Tommy was playing with Europena Wiggs. They were absorbed in trying to
hitch the duck to a spool-box, and paid little attention to her.

"Tommy," she said, clutching his arm, "don't you want to go back?"

But Tommy had tasted freedom; he had had one blissful day unwashed,
uncombed, and uncorrected.

"No," he declared stoutly; "I'm doin' to stay to this house and play
wiv You're-a-peanut."

"Then," said Mary, with deep resignation, "the only thing for me to do
is to try to clean things up."

When she went back into the house she untied her bundle and took out
the remaining dollar.

"I'll be back soon," she said to Miss Hazy as she stepped over a
basket of potatoes. "I'm just going over to Mrs. Wiggs's a minute."

She found her neighbor alone, getting supper. "Please, ma'am,"--she
plunged into her subject at once,--"have any of your girls a dress for
sale? I've got a dollar to buy it."

Mrs. Wiggs turned the girl around and surveyed her critically. "Well,
I don't know as I blame you fer wantin' to git shut of that one. There
ain't more 'n room enough fer one leg in that skirt, let alone two.
An' what was the sense in them big shiny buttons?"

"I don't know as it makes much difference," said Lovey Mary,