and
napkins were done away with, and where there was no one at one's elbow
to caution or demand the time-worn "pleases" and "thank you's." To
forage in the pantry unrestrained was like being let loose in the vales
of Arcadia. One after another they emerged, bearing in their hands the
spoils most attracting their fancy.

"You're not going to devour that whole cross section of squash pie, are
you, Tim?" asked Mary, aghast.

"Sure I am," retorted the unabashed Timothy. "That is, unless you want
part of it."

"Of course I don't. But I should think you'd die!"

"I don't expect to die," returned her imperturbable brother. "And if I
do I'll at least have had one everlasting good feed."

"Tim!" expostulated his horrified mother.

"Well, I will have," repeated the boy. "And anyhow, I don't believe
I've eaten so much more than other folks. I notice you don't mention
little Carlie here. He's worried down some food to-day, and like as not
Hal Harling has, too. What's more, I'll bet a hat Hal won't go
supperless to bed."

At that moment a rap came at the door and Mary sprang forward to admit
the very young gentleman in question.

"You see, I'm returning your call on schedule time," grinned he,
shaking the snow from his outer garments. "I can't stay but a moment;
but I had to come and tell you what's happened. What do you think of
that?" Diving into his pocket he held forth a handsome watch and chain.

"Who've you been robbing?" drawled Carl.

"I don't wonder you say so, kid. Can you beat it? Did you ever see such
a beauty?"

"But--but--Hal, where on earth did you get a thing like that?"

"Well may you ask, kid! Think