The polar bear, wagging his red flannel tongue, recited very nicely till he came to the last line.  Then a big sneeze suddenly shook him.

“Oh, dear!” said part of him, most distinctly.

And another section of him piped up quickly, “Please excuse me!”

The audience clapped and clapped and laughed.  They wanted the polar bear to recite again, but he backed off and refused to come out.  So they drew the curtains together again and opened them in a few minutes for the lion and the tiger to dance a pretty little waltz for which Aunt Polly played the music.  Then the entertainment was over.

The animals, still in their covers, as Meg called them, came down among the audience and received many congratulations on their performance.

“I never enjoyed anything more in my life!” Mr. Carter assured Bobby, smiling as though something had pleased him very much.

Mother Blossom had asked all the players to stay for supper, and after the guests had gone twelve boys and girls sat down at the big, round table and enjoyed Norah’s sandwiches and bouillon and more ice-cream and cake.

“Just like a birthday,” said Dot, trying not to show that she was sleepy.

“Better than a birthday,” replied Aunt Polly, coming into the room with a box in her hand.  “I’ve counted the money, honeys, because I know you are all eager to know how much you have for poor Mrs. Jordan and her son Paul.  Suppose you guess?”

“Ten dollars?” ventured Meg.

“Eleven?” said Bobby.

“Fifteen?” shouted the twins recklessly, guessing from Aunt Polly’s face that Meg and Bobby were wrong.

“Twenty-three dollars and fifty cents,” said Aunt Polly, shaking the box happily.  “I think that is a good deal for twelve little people to make for such an entertainment.”

“Isn’t that splendid!” sighed Marion Green.  “That will pay the rent for their house for more than a month, I guess.”

“Maybe they can buy a new house with it,” said Twaddles hopefully.

Which made everybody laugh.

THE END