n them one day sliding down a cellar door.

"Tell us what makes Spring, Mother," went on Mab. "That will be as much
fun as playing, I guess."

"The sun makes the Spring," said Mrs. Blake "Spring is one of the four
seasons. I wonder if you can tell me the others?"

"Which one starts?" asked Hal.

"Spring, of course," exclaimed Mab. "You have to start with something
growing, and things grow in the Spring."

"That is right," said Mrs. Blake. "Spring is the beginning of life in the
world, when the flowers and birds begin to grow; the flowers from little
buds and the birds from little eggs. What comes next?"

"Summer!" cried Hal. "Then's when we can have fun. The ground is dry, so
we can play marbles and fly kites. And we can go in swimming and have a
long vacation. Summer's the jolly time!"

"It is a time when things grow that start in the Spring," said Mother
Blake. "What comes after Summer?"

"Autumn," answered Mab. "Some folks call it Fall. Why do they, Mother?"

"Because the leaves fall from the trees, perhaps. It is a time when the
trees and bushes go to sleep, and when most birds fly down to the warm
South. And what comes after Autumn or Fall?"

"Christmas!" cried Hal.

"Yes, so it does!" laughed Mrs. Blake. "And I guess most children would
say the same thing. But I meant what season."

"It's Winter," Hal said. "Let's see if I know 'em. Spring, Summer, Autumn,
Winter," he recited. "Four seasons, and this is Spring. I wish it would
hurry up and be Summer."

"So do I," agreed Mab. "You can't have any fun now. It's too wet to go
without your rubbers, too cold to go without a coat and almost too hot to
wear one. I like Summer best."

"And I like Fall and Winter," said Hal. "But let's do something Mab. Let's
have some fun. What can we do, Mother?" and back the children were, just
where they started.

"Why don't you get Roly-Poly and play with him?" asked Mrs. Blake.

"He's gone away. I guess he ran down to Daddy's office like he does
sometimes," said Mab.

"Let's go down after him," exclaimed Hal. "That'll be some fun."

"I don't want to," spoke Mab. "I'd rather play with my doll."

"You never want to do anything I want to play?" complained Hal. "Can't she
come with me after Roly-Poly, Mother?"

"Well, I don't know. Can't you both play something here until Daddy comes
home? Why don't you play bean-bag?"

"We did, but Hal always throws 'em over my head and I can't reach," Mab
said.

"She throws c