“That’s all,” said Aunt Fanny. “What do you think of it, my merry men and ladies? Will Philip Badboy Wiseman do for a beginning?”
“It’s perfectly splendid!” cried the children.
“And you don’t mean to eat greedily of flower-pot pudding after this, or snap each other’s legs with knots in your pocket-handkerchiefs?”
“Oh no, dear Aunt Fanny. This pop-gun has made us better already. We mean to be ever so kind, industrious, and unselfish after this.”
“I wish I had a kite like Johnny’s,” said Peter.
“Who knows, if you try to be a loving, obedient child, but what the Honorable Mr. Kite may call upon you next spring, all ready for an airing. I’ll have a talk with my friend Johnny about it.”
“Oh goody! will you?” cried Peter, jumping straight up and down in the air. “My! how good I’ll be! I’m going to begin right away;” and he sat down, solemn and stiff, twirling his thumbs one over the other, and saying, “Look at me! Only see how good I am!” while the rest laughed merrily at the joke.
Then Aunt Fanny had a kind kiss from all, and bade them good-night.
