This is the receipt for a happy morning:

• Two small children, boys or girls; be sure that they are good ones!
• Two wooden pails.
• Two shovels, of wood or metal.
• One sea.
• One sandy beach, with not too many pebbles.
• One dozen clam-shells (more or less).
• One sun.
• Two sunbonnets, or broad-brimmed hats.
• One mother, or nurse, within calling distance.
• Starfish and sea-urchins to taste.

Mix the shovels with the sandy beach, and season well with starfish. Add the sunbonnets to the children, and, when thoroughly united, add the wooden pails. Spread the sun and the sea on the beach, and sprinkle thoroughly with sea-urchins and clam-shells. Add the children, mix thoroughly, and bake as long as advisable.

N. B. Do not add the mother at all, except in case of necessity.