"Yes," said Polly, thoughtfully; "would you have 'em all like that,
Joe?"

"Every one," replied Joe, promptly; "I'd have seventy-five of 'em."

"Seventy-five what?" asked Mrs. Pepper, who had gone into the
bedroom, and now came out, a coat in hand, to sit down in the
west window, where she began to sew rapidly. "Better clear up the
dishes, Polly, and set the table back--seventy-five what, Joel?"

"Flum-puddings," said Joel, kissing Phronsie.

"Dear me!" ejaculated Mrs. Pepper; "you don't know what you're
saying, Joel Pepper; the house couldn't hold 'em!"

"Wouldn't long," responded Joel; "we'd eat 'em."

"That would be foolish," interposed Ben; "I'd have roast beef and
fixings--and oysters--and huckleberry pie."

"Oh, dear," cried Polly; "how nice, Ben! you always do think of the
very best things."

But Joel phoohed and declared he wouldn't waste his time "over
old beef; he'd have something like!" And then he cried:

"Come on, Dave, what'd you choose?"

Little Davie had been quietly eating his breakfast amid all this