annot keep it neat."

"That is partly because you do not put it in order right. You do not
understand the principles of order."

"What are the principles of order?" said Lucy.

"There are a good many. I will tell you some of them, and then you may
go and apply them in arranging Rollo's things.

"One principle is to have the things that are most frequently used in
the most accessible place, so that they can be taken out and returned to
their proper places easily.

"Another good principle for you is to distinguish between the things
which you wish to _use_, and those you only wish to _preserve_. The
former ought to be in sight, and near at hand. The latter may be packed
away more out of view.

"Another principle is to avoid having your desk and room encumbered with
things of little or no value, as stones you have picked up, and papers,
and sticks. The place to keep such things is in the barn or shed, not in
your private room.

"Then you must arrange your things systematically, putting things of the
same nature together. Once I looked into your desk after you had put it
in order, and I found that, in the back side of it, you had piled up
hooks, and white paper, and pictures, and a slate, and a pocket-book or
two, all together. You thought they were in order, because they were in
a _pile_. Now, they ought to have been separated and arranged; all the
white paper by itself in front, where you can easily get it to use; the
pictures all by themselves in a portfolio; and the books should be
arranged, not in a _pile_, but in a _row_, on their edges, so that you
can get out any one without disturbing the others. Those are some of the
principles of order."

"Well, come, Rollo," said Lucy, "let us go and see your things, and try
to put them in order, right."

Rollo went, but, as he left the room, he turned round to ask his father
if he would not come with them, and just show them a little about it.
His father said he could not come very well then, but if they would try
and do as well as they could, he would come and look over their work
after it was done, and tell them whether it was right or not.

Rollo and Lucy went up into Rollo's room, and, true enough, they found
not a little confusion there. But they went to work, and soon became
very much interested in their employment. A great many of the things
were new to Lucy, and as they went on arranging them, they often stopped
to talk and play. In this way several hours pa