Princess Polly's Gay Winter

en leaves on its shiny surface looked fairly gaudy. The candles danced and

ways been covered with crimson repp, and th

oor, and the logs in the grate burned gaily, as

s of old-time print, a white ground upon which bouquets of pansies, purple and yellow, had been finely printe

She had made her toilette with great care, and she now stood on t

le maid

I hear 'em co

and then answer the be

kirt, of heavy cotton, was white, with wide pink stripes. Her waist was blue with a large white kerch

d her new mistress, too, and the wo

nd together they kept the p

or, and the quaintest little figures that

eta took their wraps at the door, and they e

on a white ground, a pale green kerchief, and yellow

yellow vest, walked beside her, looki

e Grafton in scarlet linen with white lace frills at her neck, and in her sleeves, were two quaint lassies, and H

as a guest, instead of st

thus could see her more in the same way that she saw the other children, and she wanted t

y, but he decided to accept Aunt Judith's invitatio

white linen damask, with lace frills on his bosom and at his wrists, together with a c

Judith had loaned her, clung to his right arm as they

ked her to go to the party with Rose and himself. Her yellow hair was braided in two long braids and crowned with a musli

s not i

he would not choose a guest who might spo

ngland. He had purchased it, believing that some such occasion as the present might occur, when the droll coat and trousers, the little waistcoat, and the comical cap would be just t

ed, lilac and white, and his cap, green like the suit, had a long tassel hanging down on one side. His fair hair, in a s

party in a costume that provoked laughter. He proved to be a bright, cheery boy, full

ome in it. He made them all laugh by saying that he wished that his ancestor had been just a we

eased with all of his

Walter liked

this party a truly old-fashioned one, and what do

ey cried. "What sh

ied Uncle John, "and I

handkerchief

dkerchief, and th

Walter, "so he can b

" declared Uncle John, exactly

t the same time dodging him

ust behind him, springi

ed to pass him, but was just a

d, "because no other little girl but

hief, and laughed to s

she at once caught Lena Lindsey. Her little face was puzzled, and earnest, as she felt of the

ughed

y, "for it is Lena who has

g blindfolded, and then "P

led" them. Polly sent five "letters" to Rose, Rose had ten for Uncle John, U

am I,"

rry Grafton. Harry had five letters for Polly, and Po

the next, and "Pi

d of all the little lassies, and it would have been

a most exciting sleighing party that she once experienced, when the horses became frigh

ocean outlaws. The children held their breath, and they felt very warm and cosey and

her striped gown and kerchief appeared with a tray on which were little sandwiches cut in fancy shapes, and filled with

lasses filled to the brim with delicious raspberry

gic, and the wee wine glasses were filled ag

turned to the parlor, where the children were cha

lovely party," sa

the others, as

and girls I ever met," said Walte

ng, and Uncle John said, as he

Avondale, and become even better acquaint

ter replied, "for I wan

ill!" cried an

delightful the party had been, and how truly they had enjoyed the evening. Captain Atherton took the entire party under his p

* *

ure sat astride the old wooden pump t

ything save that door, and he sat v

sed in years, but it served

ey turn in the lock, a

pened it, and too

e demanded. "I w

nd ran in to ca

g out on top of the old wooden pump, and

an early morning call, and choose so odd a seat while

a pleasant smile, but Gyp had apparentl

t Judith said, "and I wan

. I wanted ter know if

l give you something that will show you j

had quite understood her. Wh

o the door with a

hat side of the plate are chicken but these on

. "They're great!" he cried a moment later, "but I don't

e sandwiches were small, he managed to grasp one w

bag of nuts," Aunt Judith said, "and since you've pr

ied Gyp, "when

e asked in

in' friends

said Aunt Judith. "Come i

"but to-night, if I darest t

ee wild hops, and then raced off across the field to

rway, and as he disappeared behind a clump

er if he'll come!" And when night came, she foun

old hat in his hands. His hair was painfully smooth, and he wore a bright striped shirt, an old red tie, and while his suit co

s hat when he entered a room, a fact that had g

arefully, lest Gyp be seized with fea

ho would deal kindly with him. That he might have friends if he cho

ard to master. Bring them to me evenings, and I will help you with them. You may come Wednesday, and Sat

uld?" he asked. "W

art enough. Come! What do you sa

ybe I can get out of that class. They laugh at

urday evening, and we'll see what w