erstand the whole of the word。〃
〃You don't know the word； and the people are all here！〃 said John Osborne； impatiently。
〃Elizabeth Eliza ！〃 exclaimed Ann Maria； 〃Solomon John says I'm to be a Turkish slave； and I'll have to wear a veil。 Do you know where the veils are？ You know I brought them over last night。〃
〃Elizabeth Eliza！ Solomon John wants you to send him the large cashmere scarf ！〃
exclaimed one of the little boys； coming in。
〃Elizabeth Eliza！ you must tell us what kind of faces to make up！〃 cried another of the boys。
And the audience were heard meanwhile taking the seats on the other side of the thin curtain。
〃You sit in front； Mrs。 Bromwick； you are a little hard of hearing； sit where you can hear。〃
〃And let Julia Fitch come where she can see；〃 said another voice。
〃And we have not any words for them to hear or see！〃 exclaimed John Osborne； behind the curtain。
〃Oh； I wish we'd never determined to have charades！ exclaimed Elizabeth Eliza。
〃Can't we return the money？〃
〃They are all here； we must give them something！〃 said John Osborne； heroically。
〃And Solomon John is almost dressed；〃 reported Ann Maria； winding a veil around her head。
〃Why don't we take Solomon John's word 'Hindoos' for the first？〃 said Agamemnon。
John Osborne agreed to go in the first； hunting the 〃hin；〃 or anything； and one of the little boys took the part of the hen； with the help of a feather duster。
The bell rang； and the first scene began。
It was a great success。 John Osborne's Irish was perfect。 Nobody guessed the word； for the hen crowed by mistake； but it received great applause。
Mr。 Peterkin came on in the second scene to receive the water…rates； and made a long speech on taxation。 He was interrupted by Ann Maria as an old woman in a huge bonnet。 She persisted in turning her back to the audience； speaking so low nobody heard her； and Elizabeth Eliza； who appeared in a more remarkable bonnet； was so alarmed she went directly back； saying she had forgotten something But this was supposed to be the effect intended； and it was loudly cheered。
Then came a long delay； for the little boys brought out a number of their friends to be browned for Hindoos。 Ann Maria played on the piano till the scene was ready。 The curtain rose upon five brown boys done up in blankets and turbans。
〃I am thankful that is over；〃 said Elizabeth Eliza； 〃for now we can act my word。
Only I don't myself know the whole。〃
〃Never mind； let us act it；〃 said John Osborne； 〃and the audience can guess the whole。〃
〃The first syllable must be the letter P；〃 said Elizabeth Eliza； 〃and we must have a school。〃
Agamemnon was master； and the little boys and their friends went on as scholars。
All the boys talked and shouted at once； acting their idea of a school by flinging pea…nuts about； and scoffing at the master。
〃They'll guess that to be 'row；'〃 said John Osborne in despair； 〃they'll never guess 'P'！〃
The next scene was gorgeous。 Solomon John； as a Turk； reclined on John Osborne's army…blanket。 He had on a turban； and a long beard； and all the family shawls。 Ann Maria and Elizabeth Eliza were brought in to him； veiled； by the little boys in their Hindoo costumes。
This was considered the great scene of the evening； though Elizabeth Eliza was sure she did not know what to do；…whether to kneel or sit down； she did not know whether Turkish women did sit down； and she could not help laughing whenever she looked at Solomon John。 He； however； kept his solemnity。 〃I suppose I need not say much；〃 he had said； 〃for I shall be the 'Turk who was dreaming of the hour。'〃 But he did order the little boys to bring sherbet； and when they brought it without ice insisted they must have their heads cut off； and Ann Maria fainted； and the scene closed。
〃What are we to do now？〃 asked John Osborne； warming up to the occasion。
〃We must have an 'inn' scene；〃 said Elizabeth Eliza； consulting her letter； 〃two inns； if we can。〃
〃We will have some travellers disgusted with one inn； and going to another；〃
said John Osborne。
〃Now is the time for the bandboxes；〃 said Solomon John； who； since his Turk scene was over； could give his attention to the rest of the charade。
Elizabeth Eliza and Ann Maria went on as rival hostesses； trying to draw Solomon John； Agamemnon； and John Osborne into their several inns。 The little boys carried valises； hand…bags； umbrellas； and bandboxes。 Bandbox after bandbox appeared； and when Agamemnon sat down upon his the applause was immense。 At last the curtain fell。
〃Now for the whole；〃 said John Osborne； as he made his way off the stage over a heap of umbrellas。
