their names for 'em," suggested Polly.

"Here's mine," said Ben, putting under the "From all of us" a big, bold
"Ben."

"And here's mine," echoed Polly, setting a slightly crooked "Polly" by
its side.

"Now Joe, you better let Ben hold your hand," said Polly, warningly. But
Joel declaring he could write had already begun, so there was no hope
for it; and a big drop of ink falling from the pen, he spattered the "J"
so that no one could tell what it was. The children looked at each other
in despair.

"Can we ever get it out, mammy?" said Polly, running to Mrs. Pepper with
it.

"I don't know," said her mother. "How could you try it, Joe?"

"I didn't mean to," said Joel, looking very downcast and ashamed. "The
ugly old pen did it!"

"Well," said Polly, "it's got to go; we can't help it." But she looked
so sorrowful over it that half the pleasure was gone for Ben; for Polly
wanted everything just right, and was very particular about things.

"Now, Dave." Ben held his hand, and "David" went down next to Joel.

But when it was Phronsie's turn, she protested that Polly, and no one
else, must hold her hand.

"It's a dreadful hard name to write--Phronsie is," said Polly, as she
guided Phronsie's fat little hand that clung faithfully to the stubby
old pen. "There, it's over now," she cried; "and I'm thankful! I
wouldn't write another for anything!"

"Read it all over now, Ben," cried Mrs. Pepper, "and don't speak,
children, till he gets through."

"Don't it sound elegant!" said Polly, clasping her hands, when he had
finished. "I didn't think we ever could do it so nice, did you, Ben?"

"No, indeed, I didn't," replied Ben, in a highly ecstatic frame of mind.
"Now--oh! what'll we do for an envelope?" he asked in dismay.

"You'll have to do without that," said Mrs. Pepper, "for there isn't any
in the house--but see here, children," she added, as she saw the sorry
faces before her--"you just fold up the letter, and put it inside the
parcel; that'll be just as good."

"Oh dear," said Polly; "but it would have been splendid the other way,
mammy--just like other folks!"

"You must make believe this is like other folks," said Mrs. Pepper,
cheerily, "when you can't do any other way."

"Yes," said Ben, "that's so, Polly; tie 'em up quick's you can, and I'll
take 'em over to Deacon Blodgett's, for he's goin' to start early in the
morning."

So after another last look all around, Polly put the cakes in the paper,
and