Half-Past Seven Stories

ant than others. The most important of all, of course, is one y

e seventh, for a boy--or a girl--is pretty big by then, and able to do so many things. In old Bible days seven was supposed to be a sacred number, and even today m

But after that people don't think so much of birthdays until their seventieth or so, when they become very proud of them once more. Perhaps they gr

which came that fine day, his seventh; and he was wondering if Mother would put the s

er looked up from the cider-press which he was mending, and said "By George!", which were the very worst he ever said; and the Toyman looked up from the

ent, for Jehosophat was putting axle-grease on his little red cart, and Hepzebiah was pla

h, yes, he had. He was giving a

ll his noisy quarrelsome friends o

n the inside of his jacket, one on each side of his hips, and two in the back of his corduroy trousers. Well, he filled pocket number one with golden kernels of corn from the sack; pock

where he was going. First he went to the wagon-shed, and there, because it was near the three kennels, was kept the

it, one which he had begged from the doctor that time he was sick. Then he went to

ms from the garden, long, wriggly worms--"night-walkers," the boys call them--and placed them in a

rrands he bulged out in such funny places, the places where he had stuffed his po

ching, trying hard not to laugh. It paid them to watch him, too, for they were go

and all the cups and tins in which the Three Happy Children made mud-pie

that for? I don't believe

d and put the net in. Out it came, and in the meshes

n the summer-house, and then hurried to the rabbi

Bunny

n't be

m the Toyman, who used to make lots for the children, just to see them laugh. So Marmaduke got the ha

best, which is all you can ask of anybody. Anyway, we will have to tell

e sa

Bunny

n't be

nything much, bu

ame the White Rabbits, making noses

e coaxed them over to the summer-house, and when they got there, he

noses than ever and nibbled,

called o

ick, chi

ck, quic

atch the trolley car. Even lordly Father Wyandotte himself stalked along a little faster than usual, and I guess the Big Gold Rooster on the top of t

he rest of the guests could come. He wanted to get them all together and make a speech to them, the way Deacon Slithers did when they g

y Pink Pigeons from their h

o,

some f

ickly, and he tempted them, too, all the way to the summer-

n he ca

Goose,

but just kept calling, "Goose, Goose, Goose," over and

e no e

to the

come to

't, you're

it?--but, no, I gues

he ye

sy Cat, P

ve a bite

n

d Brownie

come 'n over,

at l

littl

ce litt

ered, he did pret

his seven different pockets, on the little shingles a

or the Pretty Pink Pigeons; and lettuce leaves for the hippity-hop white Bunnies; and milk from the little bottle for the

; and no wonder Father whistled, and said, "By George!", and the Toyman slapped h

uke couldn't keep sufficient order to make that important

mer-house, put his hands in his new

Mr. Rooster and Mrs. Rooster an' Gener

ame, were trying to get in his pockets for more of the feast; and Rover and Brownie and Wienerwurs

zy Geese! Stop that, Bunny! Sto

he Geese were flapping their wings and crying, "hiss, hiss!"; and the Pigeons were flying back to their home on the roof; and Ro

o ladies and gen'lemen you're--you're just me

ing still and looking and saying things--they were running--and--saying thin

ntil he let go of the tails of the Pretty Pink Pigeons, and they got the Bunnies saf

sad, but it was too late. Tabby wasn't like Jonah's wha

ed, 'you're no ladies an' gen'lemen--an'

view la

t about the way he had been treated. As Father

k which the Toyman had made with his very own hands. There isn't much use telling the colors in which it was painted, because y

ook like the real thing, but, as the Toyman said, "You can invite them to your house any time

, and made many a glorious speech to them

g after the seven candles had gone out,