of the neighboring villages whose members had been invited to the great
party, there was a very general excitement among the younger people on
the morning after the great event. "Did y' bring home somethin' from the
party? What is it? What is it? Is it frut-cake? Is it nuts and
oranges and apples? Give me some! Give me some!" Such a concert of
treble voices uttering accents like these had not been heard since the
great Temperance Festival with the celebrated "colation" in the open air
under the trees of the Parnassian Grove,--as the place was christened by
the young ladies of the Institute. The cry of the children was not in
vain. From the pockets of demure fathers, from the bags of sharp-eyed
spinsters, from the folded handkerchiefs of light-fingered sisters, from
the tall hats of sly-winking brothers, there was a resurrection of the
missing oranges and cakes and sugar-things in many a rejoicing
family-circle, enough to astonish the most hardened "caterer" that ever
contracted to feed a thousand people under canvas.

The tender recollections of those dear little ones whom extreme youth or
other pressing considerations detain from scenes of festivity--a trait of
affection by no means uncommon among our thoughtful people--dignifies
those social meetings where it is manifested, and sheds a ray of sunshine
on our common nature. It is "an oasis in the desert,"--to use the
striking expression of the last year's "Valedictorian" of the Apollinean
Institute. In the midst of so much that is purely selfish, it is
delightful to meet such disinterested care for others. When a large
family of children are expecting a parent's return from an entertainment,
it will often require great exertions on his part to freight himself so
as to meet their reasonable expectations. A few rules are worth
remembering by all who attend anniversary dinners in Faneuil Hall or
elsewhere. Thus: Lobsters' claws are always acceptable to children of
all ages. Oranges and apples are to be taken one at a time, until the
coat-pockets begin to become inconveniently heavy. Cakes are injured by
sitting upon them; it is, therefore, well to carry a stout tin box of a
size to hold as many pieces as there are children in the domestic circle.
A very pleasant amusement, at the close of one of these banquets, is
grabbing for the flowers with which the table is embellished. These will
please the ladies at home very greatly, and, if the children are at the