CHAPTER XIII.

BUSY BESSIE.

Tom was busily at work in the field when
Bessie returned.

“T won’t stop his work, for I must get our
dinner ready,” said she ; and she set the table,
and beside the fare she had before provided,
she placed on it a plate of cakes, frosted
white as snow. Five minutes before the clock
struck twelve, everything was ready, and
Bessie ran down to the field to call Tom.

Bessve.—Make haste and wash yourself as
quick as lightning, for I have got lots of _—
to tell you.

Tom threw down his hoe, and followed
Bessie to the house. In a few moments he
came in, looking quite clean and nice.

“What have you got in that bundle, tied