The New England wife-mother was the one little jeweled pivot on which all the wheel work of the family moved.
"Well, haven't we done a good day's work, cousin ?" says Diana, when ninety pies of every ilk--quince, apple, cranberry, pumpkin, and mince-- have been all safely delivered from the oven and carried up into the great vacant chamber, where, ranged in rows and frozen solid, they are to last over New Year's day! She adds, demonstratively clasping the little woman round the neck and leaning her bright cheek against her whitening hair, "Haven't we been smart ?" And the calm, thoughtful eyes turn lovingly upon her as Mary Pitkin puts her arm round her and answers: "Yes, my daughter, you have done wonderfully.

We couldn't do without you!" And Diana lifts her head and laughs.

She likes petting and praising as a cat likes being stroked; but, for all that, the little puss has her claws and a sly notion of using them..