of you, Lil," said Miss Moore, beaming on her friend.

"I think it is a lovely story, but couldn't you have more about the
fairies, Miss Sherwin?" Frances asked.

"And about the wedding and what the bride had on," suggested Gladys.

"But did you really make it all up?" inquired Emma.

The young lady laughed. "No, I only found it between the lines of the
song, and I certainly think it can be improved."

"The moral is such a fine one," remarked Mrs. Morrison.

"That faith and courage can always find a way--yes, isn't it, if one
could only live up to it," said Miss Moore.

"It has given me a great deal to think about," added the Spectacle Man.
"The bridge is broke--but faith and courage will find the way; yes, I
like it," and he nodded his head emphatically.

"I thought morals weren't interesting," said Frances, at which they all
laughed, and Miss Sherwin said she hoped she had not made hers too
prominent. "I feel very grateful to you for liking it," she added.

"I want you to elaborate it a little and send it to _The Young People's
Journal_," Mrs. Morrison said.

Miss Sherwin shook her head, but Miss Moore declared she would see that
it was done.

Peterkin, who had been completely forgotten in the interest of the
story, created a sensation just here by catching one of his sharp lower
teeth in his frill, thereby causing temporary lockjaw. He was promptly
released by Miss Moore, who declared he should not be dressed up again.

After he had gone into seclusion under the sofa, and the rest of the
company were eating grapes and apples, Mr. Clark took down the Toby jug
from the mantel shelf.

"It seems hardly right to tell another story to-night after the
beautiful one we have listened to," he said, "but this is a very short
one, and I promised Frances. This brown ware is called Rockingham, and
you see how the likeness of a very fat old gentleman is embossed upon
it. It is said that there once lived a jolly toper named Toby Fillpot.
In the course of time he died and was buried, and then, according to an
old drinking song:--

"'His body when long in the ground it had lain,
And time into clay had resolved it again,
A potter found out in its covert so snug,
And from part of fat Toby he formed this brown jug.'

"In fact, I believe he made a number of them, and dedicated them to
friendship, mirth, and mild ale."

"It seems to suggest Dickens; doesn't he somewhere mention a Toby jug?"
asked Mrs. Morrison.