The day Ethel Brown was seven years old she had a tea party.
Mrs. Brown had sent tiny cards of invitation to all the little girls on the street to come and bring their dolls. She also sent one to Nellie Day, her washer-woman's little girl, at Ethel's special request.
"She is a nice little girl," said Ethel, "and doesn't ever go anywhere like me. May I have her at my party?"
"That is right, little daughter," said Mrs. Brown. "Always be kind to those who have less pleasure than yourself. Of course she may come to your party."
They all arrived at four o'clock and looked very pretty in their white dresses and bright ribbons, and the dolls looked nearly as pretty as the little girls themselves.
Ethel noticed that Nellie Day did not have a doll with her. "So, thought she, "I will ask her to pour the tea and then she won't feel bad because she hasn't one."
The little girls talked and played games and Ethel's grown up sister played on the piano and then they sang.
"Now," said Mrs. Brown, coming into the room, "if you will choose partners, Florence will play for you and you can march out to tea."
During the confusion Ethel said to her mamma, "I shall ask Nellie to pour the tea because she has not any doll."
"Very well, dear," answered Mrs. Brown.
But when they turned to find her, she was not with the others.
"Where can she be?" exclaimed Ethel.
And then began the search. Tea was delayed and they hunted the house over for her. Finally Mrs. Brown went out on a side porch seldom used, and there she found the little girl.
The child had brought a cushion to sit on, and clasped tightly in her arms were three of Ethel's dolls. Mrs. Brown persuaded her to come in with the promise that she might keep the dolls.
So Ethel rang the bell, and they all marched in to tea again, with Nellie Day leading the line, holding her three dollies.
"Mamma," said Ethel, as the little girls were going home, "may I give Nellie Day the dolls? I have so many and she has not one."
"Yes indeed replied Mrs. Brown, as she kissed her little daughter. "I am sure it will make her very happy."
And Nellie Day went home that night, the happiest little girl in the town.