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diff --git a/36007-h/36007-h.htm b/36007-h/36007-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a2b16d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/36007-h/36007-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10284 @@ +<!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" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Ethel Morton and the Christmas Ship, by Mabell S. C. Smith. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { 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%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .small {font-size: 70%;} + .big {font-size: 110%;} + .author {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .chaptertitle {text-align: center; font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1.75em;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 90%;} + .caption2 {font-weight: bold; font-size: 90%;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + .cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + .cap {text-align: justify;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ethel Morton and the Christmas Ship, by +Mabell S. C. Smith + +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: Ethel Morton and the Christmas Ship + +Author: Mabell S. C. Smith + +Release Date: May 1, 2011 [EBook #36007] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ETHEL MORTON *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Roger Frank, Emmy and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<div class='bbox'> +<h1>ETHEL MORTON<br /> + +AND THE<br /> + +CHRISTMAS SHIP</h1> + + +<div class='center'>BY<br /> + +<span class='author'>MABELL S. C. SMITH</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + +M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY<br /> +<span class='small'>CHICAGO NEW YORK</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='copyright'> +Made in U. S. A.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class='small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td align='right'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The United Service Club at Home</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dorothy's Cottage</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Christmas Ship</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Financial Plans</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Roger Goes Foraging</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In the Smith Attic</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">For a Traveller's Kit</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_70">70</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Red Cross Nurse Sets Sail</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Planning the U. S. C. "Show"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Eventful Evening</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI " </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">James Cuts Corners</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pasting</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">James's Afternoon Party</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Prevention</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">For Santa Claus's Pack</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Club Weaves, Stencils and Models Clay</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ethel Blue Awaits a Cable</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Leather and Brass</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Ethels Cook to Keep</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Christmas Ship Sails</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_232">232</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Wedding and a Surprise</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_242">242</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2>ETHEL MORTON<br /> +AND THE CHRISTMAS SHIP</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE UNITED SERVICE CLUB AT HOME</div> + + +<div class='cap'>"IT'S up to Roger Morton to admit that there's +real, true romance in the world after all," decided +Margaret Hancock as she sat on the Mortons' +porch one afternoon a few days after school had +opened in the September following the summer +when the Mortons and Hancocks had met for the +first time at Chautauqua. James and Margaret had +trolleyed over to see Roger and Helen from Glen +Point, about three quarters of an hour's ride from +Rosemont where the Mortons lived.</div> + +<p>"Roger's ready to admit it," confessed that young +man. "When you have an aunt drop right down +on your door mat, so to speak, after your family has +been hunting her for twenty years, and when you find +that you've been knowing her daughter, your own +cousin, pretty well for two months it does make the +regular go-to-school life that you and I used to lead +look quite prosy."</p> + +<p>"How did she happen to lose touch so completely +with her family?"</p> + +<p>"I told you how Grandfather Morton, her father, +opposed her marrying Uncle Leonard Smith because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +he was a musician. Well, she did marry him, and +when they got into straits she was too proud to tell +her father about it."</p> + +<p>"I suppose Grandfather would have said, 'I told +you so,'" suggested Helen.</p> + +<p>"And I believe it takes more courage than it's +worth to face a person who's given to saying that," +concluded James.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Louise evidently thought it wasn't worth +while or else she didn't have the courage and so she +drifted away. Her mother was dead and she had +no sisters and Father and Uncle Richard probably +didn't write very often."</p> + +<p>"She thought nobody at home loved her, I suppose," +said Helen. "Father and Uncle Richard +did love her tremendously, but they were just young +fellows at the time and they didn't realize what their +not writing meant to her."</p> + +<p>"Once in a while they heard of Uncle Leonard +through the music papers," went on Roger, "but after +his health failed, Aunt Louise told us the other day, +he couldn't make concert appearances and of course +a man merely playing in an orchestra isn't big enough +to command public attention."</p> + +<p>"By the time that Grandfather Morton died about +twelve years ago she was completely lost to the family," +Helen continued, "and she says she didn't know +of his death until five years after, when she came +accidentally upon some mention of it in a local paper +that she picked up somewhere."</p> + +<p>"That was after Uncle Leonard's death, but it +seemed to her that she could not make herself known +to her people without being disloyal to his memory," +Roger carried on the story.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She probably thought that your father and uncle +were just as much opposed to him as her father had +been," guessed Margaret.</p> + +<p>"As a matter of fact, they have been hunting +hard for her through every clue that promised any +result ever since Grandfather died because they +wanted to give her her share of his property."</p> + +<p>"He didn't cut her off with a shilling, then?"</p> + +<p>"Grandfather seems to have had a change of heart, +for he left her more than he did his sons. He said +she needed it more."</p> + +<p>"And it has been accumulating all this time."</p> + +<p>"Seven years. That means a very pleasant increase +for her and Dorothy."</p> + +<p>"She must think rather sadly of the days when +they suffered real privation for the lack of it," said +Helen.</p> + +<p>"Anyway, here they are now, with money in their +pockets and an affectionate family all ready made for +them and they are going to live here in Rosemont +near us, and Dorothy is going to school with the +Ethels, and I'm willing to admit that it comes nearer +to being a romance than anything I ever heard of in +real life," and Roger nodded his head gleefully.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad she's going to live here so we can see +her once in a while," said Margaret. "Mother and +Sister and I all loved her at Chautauqua, she was so +patient and gentle with the people she taught. And +of course we all think Dorothy is a darling."</p> + +<p>"The Ethels are crazy over her. They treat her +as if she were some new belonging and they can +hardly bear to have her out of their sight."</p> + +<p>"It was Grandfather Emerson who said all summer +that she looked like the Ethels," remarked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +Roger. "Her hair is fuzzy and her nose is puggy, +but I didn't see much other likeness."</p> + +<p>"When she grows as fat as the Ethels I think she'll +look astonishingly like them. She's thin and pale, +now, poor little dud."</p> + +<p>"I wish she could grow as plump as Della Watkins."</p> + +<p>"I saw Tom Watkins yesterday," said James.</p> + +<p>"What was a haughty New Yorker doing on the +Jersey side of the Hudson?"</p> + +<p>"It seems he boards Cupid and his family at the +Rosemont Kennels—you know they're half way between +here and Glen Point. He was going to call +on them."</p> + +<p>"Dear Cupid!" laughed Margaret, recalling the +bulldog's alarming face which ill agreed with his +mild name and general behavior. "Let's go over +to the Kennels and see him some day."</p> + +<p>"His wife is named Psyche," went on James, "and +they have two pups named Amor and Amorette."</p> + +<p>"I should think Cupid's puppy would be the funniest +little animal on earth," roared Roger. "Never, +never shall I forget the day old Cupe ran away with +his market wagon," and he kicked his legs with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"Did Tom say anything about coming to see us?" +asked Margaret.</p> + +<p>"He said he and Della were coming over on Saturday +afternoon and he inquired how far it was from +Glen Point to Rosemont and whether they could +make two calls in one afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Not if he stays at either place as long as we'd +like to have him," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"Why don't we have a meeting of the United<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +Service Club on Saturday afternoon?" suggested +Helen, "and then the Watkinses can come here and +you two can come and we can all see each other and +at the same time decide on what we are going to do +this winter."</p> + +<p>"Great head!" approved Roger. "Can you people +be here?"</p> + +<p>"We can," assented Margaret.</p> + +<p>"And we will." James completed the sentence +for her.</p> + +<p>"Here are the children. They've been asking +when we were to have the first meeting, so I know +they'll be glad to give Saturday afternoon to it."</p> + +<p>"The children" of Helen's patronizing expression +came rushing into the yard at the moment. Ethel +Brown Morton, tall and rosy, her cheeks flushed +with running, led the way; her cousin, Ethel Blue +Morton, not quite so tall or quite so rosy, made a +fair second, and their newly-found cousin, Dorothy +Smith, brought up the rear, panting a trifle harder +than the rest, but already looking plumper and sturdier +than she had during the summer at Chautauqua.</p> + +<p>They greeted Margaret and James gladly, and +sat down on the steps of the porch to engage in the +conversation.</p> + +<p>"Hullo," a voice came through the screen door. +"I'm coming out."</p> + +<p>"That must be my friend Dicky," declared James. +"Come on, old man," and he arranged his knees in +position to serve as a seat for the six-year-old who +calmly sat himself down upon them.</p> + +<p>"How are you?" questioned James gravely. "All +right?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Firtht rate," replied Dicky briefly. "Have a +thuck?" and he offered James the moist end of an +all-day-sucker, withdrawing it from his own mouth +for the purpose.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, I'm not eating candy to-day, sir," +responded James seriously. "Much obliged to you, +all the same."</p> + +<p>Dicky nodded his recognition of James's thanks +and resumed his occupation.</p> + +<p>"It keeps us still though we're not pretty to look +at as we do it," commented Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"You're talking about me," asserted Dicky suddenly, +once more removing his sucker from his increasingly +sticky lips and fixing an accusing eye upon +his sister.</p> + +<p>"She was, Dicky, that's true," interposed Helen +quickly, "but she loves you just as much as if she +were talking about Roger."</p> + +<p>Dicky regarded this as a compliment and subsided +against James's chest.</p> + +<p>"We're going to try and get the Watkinses to +come out next Saturday afternoon and the Hancocks +will come over and we'll have a meeting of the +United Service," explained Roger to the new arrivals.</p> + +<p>"Good enough!" approved Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Madam President?" +inquired Ethel Blue, who felt a lively interest in any +future plans because the Club was her idea.</p> + +<p>"We'll all think of things between now and Saturday, +and suggest them then."</p> + +<p>"Tell the Watkinses when you write to them, +Helen."</p> + +<p>"I'm just boiling over with ideas for the Club<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +to put into execution some time or other," announced +Roger.</p> + +<p>"Big ones or little?" asked Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"Some of them are pretty big, but I have a feeling +in my bones that they'll go through."</p> + +<p>"Good for old Roger's bones!" commended +James. "May we venture to ask what some of them +are?"</p> + +<p>"'Nothing venture, nothing have,'" quoted +Roger. "I'm merely saying now, however, that the +biggest scheme is one that I told Grandfather Emerson +about the other day and he said he'd help by +giving us the house for it."</p> + +<p>"What should we do that would need a house?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean—house?"</p> + +<p>Roger grinned delightedly at the commotion he +had caused.</p> + +<p>"This plan I have is so big that we'll have to get +the grown-ups to help us, but we'll do most of the +carrying out ourselves in spite of that."</p> + +<p>"I should think we would have to have their help +if your plan calls for a house."</p> + +<p>"You needn't be sarcastic, young woman. This is +a perfectly good scheme—Grandfather said so. He +said it was so good that he was willing to back it +and to help us by supplying the house we should +need."</p> + +<p>"Poor old Roger—gone clean crazy," sighed +James.</p> + +<p>"I almost think so," agreed Helen.</p> + +<p>"Let me tell you something, you scoffers——"</p> + +<p>"Tell on; that's what we're waiting for."</p> + +<p>"Well, on the whole, I guess I won't tell you a +thing about it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If you aren't the very meanest boy I ever knew +in my life," decided Margaret whole-heartedly. +"To work our curiosity all up this way and then not +to tell us a thing."</p> + +<p>"I didn't get the encouragement that the plan deserved."</p> + +<p>"Like all great inventors," commented James.</p> + +<p>"They all come out on top at the end, I notice," +retorted Roger. "You just watch me about next +April when the buds begin to swell."</p> + +<p>"Heads begin to swell at any time of year, apparently."</p> + +<p>"Especially bad cases begin in the autumn—about +September."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you wait, just wait," threatened Roger. +"When you haven't an idea what to do to make the +Club really useful for another minute then you'll recall +that I promised you a really big plan. <i>Then</i>—"</p> + +<p>"If you aren't going to tell us now I think we'd +better talk about something that has some connection +with what we're going to do in September instead +of this April Fool thing of yours," said Helen +somewhat sharply.</p> + +<p>"Let's not talk about it until Saturday," begged +Ethel Blue. "Then we can all put our minds on it."</p> + +<p>"I rise to remark, Madam President," continued +James, "that I believe this Club has a great future +before it if it does not get involved in wildcat +schemes—"</p> + +<p>"Now listen to that!" exclaimed Roger. "There +speaks the canny Scot that was James's great-grandfather. +Cautious old Hancock! Now you really +have got me riled. I vow to you, fellow-clubmen +and -women that I won't be the first to propose this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +scheme again. You'll have to come to me. And +I'll prophesy that you will come to me about the +first of next April."</p> + +<p>"Why April?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing to do with April Fool, I assure you. +But about that time we shall have worked off all the +ideas that we've cooked up to carry us through the +winter and we'll be glad to undertake a service that +is a service—the real thing."</p> + +<p>"We're going to do the real thing all the time." +Ethel Blue defended her idea. "But I dare say +we'll want to do your thing, too."</p> + +<p>"Grandfather's recommendation doesn't seem to +count with you young know-it-alls."</p> + +<p>"Grandfather's recommendation is the only reason +why our remarks weren't more severe," retorted +Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"Each of us must bring in a list next Saturday," +said Helen, as they all walked to the corner to see +that the Hancocks took the car safely.</p> + +<p>"And I believe that every one will be a perfectly +good plan," said Roger magnanimously.</p> + +<p>"There won't be one that will require a house to +hold it anyway," retorted Margaret.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>DOROTHY'S COTTAGE</div> + + +<div class='cap'>ROSEMONT and Glen Point were two New +Jersey towns near enough to New York to +permit business men to commute every day and far +enough away from the big city to furnish plenty of +air and space for the growing generation. It was +the latter qualification that endeared them to the +Morton and Hancock families, for there were no +commuters in their households. Lieutenant Morton, +father of Roger and Helen and Ethel Brown +and Dicky, was on his ship in the harbor of Vera +Cruz. Captain Morton, his brother, father of +Ethel Blue, had returned to Gen. Funston's army +after finding their sister, Mrs. Smith, at Chautauqua +and convoying her with all the Mortons +and Mrs. Morton's father and mother, Mr. and +Mrs. Emerson, back to Rosemont. His short furlough +did not allow him to remain long enough to +see his sister established in a house of her own, but +it was understood that she was to hire a furnished +house as near as possible to the Mortons' and live in +it until she made up her mind where she wanted to +build.</div> + +<p>"Dorothy and I have wandered about the United +States so long," she said plaintively, "that we are +thankful to settle down in a town and a house that +we can call our own, and we shall be even happier<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +when we have a bungalow actually belonging to us."</p> + +<p>At present they were still staying with the Mortons, +but the Morton family was so large that two +visitors crowded them uncomfortably and Mrs. +Smith felt that she must not trespass upon her sister-in-law's +hospitality longer than was absolutely +necessary.</p> + +<p>"I think the white cottage just around the corner +will be the one that we will take," she said to Dorothy. +"Come with me there again this afternoon +for one more look at it, and then we'll make up our +minds."</p> + +<p>So they went to the white cottage and carefully +studied its merits.</p> + +<p>"The principal good thing about it is that it is +near Aunt Marion's," declared Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"I think so, too. And it is near school and church +and the butcher's and baker's and candlestick-maker's. +We shan't have very far to walk for anything."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother, it doesn't seem possible that this +can be <i>us</i> really living and not just perching around, +and having enough money and enough to eat and +nothing to worry about."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Smith threw her arm about Dorothy's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"The thing for you to do to show your gratitude +is to grow well and strong just as fast as you can. +I want to see you as rosy as the Ethels."</p> + +<p>"They run me around so much that I think they'll +do it for me before very long."</p> + +<p>"They have a start, though, so you'll have to do +all the vigorous things that they do and others +too."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You mean exercises at home?"</p> + +<p>"Every morning when you get up you should do +what a cat does when he wakes from a nap."</p> + +<p>"I know—he stretches himself way out to the tips +of his claws."</p> + +<p>"And shakes himself all over. What do you suppose +he's doing it for?"</p> + +<p>"To stretch his muscles, I should think."</p> + +<p>"And to loosen his skin and make himself generally +flexible. Have you ever seen a sick cat? His +coat looks dull and dry and woolly instead of silky, +and when you feel of him his skin doesn't slip over +his bones easily. It wouldn't be very complimentary +to ourselves to say that you and I are sick cats just +now, but it wouldn't be far from the truth."</p> + +<p>"I don't much like the sound of it," laughed Dorothy. +"What can we invalid pussies do to get +well?"</p> + +<p>"A few simple exercises we ought to take every +morning when we first get out of bed. We ought +to stand first on one foot and then on the other, and +swing vigorously the foot that is off the floor."</p> + +<p>"That's easy."</p> + +<p>"Then if we stretch our arms upward as high as +we can, first one and then the other and then both, +and then put our hands on the ribs of each side and +stretch and lift them we shall have limbered up the +lower and the upper parts of ourselves pretty thoroughly."</p> + +<p>"I learned a good exercise for the waist muscles +at the Girls' Club last summer. You sit down and +roll the body at the waist line in all directions. You +can do it standing, too; that brings in some different +muscles."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We'll do that. These few exercises will wake +up every part of the body."</p> + +<p>"We ought to do them with the windows open."</p> + +<p>"When you first wake up after having the windows +wide open all night you don't realize the cold in +your room. It isn't until you have been to a warmer +room that you notice the cold in your bedroom. So +the best time to take these exercises is just the minute +you hop out of bed. Stand in front of the open +window and take deep breaths of air way down into +the very lower tips of your lungs so that every tiny +cell will be puffed out with good, fresh oxygen."</p> + +<p>"It will take a lot of time to do all those exercises."</p> + +<p>"Five minutes every morning will be enough if we +do them vigorously. And you mustn't forget that +your aim is to catch up with the Ethels."</p> + +<p>"And then to beat them. I'll do it."</p> + +<p>They went slowly through the cottage and planned +the purpose to which they would put each room. It +was simply furnished, but all the necessities were +there.</p> + +<p>"It's more fun this way than if there were a lot of +furniture," said Dorothy, "because we can get what +is lacking to suit ourselves."</p> + +<p>"All the time that we are here we can be making +plans for building our own little house."</p> + +<p>"I can hardly wait to have it."</p> + +<p>They hugged each other in their happiness and the +tears were not far from the eyelids of both of them, +for Mrs. Smith had not known anything but the actual +necessities of living for many years and Dorothy +had never known many comforts that had been every +day matters and not luxuries to her mother's youth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>So Mrs. Smith hired the white cottage and she and +Dorothy moved in at once. A cousin of Mary, +Mrs. Morton's old servant, who had been Dicky's +nurse, came to work for them, and by the time of +the first meeting of the United Service Club Dorothy +felt so settled in her new home that she wanted to +have the meeting in the living-room or the big attic +just to see how it felt to be entertaining people in +her own house.</p> + +<p>"I think I wouldn't suggest it this time," Mrs. +Smith warned her. "Helen is the president, you +see, and it seems more suitable for the first meeting +to be held at her house. Ask if you mayn't have +the next one here. How often are you going to +meet?"</p> + +<p>"I hope it will be once a week, and so does Ethel +Blue. She thinks there's plenty of occupation to +keep a service club busy all the time."</p> + +<p>At noon the sun disappeared and the Rosemont +members of the U. S. C. began to have doubts as to +whether the Hancocks and Watkinses would appear.</p> + +<p>"Even if it rains hard I think James and Margaret +will come," said Helen. "The trolley brings +them almost from their door to ours; but I don't feel +so sure about the Watkinses."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't take but ten minutes longer for them +to come out from New York than for the Hancocks +to come over from Glen Point."</p> + +<p>"But they have to cross the ferry and take the +train and it seems more of an undertaking than just +to hop into a street car."</p> + +<p>"It's getting so dark and gloomy—what do you +say if you Ethels make some candy to enliven the +afternoon?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is there time before they come?"</p> + +<p>"Just about. Try Vinegar Candy this time. If +you leave half of it unstirred and stir the other half +it will be as good as two kinds, you know."</p> + +<p>So the Ethels went off into a pantry back of the +kitchen, where Mrs. Morton had had a small gas +stove installed so that the children might cook to +their hearts' content without interfering with the occupants +of the kitchen.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing that upsets people who are trying +to make a house run smoothly and to do its work +promptly and well as to have children come into the +kitchen and use the stove when it is needed for other +purposes, and get in the way and leave their cooking +apparatus around and their pots and pans uncleaned," +declared Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>So the Ethels and Helen, and Roger, too, for he +was a capital cook and was in great demand whenever +the boys went on camping trips, all contributed +from their allowances to buy a simple equipment for +this tiny kitchen which they called their own. Mrs. +Morton paid for the stove, but the saucepans and +baking tins, the flour and sugar and eggs, the flavoring +extracts and the seasonings were all supplied +by the children, and it was understood that when a +cooking fit seized them they must think out beforehand +what they were going to want and provide +themselves with it and not call on the cook or Mary +to help them out of an emergency caused by their +own thoughtlessness. Mrs. Morton was sure that +her reputation as a sensible mother who did not let +the children over-run the kitchen at times when they +were decidedly in the way was one of the chief reasons +why her servants stayed with her so long.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>So now Ethel Brown said to Ethel Blue, "Have +we got all the materials we need for Vinegar +Candy?" and Ethel Blue seized the cook book and +read the receipt.</p> + +<p>"Mix together three cupfuls of sugar, half a cupful +of vinegar, half a cupful of water. When it +comes to a boil stir in one teaspoonful of soda."</p> + +<p>"We've got sugar and soda and water," announced +Ethel Brown after investigating the shelves +of the tiny storeroom, "but there isn't any vinegar. +I do hate to go out in this rain," for the dark sky +was making good its threat.</p> + +<p>"I'll get it for you. Give me your jug," said +Roger, swinging into his raincoat. "I'll be back in +half a jiff," and he dashed off into the downpour, +shaking his head like a Newfoundland dog, and +spattering the drops as he ran.</p> + +<p>He was back before the Ethels had their pans +buttered and the water and sugar measured, so +briskly had he galloped. It was only a few minutes +more before the candy stiffened when a little was +dropped into a cup of cold water.</p> + +<p>"Now we'll pour half of it into one of the pans," +directed Ethel Brown, "and then we'll get Roger to +beat the other half so it will be creamy."</p> + +<p>Roger was entirely willing to lend his muscles to +so good a cause and soon had the mass grained and +white.</p> + +<p>"Good work; one boiling for two batches!" he +declared. "That pleases my notions of scientific +management."</p> + +<p>When the door-bell rang for the first arrivals the +whole thing was almost cold, and Mary, who was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +always willing to help in an emergency, hastened the +chilling process by popping the tins into the ice box.</p> + +<p>"They're not warm enough any longer to melt the +ice," she decided, "so I'll just hurry 'em up a bit."</p> + +<p>After all the discussion about the city dwellers' +dislike of going into the suburbs it was the Watkinses +who came first.</p> + +<p>"We're ahead of the hour," apologized Della. +"We couldn't time ourselves exactly for so long a +distance."</p> + +<p>"The Hancocks will come just on the dot, I've no +doubt," laughed Tom. "Old James is just that accurate +person!"</p> + +<p>As the clock's hand was on the appointed minute a +whir at the bell announced Margaret and James, both +dripping from their run from the corner.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Morton's compliments and she thought they +had better drink this so they won't get cold."</p> + +<p>"Our compliments and thanks to Mrs. Morton," +returned Tom, his hand dramatically placed over a +portion of his person which is said to be the gateway +to a boy's heart.</p> + +<p>When the cups had been emptied and the wafers +consumed and the Ethels had taken away the tray +with the remains of the feast and had brought back +the two kinds of candy, carefully cut into squares +and heaped in two of the pretty Japanese bowls +which made a part of their private kitchen equipment, +they all settled down in big chairs and on couches except +Roger, who sat near the fire to stir it, and +Helen, who established herself at one end of the +table where she could see them all conveniently.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE CHRISTMAS SHIP</div> + + +<div class='cap'>"THE meeting will come to order," commanded +Helen, her face bubbling with the +conflict between her dignity and her desire to laugh +at her dignity.</div> + +<p>"We haven't any secretary, so there can't be any +minutes of the last meeting."</p> + +<p>Helen glanced sidewise at James, for she was talking +about something she never had had occasion to +mention in all her life before and she wondered if +he were being properly impressed with the ease with +which she spoke of the non-existent minutes.</p> + +<p>James responded to her look with an expression +of surprise so comical that Helen almost burst into +laughter most unsuitable for the presiding officer of +so distinguished a gathering.</p> + +<p>"Oughtn't we to have a secretary?" asked Tom. +"If we're going to have a really shipshape club this +winter it seems to me we ought to have some record +of what we do."</p> + +<p>"And there may be letters to write," urged Roger, +"and who'd do them?"</p> + +<p>"Not old Roger, I'll bet!" cried James in humorous +scorn.</p> + +<p>"I don't notice that anybody is addressing the +chair," remarked Helen sternly, and James flushed, +for he had been the president's instructor in parliamentary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +law at the meeting when the Club was organized, +and he did not relish being caught in a +mistake.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Madam President," he apologized.</p> + +<p>"I don't see any especial need for a secretary, Miss +President," said Margaret, "but can't we tell better +when we're a little farther along and know what +we're going to do?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," agreed Helen. "There isn't any +treasurer's report for the same reason that there +isn't any secretary's," she continued.</p> + +<p>"Just to cut off another discussion I'd like to repeat +my remark," said Margaret.</p> + +<p>"If we become multi-millionaires later on we can +appoint a treasurer then," said Della, her round +face unusually grave.</p> + +<p>"Instead of a secretary's report it seems to me it +would be interesting to remember what the Club +did last summer to live up to its name," suggested +Tom. "You know Della and I weren't elected until +after you'd been going some time, and I'm not +sure that I know everything that happened."</p> + +<p>The Mortons and Dorothy and the Hancocks +looked around at each other rather vaguely, and no +one seemed in a hurry to begin.</p> + +<p>"It looks to me as if a secretary is almost a necessity," +grinned Tom, "if nobody remembers anything +you did!"</p> + +<p>"There were lots of little things that don't seem +to count when you look back on them," began Ethel +Blue.</p> + +<p>"We did some things as a Club," said Roger, +"and we can tell Watkins about those without embarrassing +anybody."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Our first effort was on Old First Night," said +Margaret thoughtfully. "Don't you remember we +went outside the gate and picked flowers and decorated +the stage?"</p> + +<p>"In the evening James and Roger passed the baskets +to collect the offering in the Amphitheatre," +Ethel Blue said. "And then we all did things that +helped along in the Pageant and on Recognition +Day."</p> + +<p>"I don't think those really counted for much as +service," said Helen, "because they were all of them +mighty good fun."</p> + +<p>"I think we ought to do whatever will help somebody, +whether we like it or not," declared Ethel +Blue, "but I don't see why we shouldn't hunt up +pleasant things to do."</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do, anyway?" asked Della. +"Has anybody any ideas? Oh, please excuse me, +Helen—Miss President—perhaps it wasn't time to +ask that question."</p> + +<p>"I was just about to ask for suggestions," said +Helen with dignity. "Has any one come across anything +that we can do here in Rosemont or in Glen +Point or in New York? Anything that will be an +appropriate beginning for the United Service Club? +We want to do something that would be suitable +for the children of our father and uncle who are +serving in the Army and Navy trying to keep peace +in Mexico, and of a man like Doctor Hancock, who +is serving his fellowmen in the slums every day, and +of a clergyman who is helping people to do right all +the time."</p> + +<p>Helen flushed over this long speech.</p> + +<p>"Rosemont, Glen Point, and New York—a wide<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +field," said Tom dryly. "It seems as if we might +find something without much trouble."</p> + +<p>"I thought of the orphanage in Glen Point," said +Margaret.</p> + +<p>"What is there for us to do for the kids there +that the grown people don't do?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"The grown people contribute clothes and food +and all the necessaries, but sometimes when I've +been there it seemed as if the children didn't have +much of any of the little nothings that boys and girls +in their own homes have. It seemed to me that +perhaps we could make a lot of things that weren't +especially useful but were just pretty; things that +we'd like to have ourselves."</p> + +<p>"I know just how they feel, I believe," said Margaret. +"One of my aunts thinks that perfectly plain +clothes are all that are necessary and she won't let +my cousins have any ruffles or bows. It makes them +just miserable. They're crazy for something that +'isn't useful.'"</p> + +<p>"How would it do to get together a lot of things +for Christmas for the orphans? We might offer to +trim a tree for them. Or to give each one of them +a foolish present or a pretty one to offset the solid +things the grown-ups will give."</p> + +<p>"When I was a kid," observed James, "I used to +consider it a mean fraud if I had clothing worked +off on me as Christmas presents. My parents had +to clothe me anyway; why should they put those necessities +among my Christmas gifts which were supposed +to be extras!"</p> + +<p>"There you are again; what people want in this +world of pain and woe, ye-ho, he-ho," chanted +Roger, "is the things they can go without."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Has any one thought of anybody else we can +benefit?" questioned Helen. "We might as well +have all the recommendations we can."</p> + +<p>"There's an old couple down by the bridge on +South Street," said Roger. "I've often noticed +them. They're all bent up and about a thousand +years old. We might keep an eye on them."</p> + +<p>"I know about them," contributed Ethel Brown. +"I asked about them. They have a son who takes +care of them. He gives them money every week, +so they aren't suffering, but they both have the rheumatism +frightfully so they can't go out much and I +shouldn't wonder if they'd like a party some time, +right in their own house. If we could go there and +sing them some songs and Dicky could speak his +piece about the cat and we could do some shadow +pantomimes on a sheet and then have a spread, I +believe they'd have as good a time as if they'd been +to the movies."</p> + +<p>"We'll do it." Tom slapped his leg. "I'll sing +'em a solo myself."</p> + +<p>Groans rose from James and Roger.</p> + +<p>"Poor old things! What have you got against +them?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, if you're jealous of my voice—of +course I wouldn't for the world arouse any hard +feelings, Madam President. I withdraw my offer. +But mark ye, callow youths," he went on dramatically, +"the day will come when I'm a Caruso and +you'll be sorry to have to remember that you did +your best to discourage a genius that would not be +discouraged!"</p> + +<p>"The meeting will come to order." Helen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +rapped for quiet, for the entire room was rocking to +and fro over Tom's praise of one of the hoarsest +voices ever given to boy or man.</p> + +<p>"We'll give the old people a good show, even if +Tom does back out," cried Roger. "I wish we had +a secretary to put down these suggestions. I'm +afraid we'll forget them."</p> + +<p>"So am I," agreed Helen. "Let's vote for a secretary. +Roger, pass around some paper and pencils +and let's ballot."</p> + +<p>Roger did as he was bid, and Ethel Brown and +Della collected the ballots and acted as tellers.</p> + +<p>"The tellers will declare the vote," announced +Helen, who had been conferring with James while +the balloting was going on, and had learned the +proper parliamentary move. Margaret had coached +Ethel Brown so that she made her report in proper +style.</p> + +<p>"Total number of votes cast, eight; necessary to +a choice, five. Margaret has one, Dorothy has one, +Roger has two, Ethel Brown has one, Ethel Blue +has three. Nobody has enough."</p> + +<p>"Have we got to vote over again?" Helen asked +of James.</p> + +<p>"I move you, Madam President, that we consider +the person receiving the highest number of votes as +the person elected and that we make the election +unanimous."</p> + +<p>"Is the motion seconded?"</p> + +<p>Cries of "Yes," "I second it," "So do I," came +from all over the room and included a call from +Ethel Blue. Roger pealed with laughter.</p> + +<p>"Ethel Blue means to get there," he shouted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do? What have I done?" demanded Ethel +Blue, so embarrassed at this attack that the tears +stood in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Why, you're the person who's receiving a unanimous +election," returned Roger, between gasps. +"You've made it unanimous, yourself, all right."</p> + +<p>Poor Ethel Blue leaned back in her chair without +saying a word.</p> + +<p>"Roger, you're too mean," cried Helen. "Don't +you mind a word he says, Ethel Blue. It's very hard +to follow votes and it isn't at all surprising that you +didn't understand."</p> + +<p>"What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"It means that you're elected secretary."</p> + +<p>"But there weren't enough votes."</p> + +<p>"You had three and Roger had two, and nobody +else had more than one. When one candidate has +more than the rest he may be considered as elected, +even if he didn't get the right number of votes—that +is, if everybody agrees to it."</p> + +<p>"And you agreed to it," chuckled Roger.</p> + +<p>"Stop, Roger. You're our new secretary, Ethel +Blue, and it's very suitable that you should be, for +the club was your idea and you ought to be an officer. +Roger, give Ethel Blue your pencil and the +rest of that paper you had for the ballots. Come +and sit next to me, Ethel."</p> + +<p>Ethel Blue felt that honors were being thrust upon +her much against her will, but she was afraid that +she would make some other mistake if she objected, +so she meekly took the pencil and paper from Roger +and began to note down the proceedings.</p> + +<p>"We've had a suggestion from Glen Point and +one from Rosemont—let's hear from New York,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +said the president. "Della—anything to say?"</p> + +<p>"Papa can suggest lots of people that we can help +if we ask him," said Della. "I didn't ask him because +I thought that perhaps you'd have some pet +charities out here where there aren't so many helping +hands as there are in New York."</p> + +<p>"How about you, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"To tell you the truth," responded Tom gravely, +"I didn't think up anything to suggest this afternoon +because my mind has been so full of the war that +I can't seem able to think about anything else."</p> + +<p>Everybody grew serious at once. The war +seemed very close to the Mortons, although it was a +war across the sea, because they knew what it would +mean to their father and uncle if ever our country +should be involved in war. The thought of their +own mental suffering and their anxiety if Captain +and Lieutenant Morton should ever be sent to the +front had given them a keen interest in what had +been going on in Europe for six weeks.</p> + +<p>"I read the newspapers all the time," went on +Tom, "and I dare say I don't gain much real information +from them, but at least I'm having ground +into my soul every day the hideous suffering that all +this fighting is bringing upon the women and children. +The men may die, but at least they can fight for +their lives. The women and children have to sit +down and wait for death or destruction to come their +way."</p> + +<p>"It's too big a situation for us way off here to +grasp," said Roger slowly, "but there are people on +the spot who are trying to give assistance, and if +Americans could only get in touch with them it seems +as if help might be handed along the way we handed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +the water buckets last summer when the cottage was +on fire."</p> + +<p>"The Red Cross is working in all the countries +that are at war," said Helen. "There's an American +Red Cross and people are sending clothing and +food to the New York branch and they are sending +them on to Europe. That's Roger's bucket brigade +idea."</p> + +<p>"Why don't we work for the Red Cross?" asked +Della.</p> + +<p>"I saw in the paper a plan that seems better still +for us youngsters," said Ethel Blue. "Some people +are going to send over a Christmas ship with thousands +and thousands of presents for the orphans and +the other children all over Europe. Why don't we +work for that? For the Santa Claus Ship?"</p> + +<p>"'Charity begins at home,'" demurred Margaret.</p> + +<p>"We needn't forget the Glen Point orphans. The +Christmas Ship is going to sail early in November +and we'll have plenty of time after she gets off to +carry out those other schemes that we've spoken of."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to move," said Ethel Brown, getting on +to her feet to make her action more impressive, +"that the United Service Club devote itself first to +preparing a bundle to send off on the Christmas Ship. +After that's done we can see what comes next."</p> + +<p>"Does any one second the motion, that we work +first for the Christmas Ship?" asked Helen.</p> + +<p>Every voice in the room cried "I do."</p> + +<p>"All in favor?" There was a chorus of "Ayes."</p> + +<p>"Contrary minded?" Not a sound arose.</p> + +<p>"It's a unanimous vote that we start right in on +the bundle for the Santa Claus Ship."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>FINANCIAL PLANS</div> + + +<div class='cap'>"This parliamentary business fusses me," exclaimed +Helen. "Let's just talk, now that +we've decided what we are going to do."</div> + +<p>"Take a more comfortable chair," suggested Tom, +pulling over a Morris chair nearer the fire.</p> + +<p>Roger stirred up the flames and tossed on some +pine cones.</p> + +<p>"These cones remind me that our old people down +by the bridge might like some. They have a funny +open stove that they could use them in."