"Yes," said Polly, "real good; where'd you get 'em?"

"Over to Grandma Bascom's," said Joel; "she gave me lots for all
of us; have another, Polly?"

"No," said Polly, "not yet; you put two on my pillow where I can
reach 'em; and then you keep the rest, Joel."

"I'll put three," said Joel, counting out one red and two white ones,
and laying them on the pillow; "there!"

"And I want another, Joey, I do," said Phronsie from the other side
of the bed.

"Well, you may have one," said Joel; "a red one, Phronsie; yes, you
may have two. Now come on, Dave; we'll have the rest out by the
wood-pile."

How they ever got through that day, I don't know. But late in the
afternoon carriage wheels were heard; and then they stopped right
at the Peppers' little brown gate.

"Polly," said Mrs. Pepper, running to the bedroom door, "it's Mrs.
Henderson!"

"Is it?" said Polly, from the darkened room, "oh! I'm so glad! is
Miss Jerushy with her?" she asked, fearfully.

"No," said Mrs. Pepper, going back to ascertain; "why, it's the
parson himself! Deary! how we look!"