“You might make the cookies, Mrs. Willis. I’ll clear this table for you. And Mary can pitch in with Alta peelin’ the apples fer the pies, if she will. Sally, you jest make that rice puddin’. I’ll git these dishes washed. The bread’s baked, and the boys have got the steer a-roastin’. I guess we’ll git through; but it’s worse than feedin’ the threshers.” “Of course we shall,” said Alta; “Aunt ‘Liza’s a good manager. I only wish I could handle the kitchen half so well.” “You could if you’d keep your head on it; but a body can’t cook and read poetry at the same time; still you do mighty well,” said Aunt ‘Liza, inwardly pleased with the praise. “Here comes Mrs. Moffat. Glad to see her, too. Good mornin’, Sarah Jane, come right in.” “Looks like you need another hand, ‘Liza. What can I do to help?” “Set down with the girls there, if you will, and show ’em how to peel apples. I’m afraid they’re wastin’ too much.” “All right; move ’round, Mary, and let’s have an apple peelin’ bee, like we used to have in pioneer days.” “Oh, jolly,” exclaimed Alta, “and you tell us a story while we work.” “Name my apple first,” said Mary, jumping up and passing it for everybody to thump. “And mine too,” said Sally, grabbing one. “Here, Aunt ‘Liza, let’s name one for you, too.” “Oh, git away with your foolishness, ’tain’t no use.” “Let’s name one for her anyway,” said Alta. “Now all together, think hard and thump. Maybe it will bring Aunt ‘Liza a beau to-night.” “Now for the peelin’s,” said Sally, swinging hers carefully above her head, and letting the paring drop behind her. “It’s a G,” cried Mary; “who’s that?” “Law, that’s easy,” said Aunt Liza, not too absorbed in her work to keep in with the fun; “G’s for Jim, of course.” The girls squealed their delight at Aunt ‘Liza’s happy blunder. “Sure! sure! that’s it,” they exclaimed. “Well, try your luck, Mary,” said Sally. Mary’s paring was flung and it formed an O. “Old maid, Mary!” teased Sally. “I don’t believe it,” said Mary. “Come, Alta,” said Sally, “come, yours next.” Alta’s paring broke as it dropped. “What does that mean?” she asked. “Broken hearts, we always used to say,” said Mrs. Moffat. “Oh, that’s bad fortune,” said Alta; “it can’t be true.” “Apple peelings never lie,” said Sally in mock seriousness. “You certainly will break somethin’,” interjected Aunt ‘Liza, raising her dough-covered finger to emphasize her remark, “if you don’t quit flirtin’ with the fellers. They won’t keep comin’ always, as I’m a shinin’ example to prove.” A scream of fun greeted this sermon. “Oh, Aunt ‘Liza’s had experience, I know--a real romance, I just know it,” said Alta, “but she never gave a hint of it before.” “Tell us all about it,” teased Mary. “Romance! shucks! d’ye think I’d hev fellers pesterin’ about me?” “Oh, don’t be so practical, Auntie; tell us something really romantic,” said Alta. “Yes, what did he say when he proposed?” added Sally; “why wouldn’t you have him?”