This little girl now began to realize that birthdays were delightful. Her violet eyes opened wider and wider as Sarah untied the box, and took from it a beautiful plated tea-set, shining like silver.
"Oh," exclaimed Russell, "wont we have nice times now? Mamma, can't we have our tea-party right away?"
Mamma smiled. "Yes, darling," she said, "as soon as Margery has cleared the room."
At this moment Sarah came in, bringing baby brother fresh from his bath, and all the children forgot their play in their eagerness to get a kiss. Baby jumped, and cooed, and laughed such funny little laughs, drawing in his breath, and then stopping to catch Helen's curls, as she pressed closer to him.
"Come, Frankie," cried Russell at last, "let's go and set the table now."
"I think real, live babies are better than all the tea-parties in the world," answered Frank, warmly. "Oh, I love to hear them laugh!"
There was a low table in the nursery, on which the little folks used to take their supper before they were old enough to dine with papa and mamma. This was now covered with wooden horses and sheep; and Frankie helped to pack the animals away in the box where they belonged.
"Please, Sarah," asked Russell, "may we have a table-cover?"
"Certainly, dear," and she gave him one from the drawer.
Before the cups and saucers and plates were arranged in order on the pretty tray, there was another ring, followed by the sound of merry voices in the hall.