But it did come out at last that the Peterkins were to have some charades at their own house for the benefit of the needed water-trough,—­tickets sold only to especial friends.  Ann Maria Bromwich was to help act, because she could bring some old bonnets and gowns that had been worn by an aged aunt years ago, and which they had always kept.  Elizabeth Eliza said that Solomon John would have to be a Turk, and they must borrow all the red things and Cashmere scarfs in the place.  She knew people would be willing to lend things.

Agamemnon thought you ought to get in something about the Hindoos, they were such an odd people.  Elizabeth Eliza said you must not have it too odd, or people would not understand it, and she did not want anything to frighten her mother.  She had one word suggested by the lady from Philadelphia in her letters,—­the one that had “Turk” in it,—­but they ought to have two words.

“Oh yes,” Ann Maria said, “you must have two words; if the people paid for their tickets, they would want to get their money’s worth.”

Solomon John thought you might have “Hindoos”; the little boys could color their faces brown to look like Hindoos.  You could have the first scene an Irishman catching a hen, and then paying the water-taxes for “dues,” and then have the little boys for Hindoos.

A great many other words were talked of, but nothing seemed to suit.  There was a curtain, too, to be thought of, because the folding doors stuck when you tried to open and shut them.  Agamemnon said the Pan-Elocutionists had a curtain they would probably lend John Osborne, and so it was decided to ask John Osborne to help.

If they had a curtain they ought to have a stage.  Solomon John said he was sure he had boards and nails enough, and it would be easy to make a stage if John Osborne would help put it up.

All this talk was the day before the charades.  In the midst of it Ann Maria went over for her old bonnets and dresses and umbrellas, and they spent the evening in trying on the various things,—­such odd caps and remarkable bonnets!  Solomon John said they ought to have plenty of bandboxes; if you only had bandboxes enough, a charade was sure to go off well; he had seen charades in Boston.  Mrs. Peterkin said there were plenty in their attic, and the little boys brought down piles of them, and the back parlor was filled with costumes.

Ann Maria said she could bring over more things if she only knew what they were going to act.  Elizabeth Eliza told her to bring anything she had,—­it would all come of use.

The morning came, and the boards were collected for the stage.  Agamemnon and Solomon John gave themselves to the work, and John Osborne helped zealously.  He said the Pan-Elocutionists would lend a scene also.  There was a great clatter of bandboxes, and piles of shawls in corners, and such a piece of work in getting up the curtain!  In the midst of it, came in the little boys, shouting, “All the tickets are sold at ten cents each!”