The milkman had two little friends staying with him, named Reuben and Jane. Reuben led the way into the woods carrying a kettle and a box of tea-things; while Reggie and Jane and little Flo followed with buns and tarts. Dan was useful too, for he helped to gather sticks with which to boil the kettle. He played hide-and-seek with the children, saw a real live rabbit for the first time in his life, and thought it was a new kind of cat; so in one way he had a very good time, but I am very sorry to tell you that the children quite forgot that Dan could not drink tea or eat jam tarts, and, as for buns, they knew he hated them. So poor Dan got nothing to eat at his own party. And when good-bye was said, and when the kind milkman dropped the three down on the steps—just like the milk-cans—Dan raised a feeble little "bow-wow" to Reggie's mother, and said as plainly as a little doggie could: "O, missis, missis! It's been my party and I've had nuffin' to eat. All I got was an empty nut-shell—'bow-wow'—which somebody called a squirrel—'bow-wow'—dropped into my mouth—'bow-wow'—while I was looking up a tree—'bow-wow-wow'!"
Reggie's mother must have understood, for she gave Dan a good supper, and he slept right soundly till morning.
Mary Boyle.
Bringing home the holly.
With hearts as light as snow-flakes fall, With cheeks like sunset glow, And ringing shouts of joy and fun, Away the children go.
Away! to where the holly-tree, With berries gleaming bright, Stands like a shivering giant in Its glistening cloak of white.
There's Roy, to take the sledge in hand And pilot through the snow. "The girls don't understand," he says. (Just like a boy, you know!)
For children love the Christmas-time, When everything is jolly; And all must help to deck the house In mistletoe and holly!