"Aunty Rolling Pin," cried Mary Frances, not realizing she had interrupted, "there are enough Thimble Biscuits not burnt to go 'round.

Isn't that good? And the dolls can't make themselves sick with them."

"It's not much of a waste," smiled Aunty Rolling Pin, "and (seeming to be seriously thinking) the dolls can't make themselves sick on them--eating too many, I suppose."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "You see it's like this"]

"Well," said Mary Frances, "you see, it's like this:

"When I my dolls invite to tea, It is a pretty sight to see The things one seldom gets to eat All on the table spread, so sweet; But to my dollies I explain, Don't eat too much--you'll have a pain.

"Then, just to save them such a trial, I let them sit and look a while At cakes, and tarts, and candies, too.

Then eat them up myself--wouldn't you?

For thus they're saved from being ill, And I, likewise, a doctor's bill.

But--just between you, dear, and me-- They couldn't eat at all, you see."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Dolls can't make themselves sick."]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DOLL'S KITCHEN PARTY]

And away ran Mary Frances to bring the dolls.

"It was a lovely Tea Party, wasn't it, Angie?" sighed Mary Frances, putting her family to bed after it was all over.

[Ill.u.s.tration: After it was all over.]

"And you did 'behave a credit' to your mother. I feel sure now you will remember all I've taught you. Not one of you would eat soup from the point of a spoon, nor spread a whole slice of bread at once, nor leave your spoon in your cup, which is a great comfort to a mother. Only Peg, you poor child, you should not have spilled that cocoa down your best dress. But 'Children will be children,' I 'spose--and you're very dear children."

("I wouldn't have them, for the world, jealous of the Kitchen People--and I've neglected them shamefully of late.")

"I'm not much taken with those things called 'dolls,' Aunty Rolling Pin," said Sauce Pan, seating himself on the edge of the top closet-shelf, and crossing one leg over his knee. "They're not much use."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "They're not much use."]

"Ah," sighed Aunty Rolling Pin, looking wise, "a doll's a doll, for all that."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "A doll's no good boiled!"]

"Of course," said Sauce Pan, "but a doll's no good boiled!"

"Well, no," admitted Aunty Rolling Pin, "the best, of course, are _baked_ of

NO. 19.--GINGERBREAD COOKIES.

cup mola.s.ses 2 tablespoons b.u.t.ter 2 tablespoons lard flour tablespoon ginger teaspoon salt teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon warm water

1. Warm the mola.s.ses.

2. Put the b.u.t.ter and lard in a bowl. Pour over them the mola.s.ses.

3. Dissolve soda in the warm water. Add to the mola.s.ses.

4. Sift ginger, salt and cup flour together.

5. Sift into the mola.s.ses, beating well. If necessary, add more flour to make a soft dough.

6. Grease a shallow pan.

7. Roll the dough out 1/3 inch thick.

8. Cut out with a little round cutter, dipping it into flour each time.

Place cookies some distance apart on the pan. Bake about 10 minutes.

NOTE.--Instead of rolling out, little spoonfuls may be dropped far apart on the pan and flattened with the bottom of a round tin cup.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "The best, of course, are _baked_."]

"Then you----

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"Oh, Aunty Rolling Pin, n.o.body's doing a lesson. Besides, after it's baked it's done!" cried Sauce Pan impatiently.

"So'm I!" smiled Aunty Rolling Pin.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "It was a lovely Tea Party, wasn't it Angie?"]

CHAPTER XVII

THE SICK NEIGHBOR

"MARY ANN HOOPER is very ailing," said Aunt Maria at the lunch table.

She had invited the children over to lunch that day. "She needs nourishment more than anything else, I should say. That cook she has can't make a decent thing. No wonder she's weak!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Mary Ann Hooper is very ailing."]

"If only," thought Mary Frances, "if only I could cook something for her! Wait until I look in my book. I wonder if she could eat to-day's lesson."

She laughed aloud--that seemed so funny.

"Well," snapped Aunt Maria, "of all things; to laugh at a poor sick neighbor in such a pre-dic-a-ment."