“I’msogladyoumethim!“saidDaisy，asMrs。JostoppedtolaughatthememoryofthefunnytimeshehadwithUncleTeddy。
　　“Youmuststudyhardandlearntomakeallkindsofthings，forhesaysheshallcomeouttoteaveryoften，andexpectssomethinguncommonlynice。“
　　“It’sthesweetest，dearestkitchenintheworld，andI’dratherstudywithitthandoanythingelse。Can’tIlearnpies，andcake，andmacaroni，andeverything？“criedDaisy，dancingroundtheroomwithanewsaucepaninonehandandthetinypokerintheother。
　　“Allingoodtime。Thisistobeausefulplay，Iamtohelpyou，andyouaretobemycook，soIshalltellyouwhattodo，andshowyouhow。
　　Thenweshallhavethingsfittoeat，andyouwillbereallylearninghowtocookonasmallscale。I’llcallyouSally，andsayyouareanewgirljustcome，“addedMrs。Jo，settlingdowntowork，whileTeddysatonthefloorsuckinghisthumb，andstaringatthestoveasifitwasalivething，whoseappearancedeeplyinterestedhim。
　　“Thatwillbesolovely!WhatshallIdofirst？“askedSally，withsuchahappyfaceandwillingairthatAuntJowishedallnewcookswerehalfasprettyandpleasant。
　　“Firstofall，putonthiscleancapandapron。Iamratherold-fashioned，andIlikemycooktobeverytidy。“
　　Sallytuckedhercurlyhairintotheroundcap，andputontheapronwithoutamurmur，thoughusuallysherebelledagainstbibs。
　　“Now，youcanputthingsinorder，andwashupthenewchina。Theoldsetneedswashingalso，formylastgirlwasapttoleaveitinasadstateafteraparty。“
　　AuntJospokequitesoberly，butSallylaughed，forsheknewwhotheuntidygirlwaswhohadleftthecupssticky。Thensheturneduphercuffs，andwithasighofsatisfactionbegantostiraboutherkitchen，havinglittlerapturesnowandthenoverthe“sweetrollingpin，“the“darlingdish-tub，“orthe“cunningpepper-pot。“
　　“Now，Sally，takeyourbasketandgotomarket；hereisthelistofthingsIwantfordinner，“saidMrs。Jo，givingherabitofpaperwhenthedisheswereallinorder。
　　“Whereisthemarket？“askedDaisy，thinkingthatthenewplaygotmoreandmoreinterestingeveryminute。
　　“Asiaisthemarket。“
　　AwaywentSally，causinganotherstirintheschoolroomasshepassedthedoorinhernewcostume，andwhisperedtoDemi，withafacefullofdelight，“It’saperfectlysplendidplay!“
　　OldAsiaenjoyedthejokeasmuchasDaisy，andlaughedjollilyasthelittlegirlcameflyingintotheroomwithhercapallononeside，thelidsofherbasketrattlinglikecastanetsandlookinglikeaverycrazylittlecook。
　　“Mrs。AuntJowantsthesethings，andImusthavethemrightaway，“
　　saidDaisy，importantly。
　　’Let’ssee，honey；here’stwopoundsofsteak，potatoes，squash，apples，bread，andbutter。Themeatain’tcomeyet；whenitdoesI’llsenditup。
　　Theotherthingsareallhandy。“
　　ThenAsiapackedonepotato，oneapple，abitofsquash，alittlepatofbutter，andaroll，intothebasket，tellingSallytobeonthewatchforthebutcher’sboy，becausehesometimesplayedtricks。
　　“Whoishe？“andDaisyhopeditwouldbeDemi。
　　“You’llsee，“wasallAsiawouldsay；andSallywentoffingreatspirits，singingaversefromdearMaryHowitt’ssweetstoryinrhyme：“AwaywentlittleMabel，Withthewheatencakesofine，Thenew-madepotofbutter，Andthelittleflaskofwine。““Puteverythingbuttheappleintothestore-closetforthepresent，“saidMrs。Jo，whenthecookgothome。
　　Therewasacupboardunderthemiddleshelf，andonopeningthedoorfreshdelightsappeared。Onehalfwasevidentlythecellar，forwood，coal，andkindlingswerepiledthere。Theotherhalfwasfulloflittlejars，boxes，andallsortsofdrollcontrivancesforholdingsmallquantitiesofflour，meal，sugar，salt，andotherhouseholdstores。Apotofjamwasthere，alittletinboxofgingerbread，acolognebottlefullofcurrantwine，andatinycanisteroftea。Butthecrowningcharmwastwodoll’spansofnewmilk，withcreamactuallyrisingonit，andaweeskimmerallreadytoskimitwith。Daisyclaspedherhandsatthisdeliciousspectacle，andwantedtoskimitimmediately。ButAuntJosaid：
