make patchwork, and all sorts of little affairs; and she had already hemmed a handkerchief for papa, which no doubt put the thought of this lovely workbox into his head.

'O thank you, darling papa!' cried Violet. 'It's too beautiful!'

'One more kiss, and I must go, my Bud,' said papa.

'Mamma's present comes next, please!' said mamma, who had been standing in the entrance, with something in her hand which was covered with a white handkerchief.

'A baby doll! O mamma! mamma!' cried Violet, uncovering the pretty little head of flaxen hair. ‘A robe like a real baby! What a sweet! Blue sash, and ties for the sleeves! My pretty baby! Thank you, dear mamma, this is Baby Bud's little Bud!'

Now came the undoing of the many parcels on the table. There were all sorts of little treasures, and each was a fresh delight. Nurse's white silk hood and scarlet cloak for the doll; the shoes and socks. from the twins, which caused a great laugh; Jessie's pretty glass basket, which she had bought with her last pocket-money at the Crystal Palace; a picturebook from Alice, and a box of sugar-plums from Punny and Ferky, who thought there was nothing better in the world; a pincushion from Ellen, the housemaid; a marker from Sarah, the under-nurse,

and a Tunbridge ware box from Kate. lovely fuchsia, too-we must not forget that.

Hobden's

'But what is that chirping sound I hear?' said Violet, suddenly looking up, and for the first time. seeing a bright golden-coloured canary, in a new cage, hanging from the roof of the summer-house. 'For me! O Edmund!'- as he unhooked the cage, and put it on Violet's lap. 'A real live dicky for my own! I am the happiest little girl! I am quite fat with happiness!'

H

CHAPTER IV.

THE ENCHANTED WALNUTS.

ERE'S a set-out!' exclaimed papa, putting his head into the summer-house at five o'clock. 'What's going on?'

The children were very busy laying out the tea-table, and filling small plates with strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, and currants, which made a most inviting show. 'It's Baby Bud's birthday feast, papa,' said Mildred. 'And we're going to make real tea ourselves—all by ourselves!' said Alice.

'Won't you invite me?'

O papa!' with an amused laugh.

I think I shall come in the middle as a giant, and swallow up tea-pot and all! You've no room for anything more, have you?'

'O yes, papa!'

'Papa, what have you got?'

'O рара, what is in that parcel ?

'Papa, is it for us?'

'O you very best of all papas in the world!' as from the hand which papa had cleverly kept behind him came forth a beautiful birthday cake, sugared over. 'Where's the little Bud?'

'Resting, papa, till tea is ready.'

'I shall go and see her, and join you all after dinner, and we'll have some games.'

'O papa dear, how nice!'

'Now let us decorate the dishes with flowers,' said Mildred.

It was all finished, and looking very pretty, when a little later Edmund came out, carrying his dear Baby Bud, whom he laid tenderly on her sofa, covering her feet with a shawl.

They had a very merry tea, and Edmund had enough to do to keep them in order. Indeed Punny and Ferky very nearly lost hearing the story, they were so wild and mischievous,-putting salt on Edmund's plate for sugar, and shrieking with delight at the face he made when he put a strawberry covered with it into his mouth; and pinning the twins' frocks together, so that when they got up and moved away quickly, there was a sudden rent, which filled their faces with dismay at the thought of nurse.

'Once for all, young sirs, I tell you this!' said Edmund. 'If you don't behave yourselves, I'll shut

you up in the tool-house, to be company for the spiders-Now for the story. Baby Bud, you must choose what it's to be about.'

'About boys,' said Violet, 'I like tales about boys. And it must be a bogie tale, with magics in it.'

'Yes, yes!' cried the little girls.

'Now, Baby Bud, you're a brick!' said Punny, 'to choose the very sort I like best!'

'She's two bricks,' cried Ferky, 'for it's just what I like best too.'

'Pax!' said Edmund. 'Now, remember, the first disturber goes into the tool-house! My story is called "The story of the Enchanted Walnuts."

'Walnuts! how could they be enchanted?' broke in Punny.

'Hush, do!' cried Jessie.

'We shall see!' said Edmund.

And he began

The Enchanted Walnuts.

Once upon a time there lived in an old castle a nobleman who was called the Graf, and his wife was called the Grafinn. And they had one little son, who was called Eoc.

Now Eoc, let me tell you, of little boys under the sun.

that he would not do, except

was the naughtiest There was nothing

what he was told.

was the plague of the whole castle.

He was

He