THE NURSERY BAND. oes for the Nursery Band! Eleanor is first violin ; Beatrice has the mandolin: Edna takes the pretty tambourine, and Marie the banjo. Eleanor has just jumped out of her pony-cart, and run away from her dogs, in time to begin. It is not any tune you ever heard, she is playing. Mamma’s violin will hardly forgive itself for giving such squeaks and shrieks, Baby Beatrice, with the softest voice is quite satisfied with the way she is singing, “ Daithy, Daithy you mutht be crathy !” and her mamma’s mandolin is astonished at its own voice, and is so proud of its musical family. Edna thumps with her white fist at the tambourine; whirls it merrily about to hear the tinkling of the fairy bells; then peeps around it singing, ‘‘ Peek-a-boo, I see you!” “I’m a band, too!” cries Marie, bobbing her yellow curls, “ Hey-day!” cries grandmamma; “Who ever heard every piece in the orchestra playing a different tune, at the same time!” ‘Zo¢s 0’ music!” said Eleanor, smiling sweetly, with her ear upon the wailing violin. ‘Um, me make music too!” said Marie, tum-ti-tum- tumming on her banjo. The invitations which Aunt Carra had sent said “three o'clock,” azd “ music by the band.” It was almost three o'clock, and here was the band! 14