There was no question but that Si was right. A ride to Bucksport in
Mr. Grout's handsome sleigh was the one thing the boys could enjoy, and
for the moment all desire to go to the party was forgotten. Each boy
pledged himself to raise twenty-five cents, and with some little
difficulty in "counting noses," after which Si laboriously figured up
the total amount, it was learned that they would not only have money
enough to hire the sleigh and horses, but there would be a surplus
sufficient to buy such a goodly supply of candy and nuts as would make
a really respectable feast.

"' Now that's all right, an' we'll have the sleighride," Si said; "but
we've got to fix it with
the girls. Let's go back to the schoolhouse, an' I'll write a letter to
Ag Morrell that'll show
her she can't make us do just what she thinks best."

"What's the use of writin' her a letter?" asked Tom Hardy, who wanted
to get home in
time to do his chores before dark. " We can tell her in the mornin'
that we hain't goin' to the party, an' that will settle it."

" We'll write the letter," said Si, with the air of one who does not
allow himself to be contradicted. "We've got to let the girls know that
they can't do jest what they want to with us, an' I now's the time to
do it."

Then Si led the way back to the schoolhouse, knowing that every boy
would follow him; and while Deacon Littlefield was making his
preparations to leave for the night, Master Kelly wrote a letter to
Aggie. The composition and writing required no little amount of time