"I've no bills to show," Grace said, with a laugh, "for the largest articles are made of scraps, such as my husband gives away to any one who asks for them. See here--" as she spoke she turned a chair upside down to show that its basis was a barrel. Then she raised the drapery of a divan to show the unpainted boxes beneath. "The matting on the floor is three times as cheap as rag carpet. You can buy the window hangings in the store at fifteen cents a yard--though don't imagine I'm trying to advertise the goods. All the furniture covers are of cheap bedquilt chintzes. Examine everything, ladies; for, as I've already said, I'm very proud of my cheap little parlor." "You didn't say nothin' about the cost of the labor," said the tormentor. "True," Grace admitted, "but I can reckon it with very little trouble, for I did it all myself; I've no grown sons and daughters, like some of you, so I did it alone. Besides my time it cost me--well, to be exact, one thumb bruised with the hammer; one finger ditto; a bad scratch on one hand, caused by a saw slipping; half a day of pain in one eye, into which I blew some sawdust; two sore knees, got while putting down the matting; and one twisted ankle--I accidentally stepped from a box while tacking a picture to the wall." "Well, I'm clean beat out o' my senses!" confessed one guest. "I never heerd tell that they learned such work to women in cities." "Perhaps they don't," Grace said, "but I learned most of it when I was a country girl in western New York." "What? You a country gal?" "Indeed I am. I can milk cows, churn butter, make garden, take care of chickens, saw wood and split it, wash clothes, and do any other country housework, besides making my own clothes." The woman who had elicited this information looked slowly from face to face among her acquaintances, and then said:-- "I reckon we're a passel o' fools." "Oh,--excuse me; but I assure you that I meant nothing of the kind." "But I do, an' I mean it strong, too; yes, ma'am. We're a passel o' fools. I won't feel over an' above safe until I git home an' take a good long think, an' I reckon the sooner the rest of us go too, the seldomer we'll put our foot in it." There was general acquiescence in this suggestion; even the tormentor seemed suppressed, but suddenly her eyes glared, her lips hardened, and she said:-- "I suppose that scrumptious dress o' yourn was made o' scraps, too?" Grace laughed merrily, and replied:--