Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5

go and give each one of 'em a nice piece of bread-and-butter or one of our big cookies," said kind Miss Mehitable Plummer, taking up her knitting after a long look at the swarm of boys

hool-boys, and ought to have been labelled Dy

eenth patchwork quilt, and answered, w

ous turns that will surely take them down before vacation comes. That fat boy is as yellow as a

o enjoy watching the boys, who came and went, like bees to a hive, month by month. They had their favorites, and beguiled many a long hour speculating on the looks, manners, and probable station of the lads. One lame boy was Miss Jerusha's pet, though she never spoke to him, and a tall bright-faced fellow, who rather lorde

wned housewife in her time,-and eaten by the sisters as children, had a peculiar charm for them. A tin box was always kept full, though they only now and then nibbled one, and preferred to give them away to poor children, as they

tood suggestively open. Miss Hetty's spectacles turned that way, then went back to the busy scene in the street, as if trying to g

his last turnover, fell to teasing the small fellows peacefully playing at his feet. One was the shabby lame boy, who hopped to and fro with his crutch, munching a dry cracker, with now and then a trip to the pump to wash it down

rst delicious bite, when the fat youth with a dexterous kick sent it flying int

clamation Miss Hetty threw down her work, ran to the closet, then darted to the front door,

in time to see the fat boy tumble off the post as the tall lad came to the rescue, while the crip

get a cookie,-a doz

his heroic example, Miss Jerusha threw up the

y that poor little boy. Come

across to thank them for their interest in the fray. Several other lads followed as irresistibly

old lady, with her cap-strings flying in the wind, her rosy old face shining wit

e, but I do your face, and I like to see a big boy stand up fo

thing so nice over there." And Charley gratefully bolted t

ting them, and I don't believe your mothers know how bad they are," said Miss Hetty,

e and let the cockroach pies alone," said Charley, accepting another and enj

ping her load in her horror at the idea, for she had heard of fricasse

of barrel in the cake, so some of us don't patronize Peck,"

my mother w

y," bawled Dickson, the fat boy, d

good lunch. Apples too, red ones, if you like them, with your cake," answered

Dickson, and then fled, for Charley fired a ball at

Miss Hetty, sternly, as she dropped the lid on the now empty box; for while

to-morrow." And little Briggs shook hands with as innocent a face a

called Miss Jerusha, and, taking the

obliged, ma'am, and I'll see that

or to sink into her easy-chair, as much excited by this lit

'm spared," she panted, with a decided nod, as she settled her cap and composed her n

ldn't be much trouble. Just put the long table across the front entry for half an hour every day, and let them come and get a bu

hat moment to devote some of her time and skill to rescuing thos

ise, how bravely they kept each other up when courage showed signs of failing, and how rapidly they became

world never think that what goes into children's stomachs affects their brains," declared Miss Hetty, as she

and you and I as smart at seventy one and two, as most folks at forty. Good, plain victuals and plenty o

hers used to be dreadful fond of it, and boys are about alike all the world o

gful? Some of those poor things look as if they never got a drop

ushy. In for a pen

l Monday, that all might be in apple-pie order. They said nothing of it when the lads came on

as he came down the street on Monday morning, and espied a neat little sign on the sisters' door, setting forth the ag

hoever remembers Hawthorne's half-comic, half-pathetic description of poor Hepsibah Pyncheon's hopes and fears, when arranging her gingerbread wares

Hetty when the fateful moment came, an

he table, set wide the door, and then, as the first joyful whoop from the boys

by the sound!" she whispered, as the tramp of fee

old you it wasn't a joke." "Wonder how Peck likes it?" "Dickson sha'n't come in." "You go

to save my life," gasped Miss Jerusha fr

e calm, and we shall

a chorus of demands for everything so temptingly set forth upon her table. Intrenched behind a barricade of buns, she dealt out her wares with rapidly increasing speed and skill, for as fast

now, I trust." And Miss Hetty looked over her glasses at the crumby countenances opposite, meeting many nods and smiles in return, as he

e boy proposed my health like a little gentleman, as he is," replied Miss Jerusha, who had ventured out before it was too late, and

is good, and we need not fear to lose their custom as long as we can supply them. I shall order a barrel of flour at

rly unconscious of the anxious Peck, who was flattening his nose agains

ding the task more to their taste than everlasting patchwork and knitting, and receiving a fair pro

" as they were called, while such of the parents as took an interest in the

r few besides the boys patronized him. None mourned for him, and Dickson proved t

e summer vacation, there stood the little shop, brave in new paint and fitting

r all about it. Behave now, you fellows, or I'll see about it afterward," commanded

et the old ladies as usual, but to their great surprise a pretty

is their shop?" said little Briggs, bitterly

eir shop, and I'm their niece. My husband is the Co., and we run

ade the little shop ring again, and brought two caps to the opposite windows, as two cheery old face