Outpost

, were invited to the governor's house to spend a week; and all the cooks and chambermaids, and nurses and waiters, and coachmen and gardeners, in Merrigoland, were invited to go and

ildren. "We can do every t

and preserves and candies in th

herry-trees, and chase all the roosters, and play

ories all day, and go to sleep before the

ngs and breastpins," said little Finnikin Fine, pushing a chair

e our hair, and not wash our hands at dinner-time, nor put on

d so loud, that the mice ran out of their holes to see what was the matter; and the cats never noticed them, they were so busy sticking the hair straight up

sten to

world's th

et! Can't

st jumping ou

nk, bo

o you

world v

it go

everal hundred little kittens, until it came night; and then they went into the houses, and put themselves to bed.

but, lo and behold! there was no breakfast ready, nor even any fire in the ranges and cooking-stoves, and in some houses not e

moo,

milk

eads through the bars of the p

-cut, ka

aving you

give us

autiful

flying down to the

coo,

breakfas

ren began to cry as loud

mamma,

you and

of climbing trees, and smashing the furniture with his hatchet, went and split kindlings in all the wood-houses; and his sister Georgie, who never wanted to be in the house, carried them into the kitchens; and Patty Pettitoes tried her hand at cooking, instead of eating; and Dowsabelle Dormouse made the beds, and beat up the sofa-pillows; and Mattie Motherly, whose ch

the little children: t

le girls' sleeves with ribbons, and parting the little boys' hair behind,

nniki

end your

on our

h out our

care fo

boys or

are bu

sit down

e children, was so tired and hungry, that she was glad to sit down and eat

of milk from one of them, and no one else even tried. But, just as the children were all wondering what they should do, little Peter Phinn, w

how to

ay so, Peter Phinn?" crie

you'd want me and Me

te

id Patty Pettitoes, who was a

she wasn't fit to play with her, when

n say that?"

d, if she wore such an old, mean gown and bonnet, she'd ought t

turned and looked at F

for shame to talk so

in

shed very much, and began to cry; but Mer

ey. I'll forget it so

ou dress the childre

ronze slippers with pink rosettes, and, and," began Finnikin; but M

: I'll wear my calico gown, and my sun-bonnet, and my strong shoes; and you'll see

ribbons and flowers she had found time since breakfast to put on, and changed her blue silk dress for a neat gingham and a white apron, and put her ha

plain dress! She looks like a little girl now

fellow could play with her now

ounce!' or, 'You've spoilt my bow!' or, 'Dear me, y

le girl herself was troubled by it, they left off directly, and began to talk of other things; an

the morning were soon forgotten; and when, after clearing away the dinner, the little people all came out to play upon the green, they agreed to crown Peter and Merry King, and Queen of Merrigoland from three o'clock in the afternoon unt

nd you shall teach us all that you know, and so we will help each other; and no one shall think hims

hildren

erry, and down with fin

dmas, and uncles and aunts, and brothers and sisters, heard them, as they sat at dinner in t

, and found how well the chil

r than what they are learning for

governor's house, and spent

Legrange," said Jame