"The boys won't let me play with them."

"Why not?"

"They say girls can't play football."

"They can, for I've done it!" and Mrs. Bhaer laughed at theremembrance of certain youthful frolics.

"I know I can play; Demi and I used to, and have nice times, but hewon't let me now because the other boys laugh at him," and Daisylooked deeply grieved at her brother's hardness of heart.

"On the whole, I think he is right, deary. It's all very well when youtwo are alone, but it is too rough a game for you with a dozenboys; so I'd find some nice little play for myself."

"I'm tired of playing alone!" and Daisy's tone was very mournful.

"I'll play with you by and by, but just now I must fly about and getthings ready for a trip into town. You shall go with me and seemamma, and if you like you can stay with her."

"I should like to go and see her and Baby Josy, but I'd rather comeback, please. Demi would miss me, and I love to be here, Aunty."

"You can't get on without your Demi, can you?" and Aunt Jolooked as if she quite understood the love of the little girl for heronly brother.

"'Course I can't; we're twins, and so we love each other more thanother people," answered Daisy, with a brightening face, for sheconsidered being a twin one of the highest honors she could everreceive.

"Now, what will you do with your little self while I fly around?"asked Mrs. Bhaer, who was whisking piles of linen into awardrobe with great rapidity.

"I don't know, I'm tired of dolls and things; I wish you'd make up anew play for me, Aunty Jo," said Daisy, swinging listlessly on thedoor.

"I shall have to think of a brand new one, and it will take me sometime; so suppose you go down and see what Asia has got for yourlunch," suggested Mrs. Bhaer, thinking that would be a good wayin which to dispose of the little hindrance for a time.

"Yes, I think I'd like that, if she isn't cross," and Daisy slowlydeparted to the kitchen, where Asia, the black cook, reignedundisturbed.

In five minutes, Daisy was back again, with a wide-awake face, abit of dough in her hand and a dab of flour on her little nose.

"Oh aunty! Please could I go and make gingersnaps and things?Asia isn't cross, and she says I may, and it would be such fun,please do," cried Daisy, all in one breath.

"Just the thing, go and welcome, make what you like, and stay aslong as you please," answered Mrs. Bhaer, much relieved, forsometimes the one little girl was harder to amuse than the dozenboys.

Daisy ran off, and while she worked, Aunt Jo racked her brain fora new play. All of a sudden she seemed to have an idea, for shesmiled to herself, slammed the doors of the wardrobe, and walkedbriskly away, saying, "I'll do it, if it's a possible thing!"

What it was no one found out that day, but Aunt Jo's eyes twinkledso when she told Daisy she had thought of a new play, and wasgoing to buy it, that Daisy was much excited and asked questionsall the way into town, without getting answers that told heranything. She was left at home to play with the new baby, anddelight her mother's eyes, while Aunt Jo went off shopping. Whenshe came back with all sorts of queer parcels in corners of thecarry-all, Daisy was so full of curiosity that she wanted to go backto Plumfield at once. But her aunt would not be hurried, and madea long call in mamma's room, sitting on the floor with baby in herlap, making Mrs. Brooke laugh at the pranks of the boys, and allsorts of droll nonsense.

How her aunt told the secret Daisy could not imagine, but hermother evidently knew it, for she said, as she tied on the littlebonnet and kissed the rosy little face inside, "Be a good child, myDaisy, and learn the nice new play aunty has got for you. It's amost useful and interesting one, and it is very kind of her to play itwith you, because she does not like it very well herself."

This last speech made the two ladies laugh heartily, and increasedDaisy's bewilderment. As they drove away something rattled in theback of the carriage.

"What's that?" asked Daisy, pricking up her ears.

"The new play," answered Mrs. Jo, solemnly.

"What is it made of?" cried Daisy.

"Iron, tin, wood, brass, sugar, salt, coal, and a hundred otherthings."

"How strange! What color is it?"

"All sorts of colors."

"Is it large?"

"Part of it is, and a part isn't."

"Did I ever see one?"

"Ever so many, but never one so nice as this."

"Oh! what can it be? I can't wait. When shall I see it?" and Daisybounced up and down with impatience.

"To-morrow morning, after lessons."

"Is it for the boys, too?"

"No, all for you and Bess. The boys will like to see it, and want toplay one part of it. But you can do as you like about letting them."

"I'll let Demi, if he wants to."

