CHAPTER CXXXIX
PLANNING A CHILDREN'S PARTY
"OF course, I'll help you, Ruth," said Bettina. "I'd love to. A children's party! What fun it will be! How many children will be there?"
"Twelve or fifteen, I think. Now let me tell you Ralph's own idea for entertainment. I suppose I'm a doting aunt, but it sounds very possible to me."
"Did Ralph suggest the kind of a party he wished? Well, isn't he a clever boy! And he's only eleven years old, too."
"He suggested that the invitations invite the children to a circus. You see, we could write a little rhyme to that effect on animal paper, or with an animal picture pasted in the corner. When the children arrive, we'll have the parade. We'll have ready the horns, drums, and so forth, for the band, and some of the children will represent the various wild animals. The parade will lead to the refreshment table (after some circus games, perhaps), which will be set outdoors if it is warm enough. The table must represent a circus ground (I've seen those paper circuses downtown, haven't you?), and the refreshments must carry out the scheme. So, Bettina, do help us to plan the details!"
Bettina's dinner that night consisted of:
Sliced Ham and Potatoes en Casserole
Baked Creamed Cabbage
Bread Butter
Plum Pudding
Cocoanut Pudding