lad to know there'll be
Five old ladies as nice as we?"

At the last line they rose, each dropped a profound courtesy and
marched from the stage. The enthusiastic audience recalled them half a
dozen times, till Mr. Hazeltine was obliged to announce that the
entertainment was over.

No one had enjoyed it more than a person who sat in an easy-chair,
where without any effort she could see all that went on.

Here the children gathered when it was over, exclaiming, "Why, Miss
Brown, we did not know you were coming! How did you get here, and how
did you like it?"

It was of no use to try to answer so many questions, so she only
laughed and said she had enjoyed herself immensely.

Then they must rush off to see how much money had been taken in.

Mr. Caruth, who had been pressed into service as doorkeeper by Cousin
Helen, was in the hall with Aunt Zelie.

"Here are nine dollars and a half for you, Grandma," he said, putting
a box into Louise's hands.

"Oh, thank you! Then that will be enough with the basket money. Don't
you think our entertainment was pretty good, Mr. Caruth?" she asked.

"Delightful! I was just telling Mrs. Howard that it was a star
performance," he answered.

"I don't know what that is, but Aunt Zelie and Cousin Helen made it
all up, every bit," Bess said proudly.

The performers were so enchanted with the evening's fun that they
refused to take off their gay costumes, and declared one and all that
they meant to see the old year out.

The Father of his Country forgot his dignity, and cut up all sorts of
antics with April Fool's Day. Even Father Time joined in the fun, and
Christmas and New Year bestrewed the floor with cotton batting as they
danced with the old ladies.

But they were tired out before midnight, and when the city bells rang
in the new year they were all sound asleep and heard not a bit of it.

And this is what came of it:

Of course in the first place the harp was mended and paid for, and its
owner was able once more to earn something for his family. With her
burden thus made lighter, Marie worked away cheerfully at her
embroidery, and Tina went happily to school in the warm dress Mrs.
Howard gave her. Many were the blessings invoked on the heads of the
young people who had helped them!

"But after all," said Bess, "it was only fun for us."

In the second place Uncle William was so pleased with the five old
ladies that a charming idea came into his head. After a consul