</p> + +<p>"What are they good for? Kindling?" asked +Della.</p> + +<p>"Ha! There speaks the city lady used only to +steam! Certainly they are good for kindling on +account of the pitch that's in them, but they're also +great in an open fire to brighten it up when it is sinking +somewhat and one or two at a time tossed on +to a clear fire make a pretty sight."</p> + +<p>"And a pretty snapping sound," added Dorothy, +remembering the cones from the long leaf pines.</p> + +<p>"Our old couple gets a bushel on Monday afternoon +if it ever stops raining," promised Roger. +"Dicky loves to pick them up, so he'll help."</p> + +<p>"The honorary member of the United Service +Club does his share of service work right nobly," declared +James, who was a great friend of Dicky's.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The thing for us to do first is to decide how we +are to begin," said Helen.</p> + +<p>"We might talk over the kinds of presents that +the war orphans would like and then see which of +them any of us can make," suggested Margaret +wisely.</p> + +<p>"Any sort of clothing would come in mighty handy, +I should think," guessed James, "and I don't believe +the orphans would have my early prejudices against +receiving it for Christmas gifts."</p> + +<p>"Poor little creatures, I rather suspect Santa Claus +will be doing his heaviest work with clothing this +year."</p> + +<p>"As far as clothing is concerned," said Margaret, +"we needn't put a limit on the amount we send or the +sizes or the kinds. The distributors will be able to +use everything they can lay their hands on when the +Christmas Ship comes in and for many months later."</p> + +<p>"Then let's inquire of our mothers what there is +stowed away that we can have and let's look over +our own things and weed out all we can that would +be at all suitable and that our mothers will let us +give away, and report here at the next meeting."</p> + +<p>"While we're talking about the next meeting," +broke in Dorothy while the others were nodding their +assent to Helen's proposition, "won't you please +come to my house next time?"</p> + +<p>"We certainly will," agreed Della and Margaret.</p> + +<p>"You bet," came from the boys.</p> + +<p>"And Mother told me to offer the Club the use of +our attic to store our stuff in. It's a big place with +almost nothing in it."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure Aunt Marion will be glad not to have +anything else go into her attic," said Ethel Blue, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +all the Mortons laughed as they thought of the condition +of the Morton attic, whose walls were almost +bulging with its contents.</p> + +<p>"If that's settled we must remember to address +all our bundles to 'Mrs. Leonard Smith, Church +Street, Rosemont,'" James reminded them.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," Ethel Brown said slowly, thinking +as she spoke, "that we might collect more clothing +than we shall be able to find in our own families."</p> + +<p>"There are a good many of us," suggested Della.</p> + +<p>"There are two Watkinses and two Hancocks and +five Mortons and one Smith—that's ten, but if the +rest of you are like the Morton family—we wear +our clothes pretty nearly down to the bone."</p> + +<p>All the Mortons pealed at this and the rest could +not help joining in.</p> + +<p>"One thing we must not do," declared Helen. +"We must not send a single old thing that isn't in +perfect order. It's a poor present that you have to +sit down and mend."</p> + +<p>"We certainly won't," agreed Margaret. "I wear +my clothes almost down to the skeleton, too, but I +know I have some duds that I can make over into +dresses for small children. I'm gladder every +day that we took that sewing course last summer, +Helen."</p> + +<p>"Me, too. My dresses—or what's left of them—usually +adorn Ethel Brown's graceful frame, but +perhaps Mother will let us have for the orphans the +clothes that would ordinarily go to Ethel Brown."</p> + +<p>Ethel Brown looked worried.</p> + +<p>"Ethel Brown doesn't know whether that will +mean that she'll have to go without or whether she'll<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +have new clothes instead of the hand-me-downs," +laughed Roger.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," cried Ethel Brown. "I'd just as +lief go without new clothes if Mother will let the +Club have the money they'd cost."</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking," said Tom, "that we're going +to need money to work this undertaking through successfully. +How are we going to get it?"</p> + +<p>"But shall we need any to speak of?" inquired +Margaret. "Fixing up our old clothes won't cost +more than we can meet ourselves out of our allowances. +I'm going to ask my Aunt Susy to let me +have some of the girls' old things. The girls will +be delighted; they're the ones who have the plain +clothes."</p> + +<p>"We'll fix them up with ruffles and bows before +we send them away," smiled Helen.</p> + +<p>"Why can't we ask everybody we come across for +old clothes?" Ethel Blue wondered.</p> + +<p>"Grandmother Emerson would be sure to have +something in her attic and I shouldn't wonder if +she'd be willing to ask the ladies at the Guild if +they'd contribute," said Helen.</p> + +<p>"Do we want to take things from outside of the +Club?" objected Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why not," answered Margaret. "The +idea is to get together for the orphans as many presents +as possible, no matter where they come from. +We're serving the orphans if we work as collectors +just as much as if we made the clothes ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Right-o," agreed Roger. "Let's tackle everybody +we can on the old clo' question. We can ask +the societies in our churches—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why not in all the churches in town?" dared +Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>The idea brought a pause, for the place was small +enough for the churches to meet each other with an +occasional rub.</p> + +<p>"I believe that's a good idea," declared Tom, and +as a clergyman's son they listened to his views with +respect. "All the churches ought to be willing to +come together on the neutral ground of this club +and if we are willing to take the responsibility of +doing the gathering and the packing and the expressing +to the Christmas Ship I believe they'll be +glad to do just the rummaging in their attics and +the mending up."</p> + +<p>"We needn't limit their offerings to clothes, +either," said Della. "We'll take care of anything +they'll send in."</p> + +<p>"Let's put it up to them, I say," cried Roger. +"There's at least one member of the Morton family +in every society in our church and we ought to get +the subject before every one of those groups of people +by the end of next week and start things booming."</p> + +<p>"We'll do the same at Glen Point," agreed Margaret.</p> + +<p>"I can't promise quite as much for New York, +because I don't know what Father's plans are for +war relief work in his church, but I do feel pretty +sure he'll suggest some way of helping us," said +Della.</p> + +<p>"That's decided, then—we'll lay our paws on +everything we can get from every source," Tom +summed up the discussion. "Now I come back to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +what I said a few minutes ago—I think we're going +to need more money to run this association than +we're going to be able to rake up out of our own allowances, +unless Margaret's is a good deal bigger +than mine," and he nodded toward Margaret, who +had objected to the more-money idea when he had +offered it before.</p> + +<p>"Just tell me how we'll need more," insisted Margaret.</p> + +<p>"I figure it out that the part we boys will have +to do in this transaction will be to district this town +and Glen Point and make a house to house appeal +for clothes and any sort of thing that would do for +a Christmas present, all to be sent to Mrs. Smith's."</p> + +<p>"That won't cost anything but a few carfares, and +you can stand those," insisted Margaret.</p> + +<p>"Carfares are all right and even a few express +charges for some people who for some reason aren't +able to deliver their parcels at Mrs. Smith's house. +But if you girls are going to make over some of these +clothes and perhaps make new garments you'll need +some cash to buy materials with."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps some of the dry goods people will contribute +the materials."</p> + +<p>"Maybe they will. But you mark my words—the +cost of a little here and a little there mounts up +amazingly in work of this sort and I know we're +going to need cash."</p> + +<p>"Tom's right," confirmed Della. "He's helped +Father enough to know."</p> + +<p>The idea of needing money, which they did not +have, was depressing to the club members who sat +around the fire staring into it gloomily.</p> + +<p>"The question is, how to get it," went on Tom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"People might give us money just as well as +cloth, I suppose," suggested Margaret.</p> + +<p>"I think it would be a thousand times more fun to +make the money ourselves," said Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>"The infant's right," cried Tom. "It will be +more fun and what's more important still, nobody +can boss us because he's given us a five dollar bill."</p> + +<p>"I suppose somebody might try," murmured +Helen.</p> + +<p>"They would," cried Tom and Della in concert.</p> + +<p>"We aren't a clergyman's children for nothing," +Tom went on humorously. "The importance a five +dollar bill can have in the eyes of the giver and +the way it swells in size as it leaves his hands is something +that few people realize who haven't seen it +happen."</p> + +<p>"Let's be independent," cried Dorothy decidedly, +and her wish was evidently to the mind of all the rest, +for murmurs of approval went around the room.</p> + +<p>"But if we're so high and mighty as not to take +money contributions and if we nevertheless need +money, what in the mischief are we going to do +about it?" inquired Roger.</p> + +<p>"We must earn it," said Helen. "I'll contribute +the money Mother is going to pay me for making a +dozen middy blouses for the Ethels. She ordered +them from me last summer when I began to take +the sewing course and I haven't quite finished them +yet, but I'll have the last one done this week if I can +get home from school promptly for a day or two."</p> + +<p>"I can make some baskets for the Woman's Exchange," +said Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"I learned how to make Lady Baltimore cake the +other day," said Margaret, "and I'll go to some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +ladies in Glen Point who are going to have teas +soon and ask them for orders."</p> + +<p>"I can make cookies," murmured Ethel Brown, +"but I don't know who'd buy them."</p> + +<p>"You tell the kids at school that you've gone into +the cooky business and you'll have all the work you +can do for a while," prophesied Roger. "I know +your cookies; they're bully."</p> + +<p>"I don't notice that we boys are mentioning any +means of making money," remarked James dryly. +"I confess I'm stumped."</p> + +<p>"I know what you can do," suggested Margaret. +"Father said this morning that he was going to get +a chauffeur next week if he could find one that +wouldn't rob him of all the money he made. You +can run the car—why don't you offer to work half +time—afternoons after school, for half pay? That +would help Father and he'd rather have you than a +strange man."</p> + +<p>"He'd rather have half time, too. He likes to +run the car himself, only he gets tired running it all +day on heavy days. Great head, Sis," and James +made a gesture of stroking his sister's locks, to which +she responded by making a face.</p> + +<p>"I know what I can do," said Roger. "You know +those bachelor girls about seventy-five apiece, over +on Church Street near Aunt Louise's—the Miss +Clarks? Well, they had an awful time last year +getting their furnace attended to regularly. They +had one man who proved to be a—er," Roger hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Not a total abstainer?" inquired James elegantly.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Brother Hancock, for the use of +your vocabulary. The next one stole the washing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +off the line, and the next one—Oh, I don't know +what he did, but the Miss Clarks were in a state of +mind over the furnace and the furnace man all winter. +Now, suppose I offer to take care of their furnace +for them this winter? I believe they'd have +me."</p> + +<p>"I think they'd be mighty glad to get you," confirmed +Helen. "Could you do that and take care +of ours, too?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing, if I put my mind on it and don't +chase off with the fellows every time I feel in the +mood."</p> + +<p>"Mother would like to have you take care of ours +if you could manage three," said Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"I'll do it," and Roger thumped his knee with decision.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't undertake too much," warned Helen. +"It will mean a visit three times a day at each house, +you know, and the last one pretty late in the evening."</p> + +<p>"I'm game," insisted Roger. "You know I can +be as steady as an old horse when I put my alleged +mind on it. Mother never had any kick coming +over my work in the furnace department last winter."</p> + +<p>"She said you did it splendidly, but this means +three times as much."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it," and Roger nodded his head solemnly.</p> + +<p>"It seems to be up to Della and me to tell what +we can do," said Tom meditatively. "Father's secretary +is away on a three months' holiday and I'm +doing his typewriting for him and some other office +stunts—as much as I can manage out of school<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +hours. I'll turn over my pay to the Club treasury."</p> + +<p>This was greeted with applause.</p> + +<p>"I don't seem to have any accomplishments," +sighed Della, her round head on one side. "The +only thing I can think of is that I heard the ladies +who have charge of the re-furnishing of the Rest +Room in the Parish House say that they were going +to find some one to stencil the window curtains. I +might see if they'd let me do it and pay me. I +didn't take that class at the Girls' Club last summer, +but Dorothy and Ethel Brown could teach me."</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"Or you could get the order from them, I'd fill +it, and you could make the baskets for the Woman's +Exchange," offered Dorothy.</p> + +<p>Della brightened. That was a better arrangement.</p> + +<p>"Try it," nodded Tom. "If you turn out one +order well you'll get more; see if you don't."</p> + +<p>"Our honorary member, Mr. Dicky Morton, +might sell newspapers since he got broken in to that +business last summer," laughed Ethel Brown. +"Mother wouldn't let him do it here, I know, but +he can weave awfully pretty things that he learned +at the kindergarten and if there are any bazars +this fall he could sell some of them on commission."</p> + +<p>"Dicky really understands about the Club. I +think he'd like to do something for the orphans," +Helen agreed.</p> + +<p>"Ladies and gentlemen," announced Ethel Blue, +rising in her excitement; "I have a perfectly grand, +galoptious idea. Why do we wait for somebody +else to get up a bazar to sell Dicky's weaving? Let's +have a bazar of our own. Why can't we have a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +fair with some tables, and ice cream and cake for +sale and an entertainment of some kind in the evening? +We all know all sorts of stunts; we can do +the whole thing ourselves. If we announce that we +are doing it for the Christmas Ship I believe everybody +in town would come—"</p> + +<p>"—And in Glen Point and New York," Roger +mocked her enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"You know we could fill the School Hall as easy +as fiddle, Roger. You see everybody would know +what we were at work on because we are going to +begin collecting the clothes right off, so everybody +will be interested."</p> + +<p>Tom nodded approval.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we can do the advertising act when we +do the collecting."</p> + +<p>"If I drive Father, I see myself ringing up all the +neighboring houses while he's in on his case," said +James, "and it's just as easy to talk bazar part of +the time as it is to chat old clo' the whole time."</p> + +<p>"Can you get the School Hall free?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"We'd have to pay for the lighting and the janitor, +but that wouldn't be much," said Roger. "It +would be better than the Parish House of any of the +churches because if we had it in a church there'd +surely be some people who wouldn't go because it +was in a building belonging to a denomination they +didn't approve of, but no one can make any kick +about the schoolhouse."</p> + +<p>"It's the natural neighborhood centre."</p> + +<p>"We'll have the whole town there."</p> + +<p>"If we let in some of the school kids we'll get +all their families on the string," recommended Roger.</p> + +<p>"I'm working up a feat that I've never seen any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +one do," said Tom. "I'll turn it loose for the first +time at our show."</p> + +<p>"Remember, you're all coming to me next Saturday +afternoon," Dorothy reminded them as the +Hancocks and Watkinses put on their overgarments +and sought out their umbrellas preparatory to going +home.</p> + +<p>"And we'll bring a list of what we can contribute +ourselves and what we've collected so far and what +we think we can collect and we'll turn in anything +we've made."</p> + +<p>"If there's anything we can work on while the +Club is going on we'd better bring it," suggested +Helen.</p> + +<p>"Mother says we may have the sewing machine +in the attic," said Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"I believe I'll take my jig-saw over," suggested +Roger. "Aunt Louise wouldn't mind, would she?"</p> + +<p>"She'd be delighted. Bring everything," and +Dorothy glowed with the hospitality that had been +bottled up in her for years and until now had had but +small opportunity to escape.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>ROGER GOES FORAGING</div> + + +<div class='cap'>ALTHOUGH Helen never had been president +of any club before, yet she had seen enough +of a number of associations in the high school and +the church to understand the advantage of striking +while the iron of enthusiasm was hot. For that +reason she and Roger worked out the districting of +Rosemont before they went to bed that night, and +the next afternoon Roger went over to Glen Point +on his bicycle, and, with James's help, did the same +for that town. It was understood that Tom would +not be able to come out again until Saturday, but +he had agreed to be on hand early in the morning +to do a good half day of canvassing. The girls +were to speak to every one to whom they could bring +up the subject conveniently, wherever they met them.</div> + +<p>Roger began his work on Monday afternoon after +school. He wheeled over to a part of the town +where he did not know many people, his idea being +that since that would be the most disagreeable place +to tackle he would do it first and get it over with. +He was a merry boy, with a pleasant way of speaking +that won him friends at once, and he was not +bothered with shyness, but he did hesitate for an instant +at his first house. It was large and he thought +that the owner ought to be prosperous enough to +have plenty of old clothes lying about crying to be +sent to the war orphans.</p> + +<p>It was a maid whose grasp on the English language<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +was a trifle uncertain who opened the door. +Roger stated his desire.</p> + +<p>"Old clothes?" she repeated after him. "I've no +old clothes to give you," and she shut the door +hastily.</p> + +<p>Roger stood still with astonishment as if he were +fastened to the upper step. Then his feelings +stirred.</p> + +<p>"The idiot!" he gasped. "She thought I wanted +them for myself," and he looked down at his suit +with a sudden realization that his long ride over one +dusty road and a spill on another that had recently +been oiled had not improved the appearance of his +attire. However, he rang the bell again vigorously. +The woman seemed somewhat disconcerted +when she saw him still before her.</p> + +<p>"I don't want the clothes—" began Roger.</p> + +<p>"What did you say you did for?" inquired the +maid sharply, and again she slammed the door.</p> + +<p>By this time Roger's persistency was roused. He +made up his mind that he was going to make himself +understood even if he did not secure a contribution. +Once more he rang the bell.</p> + +<p>"You here!" almost screamed the girl as she saw +once more his familiar face. "Why don't you go? +I've nothing to give you."</p> + +<p>"Look here," insisted Roger, his toe in the way +of the door's shutting completely when she should +try to slam it again; "look here, you don't understand +what I want. Is your mistress at home?"</p> + +<p>The girl was afraid to say that she was not, so +she nodded.</p> + +<p>"Tell her I want to see her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's your name?"</p> + +<p>"I'm Roger Morton, son of Lieutenant Morton. +I live on Cedar Street. Can you remember that?"</p> + +<p>She could not, but her ear had caught the military +title and upstairs she conveyed the impression that at +least a general was waiting at the door. When the +mistress of the house appeared Roger pulled off his +cap politely, and he was such a frank-faced boy that +she knew at once that her maid's fears had been unnecessary, +though she did not see where the military +title came in. Roger explained who he was and +what he wanted at sufficient length, and he was rewarded +for his persistency by the promise of a bundle.</p> + +<p>"I know your grandmother, Mrs. Emerson," +said the lady, who had mentioned that she was Mrs. +Warburton, "and your aunt, Mrs. Smith, has hired +one of my houses, so I am glad on their account to +help your enterprise, though of course its own appeal +is enough."</p> + +<p>Roger thanked her and took the precaution to inquire +the names of her neighbors, before he presented +himself at another door. He also reached +such a pitch of friendliness that he borrowed a whisk +broom from Mrs. Warburton and redeemed his +clothes from the condition which had brought him +into such disfavor with the maid-servant.</p> + +<p>There was no one at home in the next house, but +the next after that yielded a parcel which the old +lady whom he interviewed said that he might have +if he would take it away immediately.</p> + +<p>"I might change my mind if you don't," she said. +"I've been studying for ten days whether to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +over that dress with black silk or dark blue velvet. +If I give the dress away I shan't be worried about it +any longer."</p> + +<p>"Very well," cried Roger, and he rolled the frock +up as small as he could and fastened it to his handle +bars.</p> + +<p>There was no one at home at the next house, but +the woman who came to the door at the next after +that listened to his story with moist eyes.</p> + +<p>"Come in," she said. "I can give you a great +many garments. In fact there are so many that perhaps +I'd better send them."</p> + +<p>"Very well," returned Roger. "Please send +them to my aunt's," and he gave the address.</p> + +<p>"You see," hesitated Roger's hostess, now frankly +wiping her eyes, "I had a little daughter about ten +years old, and—and I never have been willing to +part with her little dresses and coats, but how could +I place them better than now?"</p> + +<p>Roger swallowed hard.</p> + +<p>"I guess she'd like to have 'em go over there," he +stammered, and he was very glad when he escaped +from the house, though he told his mother, "she +seemed kind of glad to talk about the kid, so I didn't +mind much."</p> + +<p>"Count listening as one of the Club services," replied +Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>Back in his own part of town Roger felt that his +trip had been profitable. A very fair number of +garments and bundles had been promised, and he +had told everybody he could to watch the local paper +for the announcement of the entertainment to be +given by the U. S. C.</p> + +<p>"Everybody seemed interested," he reported at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +home. "I don't believe we'll have a mite of trouble +in getting an audience."</p> + +<p>It was at a cottage not far from the high school +that Roger came upon his nearest approach to an +adventure. When he touched the buzzer the door +was opened by an elderly woman who spoke with a +marked German accent. Roger explained his errand. +To his horror the woman burst into tears. +When he made a gesture of withdrawal she stopped +him.</p> + +<p>"My son—my son is mit de army," she exclaimed +brokenly. "My son und de betrothed of my daughter. +We cannot go to the Fatherland. The German +ships go no more. If we go on an English or +French ship we are kept in England. Here must we +stay—here."</p> + +<p>"You're safe here, at any rate," responded Roger, +at a loss what reply to make that would be soothing +in the face of such depressing facts.</p> + +<p>"Safe!" retorted the woman scornfully. "Who +cares to be safe? A woman's place is mit her men +when they are in danger. My daughter and I—we +should be in Germany and we cannot get there!"</p> + +<p>"It's surely a shame if you want to go as much as +that," returned Roger gently, and just then to his +surprise there came through an inner door a young +woman whom he recognized as his German teacher +in the high school, Fräulein Hindenburg. Her face +was disfigured with weeping and he knew now why +she had seemed so ill and listless in her classes.</p> + +<p>"You must not mind Mother," she said, looking +surprised as she saw one of her pupils before her. +"It is true that we would go if we could but we cannot, +so we must stay here and wait."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>Roger explained his errand.</p> + +<p>"To work for the war orphans of all countries?" +cried both women excitedly. "Gladly! Gladly!"</p> + +<p>"We are knitting every day—scarfs, socks, wristlets," +said the older woman. "Also will we so +gladly make clothing for the children and toys and +playthings—what we can."</p> + +<p>Fräulein smiled a sad assent and Roger wheeled +off, realizing that the pain caused by the war no +longer existed for him only in his imagination; he +had seen its tears.</p> + +<p>So freely had people responded to Roger's appeal +that he began to wonder how the Club was going to +take care of all the garments that would soon be +coming in. After that thought came into his mind +he made a point of asking the givers if they would +send their offerings as far as possible in condition +to be shipped.</p> + +<p>"Margaret and Helen can make over some of the +clothes and the Ethels and Dorothy can help with +the simple things, I suppose, but if there are many +grown-up dresses like this one on my handle bar +they won't have time to do anything else but dressmake," +meditated Roger as he pedalled along.</p> + +<p>Nowhere did he meet with a rebuff. Every one +was pleased to be asked. Many offered to make +new garments. One old woman who lived in a +wheel-chair but who could use her hands, agreed to +sew if the material should be sent her. Many mothers +seemed to consider it a Heaven-sent opportunity +to make a clearance of the nursery toys though +Roger stoutly insisted that they must all be in working +order before they were turned in.</p> + +<p>"It's been perfectly splendid," breathed Roger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +joyfully as he finished his third afternoon and came +into the house to report to his mother and Helen. +"It's a delight to ask when you feel sure that you +won't have to coax as you usually do when you're +getting up anything. Everybody seems to jump at +the chance."</p> + +<p>Toward the end of the week Ethel Blue came in +beaming.</p> + +<p>"I've got some entirely new people interested," +she cried.</p> + +<p>"Who? Who?"</p> + +<p>"The last people you'd ever think of—the women +in the Old Ladies' Home."</p> + +<p>"Why should you think them the very last to be +interested?" asked Mrs. Emerson who happened to +be at the Mortons' and whose fingers were carrying +the flying yarn that her needles were manufacturing +into a sock. "Most of them are mothers and it +doesn't take a mother to be interested in such a +cause as this. Every human being who has any +imagination must feel for the sufferings of the poor +children."</p> + +<p>"It seemed queer to me because I've never seen +them do anything but just sit there with their hands +in their laps."</p> + +<p>"Poor souls, nobody ever provides them with anything +to do."</p> + +<p>"Now all of them say that they'll be delighted to +sew or knit or do anything they can if the materials +are provided for them."</p> + +<p>"Here's where we can begin to spend the money +Mother has offered to advance us," cried Ethel +Brown. "Can't we go right after school to-morrow +and buy the yarn for them, Mother?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Indeed you may. Has Della sent you the knitting +rules from the Red Cross yet?"</p> + +<p>"We're expecting them in every mail. If they +don't come before we take the wool to the Home we +can start the ladies on scarfs. They're just straight +pieces."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Hindenburg and Fräulein are knitting wristlets +for the German soldiers. They could give the +rule for them, I should think," suggested Roger, +"and our old lady friends can just cut it in halves for +the kids."</p> + +<p>It was the next day that Helen came in from +school all excitement.</p> + +<p>"I've made a discovery as thrilling as Roger's +about Fräulein!" she cried.</p> + +<p>"What? Who is it about? Tell us."</p> + +<p>"It's about Mademoiselle Millerand."</p> + +<p>"Your French teacher?" asked Mrs. Emerson.</p> + +<p>"She was new at school last year and you've heard +us say she's the most fascinating little black-eyed +creature."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps she can't talk fast!" added Roger.</p> + +<p>"What's the story about her?" demanded Ethel +Brown.</p> + +<p>"It's not a romantic story like Fräulein's; that is, +there's no betrothed on the other side that she's crazy +to get to; but she's going over to join the French +Red Cross."</p> + +<p>"That little thing!" cried Roger. "Why she +doesn't look as if she had strength enough to last +out a week!"</p> + +<p>"She says she's had a year's training in nursing +and that a nurse is taught to conserve her strength. +She hopes she'll be sent to the front."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The plucky little creature! When is she going?"</p> + +<p>"As soon as she can put in a substitute at the +school; she doesn't want to leave us in the lurch after +she made a contract for the year."</p> + +<p>"It may take some time after that to arrange for a +sailing, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so. Any way I think it would be nice +if we gave her a send-off—"</p> + +<p>"Just as we will Fräulein if her chance comes."</p> + +<p>"We can make some travelling comforts."</p> + +<p>"She won't be able to carry much," warned Mrs. +Morton.</p> + +<p>"Everything will have to be as small as possible, +but we can hunt up the smallest size of everything. +I think it will be fun!"</p> + +<p>"She'll probably be very much pleased."</p> + +<p>"I wish there was something rather special we +could do for Fräulein too, so we could be perfectly +impartial."</p> + +<p>"Watch for the chance to do something extra nice +for her. She's having the harder time of the two; +it's always harder to stay and wait than it is to go +into action, even when the action is dangerous."</p> + +<p>While the Mortons were canvassing Rosemont, +James and Margaret were doing the same work in +Glen Point. Dr. Hancock had accepted his son's +offer and James was now regularly engaged as his +father's chauffeur, working after school hours every +school day and on Saturday mornings. The Doctor +insisted that he should have Saturday afternoons free +so that he might go to the Club. He was also quite +willing that James should follow the plan he had +sketched at the last Club meeting and visit the +neighbors of his father's patients while Doctor Hancock<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +was making his professional calls. The plan +worked to a charm and James found Glen Point +quite as ready as Rosemont to respond to the "bitter +cry of the children."</p> + +<p>"So many people are getting interested I almost +feel as if it weren't our affair any longer," James +complained to his father as they were driving home +in the dusk one afternoon.</p> + +<p>"Look out for that corner. That's a bad habit +you have of shaving the curbstone. You needn't +feel that way as long as your club is doing all the +organizing and administration. That's the part that +seems to make most people hesitate about doing good +works. It isn't actual work they balk at; it's leadership."</p> + +<p>"If handling the stuff and disposing of it is leadership +then we're a 'going concern' all right," declared +James. "Roger telephoned over this morning that +the bundles were coming in to Mrs. Smith's at a great +rate, and that a lot of people were making new garments +and things that will turn up later."</p> + +<p>"When is Tom coming out?"</p> + +<p>"Saturday morning. I've saved one district for +him to do then and that will finish up Glen Point as +Roger and I sketched it out."</p> + +<p>"It hasn't been so hard a job as you thought."</p> + +<p>"Chasing round in the car has saved time. This +is a bully job of yours, Dad."</p> + +<p>"You won't hold it long if you cut corners like +that, I warn you again."</p> + +<p>"I'll try to cut 'em <i>out</i>," laughed James as he carefully +turned into the Hancocks' avenue.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>IN THE SMITH ATTIC</div> + + +<div class='cap'>"GRANDFATHER EMERSON wants to give +the Club a present," cried Ethel Brown as +the last arrivals, the Hancocks, came up the stairs +and entered the attic of Dorothy's house on Saturday +afternoon.</div> + +<p>The large room was half the width of the whole +cottage and, with its low windows and sloping roof +had a quaint appearance that was increased by its +furnishing of tables and seats made from boxes +covered with gay bits of chintz. Dorothy had not +neglected her work for the orphans but she had found +time to fit up the meeting place of the U. S. C. so +that its members might not have to gather in bare +surroundings. The afternoon sun shone brightly in +through simple curtains of white cheesecloth, the sewing +machine awaited Helen beside a window with a +clear north light, and Roger's jig-saw was in a favorable +position in a corner. Each one who came up the +stairs gave an "Oh" of pleasure as the door opened +upon this comfortable, cheerful room where there +was nothing too good to be used and nothing too bad +to have entrance to the society of beauty-loving folk. +"What did your grandfather give us?" asked Margaret.</p> + +<p>"Grandfather has been awfully interested in the +Club from the very beginning, you know. The other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +day he asked if we wouldn't like to have him give us +club pins with our emblem on them."</p> + +<p>"How perfectly dear of him!" ejaculated Delia.</p> + +<p>"Don't let your hopes rise too high. I said it +would be simply fine to have little forget-me-not pins +like those we talked about at our very first meeting +in the ravine at Chautauqua—do you remember?"</p> + +<p>"Blue enamel," murmured Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"He said he wanted us to have them, and that it +was a lovely symbol and so on, and he'd seen some +ducks of pins in New York that were just what we'd +like, and some single flower ones for the boys—"</p> + +<p>"Um. This suspense is wearing on me," remarked +Roger.</p> + +<p>"We talked it over and the way it came out was +that Grandfather said that perhaps he'd better give +us now the money the pins would cost and keep his +present for later."</p> + +<p>No one could resist a groan.</p> + +<p>"He won't forget it. Grandfather never forgets +to do what he promises. We'll get them some time +or other. But I had a feeling that we'd like them +later better even than now because we'd feel then that +we'd really earned them after the Club had done +something worth while, you know."</p> + +<p>"I suppose we will," sighed Della, "but they do +sound good to me."</p> + +<p>"He was bound that we should have the forget-me-not +in some form or other," went on Ethel Brown, +"and he's sent us a rubber stamp with 'U. S. C.' +on it and a forget-me-not at each end of the initials. +There's an indelible pad that goes with it and we are +to stamp everything we send out on some part where +it won't be too conspicuous."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It will be like signing a letter to the child the +present goes to," said Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"Isn't he a darling!" exclaimed Ethel Blue. "I +love him as much as if he were my own grandfather."</p> + +<p>"He turned the money right over into my hand," +continued Ethel Brown—"the money he didn't spend +for the pins, I mean. It's fifteen dollars. What +shall I do with it?"</p> + +<p>"Pay for the yarn you bought for the women in +the Old Ladies' Home to knit with," said Helen +promptly.</p> + +<p>"'"The time has come," the walrus said,'" quoted +Tom, "when we must have a treasurer. It was all +very well talking about not needing one when we +didn't have a cent of money, but now we are on the +way toward being multis and we can't get on any +longer without some one to look after it."</p> + +<p>"Let's make Tom treasurer and then he can fuss +over the old accounts himself," suggested Roger.</p> + +<p>Roger's loathing for keeping accounts was so well +known that every one laughed.</p> + +<p>"Not I," objected Tom. "I'm not at all the right +one. It ought to be one of you people who live out +here where we're going to do our work. You'll have +hurry calls for cash very often and it would be a +nuisance to have to wait a day to write or phone me. +No, sir, Roger's the feller for that job."</p> + +<p>"No, Roger isn't," persisted that young man disgustedly. +"I buck, I kick, I remonstrate, I protest, +I refuse."</p> + +<p>"Here, here," called Ethel Blue. "Who said you +could have James's vocabulary?"</p> + +<p>"Well, James, then," said Tom. "It doesn't +make much difference who it is as long as he lives in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +these precincts and not as far away as I do. Madam +President, I nominate Mr. Hancock for treasurer +of the United Service Club."</p> + +<p>"You hear the nomination," responded Helen. +"Is it seconded?"</p> + +<p>"I second it with both hands and an equal number +of feet," replied Roger enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Now is the opportunity for a discussion of the +merits of the candidate," observed Helen drily.</p> + +<p>"There are many things that might be said," rejoined +Dorothy, "but because it would probably embarrass +him—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, say!" came from James. "Are they as bad +as that?"</p> + +<p>"As I was remarking when I was interrupted," +continued Dorothy severely, "because it might make +the candidate feel queer if he were to hear all the +compliments we should pay him, I think we won't +say anything."</p> + +<p>"I'll trust old Roger not to pay compliments," responded +James.</p> + +<p>"Old Roger is in such a good humor because this +job is being worked off on to your shoulders instead +of his that he might utter some blandishments that +would surprise you."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't risk it!"</p> + +<p>"Are you ready to vote?" asked Helen.</p> + +<p>"We are," came ringing back, and the resulting +ballot placed James in the treasurership, the only +dissenting vote being his own. His first official act +after the money was put into his hands was to give +it back to Ethel Brown in part repayment of the sum +which her mother had advanced for the yarn for the +Old Ladies' Home.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here's another bundle," announced Mrs. Smith, +appearing with a large parcel as the Club members +were looking over the collection that had come in. +All the contributions were piled in a corner, and +already they made a considerable mound.</p> + +<p>"Roger will have to apply some of his scientific +management ideas to that mass of stuff," laughed +Mrs. Smith.</p> + +<p>"I wish we could spread them out so that we could +get an idea of what is which."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't we boys make some sort of rack divided +into cubes or even knock together a set of plain +shelves? That would lift them off the floor."</p> + +<p>"I wish you would," said Helen. "Then we ought +to put a tag on each bundle telling who sent it and +what is in it."</p> + +<p>"And what we think can be done with it, if it isn't +in condition to send off just as it is," added Ethel +Brown.</p> + +<p>"I believe I saw some planks in the cellar that +would make sufficiently good shelves for what you +need," said Mrs. Smith. "Suppose you boys go down +stairs with me and take a look at them while the girls +are making out the tags."</p> + +<p>So the boys trooped after their hostess while Ethel +Brown unscrewed the cap of her fountain pen and +wrote on the tags that Dorothy cut out of cardboard, +and Ethel Blue fitted them with strings, so that they +might be tied on to the parcels.</p> + +<p>"These dresses and coats came from Mrs. Ames," +said Helen. "They belonged to her daughter who +died, and they're all right for a child of ten, so we'll +just mark the bundle, 'From Mrs. Ames,' and 'O.K.,' +and put it away."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's an empty packing box over in that +corner," said Dorothy. "Wouldn't it be a good +scheme to put the bundles we shan't have to alter at +all, right into it?"</p> + +<p>"Great. Then we shan't have to touch them again +until the time comes to tie them up in fancy paper +to make them look Christmassy."</p> + +<p>"Here's the dress Mrs. Lancaster couldn't decide +whether to have made over with black silk or blue +velvet."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Lancaster," murmured Ethel Brown, making +out her card.</p> + +<p>"That certainly can't go as it is," pronounced +Della.</p> + +<p>"There's material enough in it for two children's +dresses," decided Margaret. "Mark it, 'Will make +two dresses.'"</p> + +<p>"Here's Maud Delano's jacket. She told Roger +she'd send this over when she got her new one."</p> + +<p>"It came this morning. It's all right except for +tightening a button or two," and Ethel Brown inscribed, +"Coat; tighten buttons" on the slip which +Della tied on to one of the incompetent fasteners.</p> + +<p>"Good for Mrs. Warburton!" cried Helen.</p> + +<p>"What's she done?"</p> + +<p>"Here's a great roll of pink flannelette—and blue, +too—among her things. We can make dresses and +wrappers and sacques and petticoats out of that."</p> + +<p>"It always seems just as warm as woolen stuff to +me," said Dorothy. "Of course it can't be."</p> + +<p>"Cotton is never so warm as wool, but if it's warm +enough why ask for anything different. What's in +your mind?" inquired Margaret.</p> + +<p>"I was wondering if we couldn't do something to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +forward the cotton crusade at the same time that +we're helping the war orphans."</p> + +<p>"You mean by making things out of cotton materials?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. The orphans will want the warmest sort +of clothing for winter, I suppose, but spring is coming +after winter and summer after that, and I don't +believe anything we send is going to be wasted."</p> + +<p>"They might wear two cotton garments one over +the other," suggested Della.</p> + +<p>"I don't say that we'd better make all our clothes +out of cotton material, but where it doesn't make any +especial difference I don't see why we shouldn't +choose cotton stuff. After all, it's the war that has +spoiled the cotton trade so we're still working for war +sufferers only they'll be on this side of the Atlantic. +You know they say the southern cotton planters are +having a serious time of it because they aren't selling +any cotton to speak of in Europe."</p> + +<p>"Let's do it!" cried Ethel Blue and she told their +decision to James who had come up to measure the +attic doorway for some reason connected with the +planks they had found.</p> + +<p>"It's a great idea. Bully for Dorothy," he cried +working away with a footrule. "This will go all +right," he decided, and ran down again to give a lift +to the other carpenters.