〃I can't think why the lady from Philadelphia did not send me the whole；〃 said Elizabeth Eliza； musing over the letter。
〃Listen； they are guessing；〃 said John Osborne。 〃'D…ice…box。' I don't wonder they get it wrong。〃
〃But we know it can't be that！〃 exclaimed Elizabeth Eliza； in agony。 〃How can we act the whole if we don't know it ourselves？〃
〃Oh； I see it！〃 said Ann Maria； clapping her hands。 〃Get your whole family in for the last scene。〃
Mr。 and Mrs。 Peterkin were summoned to the stage； and formed the background； standing on stools； in front were Agamemnon and Solomon John； leaving room for Elizabeth Eliza between； a little in advance； and in front of all； half kneeling； were the little boys； in their india…rubber boots。
The audience rose to an exclamation of delight； 〃The Peterkins ！〃 〃P…Turk…Inns！〃
It was not until this moment that Elizabeth Eliza guessed the whole。
〃What a tableau！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Bromwick； 〃the Peterkin family guessing their own charade。〃
THE PETERKINS ARE OBLIGED TO MOVE。 AGAMEMNON had long felt it an impropriety to live in a house that was called a 〃semi…detached〃 house； when there was no other 〃semi〃 to it。 It had always remained wholly detached； as the owner had never built the other half。 Mrs。
Peterkin felt this was not a sufficient reason for undertaking the terrible process of a move to another house； when they were fully satisfied with the one they were in。
But a more powerful reason forced them to go。 The track of a new railroad had to be carried directly through the place； and a station was to be built on that very spot。
Mrs。 Peterkin so much dreaded moving that she questioned whether they could not continue to live in the upper part of the house and give up the lower part to the station。 They could then dine at the restaurant； and it would be very convenient about travelling； as there would be no danger of missing the train； if one were sure of the direction。
But when the track was actually laid by the side of the house； and the steam…engine of the construction train puffed and screamed under the dining…room windows； and the engineer calmly looked in to see what the family had for dinner； she felt； indeed； that they must move。
But where should they go？ It was difficult to find a house that satisfied the whole family。 One was too far off； and looked into a tan…pit； another was too much in the middle of the town； next door to a machine…shop。 Elizabeth Eliza wanted a porch covered with vines； that should face the sunset； while Mr。
Peterkin thought it would not be convenient to sit there looking towards the west in the late afternoon （which was his only leisure time）； for the sun would shine in his face。 The little boys wanted a house with a great many doors； so that they could go in and out often。 But Mr。 Peterkin did not like so much slamming； and felt there was more danger of burglars with so many doors。
Agamemnon wanted an observatory； and Solomon John a shed for a workshop。 If he could have carpenters' tools and a workbench he could build an observatory； if it were wanted。
But it was necessary to decide upon something； for they must leave their house directly。 So they were obliged to take Mr。 Finch's； at the Corners。 It satisfied none of the family。 The porch was a piazza； and was opposite a barn。 There were three other doors；…too many to please Mr。 Peterkin； and not enough for the little boys。 There was no observatory； and nothing to observe if there were one； as the house was too low and some high trees shut out any view。 Elizabeth Eliza had hoped for a view； but Mr。 Peterkin con soled her by deciding it was more healthy to have to walk for a view； and Mrs。 Peterkin agreed that they might get tired of the same every day。
And everybody was glad a selection was made； and the little boys carried their india…rubber boots the very first afternoon。
Elizabeth Eliza wanted to have some system in the moving； and spent the evening in drawing up a plan。 It would be easy to arrange everything beforehand； so that there should not be the confusion that her mother dreaded； and the discomfort they had in their last move。 Mrs。 Peterkin shook her head； she did not think it possible to move with any comfort。 Agamemnon said a great deal could be done with a list and a programme。
Elizabeth Eliza declared if all were well arranged a programme would make it perfectly easy。 They were to have new parlor carpets； which could be put down in the new house the first thing。 Then the