up into his red cart, in front of the dangling tin dishes,
brooms, and pails with which it was filled.

"If you please, sir," she said, the rosy color all over her
cheek, "there can't either of the boys go."

"Hey? What's the matter with the littlest one," cried Mr. Biggs,
turning around with one foot on the shaft. "Is he took sick,
too?"

"No--no," said Polly, clasping her hands in distress, "but he
won't go unless Joel goes. Oh, I do thank you so much, Mr. Biggs,
for asking them."

"Sho now! that's too bad," said the rag-man, his foot still on
the shaft, and his big face wrinkled perplexedly. "Beats all,
how suddint they're took. Now you better give 'em a dose o'
pep'mint, marm, both on 'em."

But Polly shook her head as she ran back up the grassy slope
again. So Mr. Biggs had nothing to do but to drive off, which he
did, staring hard at them; and every little while he turned back,
to gaze in astonishment over his shoulder, until the big red
wagon went round the slope of the hill and was lost to view.

"Now, Joel," said Polly, firmly, "you must just stop making such
a noise, and go right into the provision room, and get the stool,
and sit down till I tell you to get up."

To sit down on the old wooden stool in the middle of the