Mrs. Morton was more severe.

"You may go to your room and remain until you can address your mother
respectfully, my daughter."

Frank's plan was carried out. There were no formal invitations issued.
Frank and Dr. Morton and Jim Bart spoke to every neighbor they met for
the next few days, inviting them to come to an April Fool frolic at
seven on the evening of April first, and asking them to pass the
invitation along to the other residents of Big John. Chicken Little and
Sherm rode over to give Captain Clarke a special invitation, fearing he
might not have become sufficiently used to Creek ways to come on the
more general bidding.

The Captain was charmed and begged leave to send Wing over to help that
evening. Wing delighted in every new experience he was having on the
Creek. He grinned joyously at the prospect.

The entire Morton family entered into the preparations for this novel
party with enthusiasm. Even Jilly and Huz and Buz caught the excitement
of something unusual going on, and hung round, and got under everybody's
feet, more successfully than usual. Jilly had the privilege of scraping
icing bowls while Huz and Buz looked enviously on. They licked their
sticky chops ecstatically when Jilly turned the bowl over to them after
she had done her best with the big tin spoon. Her mother reproached her
for letting the pups eat out of one of the family dishes, but Jilly
couldn't see why her mother was so particular.

Mrs. Morton and Annie and Marian baked cakes and doughnuts and cookies
and mince pies and custard pies, and roasted turkeys and whole hams,
until pantry and cellar and spring house were all overflowing. It would
be a never-ending reproach, if there should not be an abundance for all
who might come, and no one could even guess how many would come.

"It looks like enough for a regiment," said Mrs. Morton wearily,
dropping into a rocking chair on the afternoon of the thirty-first day
of March.

"Yes, but country men do have such astonishing appetites. I am sure it
would feed all Centerville for twenty-four hours. Of course, some of the
things are not eatable," Marian replied.

They had carried out the April Fool idea as much as possible without
spoiling the supper. Six nice brown doughnuts had wads of cotton
concealed in their tempting rings. These were to be mixed with the good
ones. Pickles just out of the brine, were to be put in the same dish
with deliciously perfect ones. There was to be just