Ways and Means
Harmon's boy occurred before the meeting was called to order.
"May I read Cousin Ann's aloud?" asked Nancy, who had her private reasons for making the offer.
"Certainly," said Mrs. Carey unsuspectingly, as she took up the inevitable stocking. "I almost wish you had all been storks instead of chickens; then you would always have held up one foot, and perhaps that stocking, at least, would n't have had holes in it!"
"Poor Muddy! I'm learning to darn," cried Kathleen, kissing her.
My Dear Margaret [so Nancy read],—The climate of this seaside place suits me so badly that I have concluded to spend the rest of the summer with you, lightening those household tasks which will fall so heavily on your shoulders.
[Groans from the whole family greeted this opening passage, and Gilbert cast himself, face down, on his mother's lounge.]
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