-morrow or to-day."

Mother Blossom smiled.

"Thanksgiving is only about three weeks off," she reminded him. "Aunt
Polly will be here in less than two weeks. And Meg and Bobby have to
begin to practice their Thanksgiving pieces soon, don't you,
children?"

"Miss Mason's going to give 'em out this afternoon," replied Bobby.
"Say, Mother, do I have to learn a piece? Girls like to wear fussy
clothes and get up on the platform and speak or sing, but I feel
awful."

"Well, that will be for your teacher to say," returned Mother
Blossom. "I don't suppose either you or Meg will have to learn very
long poems. And think, dear, wouldn't you like to have a part in the
exercises when Aunt Polly will be here to see you?"

Bobby hadn't thought of that. Perhaps he would like to have Aunt Polly
hear him recite something.

"But nothing with gestures," he said firmly. "I'm not going to get up
there and wave my hands and yell."

CHAPTER XIV

AUNT POLLY ARRIVES

When Meg and Bobby came home from school that afternoon they brought
the news that each had been given a Thanksgiving recitation to learn.
Miss Mason did not feel as sure as she had at first that it was Bobby
who had spoiled her book. Mr. Carter's championship of Bobby was not
without results. Still, she did not wholly absolve him, and while she
was fair enough not to mention the subject again, Bobby knew that she
had not forgotten. He was surprised when his name was read aloud as
one to have part in the exercises.

"There's six of us boys," announced Bobby to Mother Blossom. "We all
come out at once and take turns saying a verse. Tim Roon and Charlie
Black aren't in it. Miss Mason said that last year they promised to
learn a part and they never even tried. And then they spoiled the
whole thing by staying away from the exercises."

Meg was waiting her turn impatiently.

"I have the longest piece!" she began breathlessly the moment Bobby
finished. "Five verses, Mother! And we're not going to have any time
to study in school! Will you hear me?"

Mother Blossom said of course she would, and Meg began studying her
verses that very night after supper.

"You'll have to have a new white dress," decided Mother Blossom.
"You're growing so fast, Meg, that none of your summer dresses will
do. I'll have to call up Miss Florence and see, if you can stop in to
be measured to-morrow."

For cheerful little Miss Florence, who flitted about from house to
house making pre