“By following his nose, of course! When a feller is famished he naturally hangs around the kitchen. That’s what we did and so we smelled something good. By following the trail we saw the deep-dish pie cooling on the pantry window-sill but we dared not snitch it then ’cause Mose was right there, so we had to come in and take our turn,” confessed Billy.
Mrs. Remington laughed as she cut the pie but one or two slices were the fraction of an inch larger than the others, hence the hot argument that instantly arose to confound her carelessness.
Teeth and lips were well-stained a beautiful blue-black and the downward track of juicy pie had left telltale spots on the front of shirts and frocks before Billy stood up and sighed. “I don’t see why it is that there is always so little of a good thing! Now, look at that bread-pudding—a great tub of a dish, and such a tiny little pie!”
The others laughed and Mrs. Remington added, “Well, as you had your pie this noon, there will be no dessert to-night!”
“Say, let’s offer Mose a testimonial for that pie and who knows but he may be flattered into baking another for dinner,” suggested Fred.
With such a worthy object in view, the young folks drew up a wonderful set of resolutions and presented it in due form to Mose. Teddy, aged four, was chosen as the courier while all of the others marched in line behind the youngest of the family. As the signed vote of thanks was presented to him, Mose laughed.
“Dis is once when yo’ all get lef’! Ha, ha, ha! When yo’ mah say, ‘Mose, dis bread gotta be used’, Ah says, ‘Yes’m, but dis fam’bly won’t eat bread-pudding, nohow!’
“Den she says, ‘Mek it fo’ an extry dish an’ serb it fust, Mose, an’ d’ blue-berry pie kin be t’ tempter t’ make ’em eat d’ puddin’!’
“Ah wuz goin’ t’ do dat when Billy gits ahaid o’ me an’ done bring dat pie in jes’ es ef it wuz so ordered! Ha, ha, ha!”
“Then that pie was for luncheon after all?” cried Billy.