—————
"Sis!"
"I know, Billy," Mary Frances sobbed. "I know!—Father can't come, and everything is ready. Oh, dear! Oh, oh,—de—ar!"
"Oh, I say, Sister," said Billy; "I'll pretend I'm Father—won't that do? And—oh, yes! I'll show you how to fold a napkin into 'Cinderella's slipper!'"
"Where did you learn how?" Mary Frances began to dry her tears.
"Not on land, and not on sea
Did this knowledge come to me.
When I learned, I had on my hat—
Where was I? Now, riddle me that?
* * * * *
No, lady fair, not up in the air—
On a boat in the river."
"Silly Billy!" exclaimed Mary Frances. "Please show me the trick now, will you?"
"Yes," said Billy, "and then I'll eat Father's share, as well as mine, of a very 'grand' lunch—if my nose isn't deceiving me."