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diff --git a/23531-h/23531-h.htm b/23531-h/23531-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..00c0584 --- /dev/null +++ b/23531-h/23531-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10306 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Marjorie's Busy Days, by Carolyn Wells. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + h4 {padding-bottom: 1.3em + } + + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .adtitle {float: left;} + .adauthor {float: right;} + + ins.translit {border-bottom: #0099ff 1px solid; text-decoration: none;} + + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .singleborder { + border-width: 1px; + border-style: solid; + border-color: black; + padding-top: .2em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + padding-bottom: .2em; + } + + .doubleborder { + border-width: 5px; + border-style: double; + border-color: black; + padding-top: .2em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + padding-bottom: .2em; + } + + .invisborder { /* uncomment next three lines to see outline of entity */ + /* border-width: 1px; */ + /* border-style: solid; */ + /* border-color: black; */ + padding-top: 4em; + padding-bottom: 0.5em; + } + + .invisborder1 { /* uncomment next three lines to see outline of entity */ + /* border-width: 1px; */ + /* border-style: solid; */ + /* border-color: black; */ + padding-top: 8em; + padding-bottom: 8em; + } + + .tda {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em;} + .tdb {text-align: left;} + .tdc {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + .caption2 {font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; float: left;} + .caption3 {font-weight: bold; float: right;} + + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Marjorie's Busy Days, by Carolyn Wells + +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 www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Marjorie's Busy Days + +Author: Carolyn Wells + +Release Date: November 18, 2007 [EBook #23531] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE'S BUSY DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Ian Deane and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="472" alt="" title="Cover"/> +<div class="invisborder"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="400" height="549" alt="" title="Frontispiece"/></div> +<span class="caption">"SHE FED THE GOLD-FISH, ... SHE TRIED AMUSEMENTS +OF VARIOUS SORTS, BUT NONE SEEMED TO INTEREST HER."</span><br /> +<span class="caption2">Busy Days.</span><span class="caption3"><i>Page</i> <a href="#Page_144">144</a></span><br /> +<br /> + +<div class="doubleborder"><h1>MARJORIE'S<br /> +BUSY DAYS<br /> +<br /> +<small><span class="smcap">by</span></small><br /> +<small>CAROLYN WELLS</small><br /> +<br /> +<small><span class="smcap">author of</span></small><br /> +<small>THE "PATTY" BOOKS</small></h1> +<div class="invisborder1"> +<img src="images/emblem.jpg" width="90" height="90" alt="" title="Emblem"/> +</div> +<h3>GROSSET & DUNLAP<br /><br /> +<small>PUBLISHERS NEW YORK</small></h3></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<p class="center">Made in the United States of America<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Copyright, 1906<br /> +By <span class="smcap">Dodd, Mead & Company</span><br /> +Published, October, 1908</p><br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> +<table summary="table of contents" style="width: 600px;"> +<colgroup span="3"> +<col width="5%"></col> +<col width="80%"></col> +<col width="15%"></col> +</colgroup> +<tr> +<td class="tda">CHAPTER</td> +<td> </td> +<td class="tdc">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">I</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">A Jolly Good Game</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">II</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">An Exasperating Guest</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">III</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Picnic Plans</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">IV</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">An Ourday</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">V</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">A Novel Picnic</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">VI</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The First Day of School</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">VII</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Jinks Club</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">VIII</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Spelling Troubles</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">IX</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">A Real Adventure</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">X</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">In Inky Plight</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XI</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Hallowe'en Party</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XII</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Totty and Dotty</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XIII</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">A Fair Exchange?</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XIV</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">A Noble Society</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_190">190</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XV</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Disturbed Citizens</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XVI</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Rosy Posy's Choice</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XVII</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">A Substitute Guest</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XVIII</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Thanksgiving Day</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_252">252</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XIX</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">A Spool of Yarns</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tda">XX</td> +<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Charity Bazaar</span></td> +<td class="tdc"><a href="#Page_278">278</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>MARJORIE'S BUSY DAYS</h1> +<hr style="width: 30%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h4>A JOLLY GOOD GAME</h4> + +<p>"What do you say, King, railroad smash-up or +shipwreck?"</p> + +<p>"I say shipwreck, with an <i>awfully</i> desert +island."</p> + +<p>"I say shipwreck, too," said Kitty, "but I +don't want to swim ashore."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Marjorie, "shipwreck, +then. I'll get the cocoanuts."</p> + +<p>"Me, too," chimed in Rosy Posy. "Me tumble +in the wet water, too!"</p> + +<p>The speakers in this somewhat enigmatical conversation +were the four Maynard children, and +they were deciding on their morning's occupation. +It was a gorgeous day in early September. The +air, without being too cool, was just crisp enough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +to make one feel energetic, though indeed no special +atmospheric conditions were required to make +the four Maynards feel energetic. That was their +normal state, and if they were specially gay and +lively this morning, it was not because of the brisk, +breezy day, but because they were reunited after +their summer's separation.</p> + +<p>Though they had many friends among the +neighboring children, the Maynards were a congenial +quartette, and had equally good times playing +by themselves or with others. Their home +occupied a whole block in the prettiest residence +part of Rockwell, and the big square house sat +in the midst of about seven acres of lawn and +garden.</p> + +<p>There were many fine old trees, grassy paths, +and informal flower-beds, and here the children +were allowed to do whatever they chose, but outside +the place, without permission, they must +not go.</p> + +<p>There was a playground, a tennis court, and +a fountain, but better than these they liked the +corner full of fruit trees, called "the orchard," +and another corner, where grapes grew on trellises, +called "the vineyard." The barn and its sur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>roundings, +too, often proved attractive, for the +Maynards' idea of playing were by no means confined +to quiet or decorous games.</p> + +<p>The house itself was surrounded by broad verandas, +and on the southern one of these, in the +morning sunshine, the four held conclave.</p> + +<p>Kingdon, the eldest, was the only boy, and +oftener than not his will was law. But this was +usually because he had such splendid ideas about +games and how to play them, that his sisters +gladly fell in with his plans.</p> + +<p>But Marjorie was not far behind her brother in +ingenuity, and when they all set to work, or rather, +set to play, the games often became very elaborate +and exciting. "Shipwreck" was always a favorite, +because it could develop in so many ways. +Once they were shipwrecked no rescue was possible, +unless help appeared from some unexpected +quarter. It might be a neighbor's child coming +to see them, or it might be a servant, or one of +their own parents, but really rescued they must +be by actual outsiders. Unless, indeed, they could +build a raft and save themselves, but this they +had never accomplished.</p> + +<p>The desert island was selected, and this time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +they chose a certain grassy knoll under an immense +old maple tree.</p> + +<p>Marjorie disappeared in the direction of the +kitchen, and, after a time, came back with a small +basket, apparently well-filled.</p> + +<p>With this she scampered away to the "desert +island," and soon returned, swinging the empty +basket. Tossing this into the house, she announced +that she was ready.</p> + +<p>Then the four went to the big, double, wooden +swing, and got in.</p> + +<p>Kitty carried her doll, Arabella, from which +she was seldom separated, and Rosy Posy hugged +her big white Teddy Bear, who was named Boffin +and who accompanied the baby on all expeditions.</p> + +<p>The swing, to-day, was an ocean steamer.</p> + +<p>"Have your tickets ready!" called out Kingdon, +as his passengers swarmed up the gangplank, +which he had thoughtfully laid from the ground +to the low step of the swing.</p> + +<p>Soon they were all on board, the gangplank +drawn in, and the ship started.</p> + +<p>At first all went smoothly. The swing swayed +gently back and forth, and the passengers admired +the beautiful scenery on either side. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +Captain had never crossed an ocean, and the nearest +he had come to it had been a sail up the Hudson +and a trip to Coney Island. His local color, +therefore, was a bit mixed, but his passengers +were none the wiser, or if they were, they didn't +care.</p> + +<p>"On the right, we see West Point!" the Captain +shouted, pointing to their own house. "That's +where the soldiers come from. The noble soldiers +who fight for the land of the free and the home of +the brave."</p> + +<p>"Are you a soldier, sir?" asked Marjorie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, madam; I am a veteran of the Civil War. +But as there's no fighting to do now, I run this +steamer."</p> + +<p>"A fine ship it is," observed Kitty.</p> + +<p>"It is that! No finer craft sails the waves +than this."</p> + +<p>"What is that mountain in the distance?" +asked Marjorie, shading her eyes with her hand +as she looked across the street.</p> + +<p>"That's a—a peak of the Rockies, ma'am. +And now we are passing the famous statue of +'Liberty Enlightening the World.'"</p> + +<p>As the statue to which Kingdon pointed was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +really Mrs. Maynard, who had come out on the +veranda, and stood with her hand high against +a post, the children shouted with laughter.</p> + +<p>But this was quickly suppressed, as part of +the fun of making-believe was to keep grave +about it.</p> + +<p>"Is your daughter ill, madam?" asked Marjorie +of Kitty, whose doll hung over her arm in +a dejected way.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed!" cried Kitty, righting poor Arabella. +"She is as well as anything. Only she's a +little afraid of the ocean. It seems to be getting +rougher."</p> + +<p>It did seem so. The swing was not only going +more rapidly, but was joggling from side to +side.</p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed, ladies," said the gallant +Captain; "there's no danger, I assure you."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid of the sea," said Marjorie, +"as much as I am of that fearful wild bear. Will +he bite?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Kingdon, looking at Rosy Posy. +"That's his trainer who is holding him. He's a +wonderful man with wild beasts. He's—he's +Buffalo Bill. Speak up, Rosy Posy; you're Buf<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>falo +Bill, and that's a bear you're taking home to +your show."</p> + +<p>"Ess," said Rosamond, who was somewhat +versed in make-believe plays, "I'se Buffaro Bill; +an' 'is is my big, big bear."</p> + +<p>"Will he bite?" asked Kitty, shrinking away +in fear, and protecting Arabella with one arm.</p> + +<p>"Ess! He bites awful!" Rosy Posy's eyes +opened wide as she exploited her Bear's ferocity, +and Boffin made mad dashes at Arabella, who +duly shrieked with fear.</p> + +<p>But now the ship began to pitch and toss fearfully. +The Captain stood up in his excitement, +but that only seemed to make the motion +worse.</p> + +<p>"Is there danger?" cried Marjorie, in tragic +tones, as she gripped the belt of King's Norfolk +jacket. "Give me this life-preserver; I don't see +any other."</p> + +<p>"They are under the seats!" shouted the Captain, +who was now greatly excited. "I cannot +deceive you! We are in great danger! We may +strike a rock any minute! Put on life-preservers, +all of you. They are under the seats."</p> + +<p>The other three scrambled for imaginary life-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>preservers, +and vigorously put them on, when, with +a terrific yell, Kingdon cried out:</p> + +<p>"We have struck! We're on a rock! The ship +is settling; we must all be drowned. We are lost! +Launch the boats!"</p> + +<p>This was a signal for shrieks and wails from the +others, and in a minute it was pandemonium. The +four screamed and groaned, the swing shook violently, +and then came almost to a standstill.</p> + +<p>Kingdon fell out with a bounce and lay prone +on the ground. Marjorie sprang out, and as she +reached the ground, struck out like a swimmer in +the water.</p> + +<p>Kitty daintily stepped out, remarking: "This is +a fine life-preserver. I can stand straight up in +the water."</p> + +<p>Baby Rosamond bundled out backward, dropping +Boffin as she did so.</p> + +<p>"The bear, the bear!" screamed Kingdon, and +swimming a few strokes along the soft, green +grass, he grabbed the bear and waved him +aloft.</p> + +<p>"What can we do!" stammered Marjorie, panting +for breath. "I've swum till I'm exhausted. +Must I drown!" With a wail, she turned on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +her eyes on the grass, and closing her eyes, prepared +to sink beneath the waves.</p> + +<p>"Do not despair," urged Kingdon, as he +grasped her arm. "Perhaps we can find a plank +or a raft. Or perhaps we can yet swim ashore."</p> + +<p>"How many survivors are we?" asked Marjorie, +sitting up in the water and looking +about.</p> + +<p>"Four," responded Kitty; "but I won't swim. +It makes my dress all greeny, and stubs my shoes +out."</p> + +<p>Kitty was the only Maynard who was finicky +about her clothes. It called forth much derision +from her elder brother and sister, but she stood +firm. She would play their plays, until it came +to "swimming" across grass and earth, and there +she rebelled.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Kingdon, good-naturedly, +"you needn't. There's a raft," pointing to what +had been the gangplank. "Cannot you and your +infant daughter manage to get ashore on that? +This other lady is an expert swimmer, and I think +she can reach land, while Buffalo Bill will, of +course, save himself."</p> + +<p>"Me save myself!" exclaimed Rosy Posy, glee<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>fully. +She had no objections to swimming on +land, and throwing her fat self down flat, kicked +vigorously, and assisted Boffin to swim by her +side.</p> + +<p>Kitty and Arabella arranged themselves on the +raft, which Kitty propelled by a series of hitches. +The shipwrecked sufferers thus made their way +toward the desert island. There were several narrow +escapes from drowning, but they generously +assisted each other, and once when Kitty fell off +her raft, the noble Captain offered to take Arabella +on his own broad and stalwart back.</p> + +<p>Buffalo Bill frequently forgot she was in the +tossing ocean, and walked upright on her own fat +legs.</p> + +<p>But King said she was only "treading water," +go that was all right.</p> + +<p>At last they sighted land, and by a mighty +effort, and much encouraging of one another, they +managed to reach the shore of the island. Exhausted, +Marjorie threw herself on the beach, and +the half-drowned Captain also dragged himself up +on dry land. Kitty skilfully brought her raft +ashore, and stepped out, exclaiming: "Saved! +But to what a fate!"</p> + + +<p>This was one of their favorite lines, and Mar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>jorie +weakly opened her eyes to respond:</p> + +<p>"Methinks I shall not see to-morrow's sun!"</p> + +<p>"Hist!" whispered Kingdon, "say no word, +lady. There may be cannibals here!"</p> + +<p>"Tannibals!" cried Buffalo Bill. "I 'ike +Tannibals. Where is zey?"</p> + +<p>Somewhat revived, Kingdon began to look +round the desert island to see what its nature +might be.</p> + +<p>"We have escaped one terrible death!" he declared, +"only to meet another. We must starve! +This is a desert island exactly in the middle of the +Pacific Ocean. No steamers pass here; no sailing +vessels or ferryboats or,—or anything!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! What shall we do?" moaned Kitty, +clasping her hands in despair. "My precious +Arabella! Already she is begging for food."</p> + +<p>"We must consider," said Marjorie, sitting up, +and looking about her. "If there is nothing else, +we must kill the bear and eat him."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" screamed Rosy Posy. "No, no +eat my Boffin Bear."</p> + +<p>"I will explore," said Kingdon. "Come, Buffalo +Bill, we are the men of this party, we will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +go all over the island and see what may be +found in the way of food. Perhaps we will find +cocoanuts."</p> + +<p>"Ess," said Buffalo Bill, slipping her little hand +in her brother's, "an' we'll take Boffin, so he won't +get all killded."</p> + +<p>"And while you're gone," said Marjorie, "we +will dry our dripping garments and mend them."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Kitty, "with needles and thread +out of my bag. I brought a big bag of all sorts +of things, like Robinson Crusoe."</p> + +<p>"That wasn't Robinson Crusoe," said King, +"it was Mrs. Swiss Robinson."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so it was! Well, it doesn't matter, I +brought the bag, anyway."</p> + +<p>The two brave men went away, and returned in +a surprisingly short time with a surprising amount +of food.</p> + +<p>"These are cocoanuts," announced Kingdon, as +he displayed four oranges. "I had to climb the +tall palm trees to reach them. But no hardships +or dangers are too great to assist fair ladies."</p> + +<p>The fair ladies expressed great delight at the +gallant Captain's deed, and asked Buffalo Bill +what she had secured.</p> + +<p>"Edds," said Rosy Posy, triumphantly, and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +sure enough, in her tiny skirt, which she held +gathered up before her, were three eggs and a +cracker.</p> + +<p>The eggs were hard-boiled, and were promptly +appropriated by the three elder victims of the +shipwreck, while the cracker fell to the share of +Buffalo Bill, who was not yet of an age to eat +hard-boiled eggs.</p> + +<p>"I, too, will make search!" cried Marjorie. +"Methinks there may yet be food which you +overlooked."</p> + +<p>As Marjorie had brought the food to the +desert island only an hour before, it was not +impossible that she might find some more, so +they let her go to make search. She returned +with a paper bag of crackers and another of +pears.</p> + +<p>"These are bread fruit," she announced, showing +the crackers; "and these are wild pears. This +is indeed a fruitful island, and we're lucky to be +wrecked on such a good one."</p> + +<p>"Lucky, indeed!" agreed the Captain. "Why, +when I discovered those eggs on a rocky ledge, I +knew at once they were gulls' eggs."</p> + +<p>"And how fortunate that they're boiled," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +Kitty. "I can't bear raw eggs."</p> + +<p>The shipwrecked sufferers then spread out their +food, and sat down to a pleasant meal, for the +Maynard children had convenient appetites, and +could eat at almost any hour of the day.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h4>AN EXASPERATING GUEST</h4> + + +<p>"Aren't hard-boiled eggs the very best things to +eat in all the world?" said Marjorie, as she looked +lovingly at the golden sphere she had just extracted +from its ivory setting.</p> + +<p>"They're awful good," agreed King, "but I +like oranges better."</p> + +<p>"Me eat lollunge," piped up Rosy Posy. "Buffaro +Bill would 'ike a lollunge."</p> + +<p>"So you shall, Baby. Brother'll fix one for +you."</p> + +<p>And the shipwrecked Captain carefully prepared +an orange, and gave it bit by bit into the +eager, rosy fingers.</p> + +<p>"Of all things in the world," said Kitty, "I +like chocolate creams best."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so do I, if I'm not hungry!" said Marjorie. +"I think I like different things at different +times."</p> + +<p>"Well, it doesn't matter much what you like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +now," said King, as he gave the last section of +orange to Rosy Posy, "for everything is all eaten +up. Where'd you get those eggs, Mops? We +never hardly have them except on picnics."</p> + +<p>"I saw them in the pantry. Ellen had them +for a salad or something. So I just took them, +and told her she could boil some more."</p> + +<p>"You're a good one, Mopsy," said her brother, +looking at her in evident admiration. "The servants +never get mad at you. Now if I had hooked +those eggs, Ellen would have blown me up sky-high."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I just smiled at her," said Marjorie, "and +then it was all right. Now, what are we going to +do next?"</p> + +<p>"Hark!" said Kingdon, who was again the +shipwrecked mariner. "I hear a distant sound as +of fierce wild beasts growling and roaring."</p> + +<p>"My child, my child!" shrieked Kitty, snatching +up Arabella. "She will be torn by dreadful +lions and tigers!"</p> + +<p>"We must protect ourselves," declared Marjorie. +"Captain, can't you build a barricade? +They always do that in books."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, ma'am. But also we must hoist a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +flag, a signal of distress. For should a ship come +by, they might stop and rescue us."</p> + +<p>"But we have no flag. What can we use +for one?"</p> + +<p>"Give me your daughter's petticoat," said the +Captain to Kitty.</p> + +<p>"Not so!" said Kitty, who was fond of dramatic +phrases. "Arabella's petticoat is spandy +clean, and I won't have it used to make a flag."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you a flag," said Marjorie. "Take +my hair-ribbon." She began to pull off her red +ribbon, but Kingdon stopped her.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, "that won't do. We're not playing +Pirates. It must be a white flag. It's for a +signal of distress."</p> + +<p>Marjorie thought a moment. There really +seemed to be no white flag available.</p> + +<p>"All right!" she cried, in a moment. "I'll give +you a piece of my petticoat. It's an old one, and +the ruffle is torn anyhow."</p> + +<p>In a flash, impetuous Marjorie had torn a good-sized +bit out of her little white petticoat, and +the Captain fastened it to a long branch he had +broken from the maple tree.</p> + +<p>This he managed, with the aid of some stones,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +to fasten in an upright position, and then they +sat down to watch for a passing sail.</p> + +<p>"Buffaro Bill so s'eepy," announced that small +person, and, with fat old Boffin for a pillow, Rosy +Posy calmly dropped off into a morning nap.</p> + +<p>But the others suffered various dreadful vicissitudes. +They were attacked by wild beasts, which, +though entirely imaginary, required almost as +much killing as if they had been real.</p> + +<p>Kitty shot or lassoed a great many, but she declined +to engage in the hand-to-hand encounters +with tigers and wolves, such as Marjorie and +Kingdon undertook, for fear she'd be thrown down +on the ground. And, indeed, her fears were well +founded, for the valiant fighters were often thrown +by their fierce adversaries, and rolled over and +over, only to pick themselves up and renew the +fray.</p> + +<p>More exciting still was an attack from the natives +of the island. They were horrible savages, +with tomahawks, and they approached with blood-curdling +yells.</p> + +<p>Needless to say that, after a fearful battle, the +natives were all slain or put to rout, and the con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>querors, +exhausted but triumphant, sat round their +camp-fire and boasted of their valorous deeds.</p> + +<p>As noontime drew near, the settlers on the island +began to grow hungry again, and, strange to say, +the imaginary birds they shot and ate were not +entirely satisfying.</p> + +<p>Buffalo Bill, too, waked up, and demanded a +jink of water.</p> + +<p>But none could leave the island and brave the +perils of the boundless ocean, unless in a rescuing +ship.</p> + +<p>For a long time they waited. They waved their +white flag, and they even shouted for help.</p> + +<p>But the "island" was at some distance from +the house or street and none came to rescue +them.</p> + +<p>At last, they saw a huge, white-covered wagon +slowly moving along the back drive.</p> + +<p>"A sail! A sail!" cried the Captain. "What, +ho! Help! Help!"</p> + +<p>The other shipwrecked ones joined the cry, and +soon the wagon drew a little nearer, and then +stopped.</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!" cried the children in chorus.</p> + +<p>It was the butcher's wagon, and they knew it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +well, but this season there was a new driver who +didn't know the Maynard children.</p> + +<p>"What's the matther?" he cried, jumping from +his seat, and running across the grass to the +quartette.</p> + +<p>"We're shipwrecked!" cried Marjorie. "We +can't get home. Oh, save us from a cruel fate! +Carry us back to our far-away fireside!"</p> + +<p>"Help!" cried Kitty, faintly. "My child +is ill, and I can no longer survive!"</p> + +<p>Dramatic Kitty sank in a heap on the ground, +and the butcher's boy was more bewildered than +ever.</p> + +<p>"Save me!" cried Rosy Posy, toddling straight +to him, and putting up her arms. "Save Buffaro +Bill first,—me an' Boffin."</p> + +<p>This was more intelligible, and the butcher's boy +picked up the smiling child, and with a few long +strides reached his cart, and deposited her therein.</p> + +<p>"Me next! Me next!" screamed Marjorie. +"I'm fainting, too!" With a thud, she fell in a +heap beside Kitty.</p> + +<p>"The saints presarve us!" exclaimed the +frightened Irishman. "Whativer is the matther +wid these childher? Is it pizened ye are?"</p> + +<p>"No, only starving," said Marjorie, but her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +faint voice was belied by the merry twinkle in her +eyes, which she couldn't suppress at the sight +of the man's consternation.</p> + +<p>"Aha! It's shammin' ye are! I see now."</p> + +<p>"It's a game," explained Kingdon. "We're +shipwrecked on a desert island, and you're a passing +captain of a small sailing vessel. Will you +take us aboard?"</p> + +<p>"Shure, sir," said the other, his face aglow +with Irish wit and intelligence. "I persave yer +manin'. 'Deed I will resky ye, but how will ye get +through the deep wathers to me ship forninst?"</p> + +<p>"You wade over, and carry this lady," said King, +pointing to Kitty, "and the rest of us will swim."</p> + +<p>"Thot's a foine plan; come along, miss;" and +in a moment Kitty was swung up to the brave +rescuer's shoulder, while King and Midget were +already "swimming" across the grass to the rescue +ship.</p> + +<p>All clambered into the wagon, and the butcher +drove them in triumph to the back door. Here +they jumped out, and, after thanking their kind +rescuer, they scampered into the house.</p> + +<p>"Such a fun!" said Rosy Posy, as her mother<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +bathed her heated little face. "Us was all shipperecked, +an' I was Buffaro Bill, an' Boffin was +my big wild bear!"</p> + +<p>"You two are sights!" said Mrs. Maynard; +laughing as she looked at the muddied, grass-stained, +and torn condition of Kingdon and Marjorie. +"I'm glad you had your play-clothes on, +but I don't see why you always have to have such +rough-and-tumble plays."</p> + +<p>"'Cause we're a rough-and-tumble pair, Mothery," +said King; "look at Kitty there! she kept +herself almost spick and span."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad I have all sorts of children," +said Mrs. Maynard. "Go and get into clean +clothes, and be ready for luncheon promptly on +time. I'm expecting Miss Larkin."</p> + +<p>"Larky! Oh!" groaned Kingdon. "I say, +Mothery, can't we—us children, I mean—have +lunch in the playroom?" He had sidled up to his +mother and was caressing her cheek with his far-from-clean +little hands.</p> + +<p>"No," said Mrs. Maynard, smiling as she +kissed the brown fingers, "no, my boy, I want all +my olive-branches at my table to-day. So, run +along now and get civilized."</p> + +<p>"Come on, Mops," said Kingdon, in a despair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>ing +tone, and, with their arms about each other, +the two dawdled away.</p> + +<p>Kitty had already gone to Nurse to be freshened +up. Kitty loved company, and was always +ready to put on her best manners.</p> + +<p>But King and Midget had so much talking to +do, and so many plans to make, that they disliked +the restraint that company necessarily put +upon their own conversation.</p> + +<p>"I do detest old Larky," said the boy, as they +went away.</p> + +<p>"I don't mind her so much," said Marjorie, +"except when she asks me questions."</p> + +<p>"She's always doing that."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know it. But I promised Mother I'd +be extra good to-day, and try to talk politely +to her. Of course, I can do it if I try."</p> + +<p>"So can I," said King, with an air of pride in his +own powers. "All right, Mops, let's be 'specially +'stremely good and treat Miss Larkin just lovely."</p> + +<p>Nearly an hour later the four shipwrecked unfortunates, +now transformed into clean, well-dressed +civilians, were grouped in the library to +await Miss Larkin's arrival.</p> + +<p>The lady was an old friend of Mrs. Maynard's,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +and though by no means elderly, was yet far +from being as young as she tried to look and act.</p> + +<p>She came tripping in, and after greeting her +hostess effusively, she turned to the children.</p> + +<p>"My, my!" she said. "What a group of little +dears! How you have grown,—every one of you. +Kingdon, my dear boy, would you like to kiss +me?"</p> + +<p>The request was far from acceptable to King, +but the simper that accompanied it so repelled +him that he almost forgot his determination to +be very cordial to the unwelcome guest. But +Midge gave him a warning pinch on his arm, and +with an unintelligible murmur of consent, he put +up his cheek for the lady's salute.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a dear boy!" she gurgled. "I +really think I shall have to take you home with +me! And, now, here's Marjorie. How are you, +my dear? Do you go to school now? And what +are you learning?"</p> + +<p>Miss Larkin's questions always irritated Marjorie, +but she answered politely, and then stepped +aside in Kitty's favor.</p> + +<p>"Sweet little Katharine," said the visitor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +"You are really an angel child. With your +golden hair and blue eyes, you're a perfect +cherub; isn't she, Mrs. Maynard?"</p> + +<p>"She's a dear little girl," said her mother, +smiling, "but not always angelic. Here's our +baby, our Rosamond."</p> + +<p>"No, I'se Buffaro Bill!" declared Rosy Posy, +assuming a valiant attitude, quite out of keeping +with her smiling baby face and chubby body.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what delicious children! Dear Mrs. Maynard, +how good of you to let me come to see them."</p> + +<p>As Miss Larkin always invited herself, this +speech was literally true, but as she and Mrs. +Maynard had been schoolmates long ago, the latter +felt it her duty to give her friend such pleasure +as she could.</p> + +<p>At the luncheon table, Miss Larkin kept up a +running fire of questions.</p> + +<p>This, she seemed to think, was the only way to +entertain children.</p> + +<p>"Do you like to read?" she asked of Marjorie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," said Midget, politely.</p> + +<p>"And what books do you like best?"</p> + +<p>"Fairy stories," said Marjorie, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, tut, tut!" and Miss Larkin shook a play<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>ful +finger. "You should like history. Shouldn't +she, now?" she asked, appealing to Kingdon.</p> + +<p>"We like history, too," said Kingdon. "At +least, we like it some; but we both like fairy +stories better."</p> + +<p>"Ah, well, children will be children. Do you +like summer or winter best?"</p> + +<p>This was a poser. It had never occurred to +Marjorie to think which she liked best.</p> + +<p>"I like them both alike," she said, truthfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come now; children should have some mind +of their own! Little Miss Kitty, I'm sure you +know whether you like summer or winter best."</p> + +<p>Kitty considered.</p> + +<p>"I like winter best for Christmas, and summer +for Fourth of July," she said at last, with the air +of one settling a weighty matter.</p> + +<p>But Miss Larkin really cared nothing to know +about these things; it was only her idea of making +herself entertaining to her young audience.</p> + +<p>"And you, Baby Rosamond," she went on, +"what do you like best in all the world?"</p> + +<p>"Boffin," was the ready reply, "an' Buffaro +Bill, 'cause I'm it."</p> + +<p>They all laughed at this, for in the Maynard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +family Rosy Posy's high estimation of herself was +well known.</p> + +<p>Although it seemed as if it never would, the +luncheon at last came to an end.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard told the children they might be +excused, and she and Miss Larkin would chat by +themselves.</p> + +<p>Decorously enough, the four left the room, but +once outside the house, King gave a wild whoop of +joy and turned a double somersault.</p> + +<p>Midget threw herself down on a veranda-seat, +but with a beaming face, she said:</p> + +<p>"Well, we behaved all right, anyway; but I +was 'most afraid I'd be saucy to her one time. +It's <i>such</i> a temptation, when people talk like that."</p> + +<p>"She talked all the time," said Kitty. "I +don't see when she ate anything."</p> + +<p>"She didn't," said King. "I suppose she'd +rather talk than eat. She's not a bit like us."</p> + +<p>"No," said Marjorie, emphatically, "she's not +a bit like us!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h4>PICNIC PLANS</h4> + + +<p>One entire day out of each month Mr. Maynard +devoted to the entertainment of his children.</p> + +<p>This was a long-established custom, and the +children looked forward eagerly to what they +called an Ourday.</p> + +<p>The day chosen was always a Saturday, and +usually the first Saturday of the month, though +this was subject to the convenience of the elders.</p> + +<p>The children were allowed to choose in turn +what the entertainment should be, and if possible +their wishes were complied with.</p> + +<p>As there had been so much bustle and confusion +consequent upon their return from the summer +vacation, the September "Ourday" did not occur +until the second Saturday.</p> + +<p>It was Marjorie's turn to choose the sport, for, +as she had been away at Grandma Sherwood's all +summer, she had missed three Ourdays.</p> + +<p>So one morning, early in the week, the matter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +was discussed at the breakfast table.</p> + +<p>"What shall it be, Midget?" asked her father. +"A balloon trip, or an Arctic expedition?"</p> + +<p>Marjorie considered.</p> + +<p>"I want something outdoorsy," she said, at last, +"and I think I'd like a picnic best. A real picnic +in the woods, with lunch-baskets, and a fire, and +roasted potatoes."</p> + +<p>"That sounds all right to me," said Mr. Maynard; +"do you want a lot of people, or just +ourselves?"</p> + +<p>It was at the children's pleasure on Ourdays +to invite their young friends or to have only the +family, as they chose. Sometimes, even, Mrs. +Maynard did not go with them, and Mr. Maynard +took his young brood off for a ramble in the woods, +or a day at the seashore or in the city. He often +declared that but for this plan he would never feel +really acquainted with his own children.</p> + +<p>"I don't want a lot of people," said Marjorie, +decidedly; "but suppose we each invite one. That +makes a good-sized picnic."</p> + +<p>As it was Marjorie's Ourday, her word was +law, and the others gladly agreed.</p> + +<p>"I'll ask Dick Fulton," said Kingdon. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +haven't seen much of him since I came home."</p> + +<p>"And I'll ask Gladys Fulton, of course," said +Midget. As Gladys was her most intimate friend +in Rockwell, no one was surprised at this.</p> + +<p>"I'll ask Dorothy Adams," said Kitty; but +Rosy Posy announced: "I won't ask nobody but +Boffin. He's the nicest person I know, an' him +an' me can walk with Daddy."</p> + +<p>"Next, where shall the picnic be?" went on +Mr. Maynard.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether I like Pike's Woods best, +or the Mill Race," said Marjorie, uncertainly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, choose Pike's Woods, Mops," put in Kingdon. +"It's lovely there, now, and it's a lot better +place to build a fire and all that."</p> + +<p>"All right, Father; I choose Pike's Woods. But +it's too far to walk."</p> + +<p>"Of course it is, Mopsy. We'll have a big +wagon that will hold us all. You may invite your +friends, and I'll invite a comrade of my own. +Will you go, Mrs. Maynard?"</p> + +<p>"I will, with pleasure. I adore picnics, and this +bids fair to be a delightful one. May I assist you +in planning the feast?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed you may," said Midget, smiling at her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +mother. "But we can choose, can't we?"</p> + +<p>"Of course, choose ahead."</p> + +<p>"Ice-cream," said Marjorie, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Little lemon tarts," said Kitty.</p> + +<p>"Candy," said Rosy Posy.</p> + +<p>"Cold chicken," said Kingdon.</p> + +<p>"That's a fine bill of fare," said Mr. Maynard, +"but I'll add sandwiches and lemonade as my +suggestions, and anything we've omitted, I'm sure +will get into the baskets somehow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, won't it be lovely!" exclaimed Marjorie. +"I haven't been on a picnic with our +own family for so long. We had picnics at +Grandma's, but nothing is as much fun as an +Ourday."</p> + +<p>"Let's take the camera," said Kingdon, "and +get some snapshots."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and let's take fishlines, and fish in the +brook," said Kitty.</p> + +<p>"All right, chickabiddies; we'll have a roomy +wagon to travel in, so take whatever you like. And +now I must be off. Little Mother, you'll make a +list to-day, won't you, of such things as I am +to get for this frolic?"</p> + +<p>"Candy," repeated Rosy Posy; "don't fordet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +that."</p> + +<p>As the baby was not allowed much candy, she +always chose it for her Ourday treat.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard went away to his business, and +the others remained at the breakfast table, talking +over the coming pleasure.</p> + +<p>"We'll have a great time!" said Kingdon. +"We'll make father play Indians and shipwreck +and everything."</p> + +<p>"Don't make me play Indians!" exclaimed his +mother, in mock dismay.</p> + +<p>"No, indeedy! You couldn't be an Indian. +You're too white-folksy. But you can be a Captive +Princess."</p> + +<p>"Yes!" cried Marjorie; "in chains and shut +up in a dungeon."</p> + +<p>"No, no," screamed Rosy Posy; "my muvver +not be shutted up in dunjin!"</p> + +<p>"No, she shan't, Baby," said her brother, comfortingly; +"and, anyway, Mops, Indians don't +put people in dungeons, you're thinking of +Mediævals."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't care," said Midget, happily; +"we'll have a lovely time, whatever we play.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +I'm going over to ask Gladys now. May I, +Mother?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Midget, run along. Tell Mrs. Fulton +that Father and I are going, and that we'd be +glad to take Gladys and Dick."</p> + +<p>Away skipped Marjorie, hatless and coatless, +for it was a warm day, and Gladys lived only +across the street.</p> + +<p>"It's so nice to have you back again, Mopsy," +said Gladys, after the invitation had been given +and accepted. "I was awful lonesome for you all +summer."</p> + +<p>"I missed you, too; but I did have a lovely +time. Oh, Gladys, I wish you could see my tree-house +at Grandma's! Breezy Inn, its name is, and +we had <i>such</i> fun in it."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you have one here? Won't your +father make one for you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Yes, I suppose he would. But +it wouldn't seem the same. It just <i>belongs</i> at +Grandma's. And, anyway, I'm busy all the time +here. There's so much to do. We play a lot, +you know. And then I have my practising every +day, and, oh dear, week after next school will +begin. I just hate school, don't you, Gladys?"</p> + +<p>"No, I love it; you know I do."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I don't. I don't mind the lessons, but +I hate to sit cooped up at a desk all day. I wish +they'd have schools out of doors."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'd like that, too. I wonder if we can +sit together, this year, Mops?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope so. Let's ask Miss Lawrence that, +the very first thing. Why, I'd die if I had to sit +with any one but you."</p> + +<p>"So would I. But I'm sure Miss Lawrence will +let us be together."</p> + +<p>Gladys was a pretty little girl, though not at +all like Marjorie. She was about the same age, +but smaller, and with light hair and blue eyes. +She was more sedate than Midget, and more quiet +in her ways, but she had the same love of fun and +mischief, and more than once the two girls had +been separated in the schoolroom because of the +pranks they concocted when together.</p> + +<p>Miss Lawrence, their teacher, was a gentle and +long-suffering lady, and she loved both little girls, +but she was sometimes at her wits' end to know +how to tame their rollicking spirits.