ss.

"Don't you wish we could have it mended for him?" she asked.

"Yes, indeed, but we haven't any money to spare from our Christmas
things, and if we used it every bit it would not be enough."

"We might get somebody to help us; still that wouldn't be as nice as
doing it ourselves."

"Perhaps we could have a fair, like the one Aunt Zelie had when she
was a little girl. Let's ask her," proposed Bess, jumping up.

But their aunt thought it too great an undertaking. "I was several
years older than you are," she said, "and we worked for six months to
get ready. However," she added, seeing the disappointed faces, "you
might do something else, tableaux or charades."

This idea pleased them, and they decided to talk it over at the club
that afternoon.

There was no difficulty in interesting the M.Ks. They were all
enthusiasm.

"We may not make enough," said Louise, "but that ought not to keep us
from trying to help."

"If we could only give them the money for a Christmas gift," said
Dora.

"I don't see how you could manage that, but a New Year's gift would be
almost as good, would it not?" asked Miss Brown.

"There is Ikey now! I'll call to him to find the other boys and bring
them over." Dora rapped on the window-pane with her knitting needle as
she spoke.

Ikey, who had just vaulted over a hitching-post on his way down the
street, came to a sudden halt.

"Find Carl and Aleck, and bring them here, that's a good boy; we want
to consult you about something," she called.

He obeyed with soldierly promptness and was across the street in a
second. A few minutes later Louise announced, "Here they come, and
Aunt Zelie with them."

"I am one of the boys now, you know," said Mrs. Howard as she entered.
"How cosey you look! I believe I should like to join your club too."

"Oh, do! Please do, Mrs. Howard!" came in a chorus from the M.Ks. as
she sat down in the midst of them.

"We'll talk about that another time; at present we have something else
to discuss. Sit down, boys, and listen while the girls tell you what
they want. I already know about it."

Bess then told the story of the broken harp, and explained how anxious
they were to earn money enough to have it mended.

"We intend to give an entertainment, and we want you to help," said
Dora.

"What are you going to have?" Carl asked cautiously.

"We want you to help us to decide."

"We can help in one way, can't we?" Ikey exclaimed ecstatically,
whereup