"Naughty, wicked little children" is the universal opinion.
"Poor little things!" says Miss Toosey reprovingly, "they have not any church to go to, and they have never been taught to say their prayers."
(John Rossitter, Miss Toosey, Mackenzie children)
I am afraid some of the little Mackenzies were disposed to envy the little black children, who could go straight into their cribs when they were sleepy, and play at dolls any day in the week. But they were discreetly silent while Miss Toosey explained that the money in the box was to go out to make them good little black boys and girls.
"Make them white," says Ben decisively.
Miss Toosey is embarrassed, regarding things from a severely literal point of view; but John comes to the rescue.
"Yes, that's about it, young man."
And just then Maudie discovers the "dear little darling hole" at the top where the pennies go in, and all the children admire it and feel it, and Mabel pats with her woolly gloves, repeating gravely, "Make black boy white."