112 TROTTY'S WEDDING TOUR.

feathers for Jip Bond; and so Rye told Prim that she thought
a great deal of Aunt Banger’s judgment, and, on the whole,
she believed that she preferred the gray one.

So Rye bought her feather with “ business” despatch.

“ Aunt Banger makes me a great deal of trouble to-day,”
said Jockey, in a sour aside. “I’ve got to lug her way down
to Shute’s to get me a cap!”

“And you girls may run around as you like for a while,”
said Aunt Banger. “Jockey and I will meet you at Cope-
land’s at dinner-time. Take good care of your feather.
Don’t get lost. Don’t buy candy. Don’t get your hair into
your eyes, nor wet your feet. Mind the crossings. Look
out for snow-slides. Take care—”’

But Rye had taken care to be out of hearing by that time.

“ Aunt Banger means well, but she’s so inconsiderable
about things!” said Rye to Prim, as they trotted up the
shady side of Winter Street to keep away from the snow-
slides. ‘‘ Now take money, for instance. ‘Take care you
don’t spend more than twelve and a half cents,’ — that’ s
what she was going to say. 1t’s what she’s always going to
say. I’d enough rather come to Boston with my mother!”

“Does your mother give you more than twelve and a half
cents to spend?” asked Prim.

“ N—n—no,” said illogical Rye, “I don’t know’s she
does. But she’s so pretty!”

Now Rye had the prettiest mother in the world; and it is
a great thing to have a pretty mother. At least, Rye thought