Max and Spud had spread themselves, it being the German-American lad's birthday.
"Say, this is certainly fine!" cried Sam, as he surveyed several big cakes, two hands of bananas, some grapes, and several bricks of ice-cream of various flavors.
"How are you going to serve the ice-cream ?" asked Dick.
"Oh, we're all prepared!" cried Spud, and exhibited a "nest" of paper saucers and another of paper plates, and then a handful of tin spoons.
"I thought these would answer better than the real thing, for when we have finished we won't have to wash anything--we can throw the whole mess away." "Say, that's Spud," cried the student named Lane.

"Once he had to wash dishes at a picnic we went to and you ought to see the face he cut." "Come, git busy alretty!" cried Max, as he flourished a knife and commenced to cut one of the cakes.

"Spud, chop the ice-cream up right avay!" "All right, me for the chopping!" cried Spud cheerfully, and soon the cream was being passed around to the assembled students, and the cake and fruit followed.
"Fine!" cried Tom, as he smacked his lips over the feast.

"Max, you have my full permission to have a birthday once a week." "Yes, and when you miss a week let Spud take your place," added Sam.
"One thing I can't understand, Spud," said Dick, with great seriousness, and everybody present stopped eating to hear what the eldest Rover might have to say.
"What can't you understand ?" asked Spud innocently.
"How you could get up a feast like this and forget to supply such an important thing." "What important thing ?" demanded Spud, and he suddenly looked a trifle worried.
"Potatoes," returned Dick.
For an instant there was silence, and then, as the other boys remembered Will's love of potatoes--a love that had given him the nickname of "Spud," there was a wild burst of laughter.
"Say, Spud, that's one on you!" "Too bad we didn't bring a few praties along, son!" "We might have fried a few over the light, eh ?" "Don't you worry, dis feast ain't done yet alretty!" cried Max.

"Here is something more!" And going to his bureau he brought out a square box wrapped in white paper.