AllSaturdaymorningtheboyswereplanninghowitshouldbefurnishedwiththeirspoils，andwhenMr。Lauriearrived，bringinganaquariumwhichMrs。Amysaidshewastiredof，theirrapturewasgreat。
Theafternoonwasspentinarrangingthings，andwhentherunningandluggingandhammeringwasover，theladieswereinvitedtobeholdtheinstitution。
Itcertainlywasapleasantplace，airy，clean，andbright。Ahop-vineshookitsgreenbellsroundtheopenwindow，theprettyaquariumstoodinthemiddleoftheroom，withsomedelicatewaterplantsrisingabovethewater，andgold-fishshowingtheirbrightnessastheyfloatedtoandfrobelow。Oneithersideofthewindowwererowsofshelvesreadytoreceivethecuriositiesyettobefound。Dan’stallcabinetstoodbeforethegreatdoorwhichwasfastenedup，whilethesmalldoorwastobeused。OnthecabinetstoodaqueerIndianidol，veryugly，butveryinteresting；oldMr。Laurencesentit，aswellasafineChinesejunkinfullsail，whichhadaconspicuousplaceonthelongtableinthemiddleoftheroom。Above，swinginginaloop，andlookingasifshewasalive，hungPolly，whodiedatanadvancedage，hadbeencarefullystuffed，andwasnopresentedbyMrs。Jo。Thewallsweredecoratedwithallsortsofthings。Asnake’sskin，abigwasp’snest，abirch-barkcanoe，astringofbirds’eggs，wreathsofgraymossfromtheSouth，andabunchofcotton-pods。Thedeadbatshadaplace，alsoalargeturtle-shell，andanostrich-eggproudlypresentedbyDemi，whovolunteeredtoexplaintheserarecuriositiestoguestswhenevertheyliked。Thereweresomanystonesthatitwasimpossibletoacceptthemall，soonlyafewofthebestwerearrangedamongtheshellsontheshelves，therestwerepiledupincorners，tobeexaminedbyDanathisleisure。
Everyonewaseagertogivesomething，evenSilas，whosenthomeforastuffedwild-catkilledinhisyouth。Itwasrathermoth-eatenandshabby，butonahighbracketandbestsideforemosttheeffectwasfine，fortheyellowglasseyesglared，andthemouthsnarledsonaturally，thatTeddyshookinhislittleshoesatsightofit，whenhecamebringinghismostcherishedtreasure，onecocoon，tolayupontheshrineofscience。
“Isn’titbeautiful？I’dnoideawehadsomanycuriousthings。Igavethat；don’titlookwell？Wemightmakealotbychargingsomethingforlettingfolksseeit。“