reamed under the
dining-room windows, and the engineer calmly looked in to see what the
family had for dinner, she felt, indeed, that they must move.

But where should they go? It was difficult to find a house that
satisfied the whole family. One was too far off, and looked into a
tan-pit; another was too much in the middle of the town, next door to
a machine-shop. Elizabeth Eliza wanted a porch covered with vines,
that should face the sunset; while Mr. Peterkin thought it would not
be convenient to sit there looking towards the west in the late
afternoon (which was his only leisure time), for the sun would shine
in his face. The little boys wanted a house with a great many doors,
so that they could go in and out often. But Mr. Peterkin did not like
so much slamming, and felt there was more danger of burglars with so
many doors. Agamemnon wanted an observatory, and Solomon John a shed
for a workshop. If he could have carpenters' tools and a workbench he
could build an observatory, if it were wanted.

But it was necessary to decide upon something, for they must leave
their house directly. So they were obliged to take Mr. Finch's, at the
Corners. It satisfied none of the family. The porch was a piazza, and
was opposite a barn. There were three other doors,--too many to please
Mr. Peterkin, and not enough for the little boys. There was no
observatory, and nothing to observe if there were one, as the house
was too low, and some high trees shut out any view. Elizabeth Eliza
had hoped for a view; but Mr. Peterkin consoled her by deciding it was
more healthy to have to walk for a view, and Mrs. Peterkin agreed that
they might get tired of the same every day.

[Illustration]

And everybody was glad a selection was made, and the little boys
carried their india-rubber boots the very first afternoon.

[Illustration]

Elizabeth Eliza wanted to have some system in the moving, and spent
the evening in drawing up a plan. It would be easy to arrange
everything beforehand, so that there should not be the confusion that
her mother dreaded, and the discomfort they had in their last move.
Mrs. Peterkin shook her head; she did not think it possible to move
with any comfort. Agamemnon said a great deal could be done with a
list and a programme.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: THE PETERKINS ARE MOVED.--Page 126.]

Elizabeth Eliza declared if all were well arranged a programme would
make it perfectly easy. They were to have new par