"I've thought of something else that's fun. Come on, we're going to play
a joke on Mamma."
When Sarah returned to the cabin late that afternoon, she noticed that
Abe's hair was still damp. He was very quiet as he stood by the
fireplace and swung the big kettle outward. He dipped out the potatoes
with an iron spoon. Tom and Dennis came in, both somewhat grumpy. They
had not brought back a single squirrel.
Only Johnny seemed in good spirits. He whispered in Mathilda's ear. They
both began to giggle. By the time the family had gathered around the
table, Betsy and Dennis had been let in on the secret, whatever it was.
They were red in the face from trying not to laugh.
"Quiet!" said Tom. "Quiet, while I say the blessing."
"We thank thee. Lord--" he began.
Tom usually gave thanks for each kind of food on the table. But today
there was only a dish of dried-up potatoes. "We thank Thee, Lord," he
went on, "for all these blessings."
"Mighty poor blessings," said Abe.
The girls giggled again. Dennis threw back his head and roared. Johnny
was laughing so hard that he fell off his stool.
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