g such a dinner
as they had seldom eaten before, oyster dressing, creamed carrots,
mashed potatoes, gravy, and--the height of extravagance--cake and
custard, such as only Faith could make. Oh, but that was a dinner!
Nevertheless, as the six hungry girls gathered around the table full of
dainties their faces were sober at the sight of the two empty chairs in
the corner, and each heart bled afresh for the mother who had left them
only a few short months before.

Seeing the shadow in the eyes of her sisters, and feeling depressed by
the abrupt silence, Gail sought to make the sun shine again by
remarking, "I am thankful for so many things, I hardly know which to put
first; but I think I will call it friends. That will include them all."

Faith dropped her eyes and made no attempt to speak.

Perceiving this, Hope, with hardly a pause, began, "I am thankful for
this beautiful day. The world was so spotless and white when we woke, it
seemed like angels' wings had covered up all the sin."

"I'm thankful we have enough to eat and wear," said Cherry. "There is a
family with seven children just moved into that tumble-down old house on
the next road, and they look starved to death, to say nothing of the
rags and patches they wear."

Peace was busily engaged in "being thankful over a drumstick," but as
Cherry ceased speaking, she lifted her round eyes from her plate, and
stopped chewing long enough to say, "I am thankful my nose doesn't
twitch all the time like my rabbit's, that my ears don't grow out of the
top of my head, and that I don't have to hop with both feet wherever I
want to go."

Five knives and forks fell to the table with a clatter, five napkins
flew simultaneously to as many faces, and five voices shrieked out a
chorus of mirth.

It was Thanksgiving Day at the little brown house.

CHAPTER VII

PEACE SURPRISES THE LADIES' AID

"Girls, here are some eggs to be delivered," said Gail one snowy
December day as Cherry and Peace came stamping in from school. "One
basket goes to Judge Abbott's, and the other to Dr. Bainbridge's."

"Oh, Gail," cried two protesting voices, "this is the afternoon we were
to gather evergreens in the woods for decorating the church. The bazaar
begins tomorrow. You promised we might go."

"I had forgotten," murmured Gail. "I am sorry, but the eggs must be
delivered before night."

"Why can't Hope go this once?"

"She is taking care of the Edwards baby."

"Where is Faith