common occurrence nowadays to take a winter outing in the country. We're
all right," and he re-enforced himself further by frequent glances at
Mrs. Pepper's black bonnet, two seats off.

It was to be a three-days' frolic, after all. Not that the whole party
were to stay in the little brown house. O dear, no! how could they? It
was only big enough for the Peppers. So Mrs. Whitney and her three boys,
with Mr. King, and Jasper, who concealed many disappointed feelings,
planned to settle down in the old hotel at Hingham.

And before anybody imagined they could reach there so soon, there they
were at Badgertown Center, to find Mr. Tisbett waiting there on his
stage-box as if he had not stirred from it for five years.

"Sho, now!" he called out from his elevated position to Mrs. Pepper, as
she stepped down from the car, "it's good to see you, though. Land! how
many of ye be there? And is that Phronsie? Sho, now!"

"Did you get my letter?" exclaimed Mother Pepper to Mrs. Henderson, who
was pressing up to grasp her hand, and preparing to fall on the young
folks separately. The parson stood just back, biding his time with a
smile.

"Is it possible?" he exclaimed; "are these tall boys and girls the five
little Peppers? It can't be, Mrs. Pepper," as at last he had her hand.
"You are imposing on us."

And then the village people who had held back until their pastor and his
wife paid their respects, rushed up and claimed their rights, and it was
high holiday indeed for Badgertown.