the death of me, with all my work to do yet, and everything."

"How do you do, Mrs. Henry Stove," she added, addressing a three-legged
stool, "come right in and sit down.

"Terrible hot weather we're having. Worst I ever see."

She moved busily about, humming a song to herself. "I declare, it's
time you went to school, children," she said finally, stopping to look
at her family.

Without trouble, she became the school teacher. Propping her three
dolls more firmly against the wall, she took her stand directly in
front of them. "Do you know your lessons, children?" she asked. Then
she squeaked back to herself, "Yes, ma'am."

"Well, then, Margaret, what's the best cow for butter?"

Mr. Jeminy began to laugh. But almost at once he became serious and
confused. For it occurred to him that he did not know what cow was
best for butter. "This child," he thought, "who cannot tell me why it
is necessary to take two apples from four apples, is nevertheless able
to distinguish between one cow and another. She is wiser than I am."

He stood gazing thoughtfully at Juliet, and smiling. The sun of late
afternoon, already about to sink in the west, was shining through the
window, covered with dust and cobwebs. And Mr. Jeminy, watching the
dust dancing in the sun, thought to himself: "I should like to stay
here; it is peaceful and friendly. I should like to help Mrs. Wicket
plant her little garden in the spring, and plow it under in the autumn.