</p> + +<p>There were eight planks each about six feet long +that Mrs. Smith had discovered in the cellar. A +telephone to Mrs. Warburton had gained her consent +to their use and the boys set about fitting them together +as soon as they were on the top floor. Fortunately +they were already planed and of so good a +length for the purpose they were to be used for that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +nothing was needed but hammer and nails to produce +a set of shelves quite adequate for the purpose. Two +of the boards made the sides, and between them the +remaining six were nailed at intervals.</p> + +<p>"We can set it against the wall over here," decided +Tom, "and it won't need a back."</p> + +<p>"Which is lucky," James declared, "cos there ain't +no planks to make a back of."</p> + +<p>"Let's nail a block of wood or a triangle of wood +under the bottom shelf in the corners," advised +Roger, "so the animal won't wobble."</p> + +<p>"If we had enough wood and a saw we could make +nice cubby-holes, one for each bundle," remarked +Tom, his head on one side.</p> + +<p>"Tom's getting enthusiastic over carpentering. +We haven't either any more wood or a saw, old man, +so there won't be any cubby-holes this time," decreed +Roger.</p> + +<p>"It will do perfectly well this way," said Helen. +"Now if you'll help us up with these bundles—"</p> + +<p>It was a presentable beginning for their collection. +Two parcels in addition to Mrs. Ames's had gone +into the packing case in the corner, but three shelves +of the new set were filled with tight rolls, each with +its tag forward so that no time would be lost in +examining the contents, again.</p> + +<p>"That's what I call a good beginning," announced +Helen after the boys had swept up their shavings +and had taken them and their hammers and the remaining +nails down stairs.</p> + +<p>"What next, Madam President?" inquired James +when they returned. The girls were already spreading +out the pink and blue flannelette on a plank table<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +that had been left in the attic by the carpenters who +had built the house.</p> + +<p>"We are going to cut some little wrappers out of +this material. I think you boys had better fix up +some sort of table over on that side of the room and +get your pasting equipment ready, for we'll need +oodles of boxes of all sizes and you might as well +begin right off to make them."</p> + +<p>"Right-o," agreed Roger. "Methinks I saw an +aged table top minus legs leaning against the wall in +the cellar. Couldn't we anchor it on to this wall with +a couple of hinges and then its two legs will be a +good enough prop?"</p> + +<p>"If they're both on the same side."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me they are."</p> + +<p>"Any superfluous hinges around the house, Dorothy?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, I'll get a pair when I go after the +pasteboard and the flour for the paste and a bowl for +a pastepot, and a—no, <i>three</i> brushes for us three boys +to smear the paste with and some coarse cotton cloth +for binders."</p> + +<p>"Don't forget the oil of cloves to keep your paste +from turning sour," Dorothy cried after them.</p> + +<p>"And mind you boil it thoroughly," said Margaret.</p> + +<p>The boys started again towards the cellar when +Roger's eye happened to fall on the cutting operations +of the girls.</p> + +<p>"Pshaw!" he cried in scorn. "You are time-wasters! +Why don't you cut out several garments +at once and not have to go through all that spreading +out and pinning down process every time? I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +saw a tailor the other day cutting a pile of trousers +two feet high."</p> + +<p>"What with, I should like to know?" inquired +Della mystified.</p> + +<p>"He did have a knife run by electricity," admitted +Roger, "but there's no +reason why you can't cut +four or five of those +things just as easily as +one."</p> + +<p>"We'll go on down +and get the table top," +said James, and he and +Tom departed.</p> + +<p>"Now, then, watch +your Uncle Roger. Is +this tissue paper affair +your pattern? All you +need to do is to fasten +your cloth tightly down +on to your table four +thicknesses instead of +one. Thumb tacks, Dorothy? +Good child! Now +lay your pattern on it—yes, +thumb-tack it down +if you want to—and go +ahead. You've got new, +sharp shears. Don't be +in a hurry. There you +are—and you've saved +yourself the fuss of doing that three times +more."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/p66a.png" width="500" height="270" alt="Pattern for Wrapper" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Pattern for Wrapper<br /></span> +</div> + +<div class='caption2'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>e c e = twice the length from floor to neck</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>a b = slit</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fold cloth on line c b d</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sew together sides f to e</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Insert sleeves c to f</td></tr> +</table></div></div> + + +<p>"Roger really has a lot of sense at times," admitted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +Ethel Brown, after her brother had leaped +down the attic stairs in pursuit of the boys.</p> + +<p>"He is good about helping," added Della.</p> + +<p>"What is this garment—a wrapper?" asked Margaret +as Helen held up the soft flannelette.</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 282px;"> +<img src="images/p67.jpg" width="282" height="450" alt="Wrapper Completed" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Wrapper Completed</span> +</div> +<p>"Yes, it's the simplest ever, and we can adapt one +pattern to children +of all sizes or to +grown people," explained +Helen.</p> + +<p>"I never heard +of anything so convenient!"</p> + +<p>"First, you measure +the child from +the floor to his neck—I +measured this +on Dicky. Then +you cut a piece of +material twice that +length. That is, if +the kiddy is thirty +inches from the +floor to the chin you +cut your flannelette +sixty inches long."</p> + + + +<p>"Exactly. Then +cut a lengthwise slit +thirty inches long. Then fold the whole thing in +halves across the width of the cloth and sew up the +sides to within four and a half inches of the top and +you have a wrapper all but the sleeves."</p> + +<p>"How do you make those?"</p> + +<p>"It takes half a yard for a grown person—a quarter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +of a yard for a youngster. Cut the width in +halves and double it and sew it straight into the +holes you've left at the tops."</p> + +<p>"Will that be the right length?"</p> + +<p>"You can shorten it if you like or lengthen it by +a band. You finish the slit up the front by putting on +a band of some different color. It looks pretty on +the ends of the sleeves, too. We can use blue on +this pink and pink on the blue."</p> + +<p>"It's easy enough, isn't it? I think I'll make myself +one when we get through with the Ship."</p> + +<p>"All you need to know is the length from the person's +chin to the floor and you can make it do for +anybody. And all you need to do to make a short +sacque is to know the length from the person's chin +to his waist. I have a notion we'll have some wee +bits left that we can make into cunning little jackets +for babies."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why this pattern wouldn't do for an +outdoor coat if you made it of thicker cloth—eider-down, +for instance."</p> + +<p>"It would. Gather the ends of the sleeves about +an inch down so as to make a ruffle, and put frogs or +buttons and loops on the front and there you have +it!"</p> + +<p>"Did you bring a petticoat pattern, Margaret?" +asked Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>"Haven't you seen the pictures of European peasant +women and little girls with awfully full skirts? +I believe they'd like them if we just cut two widths +of the same length, hemmed them at the bottom, and +ran a draw-string in the top. We can feather-stitch +the top of the hem if we want to make it look pretty,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +or we can cut it a little longer and run one or two +tucks."</p> + +<p>"Or we might buttonhole a scallop around the +edge instead of hemming it," suggested Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"You know I believe in doing one thing well," +said Dorothy. "How would it do if we Club girls +made just coats and wrappers and sacques from that +pattern of Helen's, and petticoats? We can make +them of all sorts of colors and a variety of materials +and we can trim them differently. We'd be making +some mighty pretty ones before we got through."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why not," agreed Margaret thoughtfully. +"Let's do it."</p> + +<p>"I brought the Red Cross knitting directions," said +Delia. "I didn't get them till this morning."</p> + +<p>"Grandmother will be delighted with those. She's +going to take them to the Old Ladies' Home and +start them all to work there."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure they'll knit for the children?"</p> + +<p>"She's going to ask them to knit for the children +now, with bright-colored yarns. Afterwards they +can knit for the soldiers, and then they must use dark +blue or grey or khaki color—not even a stripe that +will make any poor fellow conspicuous."</p> + +<p>As they finished reading the instructions they heard +the boys tramping upstairs with their paraphernalia.</p> + +<p>"It looks to me, Dorothy," said Tom, "as if you +had us on your hands for most of these club meetings, +to do our work here. Are you sure Mrs. Smith +doesn't mind?"</p> + +<p>"Mother is delighted," Dorothy reassured him. +"And she wants you all to come down and have some +chocolate."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>FOR A TRAVELLER'S KIT</div> + + +<div class='cap'>ONCE the Club was started on its work it seemed +as if the days were far too short for them to +accomplish half of what they wanted to do. Mrs. +Morton insisted that her children should have at +least two hours out of doors every day, and that cut +down the afternoons into an absurdly brief working +time. Mrs. Smith had electric lights installed in her +attic and it became the habit of the Mortons and +often of the Hancocks to meet there and cut and sew +and jig-saw and paste for an hour or two every +evening. The Watkinses were active in New York +evidently, for Della sent frequent postcards asking +for directions on one point or another and Tom +exchanged jig-saw news with Roger almost daily.</div> + +<p>Meanwhile the war was in every one's mind. The +whole country realized the desirability of trying to +obey President Wilson's request for neutrality in +word, thought, and deed. The subject was forbidden +at school where the teachers never referred to +the colossal struggle that was rending Europe and +the children of varied ancestries played together harmoniously +in the school yard. If at the high school +Fräulein and Mademoiselle were looked at with a +new interest by their scholars no word suggestive of +a possible lack of harmony was uttered to them, and +their friendship for each other seemed to increase +with every day's prolongation of the war.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the Morton family war discussion was not forbidden +and the events of the last twenty-four hours +as the newspapers reported them were talked over +at dinner every evening. Mrs. Morton thought that +the children should not be ignorant of the most upheaving +event that had stirred the world in centuries, +but she did not permit any violent expressions of +partisanship.</p> + +<p>"You children are especially bound to be neutral," +she insisted, "because your father and Ethel Blue's +father are in the service of our country, and a neutrality +as complete as possible is more desirable from +them and their families than from civilians."</p> + +<p>A new idea was blossoming in the young people's +minds, however. They had grown up with the belief +that armament was necessary to preserve peace. +Great men and good had said so. "If we are prepared +for war," they declared, "other nations will be +afraid to fight us." Captain and Lieutenant Morton +had agreed with them, as was natural for men of +their profession. They did not believe in aggression +but in being ready for defense should they be +attacked.</p> + +<p>Now it seemed to Roger and Helen as they read +of the sufferings of invaded France and the distress +of trampled Belgium that no country had the right +to benefit by results obtained through such cruel +means.</p> + +<p>"Just suppose a shell should drop down here just +as we were walking along," imagined Roger as he +and Helen were on their way to school. "Suppose +Patrick Shea's cornfield there was marched over before +the corn was harvested and all these houses and +churches and schools were blown up or burned down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +and all the people of this town were lying around +in the streets dead or wounded!"</p> + +<p>"When you bring it home to Rosemont it doesn't +sound the way it does when you read in the histories +about a 'movement' here and a 'turning of the right +flank' there, and 'the end of the line crumpling up.' +When the line crumples up it means fathers and +brothers are killed and women and children starve—"</p> + +<p>"Think what it would be to have nothing to eat +and to have to grub around in the fields and devour +roots like the peasants in the famine time in Louis +XIV's reign."</p> + +<p>"And think about the destruction of all the little +homes that have been built up with so much care and +happiness. Mary told me her sister bought a chair +one month and a table at another time when she and +her husband came across bargains," said practical +Ethel Brown who had caught up with them. +"They've furnished their whole house the way we +children have added to our kitchen tins and plates; +and then everything would be broken to smash by +just one of those shells."</p> + +<p>"The people who've been spreading the gospel +of peace for years and years needn't be discouraged +now, it seems to me," observed Roger thoughtfully, +"even if it does look as if all their talk had been for +nothing. These horrors make a bigger appeal than +any amount of talk."</p> + +<p>"Grandfather Emerson says that perhaps universal +peace is going to be the result of the war. It +seems far off enough now."</p> + +<p>"It will be dearly bought peace."</p> + +<p>"Hush, there goes Mademoiselle. I wonder when +she's going to sail."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why don't you ask her to-day? The Club must +give her some kind of send-off, you know."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if she'd mind if we went to New York +to see her start?"</p> + +<p>"It won't be hard to find out. We can tell her +that we won't be offended if she says 'No.'"</p> + +<p>"If she's willing we might take that opportunity +to go over the ship. I've always wanted to go over +an ocean steamer."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they won't let anybody do it now on +account of the war. It will be great if we can, +though."</p> + +<p>The Service Club learned more geography in the +course of its studies of the war news than its members +ever had learned before voluntarily. The approach +of the German army upon Paris was watched +every day and its advance was marked upon a large +map that Roger had installed in the sitting-room. +When the Germans withdrew the change of their line +and its daily relation to the battle front of the Allies +was noted by the watchful pencil of one or another +of the newspaper readers.</p> + +<p>Thanks to the simplicity of the pattern which the +Club had adopted for its own they were enabled to +make a large number of gay garments in a wonderfully +short time. From several further donations of +material they made wrappers for children of fourteen, +twelve, ten, down to the babies, adding to each +a belt of the same color as the band so that the +garments might serve as dresses at a pinch. They +found that with the smaller sizes they could cut off a +narrow band from the width of the cloth at each +side, and that served as trimming for another garment +of contrasting color.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>When they had constructed a goodly pile of long +wrappers they fell upon the short sacques, and before +many days passed a mound of pink-banded blue and +blue-banded pink, and red-banded white and white-banded +red rose beside their machines. Della wrote +that she was using her mother's machine and was +learning how better and better every day. Thanks +to their lessons at Chautauqua Margaret and Helen +sewed well on the machine already. Ethel Brown +and Ethel Blue and Dorothy basted on the bands +and the belts and added the fastenings. It was their +fingers, too, that feather-stitched and cat-stitched +the petticoats that came into being with another +donation of flannelette. Dorothy was glad when +any new material was cotton as every yard that they +used helped the South to rid itself of its unsold crop.</p> + +<p>"Ladies are going to wear cotton dresses all winter, +they say," she told the Club at one of its meetings. +"Mother is going to let me have all my new dresses +made of cotton stuff and she's going to have some +herself."</p> + +<p>"We wear cotton middies all winter," protested +the Ethels who felt as if Dorothy felt that they were +not doing their share to help on the cause she was +interested in.</p> + +<p>"When Aunt Marion gets your new dancing school +dresses couldn't you ask her to get cotton ones?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose we could. Do you think they'd be +pretty enough?"</p> + +<p>"Some cotton dresses that are going to be worn +on the opening night of the opera at the Metropolitan +are to be on exhibition in New York in a week or +two."</p> + +<p>"If cotton is good enough for that purpose I guess<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +it's good enough for your dancing class," laughed +Helen.</p> + +<p>"Mother says they make perfectly beautiful cottons +now of exquisite colors and lovely designs. +Don't you think it would be great if we set the +fashion of the dancing class?"</p> + +<p>"Let's do it. Mother says silk isn't appropriate +for girls of our age, anyway."</p> + +<p>"If you can be dressed appropriately and beautifully +at the same time I don't see that you have anything +to complain of," smiled Helen.</p> + +<p>With the short time that the girls had at their +command every day it did not seem as if they would +be able to do much with the garments that came in to +be made over. There were not many of these because +the boys had been instructed after the first day +to ask that alterations and mending be done at home, +but there were a few dresses like Mrs. Lancaster's +that were on their hands. Mrs. Smith came to their +help when this work bade fair to be too much for +them.</p> + +<p>"I'll ask Aunt Marion and Mrs. Emerson and +Mrs. Hancock and Mrs. Watkins to lunch with me +some day," she promised Dorothy, "and after +luncheon we'll have an old-fashioned bee and rip up +these dresses and then we can see what material they +give us and we can plan what to do with them."</p> + +<p>The scheme worked out to a charm. The elders +enjoyed themselves mightily and the resulting pile +of materials, smoothly ironed and carefully sorted +gave Margaret and Helen a chance to exercise their +ingenuity. Mrs. Watkins took back to town with +her enough stuff for two, promising to help Della +with them, and the suburban girls, with the assistance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +of the grown-ups, made six charming frocks that +looked as good as new.</p> + +<p>It was early in October that Helen rushed home +from school one day with the news that Mademoiselle +was going to sail at the end +of the week.</p> + +<p>"We must begin to-day to +make up a good-bye parcel +for her," she cried.</p> + +<p>"Red Cross nurses are +allowed a very small kit," +warned Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>"We can try to make +things so tiny that she won't +have to leave them behind +her when she goes on duty, +but even if she does she can +give them to somebody who +can make them useful."</p> + +<p>"I'll make steamer slippers +to begin with," said +Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Ethel +Blue.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 211px;"> +<img src="images/p76.jpg" width="211" height="450" alt="Top of Slipper" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Top of Slipper<br />Sew a and b together</span> +</div> + + + +<p>"You get a pair of fleecy +inner soles—they have them +at all the shoe stores—and +then you cut a top piece of bright colored chintz +just the shape of the top part of a slipper and you +sew it together at the back and bind the edges all +around."</p> + +<p>"How do you put the top and the sole together?"</p> + +<p>"The edge of the sole is soft enough to sew +through. You turn the top inside out over the sole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +and sew the binding of the chintz on to the edge of +the sole over and over and when you turn it right +side out there you are with gay shoes."</p> + +<p>"They'll fill up a bag, though," commented Ethel +Blue. "I should think you might make a pair just +like that only make the sole of something that would +double up. Then they'd go into a case and be more +compact."</p> + +<p>"That's a good idea, too," agreed Ethel Brown. +"What could you use for a sole?"</p> + +<p>"Soft leather would be best. I imagine you could +get a piece from the cobbler down town. Or you +could get the very thin leather that they used at +Chautauqua for cardcases and pocket books—the +kind Roger uses—and stitch two pieces together."</p> + +<p>"Why wouldn't a heavy duck sole do?" suggested +Mrs. Emerson.</p> + +<p>"If you stepped on a pin it wouldn't keep it out as +well as leather," objected her daughter.</p> + +<p>"I believe I'll try a pair with a flowery chintz top +and a duck sole covered with chintz like a lining to +the shoe," said Ethel Blue slowly as she thought it +out. "Then I'll make the case of two pieces of +chintz bound together."</p> + +<p>"One piece ought to be longer than the other so +that it would be a flap to come over like an +envelope."</p> + +<p>This was Ethel Brown's contribution to the slipper +building.</p> + +<p>"You could fasten it with a glove snapper. I got +some the other day for my leather work," said Roger. +"I'll put them on for you."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you Ethels make both kinds?" suggested +Dorothy. "She'll find a use for them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If you girls will make it I'll contribute the silk for +a bath wrap that she can throw over her warm one, +just for looks, on the boat," said Mrs. Emerson. +"I have one I use on sleeping cars and it rolls up into +the smallest space you can imagine."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 425px;"> +<img src="images/p78.jpg" width="425" height="357" alt="Slipper Case" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Slipper Case<br /> + +Place section a on section b and sew edges together, leaving c d open<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-right: 6em;">e = Snap fastening</span></span> +</div> + +<p>"Good for Grandmother!" cried a chorus of +voices.</p> + +<p>"Can we use our famous wrapper pattern?" asked +Helen.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why not. Mine has a hood but that +isn't a difficult addition if you merely shape the neck +of your kimono a little and then cut a square of the +material, sew it across one end and round the lower +end a trifle to fit into the neck hole you've made."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How about longer sleeves, Mother?" asked Mrs. +Morton.</p> + +<p>"I think I would make them longer. And I'd also +make an envelope bag of the same silk to carry it in +on the return trip from the bath. You'll be surprised +to find into how small an envelope it will go."</p> + +<p>"Put a cord from one corner of the envelope to +the other so that Mademoiselle may have her hands +free for her soap and towel and other needfuls," +advised Mrs. Smith, who had been listening to the +suggestions.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't another envelope arrangement of +chintz lined with rubber cloth make a good washrag +bag or sponge bag?" asked Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"Nothing better unless you put a rubber-lined +pocket in a Pullman apron."</p> + +<p>This hint from Grandmother Emerson aroused the +curiosity of the young people.</p> + +<p>"What is a Pullman apron? Tell us about it," +they cried.</p> + +<p>"Mine is made of linen crash," said Mrs. Emerson. +"Dorothy will insist on your making yours of +cotton chintz and it will be just as good and even +prettier. Get a yard. Cut off a piece thirty inches +long and make it fourteen wide. Bind the lower +edge with tape. Turn up six inches across the bottom +and stitch the one big pocket it makes into +smaller ones of different sizes by rows of up and +down stitching. Make a bag of rubber cloth just the +right size to fit one of the larger pockets. Take the +six inches that you cut off from your yard of material +and bind it on both edges with tape. Stitch that +across your apron about four inches above the top of +the lower row of pockets. Divide the strip into as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +many pockets as you want to for hairpins and pins +and neck arrangements, and so on."</p> + +<p>"Your apron has two raw edges now," said Helen.</p> + +<p>"Bind it on each side with tape. That will finish +it and it will also fasten the edges of the pockets +securely to the apron. Sew across the top a tape long +enough to serve as strings."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/p80.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="Pullman Apron" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Pullman Apron</span> +</div> + + + +<div class='caption2'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Apron instructions"> +<tr><td align='left'>d b plus the turned up portion, b a, = 30 inches</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>b a = 6 inches</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>b b = 14 inches</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>c c c = pockets</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>d d = strings</td></tr> +</table></div></div> + + +<p>"The idea is to roll all your toilet belongings up +together in your bag, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and when you go to the ladies' room on the +train you tie the apron around your waist and then +you have your brush and comb and hairpins and tooth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +brush and washrag all where you can lay your fingers +on them in a second of time."</p> + +<p>"I got my best tortoise-shell hairpin mixed up with +another woman's once, and I never recovered it," +said Mrs. Morton meditatively.</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't have happened if you'd been supplied +with a bag like this," said her mother.</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle's silk wrap must be grey to match +her other Red Cross equipment," said Mrs. Emerson, +"but I don't see why the chintz things shouldn't +be as gay as you like."</p> + +<p>"Pink roses would be most becoming to her style +of beauty," murmured Roger who had come in.</p> + +<p>"I don't know but pink roses would be becoming +enough for slippers," agreed Ethel Blue so seriously +that every one laughed.</p> + +<p>"Let's get pink flowered chintz," said Ethel +Brown. "You make the soft kind and I'll make the +stiff kind and Dorothy'll make the apron and Helen +will make the kimono. Who's got any more ideas?"</p> + +<p>"I have," contributed Roger. "I'll make a case +for her manicure set. I haven't got time this week +unfortunately to tool the leather but I'll make a plain +one that will be useful if it isn't as pretty as I can do."</p> + +<p>"What shape will it be?"</p> + +<p>"I got part of my idea from Grandfather Emerson's +spectacle case that I was examining the other +day. Ethel Blue's case for the soft slippers is going +to be something like it."</p> + +<p>"Two pieces of leather rounded at the lower corners +and stitched together at the sides and with a +flap to shut in the contents?" guessed Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"Correct. I shall make the case about four inches +long when it's closed."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That means that you'd have one strip four inches +long and the other, the one with the flap, six inches +long."</p> + +<p>"Once more correct, most noble child. It will be +a liberal two inches wide, a bit more in this instance +because I'm not much of a sewer and I want to be +sure that I'm far enough from the edge to make it +secure."</p> + +<p>"You don't try to turn it inside out, do you?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am. Not that mite of an object. You +fit a tiny pasteboard slide into the case. Cover it +with velvet or leather or a scrap of Ethel Blue's +chintz—"</p> + +<p>"'Rah for cotton," cheered Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"—and on one side of this division you slip in the +scissors and the file and the tweezers or the orange +stick and on the other a little buffer with a strap +handle that doesn't take up any room."</p> + +<p>"How in the world do you happen to be so up +in manicure articles?" queried Helen, amazed at his +knowledge.</p> + +<p>"Nothing strange about that," returned Roger. +"Aunt Louise showed me hers the other day when I +was talking to her about making one for just this +occasion. Aha!"</p> + +<p>"You could make the same sort of case without +the pasteboard partition, for a tiny sewing kit," offered +Ethel Blue, "and one of the envelope shape will +hold soap leaves."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to suggest a couple of shirtwaist cases," +said Mrs. Smith. "They are made of dotted Swiss +muslin that takes up next to no room and washes like +a handkerchief. You'd better make Mademoiselle's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +of colored muslin or of colored batiste for she won't +want to be bothered with thinking about laundry any +oftener than she has to."</p> + +<p>"What shape are the bags?"</p> +<div class="figright" style="width: 252px;"> +<img src="images/p83.png" width="252" height="400" alt="Shirtwaist Case" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Shirtwaist Case</span> +</div> +<p>"Find out whether she will take an American suitcase +or a bag. In either case measure the size of +the bottom. Take a piece of muslin twice the size +and lay it flat. Fold over +the edges till they meet in +the centre. Then stitch +the tops across, on the inside, +of course, and hem +the slit, and turn them +right side out and that's +all there is to it. They +keep waists or neckwear +apart from the other +clothing in one's bag and +fresher for the separation."</p> + + + +<p>"Since I have my hand +in with knitting," said +Grandmother, "I believe +I'll contribute a pair of +bed-shoes. They're so simple +that any one who can knit a plain strip can do +them."</p> + +<p>"Let's have the receipt."</p> + +<p>"Cast on stitches enough to run the length of the +person's foot. Fifty will be plenty for any woman +and more than enough for Mademoiselle's tiny foot. +It's well to have the shoe large, though. Knit ahead +until you have a strip six inches high. Then cast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +off from one end stitches enough to make four inches +and go ahead with the remainder for four inches +more."</p> + +<p>"That sounds funny to me," observed Ethel +Brown. "Not exactly the shape of my dainty pedestal."</p> + +<p>"You'll have made a square with a square out of +one corner like this piece of paper. Now fold it +along the diagonal line from the tip of the small +square to the farthest edge of the big square and sew +up all the edges except those of the small square. +That leaves a hole where you put your foot in. +Crochet an edge there to run a ribbon in—and you're +done."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to run the risk of Mademoiselle's +laughing at me and give her a folding umbrella," said +Mrs. Morton. "It will fit into her bag and at least +she can use it until she goes to the front."</p> + +<p>"All this sounds to me like a good outfit for any +woman who is going to travel," observed Helen. +"I'm almost moved to sail myself!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE RED CROSS NURSE SETS SAIL</div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE girls' cheeks were rosy and their hair was +tangled by the wind as Helen and the rest of +the U. S. C. left the car at West Street and made +their way to the French Line Pier. Roger was heading +the flock of Mortons, Mrs. Smith was with +Dorothy, the Hancocks had come from Glen Point, +more for the fun of seeing a sailing than to say +"Good-bye" to Mademoiselle, whom they hardly; +knew. The Watkinses were accompanied by their +elder brother, Edward, a young doctor.</div> + +<p>There was a mighty chattering as the party hastened +down the pier. A mightier greeted them +when they reached the gang plank.</p> + +<p>"Every Frenchman left in New York must be here +saying 'Good-bye' to somebody!" laughed Tom as his +eye fell on the throng pressing on to the boat over a +narrow plank across which passengers who had already +said their farewells were leaving, and stewards +were carrying cabin trunks.</p> + +<p>"Only one <i>passerelle</i> for all that!" exclaimed a +plump Frenchman whose age might be guessed by the +fashion of his moustache and goatee which declared +him to be a follower of Napoleon III. He was +carrying a bouquet in one hand and kissing the other +vehemently to the lady on the deck who was to be +made the recipient of the flowers as soon as her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +admirer could manage to squeeze himself down the +over-crowded gang plank.</p> + +<p>Taxis driving up behind the U. S. C. young people +discharged their occupants upon the agitated scene. +All sorts of messages were being sent across to +friends on the other side, many of them shouted from +pier to deck with a volubility that was startling to +inexperienced French students.</p> + +<p>It was quite twenty minutes before the Club succeeded +in filing Indian fashion across the <i>passerelle</i>. +They were met almost at once by Mademoiselle, for +she had been watching their experiences from the +vessel.</p> + +<p>"Before you say 'Good-bye' to me," she said hurriedly, +"I want you to go over the ship. I have +special permission from the Captain. You must go +quickly. There are not many minutes, you were so +long in coming on."</p> + +<p>She gave them over to the kind offices of a +"<i>mousse</i>" or general utility boy, who in turn introduced +them to a junior officer who examined their permit +as "friends of Mademoiselle Millerand" and +then conveyed them to strange corners whose existence +they never had guessed.</p> + +<p>First they peeked into a cabin which was one of +the handsomest on the ship but whose small size +brought from Ethel Brown the comment that it was +a "stingy" little room. The reading and writing +rooms she approved, however, as being cheerful +enough to make you forget you were seasick. A +lingering odor of the food of yester-year seemed to +cling about the saloon and to mingle with a whiff of +oil from the engine room that had assailed them just +before they entered. People were saying farewells<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +here with extraordinary impetuosity, men embracing +each other with a fervor that made the less demonstrative +Americans smile. One group was looking +over a pile of letters on the table to see if absent +friends had sent some message to catch them before +they steamed.</p> + +<p>Below were other staterooms, rows upon rows of +them, and yet others below those. By comparison +with the fragrances here that in the saloon seemed a +breeze from Araby the Blest.</p> + +<p>From above the party had looked down on the +engines whose huge steel arms slid almost imperceptibly +over each other as if they were slowly, slowly +preparing to spring at an unseen foe; as if they knew +that great waves would try to still them, the mighty +workers of the great ship. A gentle breathing now +seemed to stir them, but far, far down below the +waterline the stokers were feeding the animal with +the fuel that was to give him energy to contend with +storms and winds and come out victor. Half naked +men, their backs gleaming in the light from the +furnaces, threw coal into the yawning mouth. The +heat was intense, and the Ethels turned so pale that +young Doctor Watkins hurried them into the open +air. Helen was not sorry to breathe the coolness +of the Hudson again and even the boys drew a long +breath of relief, though they did not admit that they +had been uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle Millerand awaits you in the tea +room," explained the young officer, and he conducted +them to a portion of the deck where passengers could +sit in the open, or, on cold or windy days, behind +glass and watch the sea and the passengers pacing by.</p> + +<p>Mademoiselle greeted them with shining eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +During their absence there had been some farewells +that had been difficult.</p> + +<p>"You have seen everything?" she inquired pleasantly. +"Then you must have some lemonade with +me before you go," and she gave an order that soon +brought a trayful of glasses that tinkled cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"We are not going to be sentimental," she insisted. +"This is just 'Good-bye,' and thank you many times +for being so good to me at school, and many, many +times more for the bundle that is in my room to surprise +me. I shall open it when the Statue of Liberty +is out of sight, when I can no more see my adopted +land. Then shall I think of all of you and of your +Club for Service."</p> + +<p>"Where do you expect to be sent, Mademoiselle?" +inquired Doctor Watkins as the party walked toward +the <i>passerelle</i> over which they must somehow contrive +to make their way before they could touch foot +upon the pier.</p> + +<p>"To Belgium, I think. My brother is a surgeon +and I have a distant relative in the ministry—"</p> + +<p>"What—<i>the</i> Millerand?"</p> + +<p>Mademoiselle smiled and nodded.</p> + +<p>"So probably I shall be sent wherever I wish—and +my heart goes but to Belgium. It is natural."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is natural. May you have luck," he cried +holding out his hand.</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle is going to Belgium," he told the +young people who were awaiting their turn at the +gang-plank.</p> + +<p>They gazed at her with a sort of awe. Tales of +war's horrors were common in the ears of all of them, +and it was difficult to believe that the slight figure +standing there so quietly beside them would see with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +her own eyes the uptorn fields and downfallen cottages, +the dying men and the miserable women and +children they had seen only in imagination.</p> + +<p>"Oh," gasped Ethel Blue; "oh! <i>Belgium!</i> Oh, +Mademoiselle, <i>won't</i> you send us back a Belgian +baby? The Club would <i>love</i> to take care of it! +Wouldn't we? Wouldn't we?" she cried turning +from one to another with glittering eyes.</p> + +<p>"We would, Mademoiselle, we would," cried every +one of them; and as the big ship was warped out of +the pier they waved their handkerchiefs and their +hands and cried over and over, "Send us a Belgian +baby!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Un bébé belge! Ces chers enfants!</i>" ejaculated +a motherly Frenchwoman who was weeping near +them. "A Belgian baby! These dear children."</p> + +<p>And then, to James's horror, she kissed him, first +on one cheek and then on the other.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>PLANNING THE U. S. C. "SHOW"</div> + + +<div class='cap'>IT was becoming more and more evident every day +to the president of the United Service Club that +it must have more money than was at its disposal at +the moment or it would not be able to carry out its +plans. Already it owed to Mrs. Morton a sum that +Helen knew was larger than her mother could lend +them conveniently. All of Grandfather Emerson's +donation had gone to provide knitting needles and +yarn for the occupants of the Old Ladies' Home, and +the Club's decision to lay itself under no financial +obligation to people outside of the immediate families +of the members had obliged her to refuse a few small +gifts that had been offered.</div> + +<p>All the members of the Club were working hard +to earn money beyond their allowances and every cent +was going into the Club's exchequer. Roger was +faithful in his attention to the three furnaces he had +undertaken to care for, though he was not above a +feeling of relief that the weather was continuing so +mild that he had not yet had to keep up fires continuously +in any of them. James still drove his +father, though the doctor threatened him with discharge +almost every day because of his habit of +cutting corners. The girls were carrying out their +plans for money-making, and Della had secured +another order for stenciled curtains which Dorothy +and Ethel Brown filled.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>What with school and working for the orphans +and working for the Club treasury these were busy +days, and Helen felt that something must be done at +once to provide a comparatively large sum so that +their indebtedness might be paid off and the pressure +upon each one of them would not be so heavy.</p> + +<p>Helen and James were going over the Club accounts +one Saturday before the regular meeting. A +frown showed Helen's anxiety and James's square +face looked squarer and more serious than ever as he +saw the deficit piled against them.</p> + +<p>"It's high time we gave that entertainment we +talked about so much when we began this thing," he +growled. "People will have forgotten all about it +and we'll have to advertise it all over again."</p> + +<p>"That'll be easy enough if we make use of some +of the small children in some way. All their relatives +near and far will know all about it promptly +and they'll all come to see how the kiddies perform," +said Helen wisely, though her look of perplexity continued.</p> + +<p>"Let's bring it up at the meeting right now. I +don't believe we can do anything better this afternoon +than plan out our show and decide who and what +and where."</p> + +<p>"'Where' is answered easily enough—the hall of +the schoolhouse. 'Who' and 'what' require more +thought."</p> + +<p>It turned out, however, that every one had been +thinking of stunts to do himself or for some one else +to do, so that the program did not take as much time +as if the subject had not been lying in their minds for +several weeks.</p> + +<p>"At the beginning," said Ethel Blue, "I think some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +one ought to get up and tell what the Club is trying +to do—all about the war orphans and the Santa Claus +Ship."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't Grandfather Emerson be a good one +to do that?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think we want to have any grown people +in our show," was Helen's opinion. "If we bring +them in then the outside people will expect more from +us because they'll think that we've been helped and +it won't be fair to us or to our grown-ups."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Tom from the depths of a +lifetime of experience of the ways of people in church +entertainments. "Let's do every single thing ourselves +if we can, and I believe the audience will like +it better even if it isn't all as O. K. as it would be if +we had a grown-up or two to help pull the oars."</p> + +<p>"The first question before us, then, is who will do +this explanation act that Ethel Blue suggests?"</p> + +<p>There was a dead silence. No one wanted to offer. +There seemed no one person on whom the task fell +naturally unless—"The Club was Ethel Blue's idea," +went on Helen. "Isn't she the right one to explain +it?" and "The president of the Club ought to tell +about it," said Ethel Blue. Both girls spoke at once.</p> + +<p>There was unanimous laughter.</p> + +<p>"'Ayther is correct,'" quoted Roger. "I think +Helen is the proper victim."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," Ethel Blue supported him so earnestly +that every one laughed again.</p> + +<p>"You see, no one knows about its being Ethel +Blue's idea and that would take a lot more explaining +or else it would seem that there was no good +reason for the president's not acting as showman and +introducing her freaks to the audience."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Speak for yourself, John!' I'm no freak!" +declared James. "I think Helen's the right one to +make the introduction, though."</p> + +<p>Helen shivered.