　　“Notyet；youwillwantthecreamtoeatonyourapplepieatdinner，andmustnotdisturbittillthen。“
　　“AmIgoingtohavepie？“criedDaisy，hardlybelievingthatsuchblisscouldbeinstoreforher。
　　“Yes；ifyourovendoeswellwewillhavetwopies，­；oneappleandonestrawberry，“saidMrs。Jo，whowasnearlyasmuchinterestedinthenewplayasDaisyherself。
　　“Oh，whatnext？“askedSally，allimpatiencetobegin。
　　“Shutthelowerdraughtofthestove，sothattheovenmayheat。Thenwashyourhandsandgetouttheflour，sugar，salt，butter，andcinnamon。
　　Seeifthepie-boardisclean，andpareyourapplereadytoputin。“
　　Daisygotthingstogetherwithaslittlenoiseandspillingascouldbeexpected，fromsoyoungacook。
　　“Ireallydon’tknowhowtomeasureforsuchtinypies；Imustguessatit，andifthesedon’tsucceed，wemusttryagain，“saidMrs。Jo，lookingratherperplexed，andverymuchamusedwiththesmallconcernbeforeher。
　　“Takethatlittlepanfullofflour，putinapinchofsalt，andthenrubinasmuchbutteraswillgoonthatplate。Alwaysremembertoputyourdrythingstogetherfirst，andthenthewet。Itmixesbetterso。“
　　“Iknowhow；IsawAsiadoit。Don’tIbutterthepieplatestoo？Shedid，thefirstthing，“saidDaisy，whiskingtheflouraboutatagreatrate。
　　“Quiteright!Idobelieveyouhaveagiftforcooking，youtaketoitsocleverly，“saidAuntJo，approvingly。“Nowadashofcoldwater，justenoughtowetit；thenscattersomeflourontheboard，workinalittle，androllthepasteout；yes，that’stheway。Nowputdabsofbutteralloverit，androllitoutagain。Wewon’thaveourpastryveryrich，orthedollswillgetdyspeptic。“
　　Daisylaughedattheidea，andscatteredthedabswithaliberalhand。
　　Thensherolledandrolledwithherdelightfullittlepin，andhavinggotherpastereadyproceededtocovertheplateswithit。Nexttheapplewasslicedin，sugarandcinnamonlavishlysprinkledoverit，andthenthetopcrustputonwithbreathlesscare。
　　“Ialwayswantedtocutthemround，andAsianeverwouldletme。Howniceitistodoitallmyowntydontyself!“saidDaisy，asthelittleknifewentclippingroundthedoll’splatepoisedonherhand。
　　Allcooks，eventhebest，meetwithmishapssometimes，andSally’sfirstoneoccurredthen，fortheknifewentsofastthattheplateslipped，turnedasomersaultintheair，andlandedthedearlittlepieupsidedownonthefloor。Sallyscreamed，Mrs。Jolaughed，Teddyscrambledtogetit，andforamomentconfusionreignedinthenewkitchen。
　　“Itdidn’tspillorbreak，becauseIpinchedtheedgestogethersohard；
　　itisn’thurtabit，soI’llprickholesinit，andthenitwillbeready，“
　　saidSally，pickingupthecapsizedtreasureandputtingitintoshapewithachild-likedisregardofthedustithadgatheredinitsfall。
　　“Mynewcookhasagoodtemper，Isee，andthatissuchacomfort，“
　　saidMrs。Jo。“Nowopenthejarofstrawberryjam，filltheuncoveredpie，andputsomestripsofpasteoverthetopasAsiadoes。“
　　“I’llmakeaDinthemiddle，andhavezigzagsallround，thatwillbesointerestingwhenIcometoeatit，“saidSally，loadingthepiewithquirlsandflourishesthatwouldhavedrivenarealpastrycookwild。“NowIputthemin!“sheexclaimed；whenthelastgrimyknobhadbeencarefullyplantedintheredfieldofjam，andwithanairoftriumphsheshutthemintothelittleoven。
　　“Clearupyourthings；agoodcookneverletsherutensilscollect。
　　Thenpareyoursquashandpotatoes。“
　　“Thereisonlyonepotato，“giggledSally。
　　“Cutitinfourpieces，soitwillgointothelittlekettle，andputthebitsintocoldwatertillitistimetocookthem。“
　　“DoIsoakthesquashtoo？“
　　“No，indeed!Justpareitandcutitup，andputinintothesteameroverthepot。Itisdrierso，thoughittakeslongertocook。“
