Tommy had gone for more apples and Mary was mixing her cake.

“I will go with you,” said Jill.  “Here is our pail.”

So Jack and Jill went up the hill to get a pail of water.

Their mother let them fill their pail.

Then she gave them four cookies that she had just taken from the oven.

When they started down the hill, Jack began to run.

[Illustration]

“Oh, do be careful, Jack!” said Jill, “or you will—­”

But she didn’t say any more.

For down went Jack, down went Jill, and down went the pail.

Tommy and Mary saw them fall and ran to help them.

“Oh, Jack!” said Mary, “did you break your crown?”

“No,” laughed Jack, “but Jill came tumbling after.”

“We ought to have known better than to let Jack and Jill go for a pail of water,” said Tommy.

“I’ve broken the cookies,” said Jill.

“Let’s go and ask Mamma for some more.”

So they all went up the hill for more water and cookies.

This time Mary and Tommy carried the water down the hill.

The pies were baked, and the cakes ready to put into the oven in a very few minutes.

When Jill’s mother called the children to dinner, there was a long row of cakes and pies and, cookies.

“We ought to eat our dinner here,” said Mary.

“I like mother’s pies and cookies best,” said Jack.

So Jack and Jill ran up the hill once more, and Mary and Tommy climbed over the fence and ran across the garden to see what Grandma Hall had for their dinner.

  Little Jack Homer
  Sat in a corner,
    Eating his Christmas pie;
  He put in his thumb
  And pulled out a plum,
    And said, “What a big boy am I!”

JACK HORNER’S PIE

I am going to tell you about another one of Boy Blue’s friends.

His name was Jack Horner.

At least, Boy Blue called him Jack Horner.

And I’ll tell you why he called him Jack Horner, too.

His real name was Jack Horne.

Jack was a very jolly boy.

He had round red cheeks and twinkling eyes, and he was always running and jumping about and laughing at everything.

One morning when he waked up he was happier than ever.

In fact, he was the happiest boy in town.

I know he was, for he said so, and he ought to know.

His birthday was coming.

Indeed, it was the very next day.

And the very next day was Christmas, too.

Think of having a birthday and Christmas on the same day!

How would you like that?

Jack was going to have a birthday party.

Or was it a Christmas party?

Jack couldn’t tell which it was.

All the children were coming,—­Boy Blue, and Mary, and Alice, and Tommy
Tucker, and ever so many more.