</p> + +<p>Gladys was as pleased as Marjorie at the prospect +of the picnic. Often the Maynard children<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +had their Ourdays without inviting other guests, +but when outsiders were invited they always remembered +the happy occasions.</p> + +<p>All through the week preparations went on, and +on Friday Ellen, the cook, gave up most of the +day to the making of cakes and tarts and jellies. +The next morning she was to get up early +to fry the chicken and prepare the devilled +eggs.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard brought home candies and fruit +from the city, and a huge can of ice-cream was +ordered from the caterer.</p> + +<p>The start was to be made at nine o'clock Saturday +morning, for it was a long drive, and everybody +wanted a long day in the woods.</p> + +<p>Friday evening was fair, with a beautiful sunset, +and everything boded well for beautiful +weather the next day.</p> + +<p>Rosy Posy, after her bread-and-milk supper, +went happily off to bed, and dropped to sleep +while telling her beloved Boffin of the fun to come. +The other children dined with their parents, and +the conversation was exclusively on the one great +subject.</p> + +<p>"I don't think it <i>could</i> rain; do you, Father?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +said Kitty, looking over her shoulder, at the fading +sunset tints.</p> + +<p>"I think it <i>could</i>, my dear, but I don't think +it will. All signs point to fair weather, and I +truly believe we'll have a perfect Ourday and a +jolly good time."</p> + +<p>"We always do," said Midge, happily. "I +wonder why all fathers don't have Ourdays with +their children. Gladys' father never gets home +till seven o'clock, and she has to go to bed at eight, +so she hardly sees him at all, except Sundays, and +of course they can't play on Sundays."</p> + +<p>"They must meet as strangers," said Mr. Maynard. +"I think our plan is better. I like to feel +chummy with my own family, and the only way to +do it is to keep acquainted with each other. I +wish I could have a whole day with you every +week, instead of only every month."</p> + +<p>"Can't you, Father?" said Kitty, wistfully.</p> + +<p>"No, daughter. I have too much business to +attend to, to allow me a holiday every week. But +perhaps some day I can manage it. Are you taking +a hammock to-morrow, King?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. I thought Mother might like an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +afternoon nap, and Rosy Posy always goes to +sleep in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Thoughtful boy. Take plenty of rope, but +you needn't bother to take trees to swing it +from."</p> + +<p>"No, we'll take the chance of finding some +there."</p> + +<p>"Yes, doubtless somebody will have left them +from the last picnic. Your young friends are +going?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Marjorie. "King and I asked the +two Fultons, and Kitty asked Dorothy Adams. +With all of us, and Nurse Nannie, that makes just +ten."</p> + +<p>"And the driver of the wagon makes eleven," +said Mr. Maynard. "I suppose we've enough rations +for such an army?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Maynard, smiling. +"Enough for twenty, I think, but it's well to be +on the safe side."</p> + +<p>The children went to bed rather earlier than +usual, in order to be up bright and early for the +picnic.</p> + +<p>Their play-clothes, which were invariably of +blue and white striped seersucker, were laid out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +in readiness, and they fell asleep wishing it were +already morning.</p> + +<p>But when the morning did come!</p> + +<p>Marjorie wakened first, and before she opened +her eyes she heard an ominous sound that sent +a thrill of dismay to her heart.</p> + +<p>She sprang out of bed, and ran to the window.</p> + +<p>Yes, it was not only raining, it was simply +<i>pouring</i>.</p> + +<p>One of those steady, determined storms that +show no sign of speedy clearing. The sky +was dark, leaden gray, and the rain came down +in what seemed to be a thick, solid volume of +water.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Marjorie, with a groan of disappointment +from her very heart.</p> + +<p>"Kitty," she said, softly, wondering if her +sister were awake.</p> + +<p>The girls had two beds on either side of a large +room, and Midget tiptoed across the floor, as she +spoke. Kitty opened her eyes sleepily. "What +is it, Midget? Time to get up? Oh, it's picnic +day!"</p> + +<p>As Kitty became broad awake, she smiled and +gaily hopped out of bed.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" she said, in alarm, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +Marjorie's face was anything but smiling.</p> + +<p>For answer, Midget pointed out of the window, +toward which Kitty turned for the first time.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said she, dropping back on the edge of +the bed.</p> + +<p>And, indeed, there seemed to be nothing else to +say. Both girls were so overwhelmed with disappointment +that they could only look at each other +with despondent faces.</p> + +<p>Silently they began to draw on their stockings +and shoes, and though determined they +wouldn't do anything so babyish as to cry, yet +it was no easy matter to keep the tears back.</p> + +<p>"Up yet, chickabiddies?" called Mr. Maynard's +cheery voice through the closed door.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," responded two doleful voices.</p> + +<p>"Then skip along downstairs as soon as you're +ready; it's a lovely day for our picnic."</p> + +<p>Midge and Kitty looked at each other. This +seemed a heartless jest indeed! And it wasn't a +bit like their father to tease them when they were +in trouble. And real trouble this surely was!</p> + +<p>They heard Mr. Maynard tap at King's door, +and call out some gay greeting to him, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +they heard King splashing about, as if making his +toilet in a great hurry. All this spurred the girls +to dress more quickly, and it was not long before +they were tying each other's hair-ribbons and buttoning +each other's frocks.</p> + +<p>Then they fairly ran downstairs, and, seeing +Mr. Maynard standing by the dining-room window, +they both threw themselves into his arms, +crying out, "Oh, Father, isn't it <i>too</i> bad?"</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Mr. Maynard, quizzically.</p> + +<p>"Now, Daddy," said Midget, "don't tease. +Our hearts are all broken because it's raining, and +we can't have our picnic."</p> + +<p>"Can't have our picnic!" exclaimed Mr. Maynard, +in apparent excitement. "Can't have our +picnic, indeed! Who says we can't?"</p> + +<p>"I say so!" exclaimed Kingdon, who had just +entered the room. "Nobody but ducks can have +a picnic to-day."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Mr. Maynard, looking crestfallen, +"if King says so that settles it. <i>I</i> think +it's a beautiful picnic day, but far be it from me +to obtrude my own opinions."</p> + +<p>Just here Mrs. Maynard and Rosy Posy came +in. They were both smiling, and though no one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +expected the baby to take the disappointment very +seriously, yet it did seem as if Mother might have +been more sympathetic.</p> + +<p>"I suppose we can eat the ice-cream in the +house," said Marjorie, who was inclined to look +on the bright side if she could possibly find one.</p> + +<p>"That's the way to talk!" said her father, approvingly. +"Now you try, Kingdon, to meet the +situation as it should be met."</p> + +<p>"I will, sir. I'm just as disappointed as I can +be, but I suppose there's no use crying over spilt +milk,—I mean spilt raindrops."</p> + +<p>"That's good philosophy, my boy. Now, Kitty, +what have you to say by way of cheering us +all up?"</p> + +<p>"I can't see much fun in a day like this. But +I hope we can have the picnic on the next Ourday."</p> + +<p>"That's a brave, cheerful spirit. Now, my +sad and disheartened crew, take your seats at the +breakfast table, and listen to your foolishly optimistic +old father."</p> + +<p>The children half-heartedly took their places, +but seemed to have no thought of eating breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Wowly-wow-wow!" said Mr. Maynard, looking +around the table. "<i>What</i> a set of blue faces!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +Would it brighten you up any if I should prophesy +that at dinner-time to-night you will all say it has +been the best Ourday we've ever had, and that +you're glad it rained?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father!" said Marjorie, in a tone of wondering +reproach, while Kitty and King looked +blankly incredulous, and Mrs. Maynard smiled +mysteriously.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h4>AN OURDAY</h4> + + +<p>It was impossible to resist the infection of Mr. +Maynard's gay good-nature, and by the time +breakfast was over, the children were in their +usual merry mood. Though an occasional glance +out of the window brought a shadow to one face +or another, it was quickly dispelled by the laughter +and gaiety within.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was perhaps the most disappointed of +them all, for it was her day, and she had set her +heart on the picnic in the woods. But she tried +to make the best of it, remembering that, after +all, father would be at home all day, and that +was a treat of itself.</p> + +<p>After breakfast, Mr. Maynard led the way to +the living-room, followed by his half-hopeful +brood. They all felt that something would be +done to make up for their lost pleasure, but it +didn't seem as if it could be anything very nice.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard looked out of the front window in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +silence for a moment, then suddenly he turned and +faced the children.</p> + +<p>"Ladies and gentlemen," he said; "do any +of you know the story of Mahomet and the +mountain?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," was the answer of every one, and +Marjorie's spirits sank. She liked to hear her +father tell stories sometimes, but it was a tame +entertainment to take the place of a picnic, and +Mahomet didn't sound like an interesting subject, +anyway.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard's eyes twinkled.</p> + +<p>"This is the story," he began; "sit down while +I tell it to you."</p> + +<p>With a little sigh Marjorie sat down on the +sofa, and the others followed her example. Rosy +Posy, hugging Boffin, scrambled up into a big +armchair, and settled herself to listen.</p> + +<p>"It is an old story," went on Mr. Maynard, +"and the point of it is that if the mountain +wouldn't come to Mahomet, Mahomet must needs +go to the mountain. But to-day I propose to +reverse the story, and since you four sad, forlorn-looking +Mahomets can't go to the picnic, why<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +then, the picnic must come to you. And here +it is!"</p> + +<p>As Mr. Maynard spoke—indeed he timed his +words purposely—their own carriage drove up +to the front door, and, flying to the window, Marjorie +saw some children getting out of it. Though +bundled up in raincoats and caps, she soon recognized +Gladys and Dick Fulton and Dorothy +Adams.</p> + +<p>In a moment they all met in the hall, and the +laughter and shouting effectually banished the +last trace of disappointment from the young +Maynards' faces.</p> + +<p>"Did you come for the picnic?" said Marjorie +to Gladys, in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Yes; your father telephoned early this morning,—before +breakfast,—and he said the picnic +would be in the house instead of in the woods. +And he sent the carriage for us all."</p> + +<p>"Great! Isn't it?" said Dick Fulton, as he +helped his sister off with her mackintosh. "I +thought there'd be no picnic, but here we +are."</p> + +<p>"Here we are, indeed!" said Mr. Maynard, +who was helping Dorothy Adams unwind an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +entangling veil, "and everybody as dry as a +bone."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Dorothy, "the storm is awful, but +in your close carriage, and with all these wraps, +I couldn't get wet."</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't it fun!" cried Kitty, as she threw her +arms around her dear friend, Dorothy. "Are you +to stay all day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, until six o'clock. Mr. Maynard says +picnics always last until sundown."</p> + +<p>Back they all trooped to the big living-room, +which presented a cheerful aspect indeed. The +rainy morning being chilly, an open fire in the +ample fireplace threw out a cheerful blaze and +warmth. Mrs. Maynard's pleasant face smiled +brightly, as she welcomed each little guest, and +afterward she excused herself, saying she had some +household matters to attend to and that Mr. Maynard +would take charge of the "picnic."</p> + +<p>"First of all," said the host, as the children +turned expectant faces toward him, "nobody is +to say, 'What a pity it rained!' or anything like +that. Indeed, you are not to look out at the +storm at all, unless you say, 'How fortunate we +are under cover!' or words to that effect."</p> + +<p>"All right, sir," said Dick Fulton, "I agree.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +And I think a picnic in the house will be dead loads +of fun."</p> + +<p>"That's the way to talk," said Mr. Maynard, +"and now the picnic will begin. The first part of +it will be a nutting-party."</p> + +<p>"Oho!" laughed Marjorie. "A nutting-party +in the house is 'most too much! I don't +see any trees;" and she looked around in mock +dismay.</p> + +<p>"Do you usually pick the nuts off of trees?" +asked her father, quizzically. "You know you +don't! You gather them after they have fallen. +Now nuts have fallen all over this house, in every +room, and all you have to do is to gather them. +Each may have a basket, and see who can find +the most. Scamper, now!"</p> + +<p>While Mr. Maynard was talking, Sarah, the +waitress, had come in, bringing seven pretty +baskets of fancy wicker-ware. One was given +to each child, and off they ran in quest of +nuts.</p> + +<p>"Every room, Father?" called back Marjorie, +over her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Every room," he replied, "except the kitchen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +You must not go out there to bother cook. She +has all she can attend to."</p> + +<p>This sounded pleasant, so Marjorie went on, +only pausing for one more question.</p> + +<p>"What kind of nuts, Father?"</p> + +<p>"Gather any kind you see, my child. There +was such a strong wind last night, I daresay it +blew down all sorts."</p> + +<p>And truly that seemed to be the case. Shrieks +of surprise and delight from the whole seven announced +the discoveries they made.</p> + +<p>They found peanuts, English walnuts, pecan +nuts, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, hickory +nuts, black walnuts, and some of which they didn't +know the names.</p> + +<p>The nuts were hidden in all sorts of places. +Stuffed down in the cushions of chairs and sofas, +on mantels and brackets, under rugs and footstools, +on window sills, on the floor, on the chandeliers, +they seemed to be everywhere. All over the +house the children scampered, filling their baskets +as they went.</p> + +<p>Sometimes two would make a dash for the same +nut, and two bumped heads would ensue, but this +was looked upon as part of the fun.</p> + +<p>The older children gathered their nuts from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +the highest places, leaving the low places for the +little ones to look into.</p> + +<p>Rosy Posy found most of those on the floor, behind +the lace curtains or portières, as she toddled +about with her basket on one arm and Boffin in the +other.</p> + +<p>At last the whole house had been pretty thoroughly +ransacked, and the nutting-party returned +in triumph with loaded baskets.</p> + +<p>"Did you look under the sofa pillows on the +couch in this room?" said Mr. Maynard, gravely, +and seven pairs of legs scampered for the couch.</p> + +<p>Under its pillows they found three big <i>cocoanuts</i>, +and Mr. Maynard declared that completed +the hunt.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the big, round table in the middle of +the room had been cleared of its books and papers, +and the children were directed to empty their +baskets of nuts on the table, taking care that +none should roll off the edge. The seven basketsful +were tumbled out, and a goodly heap they made.</p> + +<p>Then the seven sat round the table, and to each +one was given a tiny pair of candy tongs, such +as comes with the confectioner's boxes.</p> + +<p>"This is a new game," explained Mr. Maynard,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +"and it's called Jacknuts. It is played just +the same as Jackstraws. Each, in turn, must +take nuts from the heap with the tongs. If +you jar or jostle another nut than the one +you're taking away, it is then the next player's +turn."</p> + +<p>Of course they all knew how to play Jackstraws, +so they understood at once, but this was much +more fun.</p> + +<p>"The first ones are so easy, let's give Rosy Posy +the first chance," said Dick Fulton, and Mr. Maynard, +with a nod of approval at the boy, agreed +to this plan. So Rosy Posy, her fat little hand +grasping the tiny tongs, succeeded in getting +nearly a dozen nuts into her basket.</p> + +<p>As Dorothy Adams was not quite as old as +Kitty, she took her turn next, and then all followed +in accordance with their ages.</p> + +<p>It was a fascinating game. Some of the little +hazelnuts or the slender peanuts were easy to nip +with the tongs, but the big English walnuts, or +queer-shaped Madeira nuts were very difficult. +Great delicacy of touch was necessary, and the +children found the new game enthralling.</p> + +<p>After her first turn Rosy Posy ran away from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +the game, and Mr. Maynard took her place.</p> + +<p>"Oho, Father," laughed Kitty, "I thought +you'd get them all, but you're no more successful +at it than we are."</p> + +<p>"No," said Mr. Maynard, looking with chagrin +at his small heap of nuts, "my fingers are too old +and stiff, I think."</p> + +<p>"So are mine," said Marjorie, laughing.</p> + +<p>"You're too fat, Dumpling," said her father. +"Kitty's slim little claws seem to do the best +work."</p> + +<p>"I think it's a steady hand that counts," said +Dick; "watch me now!"</p> + +<p>With great care, and very slowly, he picked +off several nuts that were daintily balanced on the +other nuts, but at last he joggled one, and it +was King's turn.</p> + +<p>"I believe in going fast," said King, and like a +whirlwind he picked off four nuts, one after the +other. But his last one sent several others flying, +and so left an easy chance for Gladys, who came +next.</p> + +<p>"There's a prize for this game," announced Mr. +Maynard, after the table was entirely cleared, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +the nuts were again all in the seven baskets. "In +fact there's a prize apiece, all round. And the +prizes are nuts, of course. You may each have +one."</p> + +<p>"One nut!" cried Marjorie. "What a little +prize!"</p> + +<p>"Not so very little," said her father, smiling.</p> + +<p>Then Sarah appeared with a plate of <i>doughnuts</i>, +and everybody gladly took a prize. A glass +of milk went with each of these nuts, and then +the children clamored to play the game all over +again.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed!" said Mr. Maynard. "You can +play that any day in the year, but just now we're +having a picnic, and the picnic must proceed with +its programme."</p> + +<p>"All right!" cried Marjorie. "What comes +next?"</p> + +<p>"Crackers," said her father. "Bring them in, +please, Sarah."</p> + +<p>"Crackers!" exclaimed King. "I don't want +any after that big doughnut."</p> + +<p>"You must take one, though," said his father, +"it's part of the programme."</p> + +<p>Then Sarah came, and brought a big tray on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +which were three nutcrackers, some nutpicks, and +several bowls and plates.</p> + +<p>"Take a cracker, King," said Mr. Maynard, +and the boy promptly took the biggest nutcracker, +ready to do the hardest work.</p> + +<p>The girls took nutpicks and bowls, and Mr. +Maynard and Dick Fulton took the other two nutcrackers, +and then work began in earnest. But +the work was really play, and they all enjoyed +cracking and picking out the nuts, though what +they were doing it for nobody knew. But with so +many at it, it was soon over, and the result was +several bowlsful of kernels. The shells were thrown +into the fire, and Mr. Maynard directed that the +seven empty baskets be set aside till later.</p> + +<p>"We haven't cracked the cocoanuts yet," said +Dick. "They're too big for these nutcrackers."</p> + +<p>"So they are," said Mr. Maynard. "Well, +I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll take them to the +dining-room and continue our nut game out +there."</p> + +<p>So each carried a bowl of nuts, or a cocoanut, +and all went to the dining-room.</p> + +<p>There the extension-table was spread out full +length, and contained a lot of things. On big<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +sheets of white paper were piles of sifted sugar. +Large empty bowls there were, and big spoons, and +plates and dishes filled with figs and dates, and +oranges and all sorts of goodies.</p> + +<p>"What's it all for?" said Marjorie. "It's too +early for lunch, and too late for breakfast."</p> + +<p>"It's the rest of the nut game," said Mr. +Maynard. "I am Professor Nuttall, or Know-it-all; +and I'm going to teach you children what I +hope will be a valuable accomplishment. Do any +of you like candy?"</p> + +<p>Replies of "We do," and "Yes, sir," came so +emphatically that Mr. Maynard seemed satisfied +with the answers.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, we'll make some candy that shall +be just the best ever! How's that?"</p> + +<p>"Fine!" "Glorious!" "Goody, goody!" +"Great!" "Oh, Father!" and "Ah!" came +loudly from six young throats, and Mrs. Maynard +and Rosy Posy came to join the game.</p> + +<p>Sarah came, too, bringing white aprons for +everybody, boys and all, and then Nurse Nannie +appeared, and marched them off, two by two, to +wash their hands for the candy-making process.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h4>A NOVEL PICNIC</h4> + + +<p>But at last they were all ready to begin.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard, in his position of teacher, insisted +on absolute system and method, and everything +was arranged with care and regularity.</p> + +<p>"The first thing to learn in candy-making," he +said, "is neatness; and the second, accuracy."</p> + +<p>"Why, Father," cried Dorothy, "I didn't know +you knew how to make candy!"</p> + +<p>"I know more than you'd believe, to look at me. +And now, if you four girls will each squeeze the +juice of an orange into a cup, we'll begin."</p> + +<p>Marjorie and Kitty and Gladys and Dorothy +obeyed instructions exactly, and soon each was +carefully breaking an egg, and still more carefully +separating the white from the yolk.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard seemed to find plenty to do just +waiting on the workers, and it was largely owing +to her thoughtfulness that oranges and eggs and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +cups and spoons appeared when needed, almost as +if by magic.</p> + +<p>Meantime the two boys were working rapidly +and carefully, too. They grated cocoanut and +chocolate; they cut up figs and seeded dates; they +chopped nuts and raisins; and they received admiring +compliments from Mrs. Maynard for the +satisfactory results of their work.</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't it fun!" exclaimed Marjorie, as she +and Gladys were taught to mould the creamy, +white <i>fondant</i> they had made, into tiny balls. +Some of these white balls the smaller girls pressed +between two nut kernels, or into a split date; and +others were to be made into chocolate creams. This +last was a thrilling process, for it was not easy +at first to drop the white ball into the hot black +chocolate, and remove it daintily with a silver +fork, being most careful the while not to leave +untidy drippings.</p> + +<p>Cocoanut balls were made, and nougat, which +was cut into cubes, and lovely, flat peanut sugar +cakes.</p> + +<p>The boys did all these things quite as well as +the girls, and all, except Rosy Posy, worked with +a will and really accomplished wonders.</p> + +<p>Each was allowed to eat five finished candies of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +any sort and at any time they chose, but they +were on their honor not to eat more than five.</p> + +<p>"Oh," sighed Marjorie, as she looked at the +shining rows of goodies on plates and tins, "I'd +like to eat a hundred!"</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't want any luncheon, then," said +her father. "And as it's now noon, and as our +candies are all done, I suggest that you all scamper +away to some place where soap and water +grow wild, and return as soon as possible, all tidy +and neat for our picnic luncheon."</p> + +<p>"Lunch time!" cried Gladys, in surprise. "It +can't be! Why, we've only been here a little while."</p> + +<p>But it was half-past twelve, and for the first +time that whole morning the children looked out of +the windows.</p> + +<p>"It's still raining," said King, "and I'm glad +of it. We're having more fun than at an outdoor +picnic, <i>I</i> think."</p> + +<p>"So do I!" cried all the others, as they ran +away upstairs.</p> + +<p>Shortly after, seven very spick-and-span-looking +children presented themselves in the lower hall. +Curls had been brushed, hair-ribbons freshly tied,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +and even Boffin had a new blue ribbon round his +neck.</p> + +<p>"Now for the real picnic!" cried Mr. Maynard, +as he led the way into the living-room.</p> + +<p>As Marjorie entered, she gave a shriek of delight, +and turned to rush into her father's arms.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Daddy!" she cried. "You do beat the +Dutch! What a lovely picnic! It's a million +times better than going to the woods!"</p> + +<p>"Especially on a day like this," said her father.</p> + +<p>The others, too, gave exclamations of joy, and +indeed that was small wonder.</p> + +<p>The whole room had <i>almost</i> been turned into a +woodland glen.</p> + +<p>On the floor were spread some old green muslin +curtains that had once been used for private theatricals +or something.</p> + +<p>Round the walls stood all the palms and ferns +and plants that belonged in other parts of the +house, and these were enough to give quite an +outdoorsy look to the place.</p> + +<p>To add to this, great branches of leaves were +thrust behind sofas or tables. Some leaves were +green and some had already turned to autumn +tints, so it was almost like a real wood.</p> + +<p>Chairs and tables had been taken away, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +to sit on, the children found some big logs of +wood, like trunks of fallen trees, and some large, +flat stones.</p> + +<p>James, the coachman, and Thomas, the gardener, +had been working at the room all the time +the children were making candy, and even now +they were peeping in at the windows to see the +young people enjoying themselves.</p> + +<p>In the middle of the room was what looked like +a big, flat rock. As it was covered with an old, +gray rubber waterproof, it was probably an artificial +rock, but it answered its purpose. Real +stones, twigs, leaves, and even clumps of moss were +all about on the green floor cloth, and overhead +were the children's birds, which had been brought +down from the playroom, and which sang gaily +in honor of the occasion.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it wonderful?" said Dorothy Adams, a +little awed at the transformation scene; "how did +you do it, Mr. Maynard?"</p> + +<p>"I told my children," he replied, "that since +they couldn't go to the picnic the picnic should +come to them, and here it is."</p> + +<p>Rosy Posy discovered a pile of hay in a corner,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +and plumped herself down upon it, still holding +tightly her beloved Boffin.</p> + +<p>Then James and Thomas came in carrying big, +covered baskets.</p> + +<p>"The picnic! The picnic!" cried Rosy Posy, +to whom a picnic meant chiefly the feast thereof.</p> + +<p>After the baskets were deposited on the ground +near the flat rock, James and Thomas went away, +and none of the servants remained but Nurse Nannie, +who would have gone to the picnic in the wood, +and who was needed to look after little Rosamond.</p> + +<p>"Now, my boys," said Mr. Maynard, "we +must wait on ourselves, you know; and on the +ladies. This is a real picnic."</p> + +<p>Very willingly the boys fell upon the baskets, +and soon had their contents set out upon the big +rocks.</p> + +<p>Such shouts of delight as went up at sight +of those contents!</p> + +<p>And indeed it was fun!</p> + +<p>No china dishes or linen napery, but wooden +plates and Japanese paper napkins in true picnic +style. Then while the girls set the viands in order, +the boys mended the fire in the big fireplace, and +put potatoes in to roast. Mrs. Maynard had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +thoughtfully selected small potatoes, and so they +were soon done, and with butter and pepper and +salt they tasted exactly as roast potatoes do in +the woods, and every one knows there is no better +taste than that!</p> + +<p>While the potatoes were roasting, too, the lemonade +must be made. Mr. Maynard and Dick +Fulton squeezed the lemons, while Kingdon volunteered +to go down to the spring for water.</p> + +<p>This made great fun, for they all knew he only +went to the kitchen, but he returned with a pail +of "cold spring water," and then Mrs. Maynard +attended to the mixing of the lemonade.</p> + +<p>The feast itself was found to include everything +that had been asked for beforehand.</p> + +<p>Cold chicken, devilled eggs, sandwiches, lemon +tarts, all were there, besides lots of other good +things.</p> + +<p>They all pretended, of course, that they were +really in the woods.</p> + +<p>"How blue the sky is to-day," said Mr. Maynard, +looking upward, as he sat on a log, with a +sandwich in one hand and a glass of lemonade in +the other.</p> + +<p>As the ceiling was papered in a design of white<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +and gold, it required some imagination to follow +his remark, but they were all equal to it.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Marjorie, gazing intently skyward; +"it's a beeyootiful day. But I see a slight +cloud, as if it <i>might</i> rain to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"We need rain," said Mr. Maynard; "the +country is drying up for the lack of it."</p> + +<p>As it was still pouring steadily, this was very +funny, and of course they all giggled.</p> + +<p>Then King went on.</p> + +<p>"The sun is so bright it hurts my eyes. I wish +I had a pair of green glasses to protect them."</p> + +<p>"Or a parasol," said Gladys. "I'm sorry I +left mine at home."</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do at the picnic this +afternoon, Father?" asked Kitty.</p> + +<p>"I thought we'd fly kites," said Mr. Maynard, +"but there isn't a breath of air stirring, so we +can't."</p> + +<p>The wind was blowing a perfect gale, so this +made them all laugh again, and Gladys said to +Marjorie, "I do think your father is the <i>funniest</i> +man!"</p> + +<p>At last the more substantial part of the luncheon +was over, and it was time for the ice-cream.</p> + +<p>The freezer was brought right into the picnic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +ground, and Kingdon and Dick were asked to dig +the ice-cream out with a big wooden spoon, just +as they always did at picnics. The heaps of pink +and white delight, on fresh pasteboard plates, +were passed around, and were eaten by those surprising +children with as much relish as if they +hadn't just consumed several basketsful of other +things.</p> + +<p>Then the candies were brought in, but, +strange to say, nobody cared much for any just +then.</p> + +<p>So Mrs. Maynard had the seven pretty fancy +baskets, that they had gathered nuts in, brought +back, and each child was allowed to fill a basket +with the pretty candies.</p> + +<p>These were set away until the picnic was over, +when they were to be taken home as souvenirs.</p> + +<p>Luncheon over, Mr. Maynard decreed that the +picnickers needn't do the cleaning away, as that +couldn't be done by merely throwing away things +as they did in the woods.</p> + +<p>So Sarah came in to tidy up the room, and Mr. +Maynard seated his whole party on the big logs +and stones, while he told them stories.</p> + +<p>The stories were well worth listening to, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +though Rosy Posy fell asleep, the others listened +breathlessly to the tales which were told in a truly +dramatic fashion. But after an hour or so of +this, Mr. Maynard suddenly declared that the +picnic was becoming too quiet.</p> + +<p>"I wanted you all to sit still for a while after +your hearty luncheon," he said, "but now you +need exercise. Shall we play 'Still Pond'?"</p> + +<p>A howl of glee greeted this suggestion, for Still +Pond in the house was usually a forbidden game.</p> + +<p>As you probably know, it is like Blindman's +Buff, only the ones who are not blinded may not +move.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was "It" first, and after being carefully +blindfolded by her father, she stood still +in the middle of the floor and counted ten very +slowly. While she did this, the others placed +themselves behind tables or chairs, or wherever +they felt safe from the blindfolded pursuer.</p> + +<p>"Ten!" cried Marjorie, at last. "Still Pond! +No moving!"</p> + +<p>This was a signal for perfect quiet; any one +moving after that had to be "It" in turn.</p> + +<p>No sound was heard, so Marjorie felt her way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +cautiously about until she should catch some one. +It was hard for the others not to laugh as she +narrowly escaped touching Kingdon's head above +the back of the sofa, and almost caught Kitty's +foot as it swung from a table. But at last she +caught her father, who was on the floor covered +up with an afghan, and so Mr. Maynard was +"It" in his turn.</p> + +<p>It was a rollicking game, and a very exciting +one, and, as often was the case, it soon merged into +Blindman's Buff. This was even more romping +and noisy, and soon the picnic sounded like Pandemonium +let loose.</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Mr. Maynard, as he looked at +the red, laughing faces, and moist, tumbled curls. +"You look just like a lot of healthy, happy +boys and girls should look, but that's enough of +that. Now, we'll sit down in a circle, and play +quiet games."</p> + +<p>Again the group occupied the logs and stones, +ottomans and sofa cushions if they preferred, and +they played guessing games selected by each in +turn.</p> + +<p>When it was Mr. Maynard's turn, he said he +would teach them the game of the Popular Picnic.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +He began by telling them they must each in turn +repeat what he himself should say.</p> + +<p>Turning to Kingdon, he said, "To-day I have +been to the Popular Picnic."</p> + +<p>So Kingdon said to Dick, "To-day I have been +to the Popular Picnic."</p> + +<p>Then Dick said it to Marjorie, and Marjorie +to Gladys, and so on all round the circle.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Maynard said, gravely: "To-day I +have been to the Popular Picnic. Merry, madcap +Mopsy Midget was there."</p> + +<p>This was repeated all round, and then to the +lingo Mr. Maynard added, "Kicking, kinky-legged +Kingdon was there."</p> + +<p>This, after the other, was not so easy, but they +all repeated it.</p> + +<p>Next came, "Dear, dainty, do-little Dorothy +was there."</p> + +<p>This made them laugh, but they said it safely +all round.</p> + +<p>Then, "Delightful, dangerous, Deadwood Dick +was there."</p> + +<p>They had to help each other this time, but not +one of them would give up the game.</p> + +<p>"Gay, gregarious, giggling Gladys was there."</p> + +<p>Gladys was indeed giggling, but so were all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +the others. Still they were a determined lot, and +each time round each one repeated all the sets of +names, amid the laughing of the others.</p> + +<p>"Kind-hearted, Kindergarten Kitty," was an +easy one, but when the list wound up with "Rollicking +Rufflecumtuffle Rosy Posy," the game ended +in a gale of laughter.</p> + +<p>But they remembered many of the funny +phrases, and often called each other by them +afterward.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mr. Maynard, "we'll play something +less wearing on the intellect. This is called +the motor-car game, and you must all sit in a row. +Kingdon, you're the chauffeur, and when chauffeur +is mentioned, you must make a 'chuff-chuff' +sound like starting the machine. Dick, you're +the tire, and when tire is said, you must make +a fearful report like an explosion of a bursting +tire. Dorothy, you're the number, and when number +is mentioned, you must say six-three-nine-nine-seven."</p> + +<p>"What am I, Father?" said impatient Kitty.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're the man that they run over, and +you must groan and scream. Marjorie, you're<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +the speed limit, and you must cry, 'Whiz! Zip!! +<i>Whizz!!!</i>' Gladys, you're the dust. All you have +to do is to fly about and wave your arms and +hands, and sneeze. Rosy Posy, baby, you're the +horn. Whenever father says <i>horn</i>, you must say +'Toot, toot!' Will you?"</p> + +<p>"Ess. Me play game booful, me an' Boffin; +we say, 'Toot, toot!'"</p> + +<p>"Now," went on Mr. Maynard, "I'll tell the +story and when any of you are mentioned you +must do your part. Then if I say automobile, +you must all do your parts at once. Ready now: +Well, this morning I started out for a ride and +first thing I knew my tire burst."</p> + +<p>A fearful "Plop!" from Dick startled them +all, and then the game went on.</p> + +<p>"I feared I was exceeding the speed-limit +[much puffing and whizzing from Marjorie], and +as I looked back through the dust [great cloud of +dust represented by Gladys' pantomime] I saw +I had run over a man!"</p> + +<p>The awful groans and wails from Kitty were +so realistic that Mr. Maynard himself shook with +laughter.</p> + +<p>"I sounded my horn——"</p> + +<p>"Tooty-toot-toot!" said Rosy Posy, after be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>ing +prompted by Kingdon.</p> + +<p>"But as I was my own chauffeur"—here Kingdon's +representation of a starting motor quite +drowned the speaker's voice—"I hastened on before +they could even get my number."</p> + +<p>"Eight-six-eleven-nine," cried Dorothy, quite +forgetting the numbers she had been told. +But nobody minded it, for just then Mr. +Maynard said, "And so I went home with my +automobile."</p> + +<p>At this everybody turned up at once, and the +dust cloud flew about, and the man who was run +over groaned fearfully, and tires burst one after +another, and the horn tooted, until Mr. Maynard +was really obliged to cry for mercy, and the +game was at an end.</p> + +<p>The afternoon, too, was nearly at an end, and +so quickly had it flown that nobody could believe +it was almost six o'clock!</p> + +<p>But it was, and it was time for the picnic to +break up, and for the little guests to go home. +It had stopped raining, but was still dull and +wet, so the raincoats were donned again, and, +with their beautiful baskets of candies wrapped in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +protecting tissue papers, Gladys and Dorothy +and Dick clambered into Mr. Maynard's carriage +and were driven to their homes.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye!" they called, as they drove +away. "Good-bye, all! We've had a <i>lovely</i> +time!"</p> + +<p>"Lovely? I should say so!" said Marjorie, +who was clinging to her father's arm. "It's +been the very best Ourday ever, and I'm <i>so</i> glad +it rained!"</p> + +<p>"My prophecy has come true!" declared Mr. +Maynard, striking a dramatic attitude. "Only +this morning I prognosticated you'd say that, and +you——"</p> + +<p>"And I didn't see how it could be possible," +agreed Marjorie, wagging her head, wisely. "I +know it. But you made it possible, you beautiful, +dear, smart, clever, sweet father, you, and I've +had just the elegantest time!"</p> + +<p>"When it's my turn, I shall choose a picnic in +the house," said Kitty.</p> + +<p>"Not unless it's a rainy day," said her father. +"I've enjoyed the day, too, but I can tell you it's +no joke to get up this kind of a picnic. Why, I +was telephoning and sending errands for two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +hours before you kiddies were awake this +morning."</p> + +<p>"Dear Daddy," said Marjorie, caressing his +hand in both her own, "you are <i>so</i> good to us; +and I <i>do</i> hope it will rain next Ourday!"</p> + +<p>"So do I!" said all the others.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h4>THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL</h4> + + +<p>At last schooldays began, and one Monday morning +the three Maynards started off.</p> + +<p>The first day of school was a great occasion, +and much preparation had been made for it.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard had brought each of the children +a fine new box, well stocked with pencils, pens, and +things of that sort. Kitty had a new slate, and +Midget and King had new blankbooks.</p> + +<p>Also, they were all in a state of clean starchiness, +and the girls' pretty gingham dresses and +King's wide white collar were immaculate.</p> + +<p>Marjorie didn't look especially happy, but her +mother said:</p> + +<p>"Now, Mopsy, dear, don't go to school as if +it were penance. Try to enjoy it, and think of +the fun you'll have playing with the other girls at +recess."</p> + +<p>"I know, Mother; but recess is so short, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +school is so long."</p> + +<p>"Ho! Only till one o'clock," said Kingdon. +"Then we can come home, have lunch, and then +there's all the afternoon to play."</p> + +<p>"Yes, for you," said Marjorie. "But I have +to practise a whole hour, and that leaves almost +no time at all, and there are so many things I +want to do."</p> + +<p>"Now, my little girl," said Mrs. Maynard, very +seriously, "you must try to conquer that mood. +You know you have to go to school, so why not +make the best of it? You don't really dislike it as +much as you think you do. So, cheer up, little +daughter, and run along, determined to see the +bright side, even of school."</p> + +<p>"I will try, Mother," said Midget, smiling, as +she received her good-bye kiss, "but I'll be glad +when it's one o'clock."</p> + +<p>"I wiss me could go to school," said Rosy Posy, +wistfully; "me an' Boffin, we'd have fun in +school."</p> + +<p>"There it is," said Mrs. Maynard, laughing. +"Little girls who can go to school don't want to +go, and little girls who can't go do want to!"</p> + +<p>"You'll go some day, Baby," said King, "but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +they won't let you take Boffin."</p> + +<p>"Den I won't go!" declared Rosy Posy, +decidedly.</p> + +<p>The three walked down the path to the gate, +and, soon after they reached the street, they were +joined by several others, also schoolward bound.</p> + +<p>Marjorie's spirits rose, as she chatted with the +merry young people; and as they passed the Fulton +house, and Dick and Gladys came out, Marjorie +was so glad to see her friend that she was +at once her own happy, merry little self again.</p> + +<p>Miss Lawrence's room was one of the pleasantest +in the big brick building. When Marjorie +and Gladys presented themselves at her desk, and +asked if they might sit together, the teacher hesitated. +She wanted to grant the request of the +little girls, but they had been in her class the year +before, and she well knew their propensities for +mischief.