Sunday passed slowly, even though it had cleared. At last came Monday, the day on which Ben expected the folks to come home.

Just before the luncheon bell rang, Ben, who was reading in the sitting room, heard the honk! honk! honk! of an automobile.

"Grandma is here! Grandma is here, Mother!" he yelled, as he ran to open the door.

His mother was at the door before he could open it. When he did get it open, sure enough, there was Grandma with the two girls! How glad each was to see everybody else, and how every one talked at once!

The luncheon bell put a stop to the chatter. While they were at the table, Ben said: Well, Grandma, a story to-night?"

66

Yes, Ben, if you like. I'll take a little nap this afternoon, for I am tired after our long journey. You take Belle and May out of doors."

"Oh, yes, Grandma; I'll show them my pigeons."

"Your pigeons!" said both girls.

"Yes. You know the rabbits were so hard to take care of, that Father let me exchange them for pigeons."

"I hope they are pretty ones," said May.

"As pretty as the pigeons of St. Mark's in Venice," said Ben, which is what Ben's father had said when he first saw them. "Let us go out to feed them. Then you can see how beautifully marked they are."

Out they went, while Grandma went upstairs for her nap.

Grandma came down a few minutes before dinner, just as the children were coming in.

Of course, she was asked what story she would tell them. Her reply was, "Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar is the story for this evening." After dinner, they came together in their old places for the

FIFTY-FIRST EVENING

"Grandma, while you were away I learned

a new song."

66

'Well, Ben, suppose you sing your song before I begin my story."

And Ben sang:

DEAN SWIFT.

1. We are little fair -y creatures, All of dif-f'rent voice and features, 2. One in "tin" is well sur-round-ed, By a "box" the fourth is bound-ed,

One of us in "glass" is set,
And the fifth, what-e'er you do,

One of us
is found in “jet.”
Nev er will it fly from "you."

"A very good song, and very well sung, said Grandma. "Now we will begin the new story."

MR. AND MRS. VINEGAR.

Perhaps you do not know Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar. They lived for a long time in the vinegar bottle.