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diff --git a/20193-h/20193-h.htm b/20193-h/20193-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fc55bb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20193-h/20193-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6008 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Mary's Rainbow, by Mary Edward Feehan</title> +<style type="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 5%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: medium; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {font-size: small ; + margin-left: 15% ; + margin-right: 15% } + +P.footnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.index {font-size: small ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.intro {font-size: medium ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.dedication {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 15%; + text-align: justify } + +P.published {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 15% } + +P.quote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.report {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.report2 {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { text-align: center } + + +H4.h4left { margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 1%; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: left ; + clear: left ; + text-align: center } + +H4.h4right { margin-left: 1%; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: right ; + clear: right ; + text-align: center } + +H4.h4center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +H5.h5left { margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 1%; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: left ; + clear: left ; + text-align: center } + +H5.h5right { margin-left: 1%; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: right ; + clear: right ; + text-align: center } + +H5.h5center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgleft { float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: 1%; + padding: 0; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgright {float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1%; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +.pagenum { position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: 95%; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; } + + hr.full { width: 100%; + height: 5px; } + a:link { color:blue; + text-decoration:none; } + link { color:blue; + text-decoration:none; } + a:visited { color:blue; + text-decoration:none; } + a:hover { color:red; + text-decoration: underline; } + pre { font-size: 75%; } + +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 align="center">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Mary's Rainbow, by Mary Edward Feehan</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Mary's Rainbow</p> +<p>Author: Mary Edward Feehan</p> +<p>Release Date: December 26, 2006 [eBook #20193]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARY'S RAINBOW***</p> +<br><br><center><h3>E-text prepared by Al Haines</h3></center><br><br> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +FOREWORD +</H3> + +<P> +<I>This little volume and its predecessor, "Mostly Mary," the first two +of the "Berta and Beth Books," have been written to comply with the +wishes of the young readers of Clementia's other books, "Uncle Frank's +Mary," "The Quest of Mary Selwyn," and "Bird-a-Lea." In them the +author narrates the events leading up to "Uncle Frank's Mary," and +endeavors to satisfy the demand for "more about Berta and Beth," those +mischievous, lovable "twinnies," who furnish much of the amusement and +not a little of the excitement in the "Mary Selwyn Books."</I> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +Mary's Rainbow +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>by</I> +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +"CLEMENTIA" +</H2> + +<BR> + +<center> +[Transcriber's note: Real name—Sister Mary Edward Feehan] +</center> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Author of +<BR><BR> +Mostly Mary<BR> +Uncle Frank's Mary<BR> +The Quest of Mary Selwyn<BR> +Bird-a-Lea, etc.<BR> +</H3> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MATRE & COMPANY +<BR> +CHICAGO +<BR> +1922 +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +Copyright 1922 by +<BR> +MATRE & COMPANY +<BR><BR> +All Rights Reserved +<BR><BR> +Printed in U. S. A. +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="Two little girls on a swing." BORDER="2" WIDTH="403" HEIGHT="563"> +<H3 STYLE="width: 403px"> +Two little girls on a swing. +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +<I>To</I> +<BR> +<I>another very dear little</I> +<BR> +Mary +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H3> + +<BR> + +<CENTER> + +<TABLE WIDTH="80%"> +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAPTER</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">Gene</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">Busy Days</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">Mary's Secret</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">Maryvale</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">Christmas</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">The Land of Sunshine</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">Through Storm to the Rainbow</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">That Moving Week—Monday</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">Monday—Continued</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">Tuesday</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">Wednesday</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">Thursday</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">New Friends</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">Naming the Pets</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">Only the Beginning</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +MARY'S RAINBOW +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GENE. +</H3> + +<P> +"You have grown very fond of your good nurse, haven't you, Mary?" +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed I have, Uncle. I wish she could go South with us after +Christmas." +</P> + +<P> +"But don't you think it would be selfish of us to take her away from +little folks who really need her? That brings us to a matter of +importance which I must discuss with you this evening." +</P> + +<P> +Mary, in her usual place on her uncle's knee, fixed her eyes on the +fire, folded her hands, and tried to look very grave and grown-up; for +to talk over a matter of importance with Doctor Carlton was, in her +opinion, a very serious thing indeed. +</P> + +<P> +"I have a patient, a little boy four years old, who has injured his +spine. He can be cured, I think, if he has proper care. He is an only +child and is somewhat spoiled, and the pain he is suffering makes him +very peevish and cross. His poor mother is quite worn out, for he +insists on having her beside him day and night. We had a fine nurse +for him, but he took a dislike to her and would not let her come near +him. Now, the only one I know who can handle this case is Sister +Julia. She has a way of her own with children, as you well know. You +are improving so fast that you really no longer need her; so I think we +had better let her go to that poor little fellow who does; don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +The Doctor watched Mary's face over which a look of dismay had spread, +and he saw the struggle that was going on in her heart, which sank very +low at the thought of the long, long days all alone, except for the +servants, in the big house. She locked her frail little fingers +tightly together and winked very hard before she answered in a voice +scarcely above a whisper; "Ye——es, Uncle,——and——and maybe you can +come home a little earlier, just a <I>little</I> earlier every evening, +and——and stay longer at luncheon, and——and will you ask Mrs. Burns +and Mrs. Lee to let Hazel and Rosemary come in to play with me for a +while every day on their way home from school and take turns spending +the day with me on Saturdays——" Her voice broke, and she hid her +face against his coat. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, little one, you don't think for an instant that you will be here +alone all day, do you? Of course, you may have as many of your little +friends as you please come to visit you. I could not allow that while +you were so weak; but there is no reason now why they may not come very +often. I have made plans, however, so that you need not be alone for a +single moment of the day. Sister Julia has a young friend, Miss +Donnelly, who often takes her place in cases like this. I know her +quite well and feel very sure that you will like her. She is about +sixteen—not a bit too old to enjoy your games—and she is an expert +dolls' dress-maker." +</P> + +<P> +"Is she a little young lady or a big young lady, Uncle? I do hope she +is small. I like little people best." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, ma'am." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I mean small ladies. Mother is not very big, you know, and all of +her friends that I love best are small. But I like men to be big like +you and Father. You are both just exactly right. I have often seen a +great big lady pass here, and I am sure that I would not like her at +all. She wears a long black coat like an overcoat, and a hat almost +exactly like a man's. Her hair is always brushed back as smooth as +smooth can be. She hasn't any pretty, soft, little curls like +Mother's." +</P> + +<P> +"I know that lady very well. She is a doctor, and her patients, +especially children, think everything of her. So you see how unwise it +is to judge from a person's appearance." The Doctor tweaked the little +girl's ear, and his eyes twinkled as he went on, "At any rate, I have +engaged Miss Donnelly without regard to her size or style of dress; so +we shall have to give her a fair trial, at least." +</P> + +<P> +"Ye——es, Uncle, of course. It wouldn't be very p'lite to tell her we +don't want her after you have asked her to come. And I shall try as +hard as I can to love her even if she is as big as the doctor lady and +wears a man's hat and coat." +</P> + +<P> +Mary smiled bravely up at him as she lifted her face for his good-night +kiss. "When——when is she coming, Uncle?" +</P> + +<P> +"To-morrow morning, dear. By the way, you must not try to come down to +breakfast for a few days. Luncheon and dinner will be enough for you, +so take a long sleep in the morning." +</P> + +<P> +Mary's heart was very heavy as she went up the stairs with Sister +Julia. Even with this good friend to comfort and cheer her, the little +girl had spent many lonely hours since her parents and baby sisters had +sailed for Europe, where her father's business required that he should +live for a year. Mary had not been able to go with them, because she +had been very ill and was not strong enough for the long voyage. So +she had been left with her mother's brother, who had always made his +home with the Selwyns. During her long illness, Mary had grown to love +Sister Julia very, very much. What would she ever do now with a +stranger? And the letters from her father and mother, which her uncle +had felt so sure would arrive that day, had not come. Yes, it was a +sad-hearted little Mary who laid her head on her pillow that night and +tried to picture the new companion her uncle had found for her. +</P> + +<P> +Two hours later, the Doctor himself was sorry that he had not told her +more of Miss Donnelly; for when he tiptoed to her bedside, he found her +pillow wet with tears; and as he lightly kissed her forehead, she +murmured in her sleep, "O Uncle! I wish she wasn't so big—not <I>quite</I> +so big." +</P> + +<P> +After dreaming for the greater part of the night of a very large, +strong young girl with fair hair drawn back so tightly that she could +scarcely wink, Mary slept quite late in the morning. She had just +finished her breakfast when Liza, the house-maid, came in with a card +for Sister Julia. Mary felt that the dreaded hour had come, and +remembering her promise to her uncle, braced herself to meet the Miss +Donnelly of her dreams. Yes, they were coming up the stairs. She +could hear Sister Julia's merry laugh. The next moment the nurse +entered the room followed by a young girl dressed in brown from top to +toe. Laughing, dark eyes in a small, oval face framed in soft, little, +brown curls won Mary at once. She stretched out her arms with a cry of +delight. "Oh, you are just too dear!" +</P> + +<P> +"And you are just too darling!" The little brown lady ran to the +bedside and hugged the child. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish, oh, I wish that you were going to stay with me +instead——instead of——" +</P> + +<P> +"Instead of that cross old Sister Julia," laughed the nurse. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, <I>no</I>, Sister! You have never, <I>never</I> been cross—not once. +I mean instead of——well, it isn't very nice to say, but I just can't +help it——instead of Miss Donnelly." +</P> + +<P> +"But this is Miss Donnelly, dear." +</P> + +<P> +"Why——why——but Uncle said——no, he didn't exactly say it, but I +thought Miss Donnelly was——different." +</P> + +<P> +"And I thought <I>you</I> were different. Just wait until I see your uncle! +As you say, he did not exactly tell me so, but I thought I was to take +care of a little old lady who would not give me a chance to sit still +one minute. What sort of a Miss Donnelly did you think I would be?" +</P> + +<P> +"The one I dreamed of all night was big and strong and had a very loud +voice and wore her hair plastered back and——and oh! I <I>am</I> so glad +she isn't real! Isn't Uncle a tease! But I am not going to scold him +one bit since he sent me the right kind of a Miss Donnelly." +</P> + +<P> +"And now, dear, I must say good-bye. Your Uncle sent the carriage for +Miss Donnelly, and Liza says that Jim is waiting to drive me to the +home of my new patient." +</P> + +<P> +"But you will come to see us often and often, Sister, and when the +little boy is well, you will come back to us, won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you will be so well and strong by that time, Mary, that you +will not need me. My work is to take care of the sick, you know. But +I shall stop in to see you on the days when I return to our convent; +and when you are able to go out, you and Gene must come to see me. I +am sure that my new patient will be glad to have you visit him." +</P> + +<P> +Mary threw her arms about Sister Julia and clung to her until Gene +declared that she was growing jealous. On her return to the little +girl's room after seeing the Sister into the carriage, she caught Mary +hastily wiping her eyes, but pretended not to see and asked cheerfully, +"Now, what shall we do first?" +</P> + +<P> +"The very first thing, Miss Donnelly, will be for me to get dressed." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, Miss Selwyn," was the prim reply. +</P> + +<P> +"Why——why I am just Mary, Miss Donnelly. I am only seven and a half. +No one <I>ever</I> calls me <I>Miss</I> Selwyn." +</P> + +<P> +"And I am just Eugenia, Miss Selwyn. I am only sixteen, and no one +ever calls me anything but Gene. So if you wish me to call you Mary, +you must call me Gene." +</P> + +<P> +"But——but I think I ought to call you <I>Miss</I> Gene. Mother told me +always to say Miss before the names of the big sisters of the little +girls I know." +</P> + +<P> +"This is a very different case. I should so like to play that I am +your big sister; for, you see, I am the youngest in our family, so I +have never had a little sister. Don't you think that we could pretend +we are sisters?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes, of course we can! I have never had a big sister; but if I +had one, I should wish her to be exactly like you." +</P> + +<P> +Gene promptly hugged the little girl. "And you would not call her +<I>Miss</I> Gene, would you? Oh, I shall be very lonely if you call me +that." +</P> + +<P> +"I know what we can do. I shall call you Gene until Uncle comes home +to luncheon; and then, if he thinks it will be all right, I can tell +Mother about it when I write to her. I wish you knew Father and Mother +and my darling little twin sisters and dear old Aunt Mandy, their +nurse. But I shall show you their pictures the very first thing. They +are in that kodak book on the table. You will have to know everything +about them if you are going to be my big sister, you know; and some day +when Uncle thinks I am well enough, we shall go out to Maryvale to see +Aunt Mary. She is a Sister, and Maryvale is the name of the convent. +Her name is Sister Madeline." And while Gene helped Mary to dress, the +little girl told her so much about her dear ones that she soon felt she +knew them very well indeed. +</P> + +<P> +Later on, when Gene had seen her dolls and games and books, Mary said, +"There is something very important that I must ask you about, Gene. It +is Christmas presents. Do you know any things that I can make? Of +course, they will have to be easy things. Mother and I always went +shopping early in December and bought some of the presents—things for +Aunt Mandy and Liza and Susie and Tom and for some of the little girls +I know; but ever since I was a little bit of a thing, she helped me +make something for Father and Uncle Frank and Aunt Mary. And Father +helped me with a present for Mother. She says people 'preciate gifts +more when they know we have made them specially for them. The trouble +is, I can't sew very well, and I don't know how to crochet anything but +chain stitch; and there is nothing a person can make out of a long +string of chain stitch." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, there is, Mary. If you crochet very heavy silk thread in +chain stitch, it makes the loveliest cord for calendars and things like +that." +</P> + +<P> +"I made calendars last year, but we used ribbon for hanging them up. +Mother bought me some cards with holes in them, and I sewed them with +colored silks and pasted a little calendar on each one. Father's card +had a rose on it; and Uncle's a Christmas tree; and Aunt Mary's had +Santa Claus going down a chimney. Then Father went to the very same +store where Mother had bought the cards and got one for her with a +bluebird on it, because Mother calls me her little bluebird. I always +wear blue and white, because I am dedicated to Blessed Mother. Beth +is, too; and Berta, to the Sacred Heart. And one day when Mother was +out, I made her calendar, and she was so s'prised. I just love to +s'prise people, don't you? And the bluebird is for happiness; so it +was just right for Mother, because I want her to be happy every minute +of the whole year. I s'pose it won't do to make calendars again." +</P> + +<P> +"They are very useful things, Mary, and everyone likes a pretty one. +You could make a different kind this year. Do you ever use these +paints? I see you have crayolas, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Gene, I often try to draw and paint; but I am better at pasting +than anything else." +</P> + +<P> +"The calendars I have in mind will have to be pasted, too. This +afternoon while you are taking your nap, I shall go to a store not far +from here where I can get everything we need; and to-morrow we shall +begin work." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, goody! Uncle said last evening that the things we are going to +send to Italy must be ready early next week. But what can I make for +the babies? They can't use calendars, you know. Aunt Mandy was going +to teach me to knit something for them, and then I got sick. I even +had some nice, soft, white worsted to begin with." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you any colored worsted?" +</P> + +<P> +"There is a big box of all colors on the shelf of the closet in +Mother's room. I know that it will be all right for us to use it, +because Mother always gave me some of it when I needed it for my dolls." +</P> + +<P> +After a little search, they found the box. +</P> + +<P> +"This is just the thing, Mary, and it is so heavy that it will work up +quickly." +</P> + +<P> +"But please tell me what I am going to make, Gene." +</P> + +<P> +"It is something that the babies cannot use until they are a little +older, but they will have ever so much fun with it then. It is a pair +of horse reins; and we shall sew tiny brass sleigh bells across the +front and over the shoulders. Now, the first thing we need is a large +spool." +</P> + +<P> +"I know where to find one—in the machine drawer." +</P> + +<P> +Into the top of the spool, Gene drove four strong pins, and fastening +the red worsted around them, began the reins. "We shall make about +five inches of each color, and your little sisters——" +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Our</I> little sisters, Gene." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, of course—our little sisters will have the gayest horse reins +you ever did see." +</P> + +<P> +For the rest of the morning, Mary worked busily while Gene unpacked her +trunk; and when the Doctor came home to luncheon, the little girl had +added five inches of blue and five of yellow to the reins. She took +her work down stairs to show it to him. "And, Uncle, I have something +very important to ask you. Miss Donnelly says it will make her lonely +to be called Miss anybody, and she has asked me to call her Gene. Of +course, Mother told me always to say Miss. But Miss Donnelly thinks it +would be nice to pretend we are sisters, and I wouldn't call my big +sister, Miss." +</P> + +<P> +"I am very sure, dear, that if it will make Miss Donnelly feel more at +home with us, Mother would approve of your calling her Gene." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you will have to call her that, too, Uncle; because if she is my +sister, she is your niece; and you wouldn't call your own niece Miss +somebody." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, if Miss Donnelly wishes me to call her Gene, I shall do so." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Doctor. I feel very much at home already." +</P> + +<P> +"But——but Gene, if you are my big sister, you ought to say Uncle +Frank, not Doctor." +</P> + +<P> +"We must let Gene please herself about that, Mary," laughed the Doctor. +"I can easily see how she might wish to have you for her little sister +without adopting the whole family." +</P> + +<P> +"W——ell,——but I think she will be sorry if she doesn't adopt you, +Uncle. Oh, that reminds me! We need some ribbon and Christmas tags +and seals and ever so many things for the presents we are going to +make; and Gene says that she will buy them for me this afternoon while +I am taking my nap. I am afraid I haven't money enough in my bank to +pay for them, Uncle." +</P> + +<P> +The Doctor took a bill from his pocket book. +</P> + +<P> +"This will probably cover the cost of your purchases. When you need +more, Gene, let me know." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BUSY DAYS. +</H3> + + +<P> +Mary was watching at the library window when Gene returned from her +shopping trip with her arms filled with packages—long ones, square +ones, round ones, flat ones. The little girl's eyes shone with an +eager light as she helped to carry them upstairs. She clapped her +hands and danced about the room as Gene opened one after another. +There were rolls of crepe paper; bolts of narrow ribbon, green, red, +and white with tiny sprays of holly; a big sheet of dark green +cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a package +of calendar pads; and a box of outline pictures ready to be colored +with paints or crayolas. +</P> + +<P> +"I think these will be just the thing for the calendars, Mary. You can +color them, and we shall mount them on this dark green cardboard and +paste one of these tiny calendars under each. You may either use +ribbon to hang them by or crochet a cord of this silk. I knew that you +would not wish to send your father and mother each a calendar, so I +thought we could make a blotter for your mother and use one of these +long, narrow pictures for the cover." +</P> + +<P> +"Gene, you are just wonderful for thinking up things! I didn't know +what in the world to make for Mother. Do you know of anything for Aunt +Mandy?