'Now, sister dear, what was that for? You don't feel sad that we have no such place?' 'My dear sister, do you think I am covetous or envious?' And Susan threw her arms around her neck, and kissed off a tear which she supposed her suggestion had produced. 'Covetous, envious; no, indeed, dear Mary, forgive me, if what I said led to any such idea; but I don't think I ever heard you sigh before. Why was it, sister?' 'Oh, nothing. But we ought not to stay here, ought we, as there is so much to do?' And down they went, and to work with good-will. Mrs. Oakum was in the kitchen, examining with an eye of one who knew well the comfort of conveniences there; every thing needed was close at hand: a well of water by the door, a shed for the wood, and such a beauty of a milk-room, it almost smelled of cream and butter; and from the kitchen you could look out upon such a love of a garden-spot, large enough to raise all that a moderate-sized family could possibly want; while opening into it and near the house was a neat little stable, of sufficient size for a cow and a horse, with their provender. 'Some one,' said Mrs. Oakum, 'has contrived all this who knows what is needful for the comfort of a family.' James was very active, and showed great skill in distributing the several articles into the different apartments. 'I guess,' said Susan, smiling archly, 'that one, who seems to know so well where things belong, must have had something to do in getting them: who knows,' said she, winking to Mary, 'but this house is for himself after all; and that _eldest daughter_ he talks so much about is to be----. Dear sister, I know you are not well, you are so pale; you have worked too hard.' 'I am afraid she has,' said James, looking with much anxiety. 'Oh, not at all; I am very well;--but these things, had we not better be putting them in their places?' 'These must be all for one room; they are, you see, painted white and tipped with green,--the chairs, and the table, and washstand, they must be for that little upper room. Don't you think so Mary?' said Susan, catching up a chair. 'I think they would be suitable there,' said Mary. 'There they shall go then,' said James: and soon the little room was furnished. 'Oh, is it not sweet?' said Susan. 'But mother is calling us to help her with the carpet,' replied Mary, and down they went. Here, however, was a difficulty; the carpet was in a roll, and there would be no time to cut it and sew it together. 'It would take us a whole day,' said Susan, 'do our best.' Mrs. Oakum, however, proposed that she should cut the breadths, and lay them down, and some other day they would come and assist the family in sewing it together; so Mary took out her scissors, and soon the floor was covered; and as this was the best room, the furniture suitable was arranged in it, and to the girls it seemed a grand place.