th seventy-five-cent
tickets for admission. The mothers of the pupils contributed the food,
and as Burmingham boasted many an expert cook the meal spread upon the
tables was indeed a royal one.

The edict went forth that no guest would be admitted to the festival
unless arrayed in an "Alice in Wonderland" costume, and for the sake of
witnessing the fun, as well as of helping forward the fete, more than
one dignified resident of the town struggled into an incongruous
garment and mingled in the train of Alice, the White Queen, the Red
Queen, the Duchess, Father William, and the Aged Man. Judge Damon and
Mr. Cameron provoked a storm of mirth by appearing as the Walrus and the
Carpenter, and Paul's mother, who was still a young and pretty woman,
came as the famous Queen of Hearts. As for Mr. Carter, although he
pooh-poohed the idea and made all manner of jokes about the party, he
astonished the entire community by presenting himself at the last moment
as the Dormouse.

[Illustration: More than one dignified resident of the town struggled
into an incongruous garment. _Page 74._]

Such a revel had not taken place in the village for years. In fact,
there had never before been any social function which brought high and
low, rich and poor together in such democratic fashion. The frolic had
in it a Mardi Gras spirit quite foreign to the wonted quiet and dignity
of the place.

"Why, we haven't had such a shaking-up in years!" ejaculated the
postmaster. "Seems like we've all got better acquainted with our
neighbors in this one evening than we ever did in all the rest of our
lives put together. You don't get far at knowing a man if you just bow
to him every day; but when you go making an ape of yourself and he goes
making an ape of himself, each of you finds out how human the other one
is. You've got something in common to talk about."

And it was even as the old postmaster declared. Many a social barrier
was broken down and forgotten as a result of the _March Hare_ carnival.
Parents ceased to remember their differences by talking together about
their children, a topic that never failed to bring them into sympathy.
Thus the movement which had its source in an impulse to aid the
youngsters proved to be of benefit also to many of the elders. Nor was
this the only consequence of the event.

Into the coffers of the class treasury poured undreamed-of wealth which
made possible the gift of two fine pictures to the school,--one of