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can show you an easy way to make a whisk broom holder." +</P> + +<P> +"That will be just the thing, Gene! Dear, me! These pictures are all +so pretty that I don't know which to choose for Father's calendar. Let +us make his present first. Here is a snow scene. I shall paint that. +It is so warm in Italy that Father will be glad to have something +cool-looking hanging over his desk. If we have time to make them, I +think I shall send Father and Mother each a calendar and a blotter. +Father can take his to his office, you know." +</P> + +<P> +Together they worked and chatted until dusk, when Mary had two pictures +colored, and Gene had everything ready for the next day's work. +</P> + +<P> +"Letters! Letters!" called the Doctor from the foot of the stairs. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Gene! I never thought of the postman this afternoon. I was so +busy." And Mary ran down to hear the first real news of her dear ones. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what lovely fat letters, Uncle!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed. This one from your father is in the form of a diary. He +wrote a little every day and mailed it on the steamer before it reached +Queenstown, as I told you he would do." +</P> + +<P> +The little girl listened breathlessly to every word of those two +letters, and her eyes filled with tears when she heard all the loving +messages which they contained. +</P> + +<P> +"By this time they have that fine, long letter we wrote them ten days +ago. That was a nice little surprise for them, because they wouldn't +expect us to write until we had heard from them. So we are one ahead +on surprises." +</P> + +<P> +"But Father s'prised us with the cablegram from Liverpool, Uncle." +</P> + +<P> +"So he did. Well, we are quits at any rate." +</P> + +<P> +After dinner, Mary proposed that they spend the evening before the fire +in the sitting-room. The Doctor saw that Gene hesitated and asked +kindly, "Won't you join us?" +</P> + +<P> +"You see so little of each other, Doctor, that I think you should have +this time together every evening." +</P> + +<P> +"But we would like to have you with us, too, Gene," urged Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps I shall join you later, dearie. I really ought to write to my +mother this evening. It will make her very happy to know that I have +at last found a little sister." +</P> + +<P> +During the week that followed, a busier little girl than Mary could +scarcely have been found in New York City. So well did she work that +she was able to finish not only two blotters, two calendars, the horse +reins and the whisk broom holder, but also a little card for Tom, Aunt +Mandy's grandson, whom Mr. Selwyn had taken with him to Italy. A whole +evening was spent in carefully wrapping each gift in white tissue +paper, tying it with bright ribbon, and sealing it in every possible +place with heads of jolly old Santa Claus. +</P> + +<P> +Among the many gifts which the Doctor had brought home during the week +were the following: For Mr. Selwyn, a large, framed photograph of Mary, +an enlarged copy of a kodak picture which he had taken of her after her +parents had gone away; for his sister, a beautiful black lace mantilla +which, as he explained to the little girl, her mother would wear on her +head when she had an audience with the Pope; for the babies, tiny gold +chains and miraculous medals. Nor had he forgotten Aunt Mandy and Tom. +The table in the playroom was scarcely large enough to hold all the +gay-looking packages; and they were just about to carry them down +stairs to pack them in the strong, wooden box in the lower hall when +who should appear in the doorway but the two servants—Liza with a big +plum pudding decked with sprays of holly, and old Susie with an immense +fruit cake. +</P> + +<P> +"We 'lowed dey wouldn't see nuffin lak dis yeah obah yondah in dat +savage land whah dey's done gone to, nohow, Massa Frank," chuckled the +old cook. "What yo' spects dem Eyetalians knows 'bout fruit cake an' +plum puddin', huh?" +</P> + +<P> +"They certainly know nothing about the kind you make, Susie, or we +would have them all inviting themselves to our Christmas dinner." +</P> + +<P> +"I'se got a few t'ings what I made ma own self, Massa Frank, ef'n yo' +reckons dey'll be room fo' dem in dat box." +</P> + +<P> +"We shall find room for them, Liza, or get a larger box. Bring them +along." +</P> + +<P> +At last the box was packed; and as the Doctor reached for the hammer to +nail down the cover, Mary caught his hand in both of hers and held it +to her cheek while she murmured wistfully, "Wouldn't it be lovely if we +could pack ourselves in the box and go, too, Uncle?" +</P> + +<P> +"I, for one, strongly object to traveling in a packing box, little one; +and I think you would be begging to be taken out after the express man +had bumped you down the front steps. Never mind. A box will arrive +from Italy one of these fine days, and we shall have a great time +opening it. If it should come while I am not here, no fair peeping!" +</P> + +<P> +"As if I would, Uncle!" +</P> + +<P> +The next morning, Mary began a calendar for her uncle. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't have to hurry with anything now, Gene, even with Aunt Mary's +gift. We always take her presents to her Christmas afternoon." +</P> + +<P> +But the little girl was puzzled about a gift for Gene herself. The +Doctor would not allow her to use her eyes at night, because they had +been weakened by her long illness; and she could think of no excuse for +locking herself in her room while she made the present she had in mind. +At last one evening at dinner, her uncle solved the question for her by +asking: "Gene, will you kindly look over Mary's wardrobe and see what +she will need in the way of new frocks, shoes, and so on? I fear that +I shall have to ask you to do some shopping for her before she will be +ready for the trip South. I have never tried to buy so much as a pair +of shoes for a young lady." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed, Doctor, I shall be only too glad to select anything she +needs." For Gene, like all girls, loved to shop, especially when every +penny did not have to be counted twice before it was spent. +</P> + +<P> +Mary clapped her hands and laughed so gleefully that the Doctor looked +at her in surprise. "Hm! There is mischief in your eye, young lady. +We may look out for something, Gene, on the day you go shopping." +</P> + +<P> +A little later when alone with Mary, he drew a letter from his pocket. +"I had a few lines from Aunt Mary to-day, and this little note for you +came in the same envelope. Shall I read it to you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Please, Uncle. Writing is so hard for me to read. Big people write +such a funny way. They make points instead of curves at the top and +bottom of m's, n's, and u's, so that I can hardly tell which is which." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we grown-ups should be more careful when writing to little folks. +Now, let us see what Aunt Mary has to say: 'My dear Mary, Mother +Johanna is so very busy these days that she has asked me to write this +little note for her and invite you to spend Christmas with us at +Maryvale. Your little friends are all around me telling me what to say +to you. They wish you to come out Friday morning, for they have many, +many things to do to aid Santa Claus, and they know what a great help +you will be to them. Eight of them will spend the holidays here, so +you will have plenty of company. Do not disappoint us. Your loving +Aunt Mary.' Well, what do you think of that?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is just lovely for Mother Johanna to invite me, Uncle; but, of +course, I won't go." +</P> + +<P> +"And why not, pray tell me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Go to Maryvale and leave you alone for Christmas!" +</P> + +<P> +"But I do not intend to be left alone. I, too, am invited. Aunt Mary +tells me that Father Hartley, the chaplain, will be happy to have me +spend a few nights at his cottage, and I am looking forward to a very +good time indeed." +</P> + +<P> +"But——but, Uncle,——oh, it will be bad enough not to have Father and +Mother and the babies home for Christmas, but if I have to be away from +you, too——" +</P> + +<P> +"You do not understand, dear. I shall be with you during the day—at +meals and all—and in the evening until bedtime. Indeed, you will see +far more of me than if we remain at home." +</P> + +<P> +"But——but we won't be in the same house at night. Father Hartley's +cottage is as far from the convent as——as——" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, pet, it is right on the convent grounds, not more than two +hundred yards away." +</P> + +<P> +"But you can't come when I am asleep and kiss me good-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Whatever put such an idea into your head? So you think I go prowling +about the house at night at the risk of waking you and having you think +I am a burglar?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you don't come, Uncle, I must dream that you do; but it seems very +strange that I should have the same dream every night at the same time." +</P> + +<P> +"If you are asleep, how do you know the time?" +</P> + +<P> +"W——ell, I must wake up a little, for I hear the big clock at the +foot of the stairs strike ten just after you have gone." +</P> + +<P> +"Just after I have gone! So you take it for granted that I do go into +your room every night, eh? then why not prove it? At Maryvale, I can +not possibly go to you at ten o'clock at night." The Doctor was more +than anxious that the little girl should accept the invitation, for he +well knew how very lonely this Christmas would be for her at home. "I +was so sure that you would like to go, that I have made plans for a +jolly time. One of them is that we shall send that big, old-fashioned +sleigh, which has stood in the barn for years, out to Maryvale, and I +shall take you and your little friends for a sleigh ride every day. +Perhaps Aunt Mary and some of the Sisters could go with you. And then +we could help Santa Claus in regard to the tree and some gifts for +those little girls who do not go home for Christmas. If we do go, Gene +will be able to spend Christmas at her own home. Don't you think you +had better sleep over it, Goldilocks, before sending your regrets to +Mother Johanna? You might change your mind when it is too late." +</P> + +<P> +But the thought of making the holidays happier for the little girls who +could not go home and, more than all, for Gene, was quite enough to win +Mary over to her uncle's view of the matter. +</P> + +<P> +"I have already changed my mind, Uncle. We won't send our regrets." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MARY'S SECRET. +</H3> + + +<P> +The following day, just after luncheon, Gene handed the Doctor a list +of the things she thought Mary would need, and told him that she had +decided to go down town that afternoon. "Mary will not have so much +time to get into mischief after her nap as she would have if I were to +go in the morning," she explained, her eyes twinkling. +</P> + +<P> +"A very good idea indeed, Gene; but if you had given me a little hint, +I could have put a sleeping powder into her glass of milk, and that +would have kept her in bed until dinner time. Well, I think we can +trust her not to eat matches or burn the house down. I shall tell Liza +to keep an eye on her." +</P> + +<P> +"But Liza is going to help me." +</P> + +<P> +"Oho! a plot, is it? Well, do your worst, for you may never have the +house to yourselves again," laughed the Doctor, putting on his overcoat. +</P> + +<P> +"Gene, please excuse me, but I must whisper something to Uncle." And +Mary drew him into the library. "The reason I am so glad, Uncle, is +because I want to make Gene's Christmas present while she is out; and +don't you think I could do without a nap for just this once? I can +take two to-morrow, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, to +make up, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Better go to bed an hour earlier to-night. By all means use every +moment while Gene is out to make her gift." +</P> + +<P> +"And will you help me tie it up to-night, Uncle? I make such funny +bows." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall do my best, but I am no hand at tying ribbons. Shoe strings +are more in my line, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so, Uncle. I don't see how we would have managed to tie up the +things for the box without Gene. But I can't ask her to tie the ribbon +on her own present. Oh, maybe Liza can help me." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure she can. And now you must excuse <I>me</I> while I speak to Gene +a moment. Ask Liza to tell Jim to have the carriage ready to take her +down town. It is a very cold day." +</P> + +<P> +Leaving Mary in the library, the Doctor returned to the hall, where +Gene was waiting at the foot of the stairs for the little girl. +</P> + +<P> +"You may see something to-day, Gene, that will take your fancy as a +Christmas gift for the home folks; so I am going to pay my debts a +little ahead of time." +</P> + +<P> +"Really, Doctor, I do not feel that you owe me anything. I have been +treated as a guest—no, as a member of the family; and you have no idea +what it has meant to me." +</P> + +<P> +"And you have no idea how much all that you have done for my little +niece has meant to me. If any one had told me that she could be so +happy and contented without her parents and little sisters, I would not +have believed it. Of course, I know that she has her lonely hours. +Such things are to be expected." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Doctor, there have been times when I was tempted to telephone for +you. It seemed to me that she needed someone of her very own to +comfort her. But even at her worst, she has always been so sweet and +gentle—so different from the children that I have usually dealt with." +</P> + +<P> +"She is a winsome little lassie, and for that very reason I appreciate +anything that is done to make her happy. Sister Julia gave me no idea +of your powers in that line, so I do not feel bound by the bargain I +made with you and have taken it upon myself to do what I think common +justice requires. Even then, I shall be in your debt; for there are +things which mere money can never repay." +</P> + +<P> +He placed an envelope in her hand and was gone before she could do more +than thank him. On the sidewalk he turned to wave at Mary, who always +stood at the window until he had passed out of sight; but a cry from +Gene had called the little girl into the hall, and the Doctor chuckled +as he pictured the two examining the contents of the envelope. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it is a mistake—a mistake! Look at this, Mary!" And Gene sank +on the lowest step of the stairs and burst into tears. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Gene,—oh, don't, <I>don't</I> cry, Gene!" Mary threw her arms about +the sobbing girl. "Isn't it good money? O Gene! Uncle didn't mean to +give you bad money, you know. Here, I shall throw it right into the +fire, and he will give you the good kind the very minute he comes +home." The child seized the two crisp bills lying in Gene's lap and +ran toward the library. +</P> + +<P> +"Mary, Mary, don't! No, no!" Gene hurried after her. "It is good +money! Too good to be true! Look at it! Two one hundred dollar +bills! And it isn't a mistake, either. Your Uncle meant to give them +to me. He said so himself; but I was too much surprised to remember. +Think of it, Mary! <I>Two hundred dollars</I> for the very loveliest time I +have ever had in my life." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that very much money, Gene? I don't know much about money." +</P> + +<P> +"It is ever so much more than I have ever handled at one time. Oh, you +little darling! You have no idea what this means to me. My father is +an invalid. He injured his back two years ago and has not been able to +walk since. But wait until he gets the comfortable wheel chair that +this money will buy for him. I shall not buy it to-day, though, for I +should like to ask your uncle about the best place to get such a thing. +So you see, dearie, why I am so, so happy over my two hundred dollars. +But come! The minutes are flying, and I must dress to go out." +</P> + +<P> +When Mary had seen the carriage drive down the street with Gene safe +inside it, she flew out to the kitchen to ask Susie to make her some +paste. +</P> + +<P> +"Gwine to papah yo' doll house agin, honey?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Susie, I have to make Gene's Christmas present while she is down +town, and I have used every speck of paste in the bottle she bought for +me. I really think the kind you make sticks better." +</P> + +<P> +"Co'se it do, Miss May-ree. Homemade t'ings am alwuz de bestest dey +is. Yo' run 'long an' git de res' ob yo' fixin's ready, an' Liza'll +fotch dis up to yo' when it gits cool. 'Tain't no good hot, nohow." +</P> + +<P> +"And will you come up to see the gift when it is finished, Susie? I +would like your 'pinion about it. You see, this is the only one I have +tried to make all by myself." +</P> + +<P> +"I sho'ly will, honey; but I reckon ma 'pinion ain't wuf much, nohow." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed it is, Susie. I shall call you the very minute the gift is +finished." +</P> + +<P> +Mary knew exactly what she intended to make for Gene, so lost no time +in planning it. She began at once to cut a circular piece of +cardboard, but found it hard work for her little hands. In the center +of it, she pasted a photograph of herself, which she knew Gene liked +very much; and then she cut strips of crepe paper, pink and dark green, +and carefully pulled out the edges to make ruffles. Beginning at the +edge of the cardboard, she pasted the green paper, circle within +circle, singing all the while; and her sweet little voice reached the +ears of Liza and Susie, who stole up the back stairs and peeped in at +her as she cut and clipped and snipped and pasted and patted. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, I am ready for the pink paper. There's the clock +striking—one—two—three. I wonder when Gene will be home. Liza! +Li—za—a—a! Li—i—i—za!" +</P> + +<P> +The two women in the hall fled on tiptoe; and after a few moments, Liza +entered from the next room. "Wuz yo' callin', honey?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Liza. What time do you think Gene will be home?" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't know'm, Miss May-ree. 'Bout five, I reckon." +</P> + +<P> +"That's exactly what I think. Then I have only two hours. But I shall +have this finished unless she comes earlier. It won't take so long to +paste the pink ruffles on, because the nearer I come to the center, the +smaller the circles are. How do you think it's going to look, Liza?" +</P> + +<P> +"Scrumptious, honey, scrumptious! An' when yo's ready fo' to tie dem +ribbings, jes' yo' call me agin." +</P> + +<P> +Mary thought over every word Gene had said that afternoon. +</P> + +<P> +"I am going to tell Uncle all about her poor, sick father. If anyone +can make him well, he can. And about the chair—that one has been up +in the attic for years and years. There, my frame is finished all but +the ribbons to hang it up by. I shall have to ask Liza to punch the +holes for me. Liza! Li—za! Li—za—a!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yas'm, Miss May-ree, yas'm! Wal, ain't dat de mos' bu'ful present I +ebah did see! Wait, honey, twell I calls ole Susie." +</P> + +<P> +The cook was as loud as Liza in her praise of the little girl's work. +</P> + +<P> +"And now I am going to put it in Uncle's room so Gene won't see it." +</P> + +<P> +What matter that the crepe paper was not cut very evenly, or that the +paste showed through in several places? The love that was worked into +every inch of that picture frame and the dear little face peeping out +of the very heart of the flower brightened many a sad day in Gene's +after life. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, oh! Liza! there's the door bell!" Mary stopped short at the door +of her uncle's room. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's all right, honey. I'se gwine turn out de light in heah, an' +ef'n it's Miss Gene, yo' come 'long down right aftah me an' tek her in +de liberry an' keep her dah talkin' while I comes back up heah an' +cleahs away de scraps." +</P> + +<P> +Mary was half way down the stairs when Liza opened the door to admit +Gene, who was followed by Jim with his arms piled high with boxes. +</P> + +<P> +"There is so much delay about sending things these days that I thought +I had better bring them since I had the carriage," explained the young +girl. +</P> + +<P> +"Liza will show Jim where to put the boxes, Gene. Come in here and +warm yourself by the fire. Do tell me what you bought—every single +thing. Did you see about that nice chair for your father?" Though +Mary tried to ask the question in her usual tone, there was an anxious +note in her voice, which did not escape Gene; neither did the child's +little sigh of relief when she answered, "No, Mary, I wish to ask your +uncle's advice about that." +</P> + +<P> +After dinner, the Doctor went upstairs with them to see Gene's +purchases. The young girl spread the pretty little dresses on Mary's +bed. There was a soft, white, cloth one braided with pale blue; a dark +blue cashmere trimmed with tiny, white pearl buttons; several dainty +white frocks of summer material, besides ginghams, lawns, and dimities +in blue and white plaids, checks, and stripes. +</P> + +<P> +"They are just lovely, Gene, lovely!" cried Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed, Gene, you have shown very good taste in making your +choice." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Doctor. I was not sure whether you and Mary would care for +the little dark blue dress, as she seems to have nothing but white and +pale blue ones. It may be worn with a white guimpe as a change from +the blue silk one that goes with it." +</P> + +<P> +Gene began to return the things to their boxes, and the Doctor, in +response to a sign from Mary, followed the child into the hall and to +his own room. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't mean to tell me you made that, Goldilocks!" +</P> + +<P> +"I did! I did! All except tying the ribbons. The edges of the +ruffles are not very even, so will you please trim them a little?" +</P> + +<P> +"Leave them just as they are. The whole frame looks like a big +hollyhock, and the uneven places make it more natural. The petals of a +flower are not all exactly even, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Then let us wrap it up and put it away. Where can we hide it so Gene +won't see it?" +</P> + +<P> +"How about the bottom drawer of my dresser? There is a large flat box +in there that we shall lay it in." +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes later when the two were enjoying their usual evening chat +before the sitting-room fire, Mary told her uncle Gene's story. "And I +just know you can cure Mr. Donnelly, Uncle." +</P> + +<P> +"I am not so sure about that, pet; but there will be no harm in going +to see him if Gene would like me to do so. As for the wheel chair in +the storeroom upstairs, I shall have to think of a way to get around +that. Perhaps I can offer to lend it to her for as long a time as her +father may need it. Run off to bed now. You have had a busy afternoon +cutting and pasting and planning for the happiness of others. After +Gene has tucked you in for the night, ask her to come in here for a few +minutes." +</P> + +<P> +Before leaving for his office the next morning, the Doctor told Mary +that he had promised Gene to go to see her father the day after +Christmas, and that he had advised her not to buy a chair until after +his visit. "From what she has told me of the case, I think he will +have to be brought to a hospital in the city. So say nothing of the +wheel chair in the storeroom." +</P> + +<P> +It took quite a while that morning to try on all the new dresses. +</P> + +<P> +"I am glad they do not need altering, Mary, for I ought to pack your +trunk this afternoon. Do you wish to take any dolls and games and +books away with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Santa Claus always brings me books and games, so they will be enough +to take to San Antonio. About my dolls—I think I shall just take +Amelia Anabelle." This was a large baby doll which Mr. Selwyn had +given his little girl just before he went away. There was a button at +the back of its neck, and when it was pressed, the head turned around +in the baby cap, showing a crying face instead of hair. At the same +time, the doll cried and kicked and waved its arms about just as a very +cross baby would do. Then, Mary said, Amelia Anabelle was in a +tantrum. "My other children are old enough to stay with their aunt in +the country. (That's my toy box, Gene.) I shall carry Amelia +Anabelle; but goodness, me! the poor child has no cloak. Those +belonging to my other children won't fit her." +</P> + +<P> +"Babies as young as she is are often wrapped in a warm shawl." