- Two small children, boys or girls; be sure that they are good ones!
- Two wooden pails.
- Two shovels, of wood or metal.
- One sea.
- One sandy beach, with not too many pebbles.
- One dozen clam-shells (more or less).
- One sun.
- Two sunbonnets, or broad-brimmed hats.
- One mother, or nurse, within calling distance.
- Starfish and sea-urchins to taste.
Mix the shovels with the sandy beach, and season well with starfish. Add the sunbonnets to the children, and, when thoroughly united, add the wooden pails. Spread the sun and the sea on the beach, and sprinkle thoroughly with sea-urchins and clam-shells. Add the children, mix thoroughly, and bake as long as advisable.
N. B. Do not add the mother at all, except in case of necessity.
LILIES AND CAT-TAILS.
“Mother,” said Roger, swinging in at the door and catching up the baby for a toss, “I am going to begin Physical Geography! And teacher says I must have a book, please, as soon as I can get it. It costs two dollars, and it’s just full of pictures, oh, so interesting! And may I get it to-day, please, mother?”
“Mother” looked up with a sad little loving smile. “Dear heart,” she said, “I have not two dollars in the world just now, unless I take them from the money I am saving for your new suit, and I hardly ought to do that, my poor Roger!”
Roger looked down with a rueful whistle at his clothes, which, though clean, were patched and darned to the utmost limit.
“I’m afraid the Patent Mosaic Suit is rather past the bloom of youth,” he said, cheerily. “Never mind, mammy! Perhaps Will Almy will lend me his book, sometimes, or I can study in recess out of Miss Black’s. Don’t worry, anyhow, but catch Miss Dumpling here, while I go and bring in some water.”