said Mr. Caruth.

Supper was announced presently, and what a birthday supper it was!
Mandy and Sukey had done their best for Mr. William, and their best
was not to be sniffed at. Aunt Zelie contributed menu cards, each with
a flower and a quotation on it.

Dora thought hers the prettiest of all. On it were a thistle and a
wild rose, and the lines were:

"Duty, like a strict preceptor,
Sometimes frowns or seems to frown.
Choose her thistle for thy sceptre,
While youth's roses are thy crown."

"It was written by a poet for his own little daughter Dora," said Mrs.
Howard.

Aleck had:

"The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they while their companions slept
Were toiling upward in the night."

"Cousin Zelie thinks I am lazy," he said, laughing.

"Mine is better than Dora's, and I know where it came from, and she
has not an idea," said Carl. His lines were:

"My good blade carves the casques of men,
My tough lance thrusteth sure,
My strength is as the strength of ten
Because my heart is pure."

"I don't care, for I can find out, and that is half the fun," Dora
replied, comparing hers with Louise's, which had lilies of the valley
on it, and these lines:

"I pray the prayer of Plato old--
God make thee beautiful within,
And may thine eyes the good behold
In everything save sin."

Uncle William put his card away before anybody had seen it, and
refused to show it, in spite of much coaxing.

"It is too complimentary; modesty forbids," Carl suggested.

"Why didn't you and Miss Helen favor us with something original, Mrs.
Howard?" asked Mr. Caruth.

"He is making fun of the Harp Man's Benefit," said Miss Hazeltine.

"I am afraid we exhausted our genius on that occasion," her cousin
answered, laughing.

"Uncle William, there is one thing you must tell us," said Bess, "and
that is, _when_ you were more surprised than to-night?"

"Oh, that was long ago!" he replied. "It was Aunt Marcia who surprised
me." All eyes turned to Mrs. Hazeltine.

"Aunt Marcia, how did you do it?"

"I am sure I can't tell you. I think I am the one most apt to be
surprised."

"You'll have to tell," said Carl, turning to his uncle.

"Well, if you must know, it was when she said '_Yes._'"

Everybody laughed, and his wife said majestically: "My dear, you are
very absurd." But she did not appear seriously di