'Nil Desperandum'

Meg had an unusual number of callers to keep her at home. Amy was up at dawn, hustling people out of their beds and through their breakfasts that the house might be got in order. The parlor struck her as looking uncommonly shabby. But without stopping to sigh for what she had not, she skilfully made the best of what she had arranging chairs over the worn places and the carpet. She also covered stains on the walls with home made statuary, which gave an artistic air to the room. Meg sincerely hoped it would taste well and that the borrowed glass, china and silver would get safely home again.