room.

"What yer done with it?" whined Gregory, as she came back with
empty hands.

"I've put it where you won't find it in a hurry," she answered
tartly. "Now hustle outdoors, the whole of you, and don't show
your heads in here again till supper time!"

Polly drew a breath of relief, as the last Simpson vanished. She
had forgotten how turbulent the children were.

When the dishes were out of the way began Polly's first lesson in
sewing buttons to cards, and to Aunt Jane's delight she could soon
do the work quickly and well.

"You'll be quite a help," was the commendation that brought a
little solace to her sore heart. "Thank goodness, you're quieter
than my own kids!"

So passed the afternoon, until came supper and the new uncle.

Polly had been helping set the table, when the door opened, and a
little, thin-featured man stepped softly in.

"Polly May, I'll make you acquainted with your Uncle 'Rastus,
'Rastus Bean," called Aunt Jane from the cupboard that served for
china closet and pantry.

"How do you do, my dear? How do you do?" smiled Mr. Erastus
Bean, holding out his hand. "I'm very glad to see you."

Polly's little fingers had barely touched the strong, wiry ones,
when Mrs. Bean's rasping voice broke in.

"Come along and wash up, 'Rastus! The water's good and hot."

Polly's hand was dropped, as if it had been of the temperature of
the water.

"Yis, I'm comin' Jane! I'm comin' fas' 's I can!" The little
man hurried across to the sink.

The children tumbled in, Gregory sprawling across the threshold
and knocking Katie against a chair.

"Why don't yer ever look where you goin'?" fretted Sophia.

"He's always runnin' over me!" wailed Katie.

"Say, where's Marcus and 'Melie?" demanded Maude.

"Over to Mis' Cobbe's, where I hope they'll stay till after
supper," answered their mother. "Her kids have been here enough,
and I guess she can 'tend to mine for one meal."

"I can't go after 'em, 'cause I got to study my spellin',"
announced Sophia.

"Nobody asked yer to," retorted Mrs. Bean. "They'd ought to know
enough to come home alone."

The meal progressed to the accompaniment of jarring speech, and
Polly was glad when it was over.

"Mamma, can we go up on the roof?" asked Katie. "The other folks
are up there, and we'll keep away from the edge."

"I don't care; but, remember, the first one that goes near that
rail gets a whippin'!"

The door slammed behind Maude, and Polly began to c