to dancing, "Merry Christmas!"

"Do you like it, dear? This is our surprise for you and Jack, and
here we mean to have good times together," said Mrs. Minot, who
had stood quietly enjoying the effect of her work.

"Oh, it is so lovely I don't know what to say!" and Jill put up both
arms, as words failed her, and grateful kisses were all she had to
offer.

"Can you suggest anything more to add to the pleasantness?" asked
the gentle lady, holding the small hands in her own, and feeling
well repaid by the child's delight.

"Only Jack;" and Jill's laugh was good to hear, as she glanced up
with merry, yet wistful eyes.

"You are right. We'll have him in at once, or he will come hopping
on one leg;" and away hurried his mother, laughing, too, for
whistles, shouts, thumps, and violent demonstrations of all kinds
had been heard from the room where Jack was raging with
impatience, while he waited for his share of the surprise.

Jill could hardly lie still when she heard the roll of another
chair-bed coming down the hall, its passage enlivened with cries of
"Starboard! Port! Easy now! Pull away!" from Ralph and Frank, as
they steered the recumbent Columbus on his first voyage of
discovery.

"Well, I call that handsome!" was Jack's exclamation, when the