t no one would come
to use the chart, until she had time to finish the spring cleaning. She
wanted to get back into the old peaceful routine of work, in which each
day had its duties and every duty brought with it time and strength for
its performance.

Monday morning passed without any interruption, and by half-past twelve
o'clock the work belonging to the day was done and dinner was over. But
just as she began washing the dishes, there was a noise of wheels on the
'pike. Mary gave a start and almost dropped the dish she was holding.

"Oh, John!" she exclaimed, "see who it is." John stepped out on the back
porch and looked up the road. "It looks like Sally and Dan McElrath and
the two children," he said, coming back into the kitchen.

Mary compressed her lips to keep back a sigh of dismay. "Yes," she said
quietly, "Sally told me yesterday she would be over some time this week
to cut out a tea jacket by my chart, but I didn't expect her this soon.
I was just thinking I'd go up-stairs and take a nap as soon as I got
through with the dishes. But it's all right. You put a stick of wood in
the stove, John, to keep my dish-water hot, and I'll go out and ask
Sally in."

John was looking at her very earnestly.

"Honey," he said, "your hair looks as if you hadn't combed it to-day.
You run up-stairs and fix yourself, and I'll see to Sally and Dan."

And while Mary darted up the back stairs, John hurried softly into the
parlor. He could hear Sally's high, clear voice, and the wagon was
almost at the gate. It was a bold emprise on which he was bent, and the
time was short. On the top shelf of the old cherry secretary that had
belonged to Mary's grandfather lay the chart. Looking fearfully around,
he seized it, tiptoed to the kitchen, opened the stove door, and dropped
the hateful thing on a bed of glowing hickory coals. Then he put in a
stick of wood, according to Mary's behest, and the next moment he was at
the front door, placing chairs on the porch and calling out a welcome to
the alighting guests.

"Come right in, Dan. Glad to see you both. Mary's been looking for you.
Sit down here on the porch where it's cool. Here, Lucy Ellen, here's
Sarah and Daniel come to play with you."

"What on earth did John mean by saying my hair needed combing?"
soliloquized Mary up-stairs, as she looked in the glass at the shining
braids of her hair; "I fixed it just before dinner, and it's as smooth
and nice as it can be." She hurried do