When he had ciphered it out he told me how we was to do; then we went and waited around the spoon-basket till we see Aunt Sally coming, and then Tom went to counting the spoons and laying them out to one side, and I slid one of them up my sleeve, and Tom says: "Why, Aunt Sally, there ain't but nine spoons YET." She says: "Go 'long to your play, and don't bother me.

I know better, I counted 'm myself." "Well, I've counted them twice, Aunty, and I can't make but nine." She looked out of all patience, but of course she come to count--anybody would.
"I declare to gracious ther' AIN'T but nine!" she says.

"Why, what in the world--plague TAKE the things, I'll count 'm again." So I slipped back the one I had, and when she got done counting, she says: "Hang the troublesome rubbage, ther's TEN now!" and she looked huffy and bothered both.

But Tom says: "Why, Aunty, I don't think there's ten." "You numskull, didn't you see me COUNT 'm ?" "I know, but--" "Well, I'll count 'm AGAIN." So I smouched one, and they come out nine, same as the other time.

Well, she WAS in a tearing way--just a-trembling all over, she was so mad.