Page:The New-Year's Bargain (1884).djvu/103

 Mamma walked clown to make sure there was nothing dangerous about the premises; and, as all seemed safe, leave was given them to play there as much as they liked.

"It was wonderful to see how much they managed to accomplish. All the village took an interest, and the good wives hunted their garrets over for old duds to furnish out the little cottage. Before long there were chairs and tables enough to supply quite a large company; and so much cracked crockery that, burning to use it, Dotty and Willy were constantly going about and begging for something, to drink from their cups and pitchers. The Mammas finding this out, and thinking a lunch would be a good thing for such busy workers, gave the milkman a standing order to leave a pint of milk every day at the door. Never was any thing so charming. He would stop and ring his bell just as he did at the grown-up houses, and Dotty—always keeping him waiting a moment for dignity's sake—would march out with her tin measure in her hand. I suspect the milkman enjoyed the joke