Under the Lilacs

e their best frocks and hair-ribbons, Ben had a new blue shirt and his shoes on as full

e cups and plates, while Ben eyed the feast longingly, and Sancho with difficulty restrained himself from repeating his former naughtiness. No wonder the dog sniffed and the children smiled, for there was a noble display of

hispered Betty, who had never

us now," answered Bab, who ha

feeling as good as any one, but rather

eeled chair, in which sat her brother. A gay afghan covered the long legs, a broad-brimmed hat half hid the big eyes

I'll go in. Don't see w

air-back as she came on, adding aloud, "Such a punctual party! I am all ready, however, and we will sit down at once. This is my

, even if he cut capers; go both looked decidedly cool and indifferent when Miss Celia introduced them. But Sancho had better manners and no foolish pride; he, t

hite head, with a friendly look into the affectionate

is! It seems as if he could

commanded Ben, relenting at once, fo

ther, took the head herself and told her guests to begin. Bab and Betty were soon chattering away to their pleasant hostess as freely as if they had known her for months; but the boys were still rather shy, and made Sancho the medium through which they addressed one another. The excellent beast behaved with wonderful propriety, sitting upon his cushion i

dish, and his tail quivered with excitement as it lay like a train over the red cushion. At last, a moment came when temptation proved too strong for him. Ben was listening to something Miss Celia said;

nd burst out laughing as he had not done before for weeks. Every one looked round surprised, and Sa

rmed the other by his lively tales of circus-life. Then Miss Celia felt relieved, and every thing went splendidly, especially the food; for the plates were emptied several tim

rt across the brow, a rosy face, a stout pair of legs, left bare by the socks which had slipped down over the dusty little shoes. One end of a wide sash trailed behind him, a straw ha

e to see th

Celia, but got no further, for the

he wab

first wo

mall voice, as another step brought

re h

new demand with the same so

hear the do

ly, if h

peacock

ing mor

surveyed its ravaged surface, then pointed a fat little finge

ave some

it, while you tell me whose boy you are," sai

ld took the cake, and, composing himself upon

makes a paper. I he

is his

olunteered the new guest, unbending a t

u a mamm

aps. I go to

s or sisters to go with you?" asked Miss Celia

ry Sanford Barlow. I am Alfred Tennyson Barlow. We

ou go to

eks and Latins yet. I dig, and read

fond of poetrys," proposed Miss Celia, se

. I will say it to you." And, crossing his short legs, the

the flowe

my happy da

the flow

as a lit

the flowe

with my fat

the flow

n played abo

the flowe

ps are light

the flow

owers of su

the flowe

the snows

the flow

ays of spr

actually composed by

le. I will say that. It is a very pretty one," observed the poet with ch

eet days

y happ

wings through t

ays when winte

ys were passing

ays on the rivul

ays when I read

er days when bright

Tennyson, Jr., took a bite at the turtle instead of the half-eaten cake, and then, to prevent further m

," began the imperturbable one, yielding more

rrupted Bab, as the handsome birds appeared wi

ed, and he was about to request a song from Juno and Jupiter, when old Jack,

is wits; for a moment the stout legs staggered and the solemn count

e way peaco

, and Miss Celia could hardly make he

onkey asking you to come

't stop now. Mamm

fited poet precipitately retired, lea

eport that Alfred had been met by a servant, and gone away chanting a new verse of

d Miss Celia, as Randa carried away the tea-things and brought back a large tray full of picture-books, dissected

the white horse,-all saddled and bridled and fit for the fight. Thorny poked about to find a certain curious puzzle which he could put together without a mistake after long

" said Thorny, amused at the

ail to wagging as he waited till the alphabet was spread before him. Then, with great deliberation, he pushed the letters a

an he do any more?" c

ered Ben; and proudly put his poodle through his well-learned

how it was done?" she asked, when Sancho lay

rt. Father said the middle of the night was the best time to give him his lessons; it was so still then, and nothing disturbed Sanch and made him

could do the most wonderful things. Would you like to hear it while you put your maps and puzzles

g the book, she read the pretty account, shortening a

d she could spell it. So a table was arranged with a lamp on it, and round the table were laid the letters of the alphabet painted on cards. Blanche sat in the middle, waiting till her master told her to spell cheese, which she at once did in French, F R O M A G E. Then she translated a word for us very cleverly. Some one wrote pferd, the German for horse, on a slate. Blanche looked at it and pretended to read it, putting by the slat

you understand division. Suppose you had ten bits of sugar, and you met ten Prussian dogs, how many lumps would you, a French dog, give to each of the Prussians?' Lyda very decidedly

," exclaimed Ben, forced to own that t

ss Celia, seeing that the boys liked it, though Betty

hat else di

r pack and told us to choose a card; then he asked her what one had been chosen, and she always took up the right one in her teeth. I was asked to go into another room, put a light on the floor with cards round it, and leave the doors nearly shut. Then the man begged some one to whisper in the dog's ear what card she was to bring, and she

ou say, Ben) the night was the best time to give the lessons. Soon after this visit, the master d

p lively, for I'm not going to have you beaten by French dogs," said Ben, shaking his finger so st

le poodles?" asked Ben, eying the book,

u, I know," and she turned the pages for him, neither guessing how much good Mr. Hamerton's charmin