"" bTHAT'S a very short time for a
 b ir thday tea-party, 'specially on a

 "her little sister Mattie went at half-past
 three.
 Marjorie, the six-year-old hostess, was
 dressed, except her blue hair-ribbon, and
 was delighted to see them.
 The dolls were ready, too. Josephine, the
 Paris beauty, wore cream-color and rose,
with her best jewelry; Hans and Gretchen, the German brother
and sister, wore funny peasant costumes; and old Ethel, dearest of
all, had on a clean pink calico wrapper. Even the Maltese kitten
had washed her face and breast and feet as white as snow.
 By ten minutes past four the twelve little girls had come; and
what fun they were having! There were ninepins and parlor-
croquet, paints and puzzles, toy dishes and furniture, books and
balls, all arranged in the sitting-room and parlor, to play with.
 Kitty opened the game of ninepins. She rolled the balls about
with her paws, and jumped after them. She knocked over the men