"i wish i could do something for those poor little brown children," said susan one morning as she and brother billy sat by the nursery window reading. "their father is out of work, and i'm afraid they won't get any thanksgiving dinner this year."

"i tell you what," suggested billy, "as we have spent all our money, let's dress up in some of mother's old clothes and make believe we are rag-a-muffins. we'll slip out carefully tomorrow morning, without making any noise."

"that's a fine idea," said susan. "we can use your water colors to paint our faces."

about 10 o'clock thanksgiving morning the children went quietly upstairs to their playroom and painted their faces. then, after dressing, they crept downstairs and out of the house. their queer costumes attracted much attention, and their pretty, wistful ways gained for them many friends. in an hour, when they had counted their pennies, they found to their delight that they had over three dollars.

"now we had better hurry to the store and buy the things," said susan. the kind-hearted butcher let them have a chicken for half price, in order that there should be no disappointed little hearts over the lack of sufficient funds. the basket was soon filled to overflowing and on the top of the vegetables was placed with great care a mince pie.

the browns were very grateful and bobby, billy and susan were very happy to think that they had done it all themselves.