"Oh dear," said Polly; "but it would have been splendid the other
way, mammy--just like other folks!"

"You must make believe this is like other folks," said Mrs. Pepper,
cheerily, "when you can't do any other way."

"Yes," said Ben, "that's so, Polly; tie 'em up quick's you can, and
I'll take 'em over to Deacon Blodgett's, for he's goin' to start early
in the morning."

So after another last look all around, Polly put the cakes in the
paper, and tied it with four or five strong knots, to avoid all danger
of its undoing.

"He never'll untie it, Polly," said Ben; "that's just like a girl's
knots!"

"Why didn't you tie it then?" said Polly; "I'm sure it's as good as a
boy's knots, and they always muss up a parcel so." And she gave a
loving, approving little pat to the top of the package, which,
despite its multitude of knots, was certainly very neat indeed.

Ben, grasping the pen again, "here goes for the direction.

"Deary, yes!" said Polly. "I forgot all about that; I thought 'twas
done."

"How'd you s'pose he'd get it?" asked Ben, coolly beginning the
"M."