"No fear that they won't all want to, especially Stuffy," and Mrs.Bhaer's eyes twinkled more than ever as she patted a queer knobbybundle in her lap.

"Let me feel just once," prayed Daisy.

"Not a feel; you'd guess in a minute and spoil the fun."

Daisy groaned and then smiled all over her face, for through alittle hole in the paper she caught a glimpse of something bright.

"How can I wait so long? Couldn't I see it today?"

"Oh dear, no! It has got to be arranged, and ever so many partsfixed in their places. I promised Uncle Teddy that you shouldn'tsee it till it was all in apple-pie order."

"If uncle knows about it then it must be splendid!" cried Daisy,clapping her hands; for this kind, rich, jolly uncle of hers was asgood as a fairy godmother to the children, and was alwaysplanning merry surprises, pretty gifts, and droll amusements forthem.

"Yes; Teddy went and bought it with me, and we had such fun inthe shop choosing the different parts. He would have everythingfine and large, and my little plan got regularly splendid when hetook hold. You must give him your very best kiss when he comes,for he is the kindest uncle that ever went and bought a charminglittle coo Bless me! I nearly told you what it was!" and Mrs. Bhaercut that most interesting word short off in the middle, and began tolook over her bills, as if afraid she would let the cat out of the bagif she talked any more. Daisy folded her hands with an air ofresignation, and sat quite still trying to think what play had a "coo"in it.

When they got home she eyed every bundle that was taken out, andone large heavy one, which Franz took straight upstairs and hid inthe nursery, filled her with amazement and curiosity. Somethingvery mysterious went on up there that afternoon, for Franz washammering, and Asia trotting up and down, and Aunt Jo flyingaround like a will-o'-the-wisp, with all sort of things under herapron, while little Ted, who was the only child admitted, becausehe couldn't talk plain, babbled and laughed, and tried to tell whatthe "sumpin pitty" was.

All this made Daisy half-wild, and her excitement spread amongthe boys, who quite overwhelmed Mother Bhaer with offers ofassistance, which she declined by quoting their own words toDaisy:

"Girls can't play with boys. This is for Daisy, and Bess, and me, sowe don't want you." Whereupon the young gentlemen meeklyretired, and invited Daisy to a game of marbles, horse, football,anything she liked, with a sudden warmth and politeness whichastonished her innocent little soul.

Thanks to these attentions, she got through the afternoon, wentearly to bed, and next morning did her lessons with an energywhich made Uncle Fritz wish that a new game could be inventedevery day. Quite a thrill pervaded the school-room when Daisy wasdismissed at eleven o'clock, for everyone knew that now she wasgoing to have the new and mysterious play.

Many eyes followed her as she ran away, and Demi's mind was sodistracted by this event that when Franz asked him where thedesert of Sahara was, he mournfully replied, "In the nursery," andthe whole school laughed at him.

"Aunt Jo, I've done all my lessons, and I can't wait one singleminute more!" cried Daisy, flying into Mrs. Bhaer's room.

"It's all ready, come on;" and tucking Ted under one arm, and herworkbasket under the other, Aunt Jo promptly led the way upstairs.

"I don't see anything," said Daisy, staring about her as she gotinside the nursery door.

"Do you hear anything?" asked Aunt Jo, catching Ted back by hislittle frock as he was making straight for one side of the room.

Daisy did hear an odd crackling, and then a purry little sound as ofa kettle singing. These noises came from behind a curtain drawnbefore a deep bay window. Daisy snatched it back, gave onejoyful, "Oh!" and then stood gazing with delight at what do youthink?

A wide seat ran round the three sides of the window; on one sidehung and stood all sorts of little pots and pans, gridirons andskillets; on the other side a small dinner and tea set; and on themiddle part a cooking-stove. Not a tin one, that was of no use, buta real iron stove, big enough to cook for a large family of veryhungry dolls. But the best of it was that a real fire burned in it, realsteam came out of the nose of the little tea-kettle, and the lid of thelittle boiler actually danced a jig, the water inside bubbled so hard.A pane of glass had been taken out and replaced by a sheet of tin,with a hole for the small funnel, and real smoke went sailing awayoutside so naturally, that it did one's heart good to see it. The boxof wood with a hod of charcoal stood near by; just above hungdust-pan, brush and broom; a little market basket was on the lowtable at which Daisy used to play, and over the back of her littlechair hung a white apron with a bib, and a droll mob cap. The sunshone in as if he enjoyed the fun, the little stove roared beautifully,the kettle steamed, the new tins sparkled on the walls, the prettychina stood in tempting rows, and it was altogether as cheery andcomplete a kitchen as any child could desire.

