slice she cut for him. And being really very hungry, now that
they had time to think about it, the two boys soon had their
portions eaten, nobody discovering, in the excitement, that the
little hands were grimy, until Phronsie spoke. "See Joey's hands,
Polly," and then everybody looked.

"My!" exclaimed Polly, quite herself, now. "I never saw such
hands, Joel Pepper! Go right away and wash 'em as soon as ever
you can."

"Smutty hands and cake!" exclaimed Mother Pepper.

Joel was so busy cramming the cake into his mouth that he didn't
half hear. "I'm most through," he mumbled.

"Lay down your cake, and go and wash your face and hands at once,
Joel," commanded Mrs. Pepper.

"Dave'll eat it," said Joel, his mouth half full.

"Oh, no, I won't," said little David, "and I'm going too, to
wash mine." So he laid his cake-slice on his plate, and ran into
the woodshed.

"You had a bigger piece than mine," said Joel, getting the tin
basin first, and filling it at the pump.

"No, I didn't," said David; "they were just alike."

"Well, it's bigger now," said Joel, bringing the basin to set