Page:The New-Year's Bargain (1884).djvu/101

 'most all the time, won't we? Only sometimes we'll let the others come and play with us.'

Sometimes,' replied Mistress Dotty, with an air of experience,—'sometimes; but not fekently, 'cause visitors is a bother! I heard Ma say so. Now the first thing we've got to do is to clear up. Where can we get a broom, dear?'

"Dotty said 'dear,' because Mamma sometimes called Papa so.

I guess Miss Hepsy would lend us one,' answered Willy.

"Miss Hepsy was a kind old lady who lived next door. When she heard who her new neighbors were, she laughed till her sides ached, and lent them the broom with all the good-will in the world.

Keep it as long as you like,' she said: 'you'll find it handy.'

"You should have seen Dotty, with her sleeves rolled up, sweeping away for dear life, and ordering 'Dear' about as if she had been ninety years old! When the sweeping was finished, they got some water in a 'Hair Dye'