d for anything but firewood. However, if you
really want it you may have it for a dollar and a-half, and I'll have
the hired men load it up for you."

"Now, really, Miss Bessie," said Jim, when the farmer had gone to call
the men, "don't you think it's rather a clumsy affair? We can hardly
get it into the express wagon, and I don't see where they can put it if
we carry it home."

"Clumsy! no, indeed, it's _massive_, it's _grand_! There will be plenty
of room in the new house. They will have one entire room for
bric-a-brac."

"But what can they _do_ with it? They won't make cheese."

"Can't you see what a _delicious_ cabinet it will make? These posts and
things can all be carved and decorated, and it will be perfectly
_unique_. There isn't such a cabinet in the whole city of New York. Oh,
I think our trip has been an _immense_ success already. I shall always
believe in horseshoes after this; but _isn't_ it a pity we can't carry
home the well-sweep?"

The huge machine had to be taken from the shed chamber in sections, but
was properly put together again in the wagon by the hired men, and made
the turnout look like a small traveling juggernaut. Just before
starting: Bessie espied, leaning against the fence, a hen-coop from
which the feathered family had departed, and explaining to Jim that if
the sides were painted red and the bars gilded it would be a charming
ornament for the front porch, persuaded him to add that to their
already imposing load. Then they departed, leaving the farmer and his
men in doubt whether to advertise a pair of escaped lunatics or accept
their visitors as "highly cultured" members of modern society.

When they reached home Jack had just come in from the office. He looked
out of the window as they drove up, felt his strength suddenly give
way, and rolled on the floor in convulsions.

"Less than five dollars for the whole lot, did you say, Jim? I wouldn't
have missed _seeing_ that load for fifty."

The next day was Sunday. Monday afternoon Bessie went home.

CHAPTER XIII.

ECONOMY, CLEANLINESS AND HEALTH.

"Dirt is matter out of place," quoted Uncle Harry, in one of his
erratic epistles which Jack and Jill always read with interest if not
profit. "When you find anything that seems unclean or offensive in any
part of your house, remember this: the fault is not in the thing
itself, but in your ignorant or thoughtless management. There isn't a
material thing in the universe, whate