very sorry to tell you that the children quite forgot that Dan could
not drink tea or eat jam tarts, and, as for buns, they knew he hated
them. So poor Dan got nothing to eat at his own party. And when
good-bye was said, and when the kind milkman dropped the three down on
the steps--just like the milk-cans--Dan raised a feeble little
"bow-wow" to Reggie's mother, and said as plainly as a little doggie
could: "O, missis, missis! It's been _my_ party and I've had nuffin'
to eat. All I got was an empty nut-shell--'bow-wow'--which somebody
called a squirrel--'bow-wow'--dropped into my mouth--'bow-wow'--while
I was looking up a tree--'bow-wow-wow'!"

Reggie's mother must have understood, for she gave Dan a good supper,
and he slept right soundly till morning.

_Mary Boyle._




Bringing home the holly.

[Illustration:]

With hearts as light as snow-flakes fall,
With cheeks like sunset glow,
And ringing shouts of joy and fun,
Away the children go.

Away! to where the holly-tree,
With berries gleaming bright,