r proper places, for the night. The
mistress of the kitchen,--for Bridget claimed this as her rank, if not
her title,--was humming a queer medley of tunes known only to herself,
as her clumsy fingers were trying to coax the needle to perform some
dextrous feat that it did not seem inclined to do in her hands. What
she was thinking about, is none of our business; but whatever it was,
her revery was suddenly disturbed, and the good nature that beamed from
her face dispelled, by the noisy clattering of more than one pair of
little boots on the stairs. In a moment, the door opened with a jerk
and a push, and in bounded three boys, with as little display of
manners or propriety as so many savages might exhibit. The oldest
directed his steps to the closet, singing, as he peered round among the
eatables:

"Eggs, cheese, butter, bread,--
Stick, stock, stone-dead."

"Biddy," he continued, "I 'm hungry--give me something to eat, quick."

Bridget paid no attention to this demand, but only twitched her needle
with a little more energy.

"I say, Biddy," continued the boy, "what did you have for supper?
Come, give me some, I 'm half starved."

"And why did n't ye come when the supper was ready, if ye wanted any?"
said Bridget. "If ye won't ate with the rest, it's not me that will
wait upon ye, Master Oscar."

"Well," continued Oscar, "if you won't help me, I guess I can help
myself. Ralph, what did you have for supper?"

The boy addressed named over several articles, among which were cake
and mince-pie, neither of which could Oscar find in the closet.

"Where did you put the pie, Biddy?" he inquired.

"It 's where ye won't find it," replied Bridget, "that's jist where it
is."

"I bet I _will_ find it, come now," said Oscar, with a determined air;
and he commenced the search in earnest, prying into every covered dish,
opening every drawer and bucket, and overhauling and disarranging every
part of the closet. Bridget was just then in too irritable a mood to
bear this provoking invasion of her realm with patience. In an angry
tone, she ordered the intruder to leave the closet, but he took no
notice of the command. She repeated the order, making it more emphatic
by calling him a "plague" and a "torment," but he did not heed it.
Then she threatened to tell his parents of his misconduct, but this had
no effect. Oscar continued his search for some minutes, but without
success; and he finally concluded to make hi