Part 5 (2/2)

Do you think he is old enough yet, girl, To remember me after I go?

If not I must stay awhile longer, For he must not forget me, you know.

III.

You who are yet but a child, dear, Will see him as tall as the squire But I must make ready to leave you, For have I not won my desire?

IV.

Old winter waits for the snowdrop Before he turns to depart, And I have stayed for the coming Of this last joy of my heart.

V.

We meet in the same wide doorway, And inward to life he trips But I to my death creep outwards And, pa.s.sing, we both touch lips.

F. W. H.

TROT, TODDLES, AND THE TEA-PARTY.

Trot walked slowly up-stairs, repeating the words she had heard,--

”If you want the entertainment to be a success, you must draw up a programme, and carry it out.”

She looked very solemn, for she felt the importance of the occasion. On the day following she and Toddles were to give their very first party; and four little girls and four little boys, not to mention the four dolls of the four little girls, were coming to take tea with Trot and Toddles and mother.

Trot had thought about it a great deal, and so had Toddles, wondering what would happen, and what they should do to make the guests enjoy themselves.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”TODDLES STOOD IN FRONT OF HER.”]

The two children had spent many half-hours talking the matter over, and each time the conversation had ended by Toddles saying,--”Well, never mind; there'll be tea.” He had found out from cook that there would be two kinds of jam provided for the tea-party, and he felt quite sure that even if there were fourteen little boys and fourteen little girls expected, they would enjoy themselves thoroughly if they had plenty of jam. But Trot did not agree with him, and declared that the question could not be settled that way.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”'HIGHER!' SHOUTED TODDLES.”]

The speech which Trot had overheard suggested all kinds of plans, and she made her way into the nursery to talk over the party once more with Toddles.

Toddles was in the middle of a grand sea-fight. His tin soldiers were sailing about on books on the sea of the nursery floor, and Toddles was firing first at one s.h.i.+p, and then at another, with a large gla.s.s marble. Toddles did not wish to be disturbed.

”Toddles,” said Trot, ”the tea-party is settled at last. If you want the entertainment to be a success, you must draw up a programme, and carry it out.”

”Six down at one shot!” cried Toddles; ”and the captain among them, too.”

”Toddles,” said Trot solemnly, ”you do want the entertainment to be a success, don't you?”

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