</p> + +<p>"I must say I hate to do it," she said, "but we all +agreed when we went into this that we'd do what +came up, no matter whether we liked it or not, so +here goes Number 1 on the program," and she wrote +on her pad, beneath an elaborate</p> + +<div class='center'> +PROGRAM<br /> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'>which she had been drawing and decorating as she +talked.</div> + +<p>1. Explanatory address. Helen Morton.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," queried Ethel Brown, "what next?"</p> + +<p>"Music, if there's any one to tootle for the +ladies," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"Dorothy's the singer."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I couldn't sing all alone," objected Dorothy +shrinkingly. "But Mother said she'd drill a chorus +of children and I wouldn't mind doing the solo part +with a lot of others on the stage with me."</p> + +<p>"How about a chorus in costume?" asked Helen.</p> + +<p>"What kind of costume?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know—something historical, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"Why not the peasant costumes of the countries +in the war?" suggested Ethel Blue. "We're working +for the children and we'll have a child or two +from each country."</p> + +<p>"A sort of illustration of Helen's speech," said +Tom.</p> + +<p>"They might sing either the national songs of their +countries or children's songs," said Dorothy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Or both, with you dressed as Columbia and singing +the Star Spangled Banner at the end."</p> + +<p>"La, la! Fine!" commended Margaret. "Put +down Number 2, Helen, 'Songs by War Orphans.' +We can work out the details later, or leave them to +Dorothy and her mother."</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking that we might as well utilize +some of the folk dances that we learned at Chautauqua +last summer," said Ethel Brown. "Wouldn't +Number 3 be a good spot to put in the Butterfly +Dance?"</p> + +<p>"That was one of the prettiest dances at the +Exhibition," said James. "Let's have it."</p> + +<p>"Margaret and I are too tall for it, but you four +young ones know it and you can teach four more girls +easily enough."</p> + +<p>"We'll ask them to-morrow at school," said Dorothy, +"and we'll have a rehearsal right off. Mother +will play for us and it won't take any time at +all."</p> + +<p>"The costumes won't take any time, either. Any +white dress will do and the wings are made by strips +of soft stuff—cheese cloth or something even softer, +pale blue and pink and green and yellow. They're +fastened at the shoulders and a loop goes over the +wrist or the little finger so the arms can keep them +waving."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember the steps, Dorothy?"</p> + +<p>"They're very simple, but almost anything that +moves sort of swimmingly will do."</p> + +<p>"There's Number 3, then," decided Dorothy. +"Now the boys ought to appear."</p> + +<p>"Yes, what have you three been planning to throw +us in the shade?" inquired Della.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I've got a fancy club-swinging act that's rather +good," admitted Roger modestly.</p> + +<p>"You have?" asked Tom in surprise. "So have +I. What's yours?"</p> + +<p>"Come over here and I'll tell you," and the two +boys retired to a corner where they conferred. It +was evident, from their burst of laughter and their +exclamations that they highly approved of each +other's schemes.</p> + +<p>"We've decided that we won't tell you what our +act is," they declared when they came back to the +broken meeting. "We'll surprise you as well as the +rest of the audience."</p> + +<p>"Meanies," pronounced Ethel Brown. "Helen, +put down 'Number 4, Club Swinging by Two +Geese!'"</p> + +<p>"Not geese," corrected Tom, with a glance at +Roger, who made a sign of caution.</p> + +<p>"What next?" queried the president.</p> + +<p>"Let's have some of the small children now. Our +honorary member ought to be on the card," said +Della.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure he wouldn't be afraid?" asked Tom +of Dicky's brethren.</p> + +<p>"Not Dicky," they shrieked in concert.</p> + +<p>"I saw a pretty stunt in town the other evening. +It was done by grown people but it would be dear +with little kids," urged Della, her round face beaming +with the joy of her adaptation of the idea. "It +was a new kind of shadow dance."</p> + +<p>"Pshaw, that's old," declared Tom with brotherly +curtness.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't done behind a sheet. That's the old +way—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A mighty good way, too," supported James +stoutly. "I've seen some splendid pantomimes done +on a sheet—'Red Riding Hood' and 'Jack the Giant +Killer,' and a lot more."</p> + +<p>"This is much cunninger," insisted Della. "Instead +of a sheet there's a dull, light blue curtain hung +across the stage. The light is behind it, but the actors +are in front of it."</p> + +<p>"Then you don't see their shadows."</p> + +<p>"You see themselves in silhouette against the blue. +There is a net curtain down between them and the +audience and it looks like moonlight with elves and +fairies playing in it."</p> + +<p>"It would be hard to train Dicky to be a fairy," +decided Ethel Blue so gravely that all the others +laughed.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking that it would be fun to have Dicky +and some other children dressed like pussy cats and +rabbits and dogs, and playing about as if they were +frisking in the moonlight."</p> + +<p>"Why not have them do a regular little play like +'Flossy Fisher's Funnies' that have been coming out +in the <i>Ladies' Home Journal</i>?" screamed Ethel +Brown, electrified at the growth of the idea. "Take +almost any one of them and get the children to play +the little story it tells and I don't see why it wouldn't +be too cunning for words."</p> + +<p>"What kind of stories?" asked James who liked +to understand.</p> + +<p>"I don't remember any one exactly but they are +something like this;—Mr. Dog goes fishing on the +bank of the stream. A strip of pasteboard cut at +the top into rushes will give the effect of a brook, you +know. He pulls up a fish with a jerk that throws<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +it over his head. Pussy Cat is waiting just behind +him. She seizes the fish and runs away with it. +Mr. Dog runs after her. The cat jumps over a +wheelbarrow, but the dog doesn't see it and gets a +fall—and so on."</p> + +<p>"I can see how it would be funny with little scraps +of kids," pronounced Tom. "Who'll train them?"</p> + +<p>"I'll do that," offered Ethel Brown. "Dicky's +always good with me and if he understands the story +he'll really help teach the others."</p> + +<p>"Pick out a simple 'Flossy Fisher' or make up an +easy story with plenty of action," advised Margaret. +"The chief trouble you'll have is to make the children +stay apart on the stage. They'll keep bunching +up and spoiling the silhouettes if you aren't careful."</p> + +<p>"Number 5. Silhouettes," wrote Helen on her +pad. "What's Number 6?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether you'll approve of this," +offered Dorothy rather shyly, "but when I was at +the Old Ladies' Home the other day I thought they +made a real picture knitting away there in the sunshine +in their sitting room. Do you think some of +them could be induced to come to the schoolhouse +and make a tableau?"</p> + +<p>"Fine!" commended Helen.</p> + +<p>"You could have it a picture of sentiment, such as +Dorothy had in mind, I judge," said Tom, "or you +could turn it into a comic by having some one sing +'Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers.'"</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"A stay-at-home war song they're singing in England. +It's funny because it's so full of S's that it's +almost impossible to sing it without a mistake. I +think it would be better, though, to have the old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +ladies just knitting away. After all, it's sympathy +with the orphans we want to arouse."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't we have a tableau within a tableau—a +picture at the back placed with the figures posed behind +a net curtain so that they'd be dimmed—a picture +of some of the Belgian orphans refugeeing into +Holland or something of that sort?"</p> + +<p>"If Mademoiselle would only send us right off +that Belgian baby that James got kissed for we'd +have an actual exhibit," said Roger.</p> + +<p>James made a face at the memory of the unexpected +caress he had earned unwittingly, but he approved +highly of the addition to the picture of the +old ladies.</p> + +<p>"They're thinking about the orphans as they knit—and +there are the orphans," he said, and even his +sister Margaret smiled at the approbation with which +he looked on a tableau that left nothing to the imagination.</p> + +<p>"Number 6 is settled, then. Why can't we have +the minuet for Number 7?"</p> + +<p>"Good. All of us here know it so we shan't need +to rehearse much."</p> + +<p>"On that small stage four couples will be plenty, +I say," offered Roger.</p> + +<p>"I think so, too. Eight would make it altogether +too crowded," declared Helen. "That means +that four of us girls will dance—we can decide which +ones later—and you three boys, and we'll only have +to train one new boy."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with George Foster? His +sister is a dancing teacher and perhaps he knows it +already."</p> + +<p>"He's the best choice we can make. We want to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +get this thing done just as fast as we can for several +reasons," continued Helen. "In the first place any +entertainment goes off more snappily if the fun of +doing it isn't all worn off by too many rehearsals."</p> + +<p>"Correct," agreed Tom. "Remember that Children's +Symphony we exhausted ourselves on for a +month last winter, Della?"</p> + +<p>Della did and expressed her memories with closed +eyes and out-stretched hands.</p> + +<p>"If each one of us makes himself and herself responsible +for having his own part perfect and the +stunts that he's drilling others in as nearly perfect as +he can, then I don't see why we need more than ten +days for it."</p> + +<p>"Especially as we know all the dances now and the +Old Ladies' Home tableau won't take much preparation."</p> + +<p>"Have we got enough numbers on the program, +Helen?"</p> + +<p>"I think we ought to end with a long thing of some +sort."</p> + +<p>"We'll never pull off the show if you try to stick +in a play," growled James.</p> + +<p>"Not a play, but I was reading Browning's 'Pied +Piper of Hamelin' the other day and it can easily be +made workable with just a little speaking and some +pantomime. Two or three rehearsals ought to do +it."</p> + +<p>"All right, then. Your sufferings be on your +head."</p> + +<p>"You'll all back me up, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"We'll do whatever you tell us, if that's what you +want."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Read us the whole program, Madam President," +begged Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"Here you are; I've changed the order a little:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>PROGRAM</p> + +<p>1. Address, Helen Morton.</p> + +<p>2. Songs by War Orphans, led by Dorothy Smith.</p> + +<p>3. Butterfly Dance.</p> + +<p>4. Club Swinging by Roger Morton and Thomas +Watkins.</p> + +<p>5. Knitting for the War Orphans by Ladies from +the Old Ladies' Home.</p> + +<p>6. Silhouettes by Dicky Morton and other +Juniors.</p> + +<p>7. Minuet.</p> + +<p>8. "The Pied Piper."</p></div> + +<p>"If I do say it as shouldn't, having had a modest +part in its construction," remarked Roger complacently, +"that's a good program."</p> + +<p>"Do you know," added Margaret earnestly, "I +think so too."</p> + +<p>So, after discussion of details concerning responsibility +and rehearsals, and the appointment of a publicity +committee consisting of the officers of the Club +plus Roger, the meeting adjourned.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE EVENTFUL EVENING</div> + + +<div class='cap'>IF the U. S. C.'s had thought themselves busy +before they undertook their entertainment they +concluded as they rushed from one duty to another +in the ten days of preparation for that function that +they had not learned the A B C of busy-ness. Mrs. +Morton always insisted that, whatever was on foot, +school work must not be slighted.</div> + +<p>"Your education is your preparation for life," she +said. "While you are young you must lay down a +good foundation for the later years to build on. +You know what happens when a foundation is poor."</p> + +<p>They did. A building in Rosemont had fallen +into a heap of ruins not long before, to the shame +of the contractor who had put in poor work.</p> + +<p>So all the school duties were attended to faithfully, +and the out-of-door time was not skimped though +the out-of-door time was largely devoted to doing +errands connected with the "show," and the home +lessons were learned as thoroughly as usual. But +sewing went by the board for ten days except such +sewing as was necessary for the making of costumes.</p> + +<p>"Here's a chance for your Club to try out some +of Roger's ideas of system," said Grandfather Emerson +as he listened to the plans which were always +on the lips of the club members whenever he met +them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think we're doing it all pretty systematically," +Helen defended. "Each one of us is responsible +for doing certain things and our work doesn't overlap. +When we come together for a general rehearsal +I believe we're going to find that all the parts +will fit together like a cut-out puzzle."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 334px;"> +<img src="images/p102.jpg" width="334" height="450" alt="Costume for Butterfly Dance" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Costume for Butterfly Dance</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Emerson said that he hoped so in a tone of +such doubt that Helen was more than ever determined +that all should run smoothly. To that end +she made a diplomatic investigation into every number +of the program. Every one she found to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +going on well. Her own address was already +blocked out in her mind. Dorothy had taken bodily +a singing class that Mrs. Smith had started at the +Rosemont Settlement and, with the knowledge of +singing that the children already had, they soon were +drilled in their special songs and in the motions that +enlivened them. Mrs. Smith and Dorothy were +also preparing the costumes and they reported that +the mothers of the children were helping, some of +them providing actual peasant costumes that had +come from the old country.</p> + +<p>With four girls who already knew the butterfly +dance the drilling of another quartette was swiftly +done, and the Ethels were willing to put their flock +of butterflies on the stage four days after they had +begun to practice. Because every one of them had +a white dress their costumes required almost no +work beyond the cutting lengthwise of a yard and a +quarter of cheesecloth. When they had gathered +one end and attached the safety pin which was to fasten +it to the shoulder, and gathered the other end +and sewed on a loop which was to go over the little +finger—all of which took about five minutes—that +costume was finished.</p> + +<p>About the boys' club swinging Helen could not +obtain any information beyond the assurance that all +was well. With that she had to content herself.</p> + +<p>The old ladies at the Home were delighted to be +able to help and also delighted at the excitement of +taking part in the entertainment. They voted for +the trio who should represent them in the tableaux +and generously selected three who were the most +handicapped of all of them. One was lame and always +sat with her crutch beside her; one was blind,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +though her fast flying fingers did not betray it; and +the third lived in a wheel-chair. They demurred +strongly to their companions' choice, but the other +old ladies were insistent and the appointees could +not resist the fun. Mr. Emerson agreed to provide +transportation for them, wheel-chair and all, and +Doctor Hancock was to send over a wagonette from +Glen Point so that the rest of the inmates of the +Home might take advantage of the tickets that some +mysterious giver had sent to every one of them. +For the inner picture Dicky and two of his kindergarten +friends were to be posed, clad in rags.</p> + +<p>"It's no trouble to provide Dicky with a ragged +suit," said Mrs. Morton. "The difficulty is going +to be to make him look serious and poorly fed."</p> + +<p>"A little artistic shading under his eyes and on +his cheeks will make his plumpness disappear. I'll +'make up' the children," offered Mrs. Emerson.</p> + +<p>Most difficult of all were the silhouettes. This +was because the children who were to take part were +so tiny that they could not quite remember the sequence +of the story they were to act out. There +were moments when the Ethels were almost disposed +to give up the youngsters and try the shadows with +larger children.</p> + +<p>"The little ones make so much cunninger cats and +dogs than the bigger children I don't want to do it +unless we have to," said Ethel Brown, and they +found at last that perseverance won the day. Here, +too, the children's mothers helped with the costumes, +and turned out a creditable collection of animal coverings, +not one of them with a bit of fur.</p> + +<p>"They're another help to your cotton crusade," +Ethel Blue told Dorothy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p>Grey flannelette made a soft maltese pussy; the +same material in brown covered a dog; a white coat +splashed with brown spots out of the family coffee +pot was the covering of another Fido, while another +white garment stained with black and yellow ornamented +a tortoise-shell cat. The rabbits all wore +white.</p> + +<p>As with the butterfly dance so many of the performers +knew the minuet that it needed only two rehearsals. +The new boy worked in without any +trouble and was so graceful and dignified that the +U. S. C. boys found themselves emulating his excellent +manner.</p> + +<p>Helen herself took charge of "The Pied Piper" +and so few were the speaking parts and so short and +so natural the pantomime that she drilled her company +in three rehearsals, though she herself worked +longer in private over the manipulation of certain +stage "properties," and had one or two special sessions +with Dr. Edward Watkins who was to take +the principal part.</p> + +<p>Friday evening was chosen for the performance. +The Rosemont young people usually had their evening +festivities on Fridays because they could sit up +later than usual without being disturbed about school +work the next morning. The special Friday proved +to be clear with a brilliant moon and the old ladies +driving over from the Home felt themselves to be +out on a grand lark. Evidently the boys had done +their publicity work thoroughly, for not only did +they see a goodly number of Rosemont people approaching +the schoolhouse, but, just as they drove up +to the door, a special car from Glen Point stopped +to let off a crowd of friends of the Hancocks who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +had come over to see "what the children were doing +for the war orphans."</p> + +<p>The school hall held 300 people and no seats were +reserved except those for the old ladies. They +found themselves in front where they could see well +and where they were near enough to appreciate the +care with which the edge of the platform was +decorated. That had been Margaret Hancock's +work and she had remembered the success of the +Service Club in preparing the platform for the Old +First Night exercises at Chautauqua.</p> + +<p>Tom had insisted that the Club should go to the +extra expense of having tickets printed. James had +objected.</p> + +<p>"This old treasury of ours is almost an empty +box," he growled. "We can't afford to spend cold +cash on printing."</p> + +<p>"It will pay in the end, believe me," insisted Tom +slangily. "You know there are always a lot of +people who think they'll go to a show and then at +the last minute think they won't if something more +amusing turns up. If you sell tickets beforehand +you've got their contribution to the cause even if +they don't appear themselves."</p> + +<p>"Tom's right," agreed Margaret. "They won't +mind losing so small a sum as a quarter if they +don't go."</p> + +<p>"And they'd think it was too small an amount to +bother themselves about by hunting up the treasurer +and paying it in if they didn't have a ticket," said +Roger.</p> + +<p>"And there are some people who'd be sure to +come and swell the audience just because they had +spent a quarter on a ticket," said Ethel Brown.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What does the president think?" asked Ethel +Blue.</p> + +<p>Helen agreed with Tom and the tickets were +printed. After all they came to only a small sum +and Roger, peeking through a hole in the curtain, +saw with satisfaction that if there were going to be +any vacant seats at all they would not be many. +When one of the old ladies turned about just before +the curtain went up she saw a solid room behind her +and people standing against the wall.</p> + +<p>There was music before the curtain rose. This +enrichment of the program was a surprise to the +performers themselves. Young Doctor Edward +Watkins had become so interested in the United +Service Club when he met them at the French Line +Pier that he had insisted on helping with their work +for the orphans.</p> + +<p>"If Mademoiselle really sends you that Belgian +baby you may need a special physician for it," he +said. "So you'd better stand in with one whose +practice isn't big enough yet to take all his time."</p> + +<p>He said this to Helen when he appeared with +Tom and Della on the evening of the performance +and announced that not only did he know his part +in the "Piper" but he had brought his violin and +would be glad to be a part of the orchestra.</p> + +<p>"But we haven't an orchestra," objected Helen. +"I wish we had."</p> + +<p>"Who's going to play for the dances?"</p> + +<p>"Aunt Louise."</p> + +<p>"Why can't she and I do something at the beginning? +It will seem a little less cold than just having +the curtain go up without any preliminaries."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Smith proved to be delighted to go over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +with Doctor Watkins the music he had brought and +they selected one or two lively bits that would set +the mood of the audience for the evening. So Mrs. +Morton and the Emersons and the younger members +of the cast were greatly surprised to hear an +overture from a well-played violin accompanied by +the piano. While the applause was dying away the +curtain rose on Helen seated at a desk reading from +a blank exercise book filled with Ethel Blue's neat +writing.</p> + +<p>"This is the report of the Secretary of the United +Service Club," began Helen when the applause that +greeted her appearance had subsided. She was +looking very pretty, wearing a straight, plain pink +frock and having her hair bound with a narrow pink +fillet.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you don't know what the United Service +Club is," she went on, and then she told in the simplest +manner of the beginning of the Club at Chautauqua +the summer before.</p> + +<p>"What we're trying to do is to help other people +whether we want to or not," she declared earnestly.</p> + +<p>A soft laugh went over the audience at this contradictory +statement.</p> + +<p>"I mean," continued Helen, somewhat confused, +"that we mean to do things that will help people +even if we don't get any fun out of it ourselves. +We want to improve our characters, you see," she +added artlessly. "So far we haven't had much +chance to improve our characters because all the +things that have come our way to do have been +things that were great fun—like to-night.</p> + +<p>"To-night," she went on earnestly, "you have +come here to see a little entertainment that we've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +gotten up to make some money so that we could send +a bigger bundle to the Christmas Ship that is going +to sail for Europe early in November. We thought +we could make a good many presents for the war +orphans but we found that our allowances didn't +go as far as we thought they would, although we +have a very careful treasurer," she added with a +smiling glance at the wings of the stage where James +greeted her compliment with a wry face.</p> + +<p>"We made a rule that we would make all the +money we needed and not accept presents, so this +show is the result, and we hope you'll like it. Anyway, +we've had lots of fun getting it up."</p> + +<p>She bowed her thanks to the applause that greeted +her girlish explanation and stepped behind the scenes.</p> + +<p>Immediately a gay march sounded from the piano. +It was a medley of well-known national songs and +in time with its notes a group of children led by +Dorothy ran upon the stage. Dorothy stepped to +the front and sang a few lines of introduction to the +tune of "Yankee Doodle."</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Here we are from Fatherland,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">From Russia and from France,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">From Japan and from Ireland</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">We all together dance.</span><br /> +<br /> +"At home they are not dancing now;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">There's war and awful slaughter;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">We here in Rosemont make our bow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Each one Columbia's daughter."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>Then a flaxen-haired little girl stepped forward +and sang a German folk song and after it she and +two other children dressed in German peasant costume<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +danced a merry folk dance. Representatives +of the other countries which Dorothy's verses had +named sang in turn. Then each group sang its national +song, at the end uniting in "The Star Spangled +Banner," in which the standing audience joined.</p> + +<p>There was a great clapping when the curtain fell, +but the managers had decided that there should be +no encores, so the curtain merely rose once upon a +bowing, smiling group and then fell with a decision +that was understood to be final.</p> + +<p>"Whatever we do wrong, the thing we must do +right," Helen had insisted when she was drilling her +performers, "is to have promptness in putting on +our 'acts.'"</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Tom, "there's nothing an audience +hates more than to wait everlastingly between +'turns' while whispering and giggling goes on behind +the scenes."</p> + +<p>As a result of Helen's sternness the butterflies +were waiting when the little internationals went off, +and, as those of the children who were not to appear +again filed quietly down into the audience where +they could see the remainder of the performance, +waving wings of soft pink and blue and green and +yellow fluttered in from the sides. There was nothing +intricate about the steps of this pretty dance. +There were movements forward and back and to one +side and another, with an occasional turn, but the +slowly waving hands with their delicate burden of +color made the whole effect entirely charming.</p> + +<p>When Tom and Roger, jersey clad, stepped on to +the stage for the club-swinging act all the other +performers were clustered in the wings, for it had +roused their curiosity. Evidently Roger was to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +swing first for he stepped to the front while Tom +beckoned to the janitor of the hall who came forward +and attached electric light wires to a plug in +the edge of the platform. Tom made a connection +with wires that ran up under the back of Roger's +jersey and down his sleeves and through holes bored +into his clubs, and then he stepped forward to the +front.</p> + +<p>"While Roger Morton is swinging his clubs the +lights of the hall will be turned off," he explained. +"I mention it so that no one will be startled when +they go out."</p> + +<p>Out they went, and in a flash Roger's clubs, made +of red and white striped cotton stretched over wire +frames which covered electric light bulbs screwed to +a sawed-off pair of clubs, were illuminated from +within. The beauty of the movements as the clubs +flashed here and there in simple or elaborate curves +and whirls drew exclamations of enjoyment from +the audience.</p> + +<p>"That's one of the prettiest stunts I ever saw," +exclaimed Doctor Hancock, and Doctor Watkins +led the vigorous applause that begged Roger to go +on. True to his agreement with Helen, however, +Roger stepped aside as soon as he was freed from +his apparatus and the lights were turned on once +more in the hall, and prepared to help Tom.</p> + +<p>It was clear that Tom, too, was not going to do +ordinary club-swinging. He took up his position in +the centre of the stage and Roger brought forward +a box which he deposited beside him. The actors +behind the scenes craned their heads forward until +they were visible to the audience, so eager were they +to see what the box contained.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My friend, Tom Watkins," said Roger gravely, +"is something of a naturalist. In the course of his +travels and studies he has come across a curious animal +whose chief characteristic is what I may be permitted +to call its adhesive power. So closely does +it cling to anything to which it attaches itself that it +can be detached only with great difficulty. So +marked is this peculiarity of the <i>Canis Taurus</i>—"</p> + +<p>A peculiar grunt of amusement from certain high +school members of the audience interrupted Roger's +oration. "<i>Canis</i>, dog; <i>taurus</i>, bull," they whispered.</p> + +<p>"—of the <i>Canis Taurus</i>," he went on, "that Watkins +has been able to train two of his specimens to do +the very remarkable act that you are about to see."</p> + +<p>As he ended he threw back the top of the box and +there popped up over the edge the infinitely ugly +heads of Cupid's two pup's, Amor and Amorette. A +howl of laughter greeted their silly, solemn countenances. +Tom whistled sharply and they sprang from +their narrow quarters and ran to him. He stroked +them, and faced them toward the footlights so that +their eyes should not be dazzled by seeing them suddenly. +Then he began to play with them, pushing +them about and shoving them gently with the ravelled +ends of two short pieces of knotted rope. When he +had teased them for a minute he stood upright and +Amor and Amorette were hanging each from a rope! +It was a trick he had taught them as soon as their +teeth were strong enough.</p> + +<p>Slowly he swung them back and forth, and then in +semi-circles constantly increasing in sweep, until in +a flash they rose over his head and described regular +simple Indian club evolutions. Every move was +slow and steady with no jerks that would break the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +dogs' hold and Amor and Amorette held on with a +firmness that did credit to their inheritance of jaw +muscle and determination.</p> + +<p>"Good for the <i>Canis Taurus</i>," laughed Mr. +Wheeler, the high school teacher, from the back of +the hall as the swinging died rhythmically away.</p> + +<p>"Speak to the ladies and gentlemen," commanded +Tom as he dropped the ropes and their attachments +to the floor. Each dog was still holding firmly to +his bit of rope and manifested no desire to part from +it. At their master's order, however, they let go of +their handles and uttered two sharp barks. Then +they picked them up again and trotted off the stage.</p> + +<p>All this was so unusual that it aroused the most +fervent enthusiasm that had yet been shown. Feet +stamped and canes rapped but Tom would do no +more than walk on with a dog on each side of him +and bow as they barked.</p> + +<p>With the announcement of the knitting tableau +there was a flutter among the old ladies from the +Home. Here was an act in which they felt a personal +interest. It was almost embarrassing to be so +nearly related to a number on the program!</p> + +<p>The curtain rose very slowly to soft music thrilling +through the hall. It was a homely scene—just +such a room as any one of the old ladies may have +had when she still had a home of her own. There +was a table with a lamp upon it and around the table +were the three old ladies, one with her crutch and +one in her wheel chair, and one sitting in the darkness +that was daylight to her—the shining of a contented +heart. All of them were knitting.</p> + +<p>Slowly there grew into view behind them on the +wall the picture of the thoughts that were in their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +minds—the picture of three children, pale, thin, tear-stained, +trudging along a weary road. Each one +carried a bundle far too heavy for him and each +looked unsmilingly out of the frame, though Mrs. +Morton breathed a sigh of relief when the touching +scene faded and she knew that there was no longer +any danger of Dicky's spoiling the effect by a burst of +laughter or a genial call to some acquaintance in the +audience.</p> + +<p>Slowly the curtain fell and the old ladies were lost +to view. Then the old ladies in front breathed a +sigh of satisfaction. It had been simply perfect!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>"SISTER SUSIE'S SEWING SHIRTS FOR SOLDIERS"</div> + + +<div class='cap'>WITH the evening well under way Helen was +beginning to be relieved of the worry that she +had not been able to control, but as the time for the +silhouette approached the Ethels became distinctly +disturbed. Dicky always was an uncertain element. +Because he had behaved like an angel child in the +tableau with the old ladies was no assurance that as +a pussy cat in the silhouettes he would not raise an +uproar which would put to shame any backyard +feline of their acquaintance.</div> + +<p>Dicky's companions in the animal play were ready +behind the scenes and their funny costumes were causing +bursts of suppressed mirth as they danced about +excitedly. When Dicky finished his tableau he was +hurried into his maltese coat and by the time that his +Aunt Louise had played the "Owl and the Pussy Cat" +and Dorothy had sung it, the blue curtain had been +lowered, the light behind it turned on, and between +it and the net curtain in front the dogs and the cats +and the rabbits frisked happily. In fact the raising +of the outside curtain caught them tagging each other +about the stage in a manner that was vastly amusing +but had nothing to do with the play.</p> + +<p>For there was a little play. The Ethels had made +it up themselves and it had to do not only with a +fisher dog who lost his catch to a robber cat but with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +a clever rabbit who was chased by both dogs and +cats and who took refuge in the rushes on the bank +of the stream and was passed by because his pursuers +mistook the tips of his ears for rushes. Then +they made signs that, wherever he was, if he would +come out and join them they should all be friends. +He came out and they took paws and danced about +in a circle. Against the dull blue background it +looked as if the animals were playing in the moonlight, +jumping and walking on their hindlegs like the +creatures in the fairy books. The small children in +the audience were especially pleased with this number +and when at the end a boy appeared carrying his +schoolbooks and all the animals fell into line behind +him and walked off demurely to school it was so like +what happens at the end of the holidays that they +burst into renewed clapping.</p> + +<p>The minuet went with the utmost smoothness. +Doctor Watkins added his violin to the piano's playing +of the Mozart music from "Don Giovanni" and +the picturesquely dressed figures stepped and bowed +and courtesied with grace and precision. Helen +danced with Tom, Margaret with Roger, Ethel +Brown with James, and Ethel Blue with the new boy, +George Foster. The girls all wore ruffled skirts +with paniers elaborately bunched over them, and they +had their hair powdered. The boys wore knee +breeches, long-tailed coats, and white wigs. On the +wall hung an old portrait of a Morton ancestor. A +spinet stood at one side of the room which the stage +represented. The whole atmosphere was that of a +day long gone by.</p> + +<p>After this number was done Doctor Watkins appeared +before the curtain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am asked by the president of the United Service +Club," he said, "to tell you that there will be an interval +of ten minutes between the minuet and the next +offering of the program. During that time I am +going to sing you a song that the English soldiers are +singing. It isn't a serious song, for the soldiers are +hearing enough sad sounds without adding to them. +I may make some mistakes in singing it—you'll +understand why in a moment."</p> + +<p>At a nod from him, Mrs. Smith broke into the +opening notes of "Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts for +Soldiers," and by the time the doctor had finished the +second stanza the audience was humming the chorus. +"Come on," he cried. "I did make some mistakes. +See if you can do better," and he led the tune for +the four lines that announced,—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Sister Susie's sewing shirts for soldiers.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Such skill at sewing shirts our shy young sister Susie shows,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Some soldiers send epistles, say they'd sooner sleep in thistles</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Than the saucy, soft, short shirts for soldiers Sister Susie sews."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>Everybody laughed and laughed and tried to sing +and laughed again.</p> + +<p>When the chorus was over, Doctor Watkins +dashed into the Allies' song, "Tipperary," and followed +it by "Deutschland ueber Alles." Then he +taught the audience the words of "The Christmas +Ship" and they quickly caught the air and soon were +singing,—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Hurrah, hurrah for the Christmas Ship<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">As it starts across the sea</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">With its load of gifts and its greater load</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Of loving sympathy.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Let's wave our hats and clap our hands</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">As we send it on its trip;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">May many a heart and home be cheered</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">By the gifts in the Christmas Ship."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>Edward had a good voice and he sang with so +much spirit that every one enjoyed his unexpected +addition to the evening's pleasure.</p> + +<p>A bell behind the scenes announced that "The Pied +Piper of Hamelin" was ready and the curtain rose on +the room in the Town Hall of Hamelin in which the +Corporation held its meetings. Dorothy, whose +voice was clear and far-reaching, stood just below +the stage at one side and read the explanation of what +had been happening in the city.</p> + +<div class='poem'> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">Hamelin Town's in Brunswick,</span><br /> +By famous Hanover city;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">The river Weser, deep and wide,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">Washes its wall on the southern side;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">A pleasanter spot you never spied;</span><br /> +But, when begins my ditty,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">Almost five hundred years ago,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">To see the townsfolk suffer so</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 7em;">From vermin, was a pity,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">Rats!</span><br /> +They fought the dogs and killed the cats,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">And bit the babies in the cradles,</span><br /> +And ate the cheeses out of the vats,<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 6em;">And licked the soup from the cooks' own ladles,</span><br /> +Split open the kegs of salted sprats<br /> +Made nests inside men's Sunday hats,<br /> +And even spoiled the women's chats<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">By drowning their speaking</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">With shrieking and squeaking</span><br /> +In fifty different sharps and flats.<br /> +<br /> +At last the people in a body<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">To the Town Hall came flocking.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>At this point the reading stopped and the action +began. Roger, dressed as the Mayor in his mother's +red flannel kimono banded with white stripes to +which he had attached tiny black tails to give the +effect of ermine, stalked in first. He wore a look of +deep anxiety. Behind him came James and two of +Roger's high school friends who represented members +of the Corporation. They also were dressed +in red robes but they did not attempt to equal the +ermine elegance of the Mayor.</p> + +<p>After the Mayor and Corporation came a body +of the townspeople. They all appeared thoroughly +enraged and as the city fathers took their seats at +the council table in the centre of the room they +railed at them.</p> + +<div class='blockquot'> +<span class="smcap">First Citizen.</span> [<i>Tom, in rough brown jacket +and baggy knee breeches, with long brown stockings +and low shoes. He frowned savagely and growled +in disgust.</i>] "'Tis clear our Mayor's a noddy!" +</div><div class='poem2'> +<span class="smcap">Second Citizen.</span> [<i>George Foster, dressed like Tom.</i>]<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"And as for our Corporation—shocking,</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">To think we buy gowns lined with ermine</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For dolts that can't or won't determine</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">What's best to rid us of our vermin!"</span><br /> +</div><div class='blockquot'> +<span class="smcap">Third Citizen.</span> [<i>Another high school boy. He +was bent like a withered old man and spoke in a +squeaky voice.</i>]<br /></div><div class='poem2'> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"You hope because you're old and obese,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To find in the furry civic robe ease?"</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">First Citizen.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Rouse up, sirs! Give your brains a racking</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To find the remedy we're lacking,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or, sure as fate, we'll send you packing."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Mayor.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"For a guilder I'd my ermine gown sell,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I wish I were a mile hence."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">First Member of the Corporation.</span> [<i>James.</i>]<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"It's easy to bid one rack one's brain—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I'm sure my poor head aches again,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I've scratched it so and all in vain."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Second Member of the Corporation.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Oh, for a trap, a trap, a trap."</span><br /> +<br /></div><div class='blockquot'> +At this instant came a rap on the door. Helen +did it, and a cry came from <span class="smcap">The Mayor</span>.<br /></div><div class='poem2'> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Bless us, what's that?"</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">First Member.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Only a scraping of shoes on the mat?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Anything like the sound of a rat</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Makes my heart go pit-a-pat!"</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Mayor.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Come in!"