They quite forgot that sister Betsey had brought up a flock of motherless brothers and sisters , and done it wisely and well , though she never got any thanks or praise for it , and never expected any for doing her duty faithfully . If it had not been for aunty , Harry and Kitty would have long ago carried out their favorite plan , and have run away together , like Roland and Maybird . She kept them from this foolish prank by all sorts of unsuspected means , and was their refuge in troublous times . For all her quiet ways , aunty was full of fun as well as sympathy and patience , and she smoothed the thorny road to virtue with the innocent and kindly little arts that make some people as useful and beloved as good fairy godmothers were once upon a time . As they sat at tea that evening papa and mamma were most affable and lively ; but the children 's spirits were depressed by a long day of restraint , and they sat like well-bred mutes , languidly eating their supper . ` It 's the warm weather . They need something bracing . I 'll give them a dose of iron mixture to-morrow , ' said mamma . ` I 've taken enough now to make a cooking-stove , ' groaned Kitty , who hated being dosed . ` If you 'd let me go swimming every night I 'd be all right , ' added Harry . ` Not another word on that point . I will not let you do it , for you will get drowned as sure as you try , ' said mamma , who was so timid she had panics the minute her boy was out of sight . ` Aunt Betsey let her boys go , and they never came to grief , ' began Harry . ` Aunt Betsey 's ideas and mine differ . Children are not brought up now as they were in her day , ' answered mamma with a superior air . ' I just wish they were . Jolly good times her boys had . ' ` Yes , and girls too , playing anything they liked , and not rigged up and plagued with company , ' cried Kitty , with sudden interest . ` What do you mean by that ? ' asked papa good-naturedly ; for somehow his youth returned to him for a minute , and seemed very pleasant .
The children could not explain very well , but Harry said slowly , -- ` If you were to be in our places for a XXXXX you 'd see what we mean . '
Harry Kitty Roland cooking-stove day drowned evening godmothers mutes night