Eight cousins : or, The aunt-hill

COSEY CORNER. 147" Don't care if you are you 'd better mind yourself,and tell;how you took away my strap, and keptthe biggest doughnut, and did n't draw fair when wehad the truck."" Yes, and you slapped Frank ; I saw you," bawledWillie Snow, bobbing uj) in his pew."And you took my book away and hid it 'causer would n't go and swing when you wanted me to,"added Annette, the oldest of the Snow trio." I shartt build my house by Willie's if he don'twant me to, so now ! " put in little Marion, joiningthe mutiny." I icill tiss Dimmy !and I tored up my hat 'tausea pin picked me," shouted Pokey, regardless of Jamie'sefforts to restrain her.Captain Dove looked rather taken aback at thisoutbreak in the ranks ; but, being a dignified and calmpersonage, he quelled the rising rebellion with greattact and skill by saying, briefly, —" 'We will sing the last hymn ; Sweet, sweet goodby,'— you all know that, so do it nicely, and thenwe will go and have luncheon."Peace was instantly restored, and a burst of melodydrowned the suppressed giggles of Rose and Mac, whofound it impossible to keep sober during the latterpart of this somewhat remarkable service. Fifteenminutes of repose rendered it a physical impossibilityfor the company to march out as quietly as they hadmarched in. I grieve to state that the entire troopraced home as hard as they could pelt, and were soonskirmishing briskly over their lunch, utterly obliviousof what Jamie (who had been much impressed by thesermon) called " the captain's beautiful teck."