</p> + +<p>"Oh, please, Miss Lawrence!" begged Marjorie; +and, "Oh, do say yes!" pleaded Gladys.</p> + +<p>It was hard to resist the little coaxers, and Miss +Lawrence at last consented.</p> + +<p>"But," she said, "you may sit at the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +desk only so long as you behave well. If you cut +up naughty pranks, I shall separate you for the +rest of the term."</p> + +<p>"We won't!" "We will be good!" cried the two +children, and they ran happily away to their desk.</p> + +<p>Each desk was arranged for two occupants, +and both Marjorie and Gladys enjoyed putting +their things away neatly, and keeping them in +good order. They never spilled ink, or kept their +papers helter-skelter, and but for their mischievous +ways, would have been model pupils indeed.</p> + +<p>"Let's be real good all the term, Gladys," said +Midget, who was still under the influence of her +mother's parting words. "Let's try not to cut up +tricks, or do anything bad."</p> + +<p>"All right, Mopsy. But you mustn't make me +laugh in school. It's when you begin to do funny +things that I seem to follow on."</p> + +<p>"Well, I won't. I'll be as good as a little white +mouse. But if I'm a mouse, I'll nibble your +things."</p> + +<p>Down went Marjorie's curly head like a flash, +and when it came up again, Gladys' new penholder +was between her teeth, and the "mouse" +was vigorously nibbling it.</p> + +<p>"Stop that, Mops! I think you're real mean!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +That's my new penholder, and now you've spoiled +it."</p> + +<p>"So I have! Honest, Gladys, I didn't think the +dents would show so. I was just playing mouse, +you know. Here, I'll change, and give you mine. +It's new, too."</p> + +<p>"No, I won't take it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will; you must. I'm awfully sorry +I chewed yours."</p> + +<p>Poor little Midget! She was always impulsively +getting into mischief, but she was always sorry, +and generously anxious to make amends.</p> + +<p>So Gladys took Marjorie's penholder, and +Mopsy had the nibbled one. She didn't like it a +bit, for she liked to have her things in good order, +but she said to Gladys:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it will make me remember to be good +in school. Oh, s'pose I'd played mouse in school +hours!"</p> + +<p>"Keep still," said Gladys, "the bell has +rung."</p> + +<p>The morning passed pleasantly enough, for +there were no lessons on the first day of +school.</p> + +<p>Books were distributed, and class records were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +made, and lessons given out for next day.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was delighted with her new geography, +which was a larger book than the one she had +had the year before. Especially was she pleased +with a large map which was called the "Water +Hemisphere." On the opposite page was the +"Land Hemisphere," and this was a division of +the globe she had never seen before.</p> + +<p>The Water Hemisphere pleased her best, and +she at once began to play games with it.</p> + +<p>Talking was, of course, forbidden, but motioning +for Gladys to follow her example, she made a +tiny paper boat, and then another, and several +others. These she set afloat on the printed ocean +of the Water Hemisphere. Gladys, delighted with +the fun, quickly made some boats for herself, and +arranged them on her own geography. Other +pupils, seeing what was going on, followed the +example, and soon nearly all the geographies in +the room had little paper craft dotting their +oceans.</p> + +<p>Next, Marjorie made some little men and women +to put in the boats. She had no scissors, but tore +them roughly out of paper which she took from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +her blankbook. Other leaves of this she obligingly +passed around, until all the boats in the +room were supplied with passengers.</p> + +<p>Then Marjorie, still in her position of leader, +tore out a semblance of a fish. It seemed to be a +whale or shark, with wide-open jaws.</p> + +<p>This awful creature came slowly up from the +Antarctic Ocean, toward the ships full of people.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a boat upset, the passengers fell out, +and the whale made a dash for them.</p> + +<p>This awful catastrophe was repeated in the +other oceans, and, needless to say, in a moment +the whole roomful of children were in peals of +laughter.</p> + +<p>Miss Lawrence looked up from her writing, and +saw her class all giggling and shaking behind +their geographies. Instinctively she glanced toward +Marjorie, but that innocent damsel had +swept all her boats and whales into her pocket, +and was demurely studying her lessons.</p> + +<p>Marjorie did not in the least mean to deceive +Miss Lawrence, but when the children all laughed, +she suddenly realized that she had been out of +order, and so she quickly stopped her play, and +resumed her task.</p> + +<p>Observing the open geographies covered with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +scraps of paper, Miss Lawrence felt she must at +least inquire into the matter, and, though the children +did not want to "tell tales," it soon transpired +that Marjorie Maynard had been ringleader +in the game.</p> + +<p>"Why did you do it, Marjorie?" asked Miss +Lawrence, with a reproachful expression on her +face. As she had meant no harm, Marjorie felt +called upon to defend herself.</p> + +<p>"Why, Miss Lawrence," she said, rising in her +seat, "I didn't think everybody would do it, just +because I did. And I didn't think much about it +anyway. I s'pose that's the trouble. I <i>never</i> +think! But I never had a jography before with +such a big ocean map, and it was such a lovely +place to sail boats, I just made a few. And then +I just thought I'd put some people in the boats, +and then it seemed as if such a big ocean ought +to have fish in it. So I made a whale,—and I was +going to make a lot of bluefish and shads and +things, but a boat upset, and the whale came after +the people, and then, first thing I knew, everybody +was laughing! I didn't mean to do wrong."</p> + +<p>Marjorie looked so genuinely distressed that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +Miss Lawrence hadn't the heart to scold her. But +she sighed as she thought of the days to come.</p> + +<p>"No, Marjorie," she said, "I don't think you +did mean to do wrong, but you ought to know +better than to make paper toys to play with in +school."</p> + +<p>"But it isn't exactly a schoolday, Miss +Lawrence."</p> + +<p>"No; and for that very reason I shall not punish +you this time. But remember, after this, that +playing games of any sort is out of place in the +schoolroom."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am," said Marjorie, and she sat +down, feeling that she had been forgiven, and +firmly resolved to try harder than ever to be +good.</p> + +<p>But half-suppressed chuckles now and then, in +different parts of the schoolroom, proved to the +watchful Miss Lawrence that some of the whales +were still lashing about the paper oceans in quest +of upturned boats.</p> + +<p>The game so filled Marjorie's thoughts that she +asked that Gladys and she might be allowed to +stay in the schoolroom at recess and play it.</p> + +<p>"There's surely no harm in playing games at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +recess, is there, Miss Lawrence?" she asked, as +she caressed her teacher's hand.</p> + +<p>Miss Lawrence hesitated. "No," she said, at +last; "I can't let you stay in the schoolroom. +I'm sorry, dearies, and I hate to be always saying +'No,' but I feel sure your parents want you +to run out in the fresh air at recess time, and they +wouldn't like to have you stay indoors."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear," said Marjorie; "seems 'sif we +can't have any fun!" Then her face brightened, +and she added, "But mayn't we take our jographies +out on the playground, and play out +there?"</p> + +<p>There was a rule against taking schoolbooks +out of the classrooms, but Miss Lawrence so disliked +to say 'No' again that she made a special +dispensation, and said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, do take your geographies out with +you. But be very careful not to soil or tear +them."</p> + +<p>And so the two girls danced away, and all +through the recess hour, boats upset and awful +sharks swallowed shrieking victims. But, as +might have been expected, most of the other children +came flying back to the schoolroom for their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +geographies, and again Miss Lawrence was in a +quandary.</p> + +<p>"I never saw a child like Marjorie Maynard," +she confided to another teacher. "She's the dearest +little girl, but she gets up such crazy schemes, +and all the others follow in her footsteps."</p> + +<p>So, after recess, Miss Lawrence had to make a +rule that books could not be used as playthings, +even at recess times.</p> + +<p>For the rest of the morning, Marjorie was a +model pupil.</p> + +<p>She studied her lessons for the next day, and +though Miss Lawrence glanced at her from time +to time, she never saw anything amiss.</p> + +<p>But when school was over at one o'clock, Marjorie +drew a long breath and fairly flew for +her hat.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, dearie," said Miss Lawrence, as +Midge passed her when the long line filed out.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye!" was the smiling response, and in +two minutes more Mopsy was skipping and jumping +across the playground.</p> + +<p>"Hello, King!" she called. "Where's Kitty? +Oh, here you are! Now we can all go home together. +What shall we do this afternoon? I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +want to do something jolly to take the taste of +school out of my mouth."</p> + +<p>"Come over to our house and play in the hay," +said Dick Fulton.</p> + +<p>"All right, we will. I'll have my practising +done by three o'clock, and we'll come then."</p> + +<p>A little later, and the three Maynards flew in +at their own gate, and found a warm welcome and +a specially good luncheon awaiting them.</p> + +<p>"I got along pretty well, Mother," said Marjorie, +as they all told their morning's experiences. +"Only I couldn't help playing paper boats." She +told the whole story, and Mrs. Maynard smiled as +she said:</p> + +<p>"Marjorie, you are incorrigible; but I fear you +will only learn by experience——"</p> + +<p>"What is incorrigible?" asked Marjorie.</p> + +<p>"It's 'most too big a word for you to understand," +said her mother, "but it means you must +just keep on everlastingly trying to be good."</p> + +<p>"I will," said Mops, heartily, and then she +turned her attention to the chicken pie before her.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h4>THE JINKS CLUB</h4> + + +<p>Saturday was hailed with delight by the four +Maynards.</p> + +<p>Now that school had begun, a whole playday +meant more than it did in vacation time, when +all days were playdays.</p> + +<p>It was a glorious September day, and as it was +an early autumn, many leaves had fallen and lay +thick upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"I know what to do," said Marjorie, as directly +after breakfast they put on hats and coats for +outdoor play of some sort. "Let's make leaf-houses."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Kingdon, "and let's telephone +for the others."</p> + +<p>"The others" always meant the two Fultons +and Kitty's friend, Dorothy Adams.</p> + +<p>Rosy Posy was too little to have a special chum, +so Boffin was her companion.</p> + +<p>Leaf-houses was a favorite game with all of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +them, and soon the three guests came skipping +through the gate.</p> + +<p>The leaves had been raked from the lawn, but +down in the orchard they were on the ground like +a thick carpet. The orchard had many maples +and elms, as well as fruit trees, so there were leaves +of all sorts.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it fun to scuffle through 'em!" said Marjorie, +as she led the way, shuffling along, almost +knee-deep in the brown, dry leaves.</p> + +<p>"More fun to roll!" cried Dick, tumbling down +and floundering about.</p> + +<p>Down went Rosy Posy in imitation of Dick's +performance, and then they all fell into the leaves, +and burrowed about like rabbits.</p> + +<p>Presently Marjorie's head emerged like a +bright-eyed turtle poking out from its shell, and +shaking the dead leaves out of her curls, she said: +"Come on, let's make houses. King, won't you +and Dick get some rakes?"</p> + +<p>The boys flew off to the toolhouse, and came +back with several rakes, both wood and iron ones.</p> + +<p>"Here's all we can find," said King. "Some +of us can rake, and some can build things."</p> + +<p>They all set to work with a will, and soon two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +houses were in process of construction.</p> + +<p>These houses were, of course, merely a ground +plan, and long, low piles of leaves divided the +rooms. Openings in these partitions made doors, +and the furniture was also formed of heaps of +leaves. A long heap was a sofa, and a smaller +heap a chair, while a round, flat heap was a table.</p> + +<p>King, Gladys, and Dorothy were one family, +while Dick, Marjorie, and Kitty were the other.</p> + +<p>Rosy Posy was supposed to be an orphan child, +who lived with one family or the other in turn, as +suited her somewhat fickle fancy.</p> + +<p>In each family the children represented father, +mother, and daughter, and they were pleasantly +neighborly, or at odds with each other, as occasion +required.</p> + +<p>To-day the spirit of adventure was strong in +Marjorie, and she decreed they should play +robbers.</p> + +<p>This was always a good game, so they all +agreed.</p> + +<p>"First, King's family must be robbed," said +Midget; "and then, after you catch us, you +rob us."</p> + +<p>The burglaries were thus amicably planned, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +Kingdon and his family, lying on leaf-couches, +fell into a deep, but somewhat noisy slumber. Indeed, +their snoring was loud enough to frighten +away most robbers.</p> + +<p>Rosy Posy didn't count in this game, so she was +allowed to wander in and out of either house.</p> + +<p>When the Kingdon family were <i>very</i> sound +asleep, the Dick family crept softly in through +the open doors, and endeavored to steal certain +valuable silver from the sideboard. This silver +was admirably represented by chips and sticks.</p> + +<p>Dick and Marjorie had secured their booty and +were carefully sneaking away when King awoke, +and with a howl pounced upon Kitty, who was +still industriously stealing silver.</p> + +<p>This, of course, was part of the game, and Dick +and Midget wrung their hands in despair as they +saw their daughter forcibly detained by the +master of the house.</p> + +<p>Then Gladys and Dorothy were awakened by +the noise, and added their frightened screams to +the general hullaballoo.</p> + +<p>Kitty was bound hand and foot in the very +dining-room where the silver had been, and King<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +went valiantly out to hunt the other marauders. +Then the game was for King and his family to +try to catch Dick and Midget, or for Kitty's +parents to release her from her bondage.</p> + +<p>At last, as King and Gladys were both engaged +in chasing Dick, Marjorie found an opportunity +to free Kitty, and then the game began again, +the other way round.</p> + +<p>At last they tired of hostilities and agreed to +rebuild their houses, combining them in one, and +calling it a big hotel.</p> + +<p>"Or a clubhouse," said King, who had recently +visited one with his father, and had been much +impressed.</p> + +<p>"Clubhouses are grand," he said. "They have +porches, and swimming-pools, and gyms, and +dining-rooms, and everything!"</p> + +<p>So the architecture was changed, and soon a +fine clubhouse was outlined in leafy relief.</p> + +<p>"Then if this is a clubhouse, we're a club," said +Kitty, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, let's be a club!" exclaimed Marjorie. +"Clubs are lots of fun. I mean children's clubs—not +big ones like father's."</p> + +<p>"What do clubs do?" asked Dorothy, who had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +a wholesome fear of some of the Maynards' +escapades.</p> + +<p>"Why, we can do anything we want to, if +we're a club," said Dick. "I think it would be +fun. What shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"Let's cut up jinks," said Marjorie, who was +especially energetic that day.</p> + +<p>"And let's call it the Jinks Club," suggested +Gladys.</p> + +<p>"Goody! Goody!!" cried Midge. "Just the +thing, Glad! And then we can cut up any jinks +we want to,—as long as they're good jinks," +she added, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?" demanded +King.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, last summer at Grandma's, she +told me there were good jinks and bad jinks. She +meant just plain fun, or real mischief. And I +promised I'd cut up only good jinks."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Dick, "I'll agree to that. +We just want to have fun, you know; not get into +mischief."</p> + +<p>So, as they were all agreed on this, the Jinks +Club was started.</p> + +<p>"I'll be president," volunteered Marjorie.</p> + +<p>"Does somebody have to be president?" asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +Gladys. "And does the president have all the +say?"</p> + +<p>"Let's all be presidents," said King. "I know +clubs usually have only one; but who cares? +We'll be different."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Marjorie. "And, anyway, +we won't need a secretary and treasurer and such +things, so we'll each be president. I think that +will be more fun, too."</p> + +<p>"Me be president," announced Rosy Posy, "an' +Boffin be a president, too."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said King, smiling at his baby sister, +"you and Boff and all the rest of us. Then, +you see, we can all make rules, if we want to."</p> + +<p>"We don't need many rules," said Dick. "Just +a few about meetings and things. When shall we +meet?"</p> + +<p>"Every day after school, and every Saturday," +said Marjorie, who was of a whole-souled nature.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" said Gladys. "I know Mother +won't let me come as often as that."</p> + +<p>"Don't let's have special times," said King. +"Just whenever we're all together, we'll have a +meeting."</p> + +<p>This was agreed to, but Marjorie didn't seem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +quite satisfied.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem like a real club," she said, +"unless we have dues and badges and things like +that."</p> + +<p>"Huh, dues!" said King. "I want to spend +my money for other things besides dues to an +old club! What would we do with the dues, +anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, save them up in the treasury," said Marjorie, +"until we had enough to go to the circus, or +something nice like that."</p> + +<p>This sounded attractive, and King reconsidered.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't mind," he said. "But I won't +give all my money. I have fifty cents a week. +I'll give ten."</p> + +<p>"So will I," said Dick, and the others all +agreed to do the same.</p> + +<p>Of course, Rosy Posy didn't count, so this made +sixty cents a week, and furthermore it necessitated +a treasurer.</p> + +<p>"Let's each be treasurer," said King, remembering +how well his presidential plan had +succeeded.</p> + +<p>"No," said Midget; "that's silly. I'll be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +treasurer, and I'll keep all the money safely, until +we want to use it for something nice."</p> + +<p>"Yes, let's do that," said Gladys. "Mopsy's +awfully careful about such things, and she'll keep +the money better than any of us. I haven't mine +here now; I'll bring it over this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"I don't care much about the money part," said +King. "I want to cut up jinks. When do we +begin?"</p> + +<p>"Right now!" said Marjorie, jumping up. +"The first jink is to bury King in leaves!"</p> + +<p>The rest caught the idea, and in a moment the +luckless Kingdon was on his back and held down +by Dick, while the girls piled leaves all over him. +They left his face uncovered, so he could breathe, +but they heaped leaves over the rest of him, and +packed them down firmly, so he couldn't move.</p> + +<p>When he was thoroughly buried, Marjorie said: +"Now we'll hide. Don't start to hunt till you +count fifty, King."</p> + +<p>"One, two, three," began the boy, and the +others flew off in all directions.</p> + +<p>All except Rosy Posy. She remained, and, patting +King's cheek with her fat little hand, said: +"Me'll take care of you, Budder. Don't ky."</p> + +<p>"All right, Baby,—thirty-six, thirty-seven,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +thirty-eight,—take that leaf out of my eye! +thirty-nine, forty—thank you, Posy."</p> + +<p>A minute more, and King shouted "Fifty! +Coming, ready or not!" and, shaking himself out +of his leaf-heap, he ran in search of the others. +Rosy Posy, used to being thus unceremoniously +left, tumbled herself and Boffin into the demolished +leaf-heap, and played there contentedly.</p> + +<p>King hunted for some minutes without finding +anybody. Then a voice right over his head said, +"Oo-ee!"</p> + +<p>He looked up quickly, but saw only a tree which +had not yet shed its foliage, and who was up there +he could not guess from the voice.</p> + +<p>If he guessed wrong, he must be "It" over +again, so he peered cautiously up into the branches.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he called.</p> + +<p>"Oo-ee!" said a voice again, but this time it +sounded different.</p> + +<p>"Here goes, then," said King, and he swung +himself up into the lower branches, keeping sharp +watch lest his quarry elude him, and slip down the +other side.</p> + +<p>But once fairly up in the tree, he found the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +whole five there awaiting him, and as they all +dropped quickly to the ground, and ran for +"home" he had to jump and follow, to get there +first himself.</p> + +<p>The jolly game of Hide-and-Seek lasted the +rest of the morning, and then the little guests +went home, promising to come back in the afternoon +and bring their contributions to the treasury +of the "Jinks Club."</p> + +<p>The afternoon meeting found the Maynards in +spandy-clean clothes, sitting on the side veranda.</p> + +<p>"Mother says we're not to romp this afternoon," +explained Marjorie. "She says we may +swing, or play in the hammock, or on the lawn, +but we can't go to the orchard."</p> + +<p>"All right," said good-natured Dick; "and, +say, I've been thinking over our club, and I think +we ought to be more like a real club. Why not +have regular meetings, and have programmes and +things?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" groaned King. "Speak pieces, do you +mean?"</p> + +<p>"No; not that. We get enough of speaking +pieces, Friday afternoons, in school. I mean,—oh, +pshaw, I don't know what I mean!"</p> + +<p>"You mean read minutes, and things like that,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +suggested Marjorie, helpfully.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Dick, eagerly, "that's just what +I mean."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Marjorie, "I'll be secretary, +and write them."</p> + +<p>"Now, look here, Midge," said Kingdon, "you +can't be everything! You want to be president +and treasurer and secretary and all. Perhaps +you'd like to be all the members!"</p> + +<p>"Fiddlesticks, King!" said Marjorie; "nobody +else seems to want to be anything. Now, I'll tell +you what, let's have six things to be,—officers, you +know, and then we'll each be one."</p> + +<p>"That's a good way," said Gladys. "You be +treasurer, Marjorie, 'cause you're so good at +arithmetic, and you can take care of our +money. Dick can be secretary, 'cause he writes +so well."</p> + +<p>"I will," said Dick, "if King will be president. +He's best for that,—and then, Gladys, you can +be vice-president."</p> + +<p>"What can Dorothy and I be?" asked Kitty, +who didn't see many offices left.</p> + +<p>Marjorie considered. "You can be the com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>mittee," +she said, at last. "They always have a +committee to decide things."</p> + +<p>This sounded pleasing, and now all were +satisfied.</p> + +<p>"Well, if I'm treasurer," said Marjorie, "I'll +take up the collection now."</p> + +<p>Promptly five dimes were handed to her, and, +adding one of her own, she put them all into a +little knitted silk purse she had brought for the +purpose.</p> + +<p>"Is there any further business to come before +this meeting?" asked the President, rolling out +his words with great dignity, as befitted his +position.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Kitty; "I'm the committee to +decide things, and I say there isn't any more business. +So what do we do next?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you!" cried Midget, in a sudden burst +of inspiration; "let's go down to Mr. Simmons' +and all have ice-cream with our money in the +treasury. I'll ask Mother if we may."</p> + +<p>"But, Mopsy!" cried King, in surprise. "I +thought we were to save that to go to the circus."</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw! Father'll take us to the circus. +Or we can save next week's money for that. But,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +truly, I feel like cutting up jinks, and we can't +play in the orchard, and it would be lots of fun +to go for ice-cream, all together."</p> + +<p>"It would be fun," said Dick; and then they +all agreed to Marjorie's plan.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard listened with amusement to the +story, and then said they might go if they would +behave like little ladies and gentlemen and return +home inside of an hour.</p> + +<p>Off they started, and a more decorous-looking +crowd than the Jinks Club one would not wish +to see!</p> + +<p>Mr. Simmons' Ice-Cream Garden was a most +attractive place.</p> + +<p>It was a small grove, by the side of a small +stream, and the tables were in a sort of pavilion +that overlooked the water.</p> + +<p>The children were welcomed by the good-natured +old proprietor, who had served his +ice-cream to their parents when they were +children.</p> + +<p>"And what kind will you have?" asked Mr. +Simmons, after they were seated around a table.</p> + +<p>This required thought, but each finally chose +a favorite mixture, and soon they were enjoying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +the pink or white pyramids that were brought +them.</p> + +<p>"I do think the Jinks Club is lovely," said +Kitty, as she gazed out over the water and contentedly +ate her ice-cream.</p> + +<p>"So do I," said Dorothy, who always agreed +with her adored chum, but was, moreover, happy +on her own account.</p> + +<p>"I shall write all this up in the minutes!" declared +Dick. "And when shall we have our next +meeting?"</p> + +<p>"Next Saturday," said Kitty. "I'm the committee, +and I decide things."</p> + +<p>"So do I," said Dorothy, and they all agreed +to meet the next Saturday morning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h4>SPELLING TROUBLES</h4> + + +<p>"What <i>is</i> the matter, Midge?" said her father, +"You sigh as if you'd lost your last friend."</p> + +<p>The family were in the pleasant living-room one +evening, just after dinner.</p> + +<p>All, that is, except Rosy Posy, who had gone +to bed long ago. Kingdon was reading, and Kitty +was idly playing with the kitten, while Marjorie, +her head bent over a book on the table, was abstractedly +moving her lips as if talking to herself.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father! it's this horrid old spelling lesson. +I just <i>can't</i> learn it, and that all there is about +it!"</p> + +<p>"Can't learn to spell? Bring me your book, +and let me have a look at it."</p> + +<p>Very willingly Marjorie flew to her father's +side, and, big girl though she was, perched herself +on his knee while she showed him the page.</p> + +<p>"Just look! There's 'deleble' spelled with an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +e, and 'indelible' with an i! Why can't they spell +them alike?"</p> + +<p>"I think myself they might as well have done +so," said Mr. Maynard, "but, since they didn't, +we'll have to learn them as they are. Where is +your lesson?"</p> + +<p>"All that page. And they're fearfully hard +words. And words I'll never use anyway. Why +would I want to use 'harassed' and 'daguerreotype' +and 'macaroni' and such words as those?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard smiled at the troubled little face.</p> + +<p>"You may not want to use them, dearie, but it +is part of your education to learn to spell them. +Come, now, I'll help you, and we'll soon put them +through. Let's pick out the very hardest one +first."</p> + +<p>"All right; 'daguerreotype' is the hardest."</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw, no! That's one of the very easiest. +Just remember that it was a Frenchman named +Daguerre who invented the process; then you only +have to add 'o' and 'type,' and there you are!"</p> + +<p>"Why, that <i>is</i> easy! I'll never forget that. +'Macaroni' is a hard one, though."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, because I always put two c's or two r's or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +two n's in it."</p> + +<p>"Ho, that makes it easy, then. Just remember +that there isn't a double letter in it, and then +spell it just as it sounds. Why, macaroni is so +long and thin that there isn't room for a double +letter in it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father, you make it so easy. Of course +I'll remember that, now."</p> + +<p>Down the long list they went, and Mr. Maynard, +with some little quip or quibble, made each +word of special interest, and so fixed it in Marjorie's +memory. At the end of a half-hour she was +perfect in the lesson, and had thoroughly enjoyed +the learning of it.</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd help me every night," she said, +wistfully. "All this week, anyway. For there's +to be a spelling-match on Friday, between our class +and Miss Bates' class, and we want to win. But +I'm such a bad speller, nobody wants to choose +me on their side."</p> + +<p>"They don't, don't they? Well, I rather think +we'll change all that. You and I will attack Mr. +Speller every evening, and see if we can't vanquish +him."</p> + +<p>"I think we can," said Marjorie, her eyes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +sparkling. "For it's only some few of those +catchy words that I can't seem to learn. But +after you help me they all seem easy."</p> + +<p>So every night that week Midge and her father +had a spelling-class of their own, and fine work +was accomplished.</p> + +<p>The spelling-match was to be on Friday, and +Thursday night they were to have a grand review +of all the lessons. Marjorie brought home her +schoolbooks on Thursday, and left them in the +house while she went out to play. But when she +came in to get ready for dinner, her mother was +dressing to go out.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, Mother?" said Marjorie, +looking admiringly at her mother's pretty +gown.</p> + +<p>"We're going to Mrs. Martin's to dinner, +dearie. She invited us over the telephone this +morning. There's a very nice dinner prepared +for you children, and you must have a good time +by yourselves, and not be lonesome. Go to bed +promptly at nine o'clock, as we shall be out late."</p> + +<p>"Is father going, too?" cried Marjorie, +aghast.</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course. You may fasten my glove,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +Midget, dear."</p> + +<p>"But I want father to help me with my +spelling."</p> + +<p>"I thought about that, Mops," said her father, +coming into the room. "And I'm sorry I have to +be away to-night. But I'll tell you what we'll do. +When is this great spelling-match,—to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, to-morrow afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Well, you study by yourself this evening, and +learn all you can. Then skip to bed a bit earlier +than usual, and then hop up early to-morrow +morning. You and I will have an early breakfast, +at about seven o'clock. Then from half-past +seven to half-past eight I'll drill you in that +old speller till you can spell the cover right off +it."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Marjorie. "It's really just +as well for me to study alone to-night, and then +you can help me a lot to-morrow morning. But +won't it make you too late going to business?"</p> + +<p>"No, I'll take a half-hour off for your benefit. +If I leave here by half-past eight that will do +nicely, and that's about the time you want to go +to school."</p> + +<p>So the matter was settled, and Mr. and Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +Maynard drove away, leaving the three children +to dine by themselves. The meal was a merry +one, for when thus left to themselves the children +always "pretended."</p> + +<p>"I'm a princess," said Marjorie, as she seated +herself in her mother's place. "These dishes are +all gold, and I'm eating birds of paradise with +nectarine sauce."</p> + +<p>Even as she spoke, Sarah brought her a plate +of soup, and Midge proceeded to eat it with an +exaggerated air of grandeur, which she thought +befitted a princess.</p> + +<p>"I'm not a prince," said Kingdon. "I'm an +Indian chief, and I'm eating wild boar steak, which +I shot with my own trusty bow and arrows."</p> + +<p>"I'm a queen in disguise," said Kitty. "I'm +hiding from my pursuers, so I go around +in plain, dark garbs, and no one knows I'm a +queen."</p> + +<p>"How do we all happen to be dining at one +table?" asked Marjorie.</p> + +<p>"It's a public restaurant," said King. "We all +came separately, and just chanced to sit at the +same table. May I ask your name, Madam?"</p> + +<p>"I'm the Princess Seraphina," said Marjorie,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +graciously. "My home is in the sunny climes +of Italy, and I'm travelling about to see the world. +And you, noble sir, what is your name?"</p> + +<p>"I am Chief Opodeldoc, of the Bushwhack +Tribe. My tomahawk is in my belt, and whoever +offends me will add his scalp to my collection!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir," said Kitty, trembling; "I pray you +be not so fierce of manner! I am most mortal +timid."</p> + +<p>Kitty had a fine dramatic sense, and always +threw herself into her part with her whole soul. +The others would sometimes drop back into their +every-day speech, but Kitty was always consistent +in her assumed character.</p> + +<p>"Is it so, fair Lady?" said King, looking +valiant. "Have no fear of me. Should aught +betide I will champion thy cause to the +limit."</p> + +<p>"And mine?" said Marjorie. "Can you +champion us both, Sir Opodeldoc?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, that can I. But I trust this is a peaceful +hostelry. I see no sign of warfare."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, but war may break out apace. +Might I enquire your name, fair lady?"</p> + +<p>"Hist!" said Kitty, her finger on her lip, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +looking cautiously about, "I am, of a truth, the +Queen of—of Macedonia. But disguised as a +poor waif, I seek a hiding-place from my +tormentors."</p> + +<p>"Why do they torment you?"</p> + +<p>"'Tis a dark secret; ask me not. But tell +of yourself, Princess Seraphina. Dost travel +alone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; with but my suite of armed retainers. +Cavalrymen and infantry attend my way, and +twelve ladies-in-waiting wait on me."</p> + +<p>"A great princess, indeed," said King, in admiration. +"We are well met!"</p> + +<p>"Methinks I am discovered!" cried Kitty, as +Sarah approached her with a dish of pudding. +"This damsel! She is of my own household. Ha! +Doth she recognize me?"</p> + +<p>Although used to the nonsense of the children, +Sarah couldn't entirely repress a giggle as Kitty +glared at her.</p> + +<p>"Eat your dinner, Miss Kitty," she said, "an' +don't be afther teasin' me."</p> + +<p>"Safe!" exclaimed Kitty. "She knows me +not! 'Kitty' she calls me! Ha!"</p> + +<p>The play went on all through the meal, for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +Maynards never tired of this sort of fun.</p> + +<p>"I'm going out for a few minutes," said King, +as they at last rose from the table. "Father said +I might go down to Goodwin's to get slides for my +camera. I won't be gone long."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Marjorie, "I'm going to +study my spelling. What are you going to do, +Kit?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going up to the playroom. Nannie is going +to tell me stories while she sews."</p> + +<p>So Marjorie was alone in the living-room as she +took up her school-bag to get her spelling-book +from it. To her dismay it was not there! The +book which she had mistakenly brought for her +speller was her mental arithmetic; they were much +the same size, and she often mistook one for the +other.</p> + +<p>But this time it was a serious matter. The +spelling-match was to be the next day, and +how could she review her lessons without her +book?</p> + +<p>Her energetic mind began to plan what she +could do in the matter.</p> + +<p>It was already after seven o'clock, quite too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +late to go to the schoolhouse after the missing +book. If King had been at home she would have +consulted him, but she had no one of whom to ask +advice.</p> + +<p>She remembered what her father had said about +getting up early the next morning, and she wondered +if she couldn't get up even earlier still, and +go to the schoolhouse for the book before breakfast. +She could get the key from the janitor, +who lived not far from her own home.</p> + +<p>It seemed a fairly feasible plan, and, though +she would lose her evening's study, she determined +to go to bed early, and rise at daybreak to go +for the book.</p> + +<p>"I'll write a note to mother," she thought, +"telling her all about it, and I'll leave it on her +dressing-table. Then, when she hears me prowling +out at six o'clock to-morrow morning, she'll know +what I'm up to."</p> + +<p>The notion of an early morning adventure was +rather attractive, but suddenly Marjorie thought +that she might not be able to get the key from +the janitor so early as that.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Mr. Cobb doesn't get up until seven +or later, and I can't wait till then," she pondered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +"I've a good notion to go for that key to-night. +Then I can go to the schoolhouse as early +as I choose in the morning without bothering +anybody."</p> + +<p>She rose and went to the window. It was quite +dark, for, though the streets were lighted, the +lights were far apart, and there was no moon.</p> + +<p>Of course, Marjorie never went out alone in the +evening, but this was such an exceptional occasion, +she felt sure her parents would not blame +her.</p> + +<p>"If only King was here to go with me," she +thought. But King was off on his own errand, +and she knew that when he returned he would +want to fix his camera, and, anyway, it would be +too late then.</p> + +<p>Mr. Cobb's house was only three blocks away, +and she could run down there and back in ten +minutes.</p> + +<p>Deciding quickly that she must do it, Marjorie +put on her coat and hat and went softly out +at the front door. She felt sure that if she told +Nurse Nannie or Kitty of her errand, they would +raise objections, so she determined to steal off +alone. "And then," she thought, "it will be fun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +to come home and ring the bell, and see +Sarah's look of astonishment to find me at the +door!"</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant night, though cool, and Marjorie +felt a thrill of excitement as she walked down +the dark path to the gate, and then along the +street alone.</p> + +<p>In a few moments she reached Mr. Cobb's house, +and rang the doorbell. Mr. Cobb was not at home, +but when Mrs. Cobb appeared at the door, Marjorie +made known her errand.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless your heart, yes, little girl," said +the kindly disposed woman. "I'll let you take +the key, of course. Mr. Cobb, he always keeps it +hangin' right here handy by. So you're goin' over +to the school at sun-up! Well, well, you've got +spunk, haven't you, now? And don't bother to +bring 't back. Mr. Cobb, he can stop at your +house for it, as he goes to the school at half-past +seven. Mebbe he'll get there 'fore you do, +after all. I dunno if you'll find it so easy to wake +up at six o'clock as you think."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes I will, Mrs. Cobb," said Midget. +"I'm going to set an alarm clock. The only trouble +is that will awaken my sister, too. But I 'spect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +she'll go right to sleep again. You see it's a <i>very</i> +important lesson, and I <i>must</i> have that book."</p> + +<p>"All right, little lady. Run along now and +get to bed early. Are you afraid? Shall I walk +home with you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, thank you. It's only three blocks, and +I'll run all the way. I'm ever so much obliged +for the key."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right. I'm glad to accommodate +you. Good-night."</p> + +<p>"Good-night, Mrs. Cobb," said Marjorie, and +in another moment the gate clicked behind her.</p> + +<p>As she reached the first turning toward her +own home, she looked off in the other direction, +where the schoolhouse stood. It was several blocks +away, and Marjorie was thinking how she would +run over there the next morning. And then a +crazy thought jumped into her brain. Why not +go now? Then she could study this evening, after +all. It was dark, to be sure, but it was not so +very late,—not eight o'clock yet.</p> + +<p>The thought of entering the empty schoolhouse, +alone, and in utter darkness, gave her a thrill of +fear, but she said to herself:</p> + +<p>"How foolish! There's nothing to be afraid of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +in an empty schoolhouse. I can feel my way to +our classroom, and the street lights will shine +in some, anyway. Pooh, I guess I wouldn't be +very brave if I was afraid of nothing! And just +to think of having that book to-night! I can get +it and be back home in twenty minutes. I believe +I'll do it!"</p> + +<p>Marjorie hesitated a moment at the corner. +Then she turned away from her home and toward +the schoolhouse, and took a few slow steps.</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw!" she said to herself. "Don't be +a coward, Marjorie Maynard! There's nothing +to hurt you, and if you scoot fast, it won't take +ten minutes to get that book."</p> + +<p>In a sudden accession of bravery, Marjorie +started off at a brisk pace.</p> + +<p>As she went on, her courage ebbed a little, but +a dogged determination kept her from turning +back.</p> + +<p>"I won't be a baby, or a 'fraid cat!" she said +angrily, to herself. "I'm not doing anything +wrong, and there's no reason at all to be frightened. +But I do wish it wasn't so dark."</p> + +<p>The part of town where the school stood was +less thickly settled than where Marjorie lived, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +she passed several vacant lots. This made it seem +more lonely, and the far-apart street lights only +seemed to make darker the spaces between.</p> + +<p>But Marjorie trudged on, grasping the key, +and roundly scolding herself for being timid.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h4>A REAL ADVENTURE</h4> + + +<p>When at last she stood on the stone steps of the +schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without +hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the +door.