These objects of interest were soon arranged, and the girls went to admire Merry’s golden butter cups among the green leaves, under which lay the ice that kept the pretty flowers fresh.  The boys were down below, where the cackling was very loud, but not loud enough to drown the sonorous bray which suddenly startled them as much as it did the horses outside.  A shout of laughter followed, and away went the lads, to see what the fun was, while the girls ran out on the balcony, as someone said, “It’s that rogue of a Grif with some new joke.”

It certainly was, and, to judge from the peals of merriment, the joke was a good one.  In at the gate came a two-headed donkey, ridden by Grif, in great spirits at his success, for the gate-keeper laughed so he never thought to ask for toll.  A train of boys followed him across the ground, lost in admiration of the animal and the cleverness of her rider.  Among the stage properties of the Dramatic Club was the old ass’s head once used in some tableaux from “Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  This Grif had mended up, and fastened by means of straps and a collar to poor Graciosa’s neck, hiding his work with a red cloth over her back.  One eye was gone, but the other still opened and shut, and the long ears wagged by means of strings, which he slyly managed with the bridle, so the artificial head looked almost as natural as the real one.  The funniest thing of all was the innocent air of Graciosa, and the mildly inquiring expression with which she now and then turned to look at or to smell of the new ornament as if she recognized a friend’s face, yet was perplexed by its want of animation.  She vented her feelings in a bray, which Grif imitated, convulsing all hearers by the sound as well as by the wink the one eye gave, and the droll waggle of one erect ear, while the other pointed straight forward.

The girls laughed so at the ridiculous sight that they nearly fell over the railing, and the boys were in ecstasies, especially when Grif, emboldened by his success, trotted briskly round the race-course, followed by the cheers of the crowd.  Excited by the noise, Graciosa did her best, till the false head, loosened by the rapid motion, slipped round under her nose, causing her to stop so suddenly that Grif flew off, alighting on his own head with a violence which would have killed any other boy.  Sobered by his downfall, he declined to mount again, but led his steed to repose in a shed, while he rejoined his friends, who were waiting impatiently to congratulate him on his latest and best prank.

The Committee went their rounds soon after, and, when the doors were again opened, every one hurried to see if their articles had received a premium.  A card lay on the butter cups, and Mrs. Grant was full of pride because her butter always took a prize, and this proved that Merry was walking in her mother’s steps, in this direction at least.  Another card swung from the blue quilt, for the kindly