stared. The next minute she was down on her knees
with her arms around the whole cart--or at least as much of the cart as
two six-year-old arms could get around--and she was counting over all the
wonderful virtues of her gift. It surely was a cart to make any little
girl proud and when Mary Jane saw her own Georgiannamore, wearing a lovely
new coat (Mrs. Merrill's gift), and a pair of really truly gloves (from
Alice), and sitting up as big as life in the cart, she thought the
happiest day of her life had come.

After breakfast the morning raced by on wings. Of course Mary Jane had to
show the cart and doll's clothes to Betty and they had to walk around the
block to give the doll an airing. Then, just as they got back to Mary
Jane's apartment, the postman came with a box from grandpa and grandma.
Betty was invited up for the fun of opening it and she was glad to come
both for the fun and for the big pieces of grandmother's candy that she
got when the box was opened. Then there was the table to set and the
puzzle letters to put around and everybody to dress in their best--that's
a good deal for one morning. No wonder it seemed to be an unusually short
one.

At the very last minute, Mary Jane with her new white dress and pink
ribbons all just as they should be, went in to the kitchen to see if she
could help. And at that very minute a neighbor came in to get Mrs.
Merrill's advice about an important matter.

"Everything's ready now," said Mrs. Merrill, as she left the kitchen.
"Only, I believe, Mary Jane, it would be a good idea for you to put that
whipped cream into the ice box. We won't make the salad till they get here
and I want to keep it stiff and cold."

Now, Mary Jane had put things in the ice box many a time. Big things and
little things and spilly things and all, and there was no reason in the
world why she couldn't do it all right. No reason, except-- Just as she
picked up the bowl of cream, the door bell rang a long, loud peal that she
was sure must be her three guests coming all at once, so she hurried and
the cream jiggled in the bowl, and slid over the edge--and all down the
front of her best new dress!

Fortunately Alice came into the kitchen just then, in time to see the
accident, and to notice two big tears which popped into Mary Jane's eyes
and threatened to spill down her cheeks.

"Pooh!" she exclaimed comfortably, "don't you worry about a little thing
like that, Mary Jane," and she made a grab fo