motto: "A Busy Day is a Happy Day."

"It's a story," he said, indignantly. "It's jus' a wicked ole story."




CHAPTER II

RICE-MOULD


"Rice-mould," said the little girl next door bitterly. "Rice-mould!
Rice-mould! every single day. I _hate_ it, don't you?"

She turned gloomy blue eyes upon William, who was perched perilously
on the ivy-covered wall. William considered thoughtfully.

"Dunno," he said. "I just eat it; I never thought about it."

"It's _hateful_, just _hateful_. Ugh! I've had it at dinner and I'll
have it at supper--bet you anything. I say, you are going to have a
party to-night, aren't you?"

William nodded carelessly.

"Are you going to be there?"

"Me!" ejaculated William in a tone of amused surprise. "I should think
so! You don't think they could have it without _me_, do you? Huh! Not