For all her quiet ways , aunty was full of fun as well as sympathy and patience , and she smoothed the thorny road to virtue with the innocent and kindly little arts that make some people as useful and beloved as good fairy godmothers were once upon a time . As they sat at tea that evening papa and mamma were most affable and lively ; but the children 's spirits were depressed by a long day of restraint , and they sat like well-bred mutes , languidly eating their supper . ` It 's the warm weather . They need something bracing . I 'll give them a dose of iron mixture to-morrow , ' said mamma . ` I 've taken enough now to make a cooking-stove , ' groaned Kitty , who hated being dosed . ` If you 'd let me go swimming every night I 'd be all right , ' added Harry . ` Not another word on that point . I will not let you do it , for you will get drowned as sure as you try , ' said mamma , who was so timid she had panics the minute her boy was out of sight . ` Aunt Betsey let her boys go , and they never came to grief , ' began Harry . ` Aunt Betsey 's ideas and mine differ . Children are not brought up now as they were in her day , ' answered mamma with a superior air . ' I just wish they were . Jolly good times her boys had . ' ` Yes , and girls too , playing anything they liked , and not rigged up and plagued with company , ' cried Kitty , with sudden interest . ` What do you mean by that ? ' asked papa good-naturedly ; for somehow his youth returned to him for a minute , and seemed very pleasant . The children could not explain very well , but Harry said slowly , -- ` If you were to be in our places for a day you 'd see what we mean . ' ` Would n't it be worth your while to try the experiment ? ' said Aunt Betsey , with a smile .
Papa and mamma laughed at the idea , but looked sober when aunty added , -- ` Why not put yourselves in their places for a XXXXX and see how you like it ?
Harry Kitty aunty cooking-stove day drowned godmothers minute mutes right