o hold the banana himself, so that his
brother should not abstractedly sample a second time, and Toddie doling
out the grapes with careful count.

"They _are_ a little sour," said Budge, with a wry face. "Perhaps some
other bunch is better. I think we'd better try each one, don't you?"

"An' each one of the buttonanoes, too," suggested Toddie. "_That_ one
wazh pretty good, but maybe some of the others isn't."

The proposition was accepted, and soon each banana had its length
reduced by a fourth, and the grape-clusters displayed a fine development
of wood. Then Budge seemed to realize that his present was not as
sightly as it might be, for he carefully closed the skins at the ends,
and turned the unbroken ends to the front as deftly as if he were a born
retailer of fruit.

This done, he exclaimed: "Oh! we want our cards on em, else how will she
know who they came from?"

"We'll be here to tell her," said Toddie.

"Huh!" said Budge; "That wouldn't make her half so happy. Don't you know
how when cousin Florence gets presents of flowers, she's always happiest
when she's lookin' at the card that comes with 'em?"

"Aw right," said Toddie, hurrying into the parlor,'and returning with
the cards of a lady and gentleman, taken haphazard from his aunt's
card-receiver.

"Now, we must write 'Happy Birthday' on the backs of 'em," said Budge,
exploring his pockets, and extracting a stump of a lead-pencil. "Now,"
continued Budge, leaning over the card, and displaying all the facial
contortions of the unpracticed writer, as he laboriously printed, in
large letters, speaking, as he worked, a letter at a time:

"H--A--P--P--E B--U--R--F--D--A--Happy Birthday. Now, you must hold the
pencil for yours, or else it won't be so sweet--that's what mamma says."

Toddie took the pencil in his pudgy hand, and Budge guided the hand; and
two juvenile heads touched each other, and swayed, and twisted, and
bobbed in unison until the work was completed.

"Now, I think she ought to come," said Budge. (Breakfast time was still
more than an hour distant.) "Why, the rising-bell hasn't rung yet! Let's
ring it!"

The boys fought for possession of the bell; but superior might
conquered, and Budge marched up and down the hall, ringing with the
enthusiasm and duration peculiar to the amateur.

"Bless me!" exclaimed Mrs. Burton, hastening to complete her toilet.
"How time does fly--sometimes!"

Mr. Burton saw something in his wife's face that see