w you can
eat that 'n' no more. No, it ain't either, for that pig of a Peory's
just gettin' another helpin'!"

"Yes," whispered Kitty, "an' the napkins is marked with big red letters!
I wonder if that's so nobody'll nip 'em; an' oh, Peter, look at the
pictures stickin' right on ter the dishes! Did yee ever?"

"The plums is all took out o' my cramb'ry sarse an' it's friz to a stiff
jell'!" whispered Peoria, in wild excitement.

"Hi--yah! I got a wish-bone!" sang Larry, regardless of Sarah Maud's
frown; after which she asked to have his seat changed, giving as excuse
that he "gen'ally set beside her, an' would feel strange;" the true
reason being that she desired to kick him gently, under the table,
whenever he passed what might be termed "the McGrill line."

"I declare to goodness," murmured Susan, on the other side, "there's so
much to look at I can't scarcely eat nothin'!"

"Bet yer life I can!" said Peter, who had kept one servant busily
employed ever since he sat down; for, luckily, no one was asked by Uncle
Jack whether he would have a second helping, but the dishes were quietly
passed under their noses, and not a single Ruggles refused anything that
was offered him, even unto the seventh time.

Then, when Carol and Uncle Jack perceived that more turkey was a
physical impossibility, the meats were taken off and the dessert was
brought in--a dessert that would have frightened a strong man after such
a dinner as had preceded it. Not so the Ruggleses--for a strong man is
nothing to a small boy--and they kindled to the dessert as if the turkey
had been a dream and the six vegetables an optical delusion. There were
plum-pudding, mince-pie, and ice-cream; and there were nuts, and
raisins, and oranges. Kitty chose ice-cream, explaining that she knew
it "by sight, though she hadn't never tasted none;" but all the rest
took the entire variety, without any regard to consequences.

[Illustration: "THE RUGGLESES NEVER FORGOT IT"]

"My dear child," whispered Uncle Jack, as he took Carol an orange,
"there is no doubt about the necessity of this feast, but I do advise
you after this to have them twice a year, or quarterly perhaps, for the
way these children eat is positively dangerous; I assure you I tremble
for that terrible Peoria. I'm going to run races with her after dinner."

"Never mind," laughed Carol; "let them have enough for once; it does my
heart good to see them, and they shall come oftener next year."

The