CHAPTER III.

THE birthday morning was as fair and fresh as a day could be. The sun shone without even the least bit of a cloud in his way, and the birds sung at the top of their voices. So did Debby at the top of hers,-up-stairs and down-stairs and in the garden. For, though the birthday party was not to assemble until two o'clock, Debby couldn't help running out every now and then, just to see if anybody was coming. Sarah Dasher lived at the other side of the Hollow, but Debby could see the door of the house well enough. Every thing was quiet, however, till it was time for Debby herself to be dressed; but when the white frock was fairly on, and the blue sash tied, and her hair nicely brushed, and she came back to the front door again, there was quite a change in affairs. The great clock over on Church Hill was just striking two; and now

you could see here and there, all through the Hollow, some little white or blue or pink frock, each on its way to Sarah Dasher's front door. White trousers made their approach at a somewhat quicker rate; and one of these was absolutely stopping at Debby's gate to see if she was ready. It was Tom Lane.

"Oh, yes, to be sure I'm ready," said Debby,-" only I just want to get my hat."

So in she ran, tied on her hat in a great hurry, and ran out again. Then she remembered her mother, and ran back.

"I didn't really forget you, you know, mamma," Debby said, as she ran into the parlour and held up her face for a kiss; "but my head was so full of Sarah Dasher. I'm going now. Good-by."

"Good-by, my dear," said Debby's mother, kissing both her red cheeks. How are the white frocks?"

"Oh, don't you see, mamma?" said Debby.
"I see one. How is it with the other?"
"Oh, I think it's all right," said Debby.
"Good-by," her mother repeated. "Re-

member that little girls can do nothing right without the Lord's help." And Debby ran away. Tom Lane was waiting very patiently at the gate, and watching Sarah Dasher's house all the while.

"There's whole lots come, Debby," he said, as they set out.

"Well, that's good," said Debby. "I'm glad, for one. Oh, Tom, do you think we're late?"

"No, I think not," said Tom. "It wouldn't do for them all to come at once, for Sarah Dasher's only got two hands."

"And only one mouth," said Debby.

Well, I think that wouldn't give out," said Tom; "at least, if it ever does, I never saw it."

"Tom," said Debby, "how many of them have got white frocks?

"Oh, I don't know," said Tom. "How much you do seem to think about frocks, Debby!"

"No, I don't," said Debby; "not a bit more than you do about trousers.”