ually. It certainly was not
entertaining or instructive conversation."

"But I wish to do my share toward buying the cake for Aunt Steiner,"
said Fritz, and he took out ten cents of the money given him by Uncle
Braun, the other boys each added ten, and quite a large piece of the
rich cake was ordered, wrapped in white paper, paid for and then they
were ready to go to 37 Bornheimer street, for Uncle Braun had decided
that they had enough sight-seeing for one day.

They parted from their kind guide with many thanks for the pleasures he
had given them, and went slowly up the long steps. When they opened the
door of the cheerful supper room, all was so homelike and comfortable,
and Mrs. Steiner welcomed them so gladly that they felt that it was a
great blessing to have a second home.

"Dear boys," she said, "rest a little while, then one of you get a
pitcher of fresh water and all go to your room and wash faces and hands
and brush your hair, and you will be refreshed and rested for supper."

Fritz had carried the cake, and when his aunt returned to the kitchen he
slipped it back of the stove until the proper time to present it, then
all went to their room.

"Are you hungry?" asked Franz.

"Yes, hungry as a wolf," replied Paul, "but don't let us speak of it
again, or Aunt Steiner will think that we are Odenwald wolves and all we
came to see her for is what we get to eat. You know what Uncle Braun
said of those three young men and I don't wish to be like them."

Upon returning to the supper room Fritz said, "Let us set the table for
Aunt Fanny."

"All right," responded Franz, springing up. "Do you put on the
tablecloth and I will put on the dishes."

"No, let us both spread the cloth, and both put on the dishes," returned
Fritz, but Franz got a plate from the cupboard, and when Fritz attempted
to take it out of his hands it fell to the floor and broke into many
pieces.

"Now see what you have done!" ejaculated Franz.

"No, what you have done," retorted Fritz.

Question and answer flew back and forth like snowballs in winter, and
then Mrs. Steiner appeared at the door.

"Dear, dear, that is a great display of crockery!" she said.

"Franz did it," said Fritz.

"No, it was Fritz."

"Oh, you innocent lambs," she said laughingly, "of course neither of you
did it, so it must be that little man on the clock face who stepped down
to break a plate. Or perhaps it was the dog; he is hiding his face
between his feet