</p> + +<p>It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the +little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open +the heavy door. The hall was as black as a +dungeon, but by groping around she found the +banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.</p> + +<p>Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful +silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to +her heart. She ran up the stairs, and tried to +sing in order to break that oppressive silence. But +her voice sounded queer and trembly, and it made +echoes that were worse than no sound at all.</p> + +<p>She had to go up two flights of stairs, and as +she reached the top of the second flight she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +near her own classroom. As she turned the doorknob, +the street door, downstairs, which she had +left open, suddenly slammed shut with a loud bang. +The sound reverberated through the building, and +Midget stood still, shaking with an unconquerable +nervous dread. She didn't know whether the door +blew shut or had been slammed to by some person. +She no longer pretended to herself that she was not +frightened, for she was.</p> + +<p>"I know I'm silly," she thought, as two big +tears rolled down her cheeks, "but if I can just get +that book, and get out of here, won't I run for +home!"</p> + +<p>Feeling her way, she stumbled into the classroom. +A faint light came in from the street, +but not enough to allow her to distinguish objects +clearly. Indeed, it cast such wavering, ghostly +shadows that the total darkness was preferable.</p> + +<p>Counting the desks as she went along, she came +at last to her own, and felt around in it for her +speller.</p> + +<p>"There you are!" she exclaimed, triumphantly, +as she clutched the book. And somehow the feeling +of the familiar volume took away some of the +loneliness.</p> + +<p>But her trembling fingers let her desk-cover fall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +with another of those resounding, reëchoing slams +that no one can appreciate who has not heard them +under similar circumstances.</p> + +<p>By this time Marjorie was thoroughly frightened, +though she herself could not have told what +she was afraid of. Grasping the precious speller, +she started, with but one idea in her mind,—to +get downstairs and out of that awful building +as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>She groped carefully for the newel-post, for +going down was more dangerous than coming up, +and she feared she might fall headlong.</p> + +<p>Safely started, however, she almost ran downstairs, +and reached the ground floor, only to find +the front door had a spring-lock, which had fastened +itself when the door banged shut.</p> + +<p>Marjorie's heart sank within her when she +realized that she was locked in the schoolhouse.</p> + +<p>She thought of the key, but she had stupidly +left that on the outside of the door.</p> + +<p>"But anyway," she thought, "I don't believe +you have to have a key on the inside. You don't +to our front door at home. You only have to pull +back a little brass knob."</p> + +<p>The thought of home made a lump come into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +poor Marjorie's throat, and the tears came plentifully +as she fumbled vainly about the lock of the +door.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear," she said to herself, "just s'pose I +have to stay here all night. I <i>won't</i> go upstairs +again. I'll sit on the steps and wait till +morning."</p> + +<p>But at last something gave way, the latch flew +up, and Marjorie swung the big door open, and +felt the cool night air on her face once more.</p> + +<p>It was very dark, but she didn't mind that, now +that she was released from her prison, and, after +making sure that the door was securely fastened, +she put the key safely in her pocket, and started +off toward home.</p> + +<p>The church clock struck eight just as she +reached her own door, and she could hardly believe +she had made her whole trip in less than an hour. +It seemed as if she had spent a whole night alone +in the schoolhouse. She rang the bell, and in a moment +Sarah opened the door.</p> + +<p>"Why, Miss Marjorie, wherever have you +been?" cried the astonished maid. "I thought +you was up in your own room."</p> + +<p>"I've been out on an errand, Sarah," answered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +Midge, with great dignity.</p> + +<p>"An errand, is it? At this time o' night! I'm +surprised at ye, Miss Marjorie, cuttin' up tricks +just because the folks is away."</p> + +<p>"Hello, Mopsy!" cried Kingdon, jumping +downstairs three at a time. "What have you been +up to now, I'd like to know."</p> + +<p>"Nothing much," said Marjorie, gaily. Her +spirits had risen since she found herself once again +in her safe, warm, light home. "Don't bother me +now, King; I want to study."</p> + +<p>"Mother'll study you when she knows that +you've been out walking alone at night."</p> + +<p>"I don't want you to tell her, King, because +I want to tell her myself."</p> + +<p>"All right, Midge. I know it's all right, only I +think you might tell me."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will," said Midget, in a sudden burst +of confidence.</p> + +<p>Sarah had left the room, so Marjorie told King +all about her adventure.</p> + +<p>The boy looked at her with mingled admiration +and amazement.</p> + +<p>"You do beat all, Mopsy!" he said. "It was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +right down plucky of you, but you ought not to +have done it. Why didn't you wait till I came +home, and I would have gone for you."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to go, you know, at first. I +just went all of a sudden, after I had really +started to come home. I don't think Mother'll +mind, when I explain it to her."</p> + +<p>"You don't, hey? Well, just you wait and +see!"</p> + +<p>It was not easy to settle down to studying the +speller, after such an exciting adventure to get +it, but Marjorie determinedly set to work, and +studied diligently till nine o'clock, and then went +to bed.</p> + +<p>Next morning her father awakened her at an +early hour, and a little before seven father and +daughter were seated at a cozy little <i>tête-à-tête</i> +breakfast.</p> + +<p>At the table Marjorie gave her father a full +description of her experiences of the night before.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard listened gravely to the whole +recital.</p> + +<p>"My dear child," he said, when she finished the +tale, "you did a very wrong thing, and I must +say I think you should have known better."</p> + +<p>"But I didn't think it was wrong, Father."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I know you didn't, dearie; but you surely +know that you're not allowed out alone at night."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but this was such a very unusual occasion, +I thought you'd excuse it. And, besides +King was out at night."</p> + +<p>"But he's a boy, and he's two years older than +you are, and then he had our permission to go."</p> + +<p>"That's just it, Father. I felt sure if you +had known all about it, you would have given me +permission. I was going to telephone and ask +you if I might go to Mr. Cobb's, and then I +thought it would interrupt the dinner party. And +I didn't think you'd mind my running around to +Mr. Cobb's. You know when I went there, I +never thought of going to the schoolhouse last +night."</p> + +<p>"How did you come to think of it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I wanted my speller so much, and when +I saw the schoolhouse roof sticking up above the +trees, it made me think I could just as well +run over there then, and so have my book at +once."</p> + +<p>"And you had no qualms of conscience that +made you feel you were doing something wrong?"</p> + +<p>"No, Father," said Marjorie, lifting her clear,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +honest eyes to his. "I thought I was cowardly +to be so afraid of the dark. But I knew it wasn't +mischief, and I didn't think it was wrong. Why +was it wrong?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure I can explain, if you don't see +it for yourself. But it is not right to go alone to +a place where there may be unseen or unknown +dangers."</p> + +<p>"But, Father, in our own schoolhouse? Where +we go every day? What harm could be +there?"</p> + +<p>"My child, it is not right for any one to go +into an untenanted building, alone, in the dark. +And especially it is not right for a little girl of +twelve. Now, whether you understand this or not, +you must remember it, and <i>never</i> do such a thing +again."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father, indeed I'll never forget that old +speller again."</p> + +<p>"No; next time you'll do some other ridiculous, +unexpected thing, and then say, 'I didn't know it +was wrong.' Marjorie, you don't seem to have +good common-sense about these things."</p> + +<p>"That's what grandma used to say," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +Midge, cheerfully. "Perhaps I'll learn, as I grow +up, Father."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will, my dear. And now, I'm not +going to punish you for this performance, for I +see you honestly meant no wrong, but I do positively +forbid you to go out alone after dark without +permission; no matter <i>what</i> may be the exceptional +occasion. Will you remember that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed! That isn't hard to remember. +And I've never wanted to before, and I don't believe +I'll ever want to again, until I'm grown up. +Do you?"</p> + +<p>"You're a funny child, Midget," said her +father, looking at her quizzically. "But, do you +know, I rather like you; and I suppose you get +your spirit of adventure and daring from me. +Your Mother is most timid and conventional. +What do you s'pose she'll say to all this, Mopsy +mine?"</p> + +<p>"Why, as you think it was wrong, I s'pose +she'll think so, too. I just <i>can't</i> make it seem +wrong, myself, but as you say it was, why, of +course it must have been, and I promise never to +do it again. Now, if you've finished your coffee, +shall we begin to spell?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, come on. Since you have the book, we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +must make the most of our time."</p> + +<p>An hour of hard work followed. Mr. Maynard +drilled Marjorie over and over on the most difficult +words, and reviewed the back lessons, until +he said he believed she could spell down Noah +Webster himself.</p> + +<p>"And you must admit, Father," said Marjorie, +as they closed the book at last, "that it's a +good thing I did get my speller last night, +for I had a whole hour's study on it, and besides +I didn't have to go over there for it this +morning."</p> + +<p>"It would have been a better thing, my +child, if you had remembered it in the first +place."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, of course. But that was a mistake. +I suppose everybody makes mistakes sometimes."</p> + +<p>"I suppose they do. The proper thing is to +learn by our mistakes what is right and what +is wrong. Now the next time you are moved to do +anything as unusual as that, ask some one who +knows, whether you'd better do it or not. Now, +here's Mother, we'll put the case to her."</p> + +<p>In a few words, Mr. Maynard told his wife<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +about Marjorie's escapade.</p> + +<p>"My little girl!" cried Mrs. Maynard, catching +Marjorie in her arms. "Why, Midget, darling, +how <i>could</i> you do such a dreadful thing? +Oh, thank Heaven, I have you safe at home +again!"</p> + +<p>Marjorie stared. Here was a new view of the +case. Her mother seemed to think that she had +been in danger rather than in mischief.</p> + +<p>"Oh," went on Mrs. Maynard, still shuddering, +"my precious child, alone in that great empty +building!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Mother," said Marjorie, kissing her +tears away, "that was just it. An empty building +couldn't hurt me! Do you think I was +naughty?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know whether you were naughty, +or not; I'm so glad to have you safe and sound +in my arms."</p> + +<p>"I'll never do it again, Mother."</p> + +<p>"Do it again? Well, I rather think you +won't! I shall never leave you alone again. I +felt all the time I oughtn't to go off and leave +you children last night."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, my dear," said Mr. Maynard, "the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +children must be taught self-reliance. But we'll +talk this matter over some other time. Marjorie, +you'll be late to school if you're not careful. And +listen to me, my child. I don't want you to tell +any one of what you did last evening. It is something +that it is better to keep quiet about. Do +you understand? This is a positive command. +Don't ask me why, just promise to say nothing +about it to your playmates or any one. No one +knows of it at present, but your mother, Kingdon, +and myself. I prefer that no one else should +know. Will you remember this?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Father; can't I just tell Gladys?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard smiled.</p> + +<p>"Marjorie, you are impossible!" he said. +"Now, listen! I said tell <i>no one</i>! Is Gladys any +one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Father, she is."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then don't tell her. Tell no one at +all. Promise me."</p> + +<p>"I promise," said Midget, earnestly, and +then she kissed her parents and ran away to +school.</p> + +<p>Kingdon had also been bidden not to tell of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +Marjorie's escapade, and so it was never heard +of outside the family.</p> + +<p>When it was time for the spelling-match, Marjorie +put away her books, and sat waiting, with +folded arms and a smiling face.</p> + +<p>Miss Lawrence was surprised, for the child +usually was worried and anxious in spelling class.</p> + +<p>Two captains were chosen, and these two selected +the pupils, one by one, to be their aids.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was never chosen until toward the last, +for though everybody loved her, yet her inability +to spell was known by all, and she was not a desirable +assistant in a match.</p> + +<p>But at last her name was called, and she demurely +took her place near the foot of the line on +one side.</p> + +<p>Gladys was on the other side, near the head. +She was a good speller, and rarely made a mistake.</p> + +<p>Miss Lawrence began to give out the words, and +the children spelled away blithely. Now and then +one would miss and another would go above.</p> + +<p>To everybody's surprise, Marjorie began to +work her way up toward the head of her line. +She spelled correctly words that the others missed, +and with a happy smile went along up the line.</p> + +<p>At last the "spelling down" began. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +meant that whoever missed a word must go to his +seat, leaving only those standing who did not miss +any word.</p> + +<p>One by one the crestfallen unsuccessful ones +went to their seats, and, to the amazement of all, +Marjorie remained standing. At last, there were +but six left in the match.</p> + +<p>"Macaroni," said Miss Lawrence.</p> + +<p>"M-a-c-c-a-r-o-n-i," said Jack Norton, and regretfully +Miss Lawrence told him he must sit +down.</p> + +<p>Three more spelled the word wrongly, and then +it was Marjorie's turn:</p> + +<p>"M-a-c-a-r-o-n-i," said she, triumphantly, remembering +her father's remark that there were +no double letters in it.</p> + +<p>Miss Lawrence looked astounded. Now there +were left only Marjorie and Gladys, one on either +side of the room. It was an unfortunate situation, +for so fond were the girls of each other that each +would almost rather fail herself than to have her +friend fail.</p> + +<p>On they went, spelling the words as fast as +Miss Lawrence could pronounce them.</p> + +<p>Finally she gave Gladys the word "weird."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a hard word, and one often misspelled +by people much older and wiser than these +children.</p> + +<p>"W-i-e-r-d," said Gladys, in a confident +tone.</p> + +<p>"Next," said Miss Lawrence, with a sympathetic +look at Gladys.</p> + +<p>"W-e-i-r-d," said Marjorie, slowly. Her +father had drilled her carefully on this word, +bidding her remember that it began with two pronouns: +that is, we followed by I. Often by such +verbal tricks as this he fastened the letters in +Marjorie's mind.</p> + +<p>The match was over, and Marjorie had won, +for the first time in her life.</p> + +<p>Gladys was truly pleased, for she would rather +have lost to Marjorie than any one else, and Miss +Lawrence was delighted, though mystified.</p> + +<p>"I won! I won!" cried Marjorie, as she ran +into the house and found her mother. "Oh, +Mother, I won the spelling-match! <i>Now</i>, aren't +you glad I went after my book?"</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you won, dearie; but hereafter I +want you to stick to civilized behavior."</p> + +<p>"I will, Mother! I truly will. I'm so glad I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +won the match, I'll stick to anything you say."</p> + +<p>"Well, my girlie, just try to do what you think +Mother wants you to, and try not to make +mistakes."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h4>IN INKY PLIGHT</h4> + + +<p>"It's perfectly fine, Glad; I think it will be the +most fun ever. How many are you going to +have?"</p> + +<p>"About thirty, Mother says. I can't ask Kitty, +and Dorothy Adams. All on the list are about as +old as we are."</p> + +<p>"Kitty'll be sorry, of course; but I don't believe +mother would let her go in the evening, anyway. +She's only nine, you know."</p> + +<p>The two friends, Marjorie and Gladys, were on +their way to school, and Gladys was telling about +a Hallowe'en party she was to have the following +week. The party was to be in the evening, +from seven till nine, and, as it was unusual for +the girls to have evening parties, they looked forward +to this as a great occasion. Nearly all of +the children who were to be invited went to the +same school that Gladys did, so she carried the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +invitations with her, and gave them around before +school began.</p> + +<p>The invitations were written on cards which bore +comical little pictures of witches, black cats, or +jack-o'-lanterns, and this was the wording:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Though the weather's bad or pleasant,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You're invited to be present<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At Miss Gladys Fulton's home<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On Hallowe'en. Be sure to come.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Please accept, and don't decline;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come at seven and stay till nine.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Needless to say these cards caused great excitement +among the favored ones who received them.</p> + +<p>Boys and girls chattered like magpies until the +school-bell rang, and then it was very hard to +turn their attention to lessons.</p> + +<p>But Marjorie was trying in earnest to be good +in school, and not get into mischief, so she resolutely +put her card away in her desk, and studied diligently +at her lessons.</p> + +<p>Indeed, so well did she study that her lesson was +learned before it was time to recite, and she had a +few moments' leisure.</p> + +<p>She took out her pretty card to admire it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +further, and she scrutinized closely the funny old +witch riding on a broomstick, after the approved +habit of witches.</p> + +<p>The witch wore a high-peaked black hat, and +her nose and chin were long and pointed.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the impulse seized Marjorie to make +for herself a witch's hat.</p> + +<p>She took from her desk a sheet of foolscap +paper. But she thought a white hat would be +absurd for a witch. It must be black. How to +make the paper black was the question, but her +ingenuity soon suggested a way.</p> + +<p>She took her slate sponge, and dipping it in +the ink, smeared it over the white paper.</p> + +<p>This produced a grayish smudge, but a second +and third application made a good black.</p> + +<p>The process, however, of covering the whole +sheet of paper with ink was extremely messy, and +before it was finished, Marjorie's fingers were +dyed black, and her desk was smudged from one +end to the other.</p> + +<p>But so interested was she in making a sheet +of black paper that she paid no heed to the +untidiness.</p> + +<p>Gladys, who had turned her back on Marjorie,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +in order to study her lesson without distraction, +turned round suddenly and gave an exclamation +of dismay. This startled Marjorie, and she +dropped her sponge full of ink on her white apron.</p> + +<p>She straightened herself up, with a bewildered +air, aghast at the state of things, and as her +curls tumbled over her forehead, she brushed them +back with her inky hands.</p> + +<p>This decorated her face with black fingermarks, +and several of the pupils, looking round at her, +burst into incontrollable laughter.</p> + +<p>Midget was usually very dainty, and neatly +dressed, and this besmeared maiden was a shock +to all beholders.</p> + +<p>Miss Lawrence turned sharply to see what the +commotion might be, and, when she saw the inky +child, she had hard work to control her own +merriment.</p> + +<p>"What <i>is</i> that all over you, Marjorie?" she +said, in as stern tones as she could command.</p> + +<p>"Ink, Miss Lawrence," said Midget, demurely, +her simple straightforward gaze fixed on her +teacher's face. This calm announcement of a fact +also struck Miss Lawrence ludicrously, but she +managed to preserve a grave countenance.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see it's ink. But why do you put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +it on your face and hands and apron?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Miss Lawrence. You see, I was +using it, and somehow it put itself all over me."</p> + +<p>"What were you doing with it?" Miss +Lawrence was really stern now, for she had advanced +to Marjorie's desk, and noted the sponge +and paper.</p> + +<p>"Why, I was just making some white paper +black."</p> + +<p>"Marjorie, you have been extremely naughty. +What possessed you to ink that large sheet of +paper?"</p> + +<p>"I wanted to be a witch," said Marjorie, so +ruefully that Miss Lawrence had to laugh after all.</p> + +<p>"You <i>are</i> one, my child. You needn't ever make +any effort in that direction!"</p> + +<p>"And so," went on Midget, cheered by Miss +Lawrence's laughing face, "I thought I'd make +me a witch's hat, to wear at recess. Truly, I +wasn't going to put it on in school. But I had +my lessons all done, and so——"</p> + +<p>But by this time the whole class was in a gale.</p> + +<p>The inky little girl, so earnestly explaining why +she was inky, was a funny sight, indeed. And, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +they laughed at her, some big tears of mortification +rolled down her cheeks.</p> + +<p>These she furtively wiped away with her hand, +and it is needless to say that this added the finishing +touch to the smudgy black and white +countenance.</p> + +<p>Miss Lawrence gave up. She laughed until +the tears ran down her own cheeks, for Marjorie +was really crying now, and her little handkerchief +only served to spread the inky area around her +features.</p> + +<p>"My dear child," said the teacher, at last, "I +don't know exactly what to do with you. I can't +wash that ink from your face, because it won't +come off with only cold water. You must go home, +and yet you can't go through the streets that +way. But I have a brown veil I will lend you. It +is fairly thick, and will at least shield you from +observation."</p> + +<p>So Miss Lawrence took Marjorie to the cloak-room, +arrayed her in her own hat and her teacher's +veil, and then went with the little girl downstairs +to the front door. On the way she talked to her +kindly, but she did not attempt to gloss over +her naughty deed.</p> + +<p>"I am sending you home, Marjorie," she said,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +"because you are not fit to stay here. If you +were, I should keep you in, and punish you. You +surely knew it was wrong to spill ink all over +everything. You have ruined your desk, +to say nothing of your clothes and your own +belongings."</p> + +<p>"I'm so sorry, Miss Lawrence," said penitent +Midget. "I just tried to be good this morning. +But I happened to think what fun it would be +to have a big, high-peaked witch's hat to prance +around in at recess; and I thought I could make +the paper black without such a fuss."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Miss Lawrence, with a sigh, "I +don't know what to say to you. Go home now, +and tell your mother all about it. I'll leave the +matter of punishment in her hands. I'm sure +you didn't mean to do wrong,—you never do,—but, +oh, Marjorie, it <i>was</i> wrong!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was, Miss Lawrence, and I'm awful +sorry. I do hope Mother will punish me."</p> + +<p>Marjorie's hope was so funny that Miss +Lawrence smiled, as she kissed the stained little +face through the sheltering veil, and then Midget +trudged off home, thinking that as Miss Lawrence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +had kissed her, she hadn't been so very bad, +after all.</p> + +<p>"What <i>is</i> the matter, child?" exclaimed Mrs. +Maynard, as Marjorie marched into her mother's +room. "Why have you that thing on your head, +and why are you home from school at this hour?"</p> + +<p>Midget couldn't resist this dramatic situation.</p> + +<p>"Guess," she said, blithely. Her inky hands +were in her coat pockets, her apron was covered +by her outer garment, and her face was obscured +by the thick brown veil.</p> + +<p>"I can't guess just what's the trouble," said +her mother, "but I do guess you've been getting +into some mischief."</p> + +<p>Marjorie was disappointed.</p> + +<p>"Oh," she said, "I thought you'd guess that +I've broken out with smallpox or measles or +something!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard was preoccupied with some intricate +sewing, and did not quite catch the first part +of Marjorie's remark. But the last words sent +a shock to her mother-heart.</p> + +<p>"What!" she cried. "What do you mean? +Smallpox! Measles! Has it broken out in the +school? Take off that veil!" As she spoke, Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +Maynard jumped up from her chair, and ran to +her daughter with outstretched arms.</p> + +<p>This was more interesting, and Midget danced +about as she turned her back to her mother to +have the veil untied.</p> + +<p>With trembling fingers Mrs. Maynard loosened +the knot Miss Lawrence had tied, and hastily +pulled off the veil. Meantime, Midget had thrown +off her coat, and stood revealed in all her dreadful +inkiness.</p> + +<p>The saucy, blackened face was so roguishly smiling, +and Mrs. Maynard was so grateful not to +see a red, feverish countenance, that she sat down +in a chair and shook with laughter.</p> + +<p>This was just what Marjorie wanted, and, running +to her mother's side, she laughed, too.</p> + +<p>"Get away from me, you disreputable individual," +said Mrs. Maynard, drawing her +pretty morning dress away from possible contamination.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mothery, it's all dry now; it can't hurt +you a bit! But isn't it awful?"</p> + +<p>"Awful! You scamp, what does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, it's ink, Mother, dear; and do you +s'pose it will ever come off?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't! I think it's there for the rest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +of your life. Is that what you wanted?"</p> + +<p>"No. Not for my whole life. Oh, Mother, +can't you get it off with milk, or something?"</p> + +<p>Marjorie had seen her mother try to take ink-stains +out of white linen with milk, and, though +the operation was rarely entirely successful, she +hoped it would work better on her own skin.</p> + +<p>"Milk! No, indeed. Pumice stone might do +it, but it would take your skin off, too. Tell +me all about it."</p> + +<p>So the inky little girl cuddled into her mother's +arms, which somehow opened to receive the culprit, +and she told the whole dreadful story. Mrs. Maynard +was truly shocked.</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder Miss Lawrence didn't know +what to do with you," she said; "for I'm sure I +don't, either. Marjorie, you <i>must</i> have known +you were doing wrong when you began that performance. +Now, listen! If somebody had told +you of another little girl who cut up just such a +prank, what would you have said?"</p> + +<p>"I'd have said she ought to know better than +to fool with ink, anyway. It's the most get-all-overy +stuff."</p> + +<p>"Well, why did you fool with it, then?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, you see, Mother, I did know it was +awful messy, but that know was in the back of +my head, and somehow it slipped away from my +memory when the thought that I wanted a witch +hat came and pushed it out."</p> + +<p>"Now, you're trying to be funny, and I want +you to talk sensibly."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, I am sensible. Honest, the thought +about the witch hat was so quick it pushed everything +else out of my mind."</p> + +<p>"Even your sense of duty, and your determination +to be a good little girl."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm; they all flew away, and my whole head +was full of how to make the white paper black. +And that was the only way I could think of."</p> + +<p>"Well, have your thoughts that were pushed +out come back yet?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Mother; they came back as soon as I +found myself all inky."</p> + +<p>"Then, if they've come back, you know you +did wrong?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do know it now."</p> + +<p>"And you know that little girls who do wrong +have to be punished?"</p> + +<p>"Ye-es; I s'pose I know that. How are you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +going to punish me?"</p> + +<p>"We must discuss that. <i>I</i> think you deserve a +rather severe punishment, for this was really, truly +mischief. What do you think of staying home +from Gladys' Hallowe'en party as a punishment?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Moth-er May-nard! You just <i>can't</i> +mean <i>that</i>!"</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure but I do. You <i>must</i> learn, somehow, +Midget, that if you do these awful things, +you must have awful punishments."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but to stay home from Gladys' party! +Why, those horrid, cruel people in the history +book couldn't get up a worse punishment than +that! Mother, say you don't mean it!"</p> + +<p>"I won't decide just now; I'll think it over. +Meantime, let's see what we can do toward cleaning +you up."</p> + +<p>The process was an uncomfortable one, and, +after Marjorie's poor little face and hands had +gone through a course of lemon juice, pumice +stone, and other ineffectual obliterators, she felt +as if she had had punishment enough.</p> + +<p>And the final result was a grayish, smeared-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>looking +complexion, very different from her own +usual healthy pink and white.</p> + +<p>Greatly subdued, and fearful of the impending +punishment, Marjorie lay on a couch in her +mother's room, resting after the strenuous exertions +of her scrubbing and scouring.</p> + +<p>"I do think I'm the very worst child in the +whole world," she said, at last. "Isn't it surprising, +Mother, that I should be so bad, when +you're so sweet and good? Do you think I take +after Father?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard suppressed a smile.</p> + +<p>"Wait till Father comes home, and ask him +that question," she said.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h4>THE HALLOWE'EN PARTY</h4> + + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Maynard talked over Marjorie's +latest prank, and concluded that it would indeed +be too great a punishment to keep her at home +from the Hallowe'en party.</p> + +<p>So her punishment consisted in being kept at +home from the Saturday meeting of the Jinks +Club.</p> + +<p>This was indeed a deprivation, as the members +of the club were to plan games for the party, but +still it was an easier fate to bear than absence +from the great event itself.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was so sweet and patient as she sat +at home, while King and Kitty started off for the +Jinks Club, that Mrs. Maynard was tempted to +waive the punishment and send her along, too.</p> + +<p>But the mother well knew that what she was +doing was for her child's own good, and so she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +stifled her own desires, and let Marjorie stay at +home.</p> + +<p>Midget was restless, though she tried hard not +to show it. She fed the gold-fish, she read in her +book of Fairy Tales, she tried amusements of +various sorts, but none seemed to interest her. In +imagination she could see the rest of the Jinks +Club seated in the bay at Dorothy Adams', chattering +about the party.</p> + +<p>"Oh, hum," sighed Marjorie, as she stood looking +out of the playroom window, "I do believe I'll +never be naughty again."</p> + +<p>"What's 'e matter, Middy?" said Rosy Posy, +coming along just then. "Don't you feels dood? +Want to p'ay wiv my Boffin Bear?"</p> + +<p>Marjorie took the soft, woolly bear, and somehow +he was a comforting old fellow.</p> + +<p>"Let's play something, Rosy Posy," she said.</p> + +<p>"Ess; p'ay house?"</p> + +<p>"No; that's no fun. Let's play something +where we can bounce around. I feel awful +dull."</p> + +<p>"Ess," said Rosy Posy, who was amiable, but +not suggestive.</p> + +<p>"Let's play I'm a hippopotamus, and you're a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +little yellow chicken, and I'm trying to catch you +and eat you up."</p> + +<p>Down went Rosy Posy on all-fours, scrambling +across the floor, and saying, "Peep, peep"; and +down went Marjorie, and lumbered across the +floor after her sister, while she roared and growled +terrifically.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard heard the noise, but she only +smiled to think that Marjorie was working off her +disappointment that way instead of sulking.</p> + +<p>Finally the hippopotamus caught the chicken, +and devoured it with fearful gnashing of teeth, +the chicken meanwhile giggling with delight at +the fun.</p> + +<p>Then they played other games, in which Boffin +joined, and also Marjorie's kitten, Puff. The +days, of late, had been such busy ones that Puff +had been more or less neglected, and as she was a +socially inclined little cat, she was glad to be restored +to public favor.</p> + +<p>And so the long morning dragged itself away, +and at luncheon-time the Jinks Club sent its members +home.</p> + +<p>The Maynards were always a warm-hearted, +generous-minded lot of little people, and, far from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +teasing Marjorie about her morning at home, +King and Kitty told her everything that had been +discussed and decided at the Jinks Club, and +brought her the money contributed by the members.</p> + +<p>So graphic were their descriptions that Marjorie +felt almost as if she had been there herself; +and her spirits rose as she realized that her punishment +was over, and in the afternoon she could +go over to Gladys', and really help in the preparations +for the party.</p> + +<p>At last the night of the great occasion arrived.</p> + +<p>Then it was Marjorie's turn to feel sorry for +Kitty, because she was too young to go to evening +parties. But Mr. and Mrs. Maynard had +promised some special fun to Kitty at home, and +she watched Midget's preparations with interest +quite untinged by envy.</p> + +<p>Kingdon and Marjorie were to go alone at +seven o'clock, and Mr. Maynard was to come after +them at nine.</p> + +<p>"But Gladys said, Mother," said Midge, "that +she hoped we'd stay later than nine."</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't," said Mrs. Maynard. +"You're really too young to go out at night +anyway, but as it's just across the street, I trust<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +you'll get there safely. But you must come home +as soon as Father comes for you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if he makes us," said Marjorie, smiling at +her lenient father, who was greatly inclined to +indulge his children.</p> + +<p>"If you're not back as soon as I think you +ought to be, I shall telephone for you," said Mrs. +Maynard; but Marjorie knew from her mother's +smiling eyes that she was not deeply in earnest.</p> + +<p>Midget had on a very pretty dress of thin +white muslin, with ruffles of embroidery. She wore +a broad pink sash, and her dark curls were clustered +into a big pink bow, which bobbed and +danced on top of her head. Pink silk stockings +and dainty pink slippers completed her costume, +and her father declared she looked good enough +to eat.</p> + +<p>"Eat her up," said Rosy Posy, who was ecstatically +gazing at her beautiful big sister. "Be +a hippottymus, Fader, an' eat Mopsy all up!"</p> + +<p>"Not till after she's been to the party, Baby. +They'll all be expecting her."</p> + +<p>Kingdon, quite resplendent in the glory of his +first Tuxedo jacket, also looked admiringly at his +pretty sister.</p> + +<p>"You'll do, Mops," he said. "Come on, let's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +go. It's just seven."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard put a lovely white, hooded cape +of her own round Marjorie, and carefully drew +the hood up over her curls.</p> + +<p>"See that your bow is perked up after you +take this off," said the mother, as a parting injunction, +and then the two children started off.</p> + +<p>The parents watched them from the window, +as they crossed the street in the moonlight, and +Mrs. Maynard sighed as she said, "They're already +beginning to grow up."</p> + +<p>"But we have some littler ones," said her husband, +gaily, as he prepared for a game of romps +with Kitty and Rosy Posy.</p> + +<p>When King and Marjorie rang the bell at +Gladys Fulton's, the door opened very slowly, +and they could hear a low, sepulchral groan.</p> + +<p>Midge clung to her brother's arm, for though +she knew everything was to be as weird and grotesque +as possible, yet it was delightful to feel the +shudder of surprise.</p> + +<p>As the door opened further, they could see that +the house was but dimly lighted, and the hall was +full of a deep red glow. This was caused by put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>ting +red shades on the lights and standing a semi-transparent +red screen before the blazing wood-fire +in the big fireplace.</p> + +<p>The groan was repeated, and then they realized +that it said, "Welcome, welcome!" but in such +a wailing voice that it seemed to add to the gloom. +The voice proceeded from a figure draped in a +white sheet.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Ghost!" said King, who knew that +Dick Fulton himself was wrapped in the sheet.</p> + +<p>"O-o-o-o-ugh!" groaned the ghost.</p> + +<p>"You don't seem to feel well," said Marjorie, +giggling. "Poor Ghost, why don't you go to +bed?"</p> + +<p>But before the ghost could speak again, a +gorgeous witch came prancing up, carrying a +broomstick wound with red ribbons. The witch +was all in red, with a tall peaked hat of red, +covered with cabalistic designs cut from gilt +paper and pasted on. She groaned and wailed, +too, and then spoke in a rapid and unintelligible +jargon.</p> + +<p>The Maynards knew that this witch was Gladys, +but some of the guests did not know it, and were +greatly mystified.</p> + +<p>A few older persons, whom Mrs. Fulton had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +invited to help entertain the children, were stationed +in the various rooms. Dressed in queer costumes, +they played bits of weird music on the +piano, or struck occasional clanging notes from +muffled gongs.</p> + +<p>All of this greatly pleased Marjorie, who loved +make-believe, and she fell into the spirit of the +occasion, and went about on tiptoe with a solemn, +awed face. Indeed she made the ghosts and +witches laugh in spite of their wish to be awesome. +The rooms were decorated to befit the day, +and great jack-o'-lanterns grinned from mantels +or brackets. Autumn leaves were in profusion, +and big black cats cut from paper adorned the +walls.</p> + +<p>Soon the party were all assembled, and then the +games began.</p> + +<p>First, all were led out to the kitchen, which was +decorated with ears of corn, sheaves of grain, and +other harvest trophies.</p> + +<p>On a table were dishes of apples and nuts, not +for eating purposes, but to play the games +with.</p> + +<p>There were several tubs half filled with water,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +and in these the young people were soon "bobbing +for apples." On the apples were pinned papers +on which were written various names, and the +merry guests strove to grasp an apple with their +teeth, either by its stem or by biting into the fruit +itself. This proved to be more difficult than it +seemed, and it was soon abandoned for the game +of apple-parings. After an apple was pared in +one continuous strip, the paring was tossed three +times round the head, and then thrown to the +floor. The initial it formed there was said to represent +the initial of the fate of the one who +threw it.</p> + +<p>"Pshaw!" said Marjorie, as she tried for the +third time, "it always makes E, and I don't know +anybody who begins with E."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'll meet some one later," said +Mrs. Fulton, smiling. "You're really too +young to consider these 'fates' entirely trustworthy."</p> + +<p>Then they all tried blowing out the candle. +This wasn't a "Fate" game, but there were +prizes for the successful ones.</p> + +<p>Each guest was blindfolded, led to a table where +stood a lighted candle, turned round three times,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +and ordered to blow it out. Only three attempts +were allowed, and not everybody won the little +witches, owls, black cats, bats, and tiny pumpkins +offered as prizes.</p> + +<p>Marjorie, though securely blindfolded, was fortunate +enough to blow straight and hard, and +out went the candle-flame. Her prize was a gay +little chenille imp, which she stuck in her hair +with great glee.</p> + +<p>Then they all went back to the drawing-room, +where a pretty game had been arranged during +their absence.</p> + +<p>From the chandelier was suspended a large-sized +"hoople" that had been twisted with red +ribbon. From this at regular intervals hung, by +short ribbons, candies, cakes, apples, nuts, candle +ends, lemons, and sundry other things.</p> + +<p>The children stood round in a circle, and the +hoop was twisted up tightly and then let to untwist +itself slowly. As it revolved, the children +were to catch the flying articles in their teeth. +Any one getting a lemon was out of the game. +Any one getting a candle end had to pay a forfeit, +but those who caught the goodies could eat +them.</p> + +<p>Next, after being seated round the room, each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +child was given a spoon.</p> + +<p>Then a dish of ice-cream was passed, of which +each took a spoonful and ate it. In the ice-cream +had previously been hidden a dime, a ring, a +thimble, a button, and a nutmeg. Whoever +chanced to get the ring was destined to be +married first. Whoever took the dime was destined +to become very wealthy. The thimble +denoted a thrifty housewife; the button, a life +of single blessedness; and the nutmeg, a good +cook.</p> + +<p>Shouts of laughter arose, as they learned that +Kingdon would be an old bachelor, and doubts +were expressed when Gladys triumphantly exhibited +the nutmeg.