Chapter 18

_Mother Goose._ I am pleased to see you, Mother Hubbard. I hear that your cupboard is no longer bare and empty, and I am very glad you are able to give your poor dog all the bones a good dog should have. Now for our tea. Shall I put two or three lumps in your cup?

_Mother Hubbard._ Three, please. I like my tea very sweet. And now tell me, Mother Goose, what is the reason you sent for me to-day?

_Mother Goose._ Well, I am going to give a party and I wish to ask your advice.

_Mother Hubbard._ Indeed! Whom do you think of inviting?

_Mother Goose._ First, the dear Old Woman who lives in the shoe--

_Mother Hubbard._ What! and all her children?

_Mother Goose._ No, only the two eldest. You know the party is for my son Jack, too, and we must have the young people as well as their parents. Old King Cole will come and bring his fiddlers three to play for the young folks who dance.

_Mother Hubbard._ I hope you won't invite Tom the Piper's Son, or My Son John as his mother calls him,--or Humpty-Dumpty. They are not good boys for your son Jack to play with!

_Mother Goose._ I suppose not; but I like them all, and I dislike to leave out anyone. I don't wish to hurt their feelings.

_Mother Hubbard._ There are little Bo-Peep and Boy Blue, who are good children, although rather silly; and there are little Miss Muffet and Nancy Etticoat, both very pretty little girls; and there are Jacky Horner and Tommy Tucker and the Man-in-the-Moon and Taffey and Daffey-Down-Dilly and--

_Mother Goose._ I'll have to give a garden party if I invite all those! I can't leave any out, and I think I'll have the party out-of-doors.

_Mother Hubbard._ That will be fine! I only hope it will be a pleasant day. When will you give it?

_Mother Goose._ Two weeks from to-day, the first of May.

_Mother Hubbard._ That's May Day and a very good day for a party out-of-doors. Well I must go home now. Good-by! If I can help you, please call upon me.

_Mother Goose._ Thank you, Mother Hubbard! Good-by, and thank you again for coming over.