`` But she can not go on playing football very long , and we must not forget that she has a woman 's work to do by and by , '' began Mrs. Jessie . `` Neither will Mac play football much longer , but he will be all the better fitted for business , because of the health it gives him . Polish is easily added , if the foundations are strong ; but no amount of gilding will be of use if your timber is not sound . I 'm sure I 'm right , Jessie ; and if I can do as well by my girl during the next six months as I have the last , my experiment will succeed . '' `` It certainly will ; for when I contrast that bright , blooming face with the pale , listless one that made my heart ache a while ago , I can believe in almost any miracle , '' said Mrs. Jessie , as Rose looked round to point out a lovely view , with cheeks like the ruddy apples in the orchard near by , eyes clear as the autumn sky overhead , and vigour in every line of her girlish figure . A general scramble among the rocks was followed by a regular gypsy lunch , which the young folks had the rapture of helping to prepare . Mother Atkinson put on her apron , turned up her sleeves , and fell to work as gaily as if in her own kitchen , boiling the kettle slung on three sticks , over a fire of cones and fir boughs ; while the girls spread the mossy table with a feast of country goodies , and the children tumbled about in everyone 's way till the toot of the horn made them settle down like a flock of hungry birds . As soon as the merry meal and a brief interval of repose were over , it was unanimously voted to have some charades . A smooth , green spot between two stately pines was chosen for the stage ; shawls hung up , properties collected , audience and actors separated , and a word quickly chosen . The first scene discovered Mac in a despondent attitude and shabby dress , evidently much troubled in mind . To him entered a remarkable creature with a brown paper bag over its head . A little pink nose peeped through one hole in the middle , white teeth through another , and above two eyes glared fiercely . Spires of grass stuck in each side of the mouth seemed meant to represent whiskers ; the upper corners of the bag were twisted like ears , and no one could doubt for a moment that the black scarf pinned on behind was a tail . This singular animal seemed in pantomime to be comforting his master and offering advice , which was finally acted upon , for Mac pulled off his boots , helped the little beast into them , and gave him a bag ; then , kissing his paw , with a hopeful gesture , the creature retired , purring so successfully that there was a general cry of `` Cat , puss , boots ! '' `` Cat is the word , '' replied a voice , and the curtain fell . The next scene was a puzzler , for in came another animal , on all-fours this time , with a new sort of tail and long ears . A gray shawl concealed its face , but an inquisitive sunbeam betrayed the glitter as of goggles under the fringe . On its back rode a small gentleman in Eastern costume , who appeared to find some difficulty in keeping his seat as his steed jogged along . Suddenly a spirit appeared , all in white , with long newspaper wings upon its back and golden locks about its face . Singularly enough , the beast beheld this apparition and backed instantly , but the rider evidently saw nothing and whipped up unmercifully , also unsuccessfully , for the spirit stood directly in the path , and the amiable beast would not budge a foot .
A lively skirmish followed , which ended in the XXXXX gentleman being upset into a sweet-fern bush , while the better bred animal abased itself before the shining one .
Atkinson Eastern Jessie Mac Polish charades fire gilding right sunbeam