candy.

"That's a lady;" cried her mother. "Now, you young ones that
ain't doin' nothin', play all yer want ter before noontime, for
after ye git through eatin' at twelve o'clock me 'n Sarah Maud's
goin' ter give yer such a washin' an' combin' an' dressin' as yer
never had before an' never will agin, an' then I'm goin' to set
yer down an' give yer two solid hours trainin' in manners; an'
'twon't be no foolin' neither."

"All we've got ter do 's go eat!" grumbled Peter.

"Well, that's enough," responded his mother; "there's more 'n one
way of eatin', let me tell yer, an' you've got a heap ter learn
about it, Peter Ruggles. Lord sakes, I wish you childern could
see the way I was fetched up to eat--never took a meal o' vittles
in the kitchen before I married Ruggles; but yer can't keep up
that style with nine young ones 'n yer Pa always off ter sea."

The big Ruggleses worked so well, and the little Ruggleses kept
from "under foot" so successfully, that by one o'clock nine
complete toilets were laid out in solemn grandeur on the beds. I
say, "complete;" but I do not know whether they would be called
so in the best society. The law of compensation had been well
applied; he that had necktie had no cuffs; she that had sash had
no handkerchief, and vice versa; but they all had boots and a
certain amount of clothing, such as it was, the outside layer
being in every case quite above criticism.

"Now, Sarah Maud," said Mrs. Ruggles, her face shining with