e young man himself, so now we shall know all about it."

Nibble came down the path slowly, looking very serious. His clothes were
covered with dust, his hat was battered out of all shape, and he carried
his whip under his arm, instead of snapping it gayly as he had done when
he started. Jose was not to be seen.

"Well, Nibble, my boy, what has happened?" asked Uncle Jack, cheerily.
"Has Jose been rolling with you again?" "Yes, Uncle!" answered Nibble,
as he drew near, and threw himself on the mossy bank where his uncle was
seated, "he is the worst donkey I ever saw! he wanted some thistles in
the hedge, and I wouldn't let him eat them, of course. So then he kicked
and reared, but he couldn't get me off _that_ way, and I whipped him a
good bit. But then he lay down and rolled, and then I _couldn't_ stay on
you see!" "I see!" said Uncle Jack. "You were certainly justified in
getting off. And then Jose went home, I suppose?" "Well, yes, I suppose
he did," said Nibble, reluctantly, "and I have walked a long way, Uncle,
and I want my dinner." "Bless me!" cried Uncle Jack, "dinner already?
Well, come out of the water, you little Nixies, and let us see about our
grand feast!"

Patter, patter, came all the little white feet, over the mossy stones,
and over the green turf, and I could not tell whether they looked
prettier in the water or out of it. There was a rush for the baskets,
and their contents were tumbled out pell-mell on the grass. Forks,
spoons, tarts, sandwiches, lemons, followed each other in rapid
succession.

"Now this will never do!" said Uncle Jack. "Too many cooks spoil the
broth, as we know, and we must not spoil our feast. Nibble, do you go
and gather brush and make a fire. Hap and Hazard shall pick some flowers
to make wreaths and posies, and Brighteyes shall help me to set the
table." "And what fell I do?" asked little Downy, piteously; "I muf do
fomefing!" "So you shall, Downy," said Uncle Jack; "you shall chase all
the butterflies away, so that they will not eat up the tarts."

[Illustration]

Now every one was happy and busy. The twinnies wandered off into the
meadow near by, filling their aprons with posies, and chattering
merrily, with little snatches of song mingling with their pretty talk.
It was pleasant to hear their sweet voices singing:

Daisy white and Daisy bright,
And Daisy is my heart's delight!
I'll twine you now in my true-love's hair,
And te