MARY.

=-LAMMA,” said Mary, “what is a commencement?
What do they do with it? I want one. Cecil is
going to have one, and I want one too.”

Her mother laughed: “ Well, dear, I don’t see
how you can have one very well.”

 

“Why not, mamma? Cecil says they are going to have
ice-cream and cake, and they are going to learn things to
recite, and they are going to have music, and they are going
to wear white dresses and sashes. Mamma, couldn’t I have
one ?”

“All to yourself, little girl? It would be rather funny.
You know you are mamma’s girl, and you do not go to school
as Cecil does; you study at home with mamma.”

“Yes, I know, mamma; but I do want one so very much.

Could we have one, just you and I? I will learn something
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