gled in bed when it was done. But the 

 result couldn't have been improved. It 

 read something like this: 



"Miss Theodora May Brent invites all 

 the birds of Oak Lawn to the birds' 

 Christmas dinner Friday, January 2 — 

 from daylight until dark— N. R. I. R." 



Harry and Fred were very wise and 

 were familiar with all kinds of abbrevia- 

 tions, but to Teddy's surprise had to have 

 it explained to them that N. R. I. R. 

 meant "No Reply Is Required." 



When she opened her eyes the next 

 morning her first thought was about her 

 Christmas feast for the birds and it helped 

 her wonderfully through the process of 

 dressing. There was much eager plan- 

 ning and finally Mamma suggested that 

 the abandoned Christmas tree would make 

 an excellent dining table. She would lay 

 the matter before Harry and Fred, and 

 they would have plenty of time to help 

 her. They would strip the tree of its 

 present adornments and arrange it for 

 the birds — for of course birds couldn't 

 be expected to care for tin soldiers, wax 

 candles, or bright colored balls. 



"But we haven't sent oiit the invita- 

 tion yet. I think that ought to be at- 

 tended to first," exclaimed Teddy, and 

 while she was eating her breakfast she 

 thought of a most glorious plan. She 

 took her stuffed robin and tied the in- 

 vitation around his neck with red ribbons. 

 "Now, if we could put him out on the 

 vecanda all the birds would see him and 

 not be afraid, and when they came up to 

 make friends they couldn't help but read 

 the invitation," for she had carefully left 

 it unfolded so no bird, however stupid, 

 could fail to see it. 



Fred joined heartily in this plan and se- 

 curing a ladder, he carried the bird out 

 and fastened it in a conspicuous place on 

 the veranda roof. 



All that day Teddy was obliged to 

 make numerous trips to the window to 

 see how her plan was succeeding and was 

 pleased to see many birds stop for a short 

 call and a sun bath on the roof and quiz- 

 ically eye cock-robin, and one even 

 pecked at the ribbons which held the pa- 

 per. They chirped so unusually loud that 

 Teddy was sure they understood, and 

 one little fellow actually turned to the 

 window and sang a little song. He had 

 noticed the letters N. R. I. R. and his 



song said as plain as day, "I thank you 

 for your invitation, Mistress Teddy, and 

 will be very much pleased to come." 



Teddy had learned many little arts 

 while in the Kindergarten, so her nimble 

 fingers worked busily all that day making 

 little cardboard boxes and braided bas- 

 kets which would hold seeds and various 

 kinds of crumbs which Susan, the cook, 

 had agreed to furnish. She had to stop 

 and rest several times but by night every- 

 thing was finished. 



Fred and Harry assisted her in put- 

 ting them on the tree and when the task 

 was completed Teddy lay back in the 

 big chair with a sigh of relief. 



"It looks bare now the strings of pop- 

 corn are all off," she said after viewing 

 it with a critical eye, "but I am so tired 

 I can't think of another thing," and her 

 head fell wearily on the arm of the 

 chair. 



"I know some little winter elves who 

 will help us decorate the tree," said 

 Mamma as she prepared Teddy for her 

 little white bed, aijd fed her spoonfuls of 

 bread and milk. "You just whisk into 

 bed and I'll promise that they will work 

 all night," and Teddy was too sleepy to 

 inquire further but fell asleep dreaming 

 of birds and winter fairies and Christ- 

 mas trees. 



"Where are the winter elves. 

 Mamma?" were the first words Teddy 

 said the next morning, "and how are 

 they different from summer elves ?" 



For reply Mamma raised the shade 

 and there stood the little tree fastened 

 securely to the veranda roof and every 

 bough decorated more beautifully than 

 could be done by human hands with soft 

 feathery flakes of snow. "Oh ! how love- 

 ly," cried Teddy. "How natural that 

 will seem to the birds." 



Then the boys clambered on to the roof 

 and, with Teddy behind the window to 

 give orders, filled every box and basket 

 with seeds and crumbs of bread and 

 cakes until they couldn't be trusted to 

 hold any more. 



It had to be done verv carefully so as 

 not to dislodge the snow, but finally it 

 was accomplished. 



Then Susan brought a half dozen 

 bones with a liberal supply of meat left 

 on, which she had saved for the purpose. 



i08 



