Down the River A fortnight later , the boys were picking apples one golden October afternoon , and the girls were hurrying to finish their work , that they might go and help the harvesters . It was six weeks now since the new school began , and they had learned to like it very much , though they found that it was not all play , by any means . But lessons , exercise , and various sorts of housework made an agreeable change , and they felt that they were learning things which would be useful to them all their lives . They had been making underclothes for themselves , and each had several neatly finished garments cut , fitted , and sewed by herself , and trimmed with the pretty tatting Jill made in such quantities while she lay on her sofa . Now they were completing new dressing sacks , and had enjoyed this job very much , as each chose her own material , and suited her own taste in the making . Jill 's was white , with tiny scarlet leaves all over it , trimmed with red braid and buttons so like checkerberries she was tempted to eat them . Molly 's was gay , with bouquets of every sort of flower , scalloped all round , and adorned with six buttons , each of a different color , which she thought the last touch of elegance . Merry 's , though the simplest , was the daintiest of the three , being pale blue , trimmed with delicate edging , and beautifully made . Mrs. Minot had been reading from Miss Strickland 's `` Queens of England '' while the girls worked , and an illustrated Shakspeare lay open on the table , as well as several fine photographs of historical places for them to look at as they went along . The hour was over now , the teacher gone , and the pupils setting the last stitches as they talked over the lesson , which had interested them exceedingly . `` I really believe I have got Henry 's six wives into my head right at last . Two Annes , three Katherines , and one Jane . Now I 've seen where they lived and heard their stories , I quite feel as if I knew them , '' said Merry , shaking the threads off her work before she folded it up to carry home . '' ` King Henry the Eighth to six spouses was wedded , One died , one survived , two divorced , two beheaded , ' was all I knew about them before . Poor things , what a bad time they did have , '' added Jill , patting down the red braid , which would pucker a bit at the corners . `` Katherine Parr had the best of it , because she outlived the old tyrant and so kept her head on , '' said Molly , winding the thread round her last button , as if bound to fasten it on so firmly that nothing should decapitate that . `` I used to think I 'd like to be a queen or a great lady , and wear velvet and jewels , and live in a palace , but now I do n't care much for that sort of splendor . I like to make things pretty at home , and know that they all depend on me , and love me very much . Queens are not happy , and I am , '' said Merry , pausing to look at Anne Hathaway 's cottage as she put up the picture , and to wonder if it was very pleasant to have a famous man for one 's husband . `` I guess your missionarying has done you good ; mine has , and I 'm getting to have things my own way more and more every day .
Miss Bat is so amiable , I hardly know her , and father tells her to ask Miss XXXXX when she goes to him for orders .
Eighth Henry Katherines Merry Molly Shakspeare afternoon braid missionarying right