CHAPTER IV.
GOING TO HOUSEKEEPING.
It was nearly noon before Mrs.Fixfax had made her room ready for housekeeping.

She turned up her bed into a press that stood beside the wall, brought in a high chair, a small rocking chair, two ottomans, some pictures and picture-books, and nearly all the curiosities she could find in the house.

A cunning little cooking-stove, highly polished, was set against the chimney, and the drollest shovel and tongs seemed to be making "dumb love" to each other across the fireplace, like a black Punch and Judy.

Then there was a pair of brazen-faced bellows, hanging, nose downward, on a brass nail; a large table in one corner, with a cake-board on it, and near it a cupboard made out of an old clothes-press, with dishes in it, and flour, sugar, raisins, spices, rolling-pin, "aerating egg-beater," yellow bowls, wooden spoons, and everything that could be needed in cooking for a very large family.
There were five rugs spread on the carpet, and a large oilcloth under the stove.

Last, but not least, Mrs.Fixfax brought Mrs.Allen's tortoise-shell cat, and set her in a stuffed chair by the west window.
Then she called the children; and Mother Hubbard and Lady Magnifico rushed in, followed by the Man in the Moon and his baby.
"Good morning, all; I hope I see you well," said Mrs.Fixfax, as sober as Nathaniel himself.