song that Phronsie was crooning to Seraphina. At last this
stopped, and Polly, looking off from her work, saw that Phronsie
had fallen over on the floor, and was fast asleep.

"Poor thing!" exclaimed Polly, "she wants her nap." So she took
her up, and carried her into the bedroom, and laid her on the
big four-poster, and came out and shut the door.

"Now I do believe I'll have time to finish these two seams, if I
fly at 'em," she said joyfully. "Then, says I, this old coat's
done, and Mamsie can send the bundle back to-night when she gets
home"--for Mrs. Pepper was away helping one of the village
housekeepers to make her supply of soft soap. Many and many such
an odd job did Mother Pepper get, for which she was thankful
enough, as it helped her to eke out her scanty pittance.

Joel and David trotted on as fast as possible, by many a short
cut through the woods, till they reached the foot of "Bandy Leg
Mountain," so called because the hermit who had lived and died
there had short crooked legs. And at last they began to climb up its
face, David peering on every side for any chance at spying out the
wonderful flowers.

"I most b'lieve there aren't any," at last he said, his feet
beginning to drag.

"Come on," cried Joel, way ahead. "Hoh! what you stoppin' down
there for? Of course you won't find any until you get up nearer
the top. Come on!" and he disappeared in a thick clump of
undergrowth.