he had all the comforts of home; but she would sometimes speak quick, and she was always sure to “speak her mind,” be the rate of speech slow or quick.  Simes Badger was a retired old salt and kept the light-house; not that scanty funds compelled him, but mostly because he must do something about the sea to keep him at all contented.  Simes once remarked, “I’ll allow that Stanshy is a leetle tart at times, and I’ve knowed her since she was a gal.  But then if you take a good sour apple and stew it and sugar it, it makes a first-class apple-pie.  Howsomever, it must be well stewed and well sugared.”  The boys now trembled lest this vigorous, resolute soul might not favor their plans, and denying it a place of meeting might end the days of the infant club.

“There,” said Sid, mournfully, “we’ve made a club, but we’ve got no place to stick it in!  How would it do to make Aunt Stanshy an honorary member of the club?”

The faces of all brightened at this happy thought.

“And not athk her to pay a thent a month, but ektheuth her,” suggested Pip, who had a lisping style of speech.

This was another happy thought and acceptable to the club.

“I’ll go and ask her,” said Charlie.  As he went down stairs, the members of the club gathered around the open window, anxiously looking out and awaiting the return of their embassador to her majesty in the kitchen, Constantia the first.  Aunt Stanshy was washing clothes when Charlie entered.  With a drooping head and faltering tongue he told about the club and asked for the barn, having announced her honorary membership, and also the remission of the monthly due.  Aunt Stanshy had a streak of fun in her nature and a big one.  When she looked out into the yard, and glancing up saw the seven sober, anxious faces at the barn window, she laughed and said, “Well, Charlie, have I got to lug a big, heavy white shield around?”

“O it’s a beautiful one of pasteboard and silk.”

“Well, well, say yes.”

When he had gone, Aunt Stanshy took her hands out of the suds, sat down in a flag-bottomed chair by the store, and laughed till her sides ached.  She was washing again when the granny of the “Sentinel” came in to help her.  Granny took the flag-bottomed chair and asked, “What’s de news, Stanshy?”

Aunt Stanshy burst out laughing, and the big ribbon-ends of her cap fluttered like a pennant at the mast-head.

“Why, I’m an honorary member and sha’n’t have to pay a cent; ha, ha, ha!”

“A what?”

But Aunt Stanshy made no explanation.  She only pounded her clothes and roared, so tickled was she.  Subsiding, she soon broke out again.

“Why, chile, what’s de matter?” asked granny.  “You done gone crazy and sure for’t.”

“I’m an honorary member, and have got to wear a silk shield, I tell you.”

Granny went home, shaking her head and saying, “I do b’lieve she’s losin’ her mind sure, and dat am mournfu’ in one so young an’ lubly.”