Daisy stood quite still after the first glad "Oh!" but her eyes wentquickly from one charming object to another, brightening as theylooked, till they came to Aunt Jo's merry face; there they stoppedas the happy little girl hugged her, saying gratefully:

"Oh aunty, it's a splendid new play! Can I really cook at the dearstove, and have parties and mess, and sweep, and make fires thattruly burn? I like it so much! What made you think of it?"

"Your liking to make gingersnaps with Asia made me think of it,"said Mrs. Bhaer, holding Daisy, who frisked as if she would fly. "Iknew Asia wouldn't let you mess in her kitchen very often, and itwouldn't be safe at this fire up here, so I thought I'd see if I couldfind a little stove for you, and teach you to cook; that would befun, and useful too. So I travelled round among the toy shops, buteverything large cost too much and I was thinking I should have togive it up, when I met Uncle Teddy. As soon as he knew what Iwas about, he said he wanted to help, and insisted on buying thebiggest toy stove we could find. I scolded, but he only laughed, andteased me about my cooking when we were young, and said I mustteach Bess as well as you, and went on buying all sorts of nicelittle things for my 'cooking class' as he called it."

"I'm so glad you met him!" said Daisy, as Mrs. Jo stopped to laughat the memory of the funny time she had with Uncle Teddy.

"You must study hard and learn to make all kinds of things, for hesays he shall come out to tea very often, and expects somethinguncommonly nice."

"It's the sweetest, dearest kitchen in the world, and I'd rather studywith it than do anything else. Can't I learn pies, and cake, andmacaroni, and everything?" cried Daisy, dancing round the roomwith a new saucepan in one hand and the tiny poker in the other.

"All in good time. This is to be a useful play, I am to help you, andyou are to be my cook, so I shall tell you what to do, and show youhow. Then we shall have things fit to eat, and you will be reallylearning how to cook on a small scale. I'll call you Sally, and sayyou are a new girl just come," added Mrs. Jo, settling down towork, while Teddy sat on the floor sucking his thumb, and staringat the stove as if it was a live thing, whose appearance deeplyinterested him.

"That will be so lovely! What shall I do first?" asked Sally, withsuch a happy face and willing air that Aunt Jo wished all newcooks were half as pretty and pleasant.

"First of all, put on this clean cap and apron. I am ratherold-fashioned, and I like my cook to be very tidy."

Sally tucked her curly hair into the round cap, and put on the apronwithout a murmur, though usually she rebelled against bibs.

"Now, you can put things in order, and wash up the new china. Theold set needs washing also, for my last girl was apt to leave it in asad state after a party."

Aunt Jo spoke quite soberly, but Sally laughed, for she knew whothe untidy girl was who had left the cups sticky. Then she turnedup her cuffs, and with a sigh of satisfaction began to stir about herkitchen, having little raptures now and then over the "sweet rollingpin," the "darling dish-tub," or the "cunning pepper-pot."

"Now, Sally, take your basket and go to market; here is the list ofthings I want for dinner," said Mrs. Jo, giving her a bit of paperwhen the dishes were all in order.

"Where is the market?" asked Daisy, thinking that the new play gotmore and more interesting every minute.

"Asia is the market."

Away went Sally, causing another stir in the schoolroom as shepassed the door in her new costume, and whispered to Demi, witha face full of delight, "It's a perfectly splendid play!"

Old Asia enjoyed the joke as much as Daisy, and laughed jollily asthe little girl came flying into the room with her cap all on oneside, the lids of her basket rattling like castanets and looking like avery crazy little cook.

"Mrs. Aunt Jo wants these things, and I must have them rightaway," said Daisy, importantly.

'Let's see, honey; here's two pounds of steak, potatoes, squash,apples, bread, and butter. The meat ain't come yet; when it does I'llsend it up. The other things are all handy."

Then Asia packed one potato, one apple, a bit of squash, a little patof butter, and a roll, into the basket, telling Sally to be on thewatch for the butcher's boy, because he sometimes played tricks.

"Who is he?" and Daisy hoped it would be Demi.

