s?
Our motto painted in colors. Father says it is illuminated, and
little John did it. Jim had it framed. We hung it on the wall,
and we think perhaps we will ask John to belong to the Order. I
liked Patti very much, but I wished Bess could go.

With a great many kisses and lots of love,

LOUISE HAZELTINE.

CHAPTER XIX.

AUNT SUKEY'S STORY.

"It is a whole month since Aunt Zelie went away, and nearly a week
since we had a letter. I wonder if Miss Lyons's brother is not well
yet;" Bess sighed, for time was beginning to drag.

"Suppose Miss Lyons couldn't go back at all, would your aunt have to
stay?" asked Dora, who had come in to spend the afternoon.

"Dear, no! Aunt Mary would have to get another companion; Aunt Zelie
belongs to us," answered Carl, who sat on the floor showing Carie
pictures.

There was one supposed to represent the drowning of Pharaoh and his
host which interested her deeply, and her brother made it even more
thrilling by singing in an explosive manner one of Sukey's songs:

"Oh! didn't old Pharaoh get drowned--
Oh! _didn't_ old Pharaoh got drowned--
Oh! DIDN'T old Pharaoh get drowned in the Red sea?"

"Is Carl here?" asked Louise, looking in; "here's Ikey."

"What are you boys going to do this afternoon? Don't you want to play
something?" asked Bess.

"No, thanks, we have something else on hand," was the unsatisfactory
reply.

"What?" said Louise.

"Never mind; little girls mustn't ask questions," responded Carl
paternally, as he and Ikey left the room. A moment later he returned
to call through the half-opened door, "I know something I'm not going
to tell."

"Never mind, I can get it out of Ikey," responded Louise.

"Unfortunately he doesn't know it," came from the third-story stairs.

"Perhaps Mandy will let us make some candy; let's ask her, and not
tell the boys," Louise suggested.

So while Joanna carried Carie off for a walk the others went down to
the kitchen.

It was a large, bright room, and it was Mandy's pride to keep it
shining. Aunt Sukey sat by one of the windows with the mending basket
beside her, and the presiding genius stood at the spotless table
rolling out croquettes.

"Mandy, we are so lonely without Auntie! mayn't we make some candy to
amuse us?" Louise put on her most coaxing expression.

"The kitchen ain't the place for young ladies to get their dresses
dirty in, and thei