nicest
place to eat Mary Jane had ever seen--unless perhaps a diner on a train.
For after they gave their order, she discovered that they could look right
down on a small lake where ducks and geese and swans lived. The children
got so interested watching the pretty creatures that for once they didn't
have time to think the waiter was slow!

They stayed there eating and watching the birds, till the sun set back of
the trees. Then, when there wasn't another scrap of cake or teaspoonful of
ice cream left, they gathered up wraps and hats and started for home.

"I know one thing," said sleepy Mary Jane as they waited for the bus that
was to take them to their train. "I know there're a lot more animal folks
in the world than I thought for--oh, a lot more! And I think I'd better
come again to see them all."

A DAY IN THE PARKS

A whole long vacation begun! Alice home all day and plenty of time for
walks and playing together! It seemed almost too good to be true. For
although Alice was several years older than her sister Mary Jane, the two
girls had always had very happy times playing together and they had missed
each other very much during school days. Now that the Holden family was
away, for they went off, bag and baggage, to their country home up in
Wisconsin the very day school closed, the two girls had no one near by to
play with, so more than ever before they needed and enjoyed each other's
company. Frances Westland had gone back to the country and the Merrill
girls had not made friends with anyone who lived near enough to make a
convenient playmate.

They didn't do as some girls and boys do in vacation, get up late in the
morning. No, they thought it was more fun to get up promptly and have
breakfast with Dadah and then, when the afternoon got hot, as often
happened, they took a nice long rest and dressed fresh and clean for
dinner. On many a day Mrs. Merrill packed a basket of dinner and they met
Mr. Merrill over by the park, had their dinner near one of the small
lagoons or close to the big lake. After dinner they played ball or
tennis--Alice was learning to be very good at tennis.

"I wish there were swans in our park," said Mary Jane as she sat on the
edge of the lagoon and watched the row boats and the electric launches
gliding about on the water. "I liked those swans at Lincoln Park."

"I was just thinking to-day," said Mr. Merrill, "we haven't seen all the
parks and I promised you, that you should s