"Let me put it up," said Jasper, taking it from her, "it goes up here,
don't it, with the rest?" reaching up to the upper-shelf of the old
cupboard.

"Yes," said Polly.

"Oh, I should think you'd have real good times!" said the boy,
enviously. "I haven't a single sister or brother."

"Haven't you?" said Polly, looking at him in extreme pity. "Yes, we
do have real fun," she added, answering his questioning look; "the
house is just brimful sometimes, even if we are poor."

"We aren't poor," said Joel, who never could bear to be pitied.
Then, with a very proud air, he said in a grand way-- "At any rate,
we aren't going to be, long, for something's coming!"

"What do you mean, Joey?" asked Ben, while the rest looked
equally amazed.

"Our ships," said Joel confidently, as if they were right before their
eyes; at which they all screamed!

"See Polly's stove!" cried Phronsie, wishing to entertain in her turn.
"Here 'tis," running up to it, and pointing with her fat little finger.

"Yes, I see," cried Jasper, pretending to be greatly surprised; "it's
new, isn't it?"