286 THE BED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
crowd, and emergings in utterly unexpected places, — 
were never seen before in this quiet old city. 
Mr. Broadstreet embarked on the current, and, with an 
unconsciously benevolent smile on his round face, was 
borne half-way down the store before he could make fast 
to a counter. 
What can I do for you, sir ? " If the girlish voice 
was brisk and business-like, it was, at the same time, 
undeniably pleasant. Mr. Broadstreet started. " Why, 
I want some presents ; Christmas presents, you know," 
he said, looking down into the merry, brown eyes. 
" Boy or girl, sir, and how old ? " Mr. Broadstreet 
was fairly taken aback by her promptness. His wife 
always did the Christmas shopping. 
"Let me see," he began, hurriedly; "two girls and a 
— no, I mean two boys — why, bless me ! " he went on, 
in great confusion, as her low laugh rang out among the 
woolly sheep with which she happened to be surrounded, 
" I've really forgotten. That is — oh, I see, you needn't 
laugh!" and Mr. Broadstreet's own smile broadened as he 
spoke. " They're not mine. I never heard of them until 
five minutes ago, and, I declare, I don't remember which 
is which. At any rate, there are three of them, all under 
seven." 
" How would a lamb do for the oldest ? Eeal wool 
and natural motion ! " In proof of which latter asser- 
tion, she set all their heads nodding in the most violent 
manner, until it made her customers quite dizzy to look 
