It is very important that the letter should go on to-night's mail train, and if one of you will drop it in the box as you go by, I'll be so much obliged." "Yes'm, I'll do it," answered each girl again, almost in the same breath.

With a nod and a smile to them, Mrs.Sherman told Alec to drive on.

The ponies, already saddled and bridled, were waiting in front of the house.

The girls were to ride by the MacIntyre place and escort Miss Allison's carriage to the picnic-ground, and had promised to be there at four, but the hall clock struck the hour before the last dress was buttoned and the last ribbon tied.
"Do you heah that ?" cried the Little Colonel, in a panic of haste, as the musical chime sounded through the house.

"It will nevah do to keep Miss Allison waitin'! Come on!" she exclaimed, adding, as she flew through the upper hall, "The last one down the stairs is a pop-eyed monkey!" "I'm not it!" shrieked Joyce, racing past her.
"I'm not it!" echoed Betty, darting ahead of them both, and reaching the ponies first.
"Eugenia's last! She is the pop-eyed monkey!" cried Joyce, cheerfully, looking back with a laugh as she began to untie Calico.