y shall touch it," said the old gentleman, stooping to kiss
the upturned face, "till I put it into her own hand."

"Then," said Phronsie, in the greatest satisfaction, "I'm going to write
this very one minute!" and she marched away to carry her resolve into
immediate execution.

Before they got through they had quite a bundle of invitations and
pleadings; for each of the three boys insisted on doing his part, so
that when they were finally done up in an enormous envelope and put into
Mr. King's hands, he told them with a laugh that there was no use for
Jappy and himself to go, as those were strong enough to win almost
anybody's consent.

However, the next morning they set off, happy in their hopes, and
bearing the countless messages, which the children would come up every
now and then to intrust to them, declaring that they had forgotten to
put them in the letters.

"You'd had to have had an express wagon to carry the letters if you had
put them all in," at last cried Jasper. "You've given us a bushel of
things to remember."

"And oh! don't forget to ask Ben to bring Cherry," cried Polly, the last
minute as they were driving off although she had put it in her letter at
least a dozen times; "and oh, dear! of course the flowers can't come."

"We've got plenty here," said Jasper. "You would not know what to do
with them, Polly."

"Well, I do wish mamsie would give some to kind Mrs. Henderson, then,"
said Polly, on the steps, clasping her hands anxiously, while Jasper
told Thomas to wait till he heard the rest of the message, "and to
grandma--you know Grandma Bascom; she was so good to us," she said
impulsively. "And, oh! don't let her forget to carry some to dear, dear
Dr. Fisher; and don't forget to give him our love, Jappy; don't forget
that!" and Polly ran down the steps to the carriage door, where she
gazed up imploringly to the boy's face.

"I guess I won't," cried Jasper, "when I think how he saved your eyes,
Polly! He's the best fellow I know!" he finished in an impulsive burst.

"And don't let mamsie forget to carry some in to good old Mr. and Mrs.
Beebe in town--where Phronsie got her shoes, you know; that is, if
mamsie can," she added, remembering how very busy her mother would be.

"I'll carry them myself," said Jasper; "we're going to stay over till
the next day, you know."

"O!" cried Polly, radiant as a rose, "will you, really, Jappy? you're so
good!"

"Yes, I will," said Jasper, "everything yo