little Ruggles must leave his seat and have it pinned on by
Carol, and as each course was served one of them pleaded to take
something to her. There was hurrying to and fro, I can assure
you, for it is quite a difficult matter to serve a Christmas
dinner on the third floor of a great city house; but if every
dish had had to be carried up a rope ladder the servants would
gladly have done so. There was turkey and chicken, with
delicious gravy and stuffing, and there were half-a-dozen
vegetables, with cranberry jelly, and celery, and pickles; and as
for the way these delicacies were served, the Ruggleses never
forgot it as long as they lived.

Peter nudged Kitty, who sat next him, and said, "Look, will yer,
ev'ry feller's got his own partic'lar butter; I suppose that's to
show yer can eat that much 'n no more. No, it ain't neither, for
that pig of a Peory's just gittin' another helpin'!" "Yes,"
whispered Kitty, "an' the napkins is marked with big red letters.

I wonder if that's so nobody 'll nip 'em; an' oh, Peter, look at
the pictures painted right on ter the dishes. Did yer ever!"

"The plums is all took out o' my cramb'ry sarse, an' it's friz to
a stiff jell!" shouted Peoria, in wild excitement.

"Hi--yah! I got a wish-bone!" sung Larry, regardless of Sarah
Maud's frown; after which she asked to have his seat changed,
giving as excuse that he gen'ally set beside her, an' would "feel
strange;" the true reason being that she desired to kick him
gently, under the table, whenever he passed what might be termed
"the McGrill line."