"I found the pearl in an oyster stew, grandma. It is such a very funny
place Out West"

"Yes, it is really a pearl," said Percy, "only spoiled by boiling. Look
her, Toddlekins; oysters don't grow Out West; they grow here on the
coast. You'd better study astronomy."

Dotty took refuge in silence again, like an oyster withdrawing into
his shell.

"O, Dotty," said Susy, presently, "tell me what you saw Out West. I want
to hear all about it."

"Well, I saw a pandrammer," replied Dotty, briefly.

"What in the world is that?" said Johnny.

"It is a long picture, and they keep pulling it out like India rubber."

"She means a _panorama_" cried Johnny. "Why, I went to one last night. We
can see as much as you can, without going Out West, either."

Here was another sensation. Dotty might as well have been eating ashes as
the delirious dinner before her.

"Don't you like your pudding, dear?" asked aunt Eastman.

"O, yes'm; I always like _coker-whacker"_ replied the unfortunate Dotty,
stumbling over the word _tapioca_.