The children were hungry after their games, and for a while they were very quiet.  When they had finished their ice cream, however, and had eaten a piece of the birthday cake, with good wishes for Johnnie Jones, they began to pull the bon-bons apart.  Then there was noise enough, for the bon-bons cracked and popped, and that made the children laugh.

All, that is, except one small girl who was afraid.  She was sitting next to Johnnie Jones, and she asked him to open his bon-bon without pulling it apart.  Johnnie Jones liked to hear the popping sound, and he could not help thinking that Susie was foolish to object to it, but he remembered that he must make everyone happy at his party, so he did as his little neighbor asked.

Five o’clock came all too soon, and then it was time for the children to return to their homes.  When they were ready in their coats and hats, they bade Mother and Johnnie Jones good-by.  “Thank you for the good time we have had,” they said, as they turned their happy faces homeward, wearing the necklaces and carrying the bon-bons and automobiles.

When everyone had gone, Mother held tired, happy little Johnnie Jones on her lap.

“Did you enjoy your party?” she asked him.

“Yes, Mother dear,” he answered.  “I had a good time, and all the children had a good time, and it was a beautiful party.”

“It was a beautiful party,” Mother agreed, “and I’ll tell you why.  It was because both you and I did all in our power to make our company happy.  I am very glad,” she added, “that Johnnie Jones is my little boy and that he has enjoyed his birthday.”

* * * * *

The Sleeping Beauty

In the early spring Mother would always tell this story to Johnnie Jones.

Once upon a time there lived the most beautiful princess in the whole world.  She was so sweet that everyone loved her,—­all the grown people, all the children, and even all the animals.  She wore such lovely dresses that everyone who was permitted to see their beauty was filled with joy, and she had a new one every day.

She lived in the most beautiful home in the whole world.  The ceiling was made of blue sky, the carpet of soft green grass, and the walls were formed by lofty trees with their branches interlaced.  Everywhere were flowers of different colors, red and yellow and purple.  I can’t tell you how lovely it was, or how happy the king, the queen and the beautiful princess were who lived there.

One day the princess decided to make for herself a dress as white as snow, trimmed with shining pearls and sparkling diamonds.  If the queen had known her intention, she would have forbidden the princess to touch a needle.  I will tell you why.

When the princess was a tiny baby, the king and queen had forgotten to ask one old fairy lady to the christening.  As it happened, she wasn’t a good old fairy lady.  Perhaps that is why she was forgotten.  She came to the christening without an invitation, which was very rude, and made herself most disagreeable while she was there.  She told the king and queen that because they had forgotten her, the princess should one day prick herself with a needle and immediately go to sleep, and that she should never awake unless the splendid prince should chance to find her.