ly that morning, he
hadn't eaten any breakfast, and when he saw that gingerbread boy--"
here Jasper rolled over again with a peal of laughter--"and heard the
message, he just put back his head, and he laughed--why, I never heard
him laugh as he did then! the room shook all over; and he ate a big
dinner, and all that afternoon he felt as good as could be. But he says
he's coming to see the little girl that baked it for him before we go
home."

Ben nearly tumbled over by the side of Jasper at these words--"Coming to
see us!" he gasped.

"Yes," said Jasper, who had scarcely got over his own astonishment about
it, for if the roof had suddenly whisked off on to the church steeple,
he couldn't have been more amazed than when he heard his father say
cheerily: "Well, Jasper my boy, I guess I shall have to drive over and
see your little girl, since she's been polite enough to bake me this,"
pointing to the wild-looking "gingerbread boy."

"Come in and tell 'em about it," cried Ben, radiantly, picking up his
potatoes and salt. "It's all right, Polly!" he said in a jubilant voice,
"for here's Jasper, and he'll tell you so himself."

"Hush!" said Jasper warningly, "don't let Phronsie hear; well, here's
my pet now," and after bobbing lovingly to the others, with eyes beaming
over with fun, he caught up the little girl who was screaming--"Oh,
here's Jasper! and my beyew-ti-ful doggie!"

"Now Phronsie," he cried, "give me a kiss; you haven't any soft soap
to-day, have you? no; that's a good, nice one, now; your 'gingerbread
boy' was just splendid!"

"Did he eat it?" asked the child in grave delight.

"Well--no--he hasn't eaten it yet," said Jasper, smiling on the others;
"he's keeping it to look at, Phronsie."

"I should think so!" groaned Polly.

"Never mind, Polly," Ben whispered; "Jasper's been a-tellin' me about
it; his father liked it--he did truly."

"Oh!" said Polly, "I'm so glad!"

"He had eyes," said Phronsie, going back to the charms of the
"gingerbread boy."

"I know it," said Jasper admiringly; "so he did."

"Rather deep sunk, one of 'em was," muttered Ben.

"And I'll bake you one, Jasper," said the child as he put her down; "I
will very truly--some day."

"Will you," smiled Jasper; "well then," and there was a whispered
conference with Phronsie that somehow sent that damsel into a blissful
state of delight. And then while Phronsie monopolized Prince, Jasper
told them all about the reception of the parc