Exercise out of doors 9 to 10. Preparations for dinner 12 to 1. Recreation 2 to 4. Study 4 to 5. Preparation for supper 5 to 6. Wholesome reading, walking, or conversation 7 to 8. Devotional exercises 9. There was nothing wrong about this; indeed, it was excellently conceived; still it appeared to Gilbert as excessively funny, and with Nancy's help he wrote another syllabus and tacked it over Julia's bureau. Time Card On waking I can Pray for Gilly and Nan; Eat breakfast at seven Nor think when it's noon That luncheon's too soon. From twelve until one I can munch on a bun. At one or at two My dinner 'll be due. At three, say, or four, I'll eat a bit more. When the clock's striking five Some mild exercise, Very brief, would be wise, For my supper at night. Eat a light lunch at eight, Nor forget to say prayers Then with conscience like mine Mrs. Carey had a sense of humor, and when the weeping Julia brought the two documents to her for consideration she had great difficulty in adjusting the matter gravely and with due sympathy for her niece. "The F-f-f-fergusons never mentioned my appetite," Julia wailed. "They were always trying to g-g-get me to eat!" "Gilbert and Nancy are a little too fond of fun, and a little too prone to chaffing," said Mrs. Carey. "They forget that you are not used to it, but I will try to make them more considerate. And don't forget, my dear, that in a large family like ours we must learn to 'live and let live."" XIV WAYS AND MEANS It was late June, and Gilbert had returned from school, so the work of making the Yellow House attractive and convenient was to move forward at once. Up to now, the unpacking and distribution of the furniture, with the daily housework and cooking, had been all that Mrs. Carey and the girls could manage. A village Jack-of-all-trades, Mr. Ossian Popham, generally and familiarly called "Osh" Popham, had been called in to whitewash existing closets and put hooks in them; also, with Bill Harmon's consent, to make new ones here and there in handy corners. Dozens of shelves in odd spaces helped much in the tidy stowing away of household articles, bed-clothing, and stores. In the midst of this delightful and cheery setting-to-rights a letter arrived from Cousin Ann. The family was all sitting together in Mrs. Carey's room, the announced intention being to hold an important meeting of the Ways and Means Committee, the Careys being strong on ways and uniformly short on means. The arrival of the letters by the hand of Bill Harmon's boy occurred before the meeting was called to order. "May I read Cousin Ann's aloud?" asked Nancy, who had her private reasons for making the offer. "Certainly," said Mrs. Carey unsuspectingly, as she took up the inevitable stocking. "I almost wish you had all been storks instead of chickens; then you would always have held up one foot, and perhaps that stocking, at least, would n't have had holes in it!" "Poor Muddy! I'm learning to darn," cried Kathleen, kissing her. LONGHAMPTON, NEW JERSEY, June 27th. MY DEAR MARGARET [so Nancy read], -The climate of this seaside place suits me so badly that I have concluded to spend the rest of the summer with you, lightening those household tasks which will fall so heavily on your shoulders. [Groans from the whole family greeted this opening passage, and Gilbert cast himself, face down, on his mother's lounge.] It is always foggy here when it does not rain, and the cooking is very bad. The manager of the hotel is uncivil and the office clerks very rude, so that Beulah, unfortunate place of residence as I consider it, will be much preferable. I hope you are getting on well with the work on the house, although I regard your treating it as if it were your own, as the height of extravagance. You will never get back a penny you spend on it, and probably when you get it in good order Mr. Hamilton will come back from Europe and live in it himself, or take it away from you and sell it to some one else. Gilbert will be home by now, but I should not allow him to touch the woodwork, as he is too careless and unreliable. ["She'll never forget that the bed came down with her!" exclaimed Gilbert, his voice muffled by the sofa cushions.] Remember me to Julia. I hope she enjoys her food better than when I was with you. Children must eat if they would grow. [Mother Carey pricked up her ears at this point, and Gilbert raised himself on one elbow, but Nancy went on gravely.] Tell Kathleen to keep out of the sun, or wear a hat, as her complexion is not at all what it used to be. Without color and with freckles she will be an unusually plain child. [Kathleen flushed angrily and laid down her work.] Give my love to darling Nancy. What a treasure you have in your eldest, Margaret! I |