"Perhaps the apple-bee would like to have you pull all the stems off these raisins," said her mother, laughing. So Prue sat down upon the large braided rug near the door and began to stem the raisins with all her might. Soon Mrs. Hodgkins arrived and imperiously ordered her husband to "lug in that crock from the wagon."

"For mercy's sake!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mrs. Weston, "whatever have you got there?" as, puffing and blowing, Joel Hodgkins landed an immense stone crock upon the kitchen table.

"Well, I'll tell ye," said Mrs. Hodgkins; "I know this is no donation party, but I had this big crock er doughnuts, and I says, says I, 'Somebody will eat 'em ef I take 'em over,' so here they be."

"Sophrony wouldn't think she was takin' part in the bee if some of her prize doughnuts wasn't in the treat."

Every one laughed at Joel Hodgkins's speech, and the doughnuts were very kindly received.

"We all know that your doughnuts are the best in town," said Mrs.

Weston, "and I guess everybody'll be glad to have one, I'm sure-" but the remark was left incomplete as she hastened to the door to admit Mrs.

Jenks.

"How are ye, Mrs. Weston? I had Reuben drive me over, and I've brought a lot of those big red apples, ef ye don't mind havin' 'em. Reuben an' I have rubbed and polished 'em 'til they shine like everything. I thought maybe they'd make the table look pretty," and she flushed as she offered this first contribution of her life.

"They will look handsome," said Mrs. Weston. "I declare it was real thoughtful in you to bring them. Why, for goodness' sake! How many did ye bring?" as Reuben arrived with basket after basket, which he placed in a row upon the table, and then commenced to make another row upon the swing table on the opposite side of the room.

"I've no idee how many there is," said Mrs. Jenks. "Reuben an' I commenced rubbin' and polishin' 'em right after breakfast, and we never stopped rubbin' 'til we was ready to start. Then we packed in the baskets, and here we be."

Meanwhile the neighbors had removed bonnets and shawls, and three energetic housekeepers, with the help of Randy and little Prue, succeeded in "keeping things moving," as Mrs. Jenks had expressed it.

Suddenly, Jotham Potts's dark face peeped in at the door, with, "Say, Mrs. Weston, I'm a master hand at chopping, so any time I can help, just give me a chopping knife and tray, and I'll work like a major."

"I'll bear ye in mind, and call ye when I want ye," answered Mrs.

Weston, and Prue rushed to the door to offer him a handful of raisins, saying, "I give them to you, Jotham, 'cause you're the biggest and the nicest boy I know."

"Thank you, p.u.s.s.y. Hey! where are you now?" and he swung the child lightly up on his shoulder.

"May I go with Jotham 'stead of picking any more raisins?"

"Yes, run along," said her mother, glad to have her in the care of some one whom she could trust to keep her out of mischief.

So busily did every one work that by Wednesday night the cooking for the spread was completed. Old and young had helped with a will to make the evening a success, and at last Thursday arrived, although Prue confided to Randy that she "b'lieved it never would."

When the final decorations for the apple-bee were in place, everything needed for the sumptuous spread ready, there was absolutely nothing to do but wait patiently for the evening to come.

The apples were to be cut, cored, and strung in the kitchen, the spread was to be in the "settin' room," and all the rooms were decorated so gayly that they appeared festive indeed. Randy had decorated the "best room," making it gay with branches of autumn leaves, in gorgeous colors, and sprays of scarlet privet berries.

The Babson girls had had a bright idea in regard to tr.i.m.m.i.n.g the "settin' room."

"What's the reason we can't tie the corn husks together at the tip ends, and keep on tying 'til we get enough to go around the room, and then hang up the long string of ears and husks just above the pictures?"

queried Belinda Babson.

"Oh, Belinda!" screamed Randy, "that's such a bright idea, what ever made you think of it?"

"I just did think of it, that's all," said Belinda, much pleased that her design for decoration met with approval. So the girls rushed out to the barn to find Mr. Weston and ask permission to use the corn.

"Land, yes," he said when approached, "use anything within reach, I say, so long as it helps to make the house look pooty;" so, laughing gayly, the girls filled their ap.r.o.ns with corn, and running to the house commenced, in furious haste, to tie the husks together.

