of boiled cabbage, and an abundance of home made bread
and fresh butter made that very morning from the rich cream of Dan's red
cow. Little George, who is seated in his high chair at his mother's
right hand, commences to kick the bottom of the table in such a vigorous
manner that not one word can be heard, for he makes a terrible noise,
the toes of his shoes being faced with copper to prevent the youngster
from wearing them out too soon. Olive asks Esther to please get the old
pink scarf and tie his feet so that he will be unable to make such a
racket, Esther does not move, but upon being requested a second time
gets up rather reluctantly, goes to the hat rack in the hall, gets the
scarf and ties the little fellow's feet, as requested. Upon reseating
herself at the table it is noticeable that she has a sulky expression,
for she does not like to be disturbed while enjoying dinner, nor in fact
any meal, for the simple reason that her appetite is voracious, being
particularly fond of pickles, and she has been known to drink a cupful
of vinegar in a day.

All ate in silence for some minutes, when Jane inquires if the cow was
milked again last night? "Yes," says Dan, and "I only wish I could find
out who does it; it would not be well for him, I can tell you. This is
the tenth time this fortnight that she has been milked. Oh! if it was
not for this rheumatism in my hip, I would stay up some night and catch
the thief in the act, have him arrested, and--"

"And then," remarks Esther, with an eye to the financial part of the
milk question, "we should have just two quarts more to sell every day;
that would be--let me see how much it would come to."

"Never mind," remarks John Teed, "how much it would come to, just hand
me that dish of potatoes, please. They are so well mashed that I must
eat some more. I can't bear potatoes with lumps all through them, can
you Jane."

"No, John, I cannot," replies Jane.

"Neither can I," joins in William Cox; "if I ever marry I hope my wife
will be as good a cook as Olive; if she prove so I shall be satisfied."

"Gim me 'nother piece of meat, do you hear," is the exclamation which
comes from master Willie.

"Ask as a good boy should," remarks Dan, "and you shall have it."

"Gim me 'nother piece of meat, do you hear," says the young rascal a
second time, louder than before.

A good sound box on the ear from his father, prevents further remarks
coming from the unruly boy during the rest o