The Florida agriculturist., 1889-12-25

from whence he was dragged out fOrglv-
ingIy by Peoria herself, five minutes lat
er. Then-exciting moment-came linen
collars for some and neckties and bows
for others, and Eureka! the Ruggleses
were dressed, and Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayed like one of these!
A row Of seats was formed directly
through the middle OF the Kitchen
There we're not quite enough for ten, since
the family had rarely all wanted to sit
down at once, somebody always beng
out, or in bed, but the wood-box and the
coal-hod finished out the line nicely. The
children took their places (according to
age) Sarah Maud at the head and Larry
on the coal-hod, and Mrs. Ruggles seated
herself in front, surveying them proudly
as she wiped the sweat of honest toll
from her brow.
"Well,' she exclaimed, ''if 1 do say so
as shouldn't, never see cleaner, more
stylish mess O. children in my life | do
wish Ruggles could look at We for a min
ute! Now, I've of'en told ye what kind
of a family the McGrills was I've got
some reason to be proud; your uncle is
on the police force O. New York city; you
can take up the newspaper most any day
an see his name printed right out
James McGrill, and | can't have my chill
| dren fetched up common, like some folks.
When they go out they've got to have
Ose, and learn ter act decent! Now, |
want ter see how yer goin' ter behave
when yer git there tonight. Let's start
in at the beginnin' n act out the whole
business. Pile into the bedroom, there,
every last one OF ye. and show me how
yer goin' ter go int the parlOr This'll
be the parlor n I'll be Mis- Bird" The
youngsters hustled into the nextroom in
high glee, and Mrs. Ruggles drew herself
up in her chair with an infinitely naughty
and purse proud expression that much
better suited descendant of the McGrills
than modest Mrs. Bird The bedroom
was small, and there presently ensued
such clatter that you would have
thought herd of wild cattle had broken
loose; the door opened, and they strag-
gled in, all the little ones giggling, with
Sarah Maud at the head, looking as if
| she had been caught in the act of steal
ing sheep; while Larry, being last in line,
seemed to think the door a sort of gate
of heaven which would be shut in his face
if he..didn't get there in time; accordingly
he struggled ahead of his elders and dis
graced himself by tumbling in headfore-
most. Mrs. Ruggles looked severe.
'There, | knew you'd do it in some sech
fool way,-try it agin n if Larry can't
come in on two legs he can stay ter
home" The matter began to assume a
graver aspect, the little Ruggleses stop-
| ped giggling and backed into the bed
room, issuing presently with lock step
Indian file, scared and hunted express
| sion on every counterance
"No, no, no p cried Mrs Ruggles, in
despair, 'yez lCok for all the world like a
gang O. pris'ners; there amt no style
ter that; spread out more, can't yer, an
act kind O. careless like-nobOdy's goin'
ter kill yep
The third time brought deserved sue
cess, and the pupils took their seats in a
row. "Now, yer know" said Mrs. Rug
giles, "there amt enough decent hats to
go round, an if there was / don't knows
I'd let yer wear 'em, for the boys would
never think to take EN- off when they cot
inside-but anyhow there ain't enough