</span><br /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>In answer to this permission there entered Edward +Watkins as the Pied Piper. He had dashed around +to the back and slipped into his coat and Mrs. Emerson +had painted his face while the first words of the +poem were being read. He was tall and thin with +light hair, yet a swarthy complexion. He wore a +queer long coat, half yellow and half red and around +his neck a scarf of red and yellow in stripes to which +was attached a tiny flute with which his fingers played +as if he were eager to pipe upon it. He smiled winningly +and the people crowded in the council chamber +whispered, wondering who he was and why his +attire was so curious.</p></div> + +<div class='poem2'> +<span class="smcap">First Citizen.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"It's as my great-grandsire</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Starting up at the Trump of Doom's tone,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Had walked this way from his painted tombstone."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="poem2"><span class="smcap">The Pied Piper</span> [<i>Edward Watkins</i>] advanced to +the council table.<br /> + + +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Please your honors, I'm able</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">By means of a secret charm to draw</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">All creatures living beneath the sun,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That creep or swim or fly or run,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">After me so as you never saw!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And I chiefly use my charm</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">On creatures that do people harm,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The mole and toad and newt and viper;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And people call me the Pied Piper.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yet, poor piper as I am,</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">In Tartary I freed the Cham,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Last June from his huge swarms of gnats;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I eased in Asia the Nizam</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of a monstrous brood of vampire bats:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And as for what your brain bewilders</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If I can rid your town of rats</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Will you give me a thousand guilders?"</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Mayor and Corporation Together.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"One? Fifty thousand!"</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Then <span class="smcap">The Piper</span> walked slowly across the stage, +erect and smiling, and he piped a strange, simple +tune on his flute. As he disappeared at one side +the stage was darkened and at the back appeared a +picture such as had been used in the tableau of the +old ladies knitting. <span class="smcap">The Mayor</span> and the <span class="smcap">Corporation</span> +and the townsfolk turned their back to the +audience and gazed out through this window. +Across it passed first <span class="smcap">The Piper</span> still piping, and +after him a horde of rats. They were pasteboard +rats and Helen was drawing them across the scene +with strings, but they made a very good illusion of +the dancing rats that the poet described;</p></div> + +<div class='poem2'> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brown rats, black rats, gray rats, tawny rats.</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>As the crowd in the room watched they uttered +exclamations—"See!" "Look at that one!" +"How they follow him!" "He's leading them to the +river!" "In they go!" "They're drowning!" +"Every one of them!" "Let's ring the bells!"</p> + +<p>With faces of delight the townsfolk left the council +chamber and from a distance came the muffled ringing +of bells of joy.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<div class='poem2'> +<span class="smcap">The Mayor</span> addressed them as they passed out;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Go and get long poles,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Poke out the nests and block up the holes!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Consult with carpenters and builders,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And leave in our town not even a trace</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of the rats."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">The Piper</span> entered suddenly. "First, if you +please, my thousand guilders!"</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">First Member of the Corporation.</span> "A thousand +guilders!"</p> + +<p>The other members of the Corporation shook +their heads in solemn refusal.</p></div> + +<div class='poem2'> +<span class="smcap">The Mayor.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Our business was done at the river's brink;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">We saw with our eyes the vermin sink,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And what's dead can't come to life, I think."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Second Member of the Corporation.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"So, friend, we're not the folks to shrink</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">From the duty of giving you something for drink,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And a matter of money to put in your poke—"</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Mayor.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"But as for the guilders, what we spoke</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of them, as you very well know, was in joke."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">First Member.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Besides, our losses have made us thrifty.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A thousand guilders! Come, take fifty!"</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Piper</span> [<i>looking serious, cried</i>];<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">"No trifling! I can't wait, beside!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I've promised to visit by dinner time</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bagdat, and accept the prime</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of the Head-Cook's pottage, all he's rich in,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For having left in the Caliph's kitchen,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of a nest of scorpions no survivor;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With him I proved no bargain-driver,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With you, don't think I'll bate a stiver!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And folks who put me in a passion</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">May find me pipe after another fashion."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Mayor.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"How? D'ye think I brook</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Being worse treated than a Cook?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Insulted by a lazy ribald</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With idle pipe and vesture piebald?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">You threaten us, fellow? Do your worst,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Blow your pipe there till you burst!"</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Once more the Piper laid the pipe against his lips +and blew the strange, simple tune, and from both +sides of the stage there came rushing in children of +all sizes, boys and girls, flaxen-haired and dark-haired, +blue-eyed and brown-eyed. They crowded +around him and as he slowly passed off the stage +they followed him, dancing and waving their hands +and with never a look behind them.</p> + +<p>Once more the window at the back opened and +across it went the Piper, still fluting, though now he +could not be heard by the audience; and behind him +still danced the children, blind to the gestures of +the Mayor and Corporation who stretched out their +arms, beseeching them to return. Terrified, the city +fathers made known by gestures of despair that they +feared the Piper was leading the children to the river +where they would meet the fate of the rats.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<p>Of a sudden they seemed relieved and the picture +showed the throng passing out of sight into a cavern +on the mountain. Then limped upon the stage a +lame boy who had not been able to dance all the +way with the children and so was shut out when the +mountain opened and swallowed them up. The +Corporation crowded around him and heard him +say:</p></div> + +<div class='poem2'> +<span class="smcap">Lame Boy.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"It's dull in our town since my playmates left!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I can't forget that I'm bereft</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of all the pleasant sights they see,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Which the Piper also promised me.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For he led us, he said, to a joyous land,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Joining the town and just at hand,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Where waters gushed and fruit trees grew</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And flowers put forth a fairer hue,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And everything was strange and new;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The sparrows were brighter than peacocks here,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And their dogs outran our fallow deer,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And honey bees had lost their stings,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And horses were born with eagles' wings;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And just as I became assured</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">My lame foot would be speedily cured,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The music stopped and I stood still,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And found myself outside the hill,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Left alone against my will,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To go now limping as before,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And never hear of that country more!"</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The <span class="smcap">Mayor</span> and <span class="smcap">Corporation</span> were grouped +around the <span class="smcap">Lame Boy</span> listening and the citizens at +the back leaned forward so as to hear every word. +Almost in tears the boy limped from the stage followed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +slowly by Mayor and Corporation and citizens +while Dorothy's clear voice took up the tale.</p></div> + +<div class='poem'> +"Alas, alas for Hamelin!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">There came into many a burgher's pate</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">A text which says that heaven's gate</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Opes to the rich at as easy rate</span><br /> +As the needle's eye takes a camel in!<br /> +The Mayor sent East, West, North, and South,<br /> +To offer the Piper by word or mouth<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Wherever it was men's lot to find him,</span><br /> +Silver and gold to his heart's content,<br /> +If he'd only return the way he went,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And bring the children behind him.</span><br /> +But when they saw 'twas a lost endeavor,<br /> +And Piper and dancers were gone forever,<br /> +They made a decree that lawyers never<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Should think their records dated duly</span><br /> +If, after the day of the month and year,<br /> +These words did not as well appear,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">'And so long after what happened here</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">On the Twenty-second of July,</span><br /> +Thirteen hundred and seventy-six:'<br /> +And the better in memory to fix<br /> +The place of the children's last retreat,<br /> +They called it the Pied Piper's Street—<br /> +Where any one playing on pipe or tabor<br /> +Was sure for the future to lose his labor.<br /> +Nor suffered they hostelry or tavern<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">To shock with mirth a street so solemn:</span><br /> +But opposite the place of the cavern<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">They wrote the story on a column,</span><br /> +And on the great church window painted<br /> +The same, to make the world acquainted<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>How their children were stolen away,<br /> +And there it stands to this very day.<br /> +And I must not omit to say<br /> +That in Transylvania there's a tribe<br /> +Of alien people who ascribe<br /> +The outlandish ways and dress<br /> +On which their neighbors lay such stress,<br /> +To their fathers and mothers having risen<br /> +Out of some subterraneous prison<br /> +Into which they were trepanned<br /> +Long time ago in a mighty band<br /> +Out of Hamelin town in Brunswick land.<br /> +But how or why, they don't understand."<br /> +</div> + +<p>At the conclusion of the play, after hearty applause, +the audience broke again into the song of the +Christmas Ship:</p> + +<div class='poem'> +Hurrah, hurrah for the Christmas Ship<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">As it starts across the sea</span><br /> +With its load of gifts and its greater load<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of loving sympathy.</span><br /> +Let's wave our hats and clap our hands<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">As we send it on its trip;</span><br /> +May many a heart and home be cheered<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">By the gifts in the Christmas Ship.</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>"That's as good a show as if it had been put on by +grown-ups," declared a New Yorker who had come +out with Doctor Watkins. "It's hard to believe that +those kids have done it all themselves."</p> + +<p>He spoke to a stranger beside him as they filed +out to the music of a merry march played by Mrs. +Smith.</p> + +<p>"My boy was among them," replied the Rosemont +man proudly, "but I don't mind saying I think they're +winners!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>That seemed to be every one's opinion. As for +the old ladies—the evening was such an event to them +that they felt just a trifle uncertain that they had not +been transported by some magic means to far away +Hamelin town.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I missed a word," said the blind +old lady as the horses toiled slowly up the hill to the +Home.</p> + +<p>"We'll tell you every scene so you'll know how the +words fit in," promised the old lady in the wheel +chair.</p> + +<p>"It will be something to talk about when we're +knitting," chuckled the lame old lady brightly, and +they all hummed gently,</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Hurrah, hurrah for the Christmas Ship<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">As it starts across the sea."</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>JAMES CUTS CORNERS</div> + + +<div class='cap'>"VERY creditable, very creditable indeed," repeated +Doctor Hancock as he and James +stepped into their car to return to Glen Point after +packing the old ladies into the wagonette.</div> + +<p>Mrs. Hancock and Margaret had gone home by +trolley because the doctor had to make a professional +call on the way. The moon lighted the road brilliantly +and the machine flew along smoothly over the +even surface.</p> + +<p>"This is about as near flying as a fellow can get +and still be only two feet from the earth," said +James.</p> + +<p>James was quiet and almost too serious for a boy +of his age but he had one passion that sometimes got +the better of the prudence which he inherited from +the Scottish ancestor about whom Roger was always +joking him.</p> + +<p>That passion was for speed. When he was a +very small child he had made it his habit to descend +the stairs by way of the rail at the infinite risk of his +neck. Once he had run his head through the slats +of a chicken coop into which an over-swift hopmobile +had thrown him. On roller skates his accidents had +been beyond counting because his calculations of +distance often seemed not to work out harmoniously +with his velocity. It was because Doctor Hancock +thought that if the boy had the responsibility for his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +father's machine and for other people's bones he +would learn to exercise proper care, that he had consented +to let him become his chauffeur. The plan +had seemed to work well, but once in a while the +desire to fly got the better of James's discretion.</p> + +<p>"Here's where the car gets ahead of the aeroplane," +said the doctor. "An aviator would find it +dangerous work to skim along only two feet above +ground."</p> + +<p>"I did want to go up with that airman at Chautauqua +last summer!" cried James.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Cost too much. Twenty-five plunks."</p> + +<p>The doctor whistled.</p> + +<p>"Flying high always costs," he said meditatively.</p> + +<p>"The Ethels went up. They haven't done talking +about it yet. They named the man's machine, +so he gave them a ride."</p> + +<p>"Good work! Look out for these corners, now. +When you've studied physics a bit longer you'll learn +why it is that a speeding body can't change its direction +at an angle of ninety degrees and maintain its +equilibrium unless it decreases its speed."</p> + +<p>James thought this over for a while.</p> + +<p>"In other words, slow up going round corners," +he translated, "and later I'll learn why."</p> + +<p>"Words to that effect," replied the doctor mildly.</p> + +<p>"Here's a good straight bit," exclaimed James. +"You don't care if I let her out, do you? There's +nothing in sight."</p> + +<p>"Watch that cross road."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Isn't this moon great!" murmured +James under his breath, excited by the brilliant light +and the cool air and the swift motion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Always keep your eyes open for these heavy +shadows that the moon casts," directed Doctor Hancock. +"Sometimes they're deceptive."</p> + +<p>"I'll keep in the middle of the road and then the +bugaboo in the shadow can see us even if I can't see +him," laughed James, the moonlight in his eyes and +the rush of wind in his ears.</p> + +<p>"There's something moving there! LOOK +OUT!" shouted the doctor as a cow strolled slowly +out from behind a tree and chewed a meditative cud +right across their path. James made a swift, abrupt +curve, and did not touch her.</p> + +<p>"That was a close one," he whispered, his hands +shaking on the wheel.</p> + +<p>"It hasn't worried her any," reported his father, +looking back. "She hasn't budged and she's still +chewing. You did that very well, son. It was a +difficult situation."</p> + +<p>James flushed warmly. His father was not a man +to give praise often so that every word of commendation +from him was doubly valued by his children.</p> + +<p>"Thank you. I shouldn't like to have it happen +every day," James confessed.</p> + +<p>They sped on in silence after the cow episode, the +boy glad of the chance to steady his nerves in the +quiet, the doctor thinking of the case he was to visit +in a few minutes.</p> + +<p>The patient's house stood on the edge of Glen +Point, and James sat in the car resting and watching +the machines of the townspeople passing by with gay +parties out to enjoy the moonlight. Some, like themselves, +had been to Rosemont, and some of his +schoolmates waved to him as they passed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It was a great show, old man," more than one +boy shouted to him.</p> + +<p>It had been a good show. He knew it and he was +glad that he belonged to a club that really amounted +to something. They did things well and they didn't +do them well just to show off or to get praise—they +had a good purpose behind. He was still thinking +about it when his father came out. Doctor Hancock +did not talk about his cases, but James had +learned that silence meant that there was need for +serious thought and that the doctor was in no mood +to enter into conversation. When he came out +laughing, however, and jumped into the car with a +care-free jest, as happened now, James knew that all +was going well.</p> + +<p>"Now, home, boy," he directed. "Stop at the +drug store an instant."</p> + +<p>He gave some directions to a clerk who hurried +out to them and then they drove on. The moonlight +sifted through the trees and flickered on the +road. A cool breeze stimulated James's skin to a +shiver. On they went, faster and faster. He'd +had a mighty good time all the evening, James +thought, and Father was a crackerjack.</p> + +<p>"LOOK OUT, boy," his father's voice rang +through his thoughts. The car struck the curb with +a shock that loosened his grasp on the wheel and +tossed him into the air. As he flew up he tried to +say, "I cut the corner too close that time," but he +never knew whether he said it or not, for his voice +seemed to fail him and his father could not recall +hearing such a remark.</p> + +<p>It was quite an hour later when he came to himself. +To his amazement he found himself in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +own room. The light was shaded, his mother with +tears still filling her eyes was beside him, and his +father and a young man whom he recognized as the +new doctor who had just come to Glen Point, were +putting away instruments. He tried to move in the +bed and found that his leg was extraordinarily heavy.</p> + +<p>"Did I bust my leg?" he inquired briefly.</p> + +<p>"You did," returned his father with equal brevity.</p> + +<p>"Weren't you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"A scratch on the forehead, that's all. Doctor +Hanson is going to patch me up now."</p> + +<p>The two physicians left the room and James did +not know until long after that the scratch required +several stitches to mend.</p> + +<p>His illness was a severe trial to James. His Scottish +blood taught him that his punishment fitted his +crime—that he was hurt as a direct result of doing +what he knew was likely to bring that result. He +said to himself that he was going to take his punishment +like a man. But oh, the days were long! +The Glen Point boys came in when they thought of +it—there was some one almost every day—but the +Indian Summer was unusually prolonged and wonderfully +beautiful this year, and it was more than +any one could ask in reason that the boys should give +up outdoors to stay with him. Roger and Helen +and the Ethels and Dorothy came over from Rosemont +when they could, but their daily work had to be +done and they had only a few minutes to stay after +the long trolley trip.</p> + +<p>"We must think up something for James to do," +Mrs. Hancock told Margaret. "He's tired of reading. +He can use his hands. Hasn't your Service +Club something that he can work on here?" Margaret<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +thought it had, and the result of the conversation +was that Mrs. Hancock went to Rosemont on an +afternoon car. The Ethels took her to Mrs. Smith's +and Dorothy showed her the accumulation for the +Christmas Ship that already was making a good +showing in the attic devoted to the work.</p> + +<p>"These bundles in the packing cases are all finished +and ready for their final wrappings," Dorothy explained. +"There are dresses and wrappers and +sacques and sweaters and all sorts of warm clothing +like that."</p> + +<p>"And you girls did almost all of it!" exclaimed +Mrs. Hancock.</p> + +<p>"Helen and Margaret made most of those," said +Ethel Brown. "In this box are the knitted articles +that are coming in every day now. Most of them +are from the Old Ladies' Home so far, but every +once in a while somebody else stops and leaves something. +We girls don't knit much; it seems to go so +slowly."</p> + +<p>"I brought one pair of wristers with me and I have +another pair almost done," said Mrs. Hancock. +"What are these?"</p> + +<p>"Those are the boxes the boys have been pasting," +said Ethel Blue, picking up one of them. "They +began with the large plain ones first—the real packing +boxes."</p> + +<p>"Here are some that are large enough for a +dress."</p> + +<p>"We've gathered all the old boxes we could find in +our house or in our friends' houses—Margaret must +have hunted in your attic for she brought over some +a fortnight ago. None of the things we are making +will require a box as large as the tailors send out,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +so we took those boxes and the broken ones that we +found and made them over."</p> + +<p>"That must have taken a great deal of time."</p> + +<p>"The boys paste pretty fast now. Some of them +they made to lock together. They didn't need anything +but cutting. They got that idea from a tailor's +box that Roger found."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hancock examined the flat pasteboard cut +so that the corners would interlock.</p> + +<p>"The old boxes they cut down. That saves buying +new pasteboard. And they've covered some of +the battered looking old ones with fresh paper so +they look as good as new—"</p> + +<p>"And a great deal prettier," said Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"We get wall paper at ten cents a roll for the +covering," said Ethel Blue. "They have an old-fashioned +air that's attractive, Aunt Marion says," +and she held up a box covered with wild roses.</p> + +<p>"They're lovely! And they must have cost you +almost nothing."</p> + +<p>"We did these when our treasury was very low. +Now we've got almost fifty dollars that we cleared +from our entertainment after we paid all our bills +and repaid Mother what we owed her," explained +Ethel Brown, "so now the boys can get some fresh +cardboard and some chintz and cretonne and make +some real beauties."</p> + +<p>"Is this what James has been doing on Saturdays?"</p> + +<p>"James is the best paster of all, he's so careful. +He always makes his corners as neat as pins. Sometimes +the other boys are careless."</p> + +<p>"Then I don't see why James couldn't do some of +this at home now. He has altogether too much time +on his hands."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Can't he study yet?"</p> + +<p>"He learns his lessons but his father doesn't want +him to go to school for at least a fortnight and perhaps +not then, so he has long hours with nothing to +do except read and it isn't good for him to do that +all the time."</p> + +<p>"We've got a lot of ideas for pasting that we've +been waiting for time and cash to put into operation," +said Helen who had come in in time to hear Mrs. +Hancock's complaint. "If James could have an old +table that you didn't mind his getting sticky, next to +his wheel chair he could do a quantity of things that +we want very much, and it would help, oh, tremendously."</p> + +<p>"Tell me about them," and Mrs. Hancock sat +down at once to receive her instructions. Helen +brought a sheet of paper and made a list of materials +to be bought and drew some of the articles over +which she thought that James might be puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Some of these ideas we got from magazines," +she said, "and some people told us and some we invented +ourselves. They aren't any of them very +large."</p> + +<p>"James will like that. It is more fun to turn off a +number of articles. When he has an array standing +on his table you must all go over to Glen Point +and see them."</p> + +<p>"We thought that perhaps you'd let us have a +meeting of the U. S. C. at your house one Saturday +afternoon, and we could take over some of our work +to show James and we could see his, and we could +work while we were there," suggested Helen diffidently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're as good as gold to think of it! It will +be the greatest pleasure to James. Shall we say this +next Saturday?"</p> + +<p>The girls agreed that that would be a good time, +and Mrs. Hancock went home laden with materials +for James's pasting operations and bearing the pleasant +news of the coming of the Club to meet with him.</p> + +<p>Long before the hour at which they were expected +James rolled himself to the window to wait for their +coming. Now that the leaves were off the trees he +could just see the car stop at the end of the street +and he watched eagerly for the flock of young people +to run toward the house. It seemed an interminable +wait, yet the car on which they had promised to come +was not a minute late when at last it halted and its +eager passengers stepped off. James could see the +Ethels leading the procession, waving their hands +toward the window at which they knew he must be, +although they could not see him until they came much +nearer.</p> + +<p>Dorothy followed them not far behind, and Roger +and Helen brought up the rear. Every one of them +was laden with parcels of the strangest shapes.</p> + +<p>"I know the conductor thought we were Santa +Claus's own children," laughed Ethel Blue as they +all shook hands with the invalid and inquired after +his leg.</p> + +<p>"We've come up to have a pasting bee," said +Helen, "and we all have ideas for you to carry out."</p> + +<p>"So have we," cried a new voice at the door, and +Della and Tom came in, also laden with parcels and +also bubbling with pleasure at seeing James so well +again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We shall need quantities of smallish presents that +you can manage here at your table just splendidly," +explained Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"And dozens of wrappings of various kinds that +you can make, too."</p> + +<p>"Great and glorious," beamed James. "'Lay on, +Macduff.' I'll absorb every piece of information +you give me, like a wet sponge."</p> + +<p>"Let's do things in shipshape fashion," directed +Roger. "What do you say to boxes first? We'll +lay out here our patterns, and materials."</p> + +<p>"Let's make one apiece of everything," cried +Dorothy, "and leave them all for James to copy."</p> + +<p>"And we can open the other bundles afterwards," +said Della, "then those materials won't get mixed up +with the box materials."</p> + +<p>"Save the papers and strings," advised Ethel +Brown. "We're going to need a fearful amount of +both when wrapping time comes."</p> + +<p>"The secretary has had a letter from Mademoiselle," +Helen informed the invalid.</p> + +<p>"Where from?" James was aflame with interest.</p> + +<p>"She's in Belgium; you know she said she was +going to try to be sent there. She doesn't mention +the name of the town, but she's near enough to the +front for wounded to be brought in from the field."</p> + +<p>"And she can hear the artillery booming all the +time," contributed Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>"And one day she went out right on to the firing +line to give first aid."</p> + +<p>"Think of that! Our little teacher!"</p> + +<p>"She wasn't given those black eyes for nothing! +She's game right through!" laughed Helen.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>PASTING</div> + + +<div class='cap'>"SOME of these ideas will be more appropriate +for Christmas gifts here in America than for +our war orphans, it seems to me," said Helen, "but +we may as well make a lot of everything because we'll +be doing some Christmas work as a club and nothing +will be lost."</div> + +<p>"Tell me what they are and I can do them last," +said James.</p> + +<p>"And we can put them on a shelf in the club attic +as models," suggested Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"Here's an example," said Helen, taking up a +pasteboard cylinder. "This is a mailing tube—you +know those mailing tubes that you can buy all made, +of different sizes. We've brought down a lot of +them to-day. Take this fat one, for instance, and +cut it off about three inches down. Then cover it +with chintz or cretonne or flowered paper or holly +paper."</p> + +<p>"Line it with the paper, too, I should say," commented +James, picking up the pieces that Helen cut +off.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed. Cover two round pieces and fit one +of them into the bottom and fasten the other on for +a cover with a ribbon hinge, and there you have a +box for string, or rubber bands for somebody's desk."</p> + +<p>"O.K. for rubber bands," agreed Roger, "but for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +string it would be better to make a hole in the cover +and let the cord run up through."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 365px;"> +<img src="images/p140.jpg" width="365" height="500" alt="String Box made from a Mailing Tube" title="" /> +<span class="caption">String Box made from a Mailing Tube</span> +</div> + +<p>"How would you keep the cover from flopping up +and down when you pulled the string?"</p> + +<p>"Here's one very simple way. You know those +fasteners that stationers sell to keep papers together? +They have a brass head and two legs and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +when you've pushed the legs through the papers you +press them apart and they can't pull out. One of +those will do very well as a knob to go on the box +part, and a loop of gold or silver cord or of ribbon +can be pasted or tied on to the cover."</p> + +<p>"If you didn't care whether it was ever used again +you could put in the ball of twine with its end sticking +through and then paste a band of paper around +the joining of the top and the box. It would be +pretty as long as the twine lasted."</p> + +<p>"It would be a simple matter for the person who +became its proud possessor to paste on another strip +of paper when he had put in his new ball of twine."</p> + +<p>"Any way you fix it," went on Helen, "there you +have the general method of making round boxes +from these mailing tubes."</p> + +<p>"And you can use round boxes for a dozen purposes," +said Margaret; "for candy and all the +goodies we're going to send the orphans."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure they'll keep?" asked careful James.</p> + +<p>"Ethel Brown asked the domestic science teacher +at school about that, and she's going to give her +receipts for cookies and candies that will last at least +six weeks. That will be long enough for the Christmas +Ship to go over and to make the rounds of the +ports where it is to distribute presents."</p> + +<p>"Of course we'll make the eatables at the last +minute," said Dorothy, "and we'll pack them so as +to keep the air out as much as possible."</p> + +<p>"Give that flour paste a good boiling," Helen +called after Margaret as she left the room to prepare +it.</p> + +<p>"And don't forget the oil of cloves to keep it +sweet," added Ethel Blue.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>"These round boxes will be especially good for the +cookies," said Ethel Brown, "though the string box +would have to go to Father. A string box isn't +especially suitable for an orphan."</p> + +<p>"If you split these mailing tubes lengthwise and +line them inside you get some pretty shapes," went on +Helen.</p> + +<p>"Rather shallow," commented Della.</p> + +<p>"If you split them just in halves they are, but you +don't have to do that. Split them a little above the +middle and then the cover will be shallower than the +box part."</p> + +<p>"Right-o," nodded Roger.</p> + +<p>"Then you line them and arrange the fastening +and hinges just as you described for the string box?" +asked James.</p> + +<p>"Exactly the same. Another way of fastening +them is by making little chintz straps and putting +glove snappers on them."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you couldn't put ribbons into both +cover and box part and tie them together."</p> + +<p>"You could."</p> + +<p>"You can use these split open ones for a manicure +set or a brush and comb box for travelling."</p> + +<p>"Or a handkerchief box."</p> + +<p>"If you get tubes of different sizes and used military +hair brushes you could make a box for a man, +with a cover that slipped over for a long way," said +Ethel Blue. "It would be just like the leather ones."</p> + +<p>"You make one of those for Uncle Richard for +Christmas," advised Ethel Brown. "I rather think +the orphans aren't keen on military brushes."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm just talking out any ideas that come +along. As Helen suggested, an idea is always useful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +some time or other even if it won't do for to-day's +orphans."</p> + +<p>"I saw a dandy box the other day that we might +have put into Mademoiselle's kit," said Roger. +"It's a good thing to remember for some other +traveller."</p> + +<p>"Describe," commanded James.</p> + +<p>"I don't think these round boxes would be as convenient +for it as a square or oblong one. It had a +ball of string and a tube of paste and a pair of small +scissors, and tags of different sizes and rubber bands +and labels with gum on the back."</p> + +<p>"That's great for a desk top," said Della. "I believe +I'll make one for Father for his birthday," and +she nodded toward Tom who nodded back approvingly.</p> + +<p>"A big blotter case is another desk gift. The +back is of very stiff cardboard and the corners are of +chintz or leather. The blotters are slipped under +the corners and are kept flat by them," continued +Roger, who had noticed them because of their leather +corners.</p> + +<p>"A lot of small blotters tied together are easy to +put up," contributed Dorothy. "You can have +twelve, if you want to, and paste a calendar for a +month on to each one."</p> + +<p>"I think we ought to make those plain boxes the +boys have made for the dresses a little prettier. +Can't we ornament them in some way?" asked Ethel +Blue.</p> + +<p>"The made-over ones are all covered with fancy +paper you remember," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of the plain ones that are 'neat +but not gaudy.' How can we make them 'gaudy'?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Christmas seals are about as easy a decoration +as you can get," Tom suggested.</p> + +<p>"Pretty, too. Those small seals, you mean, that +you put on letters. A Santa Claus or a Christmas +tree or a poinsettia would look pretty on the smaller +sized boxes."</p> + +<p>"It would take a lot of them to show much on the +larger ones, and that would make them rather expensive. +Can't we think up something cheaper?" +asked the treasurer.</p> + +<p>"I'm daffy over wall paper," cried Dorothy. "I +went with Mother to pick out some for one of our +rooms the other day and the man showed us such +beauties—they were like paintings."</p> + +<p>"And cost like paintings, too," growled James feelingly.</p> + +<p>"Some of them did," admitted Dorothy. "But I +asked him if he didn't have remnants sometimes. +He laughed and said they didn't call them remnants +but he said they did have torn pieces and for ten cents +he gave me a regular armful. Just look at these +beauties."</p> + +<p>She held up for the others' inspection some pieces +of paper with lovely flower designs upon them.</p> + +<p>"But those bits aren't big enough to cover a big +box and the patterns are too large to show except on +a big box," objected Margaret who had come back +with the paste.</p> + +<p>"Here's where they're just the thing for decoration +of the plain boxes. Cut out this perfectly darling +wistaria—so. Could you find anything more +graceful than that? You'd have to be an artist to +do anything so good. Paste that sweeping, drooping +vine with its lovely cluster of blossoms on to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +top of one of the largest boxes and that's plenty of +decoration."</p> + +<p>Dorothy waved her vine in one hand and her +scissors in the other and the rest became infected +with her enthusiasm, for the scraps of paper that +she had brought were exquisite in themselves and +admirable for the purpose she suggested.</p> + +<p>"Good for Dorothy!" hurrahed James. "Anybody +else got any ideas on this decoration need?"</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/p145.jpg" width="400" height="136" alt=""Paste that vine on to the top of one of the largest boxes"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Paste that vine on to the top of one of the largest boxes"</span> +</div> + +<p>"I have," came meekly from Ethel Brown. "It +isn't very novel but it will work, and it will save +money and it's easy."</p> + +<p>"Trot her forth," commanded Roger.</p> + +<p>"It's silhouettes."</p> + +<p>Silence greeted this suggestion.</p> + +<p>"They're not awfully easy to do," said Helen +doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Not when you make them out of black paper, +and you have to draw on the pattern or trace it on +and you can hardly see the lines and you get all fussed +up over it," acknowledged Ethel. "I've tried that +way and I almost came to the conclusion that it wasn't +worth the trouble I put into it unless you happened +to be a person who can cut them right out without +drawing them first."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I saw a man do that at a bazar once," said +Della. "It was wonderful. He illustrated Cinderella. +He cut out a coach and tiny horses and the +old fairy without drawing anything at all beforehand."</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing here," Tom pushed away an +imaginary offer of scissors and black paper.</p> + +<p>"Here's where my grand idea comes in," insisted +Ethel Brown. "My idea is to cut out of the magazines +any figures that please you."</p> + +<p>"Figures with action would be fun," suggested +Roger.</p> + +<p>"They'd be prettiest, too. You'll find them in the +advertising pages as well as in the stories. Paste +them on to your box or whatever you want to decorate, +and then go over them with black oil paint."</p> + +<p>"Good for old Ethel Brown!" applauded her +brother. "I didn't think you had it in you, child! +Have you ever tried it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I have. I knew I'd probably meet with +objections from an unimaginative person like you, +so I decorated this cover and brought it along as a +sample."</p> + +<p>It proved to be an idea as dashing as it was simple. +Ethel Brown had selected a girl rolling a hoop. A +dog, cut from another page, was bounding beside +her. Some delicate foliage at one side hinted at a +landscape.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't it hard not to let the black run over the +edges of the picture?" asked Della.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have to keep your wits about you all +the time. But then you have to do that any way if +you want what you're making to amount to anything, +so that doesn't count."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's a capital addition, that suggestion of +ground that you made with a whisk or two of the +brush."</p> + +<p>"Just a few lines seem to give the child something +to stand on."</p> + +<p>"These plans for decoration look especially good +to me," said practical James, "because there's nothing +to stick up on them. They'll pack easily and that's +what we must have for our purpose."</p> + +<p>"That's true," agreed Helen. "For doing up +presents that don't have to travel it's pretty to cut +petals of red poinsettia and twist them with wire and +make a flower that you can tuck in under the string +that you tie the parcel with—"</p> + +<p>"Or a bit of holly. Holly is easily made out of +green crêpe paper or tissue paper," cried Della.</p> + +<p>"But as James says, none of the boxes for the +orphans can have stick-ups or they'll look like mashed +potatoes when they reach the other side."</p> + +<p>"We'll stow away the poinsettia idea for home +presents then," said Margaret. "What we want +from James, however, is a lot of boxes of any and +every size that he can squeeze out."</p> + +<p>"No scraps thrown away, old man," decreed Tom, +"for even a cube of an inch each way will hold a few +sweeties."</p> + +<p>"Orders received and committed to memory," +acknowledged the invalid, saluting.</p> + +<p>"By the way, I learned an awfully interesting thing +to-day," said Helen.</p> + +<p>"Name it," commanded Roger, busy with knife +and pastepot making one of the twine and tag boxes +that he had described.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you while we each make one of the things<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +we've been talking about so that we can leave them +for patterns with James."