There is nothing that is much more fun than a party, is there?

Mother hasn''t forgotten the days when she set a little table in the attic with the dolls'' tea-set, and had cambric tea and jam sandwiches. As for a birthday party, why it doesn''t seem a bit like a birthday without a frosted cake and pink candles and ice cream in forms—but there! That was to be a surprise.

Birthday parties only come once a year, of course, but there are other parties in between, afternoon teas on the piazza or in the playroom, or in the barn, if you are so fortunate as to have a barn.

These parties oughtn''t to mean extra work for mother, for you can have them all yourself, if mother is willing.

So when she says, "Yes, you may have a party," after you have hugged her, and told her she was the dearest mother in the world, you can begin to get ready.