All the young friends had called that morning in a body to offer their help to Randy, and she had most gladly accepted it.

While the girls were tying the corn husks, Jotham Potts and Reuben Jenks were making themselves very useful, for by this time the girls had discovered that it required a great many ears of corn with which to garland or festoon the room. The boys brought the corn in wheelbarrow loads and then offered to help do the tying.

"Oh, boys couldn't do this," said Phbe Small, who was much piqued to see that whenever Jotham sat down to rest, he sat near Randy.

"That's one of your pleasant speeches, Phbe," said Reuben Jenks, before his friend Jotham could reply; whereat Phbe tied a hard knot in a corn husk with such unnecessary vim that it broke.

Reuben laughed slyly; and Randy with her usual kindness, appearing not to notice the tilt, praised Phbe's pretty arrangement of red and yellow ears, and thus smoothed "ruffled feathers."

Jotham looked at Randy with real admiration. "I b'lieve she always does the right thing," thought the boy; so Phbe's spite only strengthened the admiration of Randy's young cavalier.

"I think I've got a first-rate notion for decorating," said Jotham, "and if you'll let me and Reuben do it I tell you we can make that front walk as light as day, and as handsome as a picture for to-night, Randy," and Jotham looked at the girl with eyes that sparkled with enthusiasm.

"Of course I'll let you do it, if it's fine," said Randy.

"Now you needn't ask questions, for it's a secret; and Reuben an' me'll do it, without telling anybody but your pa," said Jotham, and out rushed the boys to hold a whispered conclave on the back stairs.

"My, won't that be prime!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Reuben, amazed at the brilliancy of Jotham's plan, and proud to be taken into a secret by a boy three years older than himself.

Mr. Weston laughed long and loudly when the boys unfolded their plan, and declared that he'd do his part of it now. Accordingly, he soon appeared in the path which led from the road to the door, and began to drive long stakes into the ground on either side of the walk.

"What are you doing, father?" called Randy.

"Drivin' stakes, ain't I?" he responded, and with that she was obliged to be contented. The boys were out of sight, and the girls wondered what they were doing; but when at night a line of brilliant lights glowed on each side of the walk, they willingly declared the decoration a success.

Mr. Weston had driven the stakes quite near together and every one was capped with a jack-o'-lantern made from a great golden pumpkin, so that, from road to doorway, a line of grinning goblins served to give a flaming welcome.

At last everything was in readiness and the guests began to arrive.

Reuben's mother had listened with much interest to the boy's scheme, and had insisted on donating all the pumpkins required.

And now the wagons began to arrive, and great praise was bestowed upon the boys for their novel lighting of the walk. The pumpkins made very fine lamps, and one giant of its kind, fastened high above the door, smiled broadly upon each new arrival.

Team after team drove up to the door, and shouts and laughter rang out on the crisp evening air as the guests first saw the gleaming lantern rows.

At last nearly every one had arrived, and the rooms were bright with happy faces. In one corner a group of old ladies were chatting about the bees and huskings which they had enjoyed in their youth.

The farmers and their wives were buzzing away over the latest bit of village gossip, the women telling it as they "b'lieved it was," and the men using convincing arguments to show that they had heard it "straight"

at the store at the four corners.

Girls and boys tried to out-talk each other, and everywhere the children ran in and out, playing "hide-and-seek" behind the st.u.r.dy forms of their elders.

Helen had coaxed Randy to refrain from brushing back every curling lock, telling her that her hair was made to curl; and thus convinced, Randy appeared at the bee with a soft fluff of her light brown hair making a halo about her face.

"I must say Miss Dayton's right; I like the looks of it," said Mrs.

Weston, when Randy appeared before her with her hair dressed in the manner which Miss Dayton had suggested; so with much impatience Randy waited to see the look of approval on Helen's face when she should arrive. And others were looking for Helen in whose honor this festival was planned.

At last a resounding "Whoa! Be still, can't ye?" announced the arrival of old Sandy McLeod, and great was the surprise when, as Randy opened the door, Helen-smiling, radiant Helen-came in, saying, "Good evening, friends," and followed by her ancient cavalier, old Sandy.