balk us! And all the other copy-book maxims."

But it was Mrs. Sherwood and Nan who managed to save and scrimp
and be frugal in many infinitesimal ways, thus making their
savings last marvelously.

Nan gave up her entire Saturdays to household tasks. She
insisted on that, and urged the curtailment of the weekly expense
by having Mrs. Joyce come in to help but one day.

"I can iron, Momsey, and if I can't do it very well at first, I
can learn," declared the plucky girl. "And, of course, I can
sweep. That's good for me. Our physical instructor says so.
Instead of going to the gym on Saturday, I'll put in calisthenics
and acrobatic stunts with a broom and duster.

She was thorough, too. She could not have been her father's
daughter without having that virtue. There was no "lick and a
promise" in Nan Sherwood's housekeeping. She did not sweep the
dust under the bureau, or behind the door, or forget to wipe the
rounds of the chairs and the baseboard all around the rooms.

Papa Sherwood, coughing in the lower hall as the dust descended
from above, declared she went through the cottage like a
whirlwind. It was not as bad as that, but her vigorous young
arms wielded the broom with considerable skill.

One Saturday, with every other room swept but the front hall, she
closed the doors into that, and set wide open the outer door.
There was more snow on the ground now; but the porch was cleaned