"Never mind," said Mrs. Pepper, looking across the kitchen; "Mother'll wash it out for you by and by. Put on another one, Polly."
"Let me wash it, Mammy," begged Polly, carrying Phronsie off to wash her face and get her into another gown.
"No, you'll only spread it more, for you don't know how, Polly," answered Mother Pepper. So Polly, feeling as if there were a great many things she must grow up and learn, hurried off with Phronsie into the bedroom.
And then it was that Joel suddenly thought of the circus he meant to have whenever the time came ready. "Come on out to the woodpile, Dave," he said, "and let's talk it over."
It was a good two hours after when Joel and David clambered down from the woodpile, and ran into the house.
"Joel," said Mother Pepper, "you forgot to fill up the wood box; see, it's nearly empty."
"It's always empty," Joel began, his head nearly bursting with big plans for his circus.
"Joel," said Mrs. Pepper, sternly, "don't let me ever hear you fret at your work again. Go straight out and bring in the kindlings."
"And I'm going to help, too," cried David, skipping after. So it wasn't very long before the two boys had brought in two good basketsful of kindlings, which just filled the wood box behind the stove.
"I'm glad it's done," remarked Joel, with great satisfaction, knocking off the little splinters sticking to his fingers.