ut his
own: that is impossible.

The company dolls were very fine ladies indeed; they came from Paris,
and had trunks full of splendid dresses. The children did not care much
for them, and liked better certain decrepit babies of rag and
composition, which were thought too shabby to be allowed in the parlor.

"Where are the boys?" asked Mrs. Frisbie, when the small sisters had
settled themselves.

"Jack was going to have his sale this afternoon," replied Mary. "And
Arthur is auctioneer."

"His sale! What on earth is that?"

"Why, Mamma--don't you know? Jack's chickens, of course. Croppy had
eleven and Top-knot nine. There's a 'corner' in chickens just now,
Arthur says, because most of the other boys have lost theirs. Alfred's
were sick and died, and the rats ate all of Charley Ross's, and a hawk
carried off five of Howard's. Jack expects to make a lot of money,
because Croppy is a Bramahpootra hen, you know, and her chicks are very
valuable."

"Corner! Lot of money! Oh, dear!" sighed poor Mrs. Frisbie, "what words
the boys do teach you. Where they learn them I can't imagine. Not from
me."

"From Papa, I guess," explained Lulu innocently. "He used to have hens
when he was little, and sell 'em. It was splendid fun, he says.
Grandmamma thinks that Jack is just Papa over again."

"All of you are," said Mrs. Frisbie. "Not one of you is a bit like me.
Can't you sit still, Bertha? What _are_ you doing there with your
handkerchief?"

"Only dusting the table leg, Mamma; it wasn't quite clean."

"Dear, dear! and in your nice frock. Do let the furniture alone, child.
Ring for Bridget, if any thing wants cleaning. You're a real Meddlesome
Matty, Bertha."

"O Mamma!" cried Bertha, aggrieved. "Grandmamma taught me to dust when
we lived in the other house, you know. Grandmamma said it was a good
thing for little girls to be useful. And I didn't meddle with any thing
on the table; really I didn't, Mamma."

"Never mind, dear," said Mrs. Frisbie. "It's no great matter, only I
don't like to have you do such things. Now sit still and play with your
doll." She opened a book and began to read. The children crept nearer to
each other and talked in low whispers.

"Let's play that Eugenie and Victoria are little girls come to make each
other a visit, and Isabella is their Mamma."

"You can't! Little girls never have trains to their dresses or
necklaces."

"Oh! I wish Nippy Scatch-Face and old Maria were down here," sighed
L