</p> + +<p>"You can't ever learn to cook!" cried Dick. +"You're too much of a butterfly."</p> + +<p>"Good cooks make the butter fly," said Kingdon, +and then they all laughed again. Indeed, +they were quite ready to laugh at anything. For +a Hallowe'en party is provocative of much merriment, +and the most nonsensical speeches were +applauded.</p> + +<p>They popped corn, and they melted lead, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +they roasted chestnuts, and then some more difficult +experiments were tried.</p> + +<p>Harry Frost and Marjorie were chosen to +"Thread the Needle."</p> + +<p>Each held a cupful of water in the left hand, +and in the right hand Harry held a good-sized +needle, while Marjorie held a length of thread. +She tried to get the thread through the needle, +and he tried to help, or at least not hinder +her; but all the time both must have a care +that no drop of water was spilled from their +cups.</p> + +<p>The tradition was that if they succeeded in +threading the needle within a minute they were +destined for each other; but as they couldn't do +it, Harry bade her a laughing farewell, and offered +the thread to Gladys. They were no more +successful, and the game was abandoned as being +too difficult.</p> + +<p>Nutshell boats was a pretty game. The tiny +craft, made of English walnut shells, with paper +sails, had been prepared beforehand, and the +guests wrote their names on the sails, then loaded +each boat with a cargo of a wish written on a +slip of paper.</p> + +<p>The boats were then set afloat in a tub of water,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +and by gently blowing on them their owners endeavored +to make them go ashore, or rather to +the side of the tub. As one hit the wood it was +taken out, and the owner joyfully announced that +his or her wish would come true, but many of +them stayed stubbornly in mid-ocean and refused +to land. The unfortunate owners condoled with +each other on their hard fate.</p> + +<p>The merry games being over, all went to the +dining-room for the feast that was spread +there.</p> + +<p>The children were paired off, and, while Mrs. +Fulton played stirring strains on the piano, they +marched around the rooms, and so out to the +dining-room.</p> + +<p>The elaborately decorated table called forth +shouts of joy, and soon all were seated in chairs +round the room, enjoying the good things.</p> + +<p>On the table were jack-o'-lanterns made not only +of pumpkins, but of squashes, turnips, and even +of big red or green apples.</p> + +<p>Candles were burning in all of these, and standing +about the table were queer little gnomes and +witches, made of nuts, or of dried prunes. These<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +little figures were souvenirs, and were distributed +to all the guests. The ice-cream was in the form +of little yellow pumpkins, and proved to taste +quite as good as it looked. There were also more +substantial viands, such as nut sandwiches, apple +salad, pumpkin pie, and grape jelly. Everything +had some reference to Hallowe'en or to Harvest +Home, and the children were not too young to +appreciate this.</p> + +<p>Supper was just about over when Mr. Maynard +came after his children.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father," cried Marjorie, "you said you +wouldn't come till nine o'clock!"</p> + +<p>"But it's quarter-past nine now, my daughter."</p> + +<p>"It <i>can't</i> be!" exclaimed Midge, greatly surprised; +and everybody said, "Is it, really?"</p> + +<p>"But we must have one merry round game before +we part," said Mrs. Fulton, and, though several +parents had arrived to take their little +ones home, they all agreed to wait ten minutes +more.</p> + +<p>So they had a rollicking game of "Going to +Jerusalem," and then the party was over.</p> + +<p>Marjorie said good-night politely to Mrs. Fulton +and the other grown-ups who had entertained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +them, making her pretty little bobbing courtesy, +as she had been taught to do.</p> + +<p>Kingdon said good-night in his frank, boyish +way, and then they went for their wraps.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father," said Midget as they crossed the +street to their own home, "it was the very loveliest +party! Can't I sit up for a while and tell +you every single thing that happened?"</p> + +<p>"I'd love to have you do that, Mopsy Midget; +in fact, I can scarcely wait till morning to hear +about it all. But it is my duty as a stern parent +to order you off to bed at once. Little girls that +wheedle fond fathers into letting them go to evening +parties must be content to scoot for bed the +minute they get home."</p> + +<p>"All right, then, Father, but do get up early +in the morning to hear all about it, won't +you?"</p> + +<p>"I'll guarantee to get up as early as you do, +Sleepyhead," said Mr. Maynard, for Marjorie was +yawning as if the top of her head was about +to come off.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard accompanied the little girl to her +bedroom, but Midge was too tired to do more +than tell her mother that it was the most beautiful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +party in the world, and that next day she should +hear all about it.</p> + +<p>"I can wait, little girl," said Mrs. Maynard, as +she tucked Midget up and kissed her good-night, +but the exhausted child was already in the land +of dreams.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h4>TOTTY AND DOTTY</h4> + + +<p>"Marjorie," said her mother, one Saturday +morning, "I expect Mrs. Harrison to spend the +day. She will bring her little baby with her, and +I want you to stay at home, so that you can wheel +the baby about if she asks you to do so."</p> + +<p>"I will, Mother. The Jinks Club meets here +this afternoon anyway, and this morning I'll stay +at home. Can't I ask Gladys to come over? We'd +love to take care of the baby together."</p> + +<p>"Yes, have Gladys if you like. I don't mind."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard went off to look after housekeeping +affairs, and Marjorie ran over to ask +Gladys to come and spend the morning.</p> + +<p>The two girls were sitting on a bench under +a tree on the front lawn, when they saw Mrs. +Harrison come in at the gate. She was wheeling +her baby-carriage, and Marjorie ran to meet her.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, Mrs. Harrison?" she said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +"Mother is expecting you. Come right on up to +the house. Mayn't I wheel Baby for you?"</p> + +<p>"I wish you would, my dear. I gave nurse a +holiday, but I didn't realize how tiresome that +heavy carriage is, after wheeling it so many +blocks."</p> + +<p>Marjorie pushed the little coach, while Gladys +danced alongside, talking to the winsome baby.</p> + +<p>"What's her name, Mrs. Harrison?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" replied the young mother, "she has the +dignified name of Katharine, but we never call +her that. I'm ashamed to say we call her Totty."</p> + +<p>"I think Totty is a lovely name," said Midget. +"It makes me think of Dotty, a baby who lives +about a block away from us. She's just the same +size as this baby."</p> + +<p>"Probably she's older, then," said Mrs. Harrison, +complacently; "Totty's just a year old, but +she's much larger than most children of that +age."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose so," said Midget, wagging her +head wisely, though she really knew little about the +comparative sizes of infants. Mrs. Maynard +awaited them at the front door, and the procession +arrived with a flourish.</p> + +<p>"Here we are, Mother," announced Marjorie,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +and she and Gladys lifted baby Totty out of her +nest of pillows and knit afghans.</p> + +<p>"Why, how handy you are, child," said Mrs. +Harrison. "But give her to me now, and I'll +look after her."</p> + +<p>Marjorie handed the pretty burden over, and +said:</p> + +<p>"But mayn't we take her out for a ride, Mrs. +Harrison? I'm sure she ought to be out in the +fresh air this morning."</p> + +<p>"I'll see about it later," said Totty's mother, +and then she went into the house with her hostess, +and the girls ran away to play.</p> + +<p>But an hour later, Mrs. Maynard called Marjorie, +and said she might take the baby for a ride.</p> + +<p>Gleefully, Marjorie and Gladys ran into the +house.</p> + +<p>They helped arrange Miss Totty's coat and +cap, and so merry were they that the baby laughed +and crowed, and made friends at once.</p> + +<p>"How she takes to you!" said Mrs. Harrison. +"Sometimes she is afraid of strangers, but she +seems to love you."</p> + +<p>"'Cause I love her," said Midge; "she's a sweet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +baby, and so good. Shall I bring her in if she +cries, Mrs. Harrison?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but she won't cry. She's more likely to +go to sleep."</p> + +<p>The little lady was tucked into her carriage; +white mittens on her tiny hands, and a white veil +over her rosy face.</p> + +<p>"Does she need the veil?" asked Mrs. Maynard, +doubtfully. "It isn't cold to-day."</p> + +<p>"No," said Mrs. Harrison; "but the breeze is +brisk; and she's used to a light veil. I think she'd +better wear it."</p> + +<p>"How far can we go?" asked Marjorie, as +the preparations were completed.</p> + +<p>"Stay in the yard, mostly," said her mother. +"If you go out in the street, don't go more than +two blocks away."</p> + +<p>"All right, we won't," said Marjorie. "Come +on, Glad." The two little girls started off with +the baby-carriage.</p> + +<p>"She's a careful child," said Mrs. Harrison, as +she noticed Marjorie turn a corner with precision.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Maynard. "And she's devoted +to children. You need have no fear of +Totty."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I haven't," said Mrs. Harrison, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +the two friends returned to the house, and sat down +for a long chat.</p> + +<p>The girls had a fine time with the baby. They +rolled the carriage carefully, pausing now and +then to present their little guest with a bright +autumn leaf, or a big horse-chestnut, which they +picked up from the ground.</p> + +<p>"Let's pretend she's an infant princess, and +we're kidnapping her," said Marjorie.</p> + +<p>"All right; what's her name?"</p> + +<p>"Princess Petronella," said Marjorie, promptly, +using a favorite name of hers.</p> + +<p>"I don't think much of that," said Gladys; +"I like Ermyntrude."</p> + +<p>"Both, then," said Marjorie; for this was a +way they often settled their differences. "Her +name is Princess Ermyntrude Petronella; and we +call her Ermyn Pet for short."</p> + +<p>"But we ought to call her Princess," objected +Gladys.</p> + +<p>"Well, we will. But remember we're kidnapping +her for a great reward. Hist! Some one +cometh!"</p> + +<p>They hustled the carriage behind a great <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>pine-tree, +in pretended fear of a pursuer, though no +one was in sight.</p> + +<p>"How much shall we charge for ransom?" +asked Gladys, in the hollow voice that they always +used in their make-believe games.</p> + +<p>"A thousand rubbles," answered Marjorie; +"and unless the sum is forthcoming ere set of +sun, the Princess shall be,—shall be——"</p> + +<p>Marjorie hesitated. It seemed dreadful to pronounce +fate, even in make-believe, on that dimpled, +smiling bit of humanity.</p> + +<p>"Shall be imprisoned," suggested Gladys.</p> + +<p>"Yes, imprisoned in an enchanted castle."</p> + +<p>Totty crowed and gurgled, as if greatly pleased +with her destiny, and the girls wheeled her along +the path to the gate.</p> + +<p>"She reminds me so much of Dotty Curtis," +said Midget. "Let's go down that way and see +if Dotty's out. Mother said we could go two +blocks."</p> + +<p>On they went, crossing the curbs with great +care, and soon turned in at Mrs. Curtis' house.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, there was the nurse wheeling the +Curtis baby around the drive.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning," said Marjorie, who was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +friendly with Nurse Lisa. "How is Dotty +to-day?"</p> + +<p>"She's well, Miss Marjorie," replied Lisa; +"and who's the fine child with you?"</p> + +<p>"This is little Totty Harrison; and I think she +looks like Dot. Let's compare them."</p> + +<p>The veils were taken off the two children, and +sure enough they did look somewhat alike.</p> + +<p>"They're both darlings," said Marjorie, as +she gently replaced Totty's veil. "Lisa, won't +you let Gladys wheel Dotty for awhile, and I'll +wheel Totty. That would be fun."</p> + +<p>"I'll willingly leave her with you for a bit, +Miss Gladys. I've some work to do in the house, +and if you'll keep baby for a few minutes it would +be a great thing for me. Mrs. Curtis is out, but +I know she'd trust you with the child, if the other +lady does. But don't go off the place."</p> + +<p>"No," said Marjorie; "this place is so big +there's room enough anyway. I promise you we +won't go outside the gates, Lisa."</p> + +<p>"Isn't this fun?" cried Marjorie, as Lisa went +away. "Now, we have two kidnapped princesses. +Or shall we play house with them?"</p> + +<p>"No, let's have them princesses. Now you can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +name yours Petronella, and I'll name mine +Ermyntrude."</p> + +<p>This momentous question settled, the game went +on. They pretended that the princesses were +anxious to get back to their respective homes, and +that they must resort to bribery and strategy to +keep them contented.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, Princess Petronella," Marjorie +would say; "weep not for friends and family. I +will take you to a far better place, where flowers +grow and birds sing and—and——"</p> + +<p>"And gold-fish swim," went on Gladys, who always +followed Marjorie's lead, "and roosters +crow—cock-a-doodle-doo!!"</p> + +<p>This climax, accompanied as it was by Gladys' +flapping her arms and prancing about, greatly delighted +both princesses, and they laughed and +clamored for more.</p> + +<p>"Aren't they dears!" exclaimed Marjorie, as +she looked at the two pretty babies. "Methinks +no ransom is forthcoming. Must we resort to +our dire and dreadful doom?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye!" said Gladys. "To the enchanted +castle with the fatal victims."</p> + +<p>So long as the girls used tragic-sounding words<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +they didn't always care whether they made sense +or not.</p> + +<p>"On, on, then!" cried Midget. "On, on! To +victory, or defeat!"</p> + +<p>Each pushing a carriage, they ran down the +long drive, across the wide lawn, and paused, +flushed and breathless, at a rustic summer-house.</p> + +<p>Into the arbor they pushed the two coaches, and +then dropped, laughing, on the seats.</p> + +<p>The babies laughed, too, and both Dotty and +Totty seemed to think that to be a captive +princess was a delightful fate. The girls sat still +for awhile to rest, but the game went on.</p> + +<p>"Shall it be the donjon keep?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, not for these, so young and fair," +answered Gladys. "Let's chain them with rose +garlands to a silken couch."</p> + +<p>"Huh!" said Marjorie, "that's not a dire fate. +Let's do something that's more fun. Oh, Glad, +I'll tell you what! Let's exchange these babies! +That's what they always do in tragedies. Listen! +We'll put Dotty's hood on Totty, and Totty's cap +on Dotty. And change their coats, too!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and veils; oh, Mops! What fun! If we +change their coats quickly they won't catch cold."</p> + +<p>"Cold, pooh! It's as warm as summer."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>It wasn't quite that, but it was a lovely, sunshiny +day in early October, and, after running, it +seemed quite warm to the girls.</p> + +<p>Following out their project, they quickly exchanged +the babies' wraps.</p> + +<p>By this time both little ones were growing sleepy, +and were in a quiet, tractable frame of mind.</p> + +<p>"Their little white dresses are almost alike, +anyway," said Gladys, as she took off Totty's +coat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, we wouldn't think of changing their +dresses," said Mopsy; "but let's change their +little shoes. I'd like to see Totty in those cunning +ankle-ties."</p> + +<p>"And I'd like to see Dotty in those pretty blue +kid shoes."</p> + +<p>"Of course, we'll change them right back, but +I just want to see how they look."</p> + +<p>Soon the transformation was complete. To all +outward appearance of costume, Dotty was Totty, +and Totty was Dotty. Even the veils were +changed, as one was of silk gauze, the other of +knitted zephyr.</p> + +<p>Then, not in their own, but in each other's car<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>riage, +the reversed princesses nodded and beamed +at their captors.</p> + +<p>"Now, you push that carriage, and I'll push +this," said Marjorie, taking hold of the carriage +she had pushed all the time, though now it had +the other baby in it.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Gladys, "let's go round by +the garden."</p> + +<p>Slowly now, the girls went round by the large +well-kept kitchen garden, and then through the +flower gardens back to the front lawn.</p> + +<p>"Why," said Marjorie, suddenly, "both these +children are asleep!"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Harrison said Totty would go to sleep," +said Gladys. "I guess all babies go to sleep about +this time in the morning. It seems too bad to wake +them up to change their coats back again, but I +think we ought to take Totty back, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do. Suppose we leave the coats and +caps as they are, and then afterward we can +bring back Dotty's things and get Totty's."</p> + +<p>"Here you are!" cried Lisa, coming to meet +them at the front door. "You're good little girls +to mind the baby for me. I'll take her now, and +I thank you much."</p> + +<p>As Lisa spoke, she took hold of the Curtis car<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>riage, +which contained the Harrison baby.</p> + +<p>"Ah, she's asleep, bless her heart!" she exclaimed, +looking at the closed eyes, almost hidden +by the white veil. "I'm glad she's getting a fine +nap. Run along now with your own baby."</p> + +<p>Partly confused by Lisa's quick and peremptory +dismissal, and partly impelled by a sudden mischievous +idea, Marjorie smiled a good-bye, and began +trundling the other carriage toward the gate.</p> + +<p>"Why, Midge!" whispered Gladys, aghast. +"We've got the wrong baby! This is Dotty +Curtis!"</p> + +<p>"Keep still!" whispered Marjorie. "I know +it. But it's a good joke on that snippy +Lisa."</p> + +<p>"She wasn't snippy."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she was; she said 'Run along now, little +girls,' after we've been helping her all the morning. +She's going to let the baby stay asleep in +the carriage, and she won't know it till she +wakes up."</p> + +<p>"Who won't? The baby?"</p> + +<p>"No, Lisa. And then she'll be scared, and it +will serve her right."</p> + +<p>"But what about Mrs. Harrison? You don't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +want to scare her."</p> + +<p>"That's just the thing," explained Marjorie. +"I want to see if she'll know the difference in the +babies. They say mothers can always tell their +own children. Now we'll see."</p> + +<p>"It's a great joke," said Gladys, giggling. +"But suppose they never find it out, and the children +live with their wrong mothers all their +lives!"</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly," said Marjorie.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h4>A FAIR EXCHANGE?</h4> + + +<p>Mrs. Maynard opened the front door just as the +children approached with the baby-carriage.</p> + +<p>"Come along, girlies!" she cried. "Marjorie, +wheel the carriage right into the hall."</p> + +<p>"The baby's asleep, Mother," said Midget, as +she and Gladys brought the carriage over the +door-sill.</p> + +<p>"Oh, is she? Totty's asleep, Mildred," she +called, in a stage whisper, to Mrs. Harrison, who +was upstairs.</p> + +<p>"I thought she would be," responded that lady. +"Just throw back her veil, and leave her as she +is. She often takes her nap in her carriage, and +there's no use waking her."</p> + +<p>Gently, Mrs. Maynard turned back the veil +from the little sleeping face, and, as she had no +thought of anything being wrong, she did not +notice any difference in the baby features.</p> + +<p>"Gladys, we'd like to have you stay to lunc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>heon," +she said. "So you and Midge run upstairs +and tidy your curls at once." With demure +steps, but with dancing eyes, the girls went +upstairs.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it's mischief," whispered Gladys +to Marjorie, as she tied her hair-ribbon for her.</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't!" declared Midge, stoutly. "It's +only a joke, and it can't do any harm. Mother +didn't know it was a different baby, and I don't +believe Mrs. Harrison will know either."</p> + +<p>Trim and tidy once more the two friends went +downstairs.</p> + +<p>As they were on the stairs they heard the sound +of the telephone bell.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard answered it, and in a moment +Gladys realized that her own mother was talking +at the other end of the wire.</p> + +<p>After a short conversation, Mrs. Maynard hung +up the receiver, and said:</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Fulton says that Mr. Fulton has come +home quite unexpectedly and that they are going +for an afternoon's motor ride. She wants both +of you girls to go, but she says you must fly over +there at once, as they're all ready to start. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +tried to tell us sooner, but couldn't get a connection +on the telephone."</p> + +<p>"But we haven't had luncheon," said Marjorie, +"and I'm fairly starving."</p> + +<p>"They're taking luncheon with them," explained +Mrs. Maynard. "And you must go at +once, not to keep Mr. Fulton waiting. Of course, +you needn't go if you don't want to, Midge."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I do! I'm crazy to go! And luncheon +in baskets is such fun! What shall I wear, +Mother?"</p> + +<p>"Go just as you are. That frock is quite clean. +Put on your hat and coat, and I'll get a long veil +for you."</p> + +<p>Gladys had already run off home, and Marjorie +was soon equipped and ready to follow.</p> + +<p>As she flew out of the door, she remembered the +joke about the babies.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother, I've something to tell you!" she +cried.</p> + +<p>"Never mind now," said Mrs. Maynard, hurrying +her off. "It will keep till you get back. +And I hate to have you keep the Fultons waiting. +They're in haste to start. So kiss me, and run +along."</p> + +<p>Even as she spoke, Dick Fulton appeared, say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>ing +he had been sent to hurry Marjorie up; so +taking Dick's hand, the two ran swiftly down the +path to the gate. Mrs. Maynard watched Marjorie's +flying feet, and after she was out of sight +around the corner, the lady returned to the +house.</p> + +<p>With a glance at the sleeping child, she turned +to Mrs. Harrison, who was just coming downstairs.</p> + +<p>"Totty is sleeping sweetly," she said, "so come +at once to luncheon, Mildred."</p> + +<p>"In a moment, Helen. I think I'll take off her +cap and coat; she'll be too warm."</p> + +<p>"You'll waken her if you do."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, she'll drop right to sleep again; +she always does. And anyway, it's time she had +a drink of milk."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Mildred. You take off her wraps, +and I'll ask Sarah to warm some milk for her."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard went to speak to Sarah, and +Mrs. Harrison lifted the sleeping baby from the +carriage.</p> + +<p>She sat the blinking-eyed child on her knee while +she unfastened her coat. Then she took off the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +veil and cap, and then,—she stared at the baby, +and the baby stared at her.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Mrs. Harrison gave a scream.</p> + +<p>"Helen, Helen!" she called to her friend, and +Mrs. Maynard came running to her side.</p> + +<p>"What <i>is</i> the matter, Mildred? Is Totty ill?"</p> + +<p>By this time the baby too had begun to scream. +Always afraid of strangers, Miss Dotty Curtis +didn't know what to make of the scenes in which +she found herself, nor of the strange lady who +held her.</p> + +<p>"Mildred, dear, what is the matter? You look +horror-stricken! And what ails Totty?"</p> + +<p>"This isn't my child!" wailed Mrs. Harrison.</p> + +<p>"Totty isn't your child! What <i>do</i> you mean?"</p> + +<p>"But this isn't, Totty! It isn't my baby! I +don't know who it is."</p> + +<p>"Mildred, you're crazy! Of course this is +Totty. These are her blue kid shoes. And this +is her coat and cap."</p> + +<p>"I don't care if they are! It isn't Totty at all. +Oh, where is my baby?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrison was on the verge of hysterics, +and Mrs. Maynard was genuinely alarmed.</p> + +<p>"Behave yourself, Mildred!" she said, sternly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +"Gather yourself together. Here, sip this glass +of water."</p> + +<p>"I'm perfectly sensible," said Mrs. Harrison, +quieting down a little, as she noticed her friend's +consternation. "But I tell you, Helen, this is <i>not</i> +my baby. Doesn't a mother know her own child? +Totty's hair is a little longer, and her eyes are +a little larger. I don't know who this baby is, but +she isn't mine."</p> + +<p>"I believe you're right," said Mrs. Maynard, +looking more closely at the screaming baby.</p> + +<p>"There, there!" she said, taking the frightened +little one in her own arms.</p> + +<p>"Ma-ma!" cried the baby.</p> + +<p>"Hear her voice!" exclaimed Mrs. Harrison. +"That isn't the way my Totty talks. Oh, Helen, +what has happened?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Mrs. Maynard, her face +very white. "It doesn't seem possible that any +marauder should have slipped into the house and +put this child in Totty's place. Why, it was +only about a half-hour ago that the girls brought +Totty in. Mildred, are you <i>sure</i> this isn't +Totty?"</p> + +<p>"Am I sure! Yes, I am. Wouldn't you know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +your own children from strangers? Helen, a +dreadful crime has been committed. Somehow this +baby has been substituted for mine. Oh, Totty, +where <i>are</i> you now?"</p> + +<p>"What shall I do, Mildred? Shall I call up +Mr. Maynard on the telephone, or shall I ring up +the police station?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, call the police. It's dreadful, I know, +but how else can we find Totty?"</p> + +<p>Meantime Sarah appeared with a cup of warm +milk.</p> + +<p>The baby stretched out eager little hands, and +Mrs. Maynard carefully held the cup for her to +drink.</p> + +<p>"She's a nice little thing," observed that lady. +"See how prettily she behaves."</p> + +<p>"Helen, you'll drive me crazy. I don't care +how she behaves, she isn't Totty. Why, that isn't +even Totty's little dress. So you see the kidnapper +did change her shoes and wraps, but not her +frock."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrison showed signs of hysterics, and +Mrs. Maynard was at her wits' end what to do.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I'd better call the police," she said. +"Here, Mildred, you hold this baby."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrison gingerly took the baby that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +wasn't hers, and looked like a martyr as she +held her.</p> + +<p>But comforted by the warm food, the baby +pleasantly cuddled up in Mrs. Harrison's arms +and went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard, greatly puzzled, went to the +telephone, but before she touched it there was a +furious peal at the front-door bell.</p> + +<p>The moment the door was opened, in rushed a +pretty, but frantic and very angry, little lady, +carrying a child.</p> + +<p>"Where's my baby?" she demanded, as she +fairly stamped her foot at Mrs. Maynard.</p> + +<p>"That's my child!" she went on, turning to +Mrs. Harrison. "What are you doing with +her?"</p> + +<p>"I don't want her!" cried Mrs. Harrison. +"But what are <i>you</i> doing with <i>my</i> baby?"</p> + +<p>Totty, in the visitor's arms, held out her hands +to her mother, and gurgled with glee.</p> + +<p>"Ma-ma!" said the other baby, waking up at +all this commotion and holding out her hands +also.</p> + +<p>The exchange was made in a moment, and, still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +unpacified, Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Curtis glared +at each other.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard struggled to suppress her +laughter, for the scene was a funny one; but she +knew the two ladies were thoroughly horrified at +the mystery, and mirth would be quite out of place.</p> + +<p>"Let me introduce you," she said. "Mrs. Curtis, +this is my dear friend, Mrs. Harrison. Your +little ones are the same age, and look very much +alike."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit alike," said both mothers, at once.</p> + +<p>"I confess," went on Mrs. Maynard, "that I +can't understand it at all, but you certainly each +have your own babies now; so, my dear Mrs. Curtis, +won't you tell me what you know about this +very strange affair?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Curtis had recovered her equilibrium, and, +as she sat comfortably holding Dotty, she smiled, +with a little embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"Dear Mrs. Maynard," she said, "I'm afraid I +understand it all better than you do; but I'm also +afraid, if I explain it to you, you will,—it will +make——"</p> + +<p>Suddenly Mrs. Maynard saw a gleam of light.</p> + +<p>"Marjorie!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Curtis; "I think it was due<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +to Miss Mischief. When I returned home from +an errand, Lisa said that your Marjorie and +Gladys Fulton had had Dotty out in her carriage, +and had also another baby who was visiting you. +The girls had left Dotty—or rather, Lisa supposed +it was Dotty—asleep in her coach, and +Nurse let her stay there, asleep, until my return. +Then the child wakened—and it wasn't Dotty at +all! The baby had on Dot's slippers, cap, coat, +and veil, but the rest of her clothes I had never +seen before. I felt sure there had been foul play +of some sort, but Lisa was sure those girls had +exchanged the babies' clothes on purpose. I hoped +Lisa was right, but I feared she wasn't, so I picked +up the baby and ran over here to see."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard was both grieved and chagrined.</p> + +<p>"How could Marjorie do such a thing!" she +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't be too hard on her, Mrs. Maynard," +said Mrs. Curtis. "It's all right, now, and you +know Marjorie and Gladys are a mischievous +pair."</p> + +<p>"But this is inexcusable," went on Mrs. May<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>nard. +"Mrs. Harrison nearly went frantic, and +you were certainly greatly alarmed."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Curtis smiled pleasantly. "I was," she +admitted, "but it was only for a few moments. I +was mystified rather than alarmed, for Lisa said +the carriage had not been out of her sight a moment, +except when the girls had it."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Curtis took her leave, and, carrying with +her her own baby, went away home.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard made sincere apologies to her +friend for naughty Marjorie's mischief.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Helen," said Mrs. Harrison. "I +can see now it was only a childish prank, and +doubtless Marjorie and Gladys expected a good +laugh over it; then they ran off unexpectedly and +forgot all about the babies."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard remembered then that Midget +had said at the last moment that she had something +to tell her, but that she had hurried the +child off.</p> + +<p>"Still," she thought to herself, "that was +no excuse for Midge. She should have told +me."</p> + +<p>After a refreshing luncheon, Mrs. Harrison was +able to view the matter more calmly.</p> + +<p>"Don't punish Marjorie for this, Helen," she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +said. "Children will be children, and I daresay +those girls thought it would be a fine joke on +me."</p> + +<p>"I certainly shall punish her, Mildred. She +is altogether too thoughtless, and too careless of +other people's feelings. She never does wilful or +malicious wrong, but she tumbles into mischief +thoughtlessly. She will be honestly grieved when +she learns how frightened and upset you were, and +she'll never do such a thing again. But, the trouble +is she'll do some other thing that will be equally +naughty, but something that no one can foresee or +warn her against."</p> + +<p>"Well, just for my sake, Helen, don't punish +her this time; at least, not much. I really +oughtn't to have gone to pieces so; I ought to have +realized that it could all be easily explained."</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Maynard would not promise to condone +Midget's fault entirely, and argued that she +really ought to be punished for what turned out +to be a troublesome affair.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harrison went home about four o'clock, +and it was five before Marjorie returned.</p> + +<p>Her mother met her at the door.</p> + +<p>"Did you have a pleasant time, Marjorie?" she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Mother; we had a lovely time. We +went clear to Ridge Park. Oh, I <i>do</i> love to ride +in an automobile."</p> + +<p>"Go and take off your things, my child, and +then come to me in my room."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mother," said Marjorie, and she danced +away to take off her hat.</p> + +<p>"Here I am, Mother," she announced, a little +later. "Now shall I tell you all about my +afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"Not quite yet, dear. I'll tell you all about +my afternoon first. Mrs. Harrison had a very +unhappy time, and of course that made me unhappy +also."</p> + +<p>"Why, Mother, what was the trouble about?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard looked into the clear, honest +eyes of her daughter, and sighed as she realized +that Marjorie had no thought of what had made +the trouble.</p> + +<p>"Why did you put Dotty Curtis' cloak and hat +on Totty?"</p> + +<p>Then the recollection came back to Marjorie.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother!" she cried, as she burst into a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +ringing peal of laughter. "Wasn't it a funny +joke! Did Mrs. Harrison laugh? Did she know +her own baby?"</p> + +<p>"Marjorie, I'm ashamed of you. No, Mrs. +Harrison did not laugh. Of course she knew that +the child you left in the carriage was not her little +Totty, and as she didn't know what had happened, +she had a very bad scare, and her nerves +were completely unstrung."</p> + +<p>"But why, Mother?" said Marjorie, looking +puzzled. "I thought she wouldn't know the difference. +But if she did know right away it wasn't +Totty, why didn't she go over to Mrs. Curtis' and +change them back again?"</p> + +<p>"She didn't know Totty was at Mrs. Curtis'. +Neither did I. We never dreamed that you +couldn't be trusted to take a baby out to ride and +bring her home safely. She thought some dreadful +thing had happened to her child."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother, did she? I'm so sorry. I never +meant to tease her that way. I only thought it +would be a funny joke to see her think Dotty was +Totty."</p> + +<p>"But, my little girl, you ought to have realized +that it was a cruel and even a dangerous joke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +You cannot carelessly dispose of little human beings +as if they were dolls, or other inanimate +things."</p> + +<p>"I never thought of that, Mother. And, anyway, +I started to tell you about it, just as I went +away, and you told me to run along, and tell you +what I had to tell after I came home."</p> + +<p>"I thought you'd say that; but of course I +thought you meant you wanted to tell me some +trifling incident, or something of little importance. +Can't you understand that what you did was not +a trifle, but a grave piece of misbehavior?"</p> + +<p>"Mischief, Mother?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard bit her lip to keep from smiling +at Marjorie's innocent request for information.</p> + +<p>"It was mischief, I suppose. But it was more +than that. It was real wrong-doing. When little +girls are trusted to do anything, they ought to be +very careful to do it earnestly and thoroughly, +exactly as it is meant to be done. If you had +stopped to think, would you have thought either +of those mothers <i>wanted</i> you to exchange their +babies?"</p> + +<p>Marjorie pondered.</p> + +<p>"No," she said, at last; "but, truly, if I had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +thought ever so hard I wouldn't have thought +they'd mind it so much. Can't they take a joke, +Mother?"</p> + +<p>"Marjorie, dear, you have a fun-loving disposition, +but if it is to make you joy and not sorrow +all your life, you must learn what constitutes a +desirable 'joke.' To begin with, practical jokes +are rarely, if ever, desirable."</p> + +<p>"What is a practical joke?"</p> + +<p>"It's a little difficult to explain, my dear; but +it's usually a well-laid plan to make somebody feel +foolish or angry, or appear ridiculous. I think +you hoped Mrs. Harrison would appear ridiculous +by petting another child while thinking it was her +own. And you meant to stand by and laugh +at her."</p> + +<p>This was putting it rather plainly, but Marjorie +could not deny the truth of her mother's +statement.</p> + +<p>"And so," went on Mrs. Maynard, "that was +a very wrong intent, especially from a little girl to +a grown person. Practical jokes among your +playmates are bad enough, but this was far +worse."</p> + +<p>"I understand, Mother, now that you've ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>plained +it; but, truly, I didn't mean to do anything +so awfully dreadful. How are you going to punish +me?"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Harrison was very forgiving, and +begged me not to punish you severely. But I think +you deserve a pretty hard penance; don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the way you tell me about it, I think I +do. But the way I meant it, seems so different."</p> + +<p>"Well, I've thought it over, and I've decided +on this. You dislike to sew; don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do!" said Marjorie, emphatically.</p> + +<p>"I know you do. But I think you ought to +learn to sew, and, moreover, I think this would be +an appropriate thing to do. I want you to make +a little dress for Totty. I will do the more difficult +parts, such as putting it together, but you +must run the tucks, and hem it, and overhand +the seams. And it must be done very neatly, as all +babies' dresses should be dainty and fine. You +may work half an hour on it every day, and, when +it is finished, it will be a pretty little gift for +Mrs. Harrison, and it will also teach you something +of an old-fashioned but useful art."</p> + +<p>Marjorie drew a deep sigh. "All right, +Mother. I'll try to do it nicely; but oh, how I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +hate a thimble! I never again will mix up people's +babies. But I didn't think it was such an +awful, dreadful thing to do."</p> + +<p>"You're a strange child, Midget," said her +mother, looking at her thoughtfully. "I never +know what you're going to do next."</p> + +<p>"I never know myself," said Marjorie, cheerfully, +"but you can always punish me, you know."</p> + +<p>"But I don't want to. I want you to behave +so you won't need punishment."</p> + +<p>"I'll try real hard," said Midge, as she kissed +her mother, again and again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h4>A NOBLE SOCIETY</h4> + + +<p>The Jinks Club was having its weekly meeting, +and all of the members were present.</p> + +<p>"I think," the President was saying, "that we +ought to do something that's of some use. It's all +very well to cut up jinks to have fun, and we did +have a lot of fun on the straw ride last week; but I +mean we ought to do some real good in the world."</p> + +<p>"But how could we, King?" said Marjorie, +looking at her brother in awe.</p> + +<p>"There are lots of ways!" declared King. +"We might do something public-spirited or +charitable."</p> + +<p>"I think so, too," said Dick Fulton. "My +father was talking last night about the selfishness +of citizens."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, Dick," said his sister, "we're not +citizens!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are, Gladys. Why aren't we? Every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>body +born in America is a citizen, whether old or +young."</p> + +<p>"I never dreamed I was a citizen," said Gladys, +giggling. "Did you, Kit?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Kitty; "but I'd just as lieve be. +Wouldn't you, Dorothy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed. It's nice to be citizens. Sort +of patriotic, you know."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Midget, "if we're citizens, let's +do citizens' work. What do they do, King?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they vote, and——"</p> + +<p>"But we can't vote. Of course we girls never +can, but you boys can't for years yet. Don't be +silly."</p> + +<p>"Well, there are other things besides voting," +said Dick. "Some citizens have big meetings and +make speeches."</p> + +<p>"Now <i>you're</i> silly," said Kingdon. "We can't +make speeches any more than we can vote. But +there must be things that young folks can +do."</p> + +<p>"We could have a fair and make money for +the heathen," volunteered Gladys.</p> + +<p>"That's too much like work," said King. "Be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>sides, +we're all going to be in the Bazaar in December, +and we don't want to copy that! And, +anyway, I mean something more—more political +than that."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about politics," declared +Marjorie, "and you don't, either!"</p> + +<p>"I do, too. Father told me all about the different +parties and platforms and everything."</p> + +<p>"Let's have a platform," said Kitty. "You +boys can build it."</p> + +<p>King laughed at this, but, as the others had +only a hazy idea of what a political platform was, +Kitty's suggestion was not heeded.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you," said Dick. "When Father was +talking last night, he said if our citizens were +public-spirited, they'd form a Village Improvement +Society, and fix up the streets and beautify the +park and the common, and keep their lawns in +better order."</p> + +<p>"Now you're talking!" cried King. "That's +the sort of thing I mean. And we children could +be a little Village Improvement Society ourselves. +Of course we couldn't do much, but we could make +a start, and then grown-up people might take the +notion and do it themselves."</p> + +<p>"I think it would be lovely," said Marjorie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +"We could plant flowers in the middle of the common, +and we'd all water them and weed them, and +keep them in lovely order."</p> + +<p>"We couldn't plant flowers till next spring," +said Gladys. "October's no time to plant +flowers."