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have time to pick 'em up； and you are off coasting or careering
somewhere。 Well； this tidy fit won't last long； so I may as well
make the most of it；〃 said Miss Bat； as she handed out the required
articles； and then pushed her spectacles from the tip of her sharp
nose to her sharper black eyes for a good look at the girl who stood
primly before her； with a clean apron on and her hair braided up
instead of flying wildly about her shoulders。
〃Umph！〃 was all the comment that Miss Bat made on this unusual
neatness； and she went on scraping her saucepans； while Molly
returned to her work； very well pleased with the effect of her first
step； for she felt that the bewilderment of Miss Bat would be a
constant inspiration to fresh efforts。
An hour of hard work produced an agreeable change in the abode
of the native； for the table was cleared； room swept and dusted；
fire brightened； and the holes in the sofa…covering were pinned up
till time could be found to mend them。 To be sure； rolls of lint lay
in corners； smears of ashes were on the stove hearth； and dust still
lurked on chair rounds and table legs。 But too much must not be
expected of a new convert； so the young missionary sat down to
rest； well pleased and ready for another attempt as soon as she
could decide in what direction it should be made。 She quailed
before Boo as she looked at the unconscious innocent peacefully
playing with the spotted dog； now bereft of his tail； and the lone
sausage with which he was attempting to feed the hungry animal；
whose red mouth always gaped for more。
〃It will be an awful job； and he is so happy I won't plague him yet。
Guess I'll go and put my room to rights first； and pick up some
clean clothes to put on him； if he is alive after I get through with
him；〃 thought Molly； foreseeing a stormy passage for the boy； who
hated a bath as much as some people hate a trip across the
Atlantic。
Up she went； and finding the fire out felt discouraged； thought she
would rest a little more； so retired under the blankets to read one
of the Christmas books。 The dinner…bell rang while she was still
wandering happily in 〃Nelly's Silver Mine；〃 and she ran down to
find that Boo had laid out a railroad all across her neat room； using
bits of coal for sleepers and books for rails； over which he was
dragging the yellow sled laden with a dismayed kitten； the tailless
dog； and the remains of the sausage； evidently on its way to the
tomb； for Boo took bites at it now and then； no other lunch being
offered him。
〃Oh dear！ why can't boys play without making such a mess；〃
sighed Molly； picking up the feathers from the duster with which
Boo had been trying to make a 〃cocky…doo〃 of the hapless dog。 〃I'll
wash him right after dinner； and that will keep him out of mischief
for a while；〃 she thought； as the young engineer unsuspiciously
proceeded to ornament his already crocky countenance with
squash； cranberry sauce； and gravy； till he looked more like a Fiji
chief in full war…paint than a Christian boy。
〃I want two pails of hot water； please； Miss Bat； and the big tub；〃
said Molly； as the ancient handmaid emptied her fourth cup of tea；
for she dined with the family； and enjoyed her own good cooking
in its prime。
〃What are you going to wash now？〃
〃BooI'm sure he needs it enough〃； and Molly could not help
laughing as the victim added to his brilliant appearance by
smearing the colors all together with a rub of two grimy hands；
making a fine Turner； of himself。
〃Now； Maria Louisa Bemis； you ain't going to cut up no capers
with that child！ The idea of a hot bath in the middle of the day； and
him full of dinner； and croupy into the bargain~ Wet a corner of a
towel at the kettle…spout and polish him off if you like； but you
won't risk his life in no bath…tubs this cold day。〃
Miss Bat's word was law in some things； so Molly had to submit；
and took Boo away； saying； loftily； as she left the room；
〃I shall ask father； and do it to…night； for I will not have my brother
look like a pig。〃
〃My patience！ how the Siamese do leave their things round；〃 she
exclaimed； as she surveyed her room after making up the fire and
polishing off Boo。 〃I'll put things in order； and then mend up my
rags； if I can find my thimble。 Now； let me see〃； and she went to
exploring her closet； bureau； and table； finding such disorder
everywhere that her courage nearly gave out。
She had clothes enough； but all needed care； even her best dress
had two buttons off； and her Sunday hat but one string。 Shoes；
skirts； books； and toys lay about； and her drawers were a perfect
chaos of soiled ruffles； odd gloves； old ribbons； boot lacings； and
bits of paper。
〃Oh； my heart； what a muddle！ Mrs。 Minot wouldn't think much of
me if she could see that；〃 said Molly； recalling how that lady once
said she could judge a good deal of a little girl's character and
habits by a peep at her top drawer； and went on； with great
success； to guess how each of the school…mates kept her drawer。
〃Come； missionary； clear up； and don't let me find such a gloryhole
again； or I'll report you to the society；〃 said Molly； tipping
the whole drawer…full out upon the bed； and beguiling the tiresome
job by keeping up the new play。
Twilight came before it was done； and a great pile of things
loomed up on her table； with no visible means of repairfor
Molly's work…basket was full of nuts； and her thimble down a hole
in the shed…floor； where the cats had dropped it in their play。
〃I'll ask Bat for hooks and tape； and papa for some money to buy
scissors and things； for I don't know where mine are。 Glad I can't
do any more now！ Being neat is such hard work！〃 and Molly threw
herself down on the rug beside the old wooden cradle in which
Boo was blissfully rocking； with a cargo of toys aboard。
She watched her time； and as soon as her father had done supper；
she hastened to say； before he got to his desk；
〃Please； papa； I want a dollar to get some brass buttons and things
to fix Boo's clothes with。 He wore a hole in his new trousers
coasting down the Kembles' steps。 And can't I wash him？ He needs
it； and Miss Bat won't let me have a tub。〃
〃Certainly； child； certainly； do what you like； only don't keep me。 I
must be off； or I shall miss Jackson； and he's the man I want〃； and；
throwing down two dollars instead of one； Mr。 Bemis hurried
away； with a vague impression that Boo had swallowed a dozen
brass buttons； and Miss Bat had been coasting somewhere in a
bath…pan； but catching Jackson was important； so he did not stop to
investigate。
Armed with the paternal permission； Molly carried her point； and
oh； what a dreadful evening poor Boo spent！ First； he was decoyed
upstairs an hour too soon； then put in a tub by main force and
sternly scrubbed； in spite of shrieks that brought Miss Bat to the
locked door to condole with the sufferer； scold the scrubber； a