lumes? Nay, nay, me child. Good stiff quill feathers,--turkey
feathers preferred. Well, never mind those,--I'll fish some up from
somewhere. Now, blankets for the braves and fringed gowns for the
squaws. I'll show you how, Mehitabel, and you and your respected mother
can do the sewing act."

Well, Cousin Jack planned just about everything, and he and the children
turned the house upside down in their quest for materials. But Mrs.
Maynard didn't mind. She was used to it, for the Maynard children would
always rather "celebrate" than play any ordinary game.

CHAPTER XX

A CELEBRATION

The first of August was a perfect day for their celebration.

They had concluded to hold a Sand Court session first, for the simple
reason that so much matter for _The Jolly Sandboy_ had arrived from
Kitty that King said his paper was full, and he thought it would be nice
to help along the celebration.

Cousin Jack declined an invitation to be present at the reading, saying
that the Pocahontas part was all he could stand, so the Court convened
without him. Ruth was Queen for the day. This was for no particular
reason, except that Marjorie thought it would be a pleasure to the
little new member, so she insisted on Ruth's wearing the crown.

Very dainty and sweet the little Queen looked, with her long flaxen
curls hanging down from the extra gorgeous gilt-paper crown, that
Marjorie had made specially for this occasion.

As the session began, a meek little figure appeared at the Court
entrance, and there was Hester!

"Now, you Hester!" began Tom Craig, but Hester said:

"Oh, please let me come! I _will_ be good. I won't say a single cross
word, or boss, or anything."

"All right, Hester," said Midget, kindly, "come on in. If the Queen says
you may we'll all say so. Do you, O Queen?"

Ruth looked doubtful for a minute, for she was a little afraid of
Hester's uncertain temper; but, seeing Marjorie's pleading look, she
consented.

"All right," she said; "if Hester won't throw water on me."

"No, I won't!" declared Hester, earnestly.

"Well," said King, "just as long as Hester behaves herself she may stay.
If she carries on like fury, she's got to go home."

Hester sat down and folded her hands in her lap, looking so excessively
meek that they all had to laugh at her.

"Now," said the Queen, "we're gathered here together, my loyal subjects,
to listen to,--to, what do you call it?"

"_The Jolly Sandboy_," prompted King.