e once."

But when Phoebe purchased a piece of long-cloth and began to make
undergarments, beautifying them by sprays of hand embroidery, Aunt Maria
scoffed, "Umph, I'd be ashamed to put snake-doctors on my petticoats."

The girl laughed. "They aren't snake-doctors, they are butterflies," she
said.

"Not much difference--both got wings. I don't see what for you want to
waste time like that."

"It makes them prettier, and I like pretty things."

"Ach, you have dumb notions sometimes. I guess we better make your other
dresses soon, then you won't have time for sewing snake-doctors or
butterflies. You better get your silk dress made in Greenwald, it's so
soft and slippery that I ain't going to bother my old fingers makin' it.
Granny Hogendobler wants to come out and help to sew, and David's mom
said she'll come down and help us cut and fit the serge dresses. She's
real handy like that. If those dresses look as nice on you as they do on
the pictures they will be all right. Granny and Barb dare just come and
both help with your things--they both think it's so fine for you to go
to the city! Granny Hogendobler spoiled her Nason by givin' him just
what he wanted, and now what has she got for it? And I guess Barb is
easy with that big boy of hers. Mebbe if she was a little stricter he'd
be in the Church like Phares is, though David is a nice boy and I guess
he don't give his mom any trouble."

"I just love Mother Bab; don't you say such things about her!" Phoebe
exclaimed, her eyes flashing.

"Why, I like her too," the woman said. She looked at Phoebe in surprise.
"You needn't be so touchy. For goodness' sake, don't take to gettin'
touchy like some people are! Handling them's like tryin' to plane over a
knot in wood; any way you push the plane is the wrong way. This here
going to Philadelphy upsets you, I guess. You're gettin' as touchy as
the little touch-me-nots we get on the hill; they all snap shut when
you touch 'em--only you snap open."

Phoebe laughed. "I guess I am excited," she admitted. "I'm sewing too
much for summer days and it makes me irritable. I think I'll let the
butterflies wait and I'll go outdoors. Shall I weed the garden?"

"Weed the garden? Now you're talkin' dumb! Don't you know yet that abody
don't weed a garden on Fridays? Ours always gets done on Monday. But if
you want to get out you dare take some of the sand-tarts I baked
yesterday up to David's mom, she likes them so much. And you ask her