Susy, faintly, though not without a pang,
for she still retained a childish fondness for jujube paste, and was
not allowed a great abundance of pocket-money. "Yes, to be sure, let
the _little_ girls have our share."

"Then may we three youngest have the whole rag-bag?" said Prudy,
brightly. "Dotty, you and I will trundle the wheelbarrow, and Fly
shall go behind."

"What an idea!" exclaimed Grace. "I've seen little beggar children
drawing a dog-cart. Grandma'll never allow such a thing."

"Indeed I will," said grandma, tying on her checked apron. "Dog-carts
or wheel-barrows, so they only take care not to be rude. In a city it
is different."

"Yes, grandma," said Dotty, twisting her front hair joyfully; "but
here in the country they want little girls to have good times--don't
they? Why don't everybody move into the country, do you s'pose? Lots
of bare spots round here,--nothing on 'em but cows."

"Yes, nuffin' but gampa's cows," chimed in Flyaway, twisting _her_
front hair.

"Louisa," said Mrs. Parlin, "you may help me about this loaf of 'Maine
plum cake,' and while you are beating the butter and sugar I will look
over the rag-bag. Dotty, please run for my spectacles."

When Dotty returned with the spectacles, Jennie Vance came with her,
pouting a little at the cool reception she had met, and thinking Miss
Dimple hardly polite because she was too much interested in an old
rag-bag to pay proper attention to visitors.

"Grandma, what makes you pick over these rags? We can take them just
as they are."

"I always do so, my dear, and for several reasons. One is, that
woollen pieces may have crept in by mistake. As we profess to sell
cotton rags, it would be dishonest to mix them with woollen."

"Yes'm, I understand," said Jennie, who often spoke when it was quite
as well to keep silent; "it's always best to be honest--isn't it, Mrs.
Parlin?"

The rags were spread out upon the table, giving Flyaway a fine
opportunity to scatter them right and left.

"O, here's a splendid piece of blue ribbon to make my doll a bonnet,"
said Dotty.

"That's another reason why she picks 'em over," remarked Jennie; "so
she won't waste things. Only, Dotty, that has got an awful
grease-spot."

"There, children," said Mrs. Parlin, presently, "I have taken out a
card of hooks and eyes, a flannel bandage, and a shoe-string. You may
have everything else."

Dotty caught her grandmother's arm. "Please, grandma, don't sweep 'em
into t