"Say it!" interrupted several Kitchen People. ("What fun!" thought Mary Frances. "I'll try to remember it.")

[Ill.u.s.tration: Complained Coffee Pot.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Beginning to recite.]

"All right!" said Sauce Pan, proudly, beginning to recite:

"'The good old times are back, they say; Now, people eat six times a day.

Nothing they eat is quite so good As victuals, eatables and food.

They'll eat 'em cooked, they'll eat 'em raw, While they have teeth with which to chaw.'"

"Beautiful!" exclaimed the Kitchen People.

"If that isn't too silly for anything in the world!"

It was a new voice. Mary Frances peeped out. Big Blue Pitcher was near the edge of the shelf.

"It's perfectly true, though," re-tort-ed Sauce Pan, angrily.

"There! There!" said Aunty Rolling Pin, soothingly; "don't get so excited! Of course it's true."

"You bet it's true and I can prove----"

"Oh, my ear!" cried Blue Pitcher, toppling dangerously near the edge of the shelf. "Prove it! Prove it! You can't!--you conceited id-i-o-ti-cal old Sauce Pan! I dare you!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Big Blue Pitcher was near the edge]

Over he went--Crash!!!--broken into pieces.

"He's dead," exclaimed the excited Kitchen People, and began to wring their funny little hands, and to cry

"Oh, why did-de-die?

"Oh, why did-de-die?

"Oh, why did-de-die? did-de-die-die-die?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Over he went--Crash!!!]

They kept up this chant until Mary Frances stepped out into the kitchen.

"Why _did_-de-die?" demanded Mary Frances, but not a word was answered.

"What will Mother say?" she said, sweeping up the broken pieces of poor Blue Pitcher. "Won't she be sorry!"

"Yes, she will!" said Sauce Pan; "but it was his own fault! I think Jubey'll be sorrier! She thought Blue Pitcher one of her best friends.

They were very con-fi-dent-ial. Only yesterday I heard her telling him that always after eating a hearty meal for which she had no appet.i.te, she felt hungry."

"What did Blue Pitcher say?" asked Aunty Rolling Pin.

"Never paid any 'tention--just said: 'Humph, Jubey, I know where a lot of cat-tails grow!'

"'You do, do you?' said Jubey. 'I'd like to know.'

"'On little kittens!' said Blue Pitcher."

The Kitchen People laughed.

"Bet Sauce Pan made that all up," whispered Coffee Pot.

"No," said Sauce Pan, overhearing, "I--I don't tell _tails_!"

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER XX

MARY FRANCES GIVES A COOKING LESSON

"COME!" said Mary Frances. "This is enough nonsense for one day.

"Now, Kitchen People, I promised to give a friend of mine a cooking lesson. If I bring her now, can you help us,--as you generally do me?"

"No, child," said Aunty Rolling Pin, smiling; "but perhaps you have learned by this time pretty nearly well enough to do an easy lesson without our help. We can't talk before other people, you know. Perhaps the little girl's own Kitchen People will help her some time."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "You can get along nicely"]

"Well, it's a very easy lesson, I think.--'Apple Snow,' she added. And 'a promise 's a promise!'"

"Yes," interrupted Sauce Pan, "you can get along nicely with that recipe."

[Ill.u.s.tration: The little girls had a lovely time.]

"Perhaps I can," said Mary Frances, happily. "I'll go over for Eleanor now."

The little girls had a lovely time doing just as Mary Frances' mother had written in the recipe. The Kitchen People watched out of the corners of their eyes, but never said a word.

"Oh, isn't this good," sighed Eleanor, eating the light, delicious dessert. Then, "Mary Frances, I know; I'm going to ask my mother for a cook book! I wonder if you'll let me borrow yours some time to show her."

"Of course!" laughed Mary Frances.

Just then there was a ring at the door-bell.

In came Aunt Maria with a mysterious looking bundle.

"Why, my dear, you have company, I see," said the old lady with a smile.