</p> + +<p>"It's not a very good time for such work, anyway," +said Dick, "for most of the improvement is +planting things, and mowing grass, and like that. +But there are other things, 'cause Father said +that such a society could make all the people who +live here keep their sidewalks clean and not have +any ashes or rubbish anywhere about."</p> + +<p>"I think it's great," said King. "I move we +go right bang! into it, and that we first change +the name of the Jinks Club to the Village Improvement +Society. Then let's keep just the same officers, +and everything, and go right ahead and +improve."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Marjorie, "and then whenever we +want to turn back again to the Jinks Club, why, +we can."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we won't want to turn back," said King, +confidently; "the other'll be more fun."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Dick. "I'm secretary, so I'll<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +make out a list of what we can do. How much +money is there in the treasury, Midget?"</p> + +<p>"Sixty cents," said Marjorie, promptly.</p> + +<p>"Huh! Just what we paid in to-day."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you know we spent last week's money +going on a trolley ride."</p> + +<p>"So we did. Well, we'll have to have more cash, +if we're going to improve this town much."</p> + +<p>"Then I can't belong," said Marjorie, decidedly. +"I've got to begin now to save money for +Christmas. I'd rather have it for that than plant +flower beds."</p> + +<p>"A nice citizen you are!" growled King. +"But," he added, "I haven't any extra money, +either. Christmas is coming, and that's a +fact!"</p> + +<p>"Father'll give us Christmas money," said +Kitty.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but he likes to have us save some of our +allowance, too. He says it makes better gifts."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Dick, "let's do things that don't +cost money, then. Father said the streets and +lanes ought to be kept in better order. Let's go +around and pick up the old cans and things."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you," said Marjorie, turning up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +her small nose. "I'm no ragpicker."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't do that, either," said Gladys; +"that is, unless I had a horse and cart. A pony-cart, +I mean; not a dump-cart. But, Dick, I +heard Father talking last night, too; and he said +a society like that would send out letters to the +citizens, asking them to keep their yards in better +order."</p> + +<p>"That's the ticket, Gladys!" cried Kingdon, +admiringly. "You've struck it now. Of course +that's the way to accomplish what we are after, +in a dignified manner. Let's write a lot of those +letters, and then when the people fix their places +all up, we'll say that we started the movement."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Dick, "I think that's just +what Father meant. But he said 'a circular letter.' +That means have it printed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, we can't afford to have it printed. +Why, we can't scrape up postage for very many +letters. Sixty cents; that would mail thirty +letters."</p> + +<p>"We can't write more than that," said Marjorie. +"That would be five apiece for all of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +us. And I don't know as Kit and Dorothy write +well enough, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Dorothy does," said Kitty, generously. "But +I write like hen's tracks."</p> + +<p>"Well, you can write those that don't matter +so much," said Midge, kindly. "I'll tell you, +Kitty, you can write the one to Father."</p> + +<p>"Pooh, Father doesn't need any. Our place is +always in order."</p> + +<p>"So is ours!" cried Dick. "And ours!" piped +up Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"But don't the citizens all have to have letters?" +asked Gladys. "If you just pick out the +ones who don't keep their lawns nice, they'll be +mad."</p> + +<p>"No, they won't," said Dick; "or, if they are, +why, let 'em <i>be</i> mad."</p> + +<p>"I say so, too," agreed King. "If we write to +the ones that need writing to, we'll have all we +can do. Make out a list of 'em, Dick."</p> + +<p>"Put down Mr. Bolton first," said Gladys. +"He hasn't mowed his grass all summer. Father +says his place is a disgrace to the comminity."</p> + +<p>"Community, child," corrected her brother. +"But old Bolton's place <i>is</i> awful. So is Crane's."</p> + +<p>"Let's write their letters now, and see how they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +sound," suggested King, who was always in favor +of quick action.</p> + +<p>The club was meeting in the Maynards' big +playroom, so paper and pencils were handy.</p> + +<p>"It ought to be in ink, I s'pose," said King, +"but I hardly ever use it, it spills about so. +Let's take pencil this time."</p> + +<p>After many suggestions and corrections on the +part of each of the interested members the following +letter was achieved:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"<span class="smcap">Mr. Bolton</span>,<br /> +</p> + +<p>"<i>Dear Sir</i>: We wish kindly to ask you to keep +your place in better order. We are trying to +improve our fair city, and how can we do it when +places like yours are a disgrace to the community? +We trust you will be nice about this, and not +get mad, for we mean well, and hope you are +enjoying the same blessing."</p></div> + +<p>"That's all right," said Marjorie, as Dick +read it aloud. "Now, what do we sign it?"</p> + +<p>"Just sign it 'The Village Improvement Society,' +that's all," said Gladys.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," said King. "In all letters<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +of this sort they always abbreviate some words; +it looks more business-like."</p> + +<p>"Mother hates abbreviations," said Marjorie; +"she won't let me say 'phone for telephone, or +auto for motor-car."</p> + +<p>"That's different," said King. "She means +in polite society; talking, you know, or writing +notes to your friends."</p> + +<p>"Isn't a Village Improvement Society a polite +society?" asked Kitty.</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course, sister. But I don't mean that. +I mean, in a business letter like this they always +abbreviate some words."</p> + +<p>"Well, abbreviate 'community,' that's the longest +word," suggested Dick.</p> + +<p>"No, that isn't the right kind of a word to +abbreviate. It ought to be something like acc't +for account."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that kind? Well, perhaps we can use +that word in some other letter. But can't we do +the abbreviating in the signature? That's pretty +long."</p> + +<p>"So we can," said King. "Let's sign it, 'The +Village Imp. Society.'"</p> + +<p>This was adopted, as it didn't occur to any of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +the children that the abbreviated word might convey +an unintended meaning.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crane was attended to next, and, as they +warmed to their subject, his letter was a little +more peremptory. It ran:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"<span class="smcap">Mr. Crane</span>,<br /> +</p> + +<p>"<i>Dear Sir</i>: We're improving our village, and, +unless you fix up your place pretty quick, we will +call and argue with you. On no acc't let it go another +week looking as disreputibil as it now does. +We mean well, if you do; but if you don't,—beware!</p> + +<p> +"<span class="smcap">The Village Imp. Society</span>."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>"That's fine!" exclaimed Gladys, as this effusion +was read out. "Now, let's do two more, +and then we can each take one for a copy, and +make a lot of them, just put different names at +the top, you know."</p> + +<p>"Let's make a more gentle one," said Marjorie. +"Those are all right for men, but there's old Mrs. +Hill, she ought to be told pleasantly to fix up her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +garden and keep her pigs and chickens shut up. +We almost ran over a lot of them the other +day."</p> + +<p>So a gentle petition was framed:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"<span class="smcap">Dear Mrs. Hill</span>:<br /> +</p> + +<p>"Won't you please be so kind as to straighten +out your garden a little? We'd like to see it look +neat like Mr. Fulton's, or Mr. Maynard's, or Mr. +Adams'. Don't go to too much trouble in this +matter, but just kill or shut up your pigs and +chickens, and we will all help you if need be.</p> + +<p> +"Lovingly yours,<br /> +"<span class="smcap">The Village Imp. Society</span>."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>"That's sweet," said Marjorie; "I like that +'Lovingly yours'; it shows we have no hard +feelings."</p> + +<p>One more was framed, with a special intent toward +the shopkeepers:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"<span class="smcap">Mr. Green</span>:<br /> +</p> + +<p>"We wish to goodness you'd keep your goods +in better order. In front of your store, on sidewalk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +and gutter, are old fruits, potatoes, and +sundry other things too old to be quite nice. So +spruce things up, and you will be surprised at the +result.</p> + +<p> +"Yours in good fellowship,<br /> +"<span class="smcap">The Village Imp. Society</span>."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>"That's a good business one," said Dick. "Sort +of 'man to man,' you know."</p> + +<p>"I don't like it as well as some of the others," +said Marjorie. "You copy that, Dick, and I'll +copy the 'lovingly' one."</p> + +<p>Each took a model, and all set to work, except +Kitty and Dorothy, who were exempt, as their +penmanship was not very legible.</p> + +<p>"I'm tired," announced Dick, after an hour's +work. "Let's stop where we are."</p> + +<p>"All right," said King. "We've enough for +the first week, I think. If these work pretty good, +we'll do more next Saturday."</p> + +<p>They had sixteen letters altogether, addressed +to the best and worst citizens of Rockwell, and +in high glee they started to the post-office to buy +their stamps.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard willingly gave permission for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +them to go the short distance to the post-office, +and watched the six well-behaved children as they +walked off, two by two.</p> + +<p>After the stamps were bought, and the letters +posted, they found they still had enough in the +treasury for soda water all round, lacking two +cents. King generously supplied the deficit, and +the six trooped into the drug store, and each +selected a favorite flavor.</p> + +<p>The club meeting broke up after that, and the +children went to their homes, feeling that they had +greatly gained in importance since morning. And +indeed they had.</p> + +<p>That same evening many of the Rockwell people +strolled down to the post-office for their mail.</p> + +<p>In the small town there were no carriers, and +the short trip to the post-office was deemed a +pleasure by most.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Maynard arrived he was surprised +to find men gathered into small groups, talking +in loud and almost angry voices.</p> + +<p>The pretty little stone building was not large +enough to hold them all, and knots of people were +on the steps and on the small grass plot in front.</p> + +<p>"It's outrageous!" one man was saying. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +never heard of such impudence in a civilized +town!"</p> + +<p>"Here comes Mr. Maynard now," said another, +"let's ask him."</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard smiled pleasantly as the belligerent +ones approached him.</p> + +<p>They were men whom he knew by name, but +they were not of his own social circle.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said John Kellogg, "I've just +got this 'ere note, and some kid yonder says it's +the handwritin' of your son, and I want ter know +ef that's so!"</p> + +<p>"It certainly looks like my son's writing," said +Mr. Maynard, still smiling pleasantly, though his +heart sank as he wondered what those children had +been up to now.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h4>DISTURBED CITIZENS</h4> + + +<p>"And I've got one that my boy says is in +Dick Fulton's writin'!" declared another angry +citizen.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Dick's father now," said Mr. +Maynard, as he advanced a step to meet Mr. +Fulton. "They tell me our sons have been writing +miscellaneous letters," he said to Mr. Fulton, and, +though there was a twinkle in his eye, Mr. Fulton +saw at once that there was some serious matter +in hand.</p> + +<p>"Not only your sons, but your girls, too," +growled another man. "My kid says this is your +Marjorie's fist."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, what are the letters all about?" +asked Mr. Fulton, who did not like the attitude of +the complainants.</p> + +<p>"Read 'em, and see!" was the quick response,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +and half a dozen letters were thrust toward the +two gentlemen.</p> + +<p>Mr. Fulton adjusted his glasses, and both he +and Mr. Maynard quickly scanned the notes that +were only too surely the work of their own +children.</p> + +<p>"The signature is misleading," said Mr. Fulton, +who was inwardly shaking with laughter at the +absurd epistles, but who preserved a serious +countenance; "but I feel sure it means 'The +Village Improvement Society.' I have often +thought such a society would be a good thing +for our town, but I didn't know one had been +started."</p> + +<p>"But who <i>is</i> the society? A lot of youngsters?" +demanded John Kellogg.</p> + +<p>"Ahem! These documents would lead one to +think so, wouldn't they?" said Mr. Fulton, +suavely.</p> + +<p>But the offended men were not to be so easily +placated.</p> + +<p>"See here," said one of them, assuming a +threatening tone, "these 'ere letters is insults; +that's what I call 'em!"</p> + +<p>"And I!" "Me, too!" said several others.</p> + +<p>"And as they is insults," went on the first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +speaker, "we wants satisfaction; that's what we +wants!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" "We do!" chorused the crowd.</p> + +<p>Mr. Fulton and Mr. Maynard were decidedly +nonplussed. It was difficult to take the matter +seriously, and yet, as these men were so incensed, +it might make an unpleasant publicity for the +two families, unless they placated the angry recipients +of those foolish letters.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard was a quick thinker, and a man +of more even disposition and affable demeanor than +Mr. Fulton. So Mr. Maynard, with a nod at his +friend, jumped up on a chair and began to +address the crowd, as if he were on a public +platform.</p> + +<p>"My friends and fellow-townsmen," he said: +"in the first place, Mr. Fulton and I want to +admit that these letters which you have received +are without doubt the work of our own children. +They were written entirely without our knowledge +or consent, and they represent a childish endeavor +to do well, but they do not show experience, or +familiarity with grown people's ways of dealing +with these matters. We, therefore, apologize to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +you for the offence our children have caused you, +and trust that, as most of you have children of +your own, you will appreciate the facts of the case, +and forgive the well-meaning, but ill-doing, little +scamps."</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard's pleasant voice and genial smile +went far to establish good-feeling, and many +voices murmured, "Aw, that's all right," or, +"Little scalawags, ain't they?"</p> + +<p>"And now," Mr. Maynard went on, "since we +are gathered here, I would like to make a suggestion +that may lead to a good work. Several +of our prominent business men have thought that +a Village Improvement Society could do a great +and good work in our town. I, myself, have not +sufficient leisure to take this matter in charge, but +I wish that a committee of our citizens might be +appointed to consider ways and means, with a view +to organizing a society in the near future. Should +this be done, I stand ready to contribute one thousand +dollars to the general fund of the society, +and I've no doubt more will be subscribed by willing +hearts."</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard stepped down from the chair, and +Mr. Fulton immediately mounted it.</p> + +<p>"I, too, will gladly subscribe the same amount<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +as Mr. Maynard," he said; "this project has for +some time been in my mind, and I am pretty sure +that it was because of overhearing some of my +conversations on the subject that my young +people took it up, and earnestly, if in a +mistaken manner, endeavored to start such a +society."</p> + +<p>The sentiment of the meeting had entirely +changed. The men who had been most angry at +their letters were now enthusiastic in their desire +for the immediate formation of the society.</p> + +<p>"Land sakes!" said old Mr. Bolton, "them +children didn't mean nothin' wrong. They jest +didn't know no better."</p> + +<p>"That's so," said John Kellogg. "Like's +not, some of our kids might 'a' done a heap +worse."</p> + +<p>After the election of a chairman for the provisional +committee, and a few more preliminary +moves in the matter, Mr. Maynard and Mr. Fulton +went away, leaving it all in the hands of their +fellow-townsmen.</p> + +<p>"You did good work," said Mr. Fulton, appreciatively. +"I confess I was afraid of an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +unpleasant turn of affairs. But you won their +hearts by your tact and genial manner."</p> + +<p>"That's the best way to manage that sort of +an uprising," returned Mr. Maynard. "Of +course we are, in a way, responsible for our children's +deeds, and there's a possibility that some of +those letters could make trouble for us. But I +think it's all right now. The next thing is to +choke off the children before they go any further. +What <i>do</i> you suppose possessed them to cut up +such a trick?"</p> + +<p>"What possesses them to get into one sort +of mischief after another, as fast as they can +go?"</p> + +<p>"Well, this isn't really mischief, is it? They +meant well, you know. But I'll reserve judgment +until after I talk with my young hopefuls."</p> + +<p>The two men separated at the corner, and Mr. +Maynard went directly to his own home.</p> + +<p>He found Mrs. Maynard and the three older +children in the living-room, variously engaged +with books or games.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, as he entered the room. "I'd +like an immediate interview with The Village +Imps."</p> + +<p>Each of the three gave a start of surprise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Father?" cried Marjorie.</p> + +<p>"Why, if you belong to an Imp Society you +must be Imps; aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"Who told you about it?" asked Kitty, disappointedly. +"It was to be a secret, until all +the town was stirred up."</p> + +<p>"The town is pretty well stirred up now, my +girl. But I don't want reports of my children's +doings from other people. Tell me all about it, +yourselves."</p> + +<p>"We will, Father," said Marjorie, evidently +glad of the chance. "You tell, King; you're +president."</p> + +<p>Nothing loath, King began the tale. He gave +a full account of their desire to do something that +would be a public benefit of some sort. He told +of Dick's suggestion, founded upon Mr. Fulton's +remarks about a Village Improvement Society. He +explained that they wrote letters because they +hadn't money enough for any more expensive proceeding, +and he wound up by proudly stating that +they had mailed sixteen letters already, and hoped +to send more the following week.</p> + +<p>So earnest was the boy in his description of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +the work, and so honest his pride in their +efforts so far, that Mr. Maynard deeply regretted +the necessity of changing his view of the +matter.</p> + +<p>"Kingdon," he said, "you're fourteen years +old, and I think you're old enough to know +that you ought not to engage in such important +affairs without getting the advice of older +people."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father!" cried Marjorie. "Was this +wrong, too? Is <i>everything</i> mischief? Can't we +do anything at all without we have to be punished +for it? We thought this was truly a good +work, and we thought we were doing our +duty!"</p> + +<p>Like a little whirlwind, Marjorie flew across the +room, and threw herself, sobbing, into her father's +arms.</p> + +<p>"My dear child," he said, kissing her hot little +brow, "wait a moment till I explain. We want +to talk over this matter, and get each other's +ideas about it."</p> + +<p>"But you're going to say it was wrong,—I +know you are! And I was trying so hard <i>not</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +to do naughty things. Oh, Father, how can I +tell what I can do, and what I can't?"</p> + +<p>"There, there, Midget, now stop crying. +You're not going to be punished; you don't deserve +to be. What you did was not wrong in +itself,—at least it would not have been for older +people. But you children are ignorant of the +ways of the grown-up world, and so you ought +not to have taken the responsibility of dictating +to or advising grown people. That was the wrong +part."</p> + +<p>"But we meant it for their good, sir, more +than for our own," said King, by way of justification.</p> + +<p>"That's just it, Kingdon, my boy. You're too +young yet to know what <i>is</i> for the good of grown +men and women who are old enough to be your +parents and grandparents. You wouldn't think +of dictating to your mother or myself 'for +our good,' would you? And all grown people +ought to be equally free from your unasked +advice."</p> + +<p>"But, Father," insisted King, "if you kept this +place looking like a rubbish-heap, wouldn't I have +a right to ask you not to?"</p> + +<p>"You'd have only the right of our relation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>ship. +A child has many privileges with his parents +that he hasn't with any one else in the world. But +to come right down to the facts: the letters +that you wrote were ill-advised, arrogant, and +impertinent."</p> + +<p>Kitty looked frankly bewildered at these big +Words, Marjorie buried her face on her father's +shoulder in a renewed burst of tears, while Kingdon +flushed a deep red all over his honest, boyish +face.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Father," he said; "we didn't mean +them to be, and we didn't think they were. We +thought they were straightforward and business-like."</p> + +<p>"That shows your ignorance, my son. Until +you have been in business, you cannot really know +what grown men and women consider business-like. +I can tell you John Kellogg and Tom Bolton +didn't consider them masterpieces of business-like +literature."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" said Marjorie, lifting +her wet face from its hiding-place.</p> + +<p>"I saw them, dearie; both the men and the letters, +at the post-office to-night. There were many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +others,—a dozen or more,—and they were, one +and all, extremely angry at the letters they had +received. Mr. Fulton and I were both there, and, +when we were told that the letters were the +work of our children, we could scarcely believe +it."</p> + +<p>"And we thought you'd be so proud of us," said +Kitty, in such a dejected voice that Mrs. Maynard +caught up the little girl and held her in her +arms.</p> + +<p>Of course, this was the first Mrs. Maynard had +heard of the whole affair, but, as Mr. Maynard +was conducting the discussion, she said +little.</p> + +<p>"What ought we to have done, Father?" said +King, who was beginning to see that they had +done wrong.</p> + +<p>"When you first thought of the plan, my son, +you should have realized that it concerned grown +people entirely; and that, therefore, before you +children undertook its responsibilities you should +confer with your mother or me. Surely you see +that point?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"When your plans include only children, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +are not disobedience to rules either actual and +implied, then you are usually free to do pretty +much as you like."</p> + +<p>"But we thought this would do the town +good."</p> + +<p>"That was a worthy sentiment, and a true one, +too. But the matter of a town improvement is not +a matter for children to attend to, <i>unless</i> they are +working under the direction of older people. Had +I advised you to write these letters, which, of +course, I never should have done, for you are +not the proper ones to write them, but had I done +so, I would have shown you how to word them +that they might not offend. Inexperienced +letter-writers cannot expect to write a sort of +letter which requires special delicacy, tact, and +graciousness."</p> + +<p>"Father," said Marjorie, solemnly, "I'm never +going to do anything again, but go to school and +eat my meals and go to bed. Anything else I ever +do is wrong."</p> + +<p>"Now, Mopsy Midget, don't talk nonsense. +You're twelve years old. You've a lot to learn +before you're a grown-up, and most of it must be +learned by experience. If you never do anything,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +you'll never get any experience, and at twenty +you'll only know as much as you did at twelve! +How would you like that?"</p> + +<p>"Not much," said Marjorie, whose spirits rose +as her father adopted a lighter tone.</p> + +<p>"Then just go on and have your experiences. +Cut up jinks and have all the fun you can; but +try to learn as you go along to discriminate between +the things you ought to do and the things +you oughtn't. You won't always guess right, but +if you keep on living you can always guess +again."</p> + +<p>"What did those men say?" asked King, +who was brooding over the scene in the post-office.</p> + +<p>"Oh! they were pretty mad at first, and I think +they were quite ready to come after you children +with tomahawks and war-whoops. But Mr. Fulton +and I patted them fondly on the shoulder, +and told them you were harmless lunatics and they +mustn't mind you."</p> + +<p>"We're not crazy, Father," said Kitty, who +was inclined to be literal.</p> + +<p>"No, Kitsie, you're not; and I don't want you +to drive me crazy, either. You're three of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +most delightful children I ever met, and whenever +I can pull you out of your scrapes I'm only too +glad to do so. I may as well tell you at once +that Mr. Fulton and I fixed up this Imp Society +matter very satisfactorily; and if you don't start +in to lay a new asphalt road, or build a cathedral, +I think I can keep up with you."</p> + +<p>"How did you fix it, Father?" asked Marjorie, +brightening with renewed interest, as she learned +that the trouble was over.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I told the gentlemen who were most interested +that if they didn't like the way my children +improved this village that they'd better do +the improving themselves. And they said they +would."</p> + +<p>"Really, Father?"</p> + +<p>"Really, King. So now you're all well out +of it, and I want you to stay out. Unless they +ask for your assistance, later on; and I doubt if +they'll do that, for between you and me they don't +seem to approve of your methods."</p> + +<p>"I think it was dreadful for the children to +write those letters," said Mrs. Maynard. "And +I don't think, Ed, that you've quite explained to +them how very wrong it was."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," said Mr. Maynard, "but can't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +we leave that part of the subject till some other +time? For my part, I'm quite exhausted scolding +these young reprobates, and I'd like a change +to smiles instead of tears. And somehow I have +a growing conviction that they'll never do it again. +Will you, chickabiddies?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir!" came in a hearty chorus.</p> + +<p>"Of course they won't," said Mrs. Maynard, +laughing. "It will be some other ridiculous freak. +But I'll be glad to drop the subject for the present, +too, and have a pleasant half-hour before it's +bedtime for babes."</p> + +<p>"And aren't we to be punished?" asked Marjorie, +in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly punished," said her father, smiling +at her. "I think I shall give you a severe +scolding every night for a week, and then see if +you're not little paragons of perfection, every one +of you."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid of your scolding," said Marjorie, +contentedly cuddling close to her father; +"but I thought maybe—perhaps—you'd want +us to apologize to those people who were so +angry."</p> + +<p>"I did that for you, dearie. What's the use of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +having a father if he can't get you out of a scrape +now and then? And now let's roast some chestnuts, +and pop some corn, and have all sorts +of fun."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h4>ROSY POSY'S CHOICE</h4> + + +<p>It was time to decide the momentous question of +where the next Ourday should be spent.</p> + +<p>Already it was Wednesday, and on Saturday +the Maynards would have their November Ourday. +It was Rosy Posy's turn to choose, but as her +selections were usually either vague or impossible, +the other children were not backward in offering +suggestions to help the little one out.</p> + +<p>This time, however, Rosamond was quite positive +in her opinion.</p> + +<p>When her father asked her where she wanted +to go for a day's outing, she at once responded, +"To Bongzoo."</p> + +<p>"To Bongzoo!" exclaimed Mr. Maynard. +"Where in the world is that? Or what is it? +It sounds as though it might be either French +or Choctaw."</p> + +<p>"Ess," said Rosy Posy, "we'll all go to Bong<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>zoo; +me an' muvver, an' all of us, an' Daddy, +too."</p> + +<p>"And how do we get there, Baby? Walk, ride, +or swim?"</p> + +<p>"I don' know," said Rosy Posy. "But Marjorie +knows. She told me to say 'Go to Bongzoo,' +so I said it."</p> + +<p>Then the laugh was on Marjorie.</p> + +<p>"Oho!" said Mr. Maynard. "So Mopsy's +been electioneering all right. Out with it, Midge. +What does Baby mean by Bongzoo?"</p> + +<p>"She means the Bronx Zoo," said Marjorie. "I +thought we'd all like to see the animals there. +But it isn't my turn to choose, so I told Rosy Posy +to choose that."</p> + +<p>"An' I do!" declared the child, stoutly. "I +choose Bongzoo, an' I wants to go there."</p> + +<p>"I think it's a fine place to go," said Mr. Maynard. +"What made you think of it, Midge?"</p> + +<p>"One of the girls at school went there some time +ago, and she told us all about it; and, oh, Father, +it's beautiful! All lions and tigers and waterlilies +and Florida trees!"</p> + +<p>"I doubt if the waterlilies are in bloom just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +now, but I'm sure the tigers are flourishing. Well, +I'm for the Zoo. Will you go, Mother?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Maynard; "I don't +want to miss such a fine-sounding Ourday as +that."</p> + +<p>"I think it's great!" declared King. "Bob +Carson says the birds are wonderful, and the +alligators walk around on the grass."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Kitty, "then I don't want to +go. I wouldn't meet an alligator for anything!"</p> + +<p>"They have their own grass plat, Kitsie," said +her father. "They don't trespass on the grass +reserved for visitors."</p> + +<p>So the Ourday was unanimously settled, and, as +that sort of a trip involved little preparation, +there was nothing to do but hope for pleasant +weather.</p> + +<p>"Though if it rains," said Marjorie, comfortably, +"Father will fix up something nice for +us in the house."</p> + +<p>But Saturday turned out to be a lovely day, +and the Maynard family took an early train for +New York City, in order to make their stay at +the Zoo as long as possible.</p> + +<p>They did not invite any other guests, as Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +and Mrs. Maynard thought their own four children +responsibility enough.</p> + +<p>The young people greatly enjoyed the journey +in the train, and across the ferry, and then Rosy +Posy asked that they might go in what she called +the "Cellarway." She meant the Subway, and, as +this was a quick way to reach Bronx Park, Mr. +Maynard consented. The children were of enthusiastic +natures, and inclined to be conversational, +but the noise of the Subway trains drowned their +voices, and, for once, they were obliged to be +silent. But when they reached their destination, +and entered the beautiful park, their tongues were +loosed again, and they kept up a running fire of +chatter.</p> + +<p>Rosy Posy trotted along by her mother's side, +King and Kitty walked together, and Midget pretended +to walk by her father's side, but really +danced back and forth from one to another. +They visited the Botanical Park first, and as +the early November day was clear and cold, +they were not sorry to step into the warm greenhouses.</p> + +<p>Marjorie specially liked the great jungles of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +Florida and other southern vegetation. The +banyan trees and giant palms reached up to the +high ceiling, and the luxuriant foliage and brilliant +blossoms made northern plants seem dwarfed beside +them. It was an instructive experience, as well +as an entertaining one, for Mr. Maynard called +the children's attention to the printed names on +the plants, and, though they could not remember +all of them, they learned a great many.</p> + +<p>"It's fun to study botany this way," said Marjorie, +as her father showed her the strange Mexican +cacti, and told her about the deserts where +they grow.</p> + +<p>King nearly scared Kitty out of her wits by pretending +there was a great snake writhing among +the dark-leaved reeds, but almost immediately she +discovered it was only a rubber hose, and she +laughed with the rest.</p> + +<p>There were many greenhouses, but after they +had been through most of them, Mr. Maynard +proposed that they have an early luncheon, and +then go to see the animals.</p> + +<p>So they went to the picturesque restaurant, and +the six travellers suddenly discovered they were +both tired and hungry.</p> + +<p>"But an hour's rest and some good food will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +make us all over anew," said Mr. Maynard, "and +then we'll be quite ready to call on the lions and +the tigers."</p> + +<p>"Is this Bongzoo?" asked Rosy Posy, after +she had been comfortably placed in a high chair +almost like her own at home.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is the place where they feed the +animals," said her father, "and as you're a little +kitten, I suppose you'll have some milk?"</p> + +<p>"Milk, an' meat, an' 'tatoes, an' pie, an' evvyfing," +announced Rosy Posy, folding her chubby +hands to await contentedly the filling of her comprehensive +order.</p> + +<p>Being an Ourday the children were allowed +to select whatever they chose from the <i>menu</i>, +their parents, however, reserving the right of +veto.</p> + +<p>"I want roast beef," said Kitty, after scanning +the more elaborate, but unfamiliar, +names.</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw, Kit," said her brother, "you can +have that at home! Why don't you take something +different? It's more of a treat. I choose +Supreme of Chicken."</p> + +<p>"I don't like soup," said Kitty, innocently, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +then they all laughed.</p> + +<p>"I think I'll have lobster salad," announced +Marjorie, after long study.</p> + +<p>"I think you won't," said her father, +promptly. "Nobody's to be ill this afternoon, +and that's a risky dish for little folks. Try +again, sister."</p> + +<p>Marjorie cheerfully made another perusal of the +bill of fare, and at last declared in favor of +chicken hash.</p> + +<p>This was willingly allowed, and when Kitty decided +on an omelette with jelly, her choice was +also commended. Mrs. Maynard added a +few wise selections, which were for the good +of all concerned, and each chose a favorite ice-cream.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a good time we're having!" said +Marjorie. "I do love to eat at a restaurant."</p> + +<p>"It is pleasant once in a while," said her +father. "But for daily food, give me my own +family table."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," agreed Marjorie; "I wouldn't +like to <i>live</i> in a restaurant."</p> + +<p>After luncheon they visited the great "rocking-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>stone." +The immense rock, weighing many tons, +was poised on a tiny base, and it almost seemed +as if Rosy Posy might push it over, so unstable +did it look.</p> + +<p>But indeed she couldn't, nor any of the others, +though it was said that a pressure of fifty +pounds could make the great stone rock on its +base.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Mr. Maynard, "we're really +getting into the Zoo part of our day. This, Rosy +Posy, is your Bongzoo, and first of all here are the +bears."</p> + +<p>Delightedly all the children viewed the bears. +The great creatures seemed so mild and gentle, +and played with one another in such kittenish +fashion, that even Rosy Posy felt no fear +of them. There were various species, from +the big grizzlies to the little brown cinnamon +bears, and all waddled about in a state of comfortable +fatness, or lay in the sun and slept +peacefully.</p> + +<p>The lions and tigers were far less placid. They +stalked up and down their small cages, and now +and then growled or roared as if very weary of +their long and solitary confinement.</p> + +<p>"He wants to come out," said Rosy Posy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +of a particularly big and ferocious-looking lion. +"Let him out, Father, he wants to play wiv +us."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I think I'd better not, Baby. He might +run away and forget to come back."</p> + +<p>"No," insisted the child; "I'll put my arms +round him, an' make him stay wiv me."</p> + +<p>"We won't have time now, Rosy Posy," said +King. "We're going on now to see the panthers +and wolves. Come along with brother."</p> + +<p>So the child slipped her little hand in King's, +and they led the family procession for a +while.</p> + +<p>The monkeys were a great source of amusement, +and Rosy Posy thought some of the chimpanzees +were little old men, they chattered so glibly.</p> + +<p>But the birds proved a delight to all.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Marjorie. "Will you look at +those red and blue parrots!"</p> + +<p>"Parrakeets," corrected Mr. Maynard. "And +fine ones, too. And how beautiful are the white +ones with yellow topknots."</p> + +<p>They studied, with some care, the names and +homes of the birds, and learned to distinguish the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +toucans and orioles and other beautiful, bright-colored +species.</p> + +<p>Then on to the big, wise-eyed owls, who blinked +and winked at them in a sleepy sort of a +way.</p> + +<p>The eagles came next, and all were proud of the +National bird, as they viewed the fine specimens on +exhibition. The bald eagle and the white eagle +were favorites, and the vultures and condors were +disliked by all.</p> + +<p>An interesting structure was an immense cage, +which was larger than any house, and entirely +open to view. They walked round all four sides +of it, and were enchanted with its beautiful occupants +pants. Storks and flamingoes stood about, on one +leg, motionless, as if absorbed in deep contemplation. +Pelicans, with their strange bills, and ducks +of most brilliant plumage waddled around and +seemed to be entirely interested in their eager +audience.</p> + +<p>In another enclosure, cranes and adjutant birds +flapped their great wings, and made long, hopping +jumps, and then stood still, as if posing for +their pictures.</p> + +<p>Marjorie proved herself specially quick in pick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>ing +out each bird, from its descriptive placard, +and she learned the names, both English and Latin, +of many of them.</p> + +<p>"You don't mind going to school this way, do +you. Midget?" asked her father.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit! I love it. If I could learn all my +lessons out of doors, and with you to help teach me, +I'd be willing to study all the time."</p> + +<p>"Well, we must come here again some day," +said Mr. Maynard, "and see if you remember all +these jawbreaker names. Now, let's visit the +beavers."</p> + +<p>The beaver pond was a strange sight, indeed. +Originally there had been many tall trees standing +in the swampy enclosure, but now nearly all +of them lay flat in the water. The little busy +beavers had gnawed around and into the trunks, +near the ground, until the tree toppled and fell +over.</p> + +<p>"Why do they do it, Father?" asked King, +greatly interested.</p> + +<p>"They want to make bridges across the water," +answered Mr. Maynard. "It shows a wonderful +sagacity, for they gnaw the trunk of the tree, +at first such a place, and in just such a way, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +the tree will fall exactly in the direction they want +it to."</p> + +<p>"They must scamper to get out of the way +when a tree is about to fall," observed Mrs. +Maynard.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, they do," said her husband. "They +are very clever, and most patient and untiring +workers. See, the trunks they have gnawed have +been protected by wire netting that visitors may +see them. And some of the standing trees are +protected near the ground by wire netting that +they may not be upset at present."</p> + +<p>"Now I know my beaver lesson," said Marjorie; +"let's go on. Father, I think I'll change that +piece I spoke in school to 'How doth the busy +little beaver,' instead of bee!"</p> + +<p>"They're equally busy creatures, my dear. You +may take a lesson from either or both."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you. I don't want to work <i>all</i> +the time. I'll be a butterfly sometimes, 'specially +on Ourdays."</p> + +<p>Marjorie jumped and fluttered about more like +a grasshopper than anything else, and, swinging +by her father's hand, they passed on to the deer +ranges.</p> + +<p>Here were all sorts of deer, and the gentle,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +timid-eyed creatures came tamely to the railings +or nettings and made friends with the +visitors.</p> + +<p>"It would be fun to feed them," said Mr. Maynard, +"but it's strictly forbidden, so we can only +talk to them, and hope that they understand. And +now, my infants, the sun is travelling homeward, +and I think we'll take our next lesson from him. +Would you rather have some sandwiches and ice-cream +now, or wait until you get home, to refresh +yourselves?"</p> + +<p>"Now, now, now!" chorused the whole party.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, I thought you'd say that," said +Mr. Maynard. "So suppose we go into this +pleasant-looking tea-room, and have a social +hour."</p> + +<p>"This makes twice for ice-cream, to-day," observed +Kitty, as she lovingly ate her favorite +dainty. "And do we have it to-night for dinner, +Mother?"</p> + +<p>"Of course. Always on an Ourday night."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how lovely! Three times in one day."</p> + +<p>"Kitty," said her mother, smiling, "I believe +your highest ambition is ice-cream."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is," said Kitty, complacently; "or else<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +huckleberry pie."</p> + +<p>After the ice-cream, there was the trip home. +But the children were not tired, and enjoyed thoroughly +the ride, which was more of a treat to them +than to their parents.