y were really triumphs of gorgeous beauty. Each
lay on a lace-trimmed cushion, and with them were long golden sceptres
with gilt balls on top.

"Who's to do to the crowning?" asked King.

"Why, I supposed you had those details all settled in advance," said Miss
Hart, laughing.

"No," returned King, "we didn't fix things up ahead much, we thought we'd
just make up as we went along. I'll crown Flossy Flouncy, and Flip, you
crown Marjorie,--that'll be all right."

The other members of the Royal Family took seats on rustic benches, and
the two Queens mounted their thrones. The bowers were pretty, and as they
stood side by side, framing the smiling Queens, it was a pretty picture.

"I hate to stop the proceedings," said Miss Hart, "but I think I must run
over and get my camera, and take a snap-shot of this Coronation."

"All right," said King, agreeably, "we'll wait. We'll sing a song while
you're gone, and you can skip over and back in no time."

So while the children sang the "Star Spangled Banner," Miss Hart ran
across the street, and came back with her camera.

"Better wait until they get their crowns on," suggested Kitty, "they'll
look a heap queenlier then."

So the coronation ceremony proceeded. The King and the Prince advanced
majestically to the thrones, bearing the crowns on their cushions.

"Who'll make the speech?" asked the King.

"You may," said Flip, politely.

"No, you're better at it than I am. Well, we'll each make one. You can
begin."

So Flip advanced, and holding his burden high at arms' length he dropped
on one knee before Marjorie, and began to declaim in oratorical tones:

"Fair Maiden, Queen of May, I salute thee! I salute all the rest of you
too, but mostly the Queen, because she is the principal pebble on the
beach. Queens always are. And so, Fair Maiden, Fair Maynard Maiden, I
salute thee."

"That's enough saluting," put in King; "go on with your crowning."

"And so, fair Queen of May, I crown thee, our Queen and our Sovereign!
May your shadow never grow less, and may you have many happy returns of
the day! And with kind regards to all, I'm your humble servant."

Having set the crown squarely on Marjorie's head, Flip bowed low in
humble salutation, and then resumed an upright position, rather pleased
with his own speech.

"I accept thy homage, O Prince," said Marjorie, as she bowed and smiled
with queenly grace; "and I shall endeavor to be the best Queen in all
the world, exc