CLIMBING THE ANIMAL TREE 39 



" No, missy, not another word to-night ; it is half- 

 past eight, and 3^our mother has been making ' time-to- 

 go-to-bed ' signs at me for half an hour." 



'' But, mother," pleaded Dodo, " thougli my liead is 

 full, my stomach feels real hollow, and we were going 

 to toast crackers, you know." 



" Very well ! Nat, rake open the hot ashes and see 

 if you can find another pair of tongs. Two crackers 

 and a glass of milk make a very comfortaljle night- 

 cap ; for if you go to bed with an empty stomach, you 

 will probably wake up with an empty head," said the 

 Doctor, rubbing his hands togetlier. " Am I invited to 

 this feast ? " 



" Of course ; you and mother and daddy. Olive 

 belongs with us children. It wouldn't be a real feast 

 without you all," said Dodo, a look of perfect content 

 resting on her round face. 



" Here are three pairs of tongs. Nat, you toast for 

 mamma, and Rap for uncle, and I'll toast for papa and 

 Olive ; then afterwards we can toast for each other. 

 It's lots more fun doing it for somebody else, and then 

 having somebody do it for you." 



In a moment the three children were crouching in 

 front of the fire, holding the crackers by the rims with 

 old-fashioned tongs, over the bed of glowing hickory 

 fragments. 



" The crackers that fall into the fire belong to the 

 dogs," said Dodo, consolingly, to Rap, who had just 

 dropped his first one. ''They don't mind a few 

 ashes." 



" Here is mammy with tlie big pitcher," said the 

 Doctor. '' Now all stand in a row and drink a health. 



