It was decided that Mr. Peterkin, Solomon John, and the little boys should go in search of a carpenter. Agamemnon proposed that, meanwhile, he should go and borrow a book; for he had another idea. "This affair of the turkey," he said, "reminds me of those buried cities that have been dug out,--Herculaneum, for instance." "Oh, yes," interrupted Elizabeth Eliza, "and Pompeii." "Yes," said Agamemnon, "they found there pots and kettles. Now, I should like to know how they did it; and I mean to borrow a book and read. I think it was done with a pickaxe." So the party set out. But when Mr. Peterkin reached the carpenter's shop, there was no carpenter to be found there. "He must be at his house, eating his dinner," suggested Solomon John. "Happy man," exclaimed Mr. Peterkin, "he has a dinner to eat!" They went to the carpenter's house, but found he had gone out of town for a day's job. But his wife told them that he always came back at night to ring the nine-o'clock bell. "We must wait till then," said Mr. Peterkin, with an effort at cheerfulness. At home he found Agamemnon reading his book, and all sat down to hear of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Time passed on, and the question arose about tea. Would it do to have tea when they had had no dinner? A part of the family thought it would not do; the rest wanted tea. "I suppose you remember the wise lady of Philadelphia, who was here not long ago," said Mr. Peterkin. "Oh, yes," said Mrs. Peterkin. "Let us try to think what she would advise us," said Mr. Peterkin. "I wish she were here," said Elizabeth Eliza. "I think," said Mr. Peterkin, "she would say, let them that want tea have it; the rest can go without." So they had tea, and, as it proved, all sat down to it. But not much was eaten, as there had been no dinner. When the nine-o'clock bell was heard, Agamemnon, Solomon John, and the little boys rushed to the church, and found the carpenter. They asked him to bring a ladder, axes and pickaxe. As he felt it might be a case of fire, he brought also his
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