"I was saving them for a nest egg," said Mrs. Pepper; meaning at
some future time to indulge in another plum-pudding that the
children so loved.

"Well, do give 'em to us," cried Polly; "do, ma!"

"I want 'em for a plum-pudding sometime," said Mrs. Pepper.

"Ow!"--and Joel with a howl sprung up from the floor where he
had been trying to make a cart for "Baby" out of an old box, and
joined Mrs. Pepper and Polly. "No, don't give 'em away, ma!" he
screamed; "let's have our plum-pudding-- now, Polly Pepper,
you're a-goin' to bake up all our raisins in nasty little cakes--and"--

"Joey!" commanded Mrs. Pepper, "hush! what word did you say!"

"Well," blubbered Joel, wiping his tears away with his grimy little
hand, "Polly's --a-goin'--to give"-- "I should rather you'd never have
a plum-pudding than to say such words," said Mrs. Pepper, sternly,
taking up her work again. "And besides, do you think what Jasper
has done for you?" and her face grew very white around the lips.

"Well, he can have plum-puddings," said Joel, whimpering,
"forever an' ever, if he wants them--and--and"-- "Well, Joey," said
Polly, "there, don't feel bad," and she put her arms around him, and
tried to wipe away the tears that still rolled down his cheeks. "We
won't give 'em if you don't want us to; but Jasper's sick, and there
isn't anything for him to do, and"--here she whispered slyly up into
his ear --"don't you remember how you liked folks to send you
things when you had the measles?"