er she had led
the way to a pleasant corner of the veranda, and her guests were grouped
about her. "A Charity Club to which I belong is going to have a sort of
an entertainment which is not exactly a fair or a bazaar, but which is
called a Peddler's Festival. Of course, it is to make money for charity,
and while the older people have charge of it, they will be assisted by
young people, and even children. Now I think it will be lovely for you
chick-a-biddies to take part in this affair, if you want to; but if you
don't want to, you must say so frankly, for you're not going to do
anything you don't like while your Cousin Ethel is on deck!"

"S'pose you tell 'em about it, Ethelinda, and let them judge for
themselves," said her husband, who was sitting on the veranda railing,
with Midge and Kitty on either side of him, and Rosamond in his arms.

"Well, it's this way," began Cousin Ethel. "Instead of having articles
for sale in any room or hall, we are going to send them all around town,
in pushcarts or wagons, each in charge of a peddler. These peddlers will
be young people dressed in fancy costumes, and each will try to sell his
load of wares by calling from house to house. Some peddlers will have
pushcarts or toy express wagons, or even wheelbarrows. Others will carry
a suitcase or a basket or a peddler's pack. They may go together or
separately, and the whole day will be devoted to it."

"Great scheme!" commented Cousin Jack. "Wish we might be in it, eh, Ned?"

"Well, no," said Mr. Maynard, "I don't believe I care about that sort of
thing myself, but I rather think the Maynard chicks will like it."

"Yes, indeed," cried Marjorie, her eyes dancing at the thought; "I think
it will be lovely fun, Cousin Ethel. But can we girls push a big
pushcart? Do you mean like the grocers use?"

"There will be a few of those," said Cousin Ethel, "and in all cases
where the vehicles are too heavy for the girls, there will be young men
appointed to do the pushing, while the girls cajole the customers into
buying. It will not be difficult, as everybody will be waiting for you
with open hearts and open purses."

"It's a grand plan," said Kitty, speaking with her usual air of
thoughtful deliberation. "What shall we sell, Cousin Ethel?"

"Well, I'm undecided whether to put you two girls together, or put you
each with some one else. I'd like to put you each with another little
girl, but if I do that, I will have to put Marjorie with Ber