"I don't know," replied Polly, looking over his shoulder; "s'pose
anybody else had eaten 'em up, Ben!" And she turned pale at the
very thought.

"There," said Ben, at last, after a good many flourishes, "now 'ti.s
done! you can't think of another thing to do to it, Polly!"

"Mamsie, see!" cried Polly, running with it to Mrs. Pepper, "isn't
that fine! 'Mr. Jasper E. King, at the Hotel Hingham."

"Yes," said Mrs. Pepper, admiringly, to the content of all the
children, "I should think it was!"

"Let me take it in my hand," screamed Joel, reaching eagerly up
for the tempting brown parcel.

"Be careful then, Joe," said Polly, with an important air. So Joel
took a comfortable feel, and then Davie must have the same
privilege. At last it was off, and with intense satisfaction the
children watched Ben disappear with it down the long hill to
Deacon Blodgett's.

The next day Ben came running in from his work at the deacon's.

"Oh, Polly, you had 'em!" he screamed, all out of breath. "You had
'em!"

"Had what?" asked Polly in astonishment. "Oh, Bensie, what do
you mean?"