“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；