"Mamma's house will always be a home to me--a dear home; and yet my husband's doubly so." "It should, seeing that it is quite as much yours as his," he said, with a gratified smile.

"Well, my dear, I see we have all finished eating.
Shall we go now ?" "Yes, sir; if you please.

Our little girls will want to take another peep at their new pets," she said, rising and slipping her hand into his arm.
They passed out of the room together, the children following.
But on reaching the hall, instead of going into the library they turned toward the parlor on the other side of it, in which, as the children well remembered, last year's Christmas tree had been set up.
The captain threw open the door, and then stood a larger and finer tree blazing with lights from many tapers and colored lamps, and loaded with beautiful things.
"Oh! oh! what a beauty! what a splendid tree!" cried the children, dancing about and clapping their hands in delight.

"And we didn't know we were to have any at all.

Mamma Vi you must have had it set up, and trimmed it while we were gone this morning.