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I know the very thing—the pretty white shawl Mother made for me +to wear when I began to sit up after I was so sick. I shall wrap that +around her, and the robe from my doll carriage, too. Now, Gene, you +are laughing at me. Your eyes are all twinkly. Yes, they are. Do you +think Amelia Anabelle will look funny bundled up that way?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not at all, Mary. I was not smiling at what you said, but at a +thought of my own." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope Santa Claus will bring me the nice little suitcase I asked him +for. I showed Uncle my letter before I sent it up the chimney, because +he is one of Santa Claus' helpers, you know, and if the letter should +be lost, Uncle will remember exactly what I asked for. I should like a +suitcase that I can carry myself—one just large enough for the things +I need on the train. I am so glad we can go as far as Maryvale +together, but I do wish you could stop off to see Aunt Mary. How far +is your home from Maryvale, Gene?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall travel sixty miles on the train after you leave me, dearie, +and then drive two miles out into the country." +</P> + +<P> +"After we have packed my trunk, Gene, we must help Susie with the +baskets for the poor people that Mother always remembered at Christmas +time." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MARYVALE. +</H3> + + +<P> +Friday morning, Mary was half dressed when Gene came to wake her. +</P> + +<P> +"There are so many things that I must do before it is time to start, +you know, Gene." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Mary, you have nothing to do but to eat your breakfast and put +your comb and brush in your suitcase. Neither have I," laughed the +young girl. +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed, I have some very important things to do, Gene, and I wish you +would try to go around with your eyes closed and not fasten your +suitcase until I tell you." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Mary, what did I say about gifts? You promised, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know I promised not to let Uncle Frank buy you anything, and +not to make anything myself; but his gift was already bought, and mine +was already made; so we can't do anything but give them to you, can we?" +</P> + +<P> +"You little mischief! I told you that I would like to have that +picture of you and that was all. I thought we would surely find it +before this." +</P> + +<P> +"And I looked everywhere for the large ones like it that Mother has put +away somewhere, but I couldn't find them. Never mind, Gene, you shall +have that picture some day." +</P> + +<P> +After breakfast when the Doctor had said good-bye to Gene, Mary clung +to him, making him promise to leave early that evening for Maryvale. +</P> + +<P> +"And I have telephoned to Aunt Mary to expect you on the ten-thirty +train. She will send the sleigh with two or three of the large girls +to meet you. Be sure to catch that train, for it will take you out +there in good time for luncheon. Good-bye until evening." +</P> + +<P> +"Now we must fly around and get ready, Gene. You know we have to stop +at little Paul's home to give him and Sister Julia their presents. He +may wish us to stay a few minutes, too. Oh, oh! don't fasten your +suitcase yet, please!" Mary hurried to her uncle's room for Gene's +gift, and returning, peeped in at the door. "Please look out the +window a minute, Gene." Carefully laying the package on top of the +things in the suitcase, she slammed down the cover and sat on it. +"Now, you may fasten it, but I won't let you have even one, teeny, +weeny peep. And you must promise not to open the suitcase until +Christmas morning." +</P> + +<P> +"But, darling, I can't promise that. There are things in it that I +shall need as soon as I get home." Mary's face fell. "But I shall +promise not to open your gift until Christmas. Will that do? is it +wrapped?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Gene, it is wrapped, so you really can't see the +pic——the——the <I>thing</I>, anyway." +</P> + +<P> +"Jim jes' done tol' me dat he's gwine to dribe around to de front now, +so yo' bettah lemme holp yo' git yo' t'ings on, Miss May-ree, so's Miss +Gene kin git her's on at de same time." +</P> + +<P> +Liza smiled in a knowing fashion at Mary and took up the little girl's +pretty, white coat and hat. +</P> + +<P> +"Just a minute, Liza. I must wrap up Amelia Anabelle first. Will you +please get the shawl out of the middle drawer?" Mary crossed the room +to the door of the playroom, and Gene pretended to be busy with her +suitcase. +</P> + +<P> +"Why—oh! oh! oh!" Back ran the little girl to throw her arms about +Gene and dance with her around the room. "You dear, darling, dumpling +Gene! <I>Now</I> I know who the little friend is that you were knitting the +pretty white mittens and leggings and embroidering the beautiful baby +cloak and cap for. <I>You</I> are the mischief!" And Mary was off again to +the playroom, returning with Amelia Anabelle dressed for the trip. +"See how nicely the ruching on her inside cap sticks out—just exactly +enough. O Gene, you are too good to me!" +</P> + +<P> +"I could never be that, dearie." +</P> + +<P> +Then came Gene's turn for a surprise. She went into her own room, Mary +and Liza following her as far as the door. She took up her hat and +turned to the dresser, then gave a glad little cry; for on it lay a +handsome, brown leather bag mounted in silver. Opening it, she found +an envelope containing a twenty dollar gold piece and the Doctor's card +on which was written, "May this bag never contain less." +</P> + +<P> +Nearly two hours later, the train stopped at the village near Maryvale, +and Mary at once spied the sleigh filled with the children from the +convent. Two of the older ones were waiting on the station platform. +One of them took Mary's suitcase, the other her doll, and the little +girl threw her arms around Gene. +</P> + +<P> +"Happy, happy Christmas and good-bye, Gene, until Monday. Uncle is +going to take me with him when he goes to see your father, you know." +</P> + +<P> +The young girl stood on the platform of the car, waving to the little, +white-clad figure until a curve in the track cut off the view. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's a place for you, Mary!" "Oh, sit by me, <I>please</I>!" "You'll be +warmer right here, between Frances and me!" "Oh, what a darling doll!" +"Let me hold her, please, Mary!" were some of the cries from the sleigh. +</P> + +<P> +At last all were comfortably settled, and a jolly ride they had. +Before they had gone very far, Amelia Anabelle had a tantrum which +added greatly to the fun. Sister Madeline was at the door to welcome +the little girl. +</P> + +<P> +"Mother Johanna told me to give you one of the big girls' rooms, so we +shall go there at once to take off your wraps. Let me carry that +lovely baby. She looks too heavy for you." +</P> + +<P> +"She is heavy, Aunt Mary; but I wouldn't mind that so much if she +wasn't so cross. On the train there was a baby crying; but when Amelia +Anabelle began, it just stopped to stare at her. And in the +sleigh—well, I was 'shamed of her!" As her aunt laid the doll on the +bed, Mary slyly pushed the button. "Did you ever see such a child! I +s'pose I shall have to walk the floor with her." And then Mary laughed +gaily at the look on Sister Madeline's face. "There now, she will be +good until the next time." +</P> + +<P> +But her aunt caught up the doll and soon found the cause of her antics. +"You must take her with you when you go to see Mother Johanna after +dinner, Mary. The dear old soul won't know what to make of her. Then +I shall borrow her to amuse the Sisters at recreation. It is just +dinner time, so we shall go down stairs. We close the large refectory +when so few of the children are here, and they have their meals in the +lunch room." +</P> + +<P> +"'M, 'm, it smells Christmassy down here." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Dora and Frances have decorated the lunch room with holly and +evergreens. Have you brought an apron with you? They expect you to +work, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"I think it is going to be make-b'lieve work, Aunt Mary. Yes, Liza put +an apron in my suitcase, because this dress doesn't wash, and I am +going to wear it to travel in." +</P> + +<P> +The afternoon passed quickly for the nine little girls gathered around +the table in the recreation room, where the roaring flames were dancing +up the big chimney. They strung popcorn to help Santa Claus deck the +tree, and it is safe to say that quite as much went into their mouths +as on the long threads. +</P> + +<P> +"The tree will be right there in the bay window, Mary." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and we hang our stockings around the fireplace." +</P> + +<P> +"But we don't get a peep at our presents until after the Masses on +Christmas morning." +</P> + +<P> +"We have Midnight Mass you know, Mary, and then we have a lunch and go +back to bed. At six o'clock Father Hartley begins and says two more +Masses." +</P> + +<P> +"Midnight Mass! Oh, I have never been to Midnight Mass. It must be +lovely. Four o'clock Mass was the earliest at our church, and Mother +and Father and Uncle Frank and I went. It was pitch dark, and the +stars were shining, and the snow was so nice and crunchy. That reminds +me. We must do all we can this afternoon, Sister, because Uncle is +going to take us for a long sleigh ride to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +A chorus of "Goody!" greeted this statement. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's tell stories while we work, Sister," proposed Dora. "Christmas +stories. You begin, please." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, save Sister Austin's for the last. Begin with the youngest. +That's you, Effie." And the little five-year-old began, +"Oncey-ponny-time." +</P> + +<P> +When at last Sister Austin's turn came, she told them the beautiful +story which never grows old—the story which gives the true meaning to +Christmas. The sun had set when she finished, and Mary leaned toward +her, asking in a low voice, "Do you know what time it is, Sister? Aunt +Mary said she would come for me when it is time to watch for Uncle; but +I am afraid she might forget." +</P> + +<P> +"No danger of that, dear. It is only a quarter to five. At this time +of year, the days are very short, you know." +</P> + +<P> +Before another hour had passed, Sister Madeline came for the little +girl. +</P> + +<P> +"I have sent Peter with the sleigh to meet Uncle Frank, for it is a +long, cold walk from the station. The small room at the right of the +front door will be the very best place to watch for him. There is no +light there, and we can see straight down the drive to the gate." +</P> + +<P> +"And the sleighbells will tell us when he is coming, Aunt Mary." +</P> + +<P> +Together they peered out into the darkness. After a long silence, Mary +asked, "Aunt Mary, did you know that Father Lacey was going to let me +make my First Communion when I was so sick, but I was unsenseless all +the time? Oh, if I had not been that way, I could go to Holy Communion +on Christmas! [1] Why do you think I never woke even for one little +minute?" +</P> + +<P> +"God alone can answer that question, darling. Clearly it was not His +will that you should make your First Communion at that time; for Mother +told me that everything possible was done to rouse you. But even +though you cannot actually receive our dear Lord on His birthday, you +can form the desire to do so, not only on that day but many times every +day. Tell Him that you believe in Him, hope in Him, love Him, and are +sorry for having offended Him, and that you wish you could receive Him. +You will then be making a Spiritual Communion which so pleases our +Divine Lord that He once said to a Saint, who was in the habit of +making Spiritual Communions: 'My daughter, thy desire has penetrated so +deeply into My heart that if I had not instituted this Sacrament of +Love, I would do it now for thee alone, to become thy food, to have the +pleasure of dwelling in thy breast, to take my loving repose in thy +heart. I find such pleasure in being desired, that so often as a heart +forms this desire, so often do I lovingly behold it to draw it unto +Myself.'" +</P> + +<P> +"I am so glad you told me that, Aunt Mary. I won't forget. Listen! I +thought I heard the bells——Yes, there they are again." Mary +flattened her nose against the window pane so as to catch the first +glimpse of the sleigh. "There it is! there it is!" +</P> + +<P> +The meeting between the two showed Sister Madeline how much Mary had +missed her uncle that day. +</P> + +<P> +"And now for supper! I think the children are hoping that you and Mary +will join them, Frank; but no doubt you would prefer to have it +together in the priest's dining-room." +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it! I am in for all the fun going. 'Make me a child +again just for to-night,' and to-morrow and the day after. If we can +make the little folks happy by joining them at their meals, we shall +certainly do so. I suppose I must be proper and call you Sister +Madeline before them." +</P> + +<P> +No child at that supper table could remember a jollier meal; and when +it was over, the Doctor went with them to the recreation room, where he +played the piano and sang and told stories until bedtime. On the way +to the front door with him, Mary was very quiet. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't forget that you are to prove to-night whether I have been paying +you a visit at ten P. M." +</P> + +<P> +"Uncle," whispered the little girl, "<I>don't</I> you think I could go down +to Father Hartley's with you? Oh, I would sleep on a lounge or +anything." +</P> + +<P> +"But hasn't Aunt Mary told you of her little plan? Then I shall have +to spoil her surprise. She is going to sleep in the very next room to +yours and leave the door open between. Try it for just one night, +dear." +</P> + +<P> +The Doctor's first question the next morning was, "Did I call on you in +your dreams, last night, Goldilocks?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you rogue, you rogue! You know very well who came and kissed me +good-night; and you put her up to it!" +</P> + +<P> +The Doctor tried to look surprised. "I put whom up to it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oho! don't try to pretend you don't know, sir! Your eyes are +twinkling, and so are Aunt Mary's. But I caught her right around the +neck when she leaned over; for I wasn't sound asleep, and I heard her +beads rattle." +</P> + +<P> +"But what was Aunt Mary doing up at the very late hour of ten o'clock? +Don't you know that in convents the rule is, 'Early to bed, early to +rise'?" +</P> + +<P> +"But p'r'aps it wasn't quite ten o'clock, Uncle. No, no, I have caught +you both this time!" +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +[1] The decree of Pope Pius X., concerning the First Communion of +little children, had not at this time been issued. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHRISTMAS. +</H3> + + +<P> +Mary never forgot that Midnight Mass. The beautiful altar decked with +countless lights and masses of crimson roses; the kind, old, +white-haired priest; the incense, the music, the wonderful Crib, which +she could see from where she knelt beside her uncle in one of the front +pews—all made her wish that her father and mother were there, too. +After the two morning Masses, the children rushed to the recreation +room for a peep at their gifts before breakfast. The great tree at the +far end of the room first caught their eyes. It was bright with +colored lights, and was turning slowly around in the metal box in which +it stood, and from which came forth the sweet tones of the <I>Adeste, +Holy Night</I>, and other Christmas hymns. The branches of the tree bent +low with the weight of gifts and goodies. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! oh! see the big bunches of white grapes and the raisins and the +oranges and—and everything!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and all those boxes tied up in white paper with holly ribbon, and +our names on them. Last year the tree wasn't half so splendid." +</P> + +<P> +"You must thank Doctor Carlton for all the extra things," Sister Austin +explained. "He is one of Santa Claus' helpers, you know; and besides +many of the presents and good things, he brought with him the lights +and the musical stand which have been used every year for Mary's tree." +</P> + +<P> +The covers of their boxes from home had been loosened so that the +children could remove them easily; and such ohs! and ahs! and cries of +delight as filled the big room! There were two boxes for Mary, who +could scarcely wait until her uncle had opened them. He first pried +off the cover of the one bearing a foreign label; and with eager hands, +the little girl unwrapped a beautiful, white marble statue of Our Lady +of Lourdes, her mother's gift. Then came a small mosaic picture of her +favorite Madonna and a blackeyed, dark-haired doll dressed in Italian +costume, from her father; an album of Kodak pictures of the babies with +a tiny card saying, "To our big sister from Berta and Beth;" a dear, +little, white, knitted sack for Amelia Anabelle from Aunt Mandy; and a +gay card from Tom. Two flat boxes for her uncle and aunt contained +some fine large photographs of famous paintings and other gifts +suitable for them. +</P> + +<P> +The second box was filled with books and games which the Doctor had +told Santa Claus to bring her. Nor had the little suitcase been +forgotten; and opening it, Mary found a travelling case containing +brush, comb, tooth and nail-brush holders, and all that she would need +on the journey. A dear little prayer book from her aunt and holy +pictures and medals from a number of the Sisters made her feel that she +had fared very well indeed; and in spite of her great longing for the +dear ones so far away, Christmas was a very happy day for her. +</P> + +<P> +The greatest fun came just after supper when the sound of sleighbells +outside the windows surprised the children. Presently, Mother Johanna +herself ushered Santa Claus into the room—a dear, roly-poly, little +old man, his hair and beard shining with frost. Effie and the younger +children took refuge in the folds of Sister Austin's habit; but Mary, +fearing that he might think he was not welcome, overcame her shyness, +and running to him, caught his hand in both of hers and led him to the +tree. The Doctor mounted a ladder, and beginning at the very top of +the tree, handed Santa Claus the presents and good things which he, +with funny little speeches, then presented to the children. But the +tree was not stripped by any means. All the lights and tinsel and gay +balls and other ornaments were left on it to delight the little folks +during the holidays. +</P> + +<P> +The happy day closed with Benediction, and Mary went to bed looking +forward to her visit to Gene's home. +</P> + +<P> +But when the Doctor came up from the chaplain's cottage the following +morning, he told her that it had grown so much colder during the night +that he really feared to take her with him. "It is ten below zero, and +your poor little nose would be frozen during the long drive from the +station to Mr. Donnelly's. I shall be back early." +</P> + +<P> +At noon, however, Sister Madeline came to tell Mary that her uncle had +just telephoned to say that Mr. Donnelly was far worse than he had +expected to find him, and that they were preparing to take him to a +hospital in the city. +</P> + +<P> +"And——and won't Uncle come back here this evening, Aunt Mary?" +</P> + +<P> +"He wishes you to meet the four o'clock train and return home with him. +Several things make it impossible for him to stop off here again. So +we must lose our dear little guest." +</P> + +<P> +"I am truly sorry to go, Aunt Mary, for I have had such a good time in +spite of——of——oh, it will be so lonely at home now without Gene. +Uncle can be there only in the morning for a little while and at noon +and in the evening." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't borrow trouble, dear. Uncle has a beautiful plan; but as it is +a surprise for you, I think it would be unfair to tell it now. Come, +we shall pack your suitcase, and then you will still have some time to +play with the children." +</P> + +<P> +Great was their disappointment when Mary told her little friends that +she was about to leave them. In spite of the intense cold, all +insisted on going to the station with her. The Doctor was on the +platform of the car when the train stopped, and springing off, he +lifted Mary aboard. Entering the car, the little girl spied Gene +coming down the aisle to meet her. Mr. Donnelly and his wife were in +the drawing-room, where the poor sufferer had been made as comfortable +as possible. Gene took Mary to meet her father and mother, and then +brought her back to the doctor, who at once began to explain matters to +her. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought it best to bring Mr. Donnelly in to the city this evening as +it would make it easier for Gene and her mother to have me with them to +manage things. We drove him to the station in an ambulance, and one +will be waiting to meet this train. You will be glad to know that Gene +will be with us until we leave for Texas. She and her mother will stay +at our home while Mr. Donnelly is at the hospital, where he will +probably be for some months. I shall feel better knowing that someone +is looking after things during our absence. Liza and Susie are always +to be trusted, of course; but they have never been left alone for any +length of time." +</P> + +<P> +This was merely the Doctor's way of making things easy for Gene and her +mother. Mary was delighted with the plan, as much for Gene's sake as +for her own. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LAND OF SUNSHINE. +</H3> + + +<P> +"All aboard for San Antonio! and remember, young lady, you are to make +yourself as small as possible and look out the window when the +conductor comes around so that he will not insist on my paying full +fare for such a big, overgrown child as you are." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Uncle! Every dress Gene bought for me is seven-year-old size, +and not one of them had to be shortened." +</P> + +<P> +"Hm! I thought you told me that you are 'going on' eight. Well, never +mind, let us hope that you will grow longer and broader in the +wonderful Texas climate." +</P> + +<P> +Mary looked with some curiosity about the sleeper, for this was her +first trip of more than two or three hours. She leaned toward her +uncle and whispered, "I mean to try ever so hard, Uncle, to keep awake, +but I really don't see how I can do it for three nights and two days." +And she was almost ashamed of the way the Doctor laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not see how I can do so, either, pet; but perhaps you will let me +put my head on your shoulder and take a little nap now and then, and +you can do the same with me." And he went off in another peal of +merriment. +</P> + +<P> +A few hours later she exclaimed, "Why—why, Uncle! Look at that +porter! He is pulling down the roof of the car!" +</P> + +<P> +"Watch him a few minutes, and your fears will be set at rest." +</P> + +<P> +Mary's eyes grew rounder and rounder as she saw the porter jerk down a +mattress, blankets, pillows, and everything necessary to make up the +lower berth; but her wonder became greater when he began on the upper +one. +</P> + +<P> +"Uncle! he is making a two-story bed! Did you <I>ever</I> see anything like +it!" +</P> + +<P> +"Very often indeed. To save time, I travel at night whenever possible, +you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Hm! I think I ought to get off this train and go straight home to +Gene." +</P> + +<P> +"A nice way to talk when I am taking you away for your health, miss! +What fault have you to find with this train? Isn't it far more +comfortable than you expected it to be, eh?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course it is, Uncle; but oh! you are <I>such</I> a tease!" +</P> + +<P> +"So I am; but I do not often find anyone who forgives a teasing as +readily as you do. Come, let us move into the opposite section and +give the porter a chance to make up our berths. Do you think you can +climb into the upper one?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid you will have to boost me up there, Uncle, and ask the +porter to put a little railing across the front so I won't fall out." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, pet, I am only joking. I shall do the climbing." +</P> + +<P> +Through the snow-clad mountains of Pennsylvania, across frozen rivers +and great white plains sped the train until at last the Doctor said, +"We shall soon see the 'Father of Waters.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Is Mr. Waters an old friend of yours, Uncle?" +</P> + +<P> +Many a laugh had the Doctor enjoyed since leaving New York, and often +the passengers had been forced to join him, though they had not always +heard what Mary had said. "I forgot that you have not studied +geography, dearie. I am speaking of the Mississippi River, which is +called by that name. We change cars at St. Louis, a fine old city on +its banks." +</P> + +<P> +The next afternoon when Mary awoke from her nap, the Doctor called her +to see some Indians. Instead of looking out the window, she caught up +Amelia Anabelle's white coat and wound it around her head, insisting, +"Tie your muffler or something white around your head, Uncle! Oh, be +quick! Do you think they will come on the train?" +</P> + +<P> +The Doctor looked at the child in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"O Uncle! Please, <I>please</I> hurry! If they do come, they may try to +scalp everyone; and if they see our heads tied up, they will think we +have already been scalped." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that the way you would try to deceive the poor Indians? I am +surprised at you! Come here and take a look at them." +</P> + +<P> +Mary timidly peeped out the window; but instead of a band of braves in +war paint and feathers, she saw only two men standing on the platform, +quietly talking. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't mean to say those are <I>Indians</I>, Uncle! Why, they look just +like men." +</P> + +<P> +"And what are Indians, eh? birds?" +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Uncle! But I s'pose those are tame Indians, not wild ones." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, those men are civilized. We are now in Oklahoma, and by bedtime +we shall be in Texas with one more night's ride before us." +</P> + +<P> +The little girl was delighted that the journey was nearing its end. +Though the Doctor had taken her out to walk and run about on the +station platform whenever the train had stopped for any length of time, +she was tired of sitting still so long and would have been quite happy +if she could have left the train and enjoyed a good romp over the vast +plains which stretched as far as the eye could see. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning, Mary was perfectly sure that she knew just how Rip +van Winkle felt when he came down from the mountain after his long +sleep. She and her uncle had boarded the train in New York in the +midst of a whirling snowstorm; and they stepped off it at San Antonio +into the very mildest of spring weather. She looked with delight at +the grass and trees and beautiful palms, some of them as high as the +second story windows; and if it had not been for Amelia Anabelle's +wraps and the new books and games in her trunk, she could not have +believed that scarcely two weeks had passed since Christmas. +</P> + +<P> +Instead of staying at a hotel, the Doctor had arranged to board at a +big, old-fashioned house, standing far back from the street in the +midst of fine old trees. Mary liked this plan very much, and soon +became a great favorite with everyone there. She spent most of the +time outdoors; and in the fresh air and warm, bright sunshine, she grew +stronger day by day. The Doctor, true to the promise he had made when +she found she could not go to Rome with her parents, lost no time in +getting a pony for her and a horse for himself; and every morning they +went for a ride through the parks of the city. The one Mary liked best +was Brackenridge Park, where long, gray streamers of Spanish moss hang +from the trees, and bright redbirds flit among the branches. She liked +the plazas, too,—big open squares in the heart of the city, laid out +like little parks with fountains, trees, and beautiful flowers. And +she liked the San Antonio River, the "Old Santone," as the natives +lovingly call it, with its banks bordered with myrtle and cresses and +shaded by old trees. And as they rode through the beautiful city, the +Doctor told the little girl of the saintly Franciscan Fathers, who, +more than a century before La Salle sailed down the Mississippi, and +almost a century before the Mayflower brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth +Rock, came to the great, wild, lonely, Texas plains to bring the light +of Faith to the savage Indians roaming there. It was the Monks of the +same order who founded the city of San Antonio in 1689, and who built +the Cathedral of San Fernando and the Mission Chapel of the Alamo; +also, the four other Mission Churches which lie from two to eight miles +outside the city. +</P> + +<P> +One of the first buildings they visited was San Fernando Cathedral. +Its old gray walls, built in 1734, are still in good condition; and +inside, the soft light from its stained-glass windows falls on +beautiful statues and pictures of our Blessed Mother and the saints. +When they left the church, the Doctor pointed out the time-blackened +roof at the rear of the building, where the Mexican general, Santa Ana, +planted his cannon so as to fire on the Alamo, the fort and Mission +Chapel, "The Cradle of Texas' Liberty," as it is fittingly called. As +they walked over to it, Mary listened eagerly to her uncle's story of +Texas' brave fight for freedom from Mexico, to which country it +belonged until 1836. He told her of the terrible siege of the Alamo, +which took place in the early spring of that year, when less than two +hundred Texans held the fort against six or seven thousand Mexicans +until not one of the brave little band remained alive; and of the +battle of San Jacinto a month later, in which the Mexicans suffered +defeat, and Santa Ana was taken prisoner. Soon after this, Texas +became a republic; and some time later, asked to be admitted to the +United States. +</P> + +<P> +A feeling of awe came over the little girl as they entered the Alamo +and walked along its dim hallways and stood in the rooms where the +fearfully unequal hand-to-hand fight was carried on. She saw the +Chapel where Mass had so often been said, and the burial place of the +Monks. But this sacred old building is no longer used as a chapel. It +is now the property of the State, and is visited by travelers from all +over the country. +</P> + +<P> +Other spots which were of great interest to Mary were the old Missions +outside the city. Several times the Doctor drove her out along the +beautiful country roads to visit them; and as they had all the time +they needed, he stopped by the roadside as often as Mary wished to get +out to examine the cactus blossoms or to pick the other wild flowers, +especially the bluebonnet, the State flower of Texas. +</P> + +<P> +Built during the eleven years between 1720 and 1731, the Missions are +now in ruins, but they stand as silent witnesses to the courage and +zeal of the saintly Monks who gave their lives to the work of +converting the Indians. The Mission San Jose, or Saint Joseph, is +still very beautiful. It is said that the front of this church with +its carvings and statues of saints above the door, was brought all the +way from Spain to Mexico City, then overland, through forests, across +rivers, over mountains to where it now stands. The Doctor showed Mary +the part of the building which had been used as a school for the +Indians, and explained that, besides being a church, school, and home +for the Monks, each Mission served as a place of refuge from unfriendly +Indian tribes. +</P> + +<P> +Another place Mary liked to visit was Fort Sam Houston, one of the +largest military posts in the country. It was here that Roosevelt +trained his famous "Rough Riders." Some little distance from it is a +beautiful convent school; and one day as they rode past it, Mary reined +in her pony and sat watching the children at play. The Doctor proposed +a visit to the Sisters, and Mary promptly agreed, hoping that the +little girls would invite her to join in their games. This they did, +and she spent a happy hour with them. +</P> + +<P> +And so the winter passed, bringing the days when every shanty was +almost hidden by the beautiful roses which climbed over it, and violets +peeped out from places where one would least expect to find them. Only +one thing marred the pleasure of these sunny months. This was the +death of Gene's father. The Doctor had placed him in the care of a +famous specialist; but though everything possible was done for him, he +failed very quickly. Mary felt better about Gene's loss after her +uncle had explained to her that, even had Mr. Donnelly lived, he would +always have been a great sufferer. +</P> + +<P> +The little girl never tired of seeing the Mexicans, who live in and +around San Antonio, in their native costume. Often on the roads to the +Missions, she and her uncle met one of the men dressed in light-colored +breeches, white shirt, a gay sash around his waist, and a very +broad-brimmed sombrero trimmed with silver braid and ornaments on his +head. Usually, he had a tiny donkey, or burro, with him, almost hidden +by a great load of hay or mesquite wood. They saw the women in their +miserable huts, or jacales, built of a few sticks driven into the +ground and covered with old blankets and thatches of straw. These +women were always kneeling at the open door, pounding out tortillos, +the Mexican johnny-cake, in the matat, or very old-fashioned corn mill; +or they were down at the little ditch, washing their coarse linen, +using a great flat rock for a washboard. The men make beautiful things +of clay, feathers, grasses, leather and wool; and the Doctor bought +small jugs, baskets, little pocket books, and many other trinkets for +Mary to take to her friends at home. As for the Mexican candy, the +little girl was sure she had never tasted any better. +</P> + +<P> +On the twenty-first of April, she saw a sight which she never forgot. +This was the Flower Parade, followed by the "Battle of the Flowers," in +memory of the battle of San Jacinto. Foremost in the parade marched +the soldiers from the Fort. They were followed by automobiles and +carriages decked with beautiful flowers. One small auto in particular +made Mary clap her hands in delight. It was entirely covered with pure +white flowers so arranged as to represent a swan. The flowers were +built up in front for the long neck and head, and bright yellow +blossoms formed the bill. As it glided gracefully along, it was +greeted with cheers on all sides. In the evening, a fierce battle was +waged in Alamo Plaza, ladies and gentlemen on horseback pelting one +another with flowers. But Mary enjoyed the parade better. She loved +flowers too much to wish to see them fall and be trampled under the +horses' hoofs. +</P> + +<P> +A few days later, she and her uncle said good-bye to San Antonio and +set out on the long journey to New York. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THROUGH STORM TO THE RAINBOW. +</H3> + + +<P> +"And you will come out to see me every Sunday and Tuesday and Thursday, +Uncle?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, pet, unless something very important happens to prevent my doing +so. In that case, we shall have a long chat over the telephone. I +know that you will be very happy here, little one, with Aunt Mary to +look after you, and so many, many friends among the Sisters and little +girls." +</P> + +<P> +But in spite of his words, the Doctor felt the hand within his own +tighten its hold and saw a very wistful light in the blue eyes raised +to his. +</P> + +<P> +It was the first week of May. The beautiful spring day had tempted the +Doctor and Mary to walk from the station, and they had just entered the +big gates at the entrance to the convent grounds. +</P> + +<P> +"See that orchard! Isn't it a picture? And those shrubs in blossom! +Really, I would not mind being a little girl myself if I could go to +school in such a beautiful place." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I know that I shall like to go to school here, Uncle; but I do +wish I could see you every evening. Couldn't you live with Father +Hartley and go into the city on the train every day?" +</P> + +<P> +"That would not be possible, Goldilocks; but I shall invite myself to +stay over night with the chaplain now and then since you wish it so +much." +</P> + +<P> +Sister Madeline had a warm welcome for the travelers. The Doctor +remained for dinner and left on the early afternoon train; and Mary +began her life as a boarder at Maryvale. It was the custom for +children of her age to sleep in a dormitory; but Mrs. Selwyn had +written to Mother Johanna, asking that Mary might have her own room +fitted up with her furniture from home. And a very dainty little room +it was, with pale blue-tinted walls and light woodwork, soft mull +curtains looped back with pale blue ribbons, the brass bed, satin-wood +dresser, writing desk, and chairs, and the little bookcase from her +playroom. On the top of this stood her marble statue of our Blessed +Mother and a pair of vases which Mary always kept filled with fresh +flowers. Her toy box with a few sofa cushions on it made a very good +window seat; and all the girls agreed that Mary Selwyn's room was the +very prettiest one in the house. +</P> + +<P> +As a surprise to her father and mother, she was allowed to begin to +study music and soon showed so much talent for it that Sister Dominic +was delighted with her. She never begged to be excused from practice; +for was she not "making a s'prise" for those whom she loved better than +all the fun and frolics in the world? And every time she was called to +the parlor to see her uncle, the same question was on her lips: "How +many days is it now, Uncle, before they will be home?" until he at last +brought her a large calendar and a blue pencil with which she could +mark off each day before she went to bed at night. Toward the end of +May, she sighed when she found that there were five whole pages of days +to be marked off before the first of November. +</P> + +<P> +But, somehow, the summer passed more quickly than she had believed +possible. She was glad to find that September has only thirty days; +and when October came, she could scarcely wait for the letter that +would tell the exact date when her dear ones would sail for home. +Toward the end of the month, the Doctor came with a letter, yes,—but +the little girl was sorely disappointed; for baby Beth had been very +ill, and the doctor who had attended her would not hear of her being +brought back to New York just at the beginning of the long, cold +winter. So the return home must be put off until the next May. +</P> + +<P> +Poor little Mary! For her Uncle's sake she tried to be brave and +agreed with him when he reminded her of how much better able she would +be to play the piano in another six months; but the longing for her +father and mother and the babies grew stronger than ever, and she +studied the calendar to see whether there were more months of thirty +than of thirty-one days between November and May. Looking over the +pages which she had turned back when she had first hung the calendar in +her room, she danced about at sight of only twenty-eight days in +February, and ran to Sister Austin to ask whether the new year would +bring any change in the number. But she learned that it would not be a +leap year and went away somewhat consoled that there would be no extra +day to put off her happiness. +</P> + +<P> +Again the month of May came; but into it and the months which followed +were crowded sorrows and trials which seldom fall to the lot of so +young a child. The sad, sad news of her father's death in distant +India was swiftly followed by word of her mother's illness which again +delayed the homecoming. And when, shortly after her tenth birthday, +the Doctor, pale and haggard, came to Maryvale and as gently as +possible told her of the wreck of the great ocean steamer and the loss +of those so dear to them, she felt that she was indeed his little Mary, +and that she now belonged to our Blessed Mother in a very special way. +For some weeks her aunt and uncle were much worried about her, for she +became so thin and pale and played no more with the little ones who +were spending the summer vacation at the convent; but after a month +with the Doctor in the mountains and another in Georgia at the home of +Wilhelmina Marvin, the little daughter of old, old friends of her +father, mother, and uncle, she returned to Maryvale looking more like +herself. +</P> + +<P> +Many long, lonely hours did she spend. She could not talk much about +her sorrows to her uncle and aunt, for she knew that they felt the +terrible loss almost as deeply as she did; but she had learned where to +find the comfort she so sorely needed; and when she could no longer +bear the merry laughter and noisy pranks of her playmates, she would +steal away to the chapel and whisper all that she wished to say to the +loving Heart in the Tabernacle. +</P> + +<P> +Wilhelmina and she had become fast friends; for the little Southern +girl had come as a boarder to Maryvale the year before. Mary had found +her the same lively, fun-loving, little romp whom the Doctor had +described to her, with just one difference—she had grown more lively, +more fun-loving, more full of mischief; and poor Sister Austin's nerves +were sorely tried, for Wilhelmina was never happier than when swinging +from the highest limbs of the very tallest trees she could find. +Sister Madeline had been made Mother Superior at Maryvale; and +Wilhelmina was a frequent visitor to her office, where she was called +to answer for her pranks. But she was such a truthful, generous, +whole-hearted child that no one could be very hard on her. In a short +time, she had Mary playing base-ball and many games which she had never +heard of; and by degrees, our little girl lost some of her +old-fashioned manner, while her gentle ways did much toward keeping +Wilhelmina within bounds. +</P> + +<P> +After Mary's visit to Sunnymead, as Wilhelmina's home was called, the +two little girls returned to school, Wilhelmina full of good +resolutions, most of which she broke the first day. She and Mary were +in the same class; for, although eight months younger than Mary, she +had not missed nearly a whole year of school on account of illness, and +she had been taught at home by a governess—that is, when that young +woman could find her and keep her in the schoolroom long enough to +teach her anything. She, too, took music lessons; and poor Sister +Dominic had her hands full with her. Wilhelmina's favorite tunes were +<I>Yankee Doodle, The Wearing of the Green, Oh, Dem Golden Slippers</I>, and +several others which she had picked out for herself on the piano at +home, and which she faithfully practiced instead of the lesson which +her teacher expected her to prepare. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Sister, I can't play scales and exercises for folks. The boys +would chase me out of the house if I tried it. You don't know what it +means to have eight brothers. They want tunes with lots of swing and +go to them." +</P> + +<P> +"The lively things will come later, Wilhelmina, after you have mastered +these very important scales and exercises. How can you expect to play +runs and trills and such things unless you learn to do it properly?" +</P> + +<P> +"This is the easiest way to play a run, Sister." And the young lady +drew her thumb quickly across the length of the keyboard. +</P> + +<P> +Sister Dominic sighed. So did Wilhelmina. +</P> + +<P> +And still, between this harum-scarum little girl and Mary there sprang +up a warm friendship, which grew stronger and stronger as the years +went on, each of the children gaining much from the good traits she +found in the other. +</P> + +<P> +During the fall and winter, many things which Mary had heard about the +wreck passed and repassed through her busy little brain; and at last +she made up her mind that the stories did not agree, and that there +must be a mistake somewhere. She spoke of the matter to her uncle; but +he insisted that everything possible had been done at the time of the +wreck to make sure that there was no mistake. Mary was not convinced +and began praying to our Blessed Mother to obtain for her light and +guidance. Many a half hour she spent in the chapel, besides denying +herself candy and other goodies; and her belief that her dear ones had +not been lost in the wreck grew stronger and stronger as the bright +spring days went by. Where they were, why they had sent no word of +their rescue, she had no idea; but she felt sure that our Lady would in +some way make it known to her. So she prayed and trusted and made +hundreds of little acts of self-denial. +</P> + +<P> +And then——<I>then</I> things began to happen so quickly as almost to take +her breath away. +</P> + +<P> +One night in the early part of June, she went to bed wondering how many +more prayers she would have to say before her uncle would begin to feel +as she did; and the very next morning, she noticed a marked change in +him. She did not ask what had caused it. It was enough for her to +know that her prayers had at last been partly answered. And beyond +asking a few questions and showing unusual restlessness, the Doctor +said nothing of the story he had heard from a boy who had been saved +from the wreck, and who insisted that Mrs. Selwyn had been in the same +lifeboat and had reached Bordeaux, France, very ill, but still alive. +But the fact that she had sent no word of her rescue made the Doctor +fear that she had died before she was able to do so; and he made up his +mind not to arouse Mary's hopes until he was perfectly sure that there +was no danger of her being again cruelly disappointed. He at once +began to make use of every means in his power to follow up the slight +clue the boy had given him; but it was not through notices in the +newspapers, nor through his visits to all the hospitals and orphan +asylums in Bordeaux, nor through the efforts of the many detectives +employed on the case that Mary's trusting prayer was answered. An +errand of pure charity brought the Doctor face to face with his loved +sister. The sight of him and the sound of his voice restored her +memory, which she had completely lost as a result of the shock of the +wreck. +</P> + +<P> +And six weeks later Mary's cup of happiness was filled to overflowing +by the sudden return of her father, who had been captured, but not +killed as was reported, by a savage tribe in India. +</P> + +<P> +On the eighth of September, our Blessed Mother's birthday, there was a +wonderful family gathering in the big east parlor at Maryvale, where +Mother Madeline listened, her eyes filled with grateful tears, to the +story which Mr. Selwyn told. +</P> + +<P> +And the twins! the dear, mischief-loving, four-year-old twins were +hugged and kissed and petted until, if their little curly heads had not +been so filled with "s'prises" which they were planning for everyone +present, they would have been badly spoiled that day. +</P> + +<P> +Then, to Mary's delight, the whole family walked across the lawn and +through the orchard to the little gate in the low stone wall which +separated Maryvale from Bird-a-Lea, a beautiful place east of the +convent. Here Mother Madeline left them to continue their way over the +velvety lawn to the big, homey-looking, gray stone house with its roof +of warm red tiles. On the wide porch, which ran all the way around the +house, sat Mrs. Elliot, a dear old lady who owned this beautiful home. +The Doctor had met her once before, and Mary knew her quite well, for +she and Wilhelmina had often been sent to her with messages from Mother +Madeline. She wished to sell Bird-a-Lea; and while Mr. and Mrs. Selwyn +and the Doctor talked matters over with her, Mary took the little ones +to see the big bird cage around near the barn. It was built so as to +enclose two small trees in which rare birds sang and flitted about. +Next to it stood a small house where these birds lived during the +winter; for they had been brought from warm countries and would die if +left out in the cold. Besides these beautiful birds, there were +peacocks strutting about under the great old trees; while robins, +bluebirds, orioles, and other birds which the children had often seen +before came quite close to them, and frisky gray squirrels peeped +around the trunks of the trees at them. +</P> + +<P> +Returning to the front porch, the children learned that Bird-a-Lea was +to be their new home; and the twins were much disappointed because they +could not take off their hats and begin to live there at once. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THAT MOVING WEEK—MONDAY. +</H3> + + +<P> +"Mary, will you see what is keeping the little folks? Perhaps Aunt +Mandy does not find it an easy matter to get both Berta and Beth ready +in time for breakfast." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Father; but the twinnies ran past my room and down the stairs +some time ago. Maybe they are in the yard." +</P> + +<P> +"I think that is where you will find them, Mary," said Mrs. Marvin. +"Dick spied them from the window and could hardly wait until I had +finished brushing his hair. He said Jack was needed, too." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. and Mrs. Marvin with Wilhelmina and their eight boys had arrived in +New York a few days before the landing of the steamer on which the +Selwyns returned from Europe. They had come all the way from Georgia +to welcome these old friends whom they had never expected to see again +in this world; and there had been great rejoicing at the dock when the +steamer landed. Mr. Marvin had planned to start for home with his six +eldest boys that same evening, leaving his wife with four-year-old Dick +and baby Jack as company for Wilhelmina until school should reopen at +Maryvale. But Mr. Selwyn and Doctor Carlton would not listen to such a +plan; and at last Mr. Marvin had to promise that his whole family +should be their guests until it was time for his two eldest boys to +return to college. But when he learned of the purchase of Bird-a-Lea, +he declared that he could not be held to his promise, because it would +be out of the question for the Selwyns to begin moving with so many +children in the house. So on Sunday evening he left with Phil, Harry, +Joe, Frank, Bob and Freddie for Sunnymead, their beautiful plantation +home. +</P> + +<P> +And now, Monday morning, the four little ones were missing from the +breakfast table. +</P> + +<P> +"'Making a s'prise,' I'll be bound," laughed the Doctor. "I hope it +will turn out more happily than most of those that the twins plan." +</P> + +<P> +As Mary neared the door leading to the side porch, she heard the little +ones giggling; but at her call that breakfast was ready, there was a +chorus of, "Oh! oh! don't come, Mary!" "Jes' a minute!" "No fair +peeking!" "We's making a most beauty, grand s'prise for ev'ybody, and +it's 'most ready!" +</P> + +<P> +Mary, laughing, returned to the dining-room, and a few minutes later, +the screen door banged. All at the table paused, smiling at the loud +whispers and smothered giggles coming from the hall. Then they heard +Dick say, "But Father always says, 'Ladies first.'" +</P> + +<P> +"But we isn't ladies, Dick," gurgled Beth. "We's jes' little folkses." +To which Berta agreed, "Yes, nennybody didn't ever call us ladies, +Dick, not ever, ever at all." +</P> + +<P> +"Not ever, ever at all," echoed her sister. +</P> + +<P> +"But we can be-tend we's ladies, Beth, if Dick likes us to be. Mother +says it isn't p'lite if we doesn't play same as our comp'ny likes us +to. So I'll go first." And into the dining-room, single file, marched +the four. Just inside the door they lined up, Berta proudly +announcing, "We's going to help ev'ybody in the whole house." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed!" Mr. Selwyn was forced to laugh in spite of himself. "Don't +you think you might have waited until after breakfast to don your +working clothes? and where did you find the overalls for your guests, +eh?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Dick finded them in Willy-mean's shootcase, Daddy; and Beth and I +lended Aunt Mandy's apins. I'se quite sure she won't mind, 'cause we's +going to help her 'mensely, too." +</P> + +<P> +Wilhelmina stopped laughing long enough to explain: "Yes, Mother, Dick +came to me at the last minute with his overalls and Jack's. I couldn't +see why he wanted to bring them; but they didn't take up much room in +my little suitcase." +</P> + +<P> +Dick wriggled uneasily under his mother's surprised look. +</P> + +<P> +"But you do not expect to sit at table in your working clothes, do you, +son? Jack, being only two years old, does not know any better; but a +big boy of nearly four and a half——" +</P> + +<P> +"That's jes' 'zactly what Dick said, Aunt Etta." Though not related, +the children of each family always called the grown folks of the other, +uncle and aunt. "He told us you doesn't like over-halls so very well +for breakfus; but——but——oh, dear, <I>me</I>! they's such a drefful many +things to do, you see, that we thinked we ought to be ready afore +breakfus. Doesn't you think you could possiglee 'scuse us jes' this +once—you and Daddy and Mother and Uncle Frank? I'se quite sure +Willy-mean and Mary doesn't mind over-halls and gingham apins." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps we can do so, Berta, since this is the first moving-day that +we have ever had in any of our lives." Mrs. Marvin looked very grave. +"What do you think about it, Elizabeth?" +</P> + +<P> +"I quite agree with you, Etta, if these little folks will remember to +lay aside their working clothes at meal time in future." Mrs. Selwyn +was just as serious as Mrs. Marvin. +</P> + +<P> +"And the very first one we is going to help is Daddy." +</P> + +<P> +"I fear you can not do anything to assist me until later in the day, +Beth, thank you. I am going to take the library in hand, and the books +that I shall pack this morning will be too large and heavy for such +little people to handle. However, I am very sure that you can make +yourselves useful by carrying messages for every one." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, goody! I hope they's going to be great, big, heavy ones. Dick +has strong mushes in his arms, and he's going to show Beth and me how +to get some, too, so we can lift big things like——like trunks!" +</P> + +<P> +"Better begin with your doll trunks, then. It will take many years for +even Dick's muscles to grow strong enough to lift a steamer trunk, for +instance." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but I'se quite sure you never did see Dick's mushes, Uncle Frank." +</P> + +<P> +The morning was a very exciting one for the four little folks. Up the +front stairs, through the halls, down the back stairs, they raced, +Berta always leading, and baby Jack, carefully watched by Beth, +bringing up the rear. At the door of every room where packing was +being done, they stopped while their leader asked, "Does you s'pects +you would like us to help you?" until the oft-repeated answer, "Not +just at present," at last caused the twins to sink on the stairs and +sob out their disappointment. +</P> + +<P> +Knowing that his mother was with Mrs. Selwyn in the storeroom on the +third floor, Dick ran for his sister and Mary, who were busy carrying +piles of sheets, pillowcases, towels, and table linen from a closet in +the hall to a big trunk in one of the bedrooms. +</P> + +<P> +"Come quick, Willie! The girls are crying their eyes out, 'cause they +can't help." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose they could carry some of these things, Mary. Then I can +climb the ladder and hand you the ones on the high shelves." +</P> + +<P> +The twins were soon comforted, and for a time the four trotted back and +forth with small piles of linen. It was not long before Berta thought +of a "s'prise;" and when Mary went to the bedroom to see what was +delaying them, she was just in time to see the procession starting down +the back stairs, each member of it carefully bearing a piece of drawn +work or embroidery. Her cry of dismay halted them. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we's jes' going to wrap them in the nice w'ite disher paper what's +on the table in the dining-room, and then we's going to pack them in +one of those big boxes in the liberry, same as Daddy is doing with the +books." +</P> + +<P> +Mary, remembering the storm of a quarter of an hour before, thought a +moment before speaking. "It's this way, Berta. When we get to +Bird-a-Lea, it will be much easier for Mother to find these center +pieces and things if they are packed in the trunk with the table cloths +and napkins. She is not very strong yet, you know, and Uncle Frank has +asked us to help her in every way we can; don't you remember?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ye——es, Mary, but——but——" +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you go out in the yard to play for a little while? You need +a rest, I think." +</P> + +<P> +"Rest! <I>rest</I>! The very idea! <I>Rest</I> when ev'ybody is working so hard +as they can, and they's such a drefful many things to do? Why, Mary, +I'se on the shock at you! I s'pects you think we's lazy. We'll jes' +go right down and help Liza, so we will!" +</P> + +<P> +Liza in the pantry on the top step of a ladder heard them coming. +"'Clah to goodness! Ef'n dem chilluns am gwine to come in heah +pesterin' dis heah niggah, I reckon dey won't be no moah work <I>dis</I> +mawnin'. Why fo' Aunt Mandy doan' keep dem upstairs wif her, I lak to +know." +</P> + +<P> +The four stood in the doorway. +</P> + +<P> +"Does you s'pects we can help you, Liza?" +</P> + +<P> +"Wal, now, Missy Berta, dey might be sumpin yo' alls kin do aftah +while, but not jes' dis instinct, honey; 'kase yo' see, dis yeah chile +got to git all dese t'ings down off'n de top shelf fust t'ing. Dey's +milk an' cookies on de li'l table out on de back porch fo' yo' alls, +an' aftah yo's done wif dat, Aunt Mandy wants yo' to help her, I +reckon. She am powahful busy packin' up all yo' clothes and t'ings." +</P> + +<P> +"We's going to help her the very 'zact instinct when we eat the milk +and cookies, Liza." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's right, Missy Bef. I jes' knowed yo' would ef'n I told yo' how +plumb tiahed out she am." And Liza chuckled as the little ones ran off. +</P> + +<P> +They found the old nurse packing dainty white dresses in a trunk. +</P> + +<P> +"We's going to help you, Aunt Mandy. We'll carry ev'ything right over +by side you, and you can put them in the trunk, so you can." +</P> + +<P> +"Bress yo' li'l heart, Missy Berta! Yo' sho'ly kin help yo' ole mammy +a right smart. Ma ole laigs gits powahful tiahed walkin' round +disaway. Dats' right, Missy Bef. Bring dem li'l pettiskirts right +obah heah; an' Massa Dick kin fotch dem li'l shoes, an' Massa Jack dat +stockin' pile." +</P> + +<P> +All went well until Aunt Mandy caught Berta carefully wrapping a pair +of slippers in a hand embroidered white dress, and Beth stuffing dainty +little handkerchiefs into her rubbers. +</P> + +<P> +"Laws a massy! Go 'long out'n heah wif yo'! Yo's nuffin but babies, +nohow. Git yo' dollies an' play lak nice li'l chilluns." And she +drove them before her into the playroom and closed the door on them. +</P> + +<P> +But Dick Marvin had no more use for dolls than his elder brothers had; +so the twins brought out their picture books and games, which he had +already seen. At last a bright idea struck him. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that big box for, Beth?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's Mary's toy box when she was a little girl. She said we can +have it now for our dollies and ev'ything." +</P> + +<P> +"Then why don't you pack your dolls and things in it? Come on, I'll +help you." +</P> + +<P> +"That's zactly what we'll do, and then we'll be the same as big +folkses, won't we, Dick?" +</P> + +<P> +The little fellow was not quite sure of that and wisely said nothing, +but began to examine the hinges and clasp of the strong oak box. Berta +and Beth took their dolls and let Jack carry their other toys to him, +and Dick stowed them away with more speed than care. Soon the box was +filled to over-flowing. +</P> + +<P> +"The cover doesn't close tight, so we'll have to jump on it, girls." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, goody, Dick! We jes' love to jump on trunks and things." +</P> + +<P> +They scrambled up on the box and jumped, jumped, <I>jumped</I>! Snap! +Crack! +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my dear! What's that, Beth?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's just the things settling down, Berta," explained Dick, jumping +off the box to fasten the clasp. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! oh! there's my big rubber ball under the table. That must go in +the box, too, Dick." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Beth. I'll open it again." Dick threw back the cover; and +with a cry of dismay, Beth snatched up a doll from the box. +</P> + +<P> +"My Lucy doll! My mos' beauty chile! Oh, oh, oh!" And she sank to +the floor, hugging the doll to her and rocking back and forth in her +grief. "My chile, my mos' beauty chile!" she moaned. "Your face is +all in seven, five, <I>ten pieces</I>, and your eyes—— <I>Berta</I>! my Lucy's +eyes are all <I>gone</I>!" Great sobs shook her frail, little form. +</P> + +<P> +Berta flung her arms about her sister, doll and all, while Dick shifted +uneasily from one foot to the other. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't——don't cry, Beth. I'll ask Mother to get you another doll +'zactly like that one. It's all my fault, 'cause I told you to jump on +the box. Mother'll get you a doll <I>'zactly</I> like that one. I'll go +with her to show her the kind." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, d——dear——m——m——me!" the little mother sobbed. "But she'll +b——b——be some other d——dollie, n——not my Lucy d——doll what I +love most of all. A——and 'sides——it isn't your +fault——'c——'cause I jumped right——on t——top of her, so I +d——did,——and——now she's d——deaded, so sh——she is! Oh, my +poor little chile! M——my most beauty chile!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I say, Beth, don't cry like that! I'll tell you what we'll do. +Let's have a fun'ral. You and Berta dress Lucy in her best white dress +and put her in a nice white box with lace and shiny soft stuff and +flowers all around her, and I'll dig a grave under that big rose bush +in the garden, and we'll bury her. That's what they did with my little +cousin when she died. My, she looked mighty pretty, only she was too +white. And you two ought to wear black dresses and black veils hanging +down behind, and——and——" +</P> + +<P> +The little girls listened, eyes and mouths wide open. +</P> + +<P> +"But what <I>is</I> a grave what you said you is going to dig, Dick?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's a big hole in the ground, Berta, and——" +</P> + +<P> +With a frightened scream, Beth sprang to her feet, and holding the doll +close, ran from the room just as Aunt Mandy appeared at one door and +Mary and Wilhelmina at the other. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't let him! don't let him, Mary! Oh, my poor little chile, my Lucy +doll is deaded, Mary!" Beth clung sobbing to her sister. +</P> + +<P> +Wilhelmina's eyes flashed. "Dick, you ought to be ashamed of +yourself——" +</P> + +<P> +"Wait a minute, Wilhelmina. I'm sure Dick wouldn't break Beth's doll +on purpose." +</P> + +<P> +"Course I wouldn't, Mary." +</P> + +<P> +"No, Willy-mean, it was a ac'cent; and Mother says ac'cents <I>will</I> +happen in the very <I>best</I> famblies, and Aunt Mandy says we is the +<I>very</I> best fambly in the land—and so is you, Willy-mean, I'se quite +sure." And Berta gave an account of what had happened. "But Beth +doesn't like to play fun'ral with Lucy, 'cause we has to put her in a +hole in the ground——" +</P> + +<P> +"But perhaps Lucy isn't quite dead, Bethy, and Uncle Frank may be able +to cure her, you know. Let me look at her a minute." +</P> + +<P> +At sight of the broken face, Mary's heart sank. She saw that no amount +of glue would restore poor Lucy to health; but she did not tell Beth +so, for another thought had entered her head. "I am afraid she is a +very sick child. Let us put her to bed in my room until Uncle comes +home. I think it will take a long, long time to cure her, Beth; so +don't you think you had better have one of my dolls instead? Come, let +us look in my little trunk where they are all packed away." +</P> + +<P> +She led the sobbing child into her own room, Wilhelmina and three very +sober little folks following; but though Mary gave Beth her choice, +even placing the lovely Amelia Anabelle in her arms, the little girl +could find no doll to take the place of her "most beauty chile." +</P> + +<P> +Then another thought came to Mary. "Why, I do believe Lucy looks a +little better. Don't you think so, Wilhelmina? We shall pull down the +shades and let her take a long nap, and I am sure Uncle will be able to +make her well very soon, Beth. Now, children, you mustn't come into +this room again until Uncle has seen Lucy. She must be kept very +quiet, you know. I shall take good care of her, Beth, so don't worry +any more about her, precious." +</P> + +<P> +Mary followed the little ones out into the hall and watched them as +they went slowly down the stairs; then she returned to her own room, +where Wilhelmina was trying to fit the pieces of the doll's face +together. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't blame Beth one bit for making a fuss over this doll, Mary. +You know I have never had any use for dolls, but this one must have +been dear with her brown eyes and fair, bobbed hair. I fished her eyes +up out of her neck." +</P> + +<P> +"She was a darling doll, Wilhelmina. The only thing that we can do is +to go to the same store and try to get another exactly like her." +</P> + +<P> +"Let me take another look at those dolls in the trunk, Mary." +Wilhelmina had just succeeded in piecing Lucy's face together and stood +with it between her hands. "There—that one with the long brown curls. +Hold her beside this one and cover her hair." +</P> + +<P> +"Wilhelmina! She is the image of Lucy! Oh, I'm so glad! We shall put +Lucy's wig and clothes on her, and Beth will never know the difference." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MONDAY—CONTINUED. +</H3> + + +<P> +Meanwhile, Berta had led the way to the door of the parlor, where the +packers were at work. For some minutes the children watched them; then +Berta asked her usual question: "Does you s'pects you would like us to +help you?" +</P> + +<P> +The men stopped work and straightened up to get a better view of the +four. Some of them turned away to hide a smile; but one man pushed +back his cap and thoughtfully scratched his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Seems to me the boss did say something about needing more help; but +you'll have to settle it with him. Wait, I'll ask him." With a +chuckle, he went to the door of the next room. +</P> + +<P> +"More help? I should say we do need it. But how did Gus get them here +so soon? It's not ten minutes since I 'phoned to him to send me four +more men." +</P> + +<P> +The boss entered the parlor. +</P> + +<P> +"There's your four to a man." And the packer, shaking with laughter, +turned again to the chair he had been wrapping. +</P> + +<P> +"Very happy to make your 'quaintance, Mr. Boss." Berta stepped forward +and offered her hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Eh? What's this? Oh, to be sure! And I'm delighted to make yours." +The boss made up his mind that the other men should find him equal to +the occasion. "So you're looking for a job, eh? Well, now, what kind +of a one would you prefer?" +</P> + +<P> +"We prefer ev'y kind they is, Mr. Boss, 'cept ones that's too big and +heavy for us. But Dick's very strong. He has mushes in his arms, so +he has. Show them to Mr. Boss, Dick." +</P> + +<P> +The little fellow promptly rolled up his sleeve and proudly doubled up +his arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well, who'd ever believe it! But you see how things are in +here. The pictures have to come down next. Do you think you are equal +to that job?" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess I've got muscle enough; but you girls haven't any, and Jack's +only a baby; and maybe Uncle Rob and Aunt 'Lisbeth won't like it so +very well if you drop the pictures when I hand them down to you." +</P> + +<P> +"No, Dick, I s'pects they won't. What does you think about it, Beth?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'se quite sure they won't, Berta. But——but, Mr. Boss, isn't they +anything else that won't break when we drop it? rugs or all things same +as that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, now, I'm sorry, but the rugs are all rolled up ready to put in +the van when it comes. But hold on! Let me take another look at those +muscles of yours, young man. Hm! There's a box on the front porch +that has to come in here, and it doesn't matter how many times you drop +it on the way——" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll bring it! We'll bring it!" was the joyful shout; and the four +raced for the front door. Just outside it they came to a sudden halt +and looked in dismay at the box meant for the grand piano. Then +Berta's sharp eyes turned toward the parlor window, and she drew the +others around behind the box. "They's peeking out the windows and +laughing at us, so they is! They's not nice gemmans at all to s'pect +little folkses like us to carry such a drefful 'mense, 'normous, big +box same as this. Let's go into the liberry and see if Daddy hasn't +nenny of those things he said we could carry." +</P> + +<P> +They scrambled through one of the long windows opening into the +library, where they found Mr. Selwyn on the top of a ladder. +</P> + +<P> +"Has you nenny of those things for us to carry yet, Daddy?" +</P> + +<P> +"What things, pet?" +</P> + +<P> +"Those things you said at breakfus. Doesn't you 'member?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, messages. No, I have no messages to send to anyone just now. How +about your own books and games? You may pack them in that nice low box +if you like." +</P> + +<P> +With a squeal of delight, the four scampered from the room and up the +stairs. +</P> + +<P> +"Lock that door, Mary! Quick! It will never do to let Beth see what +we are up to. There, now, if she can tell that this is not her Lucy +doll, she has better eyes than most people." +</P> + +<P> +"We can't let her see it, though, until after Uncle has taken a look at +it; so I shall lock the door after us, Wilhelmina, when we go +out——Mercy on us! What <I>are</I> they up to!" For from the staircase +came screams and wails and sounds of falling things which brought every +one in the house to the banisters. +</P> + +<P> +Wilhelmina caught Jack at the head of the stairs and bundled him into +the playroom, closing the door on him; and then she hurried after Mary, +who, picking her way over the books and games scattered on the stairs, +was hurrying down to the three in a heap at the foot. +</P> + +<P> +"We's deaded! Oh, we's all deaded; so we is!" wailed Berta as her +father lifted her to her feet. