42 MISS KATY-DID AND MISS CRICKET. 



"No, one can't. There are those five Misses Hornet, 

 dreadful old maids ! as full of spite as they can live. 

 You may be sure they will every one come, and be look- 

 ing about to make spiteful remarks. Put down the Hor- 

 nets, though." 



" How about the Mosquitos ! " said the Colonel. 



"Those horrid Mosquitos, they are dreadfully plebeian! 

 Can't one cut them ? " 



"Well, dear Miss Katy," said the Colonel, "if you ask 

 my candid opinion as a friend, I should say not. There 's 

 young Mosquito, who graduated last year, has gone into 

 literature, and* is connected with some of our leading pa- 

 pers, and they say he carries the sharpest pen of all the 

 writers. It won't do to offend him." 



"And so I suppose we must have his old aunts, and all 

 six of his sisters, and all his dreadfully common relations." 



"It is a pity," said the Colonel, "but one must pay 

 one's tax to society." 



Just at this moment 'the conference was interrupted by 

 a visitor, Miss Keziah Cricket, who came in with her work- 

 bag on her arm to ask a subscription for a poor family of 

 Ants who had just had their house hoed up in clearing the 

 garden-walks. 



"How stupid of them," said Katy, "not to know better 

 than to put their house in the garden-walk ; that 's just 

 like those Ants!" 



