It is not quite tea time yet." The captain led the way as he spoke, everybody else following.
"Howdy do?
Where you been ?" called out a rather harsh voice, and sending a surprised, inquiring glance about in search of the speaker, the children presently spied a cage with a parrot in it; an African parrot; grey, with a scarlet tail.
"Polly wants a cracker!" screamed the bird.

"Time for breakfast, Lu! Where you been ?" "How will Polly suit you for a Christmas gift, Lulu ?" asked the captain, smiling down into the flushed, delighted face of his eldest daughter.
"O papa, is it for me ?" she cried half breathlessly.
"Yes, if you want it, though I fear she may prove a rather troublesome pet.

Here is Gracie's gift from papa," he added, pointing to a beautiful Maltese kitten curled upon the rug before the fire.

"We mustn't let Max's big gift swallow your little one.

I trust that in time we can teach them to be friends." Grace loved kittens and was no less delighted with her present than her brother and sister with theirs.
"O the pretty pet!" she exclaimed, dropping down on the rug beside it and gently stroking its soft fur.