drawing a sheet of paper toward him, and beginning some
calculations, with an anxious eye.

"Why, it's just cheese-cloth for the girls. Mrs. Brown and I have
our machines up in the barn, and Mrs. Carew and Mrs. Adams will come
up and help, there's not much to THAT! Barry, if you will really get
us this--this ox-man--nothing else will worry me at all."

"You'll have to put the beasts up in your barn."

"Oh, surely! Ask him what they eat. Oh, Barry, we MUST have them!
Think how picturesque they'll be! I've been thinking my entry would
be a disgrace to the parade, but I don't believe it will be so bad.
Barry, when will we know about it?"

"You can count on it, I guess. Joe won't refuse," Barry said, with
his lazy smile.

"Oh, you're an angel! I'm going shopping this instant. Barry, there
will be room now for my Ellen, and Billy, and Dicky Carew, won't
there? It seems their hearts are bursting with the desire. Bunting,"
murmured Sidney, beginning a list, "cheese-cloth, pink, blue, and
cream, bolts of it; twine, beads, leather, feathers; some big white
hats; ice-cream, extra milk--"

"Hold on! What for?"

"Why, they have to have something to eat afterward," she reproached
him. "We're going to have a picnic up at the Hall. Then those that
can will join their people for the fireworks, and the others will be