“It is about this evening,” said Mrs. Stoddard; “I am going to make a fine dish of molasses candy!”
“Oh, Aunt Martha!” “Oh, Mistress Stoddard!” exclaimed the little girls together.
“It has been years since I tasted any myself,” went on Mrs. Stoddard, “but I remember well how it is made; and I do not believe one of you children has ever tasted it.”
“My mother has told us about it,” said Amanda, “and said that when times were better she would make us some.”
“We all need cheering up,” said Mrs. Stoddard, “and I am glad I can give you children a treat to remember. Now, Amanda, you see why it will be best not to eat your barley sugar until Sunday.”
“I have good times every day since I gave you the white kitten,” said Amanda, as she bade Anne good-bye, and started for home.
“We must bring all our chairs into the kitchen to-night, Anne,” said Aunt Martha, as soon as supper was finished, “for even then I doubt if there be seats enough for our company.”
“I had best bring in my long bench from the shed,” said Captain Enos; “’twill be just the thing to put a row of Starkweather boys on.”
“The youngest is but two years old,” said Mrs. Stoddard; “’Tis like he will find our bed a good resting place.”
Mr. and Mrs. Cary with Amos and Amanda were the first to arrive, and as they came in Captain Enos put two big pieces of pitch pine on the fire. In a moment it blazed up making the kitchen as light as day.