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, pet, it is not so bad as that, I am sure." +</P> + +<P> +Dick managed to pull himself together and sat on the lowest step, +winking very hard; but Beth lay so still that Mr. Selwyn was +frightened. He lifted her carefully and carried her into the library, +feeling the frail little limbs to make sure that no bones were broken. +Presently, she opened her eyes and looked at him in a dazed way. He +passed his hand over her little yellow head and felt a great lump at +the back of it. +</P> + +<P> +Berta was awed at the grave look on his face and whispered, "Is——is +little sister——drefful much hurt, Daddy?" +</P> + +<P> +"She certainly got the worst of this tumble, dear. I cannot tell how +serious this bump on her head may be." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dear, me! Poor Beth is all the time getting the worse of +ev'ything, so she is! First her Lucy doll's head, and now her own!" +And great tears rolled down Berta's chubby cheeks. +</P> + +<P> +"My——my Lucy doll——did Uncle——make her well?" +</P> + +<P> +"He hasn't come home yet, Bethy; but she is ever so much better, and I +am sure she will soon be as well as ever," soothed Mary, who was +kneeling beside her father. +</P> + +<P> +"Jack——I was——taking care of him, Willy-mean——" +</P> + +<P> +"He didn't fall, honey. He is up in the playroom." +</P> + +<P> +"My——my head——Daddy——it hurts——drefful much." +</P> + +<P> +"You bumped it, dear; but here are Mother and Aunt Etta and Aunt Mandy, +who all know the very best thing to do for bumps. Mary will get some +ice, and we shall go upstairs where you can be quiet and rest for a +little while." +</P> + +<P> +"But——but I want to help pack, Daddy." +</P> + +<P> +"We won't pack nennything at all till your poor little head is all +well, honey. You see, Mother, our new, little kitty was all the time +jumping round our feets ev'y whichy way." Berta thought that someone +should explain matters. "And she falled Beth down, and Beth bumped +Dick and falled him down, and he bumped me and falled me down, +and——and ev'ything falled all down ev'y place, and——" +</P> + +<P> +"But you and Dick are not hurt, dear, are you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I thinked we is deaded, Mother, but I guess we isn't." +</P> + +<P> +After luncheon, Wilhelmina and Mary tiptoed into the twins' room, where +Beth lay in a heavy sleep, an icebag at the back of her head and Aunt +Mandy sitting beside her. They placed the new Lucy at the foot of the +bed where the little one would see her the moment she opened her eyes. +Then Mary insisted that the old nurse should go to her luncheon, and +promised that she and Wilhelmina would stay with Beth. Presently, the +child stirred, and the two slipped behind a screen to watch her when +she woke. They heard a low gurgle of delight and saw her creep to the +foot of the bed and clasp the doll in her arms, kissing her over and +over again and crooning, "My most beauty chile, my most beauty chile!" +And they almost laughed aloud when she began to examine the doll's +sweet little face for the cracks which she knew should be there, +feeling the rosy cheeks with her frail little finger, and rubbing her +eyes for a better look. And when she had made sure that Lucy's face +was as smooth as it had been before the accident, she began hugging and +kissing her again, while she murmured, "Isn't Uncle good! <I>Isn't</I> he +good to make you all well, my most beauty chile! I must go find him +this very 'zact instinct and love him tight as I can. But——but my +head feels very queer, so it does." +</P> + +<P> +Mary stole from behind the screen, ready to catch her if she should +show any sign of falling as she climbed unsteadily over the side of her +crib; but Beth, dazed from the pain in her head, took no notice of +anyone. Her sister followed her down to the library, where Mr. Selwyn +and the Doctor stood talking. +</P> + +<P> +"I——I jes' want to give Uncle a big love for making my Lucy doll all +well again, and——and then I'se going back to bed, 'cause——'cause I +can't see so very well, and the bump hurts." +</P> + +<P> +"No wonder, pet." The Doctor held her close. "But after you have +taken another little nap, you will feel much better. I think Lucy +should be kept in bed for the rest of the day, and I am sure she would +like you to stay with her. She had a very narrow escape, you know. +Come, we shall go upstairs again." +</P> + +<P> +Berta and Dick begged off from their nap and began the afternoon by +stripping pin-cushions and emptying trays of pins and hairpins which +they scattered among the straw in a basket meant for china and +glassware. This was too much for the real workers, who felt that they +could breathe easily only when the four were sound asleep; and the +little ones, worn out after their busy morning, did not open their eyes +until time to dress for dinner. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TUESDAY. +</H3> + + +<P> +Beth, a little paler than usual, but quite ready for work, was the +first at the breakfast table next morning. The evening before, when +Berta and Dick had gone to see her for a few minutes, the three had +planned what they would do the very first thing in the morning; and the +glances and smiles which passed between them during the meal, did not +escape the Doctor's eye. Before leaving the table, he whispered to his +sister that mischief was brewing. Mrs. Marvin took Jack upstairs with +her for safe keeping; and Mrs. Selwyn, with an eye on the other three, +busied herself at the china closet while they brought in a bushel +basket, filled it with straw from a barrel in the corner of the +dining-room, carried it into the front hall and put it under the +staircase. She waited until she saw them go into the library and begin +to pack their books and games, when, knowing that her husband would +look after them there, she hurried to the work waiting upstairs. +</P> + +<P> +After packing and unpacking the box many times, the children decided +that it was ready for the cover. Mr. Selwyn came down from his ladder +to nail it on for them; but in order to please them, he had to drive so +many nails into it that the heads of them made a very neat border +around the edge. Then the telephone rang; and when he returned to the +library, the little ones had gone. A half hour later, he needed the +hammer and nails; but they were not to be seen. After a long search, +he thought he must have carried them to the telephone with him; but no, +not a nail could he find. Suddenly, he remembered that he had promised +to call up his lawyer that morning, and not being sure of the number, +he turned to look it up in the directory. The book was not in its +usual place, nor could he find it anywhere else in the room. He asked +the packers if they had seen it, but they had not. Then he called to +Mary to see whether anyone upstairs had it or his hammer and nails. In +a few moments, she came down empty-handed. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you asked the twinnies, Father?" +</P> + +<P> +"I thought they were upstairs with you. I have not seen them for a +half hour." +</P> + +<P> +"They are up to something then. I wouldn't be surprised if they were +out in the yard driving nails into the fence and benches." +</P> + +<P> +As she ran through the hall, she heard a muffled <I>meow</I> coming from +under the staircase and saw there what looked like a heap of carpet +with a hassock on top of it. Again came the <I>meow</I>. "Surely, Fluff +can't be under there. The poor little thing would be smothered." She +lifted the hassock and a thick rug and found a bushel basket carefully +covered with a barrel head which began to move. She raised it, and out +sprang the pretty Angora kitten which the Doctor had brought to her +little sisters a few evenings before. Down the hall toward the kitchen +it fled, and Mary hurried out the side door to the yard. No sign of +the children there, and Tom in the barn had not seen them that morning. +She searched the basement and then returned through the kitchen and +dining-room to the front hall, where she decided that they must have +gone up the back stairs while she was coming down the front ones. Just +outside the dining-room door she paused. Surely, that was a whisper. +There it was again. "Yes, she's gone. Goody!" The table cloth, which +had not been taken off after breakfast, hung nearly to the floor. Mary +lifted one corner of it, and three pairs of eyes, dancing with +mischief, met hers. +</P> + +<P> +"Sh! sh! we's making Daddy a s'prise—a most beauty, grand s'prise." +Berta pointed to the box of nails before them and to the box cover in +which lay a number of them carefully wrapped in white tissue paper. +The hammer, also well wrapped, was near by. +</P> + +<P> +"But how is Father going to fasten the covers on his boxes of books if +you pack all his nails?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'se quite sure Tom has plenty of nails and hammers and all things +same as that in his big box in the barn——<I>plenty</I>!" +</P> + +<P> +"Then why did Father go to the store last evening to buy these, Beth? +He has looked everywhere for them and can't imagine what has become of +them. Surely, when he has nailed your box up so nicely for you, you +won't be so stingy as to take his hammer and all his nails from him." +</P> + +<P> +"But——but you don't misstand, Mary. We's making a <I>s'prise</I> for +Daddy." +</P> + +<P> +"But Father would rather have his hammer and nails, Berta. It is too +bad to spoil the surprise; but I know what we can do. Put all the +nails that you have wrapped so nicely into the box cover, and I shall +ask Father to try to get along with those in the box. If there are any +left, you can pack them later; and it won't be very much trouble to +wrap the hammer again." +</P> + +<P> +The three looked rather mournful as they crept out from under the table. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I almost forgot about it. Do you know anything about the +telephone book?" +</P> + +<P> +From the way they looked at one another, Mary felt sure that they knew +a great deal about it. Just then, Fluff ran across the room. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Fluff, where <I>did</I> you come from? We thinked you was all packed +nice and comfy in the basket we fixed for you. Go right straight back +there this instinct and don't be jumping around our feets and falling +us down same as you did yesterday morning-time." +</P> + +<P> +"O Berta! you don't want to kill poor Fluff, do you? She was almost +smothered in the basket with that thick rug tucked in all around it; +and I'm sure I wouldn't think that stiff straw very comfortable." +</P> + +<P> +"Mary, I think you is jes' drefful! You is spoiling all our nice +s'prises ev'y single time, so you is! And we's not going to tell you +'bout the telefome book, so now!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ye——es," big tears filled Beth's eyes, "we thinked we is making +beauty s'prises for Daddy when we wrapped ev'y single nail so nice and +smooth and packed the telefome book 'way, 'way down in the bottom of +our box; and now you come and say they isn't nice s'prises at all, +and——and——" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Bethy, I know you meant to make the loveliest surprises in the +whole world, but you just made a little mistake, don't you see? +Wilhelmina and I have made ever so many mistakes, and we didn't mind +when Mother or Aunt Etta told us to unpack a great big trunk and pack +it all over again a better way. But I know something that would be a +beautiful surprise for everybody in the whole house, and I am sure that +no one else would think of doing it. There are things in the yard that +we shall need at Bird-a-Lea, and if you three would go around and mark +them with some lovely colored chalk that I shall give you, it will save +poor Father ever so much time and trouble. Wait for me on the side +porch while I run upstairs for the chalk. Berta shall have a red +stick, because red is her color; and Beth must have blue; and what +color would you like, Dick?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yellow's a pretty good color, Mary, and it shows, too." +</P> + +<P> +In a very short time, Mary returned with the chalk, and to Beth's +question, "Must we make ev'ything all red and blue and yellow all +over?" she hastened to reply, "Indeed, no. Just a little criss-cross +on the things you think we should take." +</P> + +<P> +"But what kind of things, Mary?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll show you, Berta. I see one right now." And Dick bounded down +the steps to put a yellow mark on a rake leaning against a tree. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I know where they's whole lots of things. I saw them this +morning-time when we went to get the basket. Come on, chilluns!" +Berta led the way around to the back steps. A hoe and a spade stood +between them and the fence and were promptly marked. Beth next spied a +broom on the porch; and Dick, a basket of clothes pins. +</P> + +<P> +"'M, 'm, 'm, it's going to take a puffeckly drefful long time to mark +ev'y single one of these." +</P> + +<P> +"Just mark the basket, Berta," said Dick. +</P> + +<P> +But the little girl thought each pin should be plainly marked, and the +three were very busy for some time. +</P> + +<P> +"Does you think we ought to mark the steps, Beth?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Berta, they's plenty of steps at Bird-a-Lea, <I>plenty</I>! Doesn't +you 'member? They's some in front and some in back and some at both +sides all going up to the porch." +</P> + +<P> +"W——ell, what else is they to take? Oh, I know! The wheely-ba'l, so +we can have nice rides in our own garden same as Danny gives us in his +wheely-ba'l in the garden at Aunt Mary's." +</P> + +<P> +"If you'll come home with us, I'll let you ride in my billy goat cart." +</P> + +<P> +"What <I>is</I> that, Dick?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why——why, it's a dandy, little, red cart that we harness a billy +goat to, 'stead of a pony or horse." +</P> + +<P> +"But what <I>is</I> a billy goat?" +</P> + +<P> +"A billy goat? Didn't you girls ever see a billy goat? He's just an +animal for pulling carts and——and——" +</P> + +<P> +"What kind of a amanal, Dick?" +</P> + +<P> +"How big is he?" +</P> + +<P> +"What color is he?" +</P> + +<P> +"He's about as big as Thor—that's our dog—and he's a sort of a white +color 'cept when he rolls in the dust, and he's got horns, and when he +gets mad you've got to look out or he'll stick them into you——" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, oh! I guess I like a wheely-ba'l best of all." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Beth, somebody has to push you in that, and you can drive our +Billy 'zactly the same as a horse. He doesn't get mad very often; and +when he does, we run behind trees so he can't get at us. Ask your +father and mother to let you come home with us. We'll have no end of +fun." +</P> + +<P> +"But——but I 'splained to you, Dick, the why we can't go home with +you. We has to live in our own house with Father and Mother and Uncle +Frank and Mary. It would be ever so much better if you would bring +your billy cart and come to live at Bird-a-Lea. They's so many +chilluns in your fambly, and they's only three in ours, and we hasn't +nenny little brothers 'cept two in heaven." +</P> + +<P> +"But, you see, Berta, it doesn't make any diff'runce how many children +we have in our family. A fellow's s'posed to live with his own father +and mother." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe Daddy and Mother will take us to see Dick and Jack sometime, +Berta; and then you will ride us in your billy cart, won't you, Dick? +And when you come to see us at Bird-a-Lea, you can have a nice ride in +our wheely-ba'l, so you can." +</P> + +<P> +They next marked the garden benches and porch chairs. +</P> + +<P> +"And I'se quite sure Daddy will say we must take this nice white walk. +They's only all little stones on the walks at Bird-a-Lea." +</P> + +<P> +"That's gravel. We have that on all our walks and on the driveway. +Everybody in the country has that 'stead of walks like this." +</P> + +<P> +They went around and around the old-fashioned yard, putting colored +marks on everything they thought should be taken to the new home, until +there was very little left of their sticks of chalk. +</P> + +<P> +"I know what ought to be marked. Ourselves. We're not going to be +left behind." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, Dick, let's mark our own selfs," cried the twins; and when +poor old Aunt Mandy came to call them to get washed before luncheon, +she threw up her hands in horror at sight of their faces streaked with +red, blue, and yellow, in real Indian style. +</P> + +<P> +After luncheon, Mr. Selwyn was taken out to see the "s'prise," and he +had to turn aside and cough many times when he saw even the leaves of +certain plants in the garden plainly marked. +</P> + +<P> +"In course, Daddy, we know they's a big, <I>big</I> garden of most beauty +flowers at Bird-a-Lea; but p'raps they isn't nenny jes' 'zactly like +these. And Beth and I can't 'member if they's nenny Kismus trees out +there; so we thinked it would be better to take this nice little one so +Sandy Claws will find it when he comes, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Oho! trust him to find dozens of Christmas trees ever so much larger +and finer than this one in the country around our new home, pet. Santa +Claus does not depend on city yards and parks for his Christmas trees. +No, indeed!" +</P> + +<P> +The afternoon nap that day was very much shorter, for the three were +bent on helping indoors. They were not very well pleased, therefore, +when they were dressed for the afternoon and sent out to play in the +yard. The Doctor, coming home early, saw them walking about in a +listless way and went out to see what the trouble was. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what is wrong now, little folks?" +</P> + +<P> +"O Uncle! ev'ybody is all the time saying, 'Not jes' now,' and 'After +while,' and 'Not at present, thank you,' and all things same as that +when we want to help, so they is," pouted Beth. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and we didn't ask nennybody for presents, Uncle, not ever, ever +at all." +</P> + +<P> +"Not ever, ever at all. We jes' want to help." +</P> + +<P> +"And when <I>is</I> 'after while,' anyway, Uncle Frank. Seems to me big +folks are always saying that, and it never comes," added Dick. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear, dear, it is too bad to have your feelings hurt in this way. I +must see what can be done about it. Surely there must be something for +such willing hands to do." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we did whole lots of things this morning-time. See all those red +and blue and yellow marks we made on ev'ything?" Beth lowered her +voice. "All 'cept Jack. He's too little, you know; but he's so cute." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I saw the marks as soon as I came out here. May I ask what they +mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"The why we made them is 'cause we want ev'ybody to know jes' 'zactly +the things we must take to Bird-a-Lea with us." +</P> + +<P> +"A very fine idea indeed, Berta. And now I have one that I am sure you +will all like. It will never do, you know, for us to leave our old +home looking untidy. I was thinking of hiring a man to put the yard in +order after we go; but perhaps you would like to do it for me. There +are a great many dead leaves on the grass, and the rain has washed the +earth out on the walks in several places, and I saw some cobwebs on the +porch——" +</P> + +<P> +"Ugh! ugh! maybe they's spiders in them!" +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind, Beth, I'se going to dead them for you. Beth doesn't like +spiders and crawly things so very well, Uncle, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Then we shall leave the cobwebs to you and Dick, and let Beth and Jack +rake leaves. But you will need the proper things to work with. Tom's +rake and broom are too large and clumsy for you. Suppose you run up, +Berta, to tell Mother and Aunt Etta that I am going to take you +shopping with me." +</P> + +<P> +The little girl soon returned, her face beaming. "Ev'ybody says they's +puffeckly 'lighted to have you take us, Uncle." +</P> + +<P> +Some time later, the neighbors were surprised at the strange procession +coming up the street. It was led by Dick, proudly pushing a little red +wheelbarrow filled with garden tools and big sun hats. Berta came next +with a small broom over each shoulder. Beth followed in the same +manner, and baby Jack strutted after her with a little hoe. The Doctor +brought up the rear, carrying anything that the children could not +manage. +</P> + +<P> +"But where is we going to put all these things so ev'ybody won't see +them, Uncle?" +</P> + +<P> +"We shall go in at the side gate, Beth, and Tom will find a hiding +place for them in the barn. We are a little late for dinner, so no one +will see us on our way back there." +</P> + +<P> +Flushed and happy, the four took their places at the table. +</P> + +<P> +"Nennybody can't guess what Uncle buyed us, and nennybody doesn't know +the beauty grand s'prise we's going to make to-morrow morning-time. +Oh, I wish it was then now!" And Berta beamed on all present. +</P> + +<P> +"But they's jes' one thing Uncle couldn't buy for us, 'cause they +wasn't any room in the wheely-bal for it. But you'll take us for a +nice walk this evening-time and buy it for us, won't you, Daddy?" +</P> + +<P> +"There is some very important business which I must see your father +about this evening, Beth," said the Doctor with a warning look which +Mr. Selwyn did not catch. He had been so long separated from his +family that he was anxious to do everything he could to make them +happy. "Making up for lost time," he called it; and he would have +spoiled the twins if it had not been for his wife, who would not let +him buy everything they asked for. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps I can go with you some other evening, pet. What is it you +wish me to get for you?" +</P> + +<P> +"O Daddy, it's the most beauty little bed for our dollies. Outside is +all soft, white velvet, and inside is all white, shiny stuff and lace, +and——and oh! it's jes <I>beauty</I>! And it has a cover to keep the flies +and skeeties off when our chilluns go to sleep." +</P> + +<P> +Mary and Wilhelmina left the table very quickly, and the Doctor +chuckled. "We passed the undertaker's on the avenue, and it was all I +could do to get them home." +</P> + +<P> +The two mothers looked at each other. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall see that Rob takes no more evening walks until we are safe in +the country," Mrs. Selwyn declared, and then listened to her husband's +answer to the twins' coaxing. +</P> + +<P> +"We already have so many things to pack that I really do not see where +we shall find room for anything else. Better wait until Christmas when +I shall tell Santa Claus to bring each of you a pretty brass bed for +your dollies, with soft, warm blankets and everything just as you have +for your own cribs. Velvet and satin and lace soil so easily, you +know." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Selwyn breathed a sigh of relief, and Mary and Wilhelmina returned +to the table. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WEDNESDAY. +</H3> + + +<P> +"Nennybody mustn't look out the windows into the yard today, not ever, +ever at all," insisted Berta at the breakfast table next morning. +</P> + +<P> +"Not ever, ever at all," echoed Beth. +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed! Just let me hear that anyone has tried to find out what +our surprise is." And the Doctor looked with a terrible frown at +Wilhelmina and Mary, who declared that their feelings were very much +hurt, because they were not let into the secret. "I shall depend on +you, Dick, to let me know whether anyone disobeys my orders." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Uncle Frank, I'll 'member every single one I see peeking +out the windows." +</P> + +<P> +A short time later, Mary and Wilhelmina dropped the blanket they were +folding and stared at each other. +</P> + +<P> +"Forever more! What in the world is that? It gives me the creeps." +Wilhelmina went to the window and, hidden by the curtains, peered down +into the yard. From just below rose such a squeaking and a scraping as +would make one's blood run cold. +</P> + +<P> +"Ugh!" Mary clapped her hands to her ears. "It makes the shivers run +up and down my spine!" She followed Wilhelmina to the window, and for +some minutes the two watched the little ones hard at work with their +hoes on patches of earth which the rain had washed out on the walk. +Then they dodged back; for Berta, pushing back her big hat, stopped +work to look carefully at each window on that side of the house. The +two girls smiled at her gleeful, "Nennybody isn't looking, chilluns. +They can't ever guess <I>this</I> s'prise, not ever, ever at all." And she +turned to brush up the loose earth on her little spade which she then +emptied into the waiting wheelbarrow. +</P> + +<P> +All in the house chuckled behind the window curtains or blinds which +hid them from Berta's sharp eyes. Squeak! Scrape! Screech! Dick and +Beth used their little brooms and spades and added to the pile of earth +in the wheelbarrow, while Jack scratched away at his special patch. +Those indoors went back to their work, glad that the little ones were +happy at last; but it was not long before frantic cries drew them again +to the windows to see Jack making off down the walk with the +wheelbarrow, out of which a steady stream of earth was pouring. After +he had been stopped and the earth brushed up, Berta decided that it was +too warm to work any longer in the sun. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's rake leaves. It's cool under the trees." +</P> + +<P> +"That's jes' 'zactly what we'll do, Dick." Beth tossed off her hat and +caught up her rake. +</P> + +<P> +And how they raked! Not only leaves, but grass, roots and all, came up. +</P> + +<P> +"By the time they finish, the yard will look as though a cyclone had +struck it," laughed Wilhelmina. +</P> + +<P> +"That doesn't matter one bit just so they are happy and out of +mischief. Wasn't Uncle wonderful to think of such a thing for them to +do?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm only afraid it's too good to last very long, Mary. They will soon +get tired of such hard work." +</P> + +<P> +Wilhelmina was right. After a few minutes under the trees, Dick and +Berta threw down their rakes and went to sweep cobwebs from the railing +of the porch; but Beth's fear of spiders kept her at the leaves, and +she coaxed Jack to stay with her. At the end of a half hour, +Wilhelmina again went to the window. "Didn't I tell you, Mary? Not +one of them in sight. They are up to some mischief, mark my words. +They are too quiet for any good to come of it." +</P> + +<P> +"But what mischief can they possibly get into in the yard, Wilhelmina? +Tom always closes the barn doors when he leaves it, and there is no way +for them to hurt themselves. They have just found something to do +around at the back of the house." +</P> + +<P> +In one sense, Mary was right. The little ones had found something to +do. But if she had known what that something was, she would not have +gone about her work with such a light heart. She had many, many things +to learn about the lively little sisters who had so suddenly come into +her life again; and Wilhelmina, who knew very well what four-year-olds +can be up to, chuckled at the thought of the surprises they would give +Mary. Then she sniffed the air anxiously. "Mary, I smell smoke! I +told you something is wrong!" +</P> + +<P> +She ran from the room and down the back stairs, with Mary at her heels. +But Liza in the kitchen had caught sight of the blaze down in the +corner between the barn and the fence and had hurried out on the back +porch. They heard her shouting, "Git away fum dah! Git away fum dat +fiah, yo' heah me!" And before they reached the kitchen, she had run +down the steps, and snatching up a carriage robe that lay airing on the +grass, she rushed toward the children, who were clapping their hands +and jumping about as near as possible to the burning rubbish. They did +not hear Liza's shouts, nor did they notice what she had seen—a tiny +flame leap out and catch the edge of the ruffle on Berta's little +starched apron. Swiftly it crept along until a frightened cry from +Beth warned Berta of her danger. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't run, chile! Don't run! I'se gwine to put it out! Lay down on +de ground, quick!" +</P> + +<P> +But Berta jumped about and tore at her apron in frantic fear. Another +moment and Liza was upon her, wrapping the robe around her and rolling +her on the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"Call yo' pa an' Tom, Miss May-ree, 'foah de fence kotches fiah! Missy +Berta's all right! Tom's down in de cellah! Now, den." She removed +the robe and made sure that nothing but Berta's apron had suffered from +the fire, and that it was fright only which made the child cling to +her, sobbing and moaning. She decided that a scolding all around would +make everyone feel better and began, "What yo' s'pects ought to be did +wif sech chilluns as yo' is, I lak to know! Which one ob yo' alls +fetched de matches fo' to light dat fiah? 'Kase I knows Tom nebah done +it. He's got moah sense dan to light a fiah wif yo' chilluns playin' +round heah." +</P> + +<P> +"I——I tooked——s——some——m——matches from the k——k——kitchen +when you w——went in the pantry." +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! An' see what yo' got fo' doin' sech a t'ing, Missy Berta. An' +which one ob yo' alls put all dat rubbish in dat co'nah, 'spectin' to +sot de bahn an' fence on fiah, I lak to know?" +</P> + +<P> +"It——it was all there already, Liza, and——and we thinked we——we's +going to make a nice s'prise for Tom, so we did." +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! I reckon yo' bettah let Tom tek care ob de rubbish aftah dis, +Missy Bef. Dat lazy niggah doan' need nobuddy to mek s'prises fo' him, +nohow. An' which one ob yo' alls struck de matches an' sot fiah to dat +rubbish, I lak to know?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did, Liza." +</P> + +<P> +"I w——wanted——t——to, b——but Dick——s——said girls don't know +how to m——make fires s——so very well, s——so Beth and I let him +d——do it." +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! Wal, yo's comp'ny, Massa Dick, an' I ain't gwine to tell yo' +what I thinks ob a li'l boy what's got sech a lubly ma as yo's got, +teachin' li'l gels to mek fiahs an' sech lak." +</P> + +<P> +"But——but we asked him to, Liza." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't mek no diff'unce, Missy Bef. No-buddy ain't got no right to do +nuffin wrong jes' 'kase somebuddy axes him to. Now, den, yo' alls +gwine right 'long into de kitchen, an' you' ain't nebah gwine to watch +yo' pa an' Tom put out dat fiah, so yo' ain't! Go long wif yo'!" Liza +drove them before her and turned aside to answer Mr. Selwyn's anxious +questions. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sah, Massa Rob, she ain't hurt a mite, only skeered; an' I reckon +I fixed dat all right by gibbin' dem all de bestest scoldin' dey ebah +got. She's done forgot all 'bout de fiah fo' wondahing what I'se gwine +to do wif dem when I gits dem into de kitchen, he! he! he!" +</P> + +<P> +She kept her word in regard to the fire, for she wished to drive the +memory of the fright from Berta's mind; but she set a big plate of +cookies on the kitchen table and brought each of them a glass of milk. +Then she hurried into the dining-room to meet the two mothers who, in +spite of hearing from Mary and Wilhelmina that the children were safe, +had hurried down stairs to see for themselves; and all agreed that the +less said the better. But Mrs. Selwyn went to the telephone to ask her +sister to let the little ones spend the next day at Maryvale. +</P> + +<P> +When the twins heard of the plan at dinner that evening, they clapped +their hands in delight. +</P> + +<P> +"We must be ready to leave here as soon as we have had breakfast," said +the Doctor. "I shall put you and Aunt Mandy on the train, and two or +three of the older girls with the wagonette from the convent will meet +you. Tom had better go, too, I think. He and Jerry, the gardener, can +unpack the furniture as it is unloaded and set up the beds so that we +shall have a place to sleep to-morrow night; for I am quite sure that +we shall spend it at Bird-a-Lea." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THURSDAY. +</H3> + + +<P> +"Great 'citement going on, isn't they, Uncle?" Berta hurried through +the hall, lugging a suitcase almost as large as herself. It did not +matter that there was nothing in it; that Aunt Mandy was taking a +valise into which she had put two little dresses and two little suits +for fear that, by evening, those the children were wearing would not be +fit to be seen. But a valise was not a suitcase; and Berta, who had +made up her mind to travel in proper style, insisted, "Ev'ybody going +on a train always takes a shootcase." +</P> + +<P> +"Leave that at the head of the stairs, and I shall carry it down for +you. If you should fall with it, there <I>would</I> be some excitement." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, Uncle." And the child pattered down to join the group in +the lower hall. +</P> + +<P> +Then Beth thought of Fluff; and Mary hurried upstairs for the little +covered basket which she had promised the twins, while Wilhelmina ran +off to find the kitten. At last it was time to say good-bye; but when +Mrs. Selwyn stooped to kiss Beth, the child drew back, her lips +quivering. +</P> + +<P> +"But——but isn't you and Daddy coming, too, Mother?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not this morning, dear; but we shall be out there as early as possible +this afternoon." +</P> + +<P> +"Then——then I guess I'se going to wait till this afternoon-time, +too." And seating herself on the lowest step of the stairs, she took +off her hat. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Beth——then——then I isn't going, too, till this +afternoon-time, 'cause we's twins, you know, and we must do ev'ything +'zactly the same." Berta took her place beside her sister. +</P> + +<P> +"Surely, Beth, you will not spoil the day for your little guests; for, +of course, Dick and Jack will not care to go to Maryvale without you +and Berta. And what will Aunt Mary and the Sisters and all your little +friends at the convent think? They are looking forward to your visit. +If I were to go down town to do some shopping, I would be away for the +greater part of the day, you know, and you would think nothing of that. +Come, dear, put on your hat and help Berta with the basket. Just think +how many people you will make happy to-day." +</P> + +<P> +Those in the hall drew a deep breath when the carriage door closed on +the travelers. Half way to the ferry, Berta remembered the suitcase, +which Mr. Selwyn had quietly slipped out of sight during the little +delay at the front door. But the Doctor insisted that they would miss +the train if they went back for it, so the little girl had to content +herself with the basket containing the kitten. On the train, Aunt +Mandy had her hands full; for the twins thought it was "puffeckly +drefful" to keep Fluff shut up in such a way and took her out of the +basket, placing her on the seat between them. But the kitten had her +own ideas about traveling; and jumping off the seat, she raced up and +down the aisle with the four after her. Under the seats, around the +feet of the passengers, she scampered, until first one, then another of +the children came back to Aunt Mandy, bumped and bruised. The poor old +soul gave a great sigh of relief when, with the help of three of the +large girls from the convent, she had them safely seated in the +wagonette. +</P> + +<P> +As they neared Bird-a-Lea, the children strained their eyes for the +first glimpse of the new home; and when Patrick, the driver, turned in +at the east gate and drove slowly up the broad, curving driveway, they +clapped their hands in great glee. On past the house and down the +drive to the west gate they went, then up the road to Maryvale. Mother +Madeline was at the front door to welcome them. She had to hear of the +new red wheelbarrow and the garden sets, of the surprises and +accidents, of everything, in fact, that Dick and the twins could +remember; and baby Jack put the finishing touches to the story by +lisping, "Big fire! Burn Berta! Litha run fatht!" Of course, Mother +Madeline pretended not to understand him, and the other three did not +try to explain what he meant. +</P> + +<P> +Such romps and frolics as they had with the little boarders; and when +noontime came, a picnic luncheon was served under the trees. +</P> + +<P> +To the great joy of the other three, Mother Madeline thought Jack was +the only one who needed an afternoon nap; and as he was already half +asleep, he went willingly into the house with Aunt Mandy. Then Sister +Austin asked help to unpack school supplies; and trip after trip the +children made, carrying boxes of chalk, pencils, and erasers, and +packages of paper from the packing-box at the side door to the big +press at the end of the hall. At first, Berta, Beth, and Dick walked +very carefully on the polished floor; but it was not long before they +followed the example of the other children, who made the return trips +with a run and a long slide. When the packing-case was empty. Sister +Austin opened a box of pencils, which she had laid aside on the window +sill, and let the children take their choice. Dick spied a red, white, +and blue striped one with a little gilt eagle instead of an eraser; and +to keep from seizing it, he had to slip out of his place and go to the +end of the line and say over and over to himself, "Ladies first. +Father always says, 'Ladies first!'" His heart sank when one of the +little girls picked it up; but she saw a bright green one with an +emerald at the end of it, which she liked better. The little fellow's +sigh of relief was not lost on Sister Austin, who had noticed him +changing his place in the line. He felt safe now, for all but the +twins had chosen, and he was sure that Berta would take a red pencil, +and Beth a blue one. At last the striped one was safe in his little +brown fist; and Sister Austin gave him a pat on the head and let him +choose a pencil for Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, I shall put these that are left into the press and lock the doors +until Monday. What a busy time we shall have down here that day!" +</P> + +<P> +"Sister, please tell me the name of this beauty red stone in my pencil?" +</P> + +<P> +"That is a make believe ruby, Berta, and Beth's is a sapphire." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, oh! Please, Sister, is they any other blue pencils in the box, or +a white one?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yes, Beth, here is a pale blue one with a turquoise in it." +</P> + +<P> +"I think that's <I>ever</I> so much more beauty than this one; doesn't you, +Sister?" +</P> + +<P> +"I prefer the sapphire myself, Beth, but there is no reason why you may +not have this other one." +</P> + +<P> +"Beth doesn't like nennything with fire in it so very well, Sister, and +I doesn't, too; and that's why she likes the turkey pencil best of all." +</P> + +<P> +Sister Austin turned to the shelves to hide a smile; for she had heard +of the event of the day before. +</P> + +<P> +Presently, Mother Madeline came for the children. "Your father has +just telephoned to say that they are leaving on the four-thirty train; +and as Patrick is going to the station with the wagonette to meet them, +I thought you might like to go, too. Aunt Mandy is waiting to wash +your faces and hands." +</P> + +<P> +A half hour later, the four with the old nurse were ready at the front +door. +</P> + +<P> +"Be sure to bring them all back with you, Aunt Mandy. We shall have an +early supper for them. Bird-a-Lea is still very much upset, and Liza +is too tired to try to get a meal this evening." +</P> + +<P> +"Jes' as yo' says, Miss May-ree." For to the old servant, Mother +Madeline was still her dear Miss Mary. "Jes' as yo' says. Lord lub +yo'! Dey all am sho'ly tiahed out aftah dese days ob teahin' up an' +teahin' down an' packin' an' eberyt'ing, an' I'se gwine to delivah yo' +message persackly de way yo's done tol' me, I sahtinly is." +</P> + +<P> +It would be hard to tell how many blessings the old woman would have +heaped on Mother Madeline's head if she had known that there were two +guest rooms at the convent ready for Mrs. Selwyn and Mrs. Marvin, with +two little cribs in each. Mary could share Wilhelmina's room, and +Mother Madeline knew that her brother and Mr. Selwyn would be +comfortable at Bird-a-Lea in the two bedrooms which she and some of the +Sisters had put in fairly good order for them. Nor had Aunt Mandy and +Liza been forgotten. +</P> + +<P> +"So you see, little folks, someone else can 'make s'prises,' too," she +laughed when, helping to serve at the supper table, she had told her +plans for the night. +</P> + +<P> +"I have always said that we are a very surprising family, Aunt Mary. +It seems to me that nothing should really surprise us any more after +all the wonderful things that have happened this summer." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you are right, Mary; but I feel quite sure that the +'s'prises,' though not so important, will be greater in number from now +on." +</P> + +<P> +The little ones had found one day at Maryvale so pleasant that they did +not need to be coaxed to spend a second and a third there; and with +them safely out of the way, the new home was quickly put in order. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +NEW FRIENDS. +</H3> + + +<P> +"Mary, see who is standing at the top of the front steps." +</P> + +<P> +It was late Saturday afternoon. The two little girls had made the +rounds of the house, and finding nothing more that they could do, were +on their way over to the convent to see whether any of their classmates +had arrived. The child on the steps was certainly not one of them; for +she was no larger than Berta, and Mary was sure that she had never seen +her before. She was surprised when Wilhelmina raced across the grass, +calling, "Dorothy! Dorothy!" +</P> + +<P> +The child turned, and her face brightened as she hurried down the +steps, clapping her hands and crying, "It's Willie! Oh, it's Willie!" +</P> + +<P> +"It must be someone from Georgia. No one around here ever calls her +anything but Wilhelmina, because Aunt Etta asked the Sisters not to let +the girls shorten her name." +</P> + +<P> +Mary ran to join the two at the foot of the steps. She heard Dorothy +say, "Daddy's in the house with a lady with a toothache." +</P> + +<P> +"The lady with a toothache!" Wilhelmina's merry laugh rang out. +</P> + +<P> +"Ye——es, Willie, 'cause she has a white thing tied around her face. +And she has on such a funny dress and a veil hanging 'way down and a +bib. Why does she wear such funny things?" +</P> + +<P> +"You poor honey! Have you never seen Sisters before? That's a good +one! They would keep the dentist busy. Mary, this is Dorothy Bond +that I told you about—no, I didn't, either. We had so much to tell +each other that I forgot about the afternoon we found Dorothy. We had +gone down to the shore, and all of a sudden we saw a little row boat +drifting out to sea, and Dorothy was in it. She and her father were at +the resort up the beach, and her nurse left her alone, and she got into +the boat and went to sleep. We thought she would fall overboard before +Phil and Harry could swim out and tow her in. Her mother is in heaven, +and her father was so worried about her that Father wrote to Mother +Madeline to ask whether she would take Dorothy here, even though she is +too young. And what do you think, Dorothy? Dick and Jack are here!" +</P> + +<P> +"Your Dick and Jack?" +</P> + +<P> +"My Dick and Jack—the very ones you played with two weeks ago. And +Mary has the two dearest little sisters in the world. You will have so +many little girls to play with now that you won't remember you were +ever lonely. Here are the boys and the twins. They know that +something is going on, and they are afraid of missing it." +</P> + +<P> +Dick caught sight of Dorothy, and with a shout, he ran to meet her; and +ten minutes later, when Mother Madeline and Mr. Bond came out to look +for her, his little daughter's gleeful cries, as she ran from tree to +tree playing <I>Pussy Wants a Corner</I>, lifted a great weight from the +father's anxious heart; for he knew that she had found friends in her +new home. Wilhelmina was the first to catch sight of him and led the +race toward the steps. +</P> + +<P> +"And Mother is here, too, Mr. Bond," she said after Mary and the twins +had been introduced. "We are all visiting at Bird-a-Lea, Mary's new +home next door. We have been helping them to move out here from the +city. You will come over to see Mother and Uncle Rob and Aunt +'Lizabeth before you go, won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall not have time to do so this evening, Wilhelmina; but I shall +be out here again to-morrow and shall be delighted to see your mother +and to meet Mr. and Mrs. Selwyn. You have no idea how happy it makes +me to know that my little girl is to have so many good friends, +especially some of her own age." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mr. Bond, we's all 'zactly four years old 'cept Jack and +Dick—he's hap-past four." +</P> + +<P> +"So he is; and Dorothy is about a quarter past. Her birthday is in +June. But a few months more or less make no difference, Berta. I am +sure you will have the very best times together." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed, Mr. Bond, these little people will see a great deal of +one another; for though Berta and Beth are too young to go to school, I +am quite sure that they will spend more than half their time over here. +Dorothy will enjoy going into the Kindergarten for a while every +morning to learn the little songs with the other children; and, if you +are willing, I shall allow her to visit at Bird-a-Lea very often." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be delighted to have her do so, Mother Madeline." +</P> + +<P> +"O Dor'fy! Dor'fy! Aunt Mary is going to let you come over to our +house——" +</P> + +<P> +"And you can play with our dollies, and we's going to have tea parties, +and——and ev'ything!" +</P> + +<P> +The twins threw their arms around their new friend and danced about at +the risk of falling head first down the steps. +</P> + +<P> +"Aunt Mary, couldn't you let Dorothy stay with us until Monday? She +knows us now, and she might be lonely here when we go home." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bond answered before Mother Madeline could speak. "No, no, Mary, I +could not think of imposing on your mother in that way. She must be +pretty well worn out after moving from the city." +</P> + +<P> +"But she won't mind jes' one more chilluns, Mr. Bond—not jes' <I>one</I>," +pleaded Berta. +</P> + +<P> +Mother Madeline laughed. "I think they are right, Mr. Bond. You had +better let them have their way." +</P> + +<P> +"I am so grateful to you, Mother, and to these little folks that it +would be useless for me even to try to thank you for this happy ending +of all my worry." +</P> + +<P> +"Daddy, my dollie's nose is broken and her hand, and her hair comes +off, and——and a tea party's going to be." +</P> + +<P> +"Then it is time you had a new doll, isn't it? My little girl has very +few toys. Taking her with me on my trips, I have found that picture +books and a doll or two are the things most easily packed in a trunk. +But now I should like to get her whatever the other little ones have; +and since Wilhelmina and Mary have spent some time at boarding school, +perhaps they will make a list of the toys they think suitable." