Once upon a time, in a pretty little garden with a smooth lawn, there lived a lovely little Turtle called Tilly. Her shell was fantastically marbled with yellow and brown, and she was just a nice size to be able to take a ride on her aunt who lived in the next lane, or be carried off on your arm by any one who came to see her.
Now one fine afternoon Tilly the Turtle wished to give a tea party to her relations. So she started off to pay little visits to her aunts, and cousins, and grandmamma the tortoise, and aunt Judith’s son and heir, and then she went to see her Uncle and Aunt Turner who lived quite at the other end of the town. But oh dear! It was of no use; everybody had something to do. Grandmamma the tortoise had a headache, and could not possibly come; Aunt Turner had a cold in her head and must go to bed directly; cousin Bob was going to have a ride on his uncle’s pony and wouldn’t miss it for the world; and Aunt Judith’s son and heir was going to fishing and wouldn’t come home till supper time.
Tilly was so disappointed; still she had a little plan, but she thought she would first ask Juno just to have tea with her alone first, and then she would ask her plan. But even Juno was out; her mistress had taken her for a walk, and Juno was obliged to go wherever her mistress went; so Tilly was all alone by herself, and her planned was, if she could not have a tea party with her relatives, to have it with her friends the Blue Birds.
Tilly quite dressed herself for the occasion. She put on a charming pink satin gown, and a little white lace shawl, and a nice muslin cap tied on with a lovely yellow ribbon. And when she was ready, she went to her uncle and aunt, and asked if they could be at home to receive her little friends the Blue Birds.
“Oh yes! She could call at any time; they would be delighted, I’m sure,” said Uncle and Aunt Turner. And it was so sweet of Tilly to remember her cousins the Blue Birds. How pleased they would be!
So off set Tilly, twirling quite a little cane in her hand, and looking proudly around her. Everything in the street looked so big to Tilly; the house doors and footpath trees were so very tall; and the smallest child’s wagon held its plaything at a thousand times Tilly’s weight!
At last she arrived in the garden, where the little Blue Birds lived. And just before she went in, she trimmed a little bouquet of pinks and gave it the finishing touch with one of her own little shells. This bouquet was to be a present to little Miss Raz, who was sure, at all events, to come. And so was Master Grizzle; he never missed a tea party when he could possibly be there.
Just at the time the tea was ready, the guests began to arrive. Little Miss Raz came first, and liked all the cups and saucers immensely, and the cunning little cake knife, and the little silver bread-basket with the delicate handle.
Then came little Printie and little Stripey, the dear little chipmunks. They were so pleased with the honey. Yes; they were chipmunks and honey, and tea at two prices.
Then came Master Grizzle, who couldn’t understand what little Miss Raz wanted to come for; and butted her about just a little on purpose, he said, to make her feel at home. Was not this a little ungracious? I think if I had been Master Grizzle, I would have gone out to tea at the foot of a paper anytime when so many of my old playmates were to be together.
The Black Tabby and her kittens did not come. Sir Marmaduke is getting old and cross, and would not allow them to go, because he was afraid they would, go to sleep.
Altogether it was quite a large party, and they had a most delightful time. All Tilly’s aunts had sent her messages of love and the most delicious little cakes, and Master Grizzles mother had sent her a nice sweet treat, and so had little Miss Raz. But little Grizzle positively declined to take her sister-cousins share in the little baskets, saying they looked like spoons without their bowls.
At length when afternoon tea was half over, it began to grow a little darkish. But little Tilly had ordered a quantity of lamps, burning with oil, which Black Tabby had arranged very nicely round the table. Then her aunt, Mrs. Turner, showed again a little courtesy; and tapped softly with her hand on the ground just to let her niece know that it was exactly time for Tilly to come home. They were all sorry to part, for they had been very happy.
Tilly the Turtle put on her stiff little silk dress over her red flannel pajamas; she said she was altogether tired of having tea. But I know she herself was pleased with the success of her party.
By the way, is not our old friend the tortoise, who has been mistaken by your little boy friends and myself too for tortoises, a very curious and interesting creature? If you can pursuade Mamma to let us have one, I can promise you a great deal of pleasure in its acquaintance. It will learn to drink out of your hand whenever it gets thirsty; to run here and there about the house; to take the air in the garden at its own sweet will; it will join in your pleasure at home and abroad, in wet and dry weather, on the pavement, on the grass, and wherever you may be taking short walks or long; and thus you will pay off Mamma a little for all she has done for you, by taking proper care of her pet.