ntion the crackers and inquire whether the O'Dowds used
pilot biscuit or oysterettes. But of course the can opener was not
denied and while Mary went to fetch it and Mrs. McGregor continued
cutting Nell's hair Mrs. O'Dowd, with arms akimbo, reviewed the
pleasures of the day before and compared Christmas dinners.

"Such a feast as we had," declared she. "Such turkey! It melted in your
mouth and ran down your throat almost before you had the chance to
taste it. And the sweet potatoes! You'd believe, actually, they were
just dug up out of the ground! Had you sweet potatoes in your basket,
Martin?"

"Sure we had!" returned the small boy, not to be outdone.

"And then the celery! It was that handsome it was fit to be set on a
bonnet--I'm telling you the truth."

"Mary gave the celery," lisped Nell.

"Hush!" Martin cried. "You weren't to tell that."

"I didn't tell what I gave. Ma told me not to and I haven't," announced
wee Nell proudly.

"But you're not to tell what anybody gave," Martin commanded. "I
haven't told a thing, have I, Ma?" concluded he in triumph.

"Hush, Martin, hush!" cautioned his mother quickly. "Pay no heed to
them, Mrs. O'Dowd; sure after the holiday they hardly know what they're
saying."

"But--but----" Mrs. O'Dowd glanced keenly about, viewing the guilty
faces and the indignant looks the older children centered on the two
small culprits. She was a quick-witted woman and instantly put two and
two together.

"So it was Mary sent the celery, was it?" repeated she. "And who, pray,
bought the turkey?" The temptation the question presented was too great
for the youthful conspirators.

"Uncle Fwedewic! Uncle Fwedewic!" cried Nell and Martin in a breath.

"He bought it wiz his very own money," Nell went on to explain before
she could be stopped.

Oh, the game was all up now! Of what use was it to pretend anything
after that? Martin heaved a sigh of delight. For days the secret had
trembled on his tongue, making life uncomfortable and unnatural.
Constitutionally it was his habit to let slip from that artless member
anything that lurked at its tip and as a result he held secrets in
abhorrence. Now the truth was out and he for one was glad it was. He
would no longer be dreading an encounter with the O'Dowds or be under
the trying necessity of acting a part.

"The candy was mine," he announced calmly. "I gave it and Uncle
Frederick paid the man."

Julie ventured over the threshold.

"So it's y