Prudy Keeping House

small rocking chair, two ottomans, some pictures and picture-books, and nearly all the curiosities she could find in the house. A cunning little cooking-stove, highly p

with dishes in it, and flour, sugar, raisins, spices, rolling-pin, "aerating egg-beater," yellow bowls, wooden spoons, and everything that could be needed in cooking for a very large family. There

Hubbard and Lady Magnifico rushed in, fol

xfax, as sober as Nathaniel himself. "This room is yours

bobbing her head, while the "pillow-sham" ruffles

you ring the other one, it will bring Rachel. And, Miss Prudy, here is t

e book with another "Thank you ever so much," but did

so hard to keep from laughing, that

e full of talk, and I don't want to lose a word. Besides, Mrs. A

d Lady Magnifico, as Mrs. Fix

got the toothache," suggested the talking infant, who wa

le Toddle; false

why she puckered up her lips so funny," sa

about as much expression as a platter of cold

sked me to kiss her one time," s

anted a lump of suga

k with laughter as she listened t

they've got such an idea of me, I won't try to change it. Not for the

look about her with th

he, taking off a stove-cover. "Wood, I declare

"I didn't s'pose wood grew in New York. What now, Mr. Moon? Don't I

ig enough to hold a mass-meeting? That's a loud-spoken clock up there

p, but did not

as much as he did his dear little tail.-Why, what's burning? That child has scorched h

Moonshine, if

" continued the landlady. "It's excellent to dro

nifico, sweeping along to the cupboard, and dippi

ed down, you know, and thickened. When you make a custard fo

man had thrown out concerning dinne

O, it's rice. No; it's what Do

may I ask?" said the docto

ngles of shame ran down her fingers as soon as she had spoken, for she saw, by th

ing up her trailing robes, and dancing ove

ow up the fire. See me fill

ttle blozers! L

upon the stove, and an

e built round that stove,

all there is in the cupboard? Can't

thought Mother Hubbard, winking fast behind the green spectacle

before you

u begin, go

l we have f

g herself in the mirror, Dr. Moonshine rummaging an

t I can do. Mother says I have a great deal more taste for c

iend," and began at the first page to read. Ha

a box, and touching it with her tongue. It was sweet till her te

er mouth on a lace cuff. "'Spect that's a pill,

eathed some of the "dust of ages" into his nose off a top shelf, where Mrs. Fixfax kept a few herbs. Ten minutes more. The doctor

dy Mag

ir

to have such a thing as

t out of the armchai

ite to carry

a side glance at Mother Hubbard, "how nice a pea

pect dinner in the middle of the day, I hope! In the city of New York we don't ha

the South.' I'd like to 'burn my mou

'll give you a lunch. What

aid Dr. Moonsh

e," drawl

t," qu

ffee," said Mother Hubba

said the doctor

you make chocolate?" said the l

octor. "Baked in a slow oven, most likely,

eggs enough; but dear me, where's the milk? This condemned kind my l

tle bread and butter. I've

oing to bake for you at five o'clock! But

en old Mother Hubbard went to her cupboa

ome here to board. Won't

ders tried to be satisfied i

ard spent between the cake-bo

Dr. Moonshine, looking at the thermometer; "we're nearly up to

rvously, "I can't help it if the butter doe

baby. "I want to do sumpin. I want

l charge me full price for your board. You hear what she calls for, ma'am? Can you make her a little paste? Here's an

hought Mrs. Fixfax, listening from the next roo

er Hubbard, dropping the aerating egg-beat

ld be so disagreeable. She snatched off the spice-box, and setting a

s and soda, and the little cook could not rem

side of the table, opposite Mother Hubbard, and giving her a stick with a r

s," replied Mother Hubbard, forcing a smile. Then she tasted her

ady Magnifico, "may I troubl

I have a hangfiss to

d, and got a goblet for the lady; to t

s. She had left the patent egg-beater on the stove b

ady Magnifico. "If somebody doesn't throw up

dumb chill," said the do

t me keep pleasant. They don't mean any harm, and I

d? 'You look as blue as the s

e you and my lady go down to the parlor. I don't believe I'm a

harp five,

bard, taking off her spe

ld

e torment that was left behind. "Hush! don't you talk, Prudy.

tasted the cake again. How could she

nuffin what I say? Rag's come off the stick. Please

dering best; but ill luck s

ixfax must have given it to me to plague me. How it does burn things up! I hope beefsteak is cheap. I won't ask anybody to eat this, all covered with ashes. I'll nev

her life, Mother Hubbard went down with Fly, whom she da