"You'll see," was all Asia would say; and Sally went off in greatspirits, singing a verse from dear Mary Howitt's sweet story inrhyme:

"Away went little Mabel,

With the wheaten cake so fine,

The new-made pot of butter,

And the little flask of wine."

"Put everything but the apple into the store-closet for the present,"said Mrs. Jo, when the cook got home.

There was a cupboard under the middle shelf, and on opening thedoor fresh delights appeared. One half was evidently the cellar, forwood, coal, and kindlings were piled there. The other half was fullof little jars, boxes, and all sorts of droll contrivances for holdingsmall quantities of flour, meal, sugar, salt, and other householdstores. A pot of jam was there, a little tin box of gingerbread, acologne bottle full of currant wine, and a tiny canister of tea. Butthe crowning charm was two doll's pans of new milk, with creamactually rising on it, and a wee skimmer all ready to skim it with.Daisy clasped her hands at this delicious spectacle, and wanted toskim it immediately. But Aunt Jo said:

"Not yet; you will want the cream to eat on your apple pie atdinner, and must not disturb it till then."

"Am I going to have pie?" cried Daisy, hardly believing that suchbliss could be in store for her.

"Yes; if your oven does well we will have two pies, one apple andone strawberry," said Mrs. Jo, who was nearly as much interestedin the new play as Daisy herself.

"Oh, what next?" asked Sally, all impatience to begin.

"Shut the lower draught of the stove, so that the oven may heat.Then wash your hands and get out the flour, sugar, salt, butter, andcinnamon. See if the pie-board is clean, and pare your apple readyto put in."

Daisy got things together with as little noise and spilling as couldbe expected, from so young a cook.

"I really don't know how to measure for such tiny pies; I mustguess at it, and if these don't succeed, we must try again," saidMrs. Jo, looking rather perplexed, and very much amused with thesmall concern before her. "Take that little pan full of flour, put in apinch of salt, and then rub in as much butter as will go on thatplate. Always remember to put your dry things together first, andthen the wet. It mixes better so."

"I know how; I saw Asia do it. Don't I butter the pie plates too?She did, the first thing," said Daisy, whisking the flour about at agreat rate.

"Quite right! I do believe you have a gift for cooking, you take to itso cleverly," said Aunt Jo, approvingly. "Now a dash of cold water,just enough to wet it; then scatter some flour on the board, work ina little, and roll the paste out; yes, that's the way. Now put dabs ofbutter all over it, and roll it out again. We won't have our pastryvery rich, or the dolls will get dyspeptic."

Daisy laughed at the idea, and scattered the dabs with a liberalhand. Then she rolled and rolled with her delightful little pin, andhaving got her paste ready proceeded to cover the plates with it.Next the apple was sliced in, sugar and cinnamon lavishlysprinkled over it, and then the top crust put on with breathlesscare.

"I always wanted to cut them round, and Asia never would let me.How nice it is to do it all my ownty donty self!" said Daisy, as thelittle knife went clipping round the doll's plate poised on her hand.

All cooks, even the best, meet with mishaps sometimes, and Sally'sfirst one occurred then, for the knife went so fast that the plateslipped, turned a somersault in the air, and landed the dear littlepie upside down on the floor. Sally screamed, Mrs. Jo laughed,Teddy scrambled to get it, and for a moment confusion reigned inthe new kitchen.

"It didn't spill or break, because I pinched the edges together sohard; it isn't hurt a bit, so I'll prick holes in it, and then it will beready," said Sally, picking up the capsized treasure and putting itinto shape with a child-like disregard of the dust it had gathered inits fall.

"My new cook has a good temper, I see, and that is such acomfort," said Mrs. Jo. "Now open the jar of strawberry jam, fillthe uncovered pie, and put some strips of paste over the top asAsia does."

"I'll make a D in the middle, and have zigzags all round, that willbe so interesting when I come to eat it," said Sally, loading the piewith quirls and flourishes that would have driven a real pastrycook wild. "Now I put them in!" she exclaimed; when the lastgrimy knob had been carefully planted in the red field of jam, andwith an air of triumph she shut them into the little oven.

"Clear up your things; a good cook never lets her utensils collect.Then pare your squash and potatoes."

"There is only one potato," giggled Sally.

"Cut it in four pieces, so it will go into the little kettle, and put thebits into cold water till it is time to cook them."

"Do I soak the squash too?"

"No, indeed! Just pare it and cut it up, and put in into the steamerover the pot. It is drier so, though it takes longer to cook."

