Half-A-Dozen Housekeepers

o discourage a New England pussy willow, they shivered in their brown skins and despaired of making their annual appearance even by April Fool’s Hay. The swallows sti

h and howled about the chimneys until one hardly knew whether to hug

skating and sliding to look forward to. What joy to perch in the window-seat with your volume of Virgil, and translate “Hoc opus hic labor est” with half an eye on the gleaming ice of the pond, or the glittering cr

res, were to be suspended for a while at the Wareham Seminary, and the “yo

t out five mysteriously worded notes that morning, five little notes to as many little maids

so there is nothing remarkable in this statement of the fact, that at ten o’clock in the morning, Number 27, Second floo

fectly controlled, but, at length, the hostess, mounti

he continued, still impressively, “that my highly respected parents are both away for the winter, thus leaving our humble cottage closed, and it occurred to me as a brilliant, if somewhat daring, idea, that we six girls should go over and keep house in it for a fortnight,

a Porter; “a more than usually lovely plan; but

is the letter I have just received from my father;

more, Marc

e do not like to refu

oying ourselves, so,

y go over and try yo

must not entirely d

ly wish is that you w

res and

’t feel injured if

stion of Miss Miranda

ghbors. They will tak

s well put yourself

le will, of course,

, and I dare say he c

r, but Grandmamma w

d

every day, saying tha

still s

ly indulgent b

Fat

darling!” cried the

ourselves to feel too happy, we had better consult our ‘po

less captives. Your mother is in town, Lilia, so that you can ask her immediately, and hear the worst; you and Edith, Patty, are only a half-day’s journey away, and can find out easily. I know you can get permission, for it’s goin

in the air. Bell, it was decided, was to go on to her country home in advance, and, with the

ternly practical department best suited to her—meat, vegetables, and bread—while Bell was to concoct puddings, cakes, and the various little indigestible dainties toward which schoolgirl hearts are so tender. Alice Forsaith, the oldest of the party and the beauty of the school,

the Winship cottage were transfixed with wonder by the appearance

s mornin’,—air your folks comin’ home or hev you

ell; “I’m going to

un off and got married, h

my schoolmates over to-morrow, and we intend to stay her

t. How any sensible man could do sech a crazy thing as to let a pack of girls tear his house to pieces, I don’t

a few stoves and fireplaces, I should think it was a pity. Everybody seems to think nowadays that young people have no common sense. Th

try to keep an eye on ye. Here’s your key, and we can spare you a quart of milk a day and risin’s for your

have heaps to do. Emma Jane Perkins has come to help me, and Grandma’s Betty w

r ways, and I’d never have done it if Mis’ Winship hadn’t set such store by her. She pretty near pi

red, “but you know it’s almost impossible to keep house without a cat and a dog. Bob

We disposed of our horse, the pig went next, and the cow’s turn’s comin’. Even a cat is dreadful conf

and Emma Jane shivered as they unlock

were moderately comfortable. The weather being so cold, Bell decided upon using only three rooms, all on the first floor—the large, handsome family sitting-room, the kitchen, and Mrs. Win-ship’s cham

, and then there’ll be no quarreling about bedfellows or rooms. I cert

n in between and it’ll be dreadful hard mak-in’ ’em up of a mornin’,” r

ningroom, so the mahogany extension-table, with its carved legs, pretty red cover, and silver service, was carried there. This accomplished, and every room made graceful and attractive by Bell (who was a born homemaker, and placed photographs, lamps, sofa-

as for setting that house on fire, there’s no danger, for it will take a week to thaw it into a state in which it would burn. I have made up my mind that I sha’n’t

t eatables enough for an army—more t

” said Bell,

e I drive to the station for the girls. Do you know, Uncle Harry, I am going to do the most astounding thing! I’ve borrowed Farmer Allen’s one-seated old pung,—the one he takes to town fil