, he always went to Elsli secretly for
help, for he didn't want the big boys to know that he couldn't get along
without it.

Content with this scathing sarcasm, Fred ran on to the house, where
through the open door of the kitchen he saw his aunt standing by the
table, stirring something in a pudding-bowl. She was reading aloud from
a paper that lay on the table before her. "Take four large eggs, two
spoonfuls of flour, and the rind of a lemon"; and she started back as
Fred suddenly sprang in with a shout of delight at his good-fortune at
finding her alone. "This is splendid, aunty! Now, just hear this!"

He seated himself on a high stool, spread his book upon his knees and
began:--

"You know that papa once caught a bittern. Well, I want to read you a
description of it. The 'bittern, _Stellaris_,'--are you listening,
aunty?"

"Oh, yes, I'm listening. Go on."

"--'is of a reddish yellow color, with spots of black. It makes a
strange noise in the night; usually _Krawy! Krawy!_ but sometimes
_Uplumb! Uplumb!_ The hen lays four biggish eggs.' Do you know what I am
reading, aunty? What was the last thing?"

"Yes, yes, I heard. 'The hen lays four biggish eggs,'--two spoonfuls of
flour, and the rind of a lemon," said his aunt, unconsciously speaking
out what was on her mind.

Fred looked up anxiously, for she had spoken quite seriously, without a
trace of fun in her tones.

"Oh, I didn't mean that," she said, laughing, as she observed her
mistake. "I was only thinking more of my receipt than of your bittern,
Fred."

"I'm glad you don't really think that birds lay flour and lemon-peel,"
said Fred, and went on:--

"'The flesh tastes of--'"

But the description was interrupted. Oscar and Emma came bursting into
the kitchen together, and while Oscar stood as close to his aunt, as he
could, on the right, Emma pulled her head down on the left and began
whispering into her ear. Between the two, she had hard work to keep on
with her pudding.

"Only think, aunty," began Oscar, "Feklitus says now that he won't have
our motto on the banner, that he has heard another that he likes a great
deal better. What do you say, aunty? What shall we do about it? You know
how cross he is when he is opposed, and he'll break off altogether."

"Emma, do be still a moment; I will listen to you presently. Now, Oscar,
what is this verse that Feklitus proposes; let us hear it and see if it
is a good one."

"Liberty, Equality, Fratern