THE POPCORN SOCIETY 33 



father?" So puss walked in and took a seat 

 in the chimney corner, sniffing at the fragrant 

 corn. 



"Quiltam Qualter," said Nancy's father, 

 stroking the old cat, "you arc hereby made a 

 member of the Reddalc Popcorn Society. Now 

 stand up on your hind legs and say 'How-do- 

 you-do?' to the children." 



Mr. Nodrog held up a kernel of corn as he 

 spoke, and old Quiltam Qualter rose at once like 

 a kangaroo, much to the enjoyment of the little 

 folk. 



Dear me ! how those children did chatter as 

 they ate their corn, asking the captains hun- 

 dreds of puzzling questions and telling and lis- 

 tening to many interesting stories ! 



Alicia Nodrog, who had just come home from 

 college for her vacation, played jolly garner 

 with the children. Little curly-headed Fritz fell 

 down while they were having a great frolic, and 

 Mr. Nodrog had to put some of his famous 

 "Bumbazilicum" on the black-and-blue bump. 

 It always had taken a great deal of this famous 

 make-believe remedy and many of mother's 

 kisses to cure the bumps and bruises, the cuts 



