Even _I_ could beat her in spelling, for soon after she came home the boys teased for a spelling school.

I rather think they were quite as anxious for a chance to go home with the girls as they were to have their knowledge of Webster tested.

Be that as it may, Carrie was there, and was, of course, chosen first; but _I_, "little crazy Jane," spelled the the whole school down! I thought Carrie was not quite so handsome as she might be, when with an angry frown she dropped into her seat, hissed by a big, cross-eyed, red-haired boy, in the corner, because she _happened_ to spell pumpkin, "_p-u-n pun k-i-n kin, punkin_." I do not think she ever quite forgave me for the pert, loud way in which I spelled the word correctly, for she never gave any more calicos or silks, and instead of calling me "Mollie," as she had before done, she now addressed me as "Miss Mary." Carrie possessed one accomplishment which the other girls did not.

She could play the piano most skilfully, although as yet she had no instrument.

Three weeks, however, after her return a rich man, who lived in the village which was known as "Over the River," failed, and all his furniture was sold at auction.