</p> + +<p>Dorothy had already set about applying her wistaria +vine to the cover of a box whose body Tom +was putting together. Ethel Blue was making a +string box from a mailing tube, covering it with a +scrap of chintz with a very small design; Ethel Brown +was hunting in an old magazine for figures suitable +for making silhouettes; James was writing in a notebook +the various hints that had been bestowed upon +him so generously that he feared his memory would +not hold them all without help; Helen and Della were +measuring and cutting some cotton cloth that was to +be used in the gifts that Della was eager to tell about.</p> + +<p>"By the time Helen has told her tale I'll be ready +to explain my gift idea," she said.</p> + +<p>"Go on, then, Helen," urged James, "I'm ready +to 'start something' myself, in a minute."</p> + +<p>"You and Margaret have heard us talk about our +German teacher?"</p> + +<p>"We've seen her," said Margaret. "She was at +our entertainment."</p> + +<p>"So she was. I remember, she and her mother +sat right behind the old ladies from the Home."</p> + +<p>"And they knitted for the soldiers whenever the +lights were up."</p> + +<p>"I guess Mrs. Hindenburg knitted when the lights +were off, too," said Helen. "I've seen her knitting +with her eyes shut."</p> + +<p>"She sent in some more wristers for the orphans +the other day," said Dorothy. "She has made seven +pairs so far, and three scarfs and two little sweaters."</p> + +<p>"Some knitter," announced Roger.</p> + +<p>"Fräulein knits all the time, too, but she says she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +can't keep up with her mother. This is what I +wanted to tell you—you remember when Roger first +went there she told him that Fräulein's betrothed was +in the German army. Well, yesterday she told us +who he is."</p> + +<p>"Is it all right for you to tell us?" warned Roger.</p> + +<p>"It's no secret. She said that the engagement was +to have been announced as soon as he got back from +Germany and that many people knew it already."</p> + +<p>"Is he an American German?"</p> + +<p>"It's our own Mr. Schuler."</p> + +<p>Roger gave a whistle of surprise; the Ethels cried +out in wonder, and the Hancocks and the Watkinses +who did not know many Rosemont people, waited for +the explanation.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Schuler was the singing teacher in the high +school year before last and last year," explained +Helen. "Last spring he had to go back to Germany +in May so he was there when the army was mobilized +and went right to the front."</p> + +<p>"It does come near home when you actually know +a soldier fighting in the German army and a nurse in +a hospital on the Allies' side," said Roger thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"It makes it a lot more exciting to know who Fräulein's +betrothed is."</p> + +<p>"Does she speak of him?" asked Margaret.</p> + +<p>"She talked about him very freely yesterday after +her mother mentioned his name."</p> + +<p>"I suppose she didn't want the high school kids +gossiping about him," observed Roger.</p> + +<p>"As we are," interposed James.</p> + +<p>"We aren't gossiping," defended Helen. "She +looks on the Club members as her special friends—she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +said so. She knows we wouldn't go round at +school making a nine days' wonder of it. She knows +we're fond of her."</p> + +<p>"We are," agreed Roger. "She's a corker. I +wonder we didn't think of its being Mr. Schuler."</p> + +<p>"Her mother always mentioned him as 'my daughter's +betrothed'; and Fräulein yesterday kept saying +'my betrothed.' We might have gone on in ignorance +for a long time if Mrs. Hindenburg hadn't let +it slip out yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope he'll come through with all his legs +and arms uninjured," said Roger. "I hope it for +Fräulein's sake, and for his, too. He's a bully singing +teacher."</p> + +<p>"Has she heard from him since the war began?"</p> + +<p>"Several times, but not for a month now, and she's +about crazy with anxiety. He was in Belgium when +he got the last letter through and of course that +means that he has been in the very thick of it all."</p> + +<p>"Poor Fräulein!" sighed Ethel Blue, and the +others nodded seriously over their work.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>JAMES'S AFTERNOON PARTY</div> + + +<div class='cap'>"NOW are you ready to take in all the difficulties +of my art object?" asked Della.</div> + +<p>"Trot her out," implored James.</p> + +<p>"It's picture books."</p> + +<p>A distinct sniff went over the assembly, only kept +in check by a desire to be polite.</p> + +<p>"There can't be anything awfully new about picture +books," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Especially cloth picture books. You and Helen +have been cutting out cambric for cloth picture +books," accused Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"Della has been making some variations, though." +Helen came to Della's rescue. "She's made some +with the leaves all one color, pink or blue; and here's +another one with a variety—two pages light pink, +and the next two pages pale green."</p> + +<p>Ethel Brown cast a more interested eye toward +the picture book display.</p> + +<p>"How do you sew them together?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"You can do it on the machine and let it go at +that. In fact, that's the best plan even if you go on +to add some decoration of feather-stitching or cat-stitching. +The machine stitching makes it firmer."</p> + +<p>"Is there an interlining?"</p> + +<p>"I tried them with and without an interlining. I +don't think an interlining is necessary. The two +thicknesses of cambric are all you need."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dicky has a cloth book with just one thickness +for each page," said Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"But that's made of very heavy cotton," explained +Helen.</p> + +<p>"You cut your cambric like a sheet of note-paper," +said Della.</p> + +<p>"Haven't my lessons on scientific management +soaked in better than that?" demanded Roger. "If +you want to save time you cut just as many sheets of +note-paper, so to speak, as your scissors will go +through."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," retorted Della with dignity. "I +took it for granted that the members of the U. S. C. +had learned that. Put two sheets of this cambric +note-paper together flat and stitch them. That +makes four pages to paste on, you see. You can +make your book any size you want to and have just +as many pages as you need to tell your story on."</p> + +<p>"Story? What story?" asked Ethel Blue, interestedly.</p> + +<p>"Aha! I thought you'd wake up!" laughed +Della. "Here, my children, is where my book differs +from most of the cloth picture books that you +ever saw. My books aren't careless collections of +pictures, with no relation to each other. Here's a +cat book, for instance. Not just every-day cats, +though I've put in lots of cats and some kodaks of +my own cat. There are pictures of the big cats—lions +and tigers—and I've put in some scenery so +that the child who gets this book will have an idea +of what sort of country the beasts really live in."</p> + +<p>"It's a natural history book," declared James.</p> + +<p>"Partly. But it winds up with 'The True Story +of Thomas's Nine Lives.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The kid it is going to won't know English," objected +Roger.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I haven't written it out. It's just told in +pictures with 1, 2, 3, through 9 at the head of each +page. They'll understand."</p> + +<p>"Do you see what an opportunity the different colored +cambric gives?" said Helen. "Sometimes +Della uses colored pictures or she paints them, and +then she makes the background harmonize with the +coloring of the figures."</p> + +<p>"Why couldn't you make a whole book of my silhouettes?" +demanded Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"Bully!" commended James.</p> + +<p>"You can work out all sorts of topics in these +books, you see," Della went on. "There are all the +fairy stories to illustrate and 'Red Riding Hood,' +and the 'Bears,' and when you get tired of making +those you can have one about 'The Wonders of +America,' and put in Niagara."</p> + +<p>"And the Rocky Mountains," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"And the Woolworth Building," suggested Ethel +Brown.</p> + +<p>"And a cotton field with the negroes picking cotton," +added Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>"There wouldn't be any trouble getting material +for that one," said Helen.</p> + +<p>"Nor for one on any American city. I've got +one started that is going to show New York from +the statue of Liberty to the Jumel Mansion and +the Van Cortland House, with a lot of other historical +buildings and skyscrapers and museums in between."</p> + +<p>"We'll be promoting emigration from the old +country after the war is over if we show the youngsters<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +all the attractions that Uncle Sam has to offer."</p> + +<p>"There'll be a lot of them come over anyway so +they might as well learn what they'll see when they +arrive."</p> + +<p>"I see heaps of opportunities in that idea," said +Roger. "There's a chance to teach the kiddies +something by these books if we're careful to be +truthful in the pictures we put in."</p> + +<p>"Not to make monkeys swinging down the forests +of Broadway, eh?" laughed Tom.</p> + +<p>"If I'm to do a million or two of these you'll all +have to help me get the pictures together," begged +James.</p> + +<p>"I've brought some with me you can have for a +starter," said Della, "and I'm collecting others +and keeping them in separate envelopes—animals in +one and buildings in another and so on. It will make +it easier for you."</p> + +<p>"<i>Muchas gracias, Señorita</i>," bowed James, who +was just beginning Spanish and liked to air a "Thank +you" occasionally.</p> + +<p>"I know what I'm going to make for some member +of my family," declared Roger.</p> + +<p>"Name it, it will be such a surprise when it comes."</p> + +<p>"Probably it will go to Grandmother Emerson +so I don't mind telling you that I think I'll write a +history of our summer at Chautauqua and illustrate +it."</p> + +<p>"That's the best notion that ever came from +Roger," approved James. "I think I'll make one +and give it to Father. The Recognition Day procession +and all that, you know."</p> + +<p>"Envelopes make me think that we may have +some small gifts—cards or handkerchiefs—that we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +can send in envelopes," said Ethel Blue, "and we +ought to decorate them just as much as our boxes."</p> + +<p>"They won't be hard. Any of the ideas we've +suggested for the boxes will do—flowers and silhouettes, +and seals. You're a smarty with watercolors +so you can paint some original figures or a +tiny landscape, but the rest of us will have to keep +to the pastepot," laughed Margaret.</p> + +<p>"For home gifts we can write rhymes to put into +the envelopes, but I suppose it wouldn't do for these +European kids," said Tom. "We don't know +where they're going, you see, and it would never do +if an English child got a German rhyme or the other +way round."</p> + +<p>"O-oh, ne-<i>ver</i>," gasped Ethel Blue whose quick +imagination sympathized with the feelings of a child +to whom such a thing happened. "We'll have to +make them understand through their eyes."</p> + +<p>"Fortunately Santa Claus with his pack speaks a +language they can all understand," nodded Roger.</p> + +<p>"Here comes his humble servant right now," exclaimed +Mrs. Hancock at the door.</p> + +<p>Tom ran to hold it open for her, and Roger relieved +her of the waiter which she was carrying.</p> + +<p>"James has to have an egg-nog at this time," she +explained, "so I thought all of you might like to be +'picked up' after your hard afternoon's work."</p> + +<p>These sentiments were greeted with applause +though Tom insisted that the best part of the afternoon +was yet to come as he had not yet had a chance +to tell about his invention.</p> + +<p>"One that you'll appreciate tremendously, Mrs. +Hancock," he said gravely. "All housekeepers will. +You must get Margaret to make you one."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't tell her what it is and I can give it to her +for Christmas," cried Margaret.</p> + +<p>James's egg-nog and his wafers were placed on +the table beside him. The others sat at small tables, +of which there were several around the room, and +drank their egg-nog and ate their cakes with great +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Tell me how this egg-nog is made," begged +Helen. "It is delicious and I'm sure Mother would +like to know."</p> + +<p>"Mother always has it made the same way," replied +Margaret. "I'm sure it is concocted out of six +eggs and half a pound of sugar, and three pints of +whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg."</p> + +<p>"It's so foamy—that isn't the whipped cream +alone."</p> + +<p>"First you beat the yolks of the eggs and the +sugar together until it is all frothy. Then you beat +the whites of the eggs by themselves until they are +stiff and you stir that in gently. Then you put the +spice on top of that and lastly you heap the whipped +cream on top of the whole thing."</p> + +<p>"It's perfectly delicious," exclaimed Dorothy, +"and so is the fruit cake."</p> + +<p>"Mother prides herself on her fruit cake. It is +good, isn't it? She's going to let me make some to +send to the orphans."</p> + +<p>"Won't that be great. Baked in ducky little pans +like these."</p> + +<p>"They'll keep perfectly, of course."</p> + +<p>"Would your mother let us have the receipt now +so we could be practicing it to make some too?" +asked Dorothy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm sure she'd be delighted," and Margaret ran +off to get her mother's manuscript cook book from +which Dorothy copied the following receipt:</p> + + +<div class='center'>"Fruit Cake</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients"> +<tr><td align='left'>"½ cup butter</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">¾ cup brown sugar</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">¾ cup raisins, chopped</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">¾ cup currants</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ cup citron, cut in small pieces</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ cup molasses</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 eggs</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ cup milk</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 cups flour</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ teaspoon soda</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 teaspoon cinnamon</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ teaspoon allspice</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">¼ teaspoon nutmeg</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">¼ teaspoon cloves</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ teaspoon lemon extract or vanilla</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"Sift the flour, soda and spices together. Beat +the eggs, add the milk to them. Cream the butter, +add the sugar gradually, add the molasses, the milk +and egg, then the flour gradually. Mix the fruit, +sift a little flour over it, rub it in the flour, add to it +the mixture. Add the extract. Stir and beat well. +Fill greased pans two-thirds full. Bake in a moderately +hot oven one and a quarter hours if in a loaf. +In small sizes bake slowly twenty to thirty minutes."</p> + +<p>"I'm ready to hear what Tom's got to offer," said +James, leaning back luxuriously in his chair after the +remains of the feast had been taken away.</p> + +<p>"Mine is a paper-cutting scheme," responded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +Tom. "Perhaps it won't come easy to everybody, +but on a small scale I'm something of a paper cutter +myself."</p> + +<p>"Dull edged?" queried Roger.</p> + +<p>"Hm," acknowledged Tom. "I can't illustrate +'Cinderella' like the man Della saw, but I can cut +simple figures and I want to propose one arrangement +of them to this august body."</p> + +<p>"Fire ahead," came Roger's permission.</p> + +<p>"It's just a variation of the +strings of paper dolls that I used +to make for Della when she was +a year or two younger than she is +now."</p> + +<p>Della received this taunt with a +puckered face.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 153px;"> +<img src="images/p158.jpg" width="153" height="300" alt=""Fold strips of paper and then cut one figure of a little girl"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Fold strips of paper and then cut one figure of a little girl"</span> +</div> + +<p>"You fold strips of white paper—or +blue or yellow or any old +color—in halves and then in halves +again and then again, until it is +about three inches wide. Then +you cut one figure of a little girl, +letting the tips of the hands and +skirts remain uncut. When you +unfold the strip you have a string +of cutey little girls joining hands. See?"</p> + +<p>They all laughed for all of them had cut just such +figures when they were children.</p> + +<p>"Now my application of this simple device," went +on Tom in the solemn tones of a professor, "is to +make them serve as lamp shades."</p> + +<p>"For the orphans?" laughed Roger.</p> + +<p>"For the orphans I'm going to cut about a bushel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +of strips of all colors. Children always like to play +with them just so."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why those of us who can't draw +couldn't cut a child or a dog or some figure from a +magazine and lay it on the folded paper and trace +around the edges and then cut it," suggested Dorothy.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/p159.jpg" width="450" height="198" alt="A String of Paper Dolls" title="" /> +<span class="caption">A String of Paper Dolls</span> +</div> + +<p>"You could perfectly well. All you have to remember +is to leave a folded edge at the side, top and +bottom. You can make a row of dogs standing on +their hind paws and holding hands—forepaws—and +the ground they are standing on will fasten them together +at the bottom."</p> + +<p>"How does the lamp shade idea work out?" asked +Helen with Grandfather Emerson's Christmas gift +in mind.</p> + +<p>"You cut a string of figures that are fairly straight +up and down, like Greek maidens or some conventional +vases or a dance of clowns. Then you must +be sure that your strip is long enough to go around +your shade. Then you line it with asbestos paper—the +kind that comes in a sort of book for the +kitchen."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I see. You paste the strip right on to the asbestos +paper and cut out the figures," guessed James.</p> + +<p>"Exactly," replied Tom. "After which you paste +the ends of the strip together and there you have +your shade ready to slip on to the glass."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 401px;"> +<img src="images/p160.png" width="401" height="450" alt="Photograph Frame—front" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Photograph Frame—front</span> +</div> + +<p>"What keeps it from falling down and off?"</p> + +<p>"The shape of the shade usually holds it up. If +it isn't the right shape, though, you can run a cord +through your figures' hands and tighten them up as +much as you need to."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think that's a rather jolly stunt of Tom's," +commended Roger patronizingly. Tom gave him a +kick under the table and James growled a request +not to hit his game leg.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 392px;"> +<img src="images/p161.jpg" width="392" height="450" alt="Photograph Frame—back" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Photograph Frame—back</span> +</div> + +<p>"If you boys are beginning to quarrel it's time we +adjourned," decided the president. "Has anybody +any more ideas to get off her alleged mind this afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"I thought of picture frames," offered James.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"While my hand is in with pasting I believe I'll +make some frames—a solid pasteboard back and the +front with an oval or an oblong or a square cut out +of it. You paste the front on to the back at the +edges except at the bottom. You leave that open to +put the picture in."</p> + +<p>"You can cover that with chintz—cotton, cotton, +cotton," chanted Dorothy, who seldom missed a +chance to promote the cotton crusade.</p> + +<p>"How do you hang it up?" asked Margaret.</p> + +<p>"Stick on a little brass ring with a bit of tape. +Or you can make it stand by putting a stiff bit of +cardboard behind it with a tape hinge."</p> + +<p>"That would be a good home present," said Ethel +Brown.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly good for family photographs. You +can make them hold two or three. But you can fix +them up for the European kids and put in any sort +of picture—a dog or a cat or George Washington +or some really beautiful picture."</p> + +<p>"I believe in giving them pictures of America or +American objects or places or people," said Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"Dorothy is the champion patriot of the United +Service Club," laughed Roger. "Come on, infants; +we must let James rest or Mrs. Hancock won't invite +us to come again. I wish you could get over to +Rosemont for the movies next week," he added.</p> + +<p>"What movies?"</p> + +<p>"The churches have clubbed together and hired +the school hall and they're going to get the latest +moving pictures from the war zone that they can +find. It is the first time Rosemont has ever had the +real thing."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>PREVENTION</div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE Mortons were gathered about the fire in +the half hour of the day which they especially +enjoyed. Mrs. Morton made a point of being at +home herself for this time, and she liked to have all +the young people meet her in the dusk and tell her +of the day's work and play. It was a time when +every one was glad to rest for a few minutes after +dressing for dinner.</div> + +<p>"I'm sure to get my hair mussed up if I do anything +but talk to Mother after I brush it for dinner," +Roger was in the habit of explaining, "so it suits me +just to stare at the fire."</p> + +<p>He was sitting now on the floor beside her with +his head leaning against the arm of her chair. +Dicky was occupying the Morris chair with her, and +the three girls were in comfortable positions, the +Ethels on the sofa and Helen knitting a scarf as she +sat on a footstool before the blaze.</p> + +<p>"You're not trying your eyes knitting in this imperfect +light?" asked her mother.</p> + +<p>"This is plain sailing, Mother. I can rush along +on this straight piece almost as fast as Mrs. Hindenburg, +and I don't have to look on at all unless a +horrid fear seizes me that I've skipped a stitch."</p> + +<p>"Which I hope you haven't done."</p> + +<p>"Never really but there have been several false +alarms."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How is Fräulein?"</p> + +<p>"All right, I guess."</p> + +<p>"Did you see her to-day?"</p> + +<p>"We had German compo to-day. I didn't do +much with it."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"It didn't seem to go off well. I don't know why. +Perhaps I didn't try as hard as usual."</p> + +<p>"Did it disturb Fräulein?"</p> + +<p>"Did what disturb Fräulein?"</p> + +<p>"That you didn't do your lesson well."</p> + +<p>"Disturb Fräulein? I don't know. Why should +it disturb her? I should think I was the one to be +disturbed."</p> + +<p>"Were you?"</p> + +<p>"Was I disturbed? Well, no, Mother, to tell the +truth I didn't care much. That old German is so +hard and the words all break up so foolishly—somehow +it didn't seem very important to me this morning. +And Fanny Shrewsbury said something awfully +funny about it under her breath and we got +laughing and—no, I wasn't especially disturbed."</p> + +<p>"Although you had a poor lesson and didn't try +to make up for it by paying strict attention in the +class!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Mother, I, er—"</p> + +<p>Helen stopped knitting.</p> + +<p>"You think I'm taking too seriously a poor lesson +that wasn't very bad, after all? Possibly I am, but +I've been noticing that all of you are more careless +lately than I want my girls and boys to be."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Morton stroked Roger's hair and looked +around at the handsome young faces illuminated by +the firelight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You mean us, too?" cried the Ethels, sitting up +straight upon the sofa.</p> + +<p>"You, too."</p> + +<p>"We haven't meant to be careless, Mother," said +Roger soberly. His mother's good opinion was +something he was proud of keeping and she was so +fair in her judgments that he felt that he must meet +any accusations like the present in the honest spirit +in which they were made.</p> + +<p>"Do you want to know what I think is the trouble +with all of you?"</p> + +<p>Every one of them cried out for information, even +Dicky, whose "Yeth" rang out above the others.</p> + +<p>"If you ask for my candid opinion," responded +Mrs. Morton, "I think you are giving so much time +and attention to the work of the U. S. C. that you +aren't paying proper attention to the small matters +of every day life that we must all meet."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but, Mother, you approve of the U. S. C."</p> + +<p>"Certainly I approve of it. I think it is fine in +every way; but I don't believe in your becoming so +absorbed in it that you forget your daily duties. +Aunt Louise had to telephone to Roger to go over +and start her furnace for her yesterday when the +sharp snap came, and the Ethels have been rushing +off in the morning without doing the small things to +help Mary that are a part of their day's work."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother, they're such little things! She can +do them easily once in a while."</p> + +<p>"Any one of your morning tasks is a small matter, +but when none of them are done they mount up to a +good deal for Mary. If there were some real necessity +for making an extra bed Mary would do it +without complaining, but when, as happened yesterday<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +morning, neither of you Ethels made your bed, +and Roger left towels thrown all over his floor, and +not one of Helen's bureau drawers was shut tight, +and Dicky upset a box of beads and went off to kindergarten +without picking them up—don't you see +that what meant but a few minutes' work for each +one of you meant an hour's work for one person?"</p> + +<p>"I'll bet Mary didn't mind," growled Roger.</p> + +<p>"Mary is too loyal to say anything, but if your +present careless habits should continue we should +have to have an extra maid to wait on you, and you +know very well that that is impossible."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Mother," said Roger penitently. +"I'm sorry about the towels and about Aunt Louise +and I'm sorry I growled. You're right, of course."</p> + +<p>"I rather guess we've been led astray by being so +successful with our team work in the club," said +Helen thoughtfully. "We've found out that we can +do all sorts of things well if we pull together and +we've been forgetting to apply co-operation at +home."</p> + +<p>"Exactly," agreed Mrs. Morton. "And you've +been so absorbed in the needs of people several thousand +miles away that you overlook the needs of people +beside you. What you've been doing to Mary is +unkind; what Helen did to Fräulein this morning +was unkind."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother! I wouldn't be unkind to Fräulein +for the world."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you would if you thought about +it. She certainly is in such sore trouble that she +needs all the consideration that her scholars can give +her, yet you must have annoyed her greatly this +morning."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm afraid Fräulein's used to our not knowing +our lessons very well," observed Roger.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to hear that, but if you know you +aren't doing as well as you ought to with your lessons +that is the best reason in the world for you to +pay the strictest attention while you are in class. +Yet Helen says that she and Fanny Shrewsbury were +laughing. I'm afraid Fräulein isn't feeling especially +content with her work this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Mother, you make me feel like a hound dog," +cried Helen. "And I've been talking as if I were so +sorry for Fräulein!"</p> + +<p>"You are sorry for her as the heroine of a romance, +because her betrothed is in the army and she +doesn't know where he is or whether he is alive. +It sounds like a story in a book. But when you +think what that would mean if it were you that had +to endure the suffering it wouldn't seem romantic. +Suppose Father were fighting in Mexico and we +hadn't heard from him for a month—do you think +you could throw off your anxiety for a minute? +Don't you think you'd have to be careful every instant +in school to control yourself? Don't you think +it would be pretty hard if some one in school constantly +did things that irritated you—didn't know +her lessons and then laughed and giggled all through +the recitation hour?"</p> + +<p>Helen's and Roger's heads were bent.</p> + +<p>"Imagine," Mrs. Morton went on, "how you +would feel every day when you came home, wondering +all the way whether a letter had come; wondering +whether, if one <i>had</i> come, it would be from +Father or from some one else saying that Father +was—wounded."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Mother, I can't—" Helen was almost crying.</p> + +<p>"You can't bear to think of it; yet—"</p> + +<p>"Yet Fräulein was just so anxious and—"</p> + +<p>"And we made things worse for her!"</p> + +<p>"I know you didn't think—"</p> + +<p>"We ought to think. I've excused myself all my +life by saying 'I didn't think.' I ought to think."</p> + +<p>"'I didn't think' <i>explains</i>, but it doesn't <i>excuse</i>."</p> + +<p>"Nothing excuses meanness."</p> + +<p>"That's true."</p> + +<p>"And it's almost as mean not to see when people +are in trouble as it is to see it and not to care."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you're teaching us to be observant, Aunt +Marion," said Ethel Blue quietly. "I used to think +it was sort of <i>distinguished</i> to be absent-minded and +not to pay attention to people, but now I think it's just +<i>stupidity</i>."</p> + +<p>"Mother," said Roger, sitting up straight, "I've +been a beast. Poor Fräulein is worrying herself +to pieces every minute of the day and I never +thought anything about it. And I let Aunt Louise +freeze yesterday morning and Dorothy had to go +to school before the house was warmed up and she +had a cold to-day because she got chilled. I see +your point, and I'm a reformed pirate from this +minute!"</p> + +<p>Roger rose and squared his shoulders and walked +about the room.</p> + +<p>"When you think it out it's little things that are +hard to manage all the time," he went on thoughtfully. +"Here are these little things that we've been +pestering Mary about, and when we kids squabble +it's almost always about some trifle."</p> + +<p>"A pin prick is often more trying than a severe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +wound," agreed his mother. "You brace yourself +to bear a real hurt, but it doesn't seem worth while +for a trifle and so you whine about it before you +think. If Father and Uncle Richard really were in +action all of us would do our best to be brave about +it and to bear our trouble uncomplainingly—"</p> + +<p>"The way Fräulein does," murmured Helen.</p> + +<p>"That's the way when you have a sickness," said +Ethel Brown. "When I had the measles you and +Mary said I didn't make much fuss, but every +time I catch cold I'm afraid all of you hear about +it."</p> + +<p>"We do," agreed Roger cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"I should say, then," remarked Mrs. Morton as +Mary appeared at the door to announce dinner, +"that this club should bear in mind that it is to +serve not only those at a distance but those near +home, and not only to serve people in deepest +trouble but to serve by preventing suffering."</p> + +<p>"I get you, Mother dear," said Roger, taking +his father's seat.</p> + +<p>"Prevention is a great modern principle that we +don't think enough about," said Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean—fire prevention," exclaimed +Ethel Blue. "Tom Watkins was telling +us the other day about the Fire Prevention parade +they had in New York. There were a lot of engines +and hose wagons and ladder wagons and they +were all covered with cards telling how much wiser +it was to prevent fire than to let it start and then +try to put it out."</p> + +<p>"Della saw the parade," said Ethel Brown. +"She told me there were signs that said 'It's cheaper +to put a sprinkler in your factory than to rebuild the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +factory'; and 'One cigarette in a factory may cost +thousands of dollars in repairs.'"</p> + +<p>"The doctors have been working to prevent disease," +said Roger. "James has often told me what +his father is doing to teach people how to avoid +being sick."</p> + +<p>"All these clean-up campaigns are really for the +prevention of illness as much as the making of +cleanliness," said Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>"Everything of that sort educates people, and we +can apply the same methods to our own lives," +advised Mrs. Morton. "Why can't we have a +household campaign to prevent giving Mary unnecessary +work and to avoid irritating each other?"</p> + +<p>"All that can be worked in as part of the duties +of the Service Club," said Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>"Certainly it can. What's the matter, Ethel +Brown?"</p> + +<p>Ethel Brown was on the point of tears.</p> + +<p>"One of the girls at school gave me an order for +cookies the other day," she said, "and I didn't do +them because we went over to the Hancocks' that +afternoon."</p> + +<p>"You got your own punishment there," remarked +Roger. "If you didn't fill the order you didn't +get any pay."</p> + +<p>"That wasn't all. She was going to take them +to a cousin of hers who was just getting over the +mumps. She wanted to surprise her. She was awfully +mad because I didn't make them. She said +she had depended on them and she didn't have anything +to take to her cousin."</p> + +<p>"There you see it," exclaimed Mrs. Morton. +"It didn't seem much to Ethel Brown not to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +two or three dozen cookies, but in the first place she +broke her promise, and in the next place she caused +real unhappiness to a girl who was depending on +them to give pleasure to her sick cousin."</p> + +<p>"You've given us a shake-up we won't forget +soon, Mother," remarked Roger. "There's one +duty I haven't done this week that you haven't mentioned, +but I'm pretty sure you know it so I might +as well bring it into the light myself and say I'm +sorry."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" laughed his mother.</p> + +<p>"I haven't been over to see Grandfather and +Grandmother Emerson for ten days."</p> + +<p>"They'll be sorry."</p> + +<p>"I was relying on one of the girls going."</p> + +<p>"We haven't been," confessed the Ethels.</p> + +<p>"Nor I," admitted Helen.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Morton looked serious.</p> + +<p>"We love to go there," said Ethel Brown, "but +we've been so busy."</p> + +<p>"Too busy to be kind to the people near at hand, +eh?"</p> + +<p>The young people looked ruefully at one another.</p> + +<p>"Anyway, watch me be attentive to Fräulein," +promised Helen.</p> + +<p>She was. She and Roger made a point of giving +her as little trouble as possible; and of paying her +unobtrusive attentions. Roger carried home for +her a huge bundle of exercises; the Ethels left some +chestnuts at her door when they came back from a +hunt on the hillside, and even Dicky wove her a mat +at kindergarten of red and white and black paper—the +German colors.</p> + +<p>The Mortons were all attention to James, too.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +Every day they remembered to call him up on the +telephone and ask him how his box-making was coming +on. He had a telephone extension on the table +at his elbow and these daily talks cheered him +greatly. The others were leaving the making of +most of the pasted articles to him, and they were +going on with the manufacture of baskets and +leather and brass and copper articles and of odds +and ends of various kinds.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I'll be able to get up to Dorothy's next +Saturday," James phoned to Roger one day, "if +Mrs. Smith wouldn't mind the Club meeting downstairs. +I suppose the Pater wouldn't let me try to +climb to the attic yet."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Smith was delighted to make the change for +James's benefit, but before the day came he called +up Roger one afternoon in great excitement.</p> + +<p>"When did you say those church movies were?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow evening."</p> + +<p>"Father says he'll take me over if he doesn't have +a hurry call at the last minute."</p> + +<p>Roger gave a whoop that resounded along the +wire.</p> + +<p>"You'll find the whole Club drawn up at the door +of the schoolhouse to meet you," he cried. "The +Watkinses are coming out from New York. Will +Margaret come with you?"</p> + +<p>"She and Mother will go over in the trolley."</p> + +<p>As Roger had promised, the Club was drawn up +in double ranks before the door when Doctor Hancock +stopped his machine close to the step. Roger +and Tom ran down to make a chair on which to +carry James inside, and Helen and Dorothy were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +ready with the wheel-chair belonging to the old lady +at the Home who had been glad to lend it for the +evening to the boy whose acquaintance she had made +at the Club entertainment.</p> + +<p>James was rather embarrassed at being so conspicuous, +but all his Rosemont acquaintances came +to speak to him and he was quite the hero of the occasion.</p> + +<p>The moving pictures were an innovation in Rosemont. +There had been various picture shows in +empty stores in the town and they had not all been +of a character approved by the parents of the school +children who went to them in great numbers. The +rooms were dark and there was danger of fire and +the pictures themselves were not always suitable for +young people to see or agreeable for their elders. +The result of a conference among some of the +townspeople who had the interests of the place at +heart was this entertainment which was the first of +a series to be given in the school hall on Friday +evenings all through the winter. The films were +chosen by a sub-committee and it was hoped that they +would be so liked that the poor places down town +would find it unprofitable to continue.</p> + +<p>The program was pleasantly varied. The story +of a country boy who went to New York to make his +fortune and who found out that, as in the Oriental +story, his fortune lay buried in his own dooryard—in +this case in the printing office of his own town—was +the opener.</p> + +<p>That was followed by a remarkable film showing +the habits of swallows and by another whereon some +of the flowers of Burbank's garden waved softly in +the California breeze.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>A dramatization of Daudet's famous story called +"The Last Class" brought tears to the eyes of the +onlookers whose thoughts were much across the +Atlantic.</p> + +<p>It was a simple, touching tale, and it served appropriately +as the forerunner of the war pictures that +had just been sent to America by photographers in +Germany and France and Belgium.</p> + +<p>The first showed troops leaving Berlin, flags flying, +bands playing, while the crowds along the street +waved a cheerful parting, though once in a while a +woman bent her head behind her neighbor's shoulder +to hide her tears.</p> + +<p>There were scenes in Belgium—houses shattered +by the bombs of airmen, huge holes dug by exploding +shells; wounded soldiers making their way toward +the hospitals, those with bandaged heads and +arms helping those whose staggering feet could +hardly carry them.</p> + +<p>It was a serious crowd that followed every movement +that passed on the screen before their eyes. +The silence was deep.</p> + +<p>Then came a hospital scene. Rows upon rows +of beds ran from the front of the picture almost out +of sight. Down the space between them came the +doctors, instruments in hand, and behind them the +nurses, the red crosses gleaming on their arm bands.</p> + +<p>A stir went through the onlookers.</p> + +<p>"It looks like her."</p> + +<p>"I believe it is."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think so? The one on the right?"</p> + +<p>"It is—it's Mademoiselle Millerand!" cried +Roger clearly.</p> + +<p>The operator, hearing the noise in front of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +booth, and all unconscious that he was showing a +friend to these townspeople where the pretty young +French teacher had lived for two years, almost +stopped turning his machine. So slowly it went that +there was no doubt among any who had known her. +She followed the physician to the bed nearest the +front. There they stopped and the doctor turned +to Mademoiselle and asked some question. She +was ready with bandages. An orderly slipped his +arm under the soldier's pillow and raised his head. +His eyes were closed and his face was deathly white. +The doctor shook his head. Evidently he would +not attempt an operation upon so ill a man. He +signed to the attendant to lay the man down and as +he did so the people in Rosemont, far, far away +from the Belgian hospital, heard a piercing shriek.</p> + +<p>"<i>Mein Verlobt!</i> My betrothed!" screamed +Fräulein Hindenburg.</p> + +<p>"That's Schuler."</p> + +<p>"Don't you recognize Schuler?"</p> + +<p>"No wonder poor Fräulein screamed!"</p> + +<p>Kind hands were helping Fräulein and her mother +from the hall. Doctor Hancock went out with them +to give a restorative to the young woman and to +take them home in his car.</p> + +<p>"Didn't he die at that very moment, Herr Doctor?" +whispered Fräulein, and the doctor was +obliged to confess that it seemed so.</p> + +<p>"But we can't be sure," he insisted.</p> + +<p>Fräulein's agitation put an end to the entertainment +for that evening. Indeed, the film was almost +exhausted when the bitter sight came to her. The +people filed out seriously.</p> + +<p>"If that poor girl has been in doubt about her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +betrothed, now she knows," one said to another.</p> + +<p>"Do you think he really died?" James asked his +father as they were driving home.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid he did, son. But there is just a chance +that he didn't because the film changed just there +to another scene so you couldn't tell."</p> + +<p>"That might have been because they didn't want +to show a death scene."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it was."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>FOR SANTA CLAUS'S PACK</div> + + +<div class='cap'>JAMES telephoned Dorothy that he was going to +be at her house on the afternoon of the Club +meeting if it was going to be downstairs and Dorothy +replied that her mother was very glad to let +them have the dining room to work in. All the +members had arrived when Doctor Hancock stopped +his car at the door and Margaret got out and rang +the bell for Roger's and Tom's help in getting James +into the house. Everybody hailed him with pleasure +and everybody's tongue began at once to chatter +about the dramatic happening of the evening before.</div> + +<p>"I'm perfectly crazy to hear everything you've +learned this morning," said Margaret, "but before +we start talking about it I want to make a beginning +on a basket so I can be working while I listen."</p> + +<p>"Me, too," said James. "I've pasted enough +boxes and gimcracks to fill a young cottage. In fact +they are now packed in a young cottage that Father +is going to bring over some day when he hasn't +any other load. He said the car wouldn't hold it +and Margaret and him and me all at the same time +this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"We've been making all sorts of things this week," +said Ethel Brown. "I'm just finishing the last of a +dozen balls that I've been covering with crochet. +It's the simplest thing in the world and they're fine +for little children because the slippery rubber balls<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +slide out of their fingers and these are just rough +enough for their tiny paws to cling to."</p> + +<p>"I've been making those twin bed-time dolls," said +Ethel Blue. "You've seen them in all the shops—just +ugly dolls of worsted—but mine are made like +the Danish <i>Nisse</i>, the elves that the Danes use to +decorate their Yuletide trees."