“I think you had better ask him, for he will probably feel slighted if you don’t.”

“Very well, mother.”

“Now, Flora, I will take a pencil and paper and write down the names of all the boys and girls with whom you are acquainted; and you[Pg 16] must be careful not to forget any. Here comes Frank; he will help you.”

Frank was told about the party, and he was quite as much pleased with the idea as his sister had been; and both of them began to repeat the names of all the boys and girls they could remember.

For half an hour they were employed in this manner, and then the list was read over to[Pg 17] them, so as to be sure that no names had been omitted.

Flora and Frank now went through all the streets of Riverdale, in imagination, thinking who lived in each house; and when they had completed their journey in fancy, they felt sure they had omitted none.

“But we must invite cousins Sarah and Henry,” said Flora. “O, I hope they will come![Pg 18] Henry is so funny; we can’t do without them.”

“Perhaps they will come; at any rate we will send them invitations,” replied Mrs. Lee.

The next day, when the children had gone to school, Mrs. Lee went to the office of the Riverdale Gazette, which was the village newspaper, and had the invitations printed on nice gilt-edged paper.

By the following day Mrs.[Pg 19] Lee had written in the names of the children invited, enclosed the notes in envelopes, and directed them. I will give you a c