296 FOUR-FOOTED AMEBIC AN S 



and songs, then to bed, and see avIio Avill wake first to 

 say 'oNIerry Christmas' in the morning," said the Doctor. 



Mr. Bhike began to pick at his banjo and phiy a lively 

 jig, accom^^anied by Olaf with his fiddle. Instantly 

 Nat, Dodo, and the Brownies began to skip abont, Nez 

 keeping time by slapping his knees. 



*'Let me have your violin, Olaf," said Mrs. Blake. 

 "I can play that tune, and I am sure that you can 

 dance a sailor's hornpipe." 



Blushing up to the roots of his light yellow hair, Olaf 

 stepped into tlie space cleared for him, and danced all the 

 intricate in-and-out steps with a will. As he finislied, 

 a slight noise turned all eyes toward the passageway, 

 and there Avas ]\Iammy Bun doing side steps and a 

 double shuffle all by herself, in spite of rheumatism. 

 So the music ended in a shout of laughter, and Mammy 

 waddled off to bring some light supper, followed by 

 Nez and Olaf as waiters, while ]\lr. Blake threw a bas- 

 ketful of pine cones on the fire to make a final blaze. 



"Now for our Chiistmas hymn," said the Doctor, 

 when the dishes had been cleared away, the tree stood 

 in darkness, and only the fireliglit danced along the 

 walls and on the strange mixtui-e of faces, — white, 

 black, and bronze. 



Mrs. Blake went to the window and threw back the 

 curtains ; the warmth had melted the frost on the 

 panes, and the starlight shone in clear and bright. Mr. 

 Blake took Olaf's violin and drew a few notes from it, 

 and then the hyjun rang out, Mrs. l>lake. Mammy, 

 Olive, Dodo, and the boys beginning, the Doctor and 

 Mr. Blake answering : — 



