asked
papa, beginning to feel some curiosity as to the part he was to play.

'Merely let the children do as they like for one day and have full power
over you. Let them plan your duties and pleasures, order your food, fix
your hours, and punish or reward you as they think proper. You must
promise entire obedience, and keep the agreement till night.'

'Good! good! Oh, won't it be fun!' cried Harry and Kitty, applauding
enthusiastically; while papa and mamma looked rather sober as the plan
was developed before them.

'To-morrow is a holiday for us all, and we might celebrate it by this
funny experiment. It will amuse us and do no harm, at any rate,' added
aunty, quite in love with her new scheme.

'Very well, we will. Come, mamma, let us promise, and see what these
rogues will do for us. Playing father and mother is no joke, mind you;
but you will have an easier time of it than we do, for _we_ shall behave
ourselves,' said papa, with a virtuous expression.

Mamma agreed, and the supper ended merrily, for every one was full of
curiosity as to the success of the new play. Harry and Kitty went to
bed early, that they might be ready for the exciting labors of the next
day. Aunt Betsey paid each a short visit before they slept, and it is
supposed that she laid out the order of performances, and told each what
to do; for the little people would never have thought of so many sly
things if left to themselves.

At seven the next morning, as mamma was in her dressing-room, just
putting on her cool, easy wrapper, in came Kitty with a solemn face,
though her eyes danced with fun, as she said,--

'Careless, untidy girl! Put on a clean dress, do up your hair properly,
and go and practise half an hour before breakfast.'

At first mamma looked as if inclined to refuse, but Kitty was firm; and,
with a sigh, mamma rustled into a stiff, scratchy, French print, took
her hair out of the comfortable net, and braided it carefully up; then,
instead of reading in her arm-chair, she was led to the parlor and set
to learning a hard piece of music.

'Can't I have my early cup of tea and my roll?' she asked.

'Eating between meals is a very bad habit, and I can't allow it,' said
Kitty, in the tone her mother often used to her. 'I shall have a mug of
new milk and a roll, because grown people need more nourishment than
children;' and sitting down, she ate her early lunch with a relish,
while poor mamma played away, feeling quite out of tune