e trees with his dog
(who was held by a string because of the game), and when we saw them we
all shouted at Jim to go away. Bessie _did_ ask me if it didn't seem
unkind; but we wouldn't listen to her and sent him away, telling him not
to sneak about near us. So he went off without a word.

We weren't very happy after that, for Arthur turned cross, and wouldn't
speak to any one; but the worst of all was when Willie dropped one of
the drumsticks into the river as we were crossing the plank. The river
is very deep in parts, and none of us could swim, so we could only
follow the stick as it floated along, and hope that it might catch in
some weeds in a shallow part. But as we ran by the river we came on Jim
and Pincher. Jim was sitting by the bank with his face hidden in his
hands, and Pincher was just kissing him as hard as he could. Jim jumped
up and began to move away when he saw us, but stopped to ask what was
the matter when he saw Willie's face. As soon as he knew what it was, he
took the string off Pincher's neck, and throwing a stone at the stick
called, "Hie, Pincher! fetch it out!"

We _did_ feel uncomfortable as we saw Pincher bring the drumstick to
shore quite safely, but Bessie helped us out splendidly. She held out
her hand to Jim, and said, "Thank you so much; we're all very sorry for
being so unkind. Please don't make us _more_ sorry by going away now."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ELSIE'S PARTY.

Yes, it was a very nice party! There were cakes, and games, and sweets,
and crackers--crackers with caps in them! And little Elsie enjoyed it
all, and felt very grand in her embroidered muslin frock, with a yellow
paper cap out of one of the said crackers perched on the top of her
curly brown head. If only Alfy had been there to enjoy it all with her!

Alfy was her twin brother, and they always did everything together. But
to-day poor Alfy must stop at home: he is ill, very ill, with
"inflammation of the _tongue_," Elsie says, but the doctor calls it
"lungs." Anyway, there is nothing the matter with Elsie's tongue; it
wags fast enough, and she tells everybody about Alfy, and how ill he is.
"But he is better to-day, and I shall bring him my 'tracker.'"

Elsie goes home quite laden with "trackers" and toys for Alfy, and is
far more pleased with these than with anything for herself.

But when she gets home a disappointment awaits her. Alfy is asleep, fast
asleep,