Both Were Surprised

It was New Year's day, and MissHllTriett Singlebody was so unusually absent-minded that she forgot to cali tho iittention of her brother to the facttiiat he was almost half a minute late to break f ast. "This is New Year's day, I believe," he remarked, as he buttered bis first muffin. "So the calendar says," returned hls sister, who had just discovered that she had forgctten to put sugar in her tea. "The day for making good resolutions and putting them into execution, eh?" "Well, er - yes." "Doos it ever seem to yon, Harriet, that the house is very quiet?" "Why. yes, of late it has seemed so." "And we are growing older every day." "Speak for yourself as to that, I am an entire year your junior!" "Well, the fact is, that I have always had an aversión to pets. In fact, I believe I ha.ve always said that I woukl j liever have one in the house. This prejudice you have shared. I now feel that it is wrong to eherish such feelings against poor dumb brutes. I - how should you like a nice quiet pet?" "Wby, Isaac, the very idea. I, too - " "Fearing that you might object, I - " "Oh, not at all. I - how did you fiml out - " I decided to surprise you. You will find in the library - " "Why, have you seen it, then? I tneant it as a surprise!" "Meant what as a surpirse? Isaac Singlebody, what are you talking-about, if not the fine Angora cat I have put in the library as a surprise for you?" "Good gracious, Harriet, I - I was thinking of the handsome poodle dog I have put in the library as a surprise for you ! " "Mercy on us, Isaac, what is that awful noise? Is it an attsck by i dians, a cyclone, or what?" "It is not an attack by Indians, neither is it a cyclone," returned Mr. Singlebody, with the calmness of despair. "That awful noise you hear is merely our two pets scraping an aoquaintance!"