Old Gibbs was nearly driven wild with it all , but managed to do his work nevertheless ; and by Friday night the place was all in order roof mended , shelves up , walls whitewashed , a great window cut at the back , which let in a flood of sunshine , and gave them a fine view of the brook , the meadows , and the distant hills ; and over the great door , painted in red letters , was `` The Laurence Museum . '' All Saturday morning the boys were planning how it should be furnished with their spoils , and when Mr. Laurie arrived , bringing an aquarium which Mrs. Amy said she was tired of , their rapture was great . The afternoon was spent in arranging things , and when the running and lugging and hammering was over , the ladies were invited to behold the institution . It certainly was a pleasant place , airy , clean , and bright . A hop-vine shook its green bells round the open window , the pretty aquarium stood in the middle of the room , with some delicate water plants rising above the water , and gold-fish showing their brightness as they floated to and fro below . On either side of the window were rows of shelves ready to receive the curiosities yet to be found . Dan 's tall cabinet stood before the great door which was fastened up , while the small door was to be used . On the cabinet stood a queer Indian idol , very ugly , but very interesting ; old Mr. Laurence sent it , as well as a fine Chinese junk in full sail , which had a conspicuous place on the long table in the middle of the room . Above , swinging in a loop , and looking as if she was alive , hung Polly , who died at an advanced age , had been carefully stuffed , and was no presented by Mrs. Jo . The walls were decorated with all sorts of things . A snake 's skin , a big wasp 's nest , a birch-bark canoe , a string of birds ' eggs , wreaths of gray moss from the South , and a bunch of cotton-pods . The dead bats had a place , also a large turtle-shell , and an ostrich-egg proudly presented by Demi , who volunteered to explain these rare curiosities to guests whenever they liked . There were so many stones that it was impossible to accept them all , so only a few of the best were arranged among the shells on the shelves , the rest were piled up in corners , to be examined by Dan at his leisure . Every one was eager to give something , even Silas , who sent home for a stuffed wild-cat killed in his youth . It was rather moth-eaten and shabby , but on a high bracket and best side foremost the effect was fine , for the yellow glass eyes glared , and the mouth snarled so naturally , that Teddy shook in his little shoes at sight of it , when he came bringing his most cherished treasure , one cocoon , to lay upon the shrine of science . `` Is n't it beautiful ? I 'd no idea we had so many curious things . I gave that ; do n't it look well ? We might make a lot by charging something for letting folks see it . '' Jack added that last suggestion to the general chatter that went on as the family viewed the room .
`` This is a free museum and if there is any speculating on it I 'll paint out the name over the door , '' said Mr. XXXXX , turning so quickly that Jack wished he had held his tongue .
Amy Dan Laurie Polly aquarium cotton-pods fro morning night turtle-shell