of
the place. But Mr. Peterkin thought it too great an effort to send to
foreign countries for "exhibits," and it was given up.

There was, however, a new water-trough needed on the town common, and
the ladies of the place thought it ought to be something
handsome,--something more than a common trough,--and they ought to
work for it.

Elizabeth Eliza had heard at Philadelphia how much women had done, and
she felt they ought to contribute to such a cause. She had an idea,
but she would not speak of it at first, not until after she had
written to the lady from Philadelphia. She had often thought, in many
cases, if they had asked her advice first, they might have saved
trouble.

Still, how could they ask advice before they themselves knew what they
wanted? It was very easy to ask advice, but you must first know what
to ask about. And again: Elizabeth Eliza felt you might have ideas,
but you could not always put them together. There was this idea of the
water-trough, and then this idea of getting some money for it. So she
began with writing to the lady from Philadelphia. The little boys
believed she spent enough for it in postage-stamps before it all came
out.

[Illustration]

But it did come out at last that the Peterkins were to have some
charades at their own house for the benefit of the needed
water-trough,--tickets sold only to especial friends. Ann Maria
Bromwick was to help act, because she could bring some old bonnets and
gowns that had been worn by an aged aunt years ago, and which they had
always kept. Elizabeth Eliza said that Solomon John would have to be a
Turk, and they must borrow all the red things and cashmere scarfs in
the place. She knew people would be willing to lend things.

Agamemnon thought you ought to get in something about the Hindoos,
they were such an odd people. Elizabeth Eliza said you must not have
it too odd, or people would not understand it, and she did not want
anything to frighten her mother. She had one word suggested by the
lady from Philadelphia in her letters,--the one that had "Turk" in
it,--but they ought to have two words.

"Oh, yes," Ann Maria said, "you must have two words; if the people
paid for their tickets they would want to get their money's worth."

Solomon John thought you might have "Hindoos"; the little boys could
color their faces brown, to look like Hindoos. You could have the
first scene an Irishman catching a hen, and then paying the
water-taxes for "due