Jason and his friend had been busily at work behind some thick
growing trees near the river.

"All ready, Missie!" he announced, as, hat in hand, and bowing low, he
came smilingly toward the "Queen of the May."

A little procession formed to follow Jason, who led the way through a
woodland path to a clearing that opened toward the river. In this
clearing stood a big rustic chair, Betty's "throne."

Ruth and Winifred handed the Queen to her seat with great ceremony, and
then one after another the girls approached the throne, curtsying low
and laying their garlands at Betty's feet. Now they joined hands in a
little circle and danced around the throne, singing:

"'The First of May is garland day,
And every child should dance and play.
Curl your locks as I do mine,
And wear your summer gown so fine.'"

[Illustration: "THE FIRST OF MAY IS GARLAND DAY"]

The Queen of the May asks any favor she pleases from the throne, but as
soon as she leaves the throne her power ceases; so now the group of
laughing girls stood waiting to hear what the Queen would ask:

"A wreath and a staff
And a cup to quaff,"

demanded Betty smilingly, and away raced her loyal subjects to fulfil
the royal demand.

It was Annette who brought the wreath of violets; Mary Pierce came with
a curving branch that Jason had cut from a maple tree and trimmed into a
staff, while Caroline Fraser brought a cup of cool water from the spring
under the willow tree.

"We must soon be thinking of home," Mrs. Hastings reminded them, as the
girls, now flushed and a little tired, seated themselves about the
throne, from which Betty had descended.

"You have not sung your May-day song, Mother!" Betty reminded her, and
the girls now gathered about Mrs. Hastings, repeating Betty's request.

"But it isn't really 'my' song; it is an old English May song," Mrs.
Hastings said.

"'Spring is coming, Spring is coming,
Flowers are coming too;
Pansies, lilies, daffodils,
Now are coming through.'"

"'Spring is coming, Spring is coming,
All around is fair;
Shimmer and quiver on the river
Joy is everywhere.'"

As she finished singing Mrs. Hastings curtsied to the happy group, and
said:

"I wish you a happy May."

When Black Jason drove the brown horses into the field, and the girls
took their seats in the wagon, they all declared it was the best May-day
party they had ever known, and they all th