tell YOU to say it! Wasn't I talkin' ter Sarah Maud?" The
little Ruggleses hung their diminished heads. "Yes, marm," they
piped, more feebly. "Now git up, all of ye, an' try it. Speak
up, Sarah Maud."

Sarah Maud's tongue clove to the roof of her mouth.

"Quick!"

"Ma thought--it was--sech a pleasant hat that we'd--we'd better
leave our short walk to home," recited Sarah Maud, in an agony of
mental effort.

This was too much for the boys.

"Oh, whatever shall I do with ye?" moaned the unhappy mother; "I
suppose I've got to learn it to yer!" which she did, word for
word, until Sarah Maud thought she could stand on her head and
say it backwards.

"Now, Cornelius, what are YOU goin' ter say ter make yerself good
comp'ny?"

"Dunno!" said Cornelius, turning pale.

"Well, ye ain't goin' to set there like a bump on a log 'thout
sayin' a word ter pay for yer vittles, air ye? Ask Mis' Bird how
she's feelin' this evenin', or if Mr. Bird's havin' a busy
season, or somethin' like that. Now we'll make b'lieve we've got
ter the dinner--that won't be so hard, 'cause yer'll have