es. Mrs. Peterkin tasted, and did the
same. The more the old woman stirred, and the more she put in, the
worse it all seemed to taste.

So the old woman shook her head, and muttered a few words, and said
she must go. She believed the coffee was bewitched. She bundled up her
packets of herbs, and took her trowel, and her basket, and her stick,
and went back to her root of sassafras, that she had left half in the
air and half out. And all she would take for pay was five cents in
currency.

[Illustration]

Then the family were in despair, and all sat and thought a great
while. It was growing late in the day, and Mrs. Peterkin hadn't had
her cup of coffee. At last Elizabeth Eliza said, "They say that the
lady from Philadelphia, who is staying in town, is very wise. Suppose
I go and ask her what is best to be done." To this they all agreed, it
was a great thought, and off Elizabeth Eliza went.

[Illustration]

She told the lady from Philadelphia the whole story,--how her mother
had put salt in the coffee; how the chemist had been called in; how he
tried everything but could make it no better; and how they went for
the little old herb-woman, and how she had tried in vain, for her
mother couldn't drink the coffee. The lady from Philadelphia listened
very attentively, and then said, "Why doesn't your mother make a fresh
cup of coffee?" Elizabeth Eliza started with surprise. Solomon John
shouted with joy; so did Agamemnon, who had just finished his sum; so
did the little boys, who had followed on. "Why didn't we think of
that?" said Elizabeth Eliza; and they all went back to their mother,
and she had her cup of coffee.

ABOUT ELIZABETH ELIZA'S PIANO.

Elizabeth Eliza had a present of a piano, and she was to take lessons
of the postmaster's daughter.

They decided to have the piano set across the window in the parlor,
and the carters brought it in, and went away.

After they had gone the family all came in to look at the piano; but
they found the carters had placed it with its back turned towards the
middle of the room, standing close against the window.

How could Elizabeth Eliza open it? How could she reach the keys to
play upon it?

[Illustration]

Solomon John proposed that they should open the window, which
Agamemnon could do with his long arms. Then Elizabeth Eliza should go
round upon the piazza, and open the piano. Then she could have her
music-stool on the piazza, and play upon the piano there.