he fire, and a tin coffee-pot, came from the tin-shop; cheap, plated
teaspoons from the jeweler; two copies of the daily paper and promise
of lots of exchanges, from the editor of the only paper.

In fact, a sort of enthusiasm seemed to be aroused on the subject, and
when Alice went home that night, her little book had a list of
furniture enough to make the room as pleasant as could be desired.

The next day was quite as busy. The woman Mrs. Burns had engaged came
to put the room in order, and after it had a thorough scrubbing, Alice
went out to collect the furniture. The village expressman, who owned a
hand-cart, had subscribed his services to the plan, and Alice went
with him, book in hand, and gathered up the gifts.

The floor was covered with fresh sawdust--the butcher sent that; the
gay curtains were up, the bookcase full of books was arranged, some
tables were covered with papers, and others with games, a rousing fire
was built in the fireplace, the tea-kettle was singing away merrily,
and at a side table with cups and coffee things, sat Mrs. Hart, when
Alice asked Jack to go somewhere with her. He consented though a good
deal surprised. She brought him to this room.

"What's this?" asked Jack, as they turned down the street. A sign was
over the door (Mr. Dover, the sign-painter gave that) of
"COFFEE-ROOM." "This is something new."

"Yes," said Alice, "let's go in."

Jack was too surprised to reply, and followed his sister as she opened
the door.

There sat smiling Mrs. Hart, with knitting in hand, a delightful odor
of coffee in the air, and a sign over her table which said "Coffee
two-cents."

"Let's have some," said Jack; "how good it smells!"

"Since you went out, Miss Alice," said Mrs. Hart, as she poured the
two cups, "a big package of coffee--ten pounds at the least--and
another of sugar has most mysteriously appeared;" and she nodded
towards the grocer's part of the house, to indicate the giver.

"Why, what have you to do with it?" asked Jack, looking sharply at
Alice.

"She!" exclaimed Mrs. Hart. "Don't you know? She got it up; it's all
her doing--everything in this room."

"No, no, Mrs. Hart," protested Alice, "I didn't give a single thing."

"Except your time and the plan, and everything," said Mrs. Hart
warmly.

"What does it mean? Tell me, Alice," asked Jack; and she told him.
"And the room is for you, Jack, and the other boys; and every evening
there'll be a bright fire and hot coffe