　　HereascratchingatthedoorcausedSallytorunandopenit，whenKitappearedwithacoveredbasketinhismouth。
　　“Here’sthebutcherboy!“criedDaisy，muchtickledattheidea，assherelievedhimofhisload，whereathelickedhislipsandbegantobeg，evidentlythinkingthatitwashisowndinner，forheoftencarriedittohismasterinthatway。Beingundeceived，hedepartedingreatwrathandbarkedallthewaydownstairs，toeasehiswoundedfeelings。
　　Inthebasketweretwobitsofsteakdoll’spounds，abakedpear，asmallcake，andpaperwiththemonwhichAsiahadscrawled，“ForMissy’slunch，ifhercookin’don’tturnoutwell。“
　　“Idon’twantanyofheroldpearsandthings；mycookingwillturnoutwell，andI’llhaveasplendiddinner；seeifIdon’t!“criedDaisy，indignantly。
　　“Wemaylikethemifcompanyshouldcome。Itisalwayswelltohavesomethinginthestoreroom，“saidAuntJo，whohadbeentaughtthisvaluablefactbyaseriesofdomesticpanics。
　　“Meishundry，“announcedTeddy，whobegantothinkwhatwithsomuchcookinggoingonitwasabouttimeforsomebodytoeatsomething。Hismothergavehimherworkbaskettorummage，hopingtokeephimquiettilldinnerwasready，andreturnedtoherhousekeeping。
　　“Putonyourvegetables，setthetable，andthenhavesomecoalskindlingreadyforthesteak。“
　　Whatathingitwastoseethepotatoesbobbingaboutinthelittlepot；topeepatthesquashgettingsoftsofastinthetinysteamer；towhiskopentheovendooreveryfiveminutestoseehowthepiesgoton，andatlastwhenthecoalswereredandglowing，toputtworealsteaksonafinger-longgridironandproudlyturnthemwithafork。Thepotatoesweredonefirst，andnowonder，fortheyhadboiledfranticallyallthewhile。Thewerepoundedupwithalittlepestle，hadmuchbutterandnosaltputincookforgotitintheexcitementofthemoment，thenitwasmadeintoamoundinagayreddish，smoothedoverwithaknifedippedinmilk，andputintheoventobrown。
　　SoabsorbedintheselastperformanceshadSallybeen，thatsheforgotherpastrytillsheopenedthedoortoputinthepotato，thenawailarose，foralas!alas!thelittlepieswereburntblack!
　　“Oh，mypies!Mydarlingpies!Theyareallspoilt!“criedpoorSally，wringingherdirtylittlehandsasshesurveyedtheruinofherwork。Thetartwasespeciallypathetic，forthequirlsandzigzagsstuckupinalldirectionsfromtheblackenedjelly，likethewallsandchimneyofahouseafterafire。
　　“Dear，dear，Iforgottoremindyoutotakethemout；it’sjustmyluck，“
　　saidAuntJo，remorsefully。“Don’tcry，darling，itwasmyfault；we’lltryagainafterdinner，“sheadded，asagreatteardroppedfromSally’seyesandsizzledonthehotruinsofthetart。
　　Morewouldhavefollowed，ifthesteakhadnotblazedupjustthen，andsooccupiedtheattentionofcook，thatshequicklyforgotthelostpastry。
　　“Putthemeat-dishandyourownplatesdowntowarm，whileyoumashthesquashwithbutter，salt，andalittlepepperonthetop，“saidMrs。
　　Jo，devoutlyhopingthatthedinnerwouldmeetwithnofurtherdisasters。
　　The“cunningpepper-pot“soothedSally’sfeelings，andshedisheduphersquashinfinestyle。Thedinnerwassafelyputuponthetable；thesixdollswereseatedthreeonaside；Teddytookthebottom，andSallythetop。Whenallweresettled，itwasamostimposingspectacle，foronedollwasinfullballcostume，anotherinhernight-gown；Jerry，theworstedboy，worehisredwintersuit，whileAnnabella，thenoselessdarling，wasairilyattiredinnothingbutherownkidskin。Teddy，asfatherofthefamily，behavedwithgreatpropriety，forhesmilinglydevouredeverythingofferedhim，anddidnotfindasinglefault。Daisybeameduponhercompanyliketheweary，warm，buthospitablehostesssooftentobeseenatlargertablesthanthis，anddidthehonorswithanairofinnocentsatisfaction，whichwedonotoftenseeelsewhere。
　　Thesteakwassotoughthatthelittlecarving-knifewouldnotcutit；