THE END OF THE PARTY. 103

Annie’s cow. Mrs. Keep comes to bid the children good-night.

Livingston gave her the cow, directing her, at the same
time, to go and ask Ellen if she might keep it. Amnie
ran back to Ellen and showed her the present that she
had received. Ellen appeared to be very much pleased.
She looked up to Livingston and smiled. She then
looked toward Beechnut, and thanked him im the same
way-

“ May I keep it?” asked Annie.

“Yes,” said Ellen—“ certainly. I think it is a very
pretty present.”

Just then, the door opened, and Mrs. Keep-came into
the room. The voices were then all hushed, and the
room became entirely still.

Mrs. Keep advanced to a place in the room where all
could see her distinctly, and hear what she had +o say,
and then addressed the company as follows:

“ Young ladies and young gentlemen, | have come to
bid you good-night. I hope you have had a pleasant
time. Itis a great pleasure to have a company of friends
come to visit Caroline, who know so well how to practise
a gentlemanly and ladylike behaviour. Everything has
been this afternoon and evening just as I could wish.
No disputing, no quarreling, no roughness or violence, no
rude and unnecessary noise. When children will take
care of themselves as well as you have done to-day, it is
no more trouble to have a children’s party than it is to
have one of grown people ; and in one respect, I like to
have such a_party better than to have one of gentlemen
and ladies, for I am much more sure that my company
have a good time.”

So saying, Mrs. Keep went round the room and bade
each of the children a kind good-night, and then Susan