It slips, an' it slips an it slips, You naughty old Banjo, oh, dear! Is he coming? then what will he do To find me sitting up here! Ho, ho, 'twas a mouse--how silly And frightened I've actually been; For he'd say: "If you hold it quite still You may take it, I'm willing, Corinne!" I know, so now I'll begin it; How does he go "tumty tum ting," And make such beautiful tunes, Too lovely for anything? I ain't a bit afraid they may hear, The house people 'way off below-- Me playing in Brother Joe's room. Still I'd better be careful, you know. If they didn't say 'twas amusing. I sh'd think 'twas stupid to play, To tug at such tiresome strings An' make them come over this way; But it must be delightful, I'll pull A very fine tune at first; Now, "tumty-tum twang!" It sounds as if something had burst! That string must a truly been cracked. Don't you s'pose? or moth-eaten p'raps; Tisn't pleasant to practice I'm sure, But forlorn, when anything flaps So I guess I've finished; hark! hark! He really is coming--oh, my! Now, Banjo, I know Mamma wants me, An' so I must bid you good-bye. "Wasn't she a naughty girl," said Bo, "I wouldn't do that. I never touch Aunt Lucy's banjo--only sometimes--but I don't break it." [Illustration] CHAPTER III. THE PARTY. Great preparations were made for Amy's seventh birthday. Uncle Dick, who was an electrician, sent a number of portable electric lamps to help in the decorations. Aunt Lucy proposed having tableaux and pieces for the evening entertainment, as a welcome home to Papa Allen, who was expected soon to return from his Western trip. Amy wanted everything arranged in "sevens," as she expressed it. So she invited seven girls and seven boys and seven grown up people. There were to be seven kinds of candy and cakes, etc., and Mamma and Aunt Lucy worked with all their hearts to make Amy's seventh birthday a never-to-be-forgotten pleasure. It was agreed that every eatable which was set on the table for the children, should be made at home, so Miss Sweetwood, who was an expert in candy making, came to spend a week, and devoted her time to the manufacture of all manner of dainty bonbons. Aunt Lucy and Hetty took charge of the cooking, and the birthday cake came from their hands a most beautiful, as well as delicious, confection. There were seven sugar ornaments made like sconces to hold the candles, the one in the centre resembling a white lily, was for a blessed candle; Mrs. Allen always managed to smuggle a pious thought into every act connected with the children. Two days before the party, Papa Allen arrived, bringing a present for Amy, which was received with wildest shouts of delight from both children, but was not so welcome to the grown-up members of the family, viz.--A goat.