“One thing at a time,” said the Captain, “for I’ve just decided to have a lawn party for the Elves of Oakdale, and Lightning will carry them the invitations this very evening.”
“Captain Featherweight of Mount Fern presents his compliments to Captain Acorn of Oakdale, and begs that Captain Acorn and his Company will favor Captain Featherweight and his Company with their presence at Mount Fern on Thursday next by the light of the moon.”
This was the form of the invitation, and Lightning carried it at once to Oakdale.
“And what shall I say to the American Beauty Rose?” asked the flower-elf, when Lightning had gone.
“My best respects to the American Beauty,” said Captain Featherweight, “and tell her that it will give us much pleasure to entertain the flowers; and that the ball shall be given two weeks from to-night in honor of the Queen of Flowers, which, as you know, is the rose.”
Then the flower-elf departed for the rose garden to carry Captain Featherweight’s invitation to the flowers, and before long Lightning was seen in the distance hurrying back with Captain Acorn’s reply, which ran thus:
“Captain Acorn of Oakdale presents his compliments to Captain Featherweight of Mount Fern, and accepts with much pleasure for himself and his Company the most kind invitation of Captain Featherweight of Mount Fern.”
“And now,” said the Captain, when he had read the reply, “we must prepare for our guests. The finest piece of lawn is under the great white oak tree, and there we will play skyball. Between now and Thursday I want you to pull up and carry away all the tall blades of grass, and beat down with our feet all the rough places, so that the lawn will be as smooth as velvet.