The law of compensation had been well
applied; he that had necktie had no cuffs; she that had sash had
no handkerchief, and vice versa; but they all had boots and a
certain amount of clothing, such as it was, the outside layer
being in every case quite above criticism.
"Now, Sarah Maud," said Mrs. Ruggles, her face shining with
excitement, "everything is red up an' we can begin. I've got a
boiler 'n a kettle 'n a pot o' hot water. Peter, you go into the
back bedroom, an' I'll take Susan, Kitty, Peory an' Cornelius;
an' Sarah Maud, you take Clem, 'n Eily, 'n Larry, one to a time,
an' git as fur as you can with 'em, an' then I'll finish
'em off while you do yerself."
Sarah Maud couldn't have scrubbed with any more decision and
force if she had been doing floors, and the little Ruggleses bore
it bravely, not from natural heroism, but for the joy that was
set before them. Not being satisfied, however, with the "tone"
of their complexions, she wound up operations by applying a
little Bristol brick from the knife-board, which served as the
proverbial "last straw," from under which the little Ruggleses
issued rather red and raw and out of temper.
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