</p> + +<p>She held up a handful of wee dolls made of white +worsted, doubled until the little figure was about a +finger long. A few strands on each side were cut +shorter than the rest and stood out as arms. A +red thread tied a little way from the top indicated +the neck; another about the middle defined the waist; +the lower part was divided and each leg was tied at +the ankle with red thread, and a red thread bound +the wrists. On the head a peaked red hat of flannel +or of crochet shaded a face wherein two black +stitches represented the eyes, a third the nose, and +a red dot the ruby lips. From the back of the neck +a crocheted cord about eighteen inches long connected +one elf with his twin.</p> + +<p>"What's the idea of two?" inquired Tom.</p> + +<p>"To keep each other company. You tie them on +to a wire of the baby's crib and they won't get lost."</p> + +<p>"Or on to the perambulator."</p> + +<p>"They don't take long to make—see, I wind the +wool over my fingers, so, to get the right length, +and then I tie them as quick as a wink; and when I +feel in the mood of making the caps I turn off a +dozen or two of them—"</p> + +<p>"And the cord by the yard, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Just about. I've made quantities of these this +week and I'm not going to make any more, so I'll +help with the baskets or the stenciling."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I've been jig-sawing," said Roger. "I've made +jumping jacks till you can't rest."</p> + +<p>"Where did you get your pattern?" asked Tom +who also was a jig sawyer.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 378px;"> +<img src="images/p179.jpg" width="378" height="400" alt="Jumping Jack" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Jumping Jack</span> +</div> + +<p>"I took an old one of Dicky's that was on the +downward road and pulled it to pieces so that I could +use each part for a pattern. I cut out ever so many +of each section. Then I spent one afternoon painting +legs and arms and jackets and caps, and Ethel +Blue painted the faces for me. I'm not much on +expression except my own, you know."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Have you put them together yet?"</p> + +<p>"Dorothy has been tying the pull strings for me +this afternoon and I'm going to do the glueing now +while you people are learning baskets."</p> + +<p>"James ought to do the glueing for you," suggested +Margaret in spite of James's protesting gestures.</p> + +<p>Roger laughed.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't be so mean as to ask him," he said. +"He's stuck up enough for one lifetime, I suspect."</p> + +<p>"I've been jigging, too," confessed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Anything pretty?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"Of course something pretty," defended Helen. +"Don't you remember the beauty box he made Margaret?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly do. Its delicate openwork surpassed +any of my humble efforts."</p> + +<p>"It was pretty, wasn't it?" murmured Margaret. +"The yellow silk lining showed through."</p> + +<p>"What I've been doing lately was the very simplest +possible toy for the orphans." Tom disclaimed +any fine work. "I've just been cutting circles +out of cigar boxes and punching two holes side +by side in each one. Then I run a string through +the two holes. You slip it over your forefinger of +each hand and whirl the disk around the string until +it is wound up tight and then by pulling the string you +keep the whirligig going indefinitely."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't look like much of a toy to me," said +Della crushingly.</p> + +<p>"May be not, ma'am, but I tried it on Dad and +Edward and they played with it for ten minutes +apiece. You find yourself pulling it in time to some +air you're humming in the back of your head."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Right-o," agreed James. "I had a tin one once +and I played with it from morning till night. I believe +the orphans will spend most of their waking +hours tweaking those cords."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you think so," said Tom. "Roger was +so emphatic I was afraid I'd been wasting my +time."</p> + +<p>"What's Dorothy been up to this week?" asked +James.</p> + +<p>"Dorothy couldn't make up her mind whether she +wanted most to make bags or model clay candlesticks +or dress dolls this week," responded Dorothy, +"but she finally decided to dress dolls."</p> + +<p>"Where did you get the dolls?"</p> + +<p>"Some of them I got with treasury money—they're +real dolls, and I made galoptious frocks for +them out of scraps from piece-bags."</p> + +<p>"Were you patient enough to make all the clothes +to take off?" asked Della.</p> + +<p>"Every identical garment," replied Dorothy emphatically. +"Dolls aren't any fun unless you can +dress and undress them. I never cared a rap for a +doll with its clothes fastened on."</p> + +<p>"Nor I."</p> + +<p>"Nor I."</p> + +<p>"Nor I."</p> + +<p>Every girl in the room agreed with this opinion.</p> + +<p>"The rag dolls are the ones I believe the children +will like best," said Helen; "that is, if they are at +all like American children."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it funny—I always liked that terrible looking +old rag object of mine better than the prettiest +one Father ever sent me," agreed Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>"Every child does," said Margaret.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dorothy made some fine ones," complimented +Helen.</p> + +<p>"Did you draw them or did you get the ones that +are already printed on cloth?" asked Della.</p> + +<p>"Both. The printed ones are a great deal prettier +than mine, but Aunt Marion had a stout piece +of cotton cloth—"</p> + +<p>A shout arose.</p> + +<p>"Cotton cloth! That's enough to interest Dorothy +in making anything," laughed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Almost," agreed Dorothy good-naturedly. +"Any way, I used up the piece of cloth making dolls +and cats and dogs. I drew them on the cloth and +then stitched them on the machine and, I tell you, +I remembered the time when Dicky's stuffed cat had +an awful accident and lost almost all his inner +thoughts, and I sewed every one of the little beasties +twice around."</p> + +<p>"What did you stuff them with?"</p> + +<p>"Some with cotton."</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>"Ha!" retorted Dorothy, "and some with rags, +and one with sawdust, but I didn't care for him; +he was lumpy."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know you could paint well enough to +color them," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"I can't. I did a few but Ethel Blue did the +best one. There was a cat that was so fierce that +Aunt Marion's cat growled at it. He was a winner!"</p> + +<p>"All the rag dolls were dressed in cotton dresses," +explained Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"But the real dolls were positively scrumptious.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +There was a bride, and a girl in a khaki sport suit, +and a boy in a sailor suit, and a baby. They were +regular beauties."</p> + +<p>All the time that these descriptions had been given +Dorothy and the Mortons had been opening packages +of rattan and raffia and laying them out on the +dining table. James sat in state at one end, his +convalescent leg raised on a chair, and his right +hand to the table so that he could handle his materials +easily.</p> + +<p>"I'm simply perishing to hear about Fräulein," +he acknowledged. "Do start me on this basket +business, Dorothy, so I can hear about her."</p> + +<p>"We don't know such an awful lot," said Dorothy +slowly as she counted out the spokes for a small +basket. "In fact, we don't know anything at all."</p> + +<p>"Misery! And my curiosity has been actually +on the boil! How many of those sticks do I need?"</p> + +<p>"Let's all do the same basket," suggested Ethel +Brown. "Then one lecture by Miss Dorothy Smith +will do for all of us."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't anybody else know how to make them?"</p> + +<p>"Della and I do," replied Ethel Blue. "We're +going to work on raffia, but you people might just +as well all do one kind of basket. We can use any +number of them, you know, so it doesn't make any +difference if they are all alike."</p> + +<p>"We'll start with a basket that measures three +inches across the bottom and is two and a half inches +deep," announced Dorothy, who was an expert basket +maker. "You'll need eight spokes sixteen inches +long and one nine inches long."</p> + +<p>There was a general cutting and counting of rattan +spokes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you ready? Take your knife and in four +rattans make slits long enough to poke the other +four rattans through."</p> + +<p>"They're rather fat to get through," complained +James.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 375px;"> +<img src="images/p184a.jpg" width="375" height="31" alt=""Make slits long enough to poke the other rattans through. Sharpen them to a point"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Make slits long enough to poke the other rattans through. Sharpen them to a point"</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 375px;"> +<img src="images/p184b.jpg" width="375" height="308" alt=""You'll need eight spokes sixteen inches long and one nine inches long"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"You'll need eight spokes sixteen inches long and one nine inches long"</span> +</div> + +<p>"Sharpen them to a point. Have you put them +through so they make a cross with the arms of even +length? Then put the single short piece through +on one arm—no, not way through, James; just far +enough to catch it."</p> + +<p>"That's pretty solid just as it is," commented +Tom with his head on one side.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, you must wrap it with a piece of +raffia. Watch me; lay your raffia at the left side +of the upright arm and bring it across from left to +right. Now pass it under the right hand arm and +over the bottom arm and under the left hand arm. +Instead of covering the wrapping you've just done +you turn back and let your bit of raffia go <i>over</i> the +left hand arm."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/p185.jpg" width="350" height="279" alt=""This weaving process makes the spokes stand out like wheel spokes"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"This weaving process makes the spokes stand out like wheel spokes"</span> +</div> + +<p>"That binds down the beginning end of the raffia," +cried Helen.</p> + +<p>"Exactly. That's why you do it. Go under the +bottom arm and over the right hand arm behind the +top arm."</p> + +<p>"Back at the station the train started from," announced +Margaret.</p> + +<p>"So far you've used your weaver—"</p> + +<p>"What's that? The raffia?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. So far you've used it merely to fasten the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +centre firmly. Now you really begin to weave under +and over the spokes, round and round."</p> + +<p>"I could shoot beans through mine," announced +James.</p> + +<p>"You haven't pulled your weaver tight as you +wove. Push it down hard toward the centre. +That's it. See how firm that is? You could hardly +get water through that—much less beans or hound +puppies, as they say in some parts of North Carolina."</p> + +<p>"This weaving process makes the spokes stand +out like wheel spokes, doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>"That's why they're called spokes. By the time +you've been round three times they ought all to be +standing apart evenly."</p> + +<p>"Please, ma'am, my raffia is giving out," grumbled +Tom.</p> + +<p>"It's time to use a rattan weaver, then. You used +raffia at first because the spokes were so near together. +Now you use a fine rattan, finer than your +spokes. Wet it first. Then catch it behind a spoke +and hold on to it carefully until you come to the second +time round or it will slip away from you. +You're all right as soon as the second row holds the +first row in place."</p> + +<p>"My rattan weaver is giving out," said Ethel +Brown.</p> + +<p>"Take another one and lap it over the end of the +one that is on the point of death, then go right ahead. +If they're too fat at the ends shave them down a +bit where they lap."</p> + +<p>"This superb creation of mine is three inches +across the middle," announced James.</p> + +<p>"It's time to turn up the spokes then. Make up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +your mind how sharply you want the basket to flare +and watch it as you weave, or you'll have it uneven."</p> + +<p>"Mine seems to have reached a good height for +a small work basket," decided Helen, her head on +one side.</p> + +<p>"Mine isn't quite so high, but I can seem to see +a few choice candies of Ethel Brown's concoction +resting happily within its walls," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Let's all make the border. Measure the spokes +and cut them just three inches beyond the top of the +weaving. You'll have to sharpen their tips a little +or else you'll have trouble pushing them down among +the weavers."</p> + +<p>"I get the idea! You bend them into scallops!"</p> + +<p>"Wet them first or there'll be broken fence pickets. +When you've soaked them until they're pliable +enough bend each spoke over to make a scallop and +thrust it down right beside its neighbor spoke between +the weavers."</p> + +<p>"Mine is more than ever a work basket," said +Helen when she had completed the edge. "I shall +line it with brown and fit it up with a thimble and +threads and needles and a tiny pair of scissors."</p> + +<p>"Mine, too," was Ethel Brown's decision.</p> + +<p>"My sides turn up too sharply," James thought. +"I shall call mine a cover for a small flower pot. +Then I shan't have to line it!"</p> + +<p>"Here are some of the most easily made mats and +baskets in the world," announced Della. "They're +made just like the braided rugs you find in farm +houses in New England. Mother got some in New +Hampshire once before we started going to Chautauqua +for the summers."</p> + +<p>"I've seen them," said Margaret. "There are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +yards and yards of rags cut all the same width and +sewed together and then they are braided and then +the braid is sewed round and round."</p> + +<p>"You make raffia mats or baskets in just the same +way, only you sew them with raffia," explained Della. +"You braid the raffia first +and that gives you an opportunity +to make pretty +color combinations."</p> + +<p>"A strand of raffia +doesn't last forever. How +do you splice it?"</p> + +<p>"Splice a thick end +alongside of a thin end +and go ahead. Try to +pick out strands of different +lengths for your plaiting +or they'll all run out +at once and have to be +spliced at once and it may +make them bunchy if you +aren't awfully careful."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 216px;"> +<img src="images/p188.jpg" width="216" height="400" alt="The braid for easily made rugs and baskets" title="" /> +<span class="caption">The braid for easily made rugs and baskets</span> +</div> + +<p>"I saw a beauty basket +once made of corn husks +braided in the same way. +The inside husks are a +delicate color you know, and they were split into +narrow widths and plaited into a long rope."</p> + +<p>"Where the long leaf pine grows," said Dorothy, +"they use pine needles in the same way, only they +wrap them around with thread—"</p> + +<p>"Cotton thread?"</p> + +<p>"Cotton thread—of about the same color."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You can work sweet grass just so, except that you +can wrap that with a piece of itself."</p> + +<p>"When you have enough material," went on Della, +"you begin the sewing. If you're going to make a +round or an oblong mat you decide which right at +the beginning and coil the centre accordingly. Then +all you have to do is to go ahead. Don't let the +stitches show and sew on until the mat is big +enough."</p> + +<p>"And for a basket I suppose you pile the braids +upon each other when you've made the bottom the +size you want it."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. And you can make the sides flare +sharply or slightly just as we made them do with the +rattan."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with making baskets of +braided crêpe paper?" asked James. "My whole +being has been wrapped in paper for a week so it +may influence my inventive powers unduly, but I +really don't see why it shouldn't work."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to take you off your perch," remarked +Ethel Brown, "but I've seen one."</p> + +<p>"O—oh!" wailed James in disappointment. +"They were pretty though, weren't they?"</p> + +<p>"They were beauties. There was a lovely color +combination in the one I saw."</p> + +<p>"You could make patriotic ones for Fourth of +July—red, white, and blue."</p> + +<p>"Or green and red ones for Christmas."</p> + +<p>"Or all white for Easter."</p> + +<p>"Or pinky ones for May Day."</p> + +<p>Just at this moment there came a rush of small +feet and Dicky burst into the room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hullo," he exclaimed briefly.</p> + +<p>"Hullo," cried a chorus in return.</p> + +<p>"I've seen her," said Dicky.</p> + +<p>"Who is 'her'?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"Fräulein."</p> + +<p>"Fräulein! Dicky, what have you been doing?"</p> + +<p>Helen seized him by the arm and drew him to the +side of her chair, while all the other members of +the Club laid down their work and listened.</p> + +<p>Dicky was somewhat embarrassed at being the object +of such undivided attention. He climbed up +into Helen's lap.</p> + +<p>"I heard you talking at breakfatht about Fräulein +and how thomebody perhapth wath dead and perhapth +wathn't dead, tho I went and athked her if +he wath dead."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dicky!"</p> + +<p>Helen buried her face in his bobbed hair, and the +rest of the Mortons looked at each other aghast.</p> + +<p>"We were wondering if it would be an intrusion +to send Fräulein some flowers," explained Helen,—"and—"</p> + +<p>"—and here Dicky butts right in!" finished Roger.</p> + +<p>"I went to the houthe and I rang the bell," continued +Dicky, "and an old lady came to the door."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Hindenburg."</p> + +<p>"I thaid 'Ith Mith Fräulein at home?' The old +lady thaid 'Yeth.' I walked in and there wath Mith +Fräulein in front of the fire. I thaid, 'Ith he +dead?'"</p> + +<p>"You asked her?"</p> + +<p>"Great Scott!"</p> + +<p>"Fräulein thaid, 'I don't know, Dicky.' And I +thaid, 'Here ith a chethnut I found. You can have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +it.' And Fräulein thaid, 'Thank you, Dicky,' and +I that on her lap and the talked to me a long time +about the man that perhapth ith dead, and thometimeth +the thaid queer wordth—"</p> + +<p>"German," interpreted Margaret under her +breath.</p> + +<p>"And onthe the cried a little, and—"</p> + +<p>"Dicky, Dicky, what have you done!"</p> + +<p>"I ain't done anything bad, 'coth when I thaid, +'Now I mutht go,' the old lady thaid, 'Thank you +for coming.'"</p> + +<p>"She did?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it did Fräulein good to cry. Poor +Fräulein!"</p> + +<p>"I'm going again."</p> + +<p>"Did she ask you?"</p> + +<p>"Of courth the athked me. And I thaid I'd go +if the'd wear a white dreth. I don't like a black +dreth."</p> + +<p>Silence reigned about the table.</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew whether he's done harm or good," +sighed Helen.</p> + +<p>"Good, I should say, or Fräulein's mother +wouldn't have asked him to come again," said Ethel +Blue.</p> + +<p>"At this uncertain moment I think we'd better +have some refreshments," said Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"I'm certainly in need of something sustaining," +groaned Roger.</p> + +<p>"Then try these sugar cookies of Ethel Brown's."</p> + +<p>"Let me write down right now how she makes +them," exclaimed Della, borrowing a pencil from +Tom. "This is the kind you're going to make for +the orphans, isn't it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, they'll keep a long time, especially if they're +wrapped in paraffin paper and put into a tin."</p> + +<p>"Recite the rule to me."</p> + +<p>"I never can remember rules. Dorothy's got it +copied into her cook book. Ask her for it."</p> + +<p>"Here you are," said Dorothy who had overheard +the conversation, "here on page twenty. And I +know you're going to ask for the fudge receipt as +soon as you taste Ethel Blue's fudge so you might +as well copy that at the same time. It's on the next +page."</p> + +<p>So Della copied diligently while Dorothy brought +in the cookies and fudge in question and Helen and +Roger discussed Dicky's performance under their +breath.</p> + +<p>Here is what Della wrote:</p> + + +<div class='center'>"Sugar Cookies or Sand Tarts</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients"> +<tr><td align='left'>"1 cup butter</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 cups sugar</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 eggs</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3½ cups flour</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">4 teaspoons baking powder</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Extra whites of 2 eggs</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1½ cups blanched almonds, chopped.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 tablespoons sugar—extra</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ teaspoon cinnamon</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"Blanch the almonds by putting them in boiling +water, let them stand on the table five minutes, remove +a few at a time from the water, rub off the skin +and dry them in a towel; then chop them.</p> + +<p>"Cream the butter, add the sugar gradually, then +the beaten eggs. Sift flour and baking powder together,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +add to the butter mixture gradually, using +a knife to cut it in. Add the nuts. If stiff and dry +add a few tablespoons milk to moisten slightly, and +mould into a dough with the hands. Roll out portions +quite thin, on a floured board, cut out with a +cutter, brush with the extra whites, slightly beaten. +Mix the cinnamon and the two extra tablespoons +sugar together, sprinkle over the cookies. Place +on a greased tin, bake about five minutes in a moderately +hot oven."</p> + + +<div class='center'>"Fudge</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients"> +<tr><td align='left'>"3 cups brown or white sugar</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup milk or water</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 tablespoon butter</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3 squares (inch) chocolate (about ¼ cup grated)</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ teaspoon vanilla</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"Mix sugar, milk, butter and chocolate in a saucepan; +let it melt slowly; bring to a boil and boil about +ten minutes, or until a little forms a soft ball when +dropped in a cup of cold water. Add the vanilla, +stir a few minutes until slightly thick, turn at once +into greased <i>tin</i> plates. Cool and cut into blocks. +If it crumbles and is sugary, add half a cup or more +hot water, melt, boil again, and try as before. If it +should not be hard enough it may be boiled a second +time."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE CLUB WEAVES, STENCILS AND MODELS CLAY</div> + + +<div class='cap'>WHETHER Dicky had done something entirely +inexcusable or something wise no one +was able to decide, but everybody agreed that at any +rate it was pleasanter to think that he had brought +poor Fräulein some comfort, and that her mother's +thanking him for coming seemed to mean that. +They all felt somewhat shocked and queer.</div> + +<p>"I move, Madam President," said Tom, "that +we don't talk about it any more this afternoon. We +don't know and probably we never shall know, and +so we might as well get to work again. Did you +people realize that time is growing short? The +Santa Claus Ship is booked to sail the first week in +November."</p> + +<p>"We did and do realize it," said Helen. "I'd +like to know next about these raffia sofa pillows that +Ethel Blue and Della have been making."</p> + +<p>"The ones we made are sofa pillows for the orphans' +dolls," explained Ethel Blue, "or they can be +used for pincushions."</p> + +<p>"They make thothe at kindergarten," announced +Dicky. "I can make thothe. Mine are paper."</p> + +<p>"They're made in just about the same way," said +Della. "We made a small cushion with double +raffia and wove it under and over on a pasteboard +loom."</p> + +<p>"How do you make that?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Just a piece of heavy pasteboard or a light board +or you can take the frame of a smashed slate. You +fasten the ends of the threads with pins or tacks or +tie them around the bars. First you lay all the +threads you want in one direction. That's the +warp."</p> + +<p>"Warp—I remember. I always have to look it +up in the dictionary to see which is warp and which +is woof."</p> + +<p>"Warp is the thread that goes on first. In a rug +or a piece of tapestry it's the plain, ugly thread that +holds the beautifully colored threads in place. It's +the up and down threads. In raffia you have to be +careful to alternate the big ends and small ends so +that the weaving will be even."</p> + +<p>"What do you do when the warp is ready?"</p> + +<p>"Before you begin to weave you must make a +solid line across the end so that when you run your +first bit of woof across it won't just push right up +to the bar of the loom and then ravel out when you +cut your product off the loom."</p> + +<p>"I get the reason for its existence. I should +think you'd make it by tying a string right across the +loom knotting it into each strand of warp as you pass +by."</p> + +<p>"That's exactly what you do; and the ends you can +leave flying to join in with the fringe."</p> + +<p>"Can we weave now?"</p> + +<p>"Go ahead. When you've made the cushion +square, if you want it square, go around the three remaining +sides and tie a break-water, so to speak, so +that the weaving won't ravel out. Trim your fringe +even and there's one side of your pillow."</p> + +<p>"One side would be enough for a pincushion."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If you want to make a big sofa cushion—a grown +up one—you'll have to make a wide plait of raffia—a +four strand or six strand braid—or else you'd +never get it done."</p> + +<p>"The unbraided would be too delicate. I hate +to make things that wear out before you can get +used to them about the house."</p> + +<p>"You'd have to have a bigger loom for something +that size."</p> + +<p>"It's no trouble to make. Roger nailed mine together," +said Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>"Any one want the dimensions?" asked Roger. +"Take two pieces of narrow wood twenty-three +inches long, and nail two other pieces of lighter stuff +each twenty-five inches long on to their tops at the +ends. These bits are raised from the table by the +thickness of the first piece of lumber. See?"</p> + +<p>Tom and James, who were examining Ethel Blue's +loom, nodded.</p> + +<p>"Then nail slender uprights, ten inches tall, at +each of the four corners and connect them by two +other thin sticks twenty-five inches long, running +just above your first pair of twenty-fives. Do you +get it?"</p> + +<p>Again the boys nodded.</p> + +<p>"That's all there is to it, and you really don't need +to make that for a plain, smooth plank will do at a +pinch."</p> + +<p>"How do you carry your woof across?" asked +Margaret. "Your hand would be in its own way, +I should think."</p> + +<p>"You thread the raffia into a wooden bodkin about +twenty-six inches long."</p> + +<p>"I can see that you must draw the cross threads<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +down tight the way we did in weaving the baskets," +said James.</p> + +<p>"Indeed you must or you'll turn out a sleazy piece +of weaving," answered Della.</p> + +<p>"There must be oceans of articles you can make +out of woven raffia."</p> + +<p>"Just about everything that you can make out of +a piece of cloth of the same size."</p> + +<p>"Of cotton cloth? Ha!"</p> + +<p>"Or silk."</p> + +<p>"Handkerchief cases and collar cases."</p> + +<p>"Coverings for boxes of all kinds. Another material +for James to glue on to pasteboard."</p> + +<p>"I see lots of chances for it," he answered seriously.</p> + +<p>"I believe old James is really taking kindly to +pasting," laughed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Certainly I am. It's a bully occupation," defended +James.</p> + +<p>"There are a thousand things that can be made of +raffia—you can make lace of it like twine lace, and +make articles out of the lace; and you can make +baskets of a combination of rattan and raffia, using +the raffia for wrapping and for sewing. But we +have such a short time left that I think those of us +who are going to do any raffia work had better learn +how to weave evenly and make pretty little duds out +of the woven stuff."</p> + +<p>"Wise kid," pronounced Roger. "Now what's +little Margaret going to teach us this afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"Little Margaret" made a puckered face at this +appellation, but she came promptly to the front.</p> + +<p>"Ethel Brown and Dorothy have been teaching +me to stencil. They could teach the rest of you a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +great deal better than I can, but they've done their +share this afternoon so I'll try."</p> + +<p>"Go on," urged Ethel Brown. "We'll help you +if you forget."</p> + +<p>"If you'll excuse me I'll go to the attic and get +my clay," said Dorothy. "I found a new idea for +a candlestick in a book this morning and I want to +make one before I forget it."</p> + +<p>Margaret was in the full swing of explanation +when Dorothy returned.</p> + +<p>"Why this frown, fair Coz?" demanded Roger +in a Shakesperean tone.</p> + +<p>"It's the queerest thing—I thought I had enough +clay for two pairs of candlesticks and it seems to +have shrunk or something so there'll only be one +and that mighty small."</p> + +<p>"'<i>Mighty small</i>,'" mimicked Roger. "How +large is <i>'mighty</i> small'?"</p> + +<p>"Don't bother me, Roger. I'll start this while +Margaret talks."</p> + +<p>"When a drawing fit seizes Ethel Blue again we'll +get her to make us some original stencils," said +Helen. "These that we bought at the Chautauqua +art store will do well enough for us to learn with."</p> + +<p>"They are very pretty," defended Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"Mine won't be any better, only they will be original," +said Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>"I hate to mention it," said Tom in a whisper, +"but I'm not perfectly sure that I know what a stencil +is."</p> + +<p>There was a shout from around the table.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Thomas," soothed Roger, patting +his friend on the shoulder. "Confession is good for +the soul. A stencil, my son, is a thin sheet of something—pasteboard,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +the girls use—with a pattern cut +out of it. You lay the stencil down on a piece of +cloth or canvas or board or whatever you want to +decorate, and you scrub color on all the part of the +material that shows through."</p> + +<p>"Methinks I see a great light," replied Tom, slapping +his forehead. "When you lift the stencil there +is your pattern done in color."</p> + +<p>Roger and James leaned forward together and +patted Tom's brow.</p> + +<p>"Such it is to have real intellect!" they murmured +in admiring accents.</p> + +<p>Tom bowed meekly.</p> + +<p>"Enlighten me further—also these smarties. +What kind of paint do you use?"</p> + +<p>"Tapestry dyes or oil paints. It depends somewhat +on your material. If you want to launder it, +use the dye."</p> + +<p>"Fast color, eh?"</p> + +<p>"When you wash it, set the color by soaking +your article in cold water salted. Then wash it +gently in the suds of white soap. Suds, mind you; +don't touch the cake of soap to it."</p> + +<p>"I promise you solemnly I'll never touch a cake +of soap to any stenciling I do."</p> + +<p>"You're ridiculous, Roger. No, I believe you +won't!"</p> + +<p>"Here's a piece of cloth Ethel Brown is going to +make into a doll's skirt. See, she's hemmed it already +and I'll put this simple star stencil on the +hem. Where's a board, Dorothy?"</p> + +<p>Dorothy brought a sewing board and the others +watched Margaret pin her material down hard upon +it and fasten the stencil over that.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good girl! You've got them so tight they won't +dare to shiver," declared Tom.</p> + +<p>"Do you notice that this stencil has been shellacked +so the edges won't roughen when I scrub? +Stiff bristle brushes are what I'm using." Margaret +called their attention to her utensils. "And I have +a different brush for each color. Also I have an +old rag to dabble the extra color off on to."</p> + +<p>"Are you ready? Go!" commanded Roger.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;"> +<img src="images/p200.jpg" width="425" height="164" alt=""I'll put this simple star stencil on the hem"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"I'll put this simple star stencil on the hem"</span> +</div> + +<p>Margaret scrubbed hard and succeeded in getting +a variety of shading through the amount of paint +that she allowed to soak entirely through or partway +through the material. When she had done as +many stars as there were openings on the pattern +she took out the pins and moved the stencil along so +that the holes came over a fresh piece of material, +making sure that the space between the first new +star and the last old one was the same as that between +the stars on the stencil.</p> + +<p>"How can we boys apply that?" asked James.</p> + +<p>"You can stencil on anything that you would decorate +with painting," said Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"Your jig-saw disks, Tom. Stencil a small conventional +pattern on each one—a star or a triangle."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here's a stencil of a vine that would be a beauty +on one of your large plain pasteboard boxes, James."</p> + +<p>"Dorothy has been turning white cheesecloth doll +clothes into organdie muslins by stenciling on them +these tiny sprays of roses and cornflowers and jasmine."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to do roosters and cats and dogs on a +lot of bibs for the babies."</p> + +<p>"You'd better save a few in case Mademoiselle +really sends us that Belgian baby."</p> + +<p>"I'll make some more if it does turn up."</p> + +<p>"Aunt Marion gave me some cotton flannel—"</p> + +<p>"Cot—ton!"</p> + +<p>"Cotton flannel, yes, sir; and I've made it into +some little blankets for tiny babies. I bound the +raw edges, and on some of them I did a cross stitch +pattern and on others I stenciled a pattern."</p> + +<p>"It saves time, I should say."</p> + +<p>"Lots. When you have ever so many articles +gathered, just have a stenciling bee and you can turn +out the decoration much faster than by doing even +a wee bit of embroidery."</p> + +<p>"If the Belgian baby really comes, let's make it +a play-house. The boys can do the carpentry and +we can all make the furniture and I'm wild to stencil +some cunning curtains for the windows."</p> + +<p>"I'll draw you a fascinating pattern for it."</p> + +<p>"There's my candlestick half done," said Dorothy +mournfully, "and I can't finish it. I don't +understand about that clay."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it dried up and blew away."</p> + +<p>"It did dry, but I moistened it and kneaded it and +cut it in halves with a wire and put the inside edges +outside and generally patticaked it but I'm sure it's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +not more than a quarter the size it was when I left +it in the attic yesterday afternoon."</p> + +<p>"You seem to have made a great mess on the +floor over there by the window; didn't you slice off +some and put it in that cup?"</p> + +<p>"That's my 'slip.' It only took a scrap to make +that. It's about as thick as cream and you use it to +smooth rough places and fill up cracks with. No, +that wouldn't account for much of any of the clay."</p> + +<p>"How did you make this thing, anyway?" asked +James turning it about.</p> + +<p>"Careful. I took a saucer and put a wet rag in +it and then I made a clay snake and coiled it about +the way you make those coiled baskets, only +I smoothed the clay so you can't see the coils. I +hollowed it on the inside like a saucer. Then I put +another wet rag inside my clay saucer and a china +saucer inside that and turned them all upside down +on my work board, and took off the original china +saucer and smoothed down the coils on the underside +of the clay saucer."</p> + +<p>Tom drew a long breath.</p> + +<p>"Take one yourself," he suggested. "You'll +need it, you talk so fast."</p> + +<p>"It stiffened while Margaret was doing her +stenciling. When it was firm enough to handle I +turned it over again and took out the small china +saucer and smoothed off any marks it had left."</p> + +<p>"It's about time to build up the candle holder, +isn't it?"</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 319px;"> +<img src="images/p203.jpg" width="319" height="500" alt="Dorothy's Candlestick" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Dorothy's Candlestick</span> +</div> + +<p>"Did you see me bring in a short candle? I +wrapped it in a wet rag and stood it exactly in the +middle of the clay saucer. Then I roughened the +clay around it and wet the rough part with slip and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +pressed a fresh little snake round the foot of the +candle. The slip makes it stick to the roughening, +so you have to roughen the top of every coil and +moisten it with slip."</p> + +<p>"You finished off the top of that part very +smoothly," complimented Helen.</p> + +<p>"When it's stiff enough you take out the candle +and smooth the inside. Here's where I'm stumped. +I haven't got enough clay for a handle."</p> + +<p>"How do you make the handle?"</p> + +<p>"Pat out another snake and make a hoop attached +to the holder and another one rolling up on +to the lip of the saucer."</p> + +<p>"As if the serpent were trying to put his tail into +his mouth."</p> + +<p>"I shall have to just smooth this over with a soft +brush and wrap it up in a wet cloth until I get some +more clay. If I let it get hard I can't finish it."</p> + +<p>"What's that drip, Dorothy?" asked Helen, as a +drop of water fell on the table before her.</p> + +<p>They all looked at the ceiling where drops of +water were assembling and beginning to fall with a +soft splash. There was a scramble to get their +work out of the way. Dorothy brought a salad +bowl and placed it where it would catch the water +and then ran to investigate the cause of the trouble.</p> + +<p>At a cry from upstairs Helen and the Ethels ran +to her help. Roger went to the foot of the stairs +and called up to inquire if they wanted his assistance. +Evidently they did, for he, too, disappeared. +In a few minutes he re-appeared bearing Dicky in +his arms—a Dicky sopping wet and much subdued.</p> + +<p>"What in the world?" everybody questioned.</p> + +<p>"Dorothy's found her clay," said Roger. "Come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +on, old man. Wrap Aunt Louise's tweed coat +around you—so—and <i>run</i> so you won't catch cold," +and the two boys disappeared out of the front door, +Dicky stumbling and struggling with the voluminous +folds of his aunt's garment.</p> + +<p>Dorothy and the other girls came down stairs in +a few minutes.</p> + +<p>"Do telephone to Aunt Marion's and see if +Mother is there and ask her to come home," Dorothy +begged Helen, while she gathered cloths and pans +and went upstairs again, taking the maid with her.</p> + +<p>"What did Dicky do?" asked the others again.</p> + +<p>Both Ethels burst into laughter.</p> + +<p>"He must have gone up in the attic and found +Dorothy's clay, for he had filled up the waste pipe of +the bath tub—"</p> + +<p>"—and turned on the water, I'll bet!" exclaimed +Tom.</p> + +<p>"That's just what he did. It looks as if he'd been +trying to float about everything he could find in any +of the bedrooms."</p> + +<p>"Probably he had a glorious time until the tub +ran over and he didn't know how to stop it."</p> + +<p>"Dicky's a great old man! I judge he didn't +float himself!"</p> + +<p>"Now Dorothy can finish her candlestick handle!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>ETHEL BLUE AWAITS A CABLE</div> + + +<div class='cap'>MRS. SMITH begged that the meeting should +not adjourn, and under her direction the +trouble caused by Dicky's entrance into the navy was +soon remedied, although it was evident that the +ceiling of the dining-room would need the attention +of a professional.</div> + +<p>Roger soon returned with the news that the +honorary member of the Club had taken no cold, +and every one settled down to work again, even +Dorothy, who rescued enough clay from Dicky's +earthworks to complete the handle of her candlestick.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to bring a matter before this meeting," +said Tom seriously when they were all assembled +and working once more.</p> + +<p>"Bring it on," urged the president.</p> + +<p>"It isn't a matter belonging to this Club, but if +there isn't any one else to do it it seemed to me—and +to Father when I spoke to him about it—that +we might do some good."</p> + +<p>"It sounds mysterious. Let's have it," said +James.</p> + +<p>"It seemed to me as I thought over those movies +the other night that there was a very good chance +that that man Schuler—your singing teacher, you +know, Fräulein's betrothed—wasn't dead after all."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It certainly looked like it—the way he fell back +against the orderly—he didn't look alive."</p> + +<p>"He didn't—that's a fact. At the same time the +film made one of those sudden changes right at that +instant."</p> + +<p>"Father and I thought that was so a death scene +shouldn't be shown," said James.</p> + +<p>"That's possible, but it's also possible that they +thought that was a good dramatic spot to leave that +group of people and go off to another group."</p> + +<p>"What's your idea? I don't suppose we could +find out from the film people."</p> + +<p>"Probably not. It would be too roundabout to +try to get at their operator in Belgium and very +likely he wouldn't remember if they did get in touch +with him."</p> + +<p>"He must be seeing sights like that all the time."</p> + +<p>"Brother Edward suggested when he heard us +talking about it that we should send a cable to Mademoiselle +and ask her. She must have known Mr. +Schuler here in the school at Rosemont."</p> + +<p>"Certainly she did."</p> + +<p>"Then she would have been interested enough +in him to recall what happened when she came across +him in the hospital."</p> + +<p>"How could we get a message to her? We don't +know where that hospital was. They don't tell the +names of places even in newspaper messages, you +know. They are headed 'From a town near the +front.'"</p> + +<p>"Here's where Edward had a great idea—that +is, Father thought it was workable. See what you +think of it."</p> + +<p>The Club was growing excited. The Ethels<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +stopped working to listen, Helen's face flushed with +interest, and the boys leaned across the table to hear +the plan to which Rev. Herbert Watkins had given +his approval. They knew that Tom's father, in his +work among the poor foreigners in New York, often +had to try to hunt up their relatives in Europe so that +this would not be a matter of guesswork with him.</p> + +<p>"It's pretty much guesswork in this war time," +admitted Tom when some one suggested it. "You +can merely send a cable and trust to luck that it will +land somewhere. Here's Edward's idea. He says +that the day we went to see Mademoiselle sail she +told him that she was related to Monsieur Millerand, +the French Minister of War. It was through +her relationship with him that she expected to be +sent where she wanted to go—that is, to Belgium."</p> + +<p>"She was sent there, so her expectation seems to +have had a good foundation."</p> + +<p>"That's what makes Edward think that perhaps +we can get in touch with her through the same +means."</p> + +<p>"Through Monsieur Millerand?"</p> + +<p>"He suggests that we send a cable addressed to +Mademoiselle—"</p> + +<p>"Justine—"</p> + +<p>"—Millerand in the care of Monsieur Millerand, +Minister of War. We could say 'Is Schuler dead?' +and sign it with some name she'd know in Rosemont. +She'd understand at once that in some way news of +his being in Belgium had reached here."</p> + +<p>"It seems awfully uncertain."