THE NURSERY BAND.

“We'll put you up on the roof”; growled Uncle Harry,
pretending to be vexed.

“©O, Uncle Harry!” cried Edna. “ You bea vead bear,
you do growl so lovely. You can dance on your hind
legs, and we will make the music for you!”

And that was really what handsome Uncle Harry was
doing, when the door opened softly, and who do you think
stood there, seeing the fun? Why, Uncle Harry’s sweet-
heart, who had come with Marie’s mamma to grandma’s
birthday party. Up and down went the dear fellow, shak-
ing his paws, bobbing his head, wobbling his russet feet as
clumsily as ever he could. The dear little band was
squealing away four—no, forty—different tunes at once.
Oh, it was the funniest dance you ever saw!

“Ting-a-ling! Tum-ti-ttum! Tra-la, tra-la!”

O, you know one can’t write such music any more than
one can hug a dancing bear—while he is dancing !

But all of a sudden the fun stopped. The bear happened
to look over his shoulder and saw his lady-love laughing
heartily, although grandma’s finger was on her lips, a sign to
keep the ladies quiet. Beyond the portiere all the mammas
were waiting to pay for the music with bon-bons and kisses.

Wasn't Uncle Harry tired? And didn’t the pretty lady
love him better than ever, when she saw how very fond of
him the /¢¢le girls were !

After the birthday supper, Uncle Harry played the
violin, while the ladies and the little girls danced ;
grandma sat smiling, enjoying this dance better than the
other—the ezghty-year-old darling.

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