"I don't know what ter say," returned Edna, frightened, and her two little arms stretched across the grave and wound themselves about her sister's neck, as she burst into sobs. Betty now entirely unnerved, hugged her sister close. "Well of all things!" exclaimed Mrs. Emmit, approaching the grave and its mourners unnoticed. "What are you two crying for now?" The children started and drew apart. "It's Tinkey's funeral, mamma, that's wot it is!" exclaimed Betty, choking back the sobs. "Tinkey's funeral!" exclaimed the mother aghast. "You don't mean that you took the cat's death so to heart? You poor, little lambies, come right here to mamma!" And into mother's arms they flew to be cuddled back to smiles and sunshine. Mrs. Emmit was not one of the cuddling kind, so this rare treat had its desired effect! "There now, girlies, run and wash those tears away, and look clean for the company. We'll have supper right soon now." As the children ran ahead of her to the house, she shook her head doubtfully. "Who'd a' thought it? Betty is made of too tender stuff for this world. She'll have a hard time of it, poor kiddie!" Supper was a bountiful repast, served on the "Emmit best china," which as Mrs. Emmit explained to Mrs. Catt, had been handed down from her grandmother, who had been the first woman in Ephraim to own such ware. Mrs. Catt examined the substantial china with care and admiration. "It looks just like the good substantial stock, that you descended from," remarked Mrs. Catt, smiling on her pleased hostess. "How anxious I am to meet some of those old pioneers! Are there any that are still living?" "Oh yes, indeed. I'll have some of them around one evening, and they will be glad to tell you of their early experiences." "Nothing that I would like better--how sweet of you to plan such an entertainment for me! What a beautiful home picture!" she added, as she looked at the many happy faces gathered around the big table. "We never see such families in the East. How do you ever manage to get through the work, my dear Mrs. Emmit?" "It isn't as hard as it looks," returned the good house-wife, beaming with pride on her flock. "You see, one just helps the other, and things just run like clock-work, unless there's a hitch somewhere, but that doesn't happen very often." "We bring our children up to work from the start," added Mr. Emmit, "Then, when they're big, they're not lazy; they keep a-moving like the rest of us." "Wonderful! truly wonderful!" exclaimed Mrs. Catt, as she beamed on them all. Betty ate little, so fascinated was she by the new-comer. "She knows how to 'preciate!" she thought. Supper over, Betty sidled up to Mrs. Catt and began to ask questions about the East, all of which were answered kindly by the visitor, while she fondled the child's fluffy hair. "What an intelligent child Betty is!" she said, turning to Mr. Emmit, still holding the child's hand in hers. Betty flushed with pleasure.