best."

Mary Jane hurried off to the kitchen and found that mother had kindly left
nice little streaks of frosting all around the side of the bowl and oh,
dear, but it was good!

Alice came in soon and a pleasant bustling around there was then. You see,
it was the first picnic of the year and baskets had to be brought down
from the attic and dusted out; picnic plates and cups hunted up from their
winter storage places and everything made ready for the morning. Mary Jane
went here and there helping all that she could and having the happiest kind
of a time--for wasn't this _her_ picnic too? The very first picnic she had
ever had with the "big" girls!

By dinner time that evening, everything was ready as ready could be the day
before. Alice had her practicing done, mother had the grocery order for
Sunday made out and the baskets with their napkins, plates, knives, forks,
spoons and cups were set in a row on the dining room window seat.

Bright and early the next morning the two girls were up and ready to help.
Mary Jane tidied up the breakfast table and helped mother wash the dishes
while Alice did her practicing. Then the two girls made the beds and Alice
set the bathroom in order.

"Now, we're ready to make sandwiches," Alice announced.

"That's good," said Mrs. Merrill. "I think you can make those all by
yourself, Alice. Mary Jane will help you if you need any waiting on, and
perhaps she can wrap the sandwiches in oiled paper as fast as you make
them."