yard.

"We must adorn the house, children. I will buy some of this, if you will
help carry it home."

"Load me down," said Horace; "I'll take a mile of it."

"Loaden me down, too; _I'll_ take it a mile," said Fly.

"Give me that beautiful cross to carry, auntie."

"Are you willing to carry crosses, Prudy? Ah, you've learned the lesson
young!"

"I like the star best," said Dotty; "why can't they make suns and moons,
too!"

"Will you have a _hanker_, my pretty miss?" said the woman, dropping a
courtesy.

"I never heard of a _hanker_; it looks some like a kettle-hook. Let's
buy it; see how nicely it fits on Fly's shoulder."

"It would look better for Fly to sit on the anchor," said Mrs. Allen,
smiling. "It is droll enough to see such a big thing walking off with a
little girl under it. Come, children, we have bought all we can carry."

"Thank you kindly, lady," said the evergreen woman, with another
courtesy.

"I don't see why she need thank you kindly, auntie," said Dotty. "You
wouldn't have bought her wreaths if you hadn't liked 'em."

They walked through a long space lined with such nice things that the
children's mouths watered--oranges, figs, grapes, pears, French
chestnuts larger than oil-nuts, and, as if that were not enough,
delicious-looking pies, cakes, cold ham, and doughnuts. On little
charcoal stoves stood coffee-pots; and there was a great clattering of
plates and cups and saucers, which men were washing in little pans, and
wiping on rather dark towels.

"It strikes me I should enjoy going into one of those cuddy-holes and
eating my dinner," said Horace. "I feel about starved."

"You have a right to be hungry. It is two o'clock. How would you like
some oysters? In here is a large room, with tables; rather more
comfortable than these 'cuddy-holes,' as you call them."

"Only not nice," said Prudy. "O, Horace, if you should go once to an
oyster saloon in Boston, you'd see the difference!"

"The probability is, I've been in Boston saloons twice to your once,
ma'am."

Which was correct. She had been once, and he twice.

CHAPTER XII.

"GRANNY."

Aunt Madge seated her four guests at a little table.

"Will you have oysters or scallops?"

"What are scallops?"

"They are a sort of fish; taste a little like oysters. They come out of
those small shells, such as you've seen pin-cushions made of."

The children thought they should prefer oysters; and after the stews
were ordered, M