nd all we had was added, and mother
began to pack butter, and save eggs for cakes, and the day before, I
thought there wouldn't be a chicken left on the place. They killed and
killed, and Sarah Hood, Amanda Deam, and Mrs. Freshett picked and
picked.

"I'll bet a dollar we get something this time besides ribs and neck,"
said Leon. "How do you suppose thigh and breast would taste?"

"I was always crazy to try the tail," I said.

"Much chance you got," sniggered Leon. "'Member the time that father
asked the Presiding Elder, 'Brother Lemon, what piece of the fowl do
you prefer?' and he up and said: 'I'm partial to the rump, Brother
Stanton.' There sat father bound he wouldn't give him mother's piece,
so he pretended he couldn't find it, and forked all over the platter
and then gave him the ribs and the thigh. Gee, how mother scolded him
after the preacher had gone! You notice father hasn't asked that
since. Now, he always says: 'Do you prefer light or dark meat?' Much
chance you have of ever tasting a tail, if father won't even give one
to the Presiding Elder!"

"But as many as they are killing----"

"Oh THIS time," said Leon with a flourish, "this time we are going to
have livers, and breast, and thighs, AND tails, if you are beholden to
tail."

"I'd like to know how we are?"

"Well, since you have proved that you can keep your mouth shut, for a
little while, anyway, I'm going to take you in on this," said Leon.
"You keep your eyes on me. When the wedding gets going good, you watch
me, and slip out. That's all! I'll be fixed to do the rest. But mind
this, get out when I do."

"All right," I promised.

They must have wakened about four o'clock on the wedding day; it wasn't
really light when I got up. I had some breakfast in my night dress,
and then I was all fixed up in my new clothes, and made to sit on a
chair, and never move for fear I would soil my dress, for no one had
time to do me over, and there was only one dress anyway. There was so
much to see you could keep interested just watching, and I was as
anxious to look nice before the boys and girls, and the big people, as
any one.

Every mantel and table and bureau was covered with flowers, and you
could have smelled the kitchen a mile away, I know. The dining table
was set for the wedding party, our father and mother, and Peter's, and
the others had to wait. You couldn't have laid the flat of your hand
on that table anywhere, it was so co