Molly fancied she washed and dressed him well enough ; but to-day she seemed to see more clearly , and sighed as she thought of the hard job in store for her if she gave him the thorough washing he needed , and combed out that curly mop of hair . `` I 'll clear up first and do that by and by . I ought to have a nice little tub and good towels , like Mrs. Minot , and I will , too , if I buy them myself , '' she said , piling up cups with an energy that threatened destruction to handles . Miss Bat , who was trailing about the kitchen , with her head pinned up in a little plaid shawl , was so surprised by the demand for a pan of hot water and four clean towels , that she nearly dropped her snuff-box , chief comfort of her lazy soul . `` What new whimsey now ? Generally , the dishes stand round till I have time to pick 'em up , and you are off coasting or careering somewhere . Well , this tidy fit wo n't last long , so I may as well make the most of it , '' said Miss Bat , as she handed out the required articles , and then pushed her spectacles from the tip of her sharp nose to her sharper black eyes for a good look at the girl who stood primly before her , with a clean apron on and her hair braided up instead of flying wildly about her shoulders . `` Umph ! '' was all the comment that Miss Bat made on this unusual neatness , and she went on scraping her saucepans , while Molly returned to her work , very well pleased with the effect of her first step , for she felt that the bewilderment of Miss Bat would be a constant inspiration to fresh efforts . An hour of hard work produced an agreeable change in the abode of the native , for the table was cleared , room swept and dusted , fire brightened , and the holes in the sofa-covering were pinned up till time could be found to mend them . To be sure , rolls of lint lay in corners , smears of ashes were on the stove hearth , and dust still lurked on chair rounds and table legs . But too much must not be expected of a new convert , so the young missionary sat down to rest , well pleased and ready for another attempt as soon as she could decide in what direction it should be made . She quailed before Boo as she looked at the unconscious innocent peacefully playing with the spotted dog , now bereft of his tail , and the lone sausage with which he was attempting to feed the hungry animal , whose red mouth always gaped for more . `` It will be an awful job , and he is so happy I wo n't plague him yet . Guess I 'll go and put my room to rights first , and pick up some clean clothes to put on him , if he is alive after I get through with him , '' thought Molly , foreseeing a stormy passage for the boy , who hated a bath as much as some people hate a trip across the Atlantic . Up she went , and finding the fire out felt discouraged , thought she would rest a little more , so retired under the blankets to read one of the Christmas books . The dinner-bell rang while she was still wandering happily in `` Nelly 's Silver Mine , '' and she ran down to find that Boo had laid out a railroad all across her neat room , using bits of coal for sleepers and books for rails , over which he was dragging the yellow sled laden with a dismayed kitten , the tailless dog , and the remains of the sausage , evidently on its way to the tomb , for Boo took bites at it now and then , no other lunch being offered him . `` Oh dear ! why ca n't boys play without making such a mess , '' sighed Molly , picking up the feathers from the duster with which Boo had been trying to make a `` cocky-doo '' of the hapless dog . `` I 'll wash him right after dinner , and that will keep him out of mischief for a while , '' she thought , as the young engineer unsuspiciously proceeded to ornament his already crocky countenance with squash , cranberry sauce , and gravy , till he looked more like a Fiji chief in full war-paint than a Christian boy .
`` I want two pails of hot water , please , Miss XXXXX , and the big tub , '' said Molly , as the ancient handmaid emptied her fourth cup of tea , for she dined with the family , and enjoyed her own good cooking in its prime .
Bat Boo Christian Minot Nelly cranberry duster hour saucepans sled