THE CAPTAIN REMEMBERS HIS AGE December was nearly over.

Christmas had come.

Bos'n had hung up her stocking by the base-burner stove, and found it warty and dropsical the next morning, with a generous overflow of gifts piled on the floor beneath it.

The Board of Strategy sent presents; so did Miss Dawes and Georgianna.

As for Captain Cy he spent many evening hours, after the rest of his household was in bed, poring over catalogues of toys and books, and the orders he sent to the big shops in Boston were lengthy and costly.