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boy and have him properly fitted out； as he was old enough now to
be well…dressed； and she wouldn't have him tormented。 His
attention being called to the trousers； Mr。 Bemis had a good laugh
over them； and then got Boo a suit which caused him to be the
admired of all observers； and to feel as proud as a little peacock。
Cheered by this success； Molly undertook a set of small shirts； and
stitched away bravely； though her own summer clothes were in a
sad state； and for the first time in her life she cared about what she
should wear。
〃I must ask Merry； and maybe father will let me go with her and
her mother when they do their shopping； instead of leaving it to
Miss Bat； who dresses me like an old woman。 Merry knows what
is pretty and becoming： I don't；〃 thought Molly； meditating in the
bushel basket； with her eyes on her snuff…colored gown and the
dark purple bow at the end of the long braid Muffet had been
playing with。
Molly was beginning to see that even so small a matter as the
choice of colors made a difference in one's appearance； and to
wonder why Merry always took such pains to have a blue tie for
the gray dress； a rosy one for the brown； and gloves that matched
her bonnet ribbons。 Merry never wore a locket outside her sack； a
gay bow in her hair and soiled cuffs； a smart hat and the braid
worn off her skirts。 She was exquisitely neat and simple； yet
always looked well…dressed and pretty； for her love of beauty
taught her what all girls should learn as soon as they begin to care
for appearancesthat neatness and simplicity are their best
ornaments； that good habits are better than fine clothes； and the
most elegant manners are the kindest。
All these thoughts were dancing through Molly's head； and when
she left her cats； after a general romp in which even decorous
Granny allowed her family to play leap…frog over her respectable
back； she had made up her mind not to have yellow ribbons on her
summer hat if she got a pink muslin as she had planned； but to
finish off Boo's last shirt before she went shopping with Merry。
It rained that evening； and Mr。 Bemis had a headache； so he threw
himself down upon the lounge after tea for a nap； with his silk
handkerchief spread over his face。 He did get a nap； and when he
waked he lay for a time drowsily listening to the patter of the rain；
and another sound which was even more soothing。 Putting back a
corner of the handkerchief to learn what it was； he saw Molly
sitting by the fire with Boo in her lap； rocking and humming as she
warmed his little bare feet； having learned to guard against croup
by attending to the damp shoes and socks before going to bed。 Boo
lay with his round face turned up to hers； stroking her cheek while
the sleepy blue eyes blinked lovingly at her as she sang her lullaby
with a motherly patience sweet to see。 They made a pretty little
picture； and Mr。 Bemis looked at it with pleasure； having a leisure
moment in which to discover； as all parents do sooner or later； that
his children were growing up。
〃Molly is getting to be quite a woman； and very like her mother；〃
thought papa； wiping the eye that peeped； for he had been fond of
the pretty wife who died when Boo was born。 〃Sad loss to them；
poor things！ But Miss Bat seems to have done well by them。 Molly
is much improved； and the boy looks finely。 She's a good soul；
after all〃； and Mr。 Bemis began to think he had been hasty when
he half made up his mind to get a new housekeeper； feeling that
burnt steak； weak coffee； and ragged wristbands were sure signs
that Miss Bat's days of usefulness were over。
Molly was singing the lullaby her mother used to sing to her； and
her father listened to it silently till Boo was carried away too
sleepy for anything but bed。 When she came back she sat down to
her work； fancying her father still asleep。 She had a crimson bow
at her throat and one on the newly braided hair； her cuffs were
clean； and a white apron hid the shabbiness of the old dress。 She
looked like a thrifty little housewife as she sat with her basket
beside her full of neat white rolls； her spools set forth； and a new
pair of scissors shining on the table。 There was a sort of charm in
watching the busy needle flash to and fro； the anxious pucker of
the forehead as she looked to see if the stitches were even； and the
expression of intense relief upon her face as she surveyed the
finished button…hole with girlish satisfaction。 Her father was wide
awake and looking at her； thinking； as he did so；
〃Really the old lady has worked well to change my tomboy into
that nice little girl： I wonder how she did it。〃 Then he gave a yawn；
pulled off the handkerchief； and said aloud； 'What are you making；
Molly？〃 for it struck him that sewing was a new amusement。
〃Shirts for Boo； sir。 Four； and this is the last；〃 she answered； with
pardonable pride； as she held it up and nodded toward the pile in
her basket。
〃Isn't that a new notion？ I thought Miss Bat did the sewing；〃 said
Mr。 Bemis； as he smiled at the funny little garment； it looked so
like Boo himself。
〃No； sir； only yours。 I do mine and Boo's。 At least； I'm learning
how； and Mrs。 Pecq says I get on nicely；〃 answered Molly；
threading her needle and making a knot in her most capable way。
〃I suppose it is time you did learn； for you are getting to be a great
girl； and all women should know how to make and mend。 You
must take a stitch for me now and then： Miss Bat's eyes are not
what they were； I find〃； and Mr。 Bemis looked at his frayed
wristband； as if he particularly felt the need of a stitch just then。
〃I'd love to； and I guess I could。 I can mend gloves； Merry taught
me； so I'd better begin on them； if you have any；〃 said Molly； much
pleased at being able to do anything for her father； and still more
so at being asked。
〃There's something to start with〃； and he threw her a pair； with
nearly every finger ripped。
Molly shook her head over them； but got out her gray silk and fell
to work； glad to show how well she could sew。
〃What are you smiling about？〃 asked her father； after a little pause；
for his head felt better； and it amused him to question Molly。
〃I was thinking about my summer clothes。 I must get them before
long； and I'd like to go with Mrs。 Grant and learn how to shop； if
you are willing。〃
I thought Miss Bat did that for you。
〃She always has； but she gets ugly； cheap things that I don't like。 I
think I am old enough to choose myself； if there is someone to tell
me about prices and the goodness of the stuff。 Merry does； and she
is only a few months older than I am。〃
〃How old are you； child？〃 asked her father； feeling as if he had lost
his reckoning。
〃Fifteen in August〃； and Molly looked very proud of the fact。
〃So you are！ Bless my heart； how the time goes！ Well； get what
you please； if I'm to have a young lady here； I'd like to have her
prettily dressed。