ountry as a public
nuisance.

Then came the grocers, with their aprons of coffee bags, and with the
jolly, mischievous faces the rogues always have. Each one clasped to
his heart a sugar loaf nearly as large as himself, whose summit,
without its paper cap, looked like new-fallen snow upon a pyramid.
Mother Mitchel, with her crutch for a baton, saw them all placed in
her storerooms upon shelves put up for the purpose. She had to be
very strict, for some of the little fellows could hardly part from
their merchandise, and many were indiscreet, with their tongues behind
their great mountains of sugar. If they had been let alone, they would
never have stopped till the sugar was all gone. But they had not
thought of the implacable eye of old Fanfreluche, who, posted upon a
water spout, took note of all their misdeeds. From another quarter
came a whole army of country people, rolling wheelbarrows and carrying
huge baskets, all filled with cherries, plums, peaches, apples, and
pears. All these fruits were so fresh, in such perfect condition, with
their fair shining skins, that they looked like wax or painted marble,
but their delicious perfume proved that they were real. Some little
people, hidden in the corners, took pains to find this out. Between
ourselves, Mother Mitchel made believe not to see them, and took the
precaution of holding Fanfreluche in her arms so that he could not
spring upon them. The fruits were all put into bins, each kind by
itself. And now the preparations were finished. There was no time to
lose before setting to work.

The spot which Mother Mitchel had chosen for her great edifice was a
pretty hill on which a plateau formed a splendid site. This hill
commanded the capital city, built upon the slope of another hill close
by. After having beaten down the earth till it was as smooth as a
floor, they spread over it loads of bread crumbs, brought from the
baker's, and levelled it with rake and spade, as we do gravel in our
garden walks. Little birds, as greedy as themselves, came in flocks to
the feast, but they might eat as they liked, it would never be missed,
so thick was the carpet. It was a great chance for the bold little
things.

All the ingredients for the tart were now ready. Upon order of Mother
Mitchel they began to peel the apples and pears and to take out the
pips. The weather was so pleasant that the girls sat out of doors,
upon the ground, in long rows. The sun looked down upon them with