your hands full."

Sure enough, on Tuesday there were fifteen scholars. Miss Morgan and
Sylvie had hardly a moment to spare until the dinner was through. Then
the latter proposed that every scholar should bring some sewing,
garments they wished cut out, any thing that perplexed them, or whatever
they would like most to learn.

All days were not so fortunate. Occasionally some dish would be spoiled
by haste, carelessness, or want of attention. There were burned fingers
and divers cuts; but Miss Morgan patiently explained her deft, neat,
labor-saving methods. There began to be a great interest; some of the
mothers coming in for an hour, or bringing a special dish to cook.
Sylvie discussed the relative value and nourishment of different
articles, the many changes that could be made at slight expense, the
saving that a little carefulness brought about. She gave brief lectures
on cleanliness, order, taste, and neatness; the right way and the wrong
way of doing many things, the giving out and the taking in; the art of
making the best, not only in such times as these, but in all times; of
being brave and true in the lowest and smallest of life's duties; of
throwing out false pride and shams, and the desire to appear richer or
grander than one's means would allow.

Then the last half-hour they had what Miss Morgan called an
inquiry-meeting. Everybody was at liberty to ask one question, and those
who knew answered it to the best of their ability. New teachers were
pressed into the service. Dr. Maverick gave them a talk on health, and
another on preparing food for the sick, and the special care some
diseases required. And Jack Darcy proposed that Christmas Eve the
cooking-school should give a supper, the tickets being at the low price
of twenty-five cents. Every dish was to be cooked by the scholars.

It created a deal of excitement. Hard as times were, the tickets sold
rapidly. The large room had two long tables, with benches for seats. The
first table was to be served at eight o'clock, the second at nine.
Sylvie made a dozen of the girls pretty Suisse aprons and dainty caps,
and they waited on the guests. Dr. Maverick offered three prizes,--one
for the best loaf of bread, one for the best plain cake, and a third for
the nicest and cheapest invalid broth.

The room was full, and they had a very gay time. Indeed, it seemed as if
half Yerbury turned out, either from honor or curiosity. At nine o'clock
they ran short of provi