The best bed-chamber, with its hangings of crimson moreen, was opened and aired-a performance which always caused my eight little brothers and sisters to place themselves in convenient positions for being stumbled over, to the great annoyance of industrious damsels, who, armed with broom and duster, endeavored to render their reign as arbitrary as it was short. For some time past, the nursery-maids had invariably silenced refractory children with "Fie, Miss Matilda! Your grandmother will make you behave yourself -she won't allow such doings, I'll be bound!" or "Aren't you ashamed of yourself,...

The best bed-chamber, with its hangings of crimson moreen, was opened and aired-a performance which always caused my eight little brothers and sisters to place themselves in convenient positions for being stumbled over, to the great annoyance of industrious damsels, who, armed with broom and duster, endeavored to render their reign as arbitrary as it was short. For some time past, the nursery-maids had invariably silenced refractory children with "Fie, Miss Matilda! Your grandmother will make you behave yourself -she won't allow such doings, I'll be bound!" or "Aren't you ashamed of yourself,...