Court itself, to go out early in the morning on the first of May and gather flowers.  Especially did they gather hawthorn, and huge branches of this flower were brought home about sunrise, with accompaniments of pipe and tabor, and much joy and merriment.  Then the people decorated their houses with the flowers they had brought.  And because of this, they called this ceremony bringing Home the May, or going A-Maying, and so the hawthorn bloom itself acquired the name of May, and is often spoken of by that name.  In those early days, the fairest maid of the village was crowned with flowers, and called the Queen of May; she sat in state in a little bower or arbor while her youthful courtiers danced and sang around her.  But the custom of having a May Queen really dates back to the old Roman celebration when they especially worshipped the goddess Flora.  Another feature of May-day was the May-pole, which was erected in all English towns and villages, and round which the people danced all day long.  But these merry customs were stopped when the Puritans put an end to all such jollifications.  They were revived somewhat after the restoration, but they are rarely seen nowadays except among children.  But they are all pretty customs, and the whole subject will well repay reading and study.  I won’t continue this lecture now, but before the month of May is over, we will study in school hours some of its characteristics, and we will read the poem of the May Queen, by Lord Tennyson.”

“I wish you had boys in your school, Miss Hart,” said Flip Henderson; “you do teach the nicest way I ever heard of.”

“Indeed she does,” agreed Marjorie; “going to school to Miss Hart is like going to a party every day.”

And then came the crowning glory of the May party.  This was the feast, which was served out of doors on a table prettily decorated with vines and flowers.  Dainty sandwiches were tied up with pink ribbons, and little glass cups held delicious pink lemonade.  The cakes were iced with pink, the ice cream was pink, and there were pink bon-bons of various sorts.  At each plate was a little pink box of candies to take home; and a souvenir for each guest in the shape of a pink fan for the girls, and pink balloons for the boys.  The big balloons made much fun as they bobbed about in the air, and when the feast was over, the guests went away declaring that the Jinks Club had never had a prettier party.

CHAPTER II

A NEW PET

When Mr. Maynard came home that night he was treated to an account of the whole affair, but as two or three of the little Maynards often talked at once, the effect was sometimes unintelligible.

“It was the loveliest party, Father,” said Marjorie, as she hung over one arm of his chair, and arranged a somewhat large bunch of blossoms in his buttonhole.

“Yes, it was,” agreed Kitty, who hung on the other arm of the chair, and investigated his coat pockets in the hope of finding a box of candy or other interesting booty.