r toes on the floor first.

"For," continued Merry Chuckle, "Old Witchy Crosspatch is always waiting
for children to get out of bed backwards. And when they do, she catches
them by the heels and turns everything topsy-turvy all day long; but
when you get out of bed toes first, I'll be there to start you on a
pleasant day and Witchy Crosspatch will have to return to Make-Believe
Land and hide her head!" "Sure enough, I did crawl out of bed backwards
this morning!" Marjorie said.

"I know you did, my dear!" Merry Chuckle giggled. "And every time you do
old Witchy Crosspatch makes everything seem disagreeable!"

"But I hate to run errands, Mister Chuckle!" cried Marjorie. "The old
road is so dreadfully long and tiresome!"

"But the longer the road the more happiness you can find along the
way, my dear!" Merry Chuckle replied, quick as a wink, his little eyes
twinkling brightly. "If you look up at the blue sky and the beautiful
sunshine and sing with the birds as you run along you'll find the road
seems too short and you'll be back before you notice it. Just try it and
see."

So Marjorie looked up the road with a smile and, sure enough, it did not
seem so far to the store, and when she turned around, she was sitting
upon the stone alone. The little elf had suddenly disappeared. Marjorie
picked up her basket and skipped down the road singing at the top of her
voice and before she had time to think about how far it was she was back
home telling Mamma all about the queer little elf from Make-Believe
Land.

"You haven't been away long enough to stop and talk with anyone on
the road!" laughed Mamma. "Are you sure you have not been dreaming?"
Marjorie wondered if it really had only been a dream, but the next
morning when the golden sunshine peeped through her bedroom curtains,
Marjorie did as Merry Chuckle had told her the day before. First of all
she woke up and cried, "Oh what a lovely day this is going to be!"
Then she took three long, deep breaths and then she jumped out of bed
quickly, right on her toes. And, sure enough, old Witchy Crosspatch had
to go back to Make-Believe Land and hide her head, so Marjorie spent a
lovely, happy day with Merry Chuckle.

"I hope all children will hear of my recipe for a joyous day," said
Merry Chuckle, "so that each day for them can be filled with sunshine
and happiness!"

[Illustration]

GRANDFATHER SKEETER-HAWK'S STORY

It was a beautiful day in the late summer. Tom