Here a scratching at the door caused Sally to run and open it, whenKit appeared with a covered basket in his mouth.

"Here's the butcher boy!" cried Daisy, much tickled at the idea, asshe relieved him of his load, whereat he licked his lips and beganto beg, evidently thinking that it was his own dinner, for he oftencarried it to his master in that way. Being undeceived, he departedin great wrath and barked all the way downstairs, to ease hiswounded feelings.

In the basket were two bits of steak (doll's pounds), a baked pear, asmall cake, and paper with them on which Asia had scrawled, "ForMissy's lunch, if her cookin' don't turn out well."

"I don't want any of her old pears and things; my cooking will turnout well, and I'll have a splendid dinner; see if I don't!" criedDaisy, indignantly.

"We may like them if company should come. It is always well tohave something in the storeroom," said Aunt Jo, who had beentaught this valuable fact by a series of domestic panics.

"Me is hundry," announced Teddy, who began to think what withso much cooking going on it was about time for somebody to eatsomething. His mother gave him her workbasket to rummage,hoping to keep him quiet till dinner was ready, and returned to herhousekeeping.

"Put on your vegetables, set the table, and then have some coalskindling ready for the steak."

What a thing it was to see the potatoes bobbing about in the littlepot; to peep at the squash getting soft so fast in the tiny steamer; towhisk open the oven door every five minutes to see how the piesgot on, and at last when the coals were red and glowing, to put tworeal steaks on a finger-long gridiron and proudly turn them with afork. The potatoes were done first, and no wonder, for they hadboiled frantically all the while. The were pounded up with a littlepestle, had much butter and no salt put in (cook forgot it in theexcitement of the moment), then it was made into a mound in agay red dish, smoothed over with a knife dipped in milk, and put inthe oven to brown.

So absorbed in these last performances had Sally been, that sheforgot her pastry till she opened the door to put in the potato, thena wail arose, for alas! alas! the little pies were burnt black!

"Oh, my pies! My darling pies! They are all spoilt!" cried poorSally, wringing her dirty little hands as she surveyed the ruin of herwork. The tart was especially pathetic, for the quirls and zigzagsstuck up in all directions from the blackened jelly, like the wallsand chimney of a house after a fire.

"Dear, dear, I forgot to remind you to take them out; it's just myluck," said Aunt Jo, remorsefully. "Don't cry, darling, it was myfault; we'll try again after dinner," she added, as a great teardropped from Sally's eyes and sizzled on the hot ruins of the tart.

More would have followed, if the steak had not blazed up justthen, and so occupied the attention of cook, that she quickly forgotthe lost pastry.

"Put the meat-dish and your own plates down to warm, while youmash the squash with butter, salt, and a little pepper on the top,"said Mrs. Jo, devoutly hoping that the dinner would meet with nofurther disasters.

The "cunning pepper-pot" soothed Sally's feelings, and she dishedup her squash in fine style. The dinner was safely put upon thetable; the six dolls were seated three on a side; Teddy took thebottom, and Sally the top. When all were settled, it was a mostimposing spectacle, for one doll was in full ball costume, anotherin her night-gown; Jerry, the worsted boy, wore his red winter suit,while Annabella, the noseless darling, was airily attired in nothingbut her own kid skin. Teddy, as father of the family, behaved withgreat propriety, for he smilingly devoured everything offered him,and did not find a single fault. Daisy beamed upon her companylike the weary, warm, but hospitable hostess so often to be seen atlarger tables than this, and did the honors with an air of innocentsatisfaction, which we do not often see elsewhere.

The steak was so tough that the little carving-knife would not cutit; the potato did not go round, and the squash was very lumpy; butthe guests appeared politely unconscious of these trifles; and themaster and mistress of the house cleared the table with appetitesthat anyone might envy them. The joy of skimming a jug-full ofcream mitigated the anguish felt for the loss of the pies, and Asia'sdespised cake proved a treasure in the way of dessert.

"That is the nicest lunch I ever had; can't I do it every day?" askedDaisy as she scraped up and ate the leavings all round.

"You can cook things every day after lessons, but I prefer that youshould eat your dishes at your regular meals, and only have a bit ofgingerbread for lunch. To-day, being the first time, I don't mind,but we must keep our rules. This afternoon you can makesomething for tea if you like," said Mrs. Jo, who had enjoyed thedinner-party very much, though no one had invited her to partake.

