We heard her rummaging in the pantry as we sat on the cool , spruce-shadowed cellar door outside , where Uncle Roger was showing us how to make elderberry pop-guns . Presently she came out , frowning . `` Cecily , do you know where mother put the sawdust she emptied out of that old beaded pincushion of Grandmother King 's , after she had sifted the needles out of it ? I thought it was in the tin box . '' `` So it is , '' said Cecily . `` It is n't . There is n't a speck of sawdust in that box . '' The Story Girl 's face wore a quite indescribable expression , compound of horror and shame . She need not have confessed . If she had but held her tongue the mystery of the sawdust 's disappearance might have forever remained a mystery . She WOULD have held her tongue , as she afterwards confided to me , if it had not been for a horrible fear which flashed into her mind that possibly sawdust puddings were not healthy for people to eat -- especially if there might be needles in them -- and that if any mischief had been done in that direction it was her duty to undo it if possible at any cost of ridicule to herself . `` Oh , Felicity , '' she said , her voice expressing a very anguish of humiliation , `` I -- I -- thought that stuff in the box was cornmeal and used it to make the pudding . '' Felicity and Cecily stared blankly at the Story Girl . We boys began to laugh , but were checked midway by Uncle Roger . He was rocking himself back and forth , with his hand pressed against his stomach . `` Oh , '' he groaned , `` I 've been wondering what these sharp pains I 've been feeling ever since dinner meant . I know now . I must have swallowed a needle -- several needles , perhaps . I 'm done for ! '' The poor Story Girl went very white .
`` Oh , Uncle XXXXX , could it be possible ?
Cecily Grandmother King Roger fear pantry people pop-guns pudding stomach