CHAPTER VIII . PRANKS AND PLAYS As there is no particular plan to this story , except to describe a few scenes in the life at Plumfield for the amusement of certain little persons , we will gently ramble along in this chapter and tell some of the pastimes of Mrs. Jo 's boys . I beg leave to assure my honored readers that most of the incidents are taken from real life , and that the oddest are the truest ; for no person , no matter how vivid an imagination he may have , can invent anything half so droll as the freaks and fancies that originate in the lively brains of little people . Daisy and Demi were full of these whims , and lived in a world of their own , peopled with lovely or grotesque creatures , to whom they gave the queerest names , and with whom they played the queerest games . One of these nursery inventions was an invisible sprite called `` The Naughty Kitty-mouse , '' whom the children had believed in , feared , and served for a long time . They seldom spoke of it to any one else , kept their rites as private as possible ; and , as they never tried to describe it even to themselves , this being had a vague mysterious charm very agreeable to Demi , who delighted in elves and goblins . A most whimsical and tyrannical imp was the Naughty Kitty-mouse , and Daisy found a fearful pleasure in its service , blindly obeying its most absurd demands , which were usually proclaimed from the lips of Demi , whose powers of invention were great . Rob and Teddy sometimes joined in these ceremonies , and considered them excellent fun , although they did not understand half that went on . One day after school Demi whispered to his sister , with an ominous wag of the head , `` The Kitty-mouse wants us this afternoon . '' `` What for ? '' asked Daisy , anxiously . `` A sackerryfice , '' answered Demi , solemnly . `` There must be a fire behind the big rock at two o'clock , and we must all bring the things we like best , and burn them ! '' he added , with an awful emphasis on the last words . `` Oh , dear ! I love the new paper dollies Aunt Amy painted for me best of any thing ; must I burn them up ? '' cried Daisy , who never thought of denying the unseen tyrant any thing it demanded . `` Every one . I shall burn my boat , my best scrapbook , and all my soldiers , '' said Demi firmly . `` Well , I will ; but it 's too bad of Kitty-mouse to want our very nicest things , '' sighed Daisy .
`` A sackerryfice means to give up what you are fond of , so we must , '' explained XXXXX , to whom the new idea had been suggested by hearing Uncle Fritz describe the customs of the Greeks to the big boys who were reading about them in school .
Amy Demi Jo Teddy elves fire goblins imp o'clock sackerryfice