that David and Dorothy were not so very sick, though quite red and uncomfortable.

"Mrs. Kingman says that they always do things together," she laughed. "Do you suppose it is because both their names begin with D?"

II

David and Dorothy were able to be out again in a few weeks, but they did not get strong quickly and the doctor told Mr. Kingman that they must go away for the summer.

"Take them to the seashore," he said.

So Mr. Kingman found a pleasant house at Summerside Beach and took Mrs. Kingman and David and Dorothy there when school closed.

66

'Good-by! Be sure to write often," said John and Mary when their friends went away.

"Of course

we will," shouted David and

Dorothy, as they drove out of the yard.

Before long you shall see what good letters they wrote to their friends.

THE GOOD TIMES CLUB

"Where have you been, mother?" said Mary, one afternoon.

"Yes, mother, do tell us," said John. "We were just wishing you would come home."

It was vacation time and John and Mary were feeling a little lonely because David and Dorothy had gone to the seashore.

"I've been to see two little mothers," said Mrs. Allan, smiling. "One is ten years old

and the other is nine."

"What do you mean, mother?" said Mary.

Then Mrs. Allan told her story: "Not far from here I found a street where there are neither trees nor yards. I went into two very small houses and there I found two little mothers.

"The real, grown-up mothers were away at work. They go to work every morning. The little mothers were the older brother and sister of many small children."

"I should call them a little father and a little mother," said John, laughing.

"Perhaps that would be better," said Mrs. Allan, "but let me tell my story."

"In one house there was brown-eyed Jack. His smile was as bright as the sunshine. Jack is ten years old. He was taking very good care of four small brothers and sisters. There was Frank, who is eight years old, Joe, who is six, Nellie, who is four, and little Mary, who is two.

"In the other house I found 'little mother She was

Alice,' who is only nine years old. teaching Kate to mend an apron.

Kate is

seven. She was showing Ned how to cut paper soldiers. Ned is five. And she was rolling a

ball to Bess, who is only three.

"These two little people can cook and sew. They can dress the small children. They can keep their houses neat and clean. So they are very busy and helpful.”

Mother, I wish we could go to see Jack and Alice and all the children," said Mary.

"I have a better plan than that," said Mrs. Allan. "Jack and Alice may bring the children here from ten o'clock until two o'clock every day.

"The babies can roll on the grass. They can go to sleep on the cot in the tent. Then, John, you and Mary can read or tell stories to the others, and you can all play games together.

"And you may have picnics under the trees, when the weather is fine."

Mary danced for joy and John threw up his cap, to show how much he liked the plan. "Why, mother," he said, "we can call it

'The Good Times Club.'

That is a good name," said his mother. "The Good Times Club shall have its first meeting to-morrow."

"Hurrah for The Good Times Club!" shouted Mary. And John turned three somersaults without stopping.

It was time for the first meeting of The Good Times Club. Mrs. Allan was sewing on the porch. John and Mary were watching at the gate.

Brown-eyed Jack came first. He brought Frank, Joe, Nellie, and Mary with him. Wee Mary was soon fast asleep in the tent.

Then Alice came with Kate, Ned, and little Bess.

How the children laughed and shouted! How they all talked at once!

First of all, the little visitors wanted to see