Even Roxy expressed her pleasure in seeing `` things kind of spruced up , '' and Merry 's gentle treatment of the hard-working drudge won her heart entirely . The girl was thinking of these changes as she watered her flowers , dusted the furniture , and laid the fire ready for kindling ; and , when all was done , she stood a minute to enjoy the pleasant room , full of spring sunshine , fresh air , and exquisite order . It seemed to give her heart for more distasteful labors , and she fell to work at the pies as cheerfully as if she liked it . Mrs. Grant was flying about the kitchen , getting the loaves of brown and white bread ready for the big oven . Roxy 's voice came up from the cellar singing `` Bounding Billows , '' with a swashing and scrubbing accompaniment which suggested that she was actually enjoying a `` life on the ocean wave . '' Merry , in her neat cap and apron , stood smiling over her work as she deftly rolled and clipped , filled and covered , finding a certain sort of pleasure in doing it well , and adding interest to it by crimping the crust , making pretty devices with strips of paste and star-shaped prickings of the fork . `` Good-will giveth skill , '' says the proverb , and even particular Mrs. Grant was satisfied when she paused to examine the pastry with her experienced eye . `` You are a handy child and a credit to your bringing up , though I do say it . Those are as pretty pies as I 'd wish to eat , if they bake well , and there 's no reason why they should n't . '' `` May I make some tarts or rabbits of these bits ? The boys like them , and I enjoy modelling this sort of thing , '' said Merry , who was trying to mould a bird , as she had seen Ralph do with clay to amuse Jill while the bust was going on . `` No , dear ; there 's no time for knick-knacks to-day . The beets ought to be on this minute . Run and get 'em , and be sure you scrape the carrots well . '' Poor Merry put away the delicate task she was just beginning to like , and taking a pan went down cellar , wishing vegetables could be grown without earth , for she hated to put her hands in dirty water . A word of praise to Roxy made that grateful scrubber leave her work to poke about in the root-cellar , choosing `` sech as was pretty much of a muchness , else they would n't bile even ; '' so Merry was spared that part of the job , and went up to scrape and wash without complaint , since it was for father . She was repaid at noon by the relish with which he enjoyed his dinner , for Merry tried to make even a boiled dish pretty by arranging the beets , carrots , turnips , and potatoes in contrasting colors , with the beef hidden under the cabbage leaves . `` Now , I 'll rest and read for an hour , then I 'll rake my garden , or run down town to see Molly and get some seeds , '' she thought to herself , as she put away the spoons and glasses , which she liked to wash , that they might always be clear and bright . `` If you 've done all your own mending , there 's a heap of socks to be looked over . Then I 'll show you about darning the tablecloths .
I do hate to have a stitch of work left over till Monday , '' said Mrs. XXXXX , who never took naps , and prided herself on sitting down to her needle at 3 P.M. every day .
Grant Jill Merry Ralph minute muchness noon prickings scrubber tarts