`` Better make a night of it and all go to sleep . Pat can wake us up when he comes . The cold makes a fellow so drowsy . '' And Bob gave a stretch that nearly rent him asunder . `` I will let the children nap on the sofa . They are so tired of waiting , and may as well amuse themselves in that way as in fretting . Come , Gus and Rita , each take a pillow , and I 'll cover you up with my shawl . '' Gwen made the little ones comfortable , and they were off in five minutes . The others kept up bravely till nine o'clock , then the bits of candles were burnt out , the stories all told , nuts and apples had lost their charm , and weariness and hunger caused spirits to fail perceptibly . `` I 've eaten five Baldwins , and yet I want more . Something filling and good . Ca n't we catch a rat and roast him ? '' proposed Bob , who was a hearty lad and was ravenous by this time . `` Is n't there anything in the house ? '' asked Ruth , who dared not eat nuts for fear of indigestion . `` Not a thing that I know of except a few pickles in the storeroom ; we had so many , mamma left some here , '' answered Gwen , resolving to provision the house before she left it another autumn . `` Pickles alone are rather sour feed . If we only had a biscuit now , they would n't be bad for a relish , '' said Tony , with the air of a man who had known what it was to live on burnt bean-soup and rye flapjacks for a week . `` I saw a keg of soft-soap in the shed . How would that go with the pickles ? ''
suggested XXXXX , who felt equal to the biggest and acidest cucumber ever grown .
Baldwins Bob Ca Gus Gwen Pat Rita Tony bean-soup week