ht over the staircase.

"'What a nuisance,' growled Bob and Tom, 'when we wanted to try the new
field, and Uncle Gee promised to have a game of cricket with us!'

"'O dear,' said Mary, in dismay, 'and I wanted to show him the new
hammock swing Papa has given us!'

"'We've lost our swing for certain,' said Jeanie, who was a regular
romp; 'what a bother!'

"'Rain, rain, go to Spain,' chanted Baby, in her squeaky voice--while
Dora joined in chorus.

"'Who's singing that contraband rhyme?' said Papa, coming in; 'I'm too
thankful for the rain for the sake of my peas and potatoes!'

"'And the strawberries too,' chimed in Mamma; 'just think, children, how
they were shrivelling for want of rain.'

"'But we can't get out,' bawled all the children, 'and now Uncle Gee's
come we had such lots of things to show him!'

"'What's the matter now?' said Uncle Gee, coming in. 'All this racket
about a little rain! Why, I was just thinking, while I was dressing,
what a jolly day it would be to make a Kite!'

"'Make a Kite!' shouted Bob; 'O how stunning; O Uncle Gee, can you show
us how to do it?'

"'I think I can, Bob,' replied his Uncle, 'but at any rate we'll try,
and with Mamma's help perhaps we can manage it. I dare say she will let
us have the school-room to make all our litters in, and I shall want
every man jack of you to help!'

"'Am I man jack too, Uncle Gee?' asked Baby, very anxiously.

"'I should think so,' said Uncle Gee, kissing her, 'a very useful one
too; you shall help with the fine fringy tail!'

"And when breakfast was over, to work they all went. Papa found some
capital slips of light thin wood, and lent his best knife into the
bargain. Mamma contributed some beautiful white glazed lining to cover
the frame with, and lent her nice glue pot as well. Uncle Gee soon had
the long table in the school-room covered with all sorts of things, and
had set everybody to work as well. Bob and Tom busily hammered, fixed,
planed, and cut, till they hindered Uncle Gee terribly; and when he saw
Mary take up the scissors, and begin to measure the calico, he stopped
short, and called a truce.

"'Now,' said he, 'if all are going to be at work, and no one master, we
shall soon get into a fix, and knock over the whole concern. If we are
to get the Kite made to-day, you must all obey orders. Mary, you and
Jeanie can find me some strips of coloured paper, can't you, for the
tail; and Dora, ask Nelson if she can let us have a lo