the sea;
Happy May-days,
Now do we praise,
As we dance gladly round the May tree."

As Dannie sang his mother and brothers joined in with him, and the other
children listened in delight.

"Can you not sing it when we do 'dance round the May tree,' Aunt
Starkweather?" asked Anne; "and if Dannie will sing it over to us a few
times I am sure that we can all sing it, and then Elder Haven can hear
us."

Dannie liked to sing, and he sang the little verse over and over again
until all the children knew it, and until his mother said that they must
all run home and make themselves tidy, and then come back, as the dance
around the May-pole was to be at two o'clock.

"I do wish that Uncle Enos could see it," said Anne, as she put on her new
white pinafore over her plaid dress, and fastened the coral beads around
her neck; "I know well he would like to hear the song."

"The boats went out early and may get in in good time," said Aunt Martha.

"Mrs. Starkweather says that there is always a Queen of the May--a little
girl whom the other children choose to wear a wreath on her head, and
whatever the Queen tells them to do they must do all May-day," said Anne,
as she and Mrs. Stoddard walked toward the spring, "but I do think the
other children have forgotten all about it."

"What makes the children want to choose one to obey, I wonder," said Mrs.
Stoddard, smiling down at Anne.

"It must be because 'Tis a little girl whom they all like, and who is
always kind and pleasant to the other children," said Anne. "If 'twas a
King of the May we would all want Jimmie Starkweather; but there are not
so many girls as boys."

The other children were all at the spring with bunches and wreaths of
flowers, and Anne was surprised to see that a mound of sand had been
heaped up and covered with pine boughs.

"What is that for?" she asked.

"That's a throne for the Queen," said Dannie Starkweather.

Mrs. Cary and Mrs. Starkweather were talking with the children, and as
Anne came near they formed into a little circle round her, joining hands
and singing:

"Our May-queen,
Queen of the May,
We're ready to serve you
All this bright day."

Then Willie Starkweather, who was only four years old, took Anne's hand
and led her to the "throne" and said, "You mutht thit down, Anne," for
W