"Do let me make flapjacks for Demi, he loves them so, and it'ssuch fun to turn them and put sugar in between," cried Daisy,tenderly wiping a yellow stain off Annabella's broken nose, forBella had refused to eat squash when it was pressed upon her asgood for "lumatism," a complaint which it is no wonder shesuffered from, considering the lightness of her attire.

"But if you give Demi goodies, all the others will expect somealso, and then you will have your hands full."

"Couldn't I have Demi come up to tea alone just this one time?And after that I could cook things for the others if they weregood," proposed Daisy, with a sudden inspiration.

"That is a capital idea, Posy! We will make your little messesrewards for the good boys, and I don't know one among them whowould not like something nice to eat more than almost anythingelse. If little men are like big ones, good cooking will touch theirhearts and soothe their tempers delightfully," added Aunt Jo, witha merry nod toward the door, where stood Papa Bhaer, surveyingthe scene with a face full of amusement.

"That last hit was for me, sharp woman. I accept it, for it is true;but if I had married thee for thy cooking, heart's dearest, I shouldhave fared badly all these years," answered the professor, laughingas he tossed Teddy, who became quite apoplectic in his endeavorsto describe the feast he had just enjoyed.

Daisy proudly showed her kitchen, and rashly promised UncleFritz as many flapjacks as he could eat. She was just telling aboutthe new rewards when the boys, headed by Demi, burst into theroom snuffing the air like a pack of hungry hounds, for school wasout, dinner was not ready, and the fragrance of Daisy's steak ledthem straight to the spot.

A prouder little damsel was never seen than Sally as she displayedher treasures and told the lads what was in store for them. Severalrather scoffed at the idea of her cooking anything fit to eat, butStuffy's heart was won at once. Nat and Demi had firm faith in herskill, and the others said they would wait and see. All admired thekitchen, however, and examined the stove with deep interest.Demi offered to buy the boiler on the spot, to be used in asteam-engine which he was constructing; and Ned declared thatthe best and biggest saucepan was just the thing to melt his lead inwhen he ran bullets, hatchets, and such trifles.

Daisy looked so alarmed at these proposals, that Mrs. Jo then andthere made and proclaimed a law that no boy should touch, use, oreven approach the sacred stove without a special permit from theowner thereof. This increased its value immensely in the eyes ofthe gentlemen, especially as any infringement of the law would bepunished by forfeiture of all right to partake of the delicaciespromised to the virtuous.

At this point the bell rang, and the entire population went down todinner, which meal was enlivened by each of the boys givingDaisy a list of things he would like to have cooked for him as fastas he earned them. Daisy, whose faith in her stove was unlimited,promised everything, if Aunt Jo would tell her how to make them.This suggestion rather alarmed Mrs. Jo, for some of the disheswere quite beyond her skill wedding-cake, for instance, bull's-eyecandy; and cabbage soup with herrings and cherries in it, whichMr. Bhaer proposed as his favorite, and immediately reduced hiswife to despair, for German cookery was beyond her.

Daisy wanted to begin again the minute dinner was done, but shewas only allowed to clear up, fill the kettle ready for tea, and washout her apron, which looked as if she had a Christmas feast. Shewas then sent out to play till five o'clock, for Uncle Fritz said thattoo much study, even at cooking stoves, was bad for little mindsand bodies, and Aunt Jo knew by long experience how soon newtoys lose their charm if they are not prudently used.

Everyone was very kind to Daisy that afternoon. Tommy promisedher the first fruits of his garden, though the only visible crop justthen was pigweed; Nat offered to supply her with wood, free ofcharge; Stuffy quite worshipped her; Ned immediately fell to workon a little refrigerator for her kitchen; and Demi, with apunctuality beautiful to see in one so young, escorted her to thenursery just as the clock struck five. It was not time for the party tobegin, but he begged so hard to come in and help that he wasallowed privileges few visitors enjoy, for he kindled the fire, ranerrands, and watched the progress of his supper with intenseinterest. Mrs. Jo directed the affair as she came and went, beingvery busy putting up clean curtains all over the house.

"Ask Asia for a cup of sour cream, then your cakes will be lightwithout much soda, which I don't like," was the first order.