</p> + +<p>"It is uncertain. Even if she got the cable she +might not be able to send a reply. Everything is +uncertain about it. At the same time if we <i>could</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +get an answer it would be a comfort to Fräulein even +if the message said he had died."</p> + +<p>"I believe that's so. It's not knowing that's hardest +to bear."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think Mademoiselle would have sent +word to Fräulein if he had died?"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe she knew they were engaged. +No one knew until after the war had been going on +for several weeks. If ever she wrote to any one in +Rosemont she might mention having seen him, but I +don't believe it would occur to her to send any special +word to Fräulein."</p> + +<p>"She might be put under suspicion if she addressed +a letter to any one with a German name even if she +lived in the United States."</p> + +<p>"No one but Ethel Blue has had a letter from +Mademoiselle since, she left," said Helen. "We +should have heard of it, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you say to the plan? Can't we +send a cable signed by the 'Secretary of the United +Service Club'?"</p> + +<p>"I think it would be a good use to put the Club +money to," approved James, the treasurer.</p> + +<p>"If you say so I'll send it when I get back to New +York this afternoon. How shall we word it?"</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle Justine Millerand, Care Monsieur +Millerand, Minister of War, Bordeaux, +France," said Roger, slowly.</p> + +<p>"Cut out 'Mademoiselle' and 'Monsieur,'" suggested +Margaret. "We must remember that our +remarks cost about a quarter a word in times of +peace and war prices may be higher."</p> + +<p>"Cut out 'of War,'" said Ethel Brown.</p> + +<p>"There's only one 'Bordeaux,'" added Margaret.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A dollar and a quarter saved already," said +James thoughtfully. "Now let's have the message."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with Tom's original suggestion—'Is +Schuler dead'?" asked Ethel Blue. "I +suppose we must leave out the 'Mr.' if we are going +to be economical."</p> + +<p>"Sign it 'Morton, Secretary United Service Club, +Rosemont.' I'll file Ethel Blue's address—at the +cable office so the answer will be sent to her if one +comes."</p> + +<p>Ethel Blue looked somewhat agitated at the prospect +of receiving a cable almost from the battlefield, +but she said nothing.</p> + +<p>"The United Service Club was the last group of +people she saw in America, you see," Tom went on, +"so Edward thinks she'll know at once whom the +message comes from and she'll guess that the high +school scholars want to know about their former +teacher."</p> + +<p>"I have a feeling in my bones that she'll get the +message and that she'll answer," said Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>"If she doesn't get it we shan't have done any +harm," mused Ethel Brown, "and if she does get it +and answers then we shall have done a lot of good +by getting the information for Fräulein."</p> + +<p>"We needn't tell anybody about it outside of our +families and then there won't be any expectations to +be disappointed."</p> + +<p>"It certainly would be best not to tell Fräulein."</p> + +<p>"That's settled, then," said Tom, "and I'll send +the message the moment I reach town this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"It's the most thrilling thing I ever had anything +to do with," Ethel Blue whispered.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>LEATHER AND BRASS</div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE following week was filled with expectation +of a reply from Mademoiselle, but none came +though every ring at the Mortons' doorbell was +answered with the utmost promptness by one or another +of the children who made a point of rushing +to the door before Mary could reach it.</div> + +<p>"I suppose we could hardly expect to have a reply," +sighed Ethel Blue, "but it would have been <i>so</i> +splendiferous if it did come!"</p> + +<p>Thanks to Dicky's escapade the last Saturday +afternoon had been so broken in upon that the Club +decided that they must have an all-day session on +the next Saturday. Roger had promised to teach +the others how to do the leather and brass work in +which he had become quite expert, and he was talking +to himself about it as he was dressing after doing +his morning work.</p> + +<p>"This business of working in leather for orphan +children makes a noise like toil to me," he soliloquized. +"But think of the joy of the kids when they +receive a leather penwiper, though they aren't yet +old enough to write, or a purse when they haven't +any shekels to put into it!"</p> + +<p>"Ro—ger," came a voice from a long way off.</p> + +<p>"Let's go over to Dorothy's now," Roger called +back as if it had been Ethel Brown who was late.</p> + +<p>"I should say so! The Watkinses and Hancocks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +said they'd be there at ten and it must be that now. +I'll call Ethel Blue and Helen," and Ethel Brown's +voice came from a greater distance than before.</p> + +<p>The other girls were not to be discovered, however, +and when Roger and Ethel arrived at Dorothy's +they found all the rest waiting for them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/p212a.png" width="450" height="237" alt=""Roger cut a slip ten inches long and four inches wide"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Roger cut a slip ten inches long and four inches wide"</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/p212b.jpg" width="450" height="234" alt="Corner for Blotter Pad" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Corner for Blotter Pad</span> +</div> + +<p>"Where's this professor of leather?" called Tom +as he heard Roger's steps on the attic stairs.</p> + +<p>"<i>And</i> brass," added Roger grandly as he appeared +in the doorway.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No one disputes the brass," returned Tom, and +Roger roared cheerfully and called out "Bull's-eye!"</p> + +<p>"Now, then," began Roger seating himself at the +head of the table, "with apologies to the president +I'll call this solemn meeting to order—that is, as +much order as there can be with Dicky around."</p> + +<p>Dicky was even then engaged in trying to make a +hole in Ethel Blue's shoe with a leather punch, but he +was promptly suppressed and placed between the +Ethels before his purpose was accomplished.</p> + +<p>"You've got him interned there," remarked James, +using a phrase that was becoming customary in the +newspaper accounts of the care of prisoners.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to start you people making corners for +a big blotting pad," said Roger, "not because the +orphans will want a blotting pad, but because they +are easy to make and you can adapt the idea to lots +of other articles."</p> + +<p>"Fire ahead," commanded James.</p> + +<p>"You make a paper pattern to fit your corner—so +fashion," and Roger tore a sheet of paper off a pad +and cut a slip ten inches long and four inches wide. +A point in the middle of the long side he placed on +the corner of the big blotter that lay before him and +then he folded the rest of the paper around the +corner. The result was a smooth triangle on the +face of the blotter and a triangle at the back just +like it except that it was split up the middle.</p> + +<p>"Here's your pattern," said Roger slipping it off. +"When you make this of brass or copper it's a good +plan to round these back corners so there won't be +any sharp points to stick into you or to scratch the +desk."</p> + +<p>"The orphans' mahogany."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Or Grandfather Emerson's. I'm going to inflict +a set on him at Christmas."</p> + +<p>"I should think it would be hard to work on such +dinky little things," remarked James who had large +hands.</p> + +<p>"You don't cut them out of your big sheet of copper +or your big piece of leather yet. You draw the +size of this small pattern on to a larger piece of +paper and you draw your ornamental design right +where you want it on the face of the triangle—so."</p> + +<p>"More work for Ethel Blue, making original designs."</p> + +<p>"She might get up some U. S. C. designs and have +them copyrighted," suggested Helen.</p> + +<p>"Until she does we'll have to use these simple figures +that I traced out of a book the other day."</p> + +<p>"Why couldn't we use our stenciling designs?"</p> + +<p>"You could, if they are the right size. That +star pattern you put oh a doll's skirt would be just +the ticket—just one star for each corner."</p> + +<p>"We might put U. S. C. in each corner."</p> + +<p>"Or U. in one corner and S. in another, and C. in +a third and a star or something in the fourth."</p> + +<p>"Or the initials of the person you give it to."</p> + +<p>"We've got the size of the corner piece as it is +when it's unfolded and with its design on it, all drawn +on this piece of paper. Now you tack your sheet +of brass on to a block of wood and lay a sheet of +carbon paper over it and your design on that and +trace ahead."</p> + +<p>"I see, I see," commented Margaret. "When you +take it off, there you have the size of your corner indicated +and the star or whatever you're going to +ornament it with, all drawn in the right place."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Exactly. Now we tackle the brass itself."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me we ought to have some tools for +that."</p> + +<p>"A light hammer and a wire nail—that's all. See +the point of this nail? It has been filed flat and +rather dull. I made enough for everybody to have +one—not you, sir," and he snatched away one of +them from Dicky just as that young man was about +to nail Ethel Brown's dress on to the edge of her +chair.</p> + +<p>"Dicky will have to be interned at home if he +isn't quiet." The president shook her head at the +honorary member.</p> + +<p>"First you go around the whole outline, tapping +the nail gently, stroke by stroke, until the line of the +design is completely hammered in."</p> + +<p>"That isn't hard," said Tom. "Watch me."</p> + +<p>"When the outline is made you take another wire +nail that has been filed perfectly flat on the bottom +and go over the whole background with it."</p> + +<p>"I see, I see," cried Ethel Blue. "That makes +the design stand out puffily and smooth against a +sort of motheaten background."</p> + +<p>"For eloquent description commend me to Ethel +Blue," declared Margaret.</p> + +<p>"She's right, though. You can make the moth +holes of different size by using nails of different +sizes. There are regular tools that come, too, with +different pounding surfaces so it's possible to make +quite a variety of backgrounds."</p> + +<p>"This mothy one is pretty enough for me," declared +Margaret.</p> + +<p>"I don't much like that name for it, but it is pretty, +just the same," insisted Roger. "When you've hammered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +down the background you take out the tacks +and cut out your whole corner with this pair of shears +that is made to cut metal. Then you fold over the +backs just the way you folded over the paper to find +the shape originally."</p> + +<p>"It's not so terribly easy to bend," commented +Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>"Shape them along the edge of your block of +wood. Persuade them down—so, and fold them +back—so. Tap them into place with your wooden +mallet. There you are."</p> + +<p>The finished corner was passed from hand to hand +and duly admired.</p> + +<p>"Rub it shiny with any brass polish, if you like it +bright," directed Roger.</p> + +<p>"It's fashionable for coppers to be dull now," said +Helen.</p> + +<p>"You ladies know more about fashions of all sorts +than I should ever pretend to," said her brother +meekly. "I like metals to shine, myself."</p> + +<p>"What are some of the articles we can start +in to make now that we know how?" questioned +Margaret.</p> + +<p>"All sorts of things for the desk—a paper knife +and a roller blotter and a case to hold the inkwell +and a clip to keep papers from blowing away. The +work is just the same, no matter what you're making. +It's all a matter of getting the outlines of different +objects and then bending them up carefully +after you've hammered the design and got them cut +out well."</p> + +<p>"Why can't you make all sorts of boxes?" asked +James whose mind had run to boxes ever since his +week of work upon them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You can. All sorts and sizes. Line them with +silk or leather. Leather wears best."</p> + +<p>"How far is the leather work like the metal +work?" asked Ethel Brown. "It seemed to be the +same as far as the point where you tacked them on +to the wooden block."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/p217.jpg" width="450" height="433" alt=""A beauty leather mat"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"A beauty leather mat"</span> +</div> + +<p>"It is the same except that you wet the leather +before you tack it on to the block. When you put +your design on to the leather you don't need to use +carbon paper. Borrow one of Ethel Brown's knitting +needles and run it over the design that you have +drawn on the paper placed over the leather, and it +will leave a tiny groove on the damp leather."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's a simple instrument."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 263px;"> +<img src="images/p218.png" width="263" height="500" alt=""A three cornered purse that doesn't need any sewing"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"A three cornered purse that doesn't need any sewing"</span> +</div> + +<p>"The steel tooler you take next is simple, too. +You deepen the groove with its edge and then take +the flat part of the tooler and go over every bit of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +the leather outside of the design, pressing it and +polishing it with great care."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that gives the leather a different texture."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/p219.jpg" width="400" height="418" alt="The three cornered purse completed" title="" /> +<span class="caption">The three cornered purse completed</span> +</div> + +<p>"It seems to. It makes the design show more, +anyway."</p> + +<p>"I saw a beauty leather mat the other day with a +cotton boll design that puffed right up from the +background.</p> + +<p>"The cotton boll caught our little Dorothy's eye,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +of course! You make your design puff out by rubbing +it on the back with a round headed tool. Your +mat probably had the puffed up part filled with wax +so it wouldn't smash down again when something +heavy was placed on it."</p> + +<p>"I think it did; it felt hard."</p> + +<p>"If you do puff out any part of your pattern you +have to tool over the design again, because the outline +will have lost its sharpness."</p> + +<p>"The mat I saw was colored."</p> + +<p>"That's easy. There are colors that come especially +for using on leather. You float them on when +the leather is wet and you can get beautiful effects."</p> + +<p>"You ought not to cut out your leather corners +until they are dry, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"They ought to be thoroughly dry. If you want +a lining for a purse or a cardcase you can paste in +either silk or a thin leather. It's pretty to make +an openwork design and let the lining show through."</p> + +<p>"How about sewing purses? It must be hard +work."</p> + +<p>"Helen does mine on the machine. She says it +isn't much trouble if she goes slowly and takes a few +stitches back at the ends so they won't come apart. +But I'm going to show you how to make a little +three cornered purse that doesn't need any sewing—only +two glove snappers."</p> + +<p>So simple was this pattern that each of them had +finished one by the time that Grandmother Emerson's +car came to take them all over to luncheon at +her house.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE ETHELS COOK TO KEEP</div> + + +<div class='cap'>ANOTHER week rolled on and still no reply +came to the cable that the Club had sent to +Mademoiselle Millerand.</div> + +<p>"Either she hasn't received it," said Ethel Blue, +who felt a personal interest because it had been +signed by her as Secretary of the club, "or Mr. +Schuler is dead and she doesn't want to tell us."</p> + +<p>"It's pretty sure to be one or the other," said +Ethel Brown. "I suppose we might as well forget +that we tried to do anything about it."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard Roger or Helen say anything +about Fräulein lately?"</p> + +<p>"Helen said she looked awfully sad and that she +was wearing black. Evidently she has no hope."</p> + +<p>"Poor Fräulein!"</p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/p222.jpg" width="500" height="291" alt="Bag for a doll, a child or a grown-up" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Bag for a doll, a child or a grown-up</span> +</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 184px;"> +<img src="images/p222a.png" width="184" height="400" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"What are we going to do this week?"</p> + +<p>"I've planned the cunningest little travelling bag +for a doll. It's a straight strip of leather, tooled in +a pretty pattern. It's doubled in halves and there +is a three-cornered piece let in at the ends to give a +bit more room."</p> + +<p>"How do you fasten it?"</p> + +<p>"Like a Boston bag, with a strap that goes over +the top."</p> + +<p>"You could run a cord in and out parallel with the +top and pull it up."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I believe I'll make two and try both ways."</p> + +<p>"You could make the same pattern only a little +larger for a wrist bag for an +older child."</p> + + +<p>"And larger still for a shopping +bag for a grown person."</p> + +<p>"That's as useful a pattern +as Helen's and Margaret's +wrapper pattern! Do you realize +that this is the week that +we ought to cook?"</p> + +<p>"Is it? We'll have to hurry +fearfully! Are you perfectly +sure the things will keep?"</p> + +<p>"I've talked it over several +times with Miss Dawson, the +domestic science teacher. She +has given me some splendid receipts +and some information +about packing. She says there won't be any doubt +of their travelling all right."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We'll have to cook every afternoon, then. +We'd better go over the receipts and see if we have +all the materials we need."</p> + +<p>"We know about the cookies and the fruit cake +and the fudge. We've made all those such a short +time ago that we know we have those materials. +Here are ginger snaps," she went on, examining her +cook book. "We haven't enough molasses I'm sure, +and I'm doubtful about the ginger."</p> + +<p>"Let me see."</p> + +<p>Ethel Blue read over the receipt.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients"> +<tr><td align='left'>"1 pt. molasses—dark</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup butter</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 tablespoon ginger</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 teaspoon soda</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 teaspoon cinnamon</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class="hang1">"About 2 quarts flour, or enough more to make +a thick dough.</div></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<p>"Sift flour, soda, and spices together. Melt the +butter, put the molasses in a big bowl, add the butter, +then the flour gradually, using a knife to cut it in. +When stiff enough to roll, roll out portions quite +thin on a floured board, cut out with a cookie cutter +or with the cover of a baking powder can. Place +them on greased tins, leaving a little space between +each cookie. Bake in a hot oven about five minutes."</p> + +<p>"Miss Dawson says we must let the cookies get +perfectly cold before we pack them. Then we must +wrap them in paraffin paper and pack them tightly +into a box."</p> + +<p>"They ought to be so tight that they won't rattle +round and break."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If we could get enough tin boxes it would be +great."</p> + +<p>"Let's ask Grandmother Emerson and Aunt +Louise and all Mother's friends to save their biscuit +boxes for us."</p> + +<p>"We ought to have thought of asking them before. +And we must go out foraging for baking powder tins +to steam the little fruit puddings and the small loaves +of Boston brown bread in."</p> + +<p>"What a jolly idea!"</p> + +<p>"Miss Dawson says that when they are cold we +can slip them out of their tins and brush the bread +and pudding and cake over with pure alcohol. That +will kill the mould germs and it will all be evaporated +by the time they are opened."</p> + +<p>"If there is paraffin paper around them, too, and +they are slipped back into their little round tins it +seems to me they ought to be as cosy and good as possible."</p> + +<p>"I'm awfully taken with the individual puddings. +We can make them all different sizes according +to the size of the tins we get hold of. Doesn't this +sound good?"</p> + +<p>Ethel read aloud the pudding receipt with an appreciative +smile.</p> + + +<div class='center'>"Steamed Fruit Pudding</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients"> +<tr><td align='left'>"2½ cups flour</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3 teaspoons baking powder</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ teaspoon salt</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">¼ teaspoon cinnamon</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ teaspoon nutmeg or ginger</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup chopped suet</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup chopped raisins</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ cup cleaned currants</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup water or milk</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup molasses (dark)</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"Sift soda, salt, baking powder, and spice with the +flour, add the suet and fruit, then the molasses and +milk. Mix well. Fill moulds two-thirds full. +Steam three hours."</p> + +<p>"When we do them up we can arrange them so +that no bundle will contain both a fruit cake and a +fruit pudding. We must have variety."</p> + +<p>"I asked particularly about wheat bread. The +papers say that that is scarce, you know."</p> + +<p>"Did Miss Dawson say it would travel?"</p> + +<p>"No, she thought it would be as hard as shoe +leather. But she says the Boston brown bread ought +to be soft enough even after six weeks. If we can +make enough small loaves—"</p> + +<p>"Baking powder tin loaves—"</p> + +<p>"Yes—to have a loaf of bread and a fruit cake +or a fruit pudding or a box of cookies—"</p> + +<p>"That is, one cake—"</p> + +<p>"—and some candy in each package that we do up +it will give variety."</p> + +<p>"It sounds good to me. We'll have to hide all +our things away from Roger."</p> + +<p>"Listen to this receipt:</p> + + +<div class='center'>"Boston Brown Bread</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients"> +<tr><td align='left'>"1 cup rye meal (or flour)</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup granulated corn-meal</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup Graham flour</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 cups sour milk or 1¾ cups sweet milk or water</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 teaspoon salt</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">¾ teaspoon soda</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">¾ cup molasses (dark)</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"Mix and sift the dry ingredients, add molasses +and milk, stir until well mixed, turn into a well +greased mould, steam 3½ hours. The cover should +be greased before being placed on the mould, then +tied down with a string, otherwise the bread might +force off the cover. The mould should never be +filled more than two-thirds full. For steaming, +place the mould on a stand (or on nails laid flat) in +a kettle of boiling water, allowing water to come half +way up around mould, cover closely, and steam, +add, as needed, more boiling water."</p> + +<p>"'Mould' is polite for baking powder tin."</p> + +<p>"I wish our family was small enough for us to +have them. They're just too dear!"</p> + +<p>"Some time after the Christmas Ship sails let's +make some for the family—one for each person."</p> + +<p>"That's a glorious idea. I never do have enough +on Sunday morning and you know how Roger teases +every one of us to give him part of ours."</p> + +<p>"All these 'eats' that travel so well will be splendid +to send for Christmas gifts to people at a distance, +won't they? People like Katharine Jackson in Buffalo."</p> + +<p>"And the Wilson children at Fort Myer," and +the Ethels named other young people whom they +had met at different garrisons and Navy Yards.</p> + +<p>"Here are three kinds of candies that Miss Dawson +says ought to travel perfectly if they're packed +so they won't shake about Here's 'Roly Poly' to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +start with. I can see Katharine's eyes shining over +that."</p> + +<p>"And the orphans', too."</p> + +<p>Ethel read the receipt.</p> + + +<div class='center'>"Roly Poly</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients"> +<tr><td align='left'>"2 lbs. brown sugar</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup cream</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 tablespoons butter</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ pint (1 cup) chopped figs</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup chopped almonds</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 cups chopped dates</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup citron, cut in pieces</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ cup chopped pecans</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ cup chopped cherries</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ cup chopped raisins</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"Cook sugar, cream and butter together until a +little forms a soft ball when dropped in a cup of cold +water. Then add the nuts and fruit. Put it all in a +wet cotton bag, mould into a roll on a smooth surface. +Remove from the bag and cut as desired."</p> + +<p>"I like the sound of 'Sea Foam.' Della tried +that, and said it was delicious.</p> + + +<div class='center'>"Sea Foam</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients"> +<tr><td align='left'>"2 cups brown sugar</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ cup water</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 teaspoon vanilla</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 cup chopped nuts</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1 white of egg</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"Beat the white of egg until stiff. Boil the sugar +and water together until a little forms a soft ball<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +when dropped in a cup of cold water. Add the +vanilla and nuts, beat this into the white of egg. +When it stiffens pour it into a greased pan, or drop +it by spoonsful on the pan."</p> + +<p>"It sounds delicious. When we fill James's pretty +boxes with these goodies and tie them with attractive +paper and cord they are going to look like 'some' +Christmas to these poor little kiddies."</p> + +<p>"Don't you wish we could see them open them?"</p> + +<p>"If Mademoiselle would only send that Belgian +baby we really could."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid Mademoiselle has forgotten us utterly."</p> + +<p>"It isn't surprising. But I wish she hadn't."</p> + +<p>"We must get plenty of brown sugar. This +'Panocha' calls for it, as well as the 'Sea Foam' and +the 'Roly Poly.'"</p> + +<p>"We'll have to borrow a corner of Mary's storeroom +for once."</p> + +<p>"She won't mind. She's as interested as we are +in the orphans. Let me see how the 'Panocha' goes.</p> + + +<div class='center'>"Panocha</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Ingredients"> +<tr><td align='left'>"2 cups brown sugar</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2 tablespoons butter</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ cup milk</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">½ cup chopped nuts of any kind.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"Boil sugar, butter, and milk together until a little +forms a soft ball when dropped in a cup of cold +water. Add the nuts, stir a few moments till +slightly thick, drop by spoonsful on greased tins, or +pour it into a greased tin. When cool cut in blocks."</p> + +<p>The time given by the Ethels to preparing for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +their cooking operations was well spent. Never +once did they have to call on Mary for something +they had forgotten to order, and each afternoon was +pronounced a success when it was over and its results +lay before them.</p> + +<p>"If we just had energy enough we might follow +the plan that the candy store people do when they +have a new clerk. They say that they let her eat all +she wants to for the first few days and then she +doesn't want any more. It would be fun to give the +family all they wanted."</p> + +<p>"We really ought to do it before we set the Club +to work packing all these goodies, but I don't see +how we can with those three boys. We never could +fill them up so they'd stop eating."</p> + +<p>"Nev-<i>er!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Not Roger!"</p> + +<p>"We'll just have to give them a lecture on self-control +and set them to work."</p> + +<p>"It's a glorious lot we've got. Where's Mother? +We must show them to her and Grandmother and +Aunt Louise."</p> + +<p>So there was an exhibit of "food products" that +brought the Ethels many compliments. Shelf upon +shelf of their private kitchen was filled with boxes +and tins, and every day added to the quantity, for +Mary came in occasionally to bring a wee fruit cake, +Aunt Louise sent over cookies, and Mrs. Emerson +added a box of professional candy to the pile.</p> + +<p>"They tell me at the candy store that very +hard candy doesn't last well," she said. "It grows +moist."</p> + +<p>"That's why Miss Dawson gave me these receipts +for softish candies like fudge. It's well to remember<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +that at Christmas time when you're selecting candies +for presents."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe the Ethels ever will buy any +candies again," said Mrs. Morton. "They've become +so expert in making them that they quite look +down on the professionals."</p> + +<p>"Did you see the paper this morning?" asked +Mrs. Emerson.</p> + +<p>When the girls said that they had not, she produced +a clipping.</p> + +<p>"Grandfather thought that perhaps this might +have escaped your notice, so he sent it over."</p> + +<p>Ethel Brown took it and Ethel Blue read it over +her shoulder.</p> + +<div class='center'>CARGO FOR CHRISTMAS SHIP GATHERING +HERE FROM EVERY STATE</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Hundreds of cases containing every conceivable kind of +gift for a child have been received at the Bush Terminal in +Brooklyn, where the Christmas Ship <i>Jason</i>, which will +carry the gifts of American children to the orphans of the +European War is being loaded.</p> + +<p>It became apparent that if the <i>Jason</i> were to get off +within reasonable time, a tremendous force of sorters and +packers would have to be employed. When the situation +was presented over the telephone to Secretary of the Navy +Daniels he secured authorization for Gen. Wood to assign +sixty soldiers to help to get the cargo ready. These men +appeared for duty yesterday afternoon.</p> + +<p>Secretary Daniels has assigned Lieut.-Commander Courtney +to command the Christmas Ship.</p></div> + +<p>"What a fine Santa Claus-y feeling Commander +Courtney must have," said Mrs. Morton. "He's a +friend of your father's, Ethel Brown."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Think of being Santa Claus to all Europe!"</p> + +<p>"Our parcels won't be very visible among several +millions, will they?"</p> + +<p>"You have a wonderfully creditable collection for +ten youngsters working so short a time."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Watkins is keeping in touch with the ship +so that we can make use of every day that she's delayed. +Tom telephoned to Roger this afternoon +that he had been over to the Bush Terminal and +they were sure they wouldn't start before the 10th +of November.</p> + +<p>"That gives us almost a week more, you see."</p> + +<p>"Do you think we could go to New York to see +the <i>Jason</i> sail?" asked Ethel Blue and both girls +waited eagerly for the reply.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Louise and I were saying that the Club +ought to go in a body."</p> + +<p>"If only she doesn't sail during school hours."</p> + +<p>"Even then I think we might manage it for once," +smiled Mrs. Morton, and the Ethels rushed off to +tell Roger and Helen the plan and to telephone it to +Margaret and James.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE CHRISTMAS SHIP SAILS</div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE Rosemont and Glen Point members of the +U. S. C. did not wait for the Watkinses to join +them on Saturday before beginning to do up the +parcels for the Santa Claus Ship. All the small +bundles were wrapped and tied in Dorothy's attic, +but after Mrs. Smith had made a careful examination +of the attic stairs she came to the conclusion +that the large packing cases into which they must be +put for transportation to the Bush Terminal in +Brooklyn could not be taken down without damage +to the walls. It was therefore decided that when +the bundles were ready they were to be brought +downstairs and there packed into several large cases +which had been donated for the purpose by the local +dry goods dealer and the shoe store man.</div> + +<p>Each of these huge boxes James declared to be +probably as large as the mysterious house which +Roger was going to propose for some sort of club +work in the spring. They had been delivered early +in the week and were established on the porch at the +back of the Smith cottage awaiting the contents that +were to bring pleasure to hundreds of expectant children.</p> + +<p>Doctor Hancock was so busy that he could not +bring Margaret's and James's collection to Rosemont +when it was wanted there, so Mrs. Emerson +went to Glen Point in her car and brought it back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +filled high with the result of James's pasting. It +was necessary to have all his boxes to pack the candies +and cookies and small gifts in.</p> + +<p>Every afternoon a busy throng gathered in the +attic, wrapping and tying and labelling the work that +kept them all so busy for the previous two months.</p> + +<p>"We must do up every package just as carefully +as if we were going to put it on our own Christmas +tree," Helen decided. "I think half the fun of +Christmas is untying the bundles and having the +room all heaped up with tissue paper and bright +ribbons."</p> + +<p>The Club had laid in a goodly store of tissue paper +of a great variety of colors, buying it at wholesale +and thus obtaining a discount over the retail price. +The question of what to tie with was a subject of +discussion.</p> + +<p>"We certainly can't afford ribbon," Ethel Brown +declared. "Even the narrowest kind is too expensive +when we have to have hundreds of yards of it."</p> + +<p>"We ought to have thought about it before," said +Helen looking rather worried, as this necessity +should have been foreseen by the president. "I'll +go right over to town and get something now," she +added, putting on her hat. "Have any of you girls +any ideas on the subject?"</p> + +<p>"I have," replied Dorothy. "You know that +bright colored binding that dressmakers use on +seams? It's sometimes silk and sometimes silk +and—"</p> + +<p>"Cotton? Ha!"</p> + +<p>"Silk and cotton; yes, ma'am. It comes in all +colors and it's just the right width and it costs a +good deal less than real ribbon."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I suppose we can get the rolls by wholesale in +assorted colors, can't we?"</p> + +<p>"I should suppose so."</p> + +<p>"I have an idea, too," offered Margaret who had +come over on the trolley after school was over. +"There's a tinsel cord, silver and gilt, that doesn't +cost much and it looks bright and pretty. It would +be just the thing."</p> + +<p>"I've seen that. It does look pretty. For home +packages you can stick a sprig of holly or a poinsettia +in the knot and it makes it C-H-A-R-M-I-N-G," +spelled Ethel Blue, giving herself a whirl in her excitement.</p> + +<p>"But we can't use stick-ups on our Christmas Ship +parcels, you know."</p> + +<p>"That's so, but the tinsel string just by itself is +quite pretty enough."</p> + +<p>"I'll bring back bushels," said Helen. "You have +enough to go on with for a while."</p> + +<p>"One year when Mother and I were caught at the +last minute on Christmas Eve without any ribbon," +said Dorothy, "—it was after the shops had closed, +I remember, we found several bundles that we had +overlooked—we tied them with ordinary red and +green string twisted together. It looked holly-fied."</p> + +<p>"That would be easy to do," said Roger. "See, +put two balls of twine, one red and one green in a +box and punch a hole in the top and let the two +colors come out of the hole. Then use them just as +if they were one cord. See?"</p> + +<p>"As he talked he manufactured a twine box, popping +into it not only the red and green balls about +which he had been talking, but, on the other side of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +a slip of pasteboard which he put in for a partition, +a ball of pink and a ball of blue.</p> + +<p>"Watch Roger developing another color scheme," +cried Ethel Blue. "I'm going to follow that out," +and she proceeded to make up a collection of parcels +wrapped in pink tissue paper tied with blue string, +in blue paper tied with pink cord and in white tied +with Roger's combination.</p> + +<p>"There's one family fitted out with a lot of presents +all naturally belonging together," she cried.</p> + +<p>"I rather like that notion myself," announced +James gravely, adjusting his lame leg to a more comfortable +position. "Please hand me that brown and +yellow tissue, somebody. I'm going to make a lot of +bundles along the color lines that my auburn haired +sister uses in her dress."</p> + +<p>"Observant little Jimmy," commented Margaret.</p> + +<p>"Here you perceive, ladies, that I am doing up the +bundles with brown and yellow and burnt orange and +tango, and lemon color, and I'm tying them with a +contrast—brown with orange and buttercup yellow +with brown and lemon yellow with white and so on. +Good looking, eh?" he finished, pointing with pride +to his group of attractive parcels.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to do a bunch with a mixture of all +sorts," announced Roger. "Here's a green tied with +red and a white tied with green and a pink tied with +white and a brown tied with tango, and violet tied +with blue, <i>und so weiter</i>, as our Fräulein says when +she means 'and so forth' and can't remember her +English fast enough."</p> + +<p>"Poor Fräulein! It will be a hard Christmas for +her."</p> + +<p>"She brought in the last of her work and Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +Hindenburg's yesterday. Such a mound of knitting!"</p> + +<p>"Has any one been to the Old Ladies' Home to +gather up what they have there?" asked James.</p> + +<p>"Roger went early this morning before school. +Perhaps those old ladies haven't been busy! See +that pile?"</p> + +<p>"All theirs? Good work," and James set about +tying up the soft and comfortable knitted mufflers +and wristlets and socks, first in tissue paper with a +ribbon or a bright cord and then with a stouter wrapper +of ordinary paper. He marked on each package +what was in it.</p> + +<p>"If the people who are doing the sorting and repacking +at the Bush Terminal can know what is in +each bundle it is going to help them a lot," remarked +methodical James.</p> + +<p>The packing of the candies and cookies took especial +care, for they had to be wrapped in paraffin +paper and tightly wedged in the fancy boxes awaiting +them before they could be wrapped with their +gay outside coverings.</p> + +<p>"We want them to arrive with some shape still +left to them and not merely a boxful of crumbs," +said Ethel Brown earnestly.</p> + +<p>Except for the collections of varied presents which +they had made for the sake of the color schemes of +their wrappings—an arrangement with which Helen +was much pleased when she came back laden with +ribbons and cord—the gifts were packed according +to their kind. Every article of clothing was +wrapped separately and the bundles were labelled, +each with the name of the article within, and then +put into one large box. It was only by great squeezing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +that the knitted articles were persuaded to go +into the same case.</p> + +<p>In another box were the candies and cookies and +cakes and breads. The grocer from whom they had +bought the materials for their cooking had contributed +a dozen tins of peaches.</p> + +<p>In still another case went the seemingly innumerable +small parcels that held toys or little gifts. +Here were the metal pieces and the leather coin +purses and the stuffed animals and the dolls. Doctor +Hancock had sent over a box of raisins and Mrs. +Watkins had sent out from town a box of figs and a +few of these goodies with two or three pieces of +candy, went into every article that could be made to +serve as a container. Of this sort were the innumerable +fancy bags made of silk bits and of cretonne and +of scraps of velvet which the girls had put together +when other work flagged. Many of the pretty little +baskets held a pleasant amount of sweeties, and the +tiny leather travelling bags and the larger wrist bags +of tooled leather were lined with a piece of paraffin +paper enclosing something for sweet-toothed European +children.</p> + +<p>James's boxes, with those made by the others, held +out wonderfully.</p> + +<p>"You certainly put in a good week's work with the +paste pot," declared Roger admiringly as he filled +the last one with sugar cookies and tied it with green +and red twine to harmonize with its covering of holly +paper.</p> + +<p>The Watkinses had sent out their offerings, for +they wanted what they had at home to be packed +with the other Club articles, even though they lived +nearer than the rest to the place from which the ship<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +was going to steam. When this additional collection +was prepared and packed it was found that there +were three big packing cases.</p> + +<p>"Good for the U. S. C.!" cried the boys as the +last nail went into the last cover.</p> + +<p>James, who printed well, painted the address +neatly on the tops and sides, and they all watched +with vivid interest the drayman who hauled them, +away, generously contributing his services to the +Christmas cause.</p> + +<p>After all their hurry it seemed something of a +hardship when they were informed that the sailing +of the ship was delayed for several days because the +force of packers, large as it was, could not prepare +all the parcels in time for the tenth of the month.</p> + +<p>"The paper says there are more than sixty car-loads +of gifts," read Ethel Blue to her interested +family, "and five or six million separate presents."</p> + +<p>"No wonder they're delayed!"</p> + +<p>Yet after all they were glad of the delay for the +<i>Jason</i> finally sailed at noon of the fourteenth, and +that was Saturday. The Hancocks went in to New +York and over to Brooklyn in the Doctor's car and +Mrs. Emerson's big touring car held all the Mortons +and Dorothy and her mother, and Fräulein and her +mother, though it was a tight squeeze.</p> + +<p>"The old woman who lived in a shoe must have +been on her way to a Christmas Ship," cried Grandmother +when Roger tossed Dicky in "on top of the +heap of Ethels," as he described it and took up his +own station on the running board.</p> + +<p>The pier at the Bush Terminal in Brooklyn was +already well crowded with people and motors when +the Rosemont party arrived. The Watkinses and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +the Hancocks were already there. Freight cars +stood at one side, freight cars empty now of their +loads of good cheer. Everybody was laughing and +happy and in a Christmas mood, and the boy band +from St. John's Home in Brooklyn made merry +music.</p> + +<p>Thanks to Mrs. Morton's acquaintance with Lieutenant-Commander +Courtney, who was in command +of the ship, she and her flock had been invited to +hear the speeches of farewell made in the main +saloon by representatives of the city of New York.</p> + +<p>Roger led the way to the gang plank which +stretched from