fingers were red with raspberries, for she had found big
ones.

By her plate was her tiny glass, and a pitcher of rich milk. There
were corn flakes, and shredded wheat first, and then toast, and
bacon, and big baked apples with cream.

Clematis had never really expected to have such things to eat. The
stories other little girls had told her, all had seemed like fairy
tales.

"Now you can help me a while, if you wish," said Mrs. Alder, after
breakfast. "Can you wash dishes?"

"Oh, yes'm, I can do that all right."

Clematis looked after Mr. Alder with longing eyes. He was going to
feed the pigs. She longed to go too, but she knew she must help all
she could.

So she started in on the plates and cups.

The water was hot, and she found it hard work to hold the china.
Just as she was lifting a cup, it slipped from her hand.

"Snick."

"Gracious, what was that?" asked Mrs. Alder. She thought a good deal
of her china.

The cup was taken out. A piece was broken from the edge.

"Oh, dear me. I have had those cups for twenty years. I guess I'll
finish the dishes."

Clematis said nothing, but turned very red. She almost cried, she
was so ashamed.

"Well, don't worry too much about it," said Mrs. Alder. "You can
help me with the beds. I'm sure you can make your bed without doing
any harm."

"Oh, yes'm, I've made it already."

"Made it already? When?"

"Why, when I got up, before breakfast."

"Mercy! Go right up and pull the clothes back. It must always air
for an hour."

Poor Clematis went up and pulled the clothes back to air.

"How can I help, if every single thing I do is wrong?" Clematis
spoke crossly out the window at the robin on the edge of the roof.

Then she felt a crumb in her pocket, and pushed up the screen to
throw it out.

Mr. Robin flew away, and Mrs. Alder came in at that moment.

"Dear child, what on earth have you put up that screen for? Do you
want to fill the house with flies?"

"No'm, I didn't know--"

"Oh, well, never mind. You don't know much, I guess. I promised to
take you, and I'll keep my word, but it's no use trying to fit city
children into real homes."

Mrs. Alder shut the screen with a bang.

"There now, you run along out doors. I guess you and Mr. Alder will
get along all right, but don't touch anything."

"Hello, it looks like rain. What's the trouble, sister?"

Mr. Alder smiled and pinched her cheek, as he met Clematis at the
back door.

"I tried to help,"