heeks and smiling faces. They sat down--one on a wooden
stool, one on a broken chair, and one on the corner of the table--and
they all began to eat the potatoes very heartily.

But Alfred's father said:

"Stop, my good boys; do not eat any more, but come with me."

The boys stared, but their mother told them to do as they were bid, so
they left off eating and followed the gentleman.

Alfred and his father walked on till they arrived once more under the
cedar-tree in the garden, and there was the fine feast all standing
just as they had left it, for Alfred's cousins were gone away, and his
mother would not have the dinner taken away, because she hoped that
Alfred would come back to it.

"Now, boys," said the gentleman, "you may all sit down to this table
and eat whatever you like."

John, William, and Thomas sat down as quickly as they could, and began
to devour the chickens and tarts, and all the good things, at a great
rate; and Alfred, who now began to be very hungry, would gladly have
been one of the party; but when he was going to sit down, his father
said:

"No, sir; this feast is not for _you_. There is nothing here that you
like to eat, you know; so you will wait upon these boys, if you
please, who seem as if they would find plenty that they will like."

Alfred at this began to cry again, and said he wanted to go to his
mother; but his father did not mind his crying, and said he should not
go to his mother again till he was quite a good boy.

"So now, sir, hand this bread to John, and now take a clean plate to
Thomas, and now stand ready to carry this custard to William. There
now, wait till they have all done."

It was of no use now to cry or scream; he was obliged to do it all.

When the boys had quite finished their supper they went home, and
Alfred was led by his father into the house. Before he went to bed, a
cup of milk and water and a piece of brown bread were put before him,
and his father said:

"That is your supper, Alfred."

Alfred began to cry again, and said he did not want such a supper as
that.

"Very well," said his father, "then go to bed without, and it shall be
saved for your breakfast."

Alfred cried and screamed louder than ever, so his father ordered the
maid to put him to bed. When he was in bed, he thought his mother
would come and see him and bring him something nice, and he lay awake
a long while; but she did not come, and he cried and cried till at
last he fell aslee