r the bowl, rescued some of
the cream and set it in the ice box. "I'll have you fixed up so soon that
you won't know anything happened."

"But it's all down my dress," said Mary Jane, trying her very best not to
cry.

[Illustration: "But it's all down my dress," said Mary Jane, trying her
very best not to cry _Page 111_]

"Oh, well," replied Alice, nothing daunted, "it's not going to stay there
long." She took a clean cloth, dampened it with cold water and, with quick
little dabs, scrubbed the cream all off the front of the birthday dress.
Then she took a fresh cloth, and more cold water and, putting a big, clean
towel under the front of the dress, scrubbed again till every trace of the
cream was gone. Then she opened the oven door so the heat would help dry
the wetness and with a fresh cloth rubbed and rubbed the wet place till it
was entirely dry.

"There now," she said, as she shook the dress into place, "I think the
girls are here; let's go see." And immediately the accident that
threatened to spoil Mary Jane's fun was forgotten.

Sure enough, the girls had come and the party began at once.

The letter puzzles for place cards proved to be lots of fun and filled in
the time while Mrs. Merrill brought in the plates of good things to eat.
Judging by the appetites Mary Jane's menu must have been a favorite with
everybody, for the goodies disappeared by magic and Mrs. Merrill filled up
plates and passed rolls and brought in salad and everything till she
hardly had time to eat her own luncheon.

The ice cream was a surprise even to Mary Jane. On the plate was, first, a
big, round piece of cake; then, on top of that, was a slice of ice cream,
white, and on top of _that_ a ball of pink ice cream with a pink candle,
lighted, stuck in the top. They looked so pretty and bright that the girls
hated to blow them out, but Mrs. Merrill said every one was to make a wish
and then blow and if the candle went out on the first blow the wish would
come true.

Alice suddenly remembered that they were to take a train at one-thirty and
that it was nearing one now, so the dessert was finished in a hurry, wraps
were hastily put on and the whole party started for the train to meet Mr.
Merrill and have the rest of the fun.

LOST--ONE DOLL CART

There was only one thing wrong about the birthday celebration and that was
that the day was such a very busy, happy one that there was very little
time for playing with the new doll