Year: 1871

What shall we get for dinner
asked Nell, when it is almost noon
'eThe cold meat is almost gone; ther
is not bone left for Tuesday"


go never mind me-" said Tuesday
"I'm too heated and tired to hav'
much appetite. How would 1t do t.
scramble some eggs with shaved bee
and bake a little custard ~


"Just the thing, said Bell; "anC
| I'll do it all and set the table, if yol
will iron this tucked waist with ruff1es
Nell.


So patient Nell took the waist ant
crimped the ruffles to a marvel of nicely
Tuesdays ironing was large one, bu
as no other visitors came in, and we al
helped, we managed to get it done by
tea-time, and the clothes horse was
piled full"


We were tired enough by that time
and Bell and [ declared that we would
keep on our calicoes just as they were
and not dress up at all, for we meant tc
go to bed by seven o'clock. But Nell
put on cool, pretty muslin and brush
ed her wavy hair, till she looked as
pretty as pink, and she said she
meant to stay up and pass pleasant
evening with Tuesday, who looked
quite rested and peaceful as the cool
hours came on.


1t was about half past nine in the
evening when [ opened my eyes drowsi-
ly, hearing our street door close. A
minute after Nell came into the room,
with shining eyes, and book under
her arm. I asked her what it was. She
said it was the "Idyls of the King, y
which Tuesday had just lent her to
read


We slept a little later the next morn
ing, for Wednesday did not call us
but we found her waiting when we
went down stairs, waiting in the sitting
room, and she had brought three win
dows to he washed, carpet to be
shaken, anu a good deal of scrubbing.
Mother was sorry for us, and sat there
telling her how tired we were, we had
worked so hard for Monday and Tues
day SO then Wednesday said very good=
naturedly that we needn't finish all her
work, if we didn't feel like it. She
said she saw Tuesday herself Just for
a minute at midnight. and Tuesday told
her we were. right smart girls. That
made us laugh, and we thought we
would try to keep up our good reputa-
tion.


Ben had the carpet to shake-that
was his part; and he did not like it
much till two or three boys came run
ming into the yard to join him, and
then they had great fun beating out
the dust with clubs, and making believe
they were Indians. Bell and I felt
strong and willing, SO we helped
Wednesday do all the securing with
soap and sand, while Nell took the
windows out of doors under the trees,
and washed and rinsed them over and
over till they were clear and fine as
crystal Everything Nell did always
locked just so nice when it was done.


Let's have good dinner,n said
Wednesday; 81 really think we deserve
it. / brought couple of chickens with
me and hung them up in the pantry.
Now, if you could dress them, dear
Nell, and roast them, how nice they
would be with cranberry sauce and
mashed potatoes, and asparagus"


HBullyl bully!" shouted Ben, who
had Just come to the door, all covered
with dust.


Nell said she would see to it at once,
and disappeared in the kitchen, while
Bell and [ cleaned paint more vigor-
ously than ever, feeling quite merry,
and Wednesday never grew impatient
once, but sang and laughed, and made
funny speeches all the time


What good dinner we hadl Nel's s
4 81, d.,
declared he didn't care how often
Wednesday came, if she would bring
such crisp, tender chickens every time
We ate in the kitchen, for Wednesday
had not quite got her work out of the
way in the dining room but that made
it all the iollier, and we had splendid
time.


Ben was Just running off after dinner
when Wednesday called him back to
tack down her carpet for her. It did
not take her long after that to get ev-
erything In orderin the room, and then
mother put on her best cap and sat
down quietly with Wednesday, to be
ready for callers, while Bell and ran
out in the yard and had q merry game
of croquet Nell sat down under the
biggest apple tree and read her book
of Idyls.


Well, we were tired again that night;
and as we laid our weary heads upon
our pillows, Bell said: 'I wonder
what will happen tomorrow


And this is what happened: When
we went down the next morning, we
found Thursday there, all in futter,
Just going to call us. She had brought
us an invitation to her. picnic on the
river bank, In the grove She said
every one we knew was going, and we
must be all ready and meet the party
at half-past ten at the wharf, from
whence we should start in sailboat
for the grove. We were wild with ex-
citement and delight. But Thursday
said she would want something to eat,
and we must take basket full OF
lunch; SO Nell went to work in trice,
making some nice, light, white biscuit,
while Bell and I boiled eggs, and
sliced ham, and made coffee Then
away we went, and delightful day we
had of it. Such splendid swings, Such
merry games and the incest of din
ners spread out on the green grass.


Just after dinner Thursday whispered
to us that we could help clear things
away and wash dishes; but we didn't
want to, and Bell said we had worked
hard enough all the week to deserve a
rest now, SO she and | ran off to play
blind mans brff among the trees. By
| and by, some one asked where Mel
was.


"Sure enough, SAID Bell, "where il
she?"


We looked all around, and at last W,
saw something like Nell's white dress
behind a rock. Bell and I stepped
softly little nearer, and then we saw
Bob Carter sitting by Nell's side
They did not seem to be talking, they
were looking dreamily off upon the
river.


We had splendid time all the res
of the day, but it was Thursdays pic
mic, and at last she said she could no
stay with us any longer and we mus