ughed, and Father Blossom said that Dot shouldn't worry
about her age, for she was growing older every year.

Marion Green's party was the next Saturday afternoon, and Mother
Blossom and Aunt Polly helped the children to get dressed.

"If I only had my locket," sighed Meg. "It would look so pretty with
this white dress. Oh, dear! I wish I had remembered about taking it
off."

Bobby and Meg had hunted often after school for the locket, but though
they were sure they had been over every inch of ground where Meg had
coasted, they could not find the pretty ornament.

"Don't sigh for things gone," said Aunt Polly, giving Meg a kiss. "We
all know you will be more careful another time, dear. Now I'm sure you
look very nice. And, as your grandmother used to say, 'behave as well
as you look.'"

Meg wore a white dress with blue sash and hair-ribbons, and Dot was all
in pink--dress, ribbons and socks.

"I hope," remarked Twaddles, as they started for Marion's house, "that
the ice-cream will be chocolate."

"I don't think you should think about what you're going to get to eat,"
reproved Meg primly, feeling very much the older sister because she was
wearing gloves, kid ones. "It's colder, isn't it?"

It really was very cold, and the four little Blossoms were glad when
they reached Marion's house.

"The party's going on," observed Dot, as they went up the steps. She
was seized with a sudden fit of shyness, and pressed close to Meg.

Meg and Bobby were experienced in the matter of parties, and they knew
you went upstairs to take off your things and then came down to present
your birthday present.

"See my new locket and chain," said Ruth Ellis, a little girl Meg knew,
who was fluffing out her hair-ribbon before the glass in Marion's
mother's room where the girls were told to leave their wraps. "My
uncle gave it to me."

Poor Meg remembered her lost locket again. She thought it much
prettier than Ruth's, and she would have been so glad to have it around
her neck to show the other girls.

The four little Blossoms met in the hall and went down together. They
had brought Marion a knitting set, two ivory needles with sterling
silver tops, which folded into a neat leather case, and Marion, who was
a famous little knitter, was delighted.

All the presents were put on the center table after they were opened
and admired, and then the children played games till Mrs. Green
announced that there was something in the di