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about。 It seemed to begin with the flowers； for her father kept his
word about the 〃posy pots；〃 and got enough to make quite a little
conservatory in the bay…window； which was sufficiently large for
three rows all round； and hanging…baskets overhead。 Being
discouraged by her first failure； Merry gave up trying to have
things nice everywhere； and contented herself with making that
one nook so pretty that the boys called it her 〃bower。〃 Even busy
Mrs。 Grant owned that plants were not so messy as she expected；
and the fanner was never tired of watching 〃little daughter〃 as she
sat at work there； with her low chair and table full of books。
The lamp helped； also； for Merry set up her own； and kept it so
well trimmed that it burned clear and bright； shining on the green
arch of ivy overhead； and on the nasturtium vines framing the old
glass； and peeping at their gay little faces； and at the pretty young
girl； so pleasantly that first her father came to read his paper by it；
then her mother slipped in to rest on the lounge in the corner； and
finally the boys hovered about the door as if the 〃settin'…room〃 had
grown more attractive than the kitchen。
But the open fire did more than anything else to win and hold them
all； as it seldom fails to do when the black demon of an airtight
stove is banished from the hearth。 After the room was cleaned till
it shone； Merry begged to have the brass andirons put in； and
offered to keep them as bright as gold if her mother would
consent。 So the great logs were kindled； and the flames went
dancing up the chimney as if glad to be set free from their prison。
It changed the whole room like magic； and no one could
resist the desire to enjoy its cheery comfort。 The farmer's
three…cornered leathern chair soon stood on one side； and mother's
rocker on the other； as they toasted their feet and dozed or chatted
in the pleasant warmth。
The boys' slippers were always ready on the hearth； and when the
big boots were once off； they naturally settled down about the
table； where the tall lamp； with its pretty shade of pressed autumn
leaves； burned brightly； and the books and papers lay ready to their
hands instead of being tucked out of sight in the closet。 They were
beginning to see that 〃Merry's notions〃 had some sense in them；
since they were made comfortable； and good…naturedly took some
pains to please her in various ways。 Tom brushed his hair and
washed his hands nicely before he came to table。 Dick tried to
lower his boisterous laughter； and Harry never smoked in the
sitting…room。 Even Roxy expressed her pleasure in seeing 〃things
kind of spruced up；〃 and Merry's gentle treatment of the
hard…working drudge won her heart entirely。
The girl was thinking of these changes as she watered her flowers；
dusted the furniture； and laid the fire ready for kindling； and； when
all was done； she stood a minute to enjoy the pleasant room； full of
spring sunshine； fresh air； and exquisite order。 It seemed to give
her heart for more distasteful labors； and she fell to work at the
pies as cheerfully as if she liked it。
Mrs。 Grant was flying about the kitchen； getting the loaves of
brown and white bread ready for the big oven。 Roxy's voice came
up from the cellar singing 〃Bounding Billows；〃 with a swashing
and scrubbing accompaniment which suggested that she was
actually enjoying a 〃life on the ocean wave。〃 Merry； in her neat
cap and apron； stood smiling over her work as she deftly rolled and
clipped； filled and covered； finding a certain sort of pleasure in
doing it well； and adding interest to it by crimping the crust；
making pretty devices with strips of paste and star…shaped
prickings of the fork。
〃Good…will giveth skill；〃 says the proverb； and even particular Mrs。
Grant was satisfied when she paused to examine the pastry with
her experienced eye。
〃You are a handy child and a credit to your bringing up； though I
do say it。 Those are as pretty pies as I'd wish to eat； if they bake
well； and there's no reason why they shouldn't。〃
〃May I make some tarts or rabbits of these bits？ The boys like
them； and I enjoy modelling this sort of thing；〃 said Merry； who
was trying to mould a bird； as she had seen Ralph do with clay to
amuse Jill while the bust was going on。
〃No； dear； there's no time for knick…knacks to…day。 The beets ought
to be on this minute。 Run and get 'em； and be sure you scrape the
carrots well。〃
Poor Merry put away the delicate task she was just beginning to
like； and taking a pan went down cellar； wishing vegetables could
be grown without earth； for she hated to put her hands in dirty
water。 A word of praise to Roxy made that grateful scrubber leave
her work to poke about in the root…cellar； choosing 〃sech as was
pretty much of a muchness； else they wouldn't bile even〃； so Merry
was spared that part of the job； and went up to scrape and wash
without complaint； since it was for father。 She was repaid at noon
by the relish with which he enjoyed his dinner； for Merry tried to
make even a boiled dish pretty by arranging the beets； carrots；
turnips； and potatoes in contrasting colors； with the beef hidden
under the cabbage leaves。
〃Now； I'll rest and read for an hour； then I'll rake my garden； or run
down town to see Molly and get some seeds；〃 she thought to
herself； as she put away the spoons and glasses； which she liked to
wash； that they might always be clear and bright。
〃If you've done all your own mending； there's a heap of socks to be
looked over。 Then I'll show you about darning the tablecloths。 I do
hate to have a stitch of work left over till Monday；〃 said Mrs。
Grant； who never took naps； and prided herself on sitting down to
her needle at 3 P。M。 every day。
〃Yes； mother〃； and Merry went slowly upstairs； feeling that a part
of Saturday ought to be a holiday after books and work all the
week。 As she braided up her hair； her eye fell upon the reflection
of her own face in the glass。 Not a happy nor a pretty one just then；
and Merry was so unaccustomed to seeing any other； that
involuntarily the frown smoothed itself out； the eyes lost their
weary look； the drooping lips curved into a smile； and； leaning her
elbows on the bureau； she shook her head at herself； saying； half
aloud； as she glanced at Ivanhoe lying near；
〃You needn't look so cross and ugly just because you can't have
what you want。 Sweeping； baking； and darning are not so bad as
being plagued with lovers and carried off and burnt at the stake； so
I won't envy poor Rebecca her jewels and curls and romantic
times； but make the best of my own。〃
Then she laughed； and the bright face came back into the mirror；
looking like an old friend； and Merry went on dressing with care；
for she took pleasure in her own little charms； and felt a sense of
comfort in knowing that she could always have one pretty thing to
look at if she kept her own face serene and sweet。 It certainly