heavily. Down at the tracks a freight train shunted and
shuddered. Not a boy was in sight. He knew why. The
farmers were loading cattle cars.

Pearl went around to the side lawn where the girls were
playing croquet, holding the czar's hand tightly.

"What are you playin'?" she asked.

They told her.

"Can you play it?" Mildred Bates asked.

"I guess I can," Pearl said modestly. "But I'm always
too busy for games like that!"

"Maudie Ducker says you never play," Mildred Bates said
with pity in her voice.

"Maudie Ducker is away off there," Pearl answered with
dignity. "I have more fun in one day than Maudie Ducker'll
ever have if she lives to be as old as Melchesidick, and
it's not this frowsy standin'-round-doin'-nothin' that
you kids call fun either."

"Tell us about it, Pearl," they shouted eagerly. Pearl's
stories had a charm.

"Well," Pearl began, "ye know I wash Mrs. Evans's dishes
every day, and lovely ones they are, too, all pink and