Ellie had
ever heard. Mr. Hopkins said to Lord Lepus, "Will your lordship join us
in dancing the merry-go-round? It is our national dance, and we always
have it on New-Year's Eve."

"I shall be most happy; and here comes the fair Alicia, looking as fresh
as a daisy. I will secure her for my partner."

But Mr. Hopkins formed them into a circle, and they began to dance
around, singing as they went. Ellie listened, and caught the words,

"Come dance, come dance the merry-go-round,
With sprightly leap and joyous bound.
We'll grasp each hand with right good cheer,
And welcome in the glad new year.
Oh, the merry-go-round, the merry-go-round,
We'll dance till day is dawning."

They flew around fast and faster, till Ellie could not tell one from
another. They looked like a streak on the snow.

"Dear me, how dizzy they will get! Poor Alicia will certainly have the
headache," thought Ellie; but still quicker went the music, and still
faster flew the dancers. All of a sudden Ellie was startled by a loud
"caw." She felt some one shaking her shoulder, and a voice in her ear
said, "Wake up, Miss Ellie, wake up. The hall clock has just struck half
past nine, and to think of your being out of bed at this hour! What will
your mamma say? That giddy-pate Sarah told me she would undress you, for
I was called away."

"I am so glad," said sleepy little Ellie, "for I have seen the
merry-go-round."

Nurse gathered her up in her arms, and bore her to the nursery.

"Nursey," asked Ellie, "are English hares better than our rabbits?"

"Yes, miss, much better for soup."

"Soup!" cried Ellie; "how dreadful, when he was so beautifully dressed!"

"Yes," said nurse, "we like to have them dressed; they are so hard to
skin."

"What do you mean?" exclaimed Ellie. "He wore such a beautiful long
coat, and had on a locket and three rings."

"Dear me," thought nurse, "she has been in the moonlight so long I am
afraid it has turned her brain. She certainly seems a little looney. The
sooner she is undressed and in her bed, the better."

"Oh, nursey, the next time baby has any teeth coming, put on a porous
plaster, and it will pull them right through his gums."

"Bless the child! What is she talking about now? Hares and plasters! The
moon is a dangerous thing, and Sarah shall be well scolded for her
neglect."

As Ellie laid her head on the pillow, she said, "They danced the
merry-go-round, and at the end of every verse they