Demi tore downstairs, and returned with the cream, also apuckered-up face, for he had tasted it on his way, and found it sosour that he predicted the cakes would be uneatable. Mrs. Jo tookthis occasion to deliver a short lecture from the step-ladder on thechemical properties of soda, to which Daisy did not listen, butDemi did, and understood it, as he proved by the brief butcomprehensive reply:

"Yes, I see, soda turns sour things sweet, and the fizzling up makesthem light. Let's see you do it, Daisy."

"Fill that bowl nearly full of flour and add a little salt to it,"continued Mrs. Jo.

"Oh dear, everything has to have salt in it, seems to me," saidSally, who was tired of opening the pill-box in which it was kept.

"Salt is like good-humor, and nearly every thing is better for apinch of it, Posy," and Uncle Fritz stopped as he passed, hammerin hand, to drive up two or three nails for Sally's little pans to hangon.

"You are not invited to tea, but I'll give you some cakes, and Iwon't be cross," said Daisy, putting up her floury little face tothank him with a kiss.

"Fritz, you must not interrupt my cooking class, or I'll come in andmoralize when you are teaching Latin. How would you like that?"said Mrs. Jo, throwing a great chintz curtain down on his head.

"Very much, try it and see," and the amiable Father Bhaer wentsinging and tapping about the house like a mammoth woodpecker.

"Put the soda into the cream, and when it 'fizzles,' as Demi says,stir it into the flour, and beat it up as hard as ever you can. Haveyour griddle hot, butter it well, and then fry away till I come back,"and Aunt Jo vanished also.

Such a clatter as the little spoon made, and such a beating as thebatter got, it quite foamed, I assure you; and when Daisy pouredsome on to the griddle, it rose like magic into a puffy flapjack thatmade Demi's mouth water. To be sure, the first one stuck andscorched, because she forgot the butter, but after that first failureall went well, and six capital little cakes were safely landed in adish.

"I think I like maple-syrup better than sugar," said Demi, from hisarm-chair where he had settled himself after setting the table in anew and peculiar manner.

"Then go and ask Asia for some," answered Daisy, going into thebath-room to wash her hands.

While the nursery was empty something dreadful happened. Yousee, Kit had been feeling hurt all day because he had carried meatsafely and yet got none to pay him. He was not a bad dog, but hehad his little faults like the rest of us, and could not always resisttemptation. Happening to stroll into the nursery at that moment, hesmelt the cakes, saw them unguarded on the low table, and neverstopping to think of consequences, swallowed all six at onemouthful. I am glad to say that they were very hot, and burned himso badly that he could not repress a surprised yelp. Daisy heard it,ran in, saw the empty dish, also the end of a yellow taildisappearing under the bed. Without a word she seized that tail,pulled out the thief, and shook him till his ears flapped wildly,then bundled him down-stairs to the shed, where he spent a lonelyevening in the coal-bin.

Cheered by the sympathy which Demi gave her, Daisy madeanother bowlful of batter, and fried a dozen cakes, which wereeven better than the others. Indeed, Uncle Fritz after eating twosent up word that he had never tasted any so nice, and every boy atthe table below envied Demi at the flapjack party above.

It was a truly delightful supper, for the little teapot lid only fell offthree times and the milk jug upset but once; the cakes floated insyrup, and the toast had a delicious beef-steak flavor, owing tocook's using the gridiron to make it on. Demi forgot philosophy,and stuffed like any carnal boy, while Daisy planned sumptuousbanquets, and the dolls looked on smiling affably.

"Well, dearies, have you had a good time?" asked Mrs. Jo, comingup with Teddy on her shoulder.

"A very good time. I shall come again soon," answered Demi, withemphasis.

"I'm afraid you have eaten too much, by the look of that table."

"No, I haven't; I only ate fifteen cakes, and they were very littleones," protested Demi, who had kept his sister busy supplying hisplate.

"They won't hurt him, they are so nice," said Daisy, with such afunny mixture of maternal fondness and housewifely pride thatAunt Jo could only smile and say:

"Well, on the whole, the new game is a success then?"

"I like it," said Demi, as if his approval was all that was necessary.

"It is the dearest play ever made!" cried Daisy, hugging her littledish-tub as she proposed to wash up the cups. "I just wisheverybody had a sweet cooking stove like mine," she added,regarding it with affection.

"This play out to have a name," said Demi, gravely removing thesyrup from his countenance with his tongue.

"It has."

"Oh, what?" asked both children eagerly.

"Well, I think we will call it Pattypans," and Aunt Jo retired,satisfied with the success of her last trap to catch a sunbeam.