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we shall be glad to do that, Mr. Bond. I am not great for girls' +things, you know. I like boys' toys and games better. But +Mary——well, I guess there isn't much in the way of things girls like +that she hasn't had. You see, Uncle Frank just dotes on Mary. He +thinks the twins are pretty fine, but his Mary! Well, I tell her that +she has two fathers." +</P> + +<P> +"You make me very anxious to meet Uncle Frank," laughed Mr. Bond, "and +I shall feel perfectly safe in leaving the choice of toys to you, Mary. +By the way, I think the Sisters will find in Dorothy's trunk everything +mentioned on the list in the catalog; but those, I take it, are all +very necessary articles. If you girls can think of anything else that +will make my little one happier or more comfortable, put it on the list +with the toys. I must hurry away now if I am to catch the next train +to the city." +</P> + +<P> +Returning to Bird-a-Lea, Mary at once found paper and pencil and sat +down beside Wilhelmina on the steps to make out the list. The little +ones crowded around to see that nothing was forgotten. +</P> + +<P> +"Doll, doll bed, doll carriage—" Mary read aloud. +</P> + +<P> +"A little trunk." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Beth, that's a good idea." +</P> + +<P> +"And a shootcase, so when Dor'fy brings her chile over to stay all +night with our chilluns." +</P> + +<P> +"And——and——oh, I know! A little broom, so she can help us sweep +the nice house we's going to make on the side porch." +</P> + +<P> +"And a cute little carpet sweeper 'zactly the same as Liza's big one, +and a mop to rub all around the floor——" +</P> + +<P> +"But you won't need a sweeper for the floor of the porch, Berta." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we's going to have a nice rug in our house, Mary." +</P> + +<P> +"But a broom—you will have two extra brooms when Dick and Jack go +home, Beth." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Willy-mean, Uncle buyed those for them. They's theirs for keeps." +</P> + +<P> +"But the boys have brooms and garden sets at home, and we thought it +would be so nice if you and Berta would keep them here for them so they +will have them when they come to visit you again. The boys will be +glad to lend them to Dorothy, I know." +</P> + +<P> +"Course we will," agreed Dick. "But I should think Dor'thy would want +a ball——and——" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, <I>I</I> know! A billy cart same as Dick has." +</P> + +<P> +"But a goat cart is for boys, Berta. Besides only one can ride in it +at a time. Father is going to get us something ever so much nicer, but +I can't tell what it is just now. They have one at Sunnymead, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, oh! what is it, Mary? Please tell us. <I>Please</I>!" +</P> + +<P> +"But that wouldn't be fair, twinnies. Father is going to have it a +surprise for you." +</P> + +<P> +"We doesn't like big folkses to make s'prises so very well," murmured +Berta. +</P> + +<P> +"And perhaps the 'big folkses' don't like some of those you make, +either," laughed Wilhelmina. "There is Aunt Mandy to get you ready for +dinner." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, we can think, Wilhelmina." +</P> + +<P> +"But some of the things they said are all right. We have enough toys +down there, for with the picture books Dorothy has, her shelf in the +toy press in the little ones' playroom will be pretty well filled. The +doll bed and carriage ought to be the folding kind, so they will fit on +the shelf. How about the other things her father spoke of?" +</P> + +<P> +"It would be nice if she had a little dressing table and a small rocker +instead of the stand and chair at her place in the dormitory. Many of +the little ones bring their own." +</P> + +<P> +"But a dressing table would be too high for her, wouldn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know just the thing. A large-sized, doll's chiffonnier with a +mirror on it. She can keep her handkerchiefs and ribbons and comb and +brush and such things in the little drawers. We shall ask Mr. Bond to +get a white one and a little, white, wicker rocker." Mary looked over +the list. "I think that ought to be enough to do her until Christmas. +The children simply can't have all the toys they would like to bring to +school with them. There isn't room for so many." +</P> + +<P> +"Anyone would think that there ought to be all kinds of room in a big +building like that; but with two hundred boarders besides all the +Sisters, there's not much to spare, that's certain. And not one of our +class back yet. Trust them to stay out until the last toll of the +bell. The ones who live in the city won't show up until five to nine +Monday morning. I wish Mother wasn't going home Tuesday. Mother +Madeline would let me stay here as long as she does. But she's a dear +to promise that I may come over every Wednesday to stay all night and +Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. I must try to behave better +than I did last year, or she might change her mind." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +NAMING THE PETS. +</H3> + + +<P> +"Oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, <I>dear</I>! They's sech a drefful many things to +do, and I doesn't see how we's ever going to do all of them, not ever, +ever at all!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not ever, ever at all!" +</P> + +<P> +Mary and Wilhelmina stood still and looked at each other, then burst +into a merry laugh. The great bell in the belfry high up over the roof +of the convent had just stopped ringing to spread the news that a new +school year was about to begin; and the two girls, with two book +carriers apiece, were on their way across the lawn to the little gate +in the low wall—the little gate, the hinges of which would have no +chance now to rust. +</P> + +<P> +"Forever more! What have you children to do that can't just as well be +left undone, I should like to know? Even Mary and I don't expect to do +any real work to-day. We just have to show up in the study hall and in +our classroom and see our music teacher and find out where the lessons +are for to-morrow. But we don't have to study or recite this morning; +and the chances are, we won't have to go back at all this afternoon. +The boarders will be unpacking their trunks, but I know Sister will let +me off until Mother has gone. But just what you are groaning about, +Berta, is more than I can see." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Willy-mean, they's ever and ever so many things we must do, and +Jack and Dick won't be here to-morrow to help us, you know, 'cause Aunt +Etta said she's going to take them home early, early in the +morning-time 'mejetly after breakfus." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I think it is too bad that you should ask them to work on the +very last day of their visit. I am sure they did quite enough of that +in the city. You ought to play all day and have a jolly time." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we don't mind working, Mary; but there's one thing it seems to me +we oughtn't to do, and that's sweep all the gravel off the paths and +driveway. I told Berta everybody in the country has walks like that; +but she thinks the kind you had in the city are nicer, and that if we +sweep the little white stones off, we'll find that kind under them." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, you wouldn't, Berta; and Father won't be one bit pleased if +you spoil the walks that way. And Jerry—well, I don't know what Jerry +would think of little girls who would do such a thing after all the +trouble he has taken to roll them so nice and smooth." +</P> + +<P> +"But—but, Mary, when we fall ourselfs down, we scratch our poor little +hands and knees on those old stones, so we do." +</P> + +<P> +"Then play on the grass where you can't hurt yourselves." +</P> + +<P> +"And who would expect two, great, big girls like you to be tumbling +around in such style anyway. Why, even Jack hardly ever falls now, do +you, honey?" +</P> + +<P> +"I too big, Willie." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course you are." +</P> + +<P> +"W——ell,—but, Willy-mean, we has <I>ever</I> so many other things we jes' +<I>must</I> do afore Dick and Jack go, 'cause Beth and I can't possiglee do +ev'y single one all by our own selfs. For instinct, we has to think +names for the two little kitties Patrick gave us, and for the bunnies +and the teapots and the squirrels and all the birdies in the big cage +and——" +</P> + +<P> +"All 'cept Polly. She has her own name. She's all the time saying, +'Pretty Polly,' and 'Polly wants a cracker,' and 'Polly's a fine bird,' +and all things same as that," explained Beth. +</P> + +<P> +"You see, Willy-mean, that's the why I said we has so much to do +to-day. Even if Dick and Jack help us, I don't see how we can +possiglee think names for ev'ything." +</P> + +<P> +"Then just give the names that you can think of easily, and Wilhelmina +and I shall help you when we come home. We must run now, or we shall +be late for school, and that wouldn't do at all on the very first +morning." +</P> + +<P> +"We's going all the way to the steps with you, Mary." +</P> + +<P> +"But Mother said only to the gate, Beth. Oh, I know what I wish you +would do. Ask Mother to let you come over about eleven o'clock. I +want the girls to see what fine little brothers Wilhelmina has." +</P> + +<P> +"And I want them to see what dear little sisters Mary has," laughed +Wilhelmina. +</P> + +<P> +"And we shall take you to the Kindergarten, and perhaps Sister Benigna +will let Dorothy come home with us for the afternoon." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, goody, goody, good——<I>ee</I>! We'll have another tea party, so we +will!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ask Jerry for some fruit and flowers to bring to Aunt Mary—that is, +if you have time to help him gather them." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, Mary, we has plenty of time, <I>plenty</I>!" And the four raced +back toward the house, leaving the two girls shaking with laughter. +</P> + +<P> +The little ones hurried around to the back porch, where the kittens +were asleep in a basket. They knelt around it, trying to decide on +proper names for these new pets. +</P> + +<P> +"Isn't they jes' too cute for nennything! The yellow one is Beth's, +and the black one is mine. Why, Beth, now we has the three little +kittens jes' like the ones that lost their mittens. Doesn't you +'member, honey?" +</P> + +<P> +"They look like little balls of fur, so they does. I jes' can't think +of a nice 'nuff name for mine. Can't you 'member us of some nice kitty +names, Dick? Willy-mean helped us name Fluff." +</P> + +<P> +"Seems to me I ought to know some. The big grey cat that lives in our +barn to catch the mice is named Tabby." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, oh! I isn't going to let my little kitty live in <I>our</I> barn. The +mice might bite her, so they might. And I isn't going into our barn +again my own self, too, not ever, ever at all." +</P> + +<P> +"'Count of the mice? Why, Beth, they'll run a mile when they hear you +coming." +</P> + +<P> +But Beth closed her lips very firmly and shook her soft, little, yellow +curls. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's Fluff, and I'se 'fraid she doesn't like our new little kitties +so very well. Willy-mean says she's——I doesn't quite 'member that +name Willy-mean said; does you, Beth?" +</P> + +<P> +"N——no, Berta; but it means 'zactly the same as some little folkses +is when they get a nice new little sister or brother. They's so +selfish that they doesn't want the new little baby not ever, ever at +all, 'cause they's 'fraid ev'ybody might love it the best." +</P> + +<P> +"'M, 'm 'm! How puffeckly drefful! I wish we had a sweet little baby +brother to love and rock in a cradle and sing nice songs to 'stead of +jes' dollies what can't hear you. In course, we can be-tend they hear +us, but that's not jes' 'zactly the same, you know, Dick." +</P> + +<P> +"We need another boy in our family, too, Phil says, so we can have a +baseball nine. Willie's almost as good as a boy, though. She's a +better catch than Jack, anyway, and she's a pretty good batter; but she +can't pitch a little bit. Harry says her in curves are punk." +</P> + +<P> +Beth sighed deeply. "We doesn't know what any of those names mean, +Dick. Won't you please 'splain them to us? Seems to me, Berta, they's +a drefful many things we has to learn. Dick knows most ev'ything they +is, I'se quite sure." +</P> + +<P> +"Course I don't, Beth. I don't know all my A, B, C's yet. If you had +some brothers, you'd have to play baseball with them, and then you'd +know as much as I do. We'll have a game this afternoon when Mary and +Willie are here. I saw a bat in the barn." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, oh! Not one of those horrid things we saw flying around last +evening-time!" +</P> + +<P> +Dick chuckled. "I should say not. How'd you 'spect to hit a ball with +that thing, Beth? I s'pose you haven't a baseball. Maybe Tom has one." +</P> + +<P> +"But——but isn't we going to name the amanals, Dick?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's so, Berta, I forgot. Let me see. +Fluff——Fluff——rough——tough——snuff——" +</P> + +<P> +"I doesn't think those are very nice names——" +</P> + +<P> +"Wait a minute, Beth. Puff——muff——buff——I say, Berta, how would +Muff do for yours? You said it looks like a ball of fur, and muffs are +made of fur, aren't they? The one Uncle Frank and Mary gave Willie +last Christmas was." +</P> + +<P> +"That's jes' a lovely name, Dick!" +</P> + +<P> +"And how would you like Puff for yours, Beth? or Buff? That means a +kind of a yellow color like the suit I wore yesterday, and your kitten +is yellow." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's call it both names, Beth—something like Willy-mean. We'll say +Puffy-buff, and then our kitties will be Fluff and Muff and Puffy-buff; +and I'se quite sure they isn't nenny nicer kitty names in the whole +world. Now, we'll go name the teapots," and Berta led the way around +to the west side of the house in search of the peacocks. +</P> + +<P> +"I know a name for that great big one with his tail all spread out. +Let's call him King Cole." +</P> + +<P> +"Beth! That's jes' lovely! And the one over there by the wall ought +to be a queen. Can't nennybody 'member a queen's name?" +</P> + +<P> +"'The queen was in the kitchen, eating bread and honey,' and 'The queen +of hearts, she made some tarts, all on a summer day,' are all the +queens I can think of just now." Dick puckered his forehead, trying to +remember some other royal ladies. +</P> + +<P> +"They was a queen in that fairy story Mary told us yesterday. Doesn't +you 'member, Berta?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes. Queen Mab. That's a nice name." +</P> + +<P> +"Then the two young birds ought to be a prince and a princess." +</P> + +<P> +"But they's two more teapots to name first, Dick, before we begin with +the birds and squirrels and ev'ything same as that." +</P> + +<P> +"But what do you think teapots are——oh, I say, Beth, why don't you +call them right? Teapots are things you make tea in." The moment he +had spoken, Dick was sorry. He had never teased the little girls about +their mistakes; but it was too much for him when he found himself +making the same ones. In dismay, he saw Beth's lips begin to quiver. +</P> + +<P> +"But——but——I thinked——that was what ev'ybody——called them, +Dick." +</P> + +<P> +Berta's dark eyes flashed, and putting her arms around her sister, she +began, "And that's jes' 'zactly what I thinked, too, and I said it +first that afternoon-time when we came to see Bird-a-Lea, and ev'ybody +makes 'stakes sometimes, Daddy says, and I thinked they's two kinds of +teapots 'zactly the same as you said they's a bat that flies around and +a bat that you hit a ball with, and——and——and I doesn't think it's +very p'lite for you to laugh at our 'stakes, so I doesn't." +</P> + +<P> +"Berta! why, <I>Berta</I>! Is that the way my little girl speaks to a +guest?" +</P> + +<P> +"I——I guess I wasn't a very p'lite guest, Aunt 'Lisbeth. I——I +laughed at something Beth said and 'most made her cry; and Mother says +a gentleman never makes a lady cry. But she didn't cry," Dick hastened +to add. "They're not cry babies like some of my girl cousins are." +</P> + +<P> +This praise, with his manly way of taking all the blame, quite softened +Berta's heart. +</P> + +<P> +"Please 'scuse me for saying such drefful things, Dick, and you can +laugh at our 'stakes all you want to. Mother, what <I>does</I> you think +Beth and I called those amanals over there? Teapots! <I>teapots</I>! Oh, +my dear! Wasn't that jes' too funny! Wasn't that jes' too funny for +nennything!" Berta sank on the steps, and even Beth had to join in her +merry laugh, while her mother agreed with her: "So funny, dear, that I +would be very much surprised if Dick and Jack, too, did not laugh at +you. And it is better to speak of those animals as birds. Say the +name after me." +</P> + +<P> +When they had repeated it several times, Berta added, "But we's going +to call them other names, Mother,——King Cole and Queen Mab for the +father and mother birds; and <I>can</I> you 'member us of a prince and +princess for the chillun birds?" +</P> + +<P> +"The young birds, dear. A prince and princess? So you wish to have a +royal family, do you? Let me see. What would you think of Prince +Charming and Princess Winsome?" +</P> + +<P> +"They're great, Aunt 'Lisbeth!" +</P> + +<P> +"Jes' beauty, Mother!" And the twins danced about in great glee. +</P> + +<P> +"It is time to find Jerry if you wish to take Aunt Mary some fruit and +flowers. Come, we shall see whether he is in the garden." +</P> + +<P> +Promptly at eleven o'clock, the four climbed the high front steps at +the convent, the little girls with great bundles of flowers, the boys +with a basket of peaches and grapes between them. Mother Madeline, +busy as she was, took them to her office and gave each of them a pretty +holy picture and a little medal, and then sent for Mary and Wilhelmina +to look after them. Such a time as the girls made over them. Those +who had been with Mary during the lonely years when she had been +separated from her little sisters, crowded around the twins in +particular, until Mary, fearing that the boys might be hurt, hurried +the four away to the Kindergarten. Then the bell rang for dismissal, +and with little Dorothy among them, they romped home to luncheon. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ONLY THE BEGINNING. +</H3> + + +<P> +"No Beth, I jes' doesn't know <I>what</I> we's going to do 'bout it, so I +doesn't." Berta seated herself on the lowest of the front steps, and +with her dimpled elbows propped on her knees and her dimpled chin in +her hands, stared straight ahead of her, winking very hard. "They +isn't nennybody to play with nenny more, not ever, ever at all." +</P> + +<P> +"Not ever, ever at all," came Beth's mournful echo; and all her winking +could not keep back two big tears, which trickled down her fair little +face. +</P> + +<P> +Mary, with her books under her arm, was just turning the corner of the +porch. She stopped and stared at the two on the steps. Then, "'Dear, +dear, what can the matter be,'" she sang; and seating herself between +them, she put an arm around each. +</P> + +<P> +"They——they isn't nennybody to play with, and we can't have nenny +fun, not ever, ever, nenny more at all." Berta gulped hard and winked +faster than ever. +</P> + +<P> +"No one to play with! No more fun! Why, haven't you each other? If +you only knew it, you are the luckiest little girls in the world. When +I was little like you, I would have given all my beautiful picture +books and dolls and other toys for a little sister to play with, no +matter how old she was. And here you are exactly the same age. And +then what about me, I should like to know? Just because I have to go +to school for a while every day, aren't you going to play with me any +more? and Wilhelmina? and what about all those nice little girls you +saw in the Kindergarten yesterday? Why, you just make me laugh when +you say such things. Our good times are just beginning, twinnies; +don't you know that?" +</P> + +<P> +"But——but, Mary, we——we like Dick and Jack to stay at our house +ev'y single time, so we do, and——and now they's gone home with Aunt +Etta, and——and——" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, Beth, we are all sorry that they couldn't stay longer; but +how do you think Uncle Phil and the other boys have been getting along +without Aunt Etta? You wouldn't like it so very well if Mother should +go away and take me and leave you and Father and Uncle Frank here all +alone, would you?" +</P> + +<P> +"N——no, Mary, but——" +</P> + +<P> +"But jes' Dick and Jack could stay, Mary. Uncle Phil and Aunt Etta has +so many chilluns—<I>nine whole chilluns</I>, you know; and they's only +three in our fambly." +</P> + +<P> +"But with Phil and Harry and Wilhelmina away at school, I am sure they +feel that they can't spare any more. Aunt Etta will bring Dick and +Jack to visit us again some time, and then we shall try to keep them +longer. We ought to be glad that we have Wilhelmina. Here she comes +now with Father." +</P> + +<P> +"But where's Mother, Mary, where's Mother?" There was real fright in +the little ones' voices. +</P> + +<P> +"Mother and Uncle have gone into the city to put Aunt Etta and the boys +on the train that will take them to Georgia. Father and Wilhelmina +went with them only as far as the station in the village, you know, +because she had to be back in time for school." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, <I>my</I> good times are over, and I'll have to knuckle down to work +now." Wilhelmina sighed deeply as she dropped on the step beside the +three. +</P> + +<P> +"That's jes' 'zactly what we thinked, too, Willy-mean; but Mary says +the good times are jes' beginning; so you is making a 'stake, a most +drefful 'stake, you see." +</P> + +<P> +"So I am, Beth. The very idea for me to be growling when I ought to be +so thankful that you are living out here instead of in the city, and +that I shall come in on ever so many of the good times you are going to +have." +</P> + +<P> +"It is a quarter to, Wilhelmina. I looked everywhere for your books, +but couldn't find them." +</P> + +<P> +"I had to hide them from Jack. He was bound that he would tear a +picture of some soldiers out of my history. Wait for me." Wilhelmina +bounded up the steps and ran into the house. +</P> + +<P> +"Fluff and Muff and Puffy-buff were making a great fuss when I went to +look for you on the back porch. Have they had any breakfast to-day? +and King Cole and all our other pets? I won't have time to help you +take care of them in the morning, because I have to practice a half +hour before I leave for school." +</P> + +<P> +"We's going to ask Liza for some nice milk for the kitties and for a +big plate of crumbs for the peacocks and ev'ything this very 'zact +instinct." And hand in hand, the twins hippity-hopped along the walk +leading around to the kitchen. +</P> + +<P> +Mary went slowly across the lawn, stopping at the little gate to wait +for Wilhelmina. She turned and looked back over the beautiful grounds +of her new home, and her eyes rested lovingly on her father on the +front porch, then on her little sisters busily feeding their pets. She +thought of the wonderful change which had come into her life since the +first day of school a year ago. Then, returning from her visit to +Wilhelmina's home, she had believed that she would never again see her +dear ones in this life. Now, her heart beat high with the hope that +they would be spared for many, many years to a peaceful, happy home +life at beautiful Bird-a-Lea. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARY'S RAINBOW***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 20193-h.txt or 20193-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/1/9/20193">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/1/9/20193</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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