</p> + +<p>The Subway was fun, the ferryboat ride a delight, +and after they were in the train on the New +Jersey side, they coaxed the conductor to turn +two seats to face each other. Then the quartette +occupied these, and chattered gaily over the events +of the day.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it lovely," said Marjorie, as they at last +entered their own front door, "to think we've had +such a good time, and yet Ourday isn't over yet?"</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Kitty. "And 'tis specially +lovely for me, 'cause I can stay up to dinner, +and dress up, and everything."</p> + +<p>Ourdays always wound up with an extra good +dinner, and a touch of gala costume in honor of +the occasion. Then after dinner the evening was +devoted to games or stories or fun of some sort, in +which Mr. Maynard was the ringleader. Other +evenings he was not to be disturbed, unless he +chose, but Ourday evenings he belonged to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +children, and willingly did whatever they asked +him to.</p> + +<p>But at nine o'clock the Ourday was over, and +the children trooped off to bed, invariably repeating +the same old story, "Now this has <i>really</i> been +the very best Ourday we <i>ever</i> had!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h4>A SUBSTITUTE GUEST</h4> + + +<p>Thanksgiving Day came late that year. The red-lettered +Thursday on the calendar didn't appear +until the last part of the month. But winter had +set in early, and already there was fine coasting +and skating.</p> + +<p>Marjorie loved all out-of-door sports, and the +jolly afternoons spent on the hill or on the lake +sent her home with cheeks as rosy as a hard, sound, +winter apple.</p> + +<p>The Thanksgiving season always meant festivity +of some sort. Sometimes they all went to +Grandma Sherwood's in orthodox traditional fashion, +and sometimes they went to Grandma Maynard's, +who lived in New York.</p> + +<p>But this year Mr. and Mrs. Maynard expected +friends of their own, some grown-ups from the +city, to spend the holiday.</p> + +<p>"No children!" exclaimed Marjorie, when she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +heard about it.</p> + +<p>"No, Midge," said her mother. "You must +help me entertain my guests this time, as I sometimes +help you entertain yours."</p> + +<p>"Indeed you do, you sweetest mother in all +the world!" cried impetuous Midget, as she flung +herself into her mother's arms. Midget's embraces +were of the strenuous order, and, though +Mrs. Maynard never warded them off, she was +often obliged to brace herself for the sudden +impact.</p> + +<p>"And I'll help you a heap," went on Marjorie. +"What can I do? May I make Indian pudding +with raisins in it?"</p> + +<p>Midge was just having a spell of learning to +cook, and good-natured Ellen had taught her a +few simple dishes, of which Indian pudding was +the favorite.</p> + +<p>"No thank you, dearie. As it is a festival occasion, +I think we'll have something a little more +elaborate than that. You can help me better +by trying to behave decorously, and by keeping +the other children quiet when they are in the drawing-room. +Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +had any children, and they don't like noise and +confusion."</p> + +<p>"You're more used to it, aren't you, Mother?" +said Marjorie, again springing to give her mother +one of her spasmodic embraces, and incidentally +upsetting that long-suffering lady's work-basket.</p> + +<p>"I have to be if I live with my whirlwind of an +eldest daughter," said Mrs. Maynard, when she +could get her breath once more.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm. And I'm awful sorry I upset your +basket, but now I'll just dump it out entirely, and +clear it up from the beginning; shall I?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, do; it always looks so nice after you put +it in order."</p> + +<p>And so it did, for Marjorie was methodical in +details, and she arranged the little reels of silk, +and put the needles tidily in their cushion, until +the basket was in fine order.</p> + +<p>"There," she said, admiring her own work, +"don't you touch that, Mother, until after +Thanksgiving Day; and then it will be all in order +for Mrs. Crawford to see. When is she coming?"</p> + +<p>"They'll arrive Wednesday night and stay over +until Friday morning. You may help me make the +guest-rooms fresh and pretty for them."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I'll stick pins in the cushions to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +the letters of their names. Shall I?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no; I don't believe I care for that particular +fancy. But I'll show you how I do like +the pins put in, and you may do it for me. Now, +run out and play, we'll have ample time for our +housekeeping affairs later on."</p> + +<p>Away went Marjorie, after bestowing another +tumultuous bear-hug on her mother. She whisked +on her hat and coat, and with her mittens still +in her hand, flew out of the door, banging it +after her.</p> + +<p>"Cold weather always goes to that child's +muscles," thought Mrs. Maynard, as she heard +the noise. "She never bangs doors in summer +time."</p> + +<p>"Wherever have you been?" cried the others, +as Marjorie joined them on the hill.</p> + +<p>"Talking to Mother. I meant to come out +right away after school, but I forgot about it."</p> + +<p>Gladys Fulton looked at her curiously. She +wasn't "intimate" with her mother, as Marjorie +was, and she didn't quite understand the +relationship.</p> + +<p>In another minute Midge was on her sled, and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +with one red-mittened hand waving on high, was +whizzing down the hill.</p> + +<p>King caught up to her, and the others followed, +and then they all walked back up the hill +together.</p> + +<p>"Going to have fun, Thanksgiving Day?" +asked Dick Fulton, as they climbed along.</p> + +<p>"No. We're going to have a silly old Thanksgiving," +said Marjorie. "Only grown-ups to visit +us, and that means we don't have any good of +Father at all."</p> + +<p>"Aw, horrid!" said King. "Is that the programme? +I didn't know it."</p> + +<p>"Yes!" went on Marjorie, "and I've promised +Mother to behave myself and to make all you +others behave, too." Her own eyes danced, as she +said this, and King burst into laughter.</p> + +<p>"That's a good one!" he cried. "Why, it +will take the whole Maynard family to make you +behave yourself, let alone the rest of us."</p> + +<p>"No, truly, I'm going to be good, 'cause +Mother asked me most 'specially." Marjorie's +earnest air was convincing, but King was +skeptical.</p> + +<p>"You mean to be good, all right," he said,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +"but at the party you'll do some crazy thing +without thinking."</p> + +<p>"Very likely," said Mopsy, cheerfully, and then +they all slid down hill again.</p> + +<p>The day before Thanksgiving Day everything +was in readiness for the guests.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard had come home early, and the +whole family were in the drawing-room to await +the arrival.</p> + +<p>This, in itself, was depressing, for to be +dressed up and sitting in state at four o'clock +in the afternoon is unusual, and, therefore, +uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>Marjorie had a new frock, of the material that +Kitty called "Alberta Ross." It was very pretty, +being white, trimmed here and there with knots of +scarlet velvet, and Midget was greatly pleased +with it, though she looked longingly out of the +window, and thought of her red cloth play-dress +and her shining skates.</p> + +<p>However, she had promised to be good, and she +looked as demure as St. Cecilia, as she sat quietly +on the sofa with an eye on the behavior of her +younger sisters.</p> + +<p>Kitty and Rosy Posy, both in freshly-laundered,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +white muslin frocks, also sat demurely, with folded +hands, while King, rather restlessly, moved about +the room, now and then looking from the window.</p> + +<p>"You children get on my nerves!" said Mr. +Maynard, at last. "I begin to think you're not +my own brood at all. Is it necessary, Mother, to +have this solemn stillness, just because we expect +some friends to see us?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard smiled.</p> + +<p>"These children," she said, "have no idea of +moderation. It <i>isn't</i> necessary for them to sit like +wax-works, but if they didn't they'd be turning +somersaults, or upsetting tables,—though, of +course, they wouldn't mean to."</p> + +<p>"I daresay you're right," said Mr. Maynard, +with a sigh, "and I do want them to behave like +civilized beings, when our friends come."</p> + +<p>"There they are, now!" cried King, as the +doorbell was heard. "But I don't see any carriage," +he added, looking from the window. In a +moment Sarah appeared with a telegram for Mrs. +Maynard.</p> + +<p>"They are delayed," said that lady, prophetically, +"and won't arrive till the next train." +But this she said while she was opening the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +envelope. As she read the message, her face fell, +and she exclaimed, "Oh, they're not coming +at all."</p> + +<p>"Not coming?" said Mr. Maynard, taking the +yellow paper.</p> + +<p>"No; Mrs. Crawford's sister is ill, and she can't +leave her. Oh, I'm so disappointed!"</p> + +<p>"It is too bad, my dear; I'm very sorry for +you. I wish they could have let you know sooner."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I wish so, too. Then we could have gone +out to Grandma Sherwood's for the day."</p> + +<p>"Is it too late for that?" asked Marjorie, +eagerly. "Can't we get ready, and fly off in a +hurry?"</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> could," said her father, smiling. "And +probably we all could. But Grandma Sherwood +couldn't get ready for six starving savages in +such short order. Moreover, I fancy Mother has +a larder full of good things here that must be +eaten by somebody. What shall we do, Helen?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Ed. I'll leave it to you. Plan +anything you like."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll leave it to the children. Speak up, +friends. Who would you like to ask to eat Thanksgiving +dinner with you?"</p> + +<p>The children considered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It ought to be somebody from out of town," +said Marjorie. "That makes it seem more like +a special party."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you!" exclaimed Kitty. "Let's ask +Molly Moss."</p> + +<p>"Just the one!" cried Marjorie. "How'd you +come to think of her, Kit? But I 'most know her +people won't let her come, and there isn't time, +anyway."</p> + +<p>"There's time enough," said Mr. Maynard. +"I'll call them up on the long-distance telephone +now. Then if Molly can come, they can put her +on the train to-morrow morning, and we'll meet +her here. But I doubt if her mother will spare +her on Thanksgiving Day."</p> + +<p>However, to Mr. Maynard's surprise, Mrs. +Moss consented to let Molly go, and as a neighbor +was going on the early morning train, and could +look after her, the matter was easily arranged.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was in transports of glee.</p> + +<p>"I'm truly sorry, Mother," she said, "that you +can't have your own company, but, as you can't, +I'm so glad Molly is coming. Now, that fixes to-morrow, +but what can we do to-day to have fun?"</p> + +<p>"I think it's King's turn," said Mr. Maynard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +"Let him invite somebody to dine with us to-night."</p> + +<p>"That's easy," said Kingdon. "I choose Dick +and Gladys. We can telephone for them right +away."</p> + +<p>"They don't seem much like company," said +Marjorie, "but I'd rather have them than anybody +else I know of."</p> + +<p>"Then it's all right," said Mrs. Maynard, +"and, as they're not formal company, you'd better +all change those partified clothes for something +you can romp about in."</p> + +<p>"Yes, let's do that," said Kitty. "I can't have +fun in dress-up things."</p> + +<p>And so it was an informal lot of children who +gathered about the dinner-table, instead of the +guests who had been expected.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Maynard exerted himself quite as much +to be entertaining as if he had had grown-up +companions, and the party was a merry one indeed.</p> + +<p>After dinner the young people were sent to the +playroom, as the elders were expecting callers.</p> + +<p>"Tell me about Molly Moss," said Gladys to +Marjorie. "What sort of a girl is she?"</p> + +<p>"Crazy," said Marjorie, promptly. "You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +never knew anybody, Glad, who could get up such +plays and games as she does. And she gets into +terrible mischief, too. She's going to stay several +days, and we'll have lots of fun while she's here. +At Grandma's last summer, we played together +nearly all the time. You'll like her, I know. And +she'll like <i>you</i>, of course. We'll all have fun +together."</p> + +<p>Gladys was somewhat reassured, but she had a +touch of jealousy in her nature, and, as she was +really Marjorie's most intimate friend, she resented +a little bit the coming of this stranger.</p> + +<p>"She sounds fine," was Dick's comment, as he +heard about Molly. "We'll give her the time +of her life. Can she skate, Mops?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess so. I only knew her last summer, +but I'm sure she can do anything."</p> + +<p>When Molly arrived the next morning, she flew +into the house like a small and well-wrapped-up +cyclone. She threw her muff in one direction, and +her gloves in another, and made a mad dash for +Marjorie.</p> + +<p>Then, remembering her manners, she spoke politely +to Mrs. Maynard.</p> + +<p>"How do you do?" she said; "it was very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +kind of you to invite me here, and I hope you +won't make me any trouble. There! Mother told +me to say that, and I've been studying it all the +way, for fear I'd forget it."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard smiled, for Molly was entirely +unaware of the mistake she had made in her +mother's message, and the other children had not +noticed it, either.</p> + +<p>"We're glad to have you with us, my dear," +Mrs. Maynard replied; "and I hope you'll enjoy +yourself and have a real good time."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," said Molly, "I always do."</p> + +<p>Then the children ran away to play out-of-doors +until dinner-time.</p> + +<p>"It's so queer to be here," said Molly, who had +never before been away from home alone.</p> + +<p>"It's queer to have you, but it's nice," said +Marjorie. "Which do you like best, summer or +winter?"</p> + +<p>"Both!" declared Molly. "Whichever one it +is, I like that one; don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I s'pose so. But I like winter best. +There's so much to do. Why, Molly, I'm busy +every minute. Of course, school takes most of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +time, so I have to crowd all the fun into the afternoons +and Saturdays."</p> + +<p>"Oh, is this your hill?" exclaimed Molly, as +they reached their favorite coasting-ground. +"What a little one! Why, the hills at home are +twice as long as this."</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Mopsy, apologetically; "but +this is the longest one here. Won't it do?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Molly, who did not mean to +be unpleasantly critical, but who was merely surprised. +"But you have to be going up and down +all the time."</p> + +<p>"We do," agreed King. "But it's fun. And, +anyway, you have to go up and down all the +time if it's a longer hill, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"So you do," admitted Molly, "but it seems +different."</p> + +<p>However, after a few journeys up and down, +she declared the hill was a first-rate coaster, and +she liked it better than a long one, because it was +easier to walk up.</p> + +<p>They all liked Molly. Gladys concluded she +was a welcome addition to their crowd, and both +Kingdon and Dick thought her a jolly girl.</p> + +<p>She was daring,—sometimes a little too much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +so,—but she was good-natured, and very kind and +pleasant.</p> + +<p>"Don't you ever hitch on?" she asked, as they +all trudged up hill.</p> + +<p>"What's that mean?" asked Gladys.</p> + +<p>"Why, hitch on behind sleighs. Or big wagon-sleds."</p> + +<p>"With horses?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course. It's lots of fun. Come on, +let's try it."</p> + +<p>Out to the road they went, and waited for a +passing sleigh. Soon Mr. Abercrombie's turnout +came by.</p> + +<p>This gentleman was one of the richest men in +Rockwell, and very dignified and exclusive. Indeed, +he was a bit surly, and not very well liked +by his fellow townsmen. But he had a fine sleigh +and a magnificent pair of horses, which were driven +by a coachman in a brave livery and fur cape.</p> + +<p>"Please give us a hitch," called out Molly, +as the glittering equipage drew near.</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul!" exclaimed Mr. Abercrombie, +as he looked at the child.</p> + +<p>Molly was always elf-like in appearance, but the +wind had reddened her cheeks, and blown wisps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +of her straight black hair about her face, until +she looked crazier than ever.</p> + +<p>The big sleigh had stopped, and Mr. Abercrombie +glared at the group of children.</p> + +<p>"What did you say?" he demanded, and Molly +repeated her request.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was a little shocked at the performance, +but she thought loyalty to her guest required +that she should stand by her, so she stepped +to Molly's side and took hold of her hand.</p> + +<p>The two surprised boys were about to enter a +protest, when Mr. Abercrombie smiled a little +grimly, and said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed. That's what I'm out for. Martin, +fasten these sleds on behind somehow."</p> + +<p>The obedient footman left his place, and, though +the order must have been an unusual one, he +showed no sign of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," he said, touching his hat. "Beg +pardon, sir, but what shall I fasten them to, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I said fasten them to this sleigh! If there +isn't any way to do it, invent one. Fasten one +sled, and then that can hold the next one, all the +way along. Blockhead!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; very good, sir." And, touching his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +hat again, the unperturbed footman went to work. +How he did it, they never knew, for the sleigh had +not been constructed for the purpose of "giving a +hitch" to children's sleds, but somehow the ingenious +Martin attached a sled securely to the +back of the big sleigh. Molly took her seat +thereon, and then another sled was easily fastened +to the back of hers. And so on, until all were +arranged.</p> + +<p>Then the footman calmly returned to his own +place, the coachman touched up the horses, the +bells jingled gaily, and they were off!</p> + +<p>Such a ride as they had! It was ever so much +more fun than riding in the sleigh, and though +the boys, who were at the end of the line of sleds, +fell off occasionally, they floundered on again, +and were all right until they turned another sharp +corner.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, <i>very</i> much, mister," said Molly, +heartily, as they neared the Maynard home; +"we're going to leave you now."</p> + +<p>Again the sleigh stopped, the dignified footman +came and released the sleds, and, after a chorus +of thanks from the merry children, Mr. Abercrombie +drove away in his solitary splendor.</p> + +<p>"You beat the Dutch, Molly!" cried King.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +"I never should have dreamed of asking Lord +Abercrombie, as people call him, to give us a +ride."</p> + +<p>"I think he liked it as well as we did," said +Molly.</p> + +<p>"I think so, too," said Marjorie, "and I hope +some day he'll take us again."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h4>THANKSGIVING DAY</h4> + + +<p>The Thanksgiving Dinner was a jollification.</p> + +<p>The Maynard children were always a merry +crowd, but the added element of Molly's gaiety +gave a new zest to the fun.</p> + +<p>The pretty table decorations, planned for the +expected guests, were modified better to suit the +children's tastes, and when dinner was announced +and they all went out to the dining-room, a general +shout of applause was raised.</p> + +<p>In the middle of the table was a large "horn +of plenty," fashioned of gilded pasteboard. From +its capacious mouth were tumbling oranges, apples, +bananas, grapes, nuts, figs, and raisins. The +horn itself was beautifully decorated, and seemed +to be suspended from the chandelier above by red +ribbons.</p> + +<p>Also, red ribbons, starting from the horn itself,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +led to each person's plate, and at the end of each +ribbon was a name-card.</p> + +<p>Gleefully the children took their places, and +laughed merrily at the funny little souvenirs that +stood at their plates.</p> + +<p>Kingdon had a jolly pig, made of a lemon, with +wooden toothpicks stuck in for legs, a curly tail +made of a bit of celery, and two black-headed pins +for eyes.</p> + +<p>Marjorie had a horse made of a carrot, which +looked like a very frisky steed, indeed.</p> + +<p>"It should have been made of a horse-radish," +said Mr. Maynard, who was the originator of +these toys, "but I feared that would make you +weep instead of laugh."</p> + +<p>Molly had a gay-looking figure, whose head was +a fig, his body a potato, and his legs and arms +bunches of raisins. He wore a red fez with a +feather in it, and a red tunic tied with gold +braid.</p> + +<p>Kitty had a nut doll, whose head was a hazelnut, +and its body an English walnut. Its feet and +hands were peanuts, stuck on the ends of matches.</p> + +<p>Rosy Posy had a card on which were several +white mice. These were made of blanched almonds,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +fastened to the card by stitches of thread, which +looked like tiny legs and tails.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard found at her place a tiny figure +of a dancing girl. The head was a small white +grape, and the body and ruffled skirts were merely +a large carnation turned upside down.</p> + +<p>And Mr. Maynard's own souvenir was a funny +old fat man, whose body was an apple, and his +head a hickory nut.</p> + +<p>Molly had never seen such toys before, and +she was enraptured with them, declaring she +should learn to make them for her friends at +home.</p> + +<p>"You can do it, if you try," said Marjorie, +sagely; "but they aren't easy to make. Father +does them so beautifully, because he is patient +and careful. But you and I, Molly, are too slapdash. +We'd never take pains to make them so +neatly."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I would," declared Molly, positively; +"because I see how nice they look when they're +done well! I don't want any broken-legged pigs, +or tumble-to-pieces dolls."</p> + +<p>"That's the way to talk," said Mr. Maynard, +approvingly; "I foresee, Molly, we shall be great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +friends, and I'll teach you the noble art of what +I call 'pantry sculpture.'"</p> + +<p>After the turkey and other substantial dishes +had been disposed of, dessert was brought, and, +to the great delight of the children, it comprised +many and various confections.</p> + +<p>First, there was placed at each plate a dear +little mince pie, hot, and covered with a drift of +powdered sugar. In the middle of each pie stood +a lighted candle.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho, it's somebody's birthday!" cried King, +as he saw the candles.</p> + +<p>"Somebody's only one year old, then," said +Molly.</p> + +<p>"These aren't birthday candles exactly," said +Mr. Maynard. "They're just candles to keep +the pies hot. But as I want to eat my pie, I'll +just eat the candle first, and get it out of the +way."</p> + +<p>So saying, he calmly blew out the flame, and +in a moment had eaten the candle, wick and +all!</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father!" cried Marjorie. "How could +you do that? Do you like wax candles?"</p> + +<p>"These candles aren't exactly wax," said her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +father, "and I must say mine tasted very +good."</p> + +<p>Molly's bright black eyes snapped.</p> + +<p>"If Mr. Maynard can eat candles, so can I!" +she declared, and, blowing out the flame, she bit +off the end of her own candle.</p> + +<p>"It <i>is</i> good," she said, as she munched it. "I +like candles, too."</p> + +<p>So then they all tried eating candles. Marjorie +tasted hers carefully, and then took a larger +bite.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's apple!" she cried. And so it was. +The "candles" had been cut with an apple-corer, +and the "wicks" were bits of almond cut the right +shape and stuck in the top of the candle. The +oil in the nut causes it to burn for a few moments, +and the whole affair looks just like a real candle.</p> + +<p>The mince pies were followed by ice-cream, and +that by fruits and candies, and then the feast was +over, but every one carried away the jolly little +souvenirs to keep as mementoes of the occasion. +Skating was the order of the afternoon.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard went with the older children, while +Mrs. Maynard and Rosy Posy amused themselves +at home.</p> + +<p>Kitty couldn't skate very well, but all the others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +were fairly good skaters, and soon they were gliding +over the ice, while Mr. Maynard pushed Kitty +in a sliding chair. She thought she had the most +fun of all, but the others preferred their own feet +to a chair, and skated tirelessly around the lake, +not at all dismayed by somewhat frequent upsets +and tumbledowns.</p> + +<p>The Fultons joined them, and several others, +and Molly soon made acquaintance with many of +the Maynards' friends.</p> + +<p>Molly was such a daring child that Mr. Maynard +carefully warned her about going near the +thin places in the ice, and she promised to avoid +them. But it was with some uneasiness he watched +the young skaters, when, at Molly's suggestion, +they played "Snap the Whip."</p> + +<p>This meant to join hands in a long row, and, +after skating rapidly, the one at the end stood +still and swung the others round like the lash of a +whip. No trouble was likely to occur if they held +hands firmly. But to separate meant that the +end ones would be whirled away, and might get a +bad fall.</p> + +<p>As the boys were strong and sturdy, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +girls had promised to hold on tightly and carefully, +Mr. Maynard let them play this game, +though he had always thought it a dangerous +sport.</p> + +<p>"Just once more," begged Marjorie, when at +last he told them he would rather they'd play +something else—and permission was given for one +more "Snap the Whip," on condition that it +should be the last. And it was.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was on one end, and Molly was next +to her.</p> + +<p>Kingdon was at the other end, and, after a few +vigorous strokes, he pulled the line about so suddenly +that Molly, who was not expecting it so +soon, was jerked away from her next neighbor.</p> + +<p>She and Marjorie were flung with force across +the ice, but they were quite alert, kept their balance +perfectly, and would have been skating back +again in a minute, but they chanced upon a thin +place in the ice, and it broke through, and in they +went!</p> + +<p>Many of the children screamed, but Molly's +voice rang out clear above the rest:</p> + +<p>"Don't yell so! We're all right, only it's +awful cold. Just get us out as quick as you can."</p> + +<p>Relieved to learn that they hadn't gone under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> +the water, Mr. Maynard soon found a fence-rail, +and, with the boys' assistance, it was not long before +the dripping girls were once more outside +the lake, instead of inside.</p> + +<p>"No harm done, if you obey my orders," said +Mr. Maynard, cheerily, for the two white faces +looked more scared than they had at first. He +hurriedly took off their skates, and then said, +"Now, run for home, just as fast as you can go, +and the one who gets there first shall have a +prize."</p> + +<p>A little bewildered by this order, but quite ready +to obey, Marjorie started at once and fairly flew +over the hard ground. Molly followed, and in a +moment had overtaken and passed Midget. But +spurred by this, Midget ran faster, and at last, +quite out of breath, and also quite warm, they +reached the Maynard house at almost exactly the +same time.</p> + +<p>Exhausted, they tumbled in at the door, and +Mrs. Maynard met them in the hall.</p> + +<p>"What <i>is</i> the matter?" she exclaimed. "Where +<i>have</i> you been?"</p> + +<p>"Skating," said Marjorie, hurriedly, "and we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +fell in, and Father said to run home quick and +get dry shoes and things and he'd give us a prize."</p> + +<p>"A prize!" said Mrs. Maynard, laughing. +"You deserve a prize, indeed! A hot bath is +what you'll get, and a drink of hot milk."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Mopsy, cheerfully, "I don't +mind; and, while we're about it, we may as well +dress for afternoon."</p> + +<p>The programme was carried out as arranged, +and not very long after two spick-and-span little +girls were sitting by the library fire, sipping hot +milk with nutmeg in it.</p> + +<p>"Well, upon my word!" said Mr. Maynard, +coming in with King and Kitty. "I must have +been mistaken! Only a short time ago I saw two +children floundering in the lake, and I thought—I +truly did—that they were Midge and Molly! +How could I have made such a foolish mistake?"</p> + +<p>"It was strange, indeed!" said Molly, with +twinkling eyes. "Have you been skating, Mr. +Maynard?"</p> + +<p>"Part of the time. But the rest of the time I +was organizing and assisting a rescue party to +save those foolish children I was just telling +you of."</p> + +<p>"We were foolish!" cried Marjorie, jumping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +up and running to her father's arms. "I'll never +do it again, Daddy, dear."</p> + +<p>"Indeed you won't, my lady. I hereby issue a +mandamus, a fiat, a writ,—and if you don't know +what those things are, I'll say a plain every-day +rule that is not to be broken,—that you are never +to play 'Snap the Whip' again. This is a rule +for Marjorie, and to you, Molly, it's a piece of +advice."</p> + +<p>"I'll take it," said Molly, so meekly that Mr. +Maynard smiled, and said:</p> + +<p>"Now that incident is closed, and we needn't +mention it again. I don't believe you'll even take +cold from your sudden plunge, for you both ran +home like killdeer. And, by the way, who won +the prize?"</p> + +<p>"We came in almost exactly together," said +Marjorie. "I was a little bit ahead at the door, +but Molly was first at the gate, so isn't that +even?"</p> + +<p>"It surely is, and so you must both have prizes. +I haven't them with me at the moment, but +I'll engage to supply them before Molly goes +home."</p> + +<p>Thanksgiving evening was given over to games<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +and quiet frolics.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard said the children had had +enough excitement for one day, and they must +play only sitting-still games, and then go to bed +early. So Mr. Maynard proposed a game in +which all could join, and when it was finished it +would be bedtime for young people.</p> + +<p>He produced a large spool, through which had +been run a number of different colored and very +narrow ribbons. Mr. Maynard held the spool, +with the short ends of the ribbons hanging out +toward himself, while the long ends of the ribbons, +which reached across the room were apportioned +one to each child.</p> + +<p>They were allowed to select their own colors, +and Marjorie took red, and Molly pink. Kitty +had the blue one, and King a yellow one. Mrs. +Maynard held a white one, and as Rosamond had +gone to bed, no more ribbons were used, though +there were others in the spool.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mr. Maynard, "I'll begin to tell +a story, make it up as I go along, you know, and +then when I stop I'll pull one of these ends. I +won't look to see which one I pull, but whoever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +holds the other end of the same ribbon, must take +up the story and go on with it. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said all the children at once; so Mr. +Maynard began:</p> + +<p>"Once on a time there was a Princess who +hadn't any name. The reason for this sad state +of affairs was that no one could think of a name +good enough for her. She was so beautiful and +so lovely and sweet-tempered that every name +seemed commonplace, and the King and Queen +who were her parents offered a great reward to +any one who would suggest a name that seemed +appropriate. But, though they proposed every +name that was known, and made up a great many +more, none seemed to suit, and so the Princess +grew up without any name at all. But one day +her grandmother gave her a lovely little writing-desk +for a birthday present. The Princess was +delighted, and immediately she learned to write +letters. But, strange to say, she never received +any answers to the letters she sent. Days passed, +and weeks passed, but nobody answered the letters. +She went to the Court Wise Man, and said +to him:</p> + +<p>"'Prithee, tell me, oh, Seer, why do my friends<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +not answer the letters I have sent them?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, Princess!' said the Court Wise Man, +'it is because you have no name, and, though they +have already written letters to you, they know not +how to address them. For how can one address +a letter to a nameless person?'</p> + +<p>"'How, indeed!' cried the Princess. 'But I +will have a name. I will choose one for myself.'</p> + +<p>"So she sat down, and thought deeply for a long +time, and then she jumped up, saying:</p> + +<p>"'I have chosen a name! I shall henceforth +be called——'"</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard made a dramatic pause, and then +pulled quickly on one of the ends of ribbon that +hung from his side of the spool.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h4>A SPOOL OF YARNS</h4> + + +<p>Mr. Maynard pulled the ribbon of which Kitty +held the other end, and the little girl jumped as +she felt the ribbon move in her hand. But Kitty +was usually ready for an emergency.</p> + +<p>"<ins class="translit" title="Violetta Evangeline is referred to later as Violetta Angeline and Violetta Angelina">Violetta Evangeline</ins>," she said. "The Princess +thought that was the most beautiful name +in the world, and I think so, too. Well, then, +her father, the King, had the news sent all +through the kingdom that his daughter was named +at last, and then everybody sent her letters. She +had bags and bags full of mail every day, and +they had to put on an extra postman. And she +had valentines in the mail, and catalogues, and +birthday presents, and samples of dresses, and +seeds for flowers, and,—and magazines, and,—and,—and +one day a little live kitten came to her +in the mail, and she was <i>so</i> pleased. So she named +the kitten Toodle-Doo, and wherever she went she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +took the kitten with her. And one day she went +off on a long journey, and of course Toodle-Doo +went with her. And as they went along,—and +went along——"</p> + +<p>Just here Mr. Maynard pulled another ribbon, +and Molly gave a startled jump.</p> + +<p>So Kitty stopped, and Molly took up the story:</p> + +<p>"They went along," said she, dropping her +voice to a tragic whisper, "on a dark and lonely +road. And a great pirate jumped out at them, +and cried, 'What, ho! The password?' And +Violetta Evangeline didn't know the password, +but she guessed at it, and she guessed, 'Crackers +and Cheese,' and, as it happened, she guessed just +right, and they let her go through."</p> + +<p>"Through what?" asked King, greatly interested.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't know," returned Molly, carelessly; +"through the gate, I s'pose, into the enchanted +garden. So she went in, and everything enchanted +happened all at once. She was turned into a +fairy, and the kitten was turned into a canary +bird, and he roosted on the fairy's shoulder, and +then he began to sing. And then the enchantment +turned him into a music-box, and so Violetta<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +Evangeline didn't have any kitten or any bird or +anybody to play with. But just then the Fairy +Prince came along, and he said he'd play with her. +And he said she could play with his toys. So she +went to see them, and they were all made of gold +and jewels. His tops were of gold, and his kites +were of gold all set with rubies and diamonds."</p> + +<p>"Huh," said King, "they couldn't fly!"</p> + +<p>"These kites could," said Molly, quite undisturbed, +"because they were enchanted kites, and +that made the diamonds as light as feathers."</p> + +<p>But just then Marjorie's ribbon twitched. She +had been waiting for it, and she picked up the +story where Molly left off.</p> + +<p>"The kites were so <i>very</i> light," said Midge, +"that one of them flew away entirely. And as +Violetta Angeline was hanging on to its string, +she was carried along with it, and in a jiffy she +was over the wall and outside of the enchanted +garden, so then she wasn't enchanted any more, +but she was just a Princess again. So she walked +forth, and sought adventures. And her first adventure +was with a dragon. He was an awful big +dragon, and flames of fire came out of his mouth +and his ears and his toes. But the Princess wasn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +afraid of him, and as there was a big hydrant +near by, she turned it on him and put the flames +out. Then he wailed, and wept, and he said: 'Oh, +Violetta Angelina, I have a woe! Oh, oh, I have +a woe!' And as she was a kind Princess, she said, +'Tell me what your woe is, and perhaps I can help +you.' So the Dragon said——"</p> + +<p>Here Kingdon's ribbon pulled, and, though +taken somewhat unawares, the boy tried to jump +right into the story-telling, and he said:</p> + +<p>"'Yes, yes, my dear,' said the Dragon, 'I have +a woe, and it's this: everybody laughs at me because +I cannot climb a tree!' 'Is that all?' asked +the Princess, in surprise; 'why, I will teach you to +climb a tree.' 'Oh, if you only would!' exclaimed +the Dragon. So the Princess taught him to climb +a tree, and they all lived happy ever after."</p> + +<p>King brought his story to an abrupt close, because +his mother had begun to look at the clock, +and to intimate by sundry nods and gestures that +it was bedtime.</p> + +<p>"But Mother hasn't told any of the story yet," +said Kitty, who was herself so sleepy she could +scarcely listen even to the tale of her own Violetta +Evangeline.</p> + +<p>"Mother's story must wait till some other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +time," said Mrs. Maynard. "This is the time +for everybody of fourteen years or less to skip-hop +up to bed."</p> + +<p>So away trooped the children, glad to have +learned a new game, and carefully putting +away for future use the spool with the ribbons +through it.</p> + +<p>"But the ribbons don't really make any difference," +said Molly, as they went upstairs. "You +could just as well <i>say</i> whose turn comes next."</p> + +<p>"But it's so much prettier," argued Marjorie; +"and it makes it seem so much more like a game."</p> + +<p>"What's the name of the game?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know; let's make up one."</p> + +<p>"All right; Spool Stories,—no, Spool Yarn."</p> + +<p>"A Spool of Yarns!" cried Marjorie, clapping +her hands. "That's the very thing!"</p> + +<p>And so "A Spool of Yarns" became one of +their favorite games, and was often played in the +evenings or on stormy days.</p> + +<p>The rest of Molly's visit passed all too quickly, +and Marjorie was sad indeed the day her friend +returned home.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Maynard bore the blow bravely.</p> + +<p>"She's a dear little girl," she said, after Molly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +had gone; "but she <i>is</i> a lively one. In fact, she's +a regular Maynard, and four young Maynards +are just about all I can stand in the house +permanently."</p> + +<p>"Weren't we good, Mother?" asked Marjorie, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, you were good enough. Really, +you didn't get into much mischief; but I suppose +you've no idea how much noise you made."</p> + +<p>"No'm, I haven't," said Marjorie. "And now +I guess I'll go skating."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Midge; but remember what Father +told you about 'Snap the Whip.'"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, indeed, Mother. I can never forget +that, 'cause I have my prize, you know."</p> + +<p>True to his word to give them both prizes, Mr. +Maynard had brought the girls each a dainty +silver bangle, from which hung a tiny pair of +skates. This, he said, was to remind them of the +dangerous game, and of their really narrow escape +on Thanksgiving Day.</p> + +<p>Later that afternoon Marjorie came home from +her skating in a great state of excitement.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother," she said; "Miss Merington has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +asked me to be at her table at the Bazaar! Won't +that be lovely?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Merington! What does she want of a +little girl like you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she wants me to help her! Just afternoons, +you know; not evenings. She's going to +have two or three girls to help her. Miss Frost +asked Gladys to be with her. You see, it's this +way. Haven't you heard about the Alphabet of +Booths?"</p> + +<p>"No; what does that mean?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll tell you. You see, the whole big +Bazaar is going to be divided up into twenty-six +booths. Each one is a letter—A, B, C, you know. +Then everybody who takes charge of the booth +begins with that letter, and sells those things."</p> + +<p>"What things?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Mother, like this. The A booth is in +charge of Mrs. Andrews, and she sells apples +and andirons, and,—and anything that begins +with A."</p> + +<p>"Then I should think she could sell 'anything,'" +said Mrs. Maynard, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother, that's lovely and witty. I'll +tell Mrs. Andrews that. Well, and then Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> +Burns has the B booth, and she sells beads and +books and baskets and whatever begins with B."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I understand. And it's very clever. +And so Miss Merington invited you to help +her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and Miss Frost invited Gladys, because +Fulton begins with F. But, Mother, I can't think +of a thing to sell that begins with M. Something +that I can make, I mean. I can only think of +melons and mantelpieces."</p> + +<p>"How about mats?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I can make mats. Crochet them, you +mean? Will you show me how?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and mops, too; you can make mops, or +buy them, either. I suppose they expect you to +contribute some articles to be sold. I'll make +some for you, too. I'll make you a lovely big, +soft melon cushion, a head rest, you know. And, +oh, Mopsy! I'll give you some mixed pickles, some +of those good ones that Ellen puts up. They'll +sell well, I know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, goody, Mother; I'll have a lot of things +to give them, won't I? And Miss Merington will +be so pleased. She's a lovely lady."