“Oh, I ’most forgot, I sang a little tune and so did Katie Buffum.”
“So you did, so you did,” said her father, “and your mother and I thought you little girls did your parts well.”
“I think they all did wonderful,” said Mrs. Weston. “I was jest proud of my girls, and my neighbors’ children, too. I do declare, I believe Miss Dayton can do anything. Last evening jest did me good. Well, this won’t do for me,” she added, “there’s a sight to do to-day.”
“We’ll help,” said Randy and Prue together.
“I guess I’ll have to have you help me, Randy, if you’re a mind to.”
“Me too, me too,” cried Prue.
So Randy filled a large pan with hot water and Prue armed herself with a long towel, and the two commenced work as if their lives depended upon it.
Mrs. Weston was an energetic woman and soon her pies were made and baked, and standing to cool upon the table. The children had worked bravely all the forenoon, Randy doing a great deal to be helpful, and Prue assisting in many small things. Randy was just thinking that she would surely scorch if she remained in the hot kitchen another minute, when such an interesting thing happened.
Up the well-trodden path to the kitchen door came Mrs. Hodgkins, “the best woman in town and the newsiest,” as Silas Barnes had described her.
The children were always delighted to see her coming, as a call from Mrs. Hodgkins meant numberless scraps of gossip, and in a small country town where neighbors are few and far between, anything in the shape of news is welcome.