Now , let me see ; '' and she went to exploring her closet , bureau , and table , finding such disorder everywhere that her courage nearly gave out . She had clothes enough , but all needed care ; even her best dress had two buttons off , and her Sunday hat but one string . Shoes , skirts , books , and toys lay about , and her drawers were a perfect chaos of soiled ruffles , odd gloves , old ribbons , boot lacings , and bits of paper . `` Oh , my heart , what a muddle ! Mrs. Minot would n't think much of me if she could see that , '' said Molly , recalling how that lady once said she could judge a good deal of a little girl 's character and habits by a peep at her top drawer , and went on , with great success , to guess how each of the school-mates kept her drawer . `` Come , missionary , clear up , and do n't let me find such a glory-hole again , or I 'll report you to the society , '' said Molly , tipping the whole drawer-full out upon the bed , and beguiling the tiresome job by keeping up the new play . Twilight came before it was done , and a great pile of things loomed up on her table , with no visible means of repair , -- for Molly 's work-basket was full of nuts , and her thimble down a hole in the shed-floor , where the cats had dropped it in their play . `` I 'll ask Bat for hooks and tape , and papa for some money to buy scissors and things , for I do n't know where mine are . Glad I ca n't do any more now ! Being neat is such hard work ! '' and Molly threw herself down on the rug beside the old wooden cradle in which Boo was blissfully rocking , with a cargo of toys aboard . She watched her time , and as soon as her father had done supper , she hastened to say , before he got to his desk , -- `` Please , papa , I want a dollar to get some brass buttons and things to fix Boo 's clothes with . He wore a hole in his new trousers coasting down the Kembles ' steps . And ca n't I wash him ? He needs it , and Miss Bat wo n't let me have a tub . '' `` Certainly , child , certainly ; do what you like , only do n't keep me . I must be off , or I shall miss Jackson , and he 's the man I want ; '' and , throwing down two dollars instead of one , Mr. Bemis hurried away , with a vague impression that Boo had swallowed a dozen brass buttons , and Miss Bat had been coasting somewhere in a bath-pan ; but catching Jackson was important , so he did not stop to investigate . Armed with the paternal permission , Molly carried her point , and oh , what a dreadful evening poor Boo spent ! First , he was decoyed upstairs an hour too soon , then put in a tub by main force and sternly scrubbed , in spite of shrieks that brought Miss Bat to the locked door to condole with the sufferer , scold the scrubber , and depart , darkly prophesying croup before morning . `` He always howls when he is washed ; but I shall do it , since you wo n't , and he must get used to it .
I will not have people tell me he 's neglected , if I can help it , '' cried XXXXX , working away with tears in her eyes -- for it was as hard for her as for Boo ; but she meant to be thorough for once in her life , no matter what happened .
Bat Bemis Boo First Molly bath-pan evening hour lacings shrieks