This startling suggestion made Tilly , Prue , and Eph hasten to look out , full of dismay at such an ending of their festival . `` If that is a funeral , the mourners are uncommon jolly , '' said Eph , drily , as merry voices and loud laughter broke the white silence without . `` I see Aunt Cinthy , and Cousin Hetty -- and there 's Mose and Amos . I do declare , Pa 's bringin ' 'em all home to have some fun here , '' cried Prue , as she recognized one familiar face after another . `` Oh , my patience ! Ai n't I glad I got dinner , and do n't I hope it will turn out good ! '' exclaimed Tilly , while the twins pranced with delight , and the small boys roared : `` Hooray for Pa ! Hooray for Thanksgivin ' ! '' The cheer was answered heartily , and in came Father , Mother , Baby , aunts and cousins , all in great spirits , and all much surprised to find such a festive welcome awaiting them . `` Ai n't Gran ` ma dead at all ? '' asked Sol , in the midst of the kissing and hand-shaking . `` Bless your heart , no ! It was all a mistake of old Mr. Chadwick 's . He 's as deaf as an adder , and when Mrs. Brooks told him Mother was mendin ' fast , and she wanted me to come down to-day , certain sure , he got the message all wrong , and give it to the fust person passin ' in such a way as to scare me ` most to death , and send us down in a hurry . Mother was sittin ' up as chirk as you please , and dreadful sorry you did n't all come . '' `` So , to keep the house quiet for her , and give you a taste of the fun , your Pa fetched us all up to spend the evenin ' , and we are goin ' to have a jolly time o n't , to jedge by the looks of things , '' said Aunt Cinthy , briskly finishing the tale when Mrs. Bassett paused for want of breath . `` What in the world put it into your head we was comin ' , and set you to gettin ' up such a supper ? '' asked Mr. Bassett , looking about him , well pleased and much surprised at the plentiful table . Tilly modestly began to tell , but the others broke in and sang her praises in a sort of chorus , in which bears , pigs , pies , and oranges were oddly mixed . Great satisfaction was expressed by all , and Tilly and Prue were so elated by the commendation of Ma and the aunts , that they set forth their dinner , sure everything was perfect .
But when the eating began , which it did the moment wraps were off , then their pride got a fall ; for the first person who tasted the stuffing -LRB- it was big Cousin Mose , and that XXXXX it harder to bear -RRB- nearly choked over the bitter morsel .
come declare expressed finishing hope made please said scare turn