"Yes, I mean to; but that won't help with Christmas gifts; it's only for
benevolence, you know."

"But what you give to the poor, simply because they are poor and needy,
may be considered benevolence, I think," said their father.

"Oh may it?" she exclaimed. "I'm glad of that! Papa, I--haven't liked
Dick very much since he chopped up the cradle I'd carved for Gracie's
dolls, but I believe I want to give him a Christmas present; it will
help me to forgive him and like him better. But I don't know what would
please him best."

"Something to make a noise with," suggested Max; "a drum or trumpet for
instance."

"He'd make too much racket," she objected.

"How would a hatchet do?" asked Max, with waggish look and smile.

"Not at all; he isn't fit to be trusted with one," returned Lulu,
promptly. "Papa, what do you think would be a suitable present for him?"

"A book with bright pictures and short stories told very simply in words
of one or two syllables. Dick is going to school and learning to read,
and I think such a gift would be both enjoyable and useful to him."

"Yes; that'll be just the right thing!" exclaimed Lulu. "Papa, you
always do know best about everything."

"I hope you'll stick to that idea, Lu," laughed Max. "You seem to have