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she's a charming girl, and I'm glad to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> +have you help her. Perhaps Father can think +up some things for you that begin with M."</p> + +<p>This was a good suggestion, and that very +evening Midget put the question:</p> + +<p>"Father, what begins with M that you could +sell?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Mopsy Midget Maynard, I could sell +you, but I doubt if I could get a big enough price. +You're a pretty valuable piece of property."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but don't joke, Daddy. I mean really, +in earnest, for the Bazaar, you know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I've heard about that wonderful +Bazaar. Well, let me see. Are you allowed to +have any sort of wares if they begin with the +right letter?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think so. Mother thought of mats and +mops."</p> + +<p>"That's a good start. How are you to get +these things? Do you donate them all to the +Bazaar?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; or Miss Merington said we could ask +people to give us things, but I don't like to do +that."</p> + +<p>"No; not from strangers, of course. But I'm +sure Mr. Gordon will be glad to give you some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +toys or notions out of his store. He's such an +old friend of mine, I wouldn't mind your asking +him. And then I think Uncle Steve would send +you a few trinkets, or Grandma Sherwood might. +But most of your contributions I think we'll get up +here at home. Now, let's be methodical, because +that begins with M, and first we'll make some +lists."</p> + +<p>Marjorie was greatly interested, and flew for a +pad and pencil, and then waited for her father +to make his lists.</p> + +<p>"I declare, Midget," he said, at last, "this is +harder than I thought. I can't think of a thing +but mahogany bureaus and marble mantles."</p> + +<p>"How about marbles, Father? I mean the kind +you play marbles with."</p> + +<p>"That's good, Midge. Mr. Gordon will give +you those. I don't want you to ask any one else, +but Tom Gordon told me he would give a lot of +things to the Bazaar, and he said for you to go +down there and pick out what you want."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be lovely! Now, let's think what +else he has."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the way to get at it. In a shop +like his, with all sorts of stationery and toys and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +knick-knacks, there ought to be lots of M's. Well, +doubtless he'll give you some music,—sheet-music, +you know; and perhaps some magazines. Oh, and +memorandum-books. You can always sell those to +business men. Then he has maps, too; pocket-maps, +or even larger ones. And I think that's all +you ought to expect from him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's enough. Now, what can I make +myself?"</p> + +<p>"I daresay Mother finished the list when she +said mats and mops. I don't know of anything +else, unless it's mantillas."</p> + +<p>"What are they?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know? Well, it is an old-fashioned +word. They're ladies' cloaks, mantles, you know."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father, I could make some for dolls!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's good; if you can sew well enough."</p> + +<p>"Mother will help me with the hard parts. +But, really, they will be lovely. All the little +girls will buy them. Now, can't I make something +else?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; make candy! Marshmallows,—I'll +teach you how; you know I'm a famous candy-maker. +But I don't know any other sort,—unless +we say mint-drops. Would that do?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. And I can make mottoes. Any kind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +of candy, you know, done up in motto-papers."</p> + +<p>"That's a fine idea! We'll all make a lot of +home-made candy, and help you wrap it the night +before the show. Then your nice, fresh mottoes +will go off like hot cakes."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed. And Ellen is going to give me +some jars of her good mixed pickles."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Ellen can help you a lot. Ask her to +make you some mince pies and marmalade, and +macaroons."</p> + +<p>"Goody! Goody! I can have a regular food +sale, all of M's! Why, it's a lovely letter, after +all. I'm glad it's mine."</p> + +<p>"How are they going to manage the Q and X +and Z?"</p> + +<p>"I think they're going to leave out X and Z. +But Q is to be a table full of queer things. Indian +curiosities, and such things. Miss Merington +told me about it. Gladys is going to be with +Miss Frost. She's going to make fudge, and +paper fairies. And her father is going to give +her a lot of fans,—Japanese ones,—and Dick is +going to cut her out some fretwork things with his +scroll-saw."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think the ladies will have very helpful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +little assistants. I'll bring you a budget of things +from the city, and we'll all have a bee to make +candy for you."</p> + +<p>The bee was great fun. The day before the +Bazaar, Mr. Maynard brought home all sorts of +goodies to make the candies with. He came home +early that they might begin in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>All the Maynard family went to work, and Ellen +and Sarah helped some, too.</p> + +<p>They made all sorts of candies that could be +formed with the right shape and size for mottoes.</p> + +<p>Rosy Posy, who loved to cut paper, snipped +away at the sheets of printed verses, and really +helped by cutting the couplets apart, all ready +to be tucked into the papers with the candies.</p> + +<p>The result of their labors was a big box of +lovely-looking "mottoes," all neatly twisted into +fringed or scalloped papers of bright colors.</p> + +<p>King proposed that Midget should have a restaurant +at the Bazaar, and serve macaroni, and +mackerel, muskmelons, and milk.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Maynard said he feared that would +necessitate medicine and medical attendance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><div class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></div> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h4>THE CHARITY BAZAAR</h4> + + +<p>The Bazaar opened Thursday afternoon, and was +to continue the rest of the week. As it was for +a public charity, the whole town was interested, +and the Town Hall, where the Bazaar was held, +was gaily decorated for the occasion.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was allowed to stay home from school, +and in the morning she went over to the hall to +take her contributions and to help Miss Merington +arrange the booth.</p> + +<p>Uncle Steve had responded nobly to Marjorie's +letter asking him to send her some M things. A +box came to her by express, and in it were some +Indian beaded moccasins that were unique and +beautiful. Then there were several pocket mirrors +and hand mirrors; half a dozen mousetraps; a +package of matches; some funny masks, and a +plaster cast of "Mercury."</p> + +<p>There was also a large wicker thing shaped like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +the arc of a circle. At first Marjorie didn't know +the name of this, though she had seen them used +to protect carriage wheels.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's a mudguard!" cried Mr. Maynard. +"How clever of old Steve!"</p> + +<p>Also in the box were some mufflers, which +Grandma Sherwood had made by neatly hemming +large squares of silk.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard had brought Marjorie some inexpensive +pieces of jewelry, which, he told her, +were Florentine mosaics, and so, with all her +M's, the little girl had a fine lot of wares to +contribute.</p> + +<p>James took them over to the hall for her, and +Miss Merington was greatly pleased.</p> + +<p>"You're a worth-while assistant," said the +young lady, as she bustled about, arranging her +pretty booth.</p> + +<p>True to the spirit of the plan, Miss Merington +had made her booth of mauve-colored tissue-paper, +and decorated it with morning-glories, also made +of paper, of delicate violet shades.</p> + +<p>It was one of the prettiest booths in the room, +and Marjorie was glad she belonged to it.</p> + +<p>"Now, Moppet," said Miss Merington, "what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> +are you going to wear this afternoon? I have +a beautiful mauve costume, but I suppose you +haven't. And as I don't want you to be a jarring +note, I'm going to ask you not to wear any red +or blue. Can't you wear all white?"</p> + +<p>"My frock is white, Miss Merington," said +Marjorie; and then she added, laughing, "and +it's muslin, so I suppose that's all right. And +Mother bought me a mauve sash and hair-ribbon +and silk stockings, all to match. And I've white +slippers. Will that do?"</p> + +<p>"Do! I should think it would. You'll be +sweet in mauve and white. Now, I'll tell you +your duties. You must just look pleasant and +smiling, so that people will want to come to our +booth to buy things. Then when they come, you +may tell them the prices of things if they ask +you, but don't ask them to buy. I hate people +at fairs who insist on everybody's buying their +goods. Don't you?"</p> + +<p>Marjorie felt quite important at being consulted +on this matter, and she hastened to agree +with Miss Merington.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said. "But you won't have to ask +the people to buy; I think they'll want to come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +here, because this is the prettiest booth in the +whole room."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you think so. But Miss Frost's +booth is lovely. All made of cotton-wool snow, +and tinsel ice."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's beautiful. My friend Gladys Fulton +belongs there, and Daisy Ferris, too. I thought +you were going to have more assistants, Miss +Merington. Am I the only one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; to tell you the truth, I didn't know of +any other nice little girl whose name began with +M. You don't mind, do you, dear?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, indeed! I'm glad to be here alone +with you. And I'll do all I can to help."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you will. But now there's nothing +more for you to do this morning, so skip along +home and get a good rest; then be back here +promptly at three o'clock this afternoon with all +your mauve millinery on."</p> + +<p>"I don't wear a hat, Miss Merington!" exclaimed +Midge, in dismay.</p> + +<p>"Of course not. I said millinery, meaning your +ribbons and finery. I used the word because it +begins with M. Do you know, Marjorie, I fairly +<i>think</i> in words beginning with M!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, is that it?" said Marjorie, laughing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> +"Well, good-morning Mademoiselle Merington!"</p> + +<p>"You're a clever little thing," said Miss +Merington; "and now run along home to Mother +Maynard's mansion."</p> + +<p>Marjorie laughed at this sally, and started for +home. But at Miss Frost's booth she found +Gladys, and the two walked around the hall, looking +at the other booths. They were very interesting, +for each lady in charge had endeavored to +get all the novel ideas possible for which her +special initial could be used.</p> + +<p>X, Y, and Z had been declared impossible, but +some clever girls had concluded it would be a pity +to omit them, and said that they would combine +the three in one booth. For X, which, they said, +always represented "an unknown quantity," they +had prepared some express packages. These contained +merchandise of some sort, and had been +sent through the express office, in order to give +the proper appearance of expressed parcels. They +were for sale at a price that was fair for their +contents, and people were asked to buy them unopened, +thus purchasing "an unknown quantity." +Then there were yeast-cakes for sale; and toy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +yachts, marked "For Sail"; and yellow things +of any kind; and zephyr garments, such as shawls +and sacques and slippers.</p> + +<p>This booth was very attractive, and was draped +with yellow cheesecloth, with black X's and Y's +and Z's all over it.</p> + +<p>In order to make a variety, the R booth was +a restaurant, the L booth served lemonade, and +the C booth, candy and cakes.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it fun?" said Marjorie to Gladys, as +at last they started homeward. "What are you +going to wear, Glad? I don't know of any color +that begins with F."</p> + +<p>"No," said Gladys. "Miss Frost says there's +nothing but fawn-color, and that won't do. So +we're all to wear white, with lots of <i>frills</i>. And +we're to have feathers on our heads instead of ribbon +bows, and we're to carry feather fans. I +wish I was in your booth, Midget."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I wish so, too; but of course we couldn't +be in the same. But Father's coming at six to +take us all to supper in the restaurant booth. +Perhaps we can get together then."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I hope we can. I'll ask Mother about +it."</p> + +<p>The girls parted at Gladys' gate, and Marjorie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +went on home to luncheon.</p> + +<p>"It's perfectly lovely, Mother!" she cried, as +she entered the house. "I never saw such a beautiful +fair."</p> + +<p>"That's good, girlie; and now you must eat +your luncheon and then lie down for a little rest +before you go this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother Maynard! Why, I'm not a bit +tired. You must think I'm an old lady."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard smiled at the bright face and +dancing eyes, which certainly showed no trace +of weariness.</p> + +<p>But after luncheon she said: "Now, Midget, +you must go to your room, and lie down for half +an hour. Close your eyes, and rest even if you do +not sleep."</p> + +<p>Midget drew a long sigh, and walked slowly off +to obey. She lay down on her own little white +bed, but though she managed to close her eyes +for nearly half a minute, they then flew wide open.</p> + +<p>"Mother!" she called out. "I can't keep my +eyes shut, unless I pin them. Shall I do that?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be foolish, Marjorie," called back Mrs. +Maynard, from her own room. "Go to sleep."</p> + +<p>"But, Mother, I can't go to sleep. I'm as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +wide-awake as a—a weasel. Mother, what time +are you going to the fair?"</p> + +<p>"At four o'clock. Now, be quiet, Marjorie, +and don't ask any more questions."</p> + +<p>"No'm. But, Mother, mayn't I get up +now? I've been here nearly six or seven +hours."</p> + +<p>"It isn't six or seven minutes, yet. You must +stay there half an hour, so you may as well make +your mind up to it."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm; I've made up my mind. But I think +this clock has stopped. It hasn't moved but a +teenty, taunty speck in all these hours. What +time is it by your clock, Mother?"</p> + +<p>"Marjorie! You'll drive me distracted! Will +you be still?"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, if you'll let me come in your room. +May I, Mother? I'll just lie still on your couch, +and I won't speak. I'll just look at you. You +know you're so pretty, Mother."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard stifled a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Come on, then," she called. "I simply can't +yell like this any longer."</p> + +<p>"I should think not," said Marjorie, as she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +appeared in her mother's doorway. "My throat's +exhausted, too."</p> + +<p>"Now, remember," said Mrs. Maynard, "you +said you'd be quiet in here. Lie down on the +couch, and put the afghan over you, and go to +sleep."</p> + +<p>"I'll lie down on the couch,—so," said Marjorie, +suiting the action to the word; "and I'll +put the afghan over me,—so; but I can't go to +sleep—because I can't."</p> + +<p>"Well, shut your eyes, and try to go to sleep; +and, at any rate, stop talking."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm; I'll try." Marjorie squeezed her eyes +tightly shut, and in a moment she began to talk +in a droning voice. "I'm asleep now, Mother, +thank you. I'm having a lovely nap. I'm just +talking in my sleep, you know. Nobody can help +that, can they?"</p> + +<p>"No; but they can't expect to be answered. +So, talk in your sleep if you choose, but keep your +eyes shut."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, that's the hardest part! Oh, +Mother, I've such a good idea! Mayn't I begin +to dress while I'm asleep? Just put on my slippers +and stockings, you know. It would be such a help<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +toward dressing to have that done. May I,—Mother? +Mother, may I?"</p> + +<p>"Marjorie, you are incorrigible! Get up, do, +and go for your bath, now. And if you're ready +too early, you'll have to sit still and not move +until it's time to go."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother, what a dear, sweet mother you +are!"</p> + +<p>With a bound, Marjorie was off of the couch +and tumbling into her mother's arms.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Maynard well understood the impatient +young nature, and said no more about a nap.</p> + +<p>But at last the time came for Marjorie to start, +and very sweet and dainty she looked in her mauve +and white costume. She had never worn that color +before, as it isn't usually considered appropriate +for little girls, but it proved becoming, and her +dancing eyes and rosy cheeks brightened up an +effect otherwise too demure for a twelve-year-old +child.</p> + +<p>Gladys was waiting at her own gate, and off +they went to the hall.</p> + +<p>Of course, the customers hadn't yet arrived, but +soon after Marjorie had taken her place inside +the booth, the people began to flock to the fair.</p> + +<p>Miss Merington looked lovely in a violet crêpe-de-chine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +gown, which just suited her exquisite complexion +and golden hair.</p> + +<p>She greeted Marjorie as a companion and +fellow-worker, and Midge resolved to do her best +to please the lovely lady. Somehow there seemed +to be a great deal to do. As the afternoon wore +on the M booth had a great many customers, and +Miss Merington was kept so busy that Marjorie +had to be on the alert to assist her. She made +change; she answered the customers' questions; +and sometimes she had to go to the department +of supplies for wrapping paper, string, and such +things. She was very happy, for Marjorie dearly +loved a bustle of excitement, and the Bazaar was +a gay place.</p> + +<p>After a time old Mr. Abercrombie came to the +M booth. Marjorie hadn't forgotten the day they +rode behind his sleigh, and she wondered if he +would buy anything from her.</p> + +<p>He looked at her quizzically through his big +glasses, and said:</p> + +<p>"Well, well, little girl, and what have you for +sale? Old gentlemen like myself are fond of sweet +things, you know. Have you any sweet cakes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Marjorie, and as Miss Mering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span>ton +was occupied with other customers she felt +justified in trying to make a sale herself.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; we have these very nice cocoanut +macaroons."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes; and how do you know they're nice? +You must never make a statement unless you're +sure."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I am sure," said Marjorie, very +earnestly. "Ellen, our cook, made them, and she's +a very superior cook. I know she is, because my +mother says so. And, besides, I know these are +good because I've had some of them myself."</p> + +<p>"You've proved your case," said the old gentleman. +"But now I'll catch you! I'll buy your +whole stock of macaroons if——"</p> + +<p>"If what, sir?" said Marjorie, breathlessly, +for his suggestion meant a large sale, indeed.</p> + +<p>"If you can spell macaroons," was the unexpected +reply.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Marjorie gave a little gasp of dismay, +for she had never had the word in her spelling +lessons, and she didn't remember ever seeing it +in print.</p> + +<p>"May I think a minute?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Abercrombie, taking out his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +watch; "but just a minute, no more."</p> + +<p>This embarrassed Marjorie a little, but she was +determined to win if possible, so she set her wits +to work.</p> + +<p>It was confusing, for she was uncertain whether +to say double c or double r, or whether both those +letters were single. Then, like a flash, came to +her mind the way her father had taught her to +spell <i>macaroni</i>. The words <i>might</i> not be alike, +but more likely they were, so before the minute +had elapsed, she said, bravely:</p> + +<p>"M-a-c-a-r-double o-n-s."</p> + +<p>"Good for you!" cried Mr. Abercrombie. +"You're a smart little girl, and a good speller. +I'll take all the macaroons you have."</p> + +<p>Greatly elated, Marjorie referred the sale to +Miss Merington, and that lady was very much +pleased when Mr. Abercrombie gave her a good-sized +banknote, and declined to take any change.</p> + +<p>"For the good of the cause," he said, waiving +away the proffered change.</p> + +<p>"And now," their eccentric customer went on, +"I've just a little more money to spend at this +booth, for I've promised one or two other friends<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> +to buy some of their wares. But, Miss Rosycheeks, +I'll tell you what I'll do."</p> + +<p>He looked at Marjorie so teasingly that she felt +sure he was going to ask her to spell something +else, and this time she feared she would fail.</p> + +<p>"I'll do this," proceeded Mr. Abercrombie: +"I'll buy anything for sale at this booth that our +young friend, the paragon speller, can <i>not</i> spell!"</p> + +<p>Marjorie's eyes sparkled. She wasn't really a +"paragon speller," and she felt sure there must +be something that was beyond her knowledge. But, +somehow, all the things seemed to have simple +names. Any one could spell mittens and muffs +and mats. And though mandolin and marmalade +were harder, yet she conscientiously realized that +she could spell those correctly.</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything," she said, at last, slowly +and regretfully.</p> + +<p>"Then I save my money, and you save your +reputation as a speller," said Mr. Abercrombie, +jocosely, as he jingled some silver in his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Oh, wait a minute!" cried Marjorie. +"There's that handsome clock! Miss Merington +said it's malachite, and I haven't the least idea +how to spell that!"</p> + +<p>"Fairly caught!" said the old gentleman,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +chuckling at his own defeat. "I see by your +honest eyes that you really don't know how to +spell malachite, and it <i>is</i> a hard word. Now, +listen, and I'll teach you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Abercrombie spelled the word, and then +said:</p> + +<p>"Would you have guessed it was spelled like +that?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Midge, truthfully; "I should +have thought there was a 'k' in it."</p> + +<p>"I almost wish there had been," said the gentleman, +ruefully, "then I should not have to buy +the most expensive article on your table. However, +it will look well on my library mantel, and +I shall rejoice whenever I look at it and remember +that you know how to spell it."</p> + +<p>Marjorie smiled at this idea, and the queer +customer paid to Miss Merington the rather large +price that was marked on the handsome clock.</p> + +<p>"Marjorie, you're a trump!" said she, as Mr. +Abercrombie walked away. "He's about the only +one here rich enough to buy that clock, and I'm +glad he took it. This will swell our fund finely."</p> + +<p>When it was supper-time, the Maynards and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +Fultons all went together to the restaurant in the +R booth. They had a merry time, and Marjorie +told the story of her "Spelling Lesson," as she +called it.</p> + +<p>"You're a born merchant, Midge," said King. +"You make money by knowing how to spell—and +then you make money by not knowing!"</p> + +<p>"But such occasions don't happen often," said +Mr. Maynard. "I think you'd better continue +your spelling lessons for a few years yet. And +now, as it's time for ice-cream, I'll try your +friend's plan, Midget. If you can spell <i>Biscuit +Tortoni</i>, you can have it!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Father," said Marjorie, smiling; +"but I'd rather have vanilla and chocolate. +They're easier to spell, and just as good to eat."</p> + +<p>After supper, the children had to go home. +Marjorie looked back reluctantly at the brilliant +hall, even more gay since the lights were burning, +but she remembered that she could yet come +two more afternoons, so she said no word of +regret.</p> + +<p>"But I do hope," she said to her mother, as +she tucked her tired little girl into bed that night, +"I do hope that when I'm a grown-up young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +lady I'll be exactly like that lovely, sweet Miss +Merington."</p> + +<p>"I'm thankful to say that your grown-up-young-lady +days are yet far off," responded her +mother; "but when that time comes I'll be quite +satisfied to have you the lovely, sweet Miss +Maynard."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CAROLYN_WELLS_BOOKS" id="CAROLYN_WELLS_BOOKS"></a>CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS</h2> + +<h4>Attractively Bound. Colored Wrappers.</h4> + + +<p>THE PATTY BOOKS</p> + +<p>Patty is a lovable girl whose frank good nature and beauty lend +charm to her varied adventures. These stories are packed with +excitement and interest for girls.</p> + +<p> +PATTY FAIRFIELD<br /> +PATTY AT HOME<br /> +PATTY IN THE CITY<br /> +PATTY'S SUMMER DAYS<br /> +PATTY IN PARIS<br /> +PATTY'S FRIENDS<br /> +PATTY'S PLEASURE TRIP<br /> +PATTY'S SUCCESS<br /> +PATTY'S MOTOR CAR<br /> +PATTY'S BUTTERFLY DAYS<br /> +PATTY'S SOCIAL SEASON<br /> +PATTY'S SUITORS<br /> +PATTY'S ROMANCE<br /> +PATTY'S FORTUNE<br /> +PATTY BLOSSOM<br /> +</p> + + +<p><br />THE MARJORIE BOOKS</p> + +<p>Marjorie is a happy little girl of twelve, up to mischief, but full of +goodness and sincerity. In her and her friends every girl reader +will see much of her own love of fun, play and adventure.</p> + +<p> +MARJORIE'S VACATION<br /> +MARJORIE'S BUSY DAYS<br /> +MARJORIE'S NEW FRIEND<br /> +MARJORIE IN COMMAND<br /> +MARJORIE'S MAYTIME<br /> +MARJORIE AT SEACOTE<br /> +</p> + + +<p><br />THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES</p> + +<p>Introducing Dorinda Fayre—a pretty blonde, sweet, serious, timid +and a little slow, and Dorothy Rose—a sparkling brunette, quick, +elf-like, high tempered, full of mischief and always getting into +scrapes.</p> + +<p> +TWO LITTLE WOMEN<br /> +TWO LITTLE WOMEN AND TREASURE HOUSE<br /> +TWO LITTLE WOMEN ON A HOLIDAY<br /> +</p> + + +<p><br />THE DICK AND DOLLY BOOKS</p> + +<p>Dick and Dolly are brother and sister, and their games, their +pranks, their joys and sorrows, are told in a manner which makes +the stories "really true" to young readers.</p> + +<p> +DICK AND DOLLY<br /> +DICK AND DOLLY'S ADVENTURES<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_OUTDOOR_GIRLS_SERIES" id="THE_OUTDOOR_GIRLS_SERIES"></a>THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + +<h3>Author of "The Blythe Girls Books."</h3> + +<h4>Every Volume Complete in Itself.</h4> + + +<p>These are the adventures of a group of bright, +fun-loving, up-to-date girls who have a common +bond in their fondness for outdoor life, camping, +travel and adventure. There is excitement and +humor in these stories and girls will find in them +the kind of pleasant associations that they seek to +create among their own friends and chums.</p> + +<p> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGE<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AROUND THE CAMPFIRE<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON CAPE COD<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT FOAMING FALLS<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ALONG THE COAST<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT SPRING HILL FARM<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT NEW MOON RANCH<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON A HIKE<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON A CANOE TRIP<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT CEDAR RIDGE<br /> +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE AIR<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_BLYTHE_GIRLS_BOOKS" id="THE_BLYTHE_GIRLS_BOOKS"></a>THE BLYTHE GIRLS BOOKS</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA LEE HOPE</h3> + +<h3>Author of The Outdoor Girls Series</h3> + +<h4>Illustrated by Thelma Gooch</h4> + + +<p>The Blythe Girls, three in number, were left alone in +New York City. Helen, who went in for art and music, +kept the little flat uptown, while Margy, just out of business +school, obtained a position as secretary and Rose, +plain-spoken and business like, took what she called a +"job" in a department store. The experiences of these +girls make fascinating reading—life in the great metropolis +is thrilling and full of strange adventures and surprises.</p> + +<p> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN, MARGY AND ROSE<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S QUEER INHERITANCE<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S GREAT PROBLEM<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN'S STRANGE BOARDER<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THREE ON A VACATION<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S SECRET MISSION<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S ODD DISCOVERY<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HELEN<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: SNOWBOUND IN CAMP<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S MYSTERIOUS VISITOR<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S HIDDEN TALENT<br /> +THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN'S WONDERFUL MISTAKE<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_LILIAN_GARIS_BOOKS" id="THE_LILIAN_GARIS_BOOKS"></a>THE LILIAN GARIS BOOKS</h2> + +<h4>Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.</h4> + + +<p>Among her "fan" letters Lilian Garis receives some flattering +testimonials of her girl readers' interest in her stories. +From a class of thirty comes a vote of twenty-five naming +her as their favorite author. Perhaps it is the element of +live mystery that Mrs. Garis always builds her stories upon, +or perhaps it is because the girls easily can translate her +own sincere interest in themselves from the stories. At +any rate her books prosper through the changing conditions +of these times, giving pleasure, satisfaction, and, +incidentally, that tactful word of inspiration, so important +in literature for young girls. Mrs. Garis prefers to call her +books "juvenile novels" and in them romance is never +lacking.</p> + +<p> +JUDY JORDAN<br /> +JUDY JORDAN'S DISCOVERY<br /> +SALLY FOR SHORT<br /> +SALLY FOUND OUT<br /> +A GIRL CALLED TED<br /> +TED AND TONY, TWO GIRLS OF TODAY<br /> +CLEO'S MISTY RAINBOW<br /> +CLEO'S CONQUEST<br /> +BARBARA HALE<br /> +BARBARA HALE'S MYSTERY FRIEND<br /> +NANCY BRANDON<br /> +NANCY BRANDON'S MYSTERY<br /> +CONNIE LORING<br /> +CONNIE LORING'S GYPSY FRIEND<br /> +JOAN: JUST GIRL<br /> +JOAN'S GARDEN OF ADVENTURE<br /> +GLORIA: A GIRL AND HER DAD<br /> +GLORIA AT BOARDING SCHOOL<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_NANCY_DREW_MYSTERY_STORIES" id="THE_NANCY_DREW_MYSTERY_STORIES"></a>THE NANCY DREW MYSTERY<br />STORIES</h2> + +<h3>By CAROLYN KEENE</h3> + +<h4>Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.</h4> + + +<p>Here is a thrilling series of mystery stories for girls. +Nancy Drew, ingenious, alert, is the daughter of a +famous criminal lawyer and she herself is deeply interested +in his mystery cases. Her interest involves her +often in some very dangerous and exciting situations.</p> + + +<p><br />THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK</p> + +<p>Nancy, unaided, seeks to locate a missing will and finds herself +in the midst of adventure.</p> + + +<p><br />THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE</p> + +<p>Mysterious happenings in an old stone mansion lead to an investigation +by Nancy.</p> + + +<p><br />THE BUNGALOW MYSTERY</p> + +<p>Nancy has some perilous experiences around a deserted bungalow.</p> + + +<p><br />THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN</p> + +<p>Quick thinking and quick action were needed for Nancy to extricate +herself from a dangerous situation.</p> + + +<p><br />THE SECRET AT SHADOW RANCH</p> + +<p>On a vacation in Arizona Nancy uncovers an old mystery and +solves it.</p> + + +<p><br />THE SECRET OF RED GATE FARM</p> + +<p>Nancy exposes the doings of a secret society on an isolated farm.</p> + + +<p><br />THE CLUE IN THE DIARY</p> + +<p>A fascinating and exciting story of a search for a clue to a surprising +mystery.</p> + + +<p><br />NANCY'S MYSTERIOUS LETTER</p> + +<p>Nancy receives a letter informing her that she is heir to a fortune. +This story tells of her search for another Nancy Drew.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_CHILDRENS_HOUR_BOOKS" id="THE_CHILDRENS_HOUR_BOOKS"></a>THE CHILDREN'S HOUR BOOKS</h2> + +<h4>Illustrated in Two Colors. Every Volume Complete in Itself.</h4> + + +<p>This series of beautifully illustrated books for younger +children includes a wide range of child interests—all the +way from true tales of action to delightful stories of +brownies and bunnies and fairies, and such famous classics +as "A Child's Garden of Verses."</p> + +<table> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">BOYS and GIRLS of DISCOVERY DAYS</td> +<td class="tda">Carolyn Sherwin Bailey</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">BOYS and GIRLS of PIONEER DAYS</td> +<td class="tda">Carolyn Sherwin Bailey</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">THE CIRCUS BOOK</td> +<td class="tda">Laura Rountree Smith</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">THE FAIRY BABIES</td> +<td class="tda">Laura Rountree Smith</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">LITTLE BEAR</td> +<td class="tda">Laura Rountree Smith</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">BUSY LITTLE BROWNIES</td> +<td class="tda">N. Moore Banta</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">THE BROWNIES and the GOBLINS</td> +<td class="tda">N. Banta and A. B. Benson</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">TEN LITTLE BROWNIE MEN</td> +<td class="tda">N. Banta and A. B. Benson</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">BROWNIES at WORK and PLAY</td> +<td class="tda">N. Moore Banta</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">THE TALE of BUNNY COTTON-TAIL</td> +<td class="tda">Laura Rountree Smith</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">THE CIRCUS COTTON-TAILS</td> +<td class="tda">Laura Rountree Smith</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">THE COTTON-TAILS in TOYLAND</td> +<td class="tda">Laura Rountree Smith</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">BUNNY BOY and GRIZZLY BEAR</td> +<td class="tda">Laura Rountree Smith</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">THE CHILDREN of MOTHER GOOSE</td> +<td class="tda">Julia Darrow Cowles</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES</td> +<td class="tda">Robert Louis Stevenson</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdb">AB, THE CAVE MAN</td> +<td class="tda">William Lewis Nida</td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_JUDY_BOLTON_MYSTERY_STORIES" id="THE_JUDY_BOLTON_MYSTERY_STORIES"></a>THE JUDY BOLTON<br />MYSTERY STORIES</h2> + +<h3>By MARGARET SUTTON</h3> + + +<p><br />Here is a new series of mystery stories for girls by an +author who knows the kind of stories every girl wants to +read—mystery of the "shivery" sort, adventure that makes +the nerves tingle, clever "detecting" and a new lovable +heroine, Judy Bolton, whom all girls will take to their +hearts at once.</p> + + +<p><br />THE VANISHING SHADOW</p> + +<p>Judy's safety is threatened by a gang of crooks who think she +knows too much about their latest "deal." She is constantly pursued +by a mysterious shadow which vanishes before she can get a +glimpse of its owner.</p> + + +<p><br />THE HAUNTED ATTIC</p> + +<p>The Boltons move into a large rambling house reputed to be +haunted. Even the brave Judy who has looked forward to "spooky" +goings on is thoroughly frightened at the strange scrapings and +rappings and the eery "crying ghost."</p> + + +<p><br />THE INVISIBLE CHIMES</p> + +<p>Through an automobile accident a strange girl is taken into the +Bolton household—the whole family becomes attached to her and +interested in her story. Judy tracks down many clues before she +finally uncovers the real identity of "Honey."</p> + + +<p><br />SEVEN STRANGE CLUES</p> + +<p>Judy gets to the bottom of a mystery that centers around a +prize poster contest and a fire in the school building—through +seven baffling clues that hold the key to the answer.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_POLLY_SERIES" id="THE_POLLY_SERIES"></a>THE POLLY SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By DOROTHY WHITEHILL</h3> + + +<p><br />This lively series for girls is about the adventures of +pretty, resourceful Polly Pendleton, a wide awake American +girl who goes to boarding school on the Hudson River, +several miles above New York. By her pluck and genial +smile she soon makes a name for herself and becomes a +leader in girl activities.</p> + +<p>Besides relating Polly's adventures at school these books +tell of her summer vacations and her experiences in many +different scenes. Every girl who loves action and excitement +will want to follow Polly on her many adventures.</p> + +<p> +POLLY'S FIRST YEAR AT BOARDING SCHOOL<br /> +POLLY'S SUMMER VACATION<br /> +POLLY'S SENIOR YEAR AT BOARDING SCHOOL<br /> +POLLY SEES THE WORLD AT WAR<br /> +POLLY AND LOIS<br /> +POLLY AND BOB<br /> +POLLY'S REUNION<br /> +POLLY'S POLLY<br /> +POLLY AT PIXIE'S HAUNT<br /> +POLLY'S HOUSE PARTY<br /> +POLLY'S POLLY AT BOARDING SCHOOL<br /> +JOYFUL ADVENTURES OF POLLY<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_JOYCE_PAYTON_SERIES" id="THE_JOYCE_PAYTON_SERIES"></a>THE JOYCE PAYTON SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By DOROTHY WHITEHILL</h3> + + +<p><br />Between the covers of these books will be found the +kind of people all girls like to meet in real life. There is +Joyce Payton, known as Joy, who has a remarkable knowledge +of gypsy customs. She is a universal favorite among +girls. Then, too, there is Pam, Joy's partner in adventure, +and Gypsy Joe, the little Romany genius who has a magical +fiddle—and we mustn't forget Gloria, a city bred cousin +and spoiled darling who feels like a "cat in a strange +garret" with Joy and her friends.</p> + +<p> +JOY AND GYPSY JOE<br /> +JOY AND PAM<br /> +JOY AND HER CHUMS<br /> +JOY AND PAM AT BROOKSIDE<br /> +JOY AND PAM A-SAILING<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_ELIZABETH_ANN_SERIES" id="THE_ELIZABETH_ANN_SERIES"></a>THE ELIZABETH ANN SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By JOSEPHINE LAWRENCE</h3> + + +<p><br />Elizabeth Ann is a charming girl who has various delightful +adventures. You first meet her when she is traveling +alone on a train. Her parents have sailed for Japan, +and she is sent to visit her numerous relatives. Of course, +she meets many new friends during her travels. With some +of them she is quite happy, and with others—but that's all +in the stories. However, any difficulty she encounters is +soon overcome by her clever brain, her kindness of heart, +and her absolute honesty.</p> + +<p>Each volume in this series holds a complete story in +itself.</p> + +<p> +THE ADVENTURES OF ELIZABETH ANN<br /> +ELIZABETH ANN AT MAPLE SPRING<br /> +ELIZABETH ANN'S SIX COUSINS<br /> +ELIZABETH ANN AND DORIS<br /> +ELIZABETH ANN'S BORROWED GRANDMA<br /> +ELIZABETH ANN'S SPRING VACATION<br /> +ELIZABETH ANN AND UNCLE DOCTOR<br /> +ELIZABETH ANN'S HOUSEBOAT<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="RUTH_DARROW_FLYING_STORIES" id="RUTH_DARROW_FLYING_STORIES"></a>RUTH DARROW FLYING<br />STORIES</h2> + +<h3>By MILDRED A. WIRT</h3> + + +<p><br />A rollicking flying series for girls, tense and startling +in its unusual turns. Every reader interested in +aviation will be thrilled to follow the strange adventures +of Ruth Darrow in her racing monoplane, the +Silver Moth. Aided by her chum, Jean Harrington, +and her loyal friend, Sandy Morland, Ruth takes part +in an exciting air race and solves many a baffling +mystery.</p> + +<p> +RUTH DARROW IN THE AIR DERBY<br /> +RUTH DARROW IN THE FIRE PATROL<br /> +RUTH DARROW IN YUCATAN<br /> +RUTH DARROW IN THE COAST GUARD<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_CORNER_HOUSE_GIRLS_SERIES" id="THE_CORNER_HOUSE_GIRLS_SERIES"></a>THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS<br />SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By GRACE BROOKS HILL</h3> + + +<p><br />These splendid stories of the adventures of four young +girls who occupy the old corner house left to them by a +rich bachelor uncle will appeal to all young girls. They +contain all the elements which delight youthful readers—action, +mystery, humor and excitement. These girls have +become the best friends of many children throughout the +country.</p> + +<p> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS AT SCHOOL<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS UNDER CANVAS<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS IN A PLAY<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS' ODD FIND<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A TOUR<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS GROWING UP<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS SNOWBOUND<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A HOUSEBOAT<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS AMONG THE GYPSIES<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON PALM ISLAND<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY<br /> +THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS FACING THE WORLD<br /><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 30%;" /> +<p class="center">GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span class="smcap">Publishers</span>, NEW YORK</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/endpaper.jpg" width="600" height="444" alt="" title="Endpaper"/><br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 65%;"> +<div class="singleborder"> +<p> +Transcriber's Note:<br /> +<br /> +CHAPTER XIX<br /> +A SPOOL OF YARNS<br /> +</p> + +<p>The Princess, named Violetta Evangeline by one character +(page <a href="#Page_265">265</a>), is referred to by another character as +Violetta Angeline (page <a href="#Page_267">267</a>) and Violetta Angelina (page <a href="#Page_268">268</a>).</p> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Marjorie's Busy Days, by Carolyn Wells + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE'S BUSY DAYS *** + +***** This file should be named 23531-h.htm or 23531-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/5/3/23531/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Ian Deane and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +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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