X.

It was a year ago today I found ," said Jack. "He must have a 'birthday' party." So invited the he and Jimmy liked best to "Jimmy's picnic."

hey all went up to the -pasture where Jack found . First there was little Ibelle, carrying Jimmy Crow in her . Next came her big brother Alden, who had a with in it. Louise had in a , and Bob brought in a . Russell carried in a , and last came Jack with a tin . Nobody knew what was in it. That was Mama's "surprise."

ey sat down under a shady and divided the goodies. sat in the middle, and they each gave him a piece. After they had all eaten a and and and , Jack opened the . The children all put their close together to see, and as the came off they shouted, "Oh, oh! Ice-cream!"

hen they sat down again in a circle, in the middle, with a . He gave each one a in turn. Oh, how good it tasted!

ut wanted some, and when Jack would not let him eat from the spoon, he grabbed it in his and flew away. The chased him until he dropped it, and then gave him a taste of the ice-cream. He didn't like it, so the ate it all.

hen they picked , until Alden's and Bob's and Louise's were all full.

ust as they were starting home, a little tired after all the fun—"Hurrah!" shouted Russell. "Here comes Uncle Charlie, with his . He will give us a ride." So kind tossed them up into the hay, one by one—little Ibelle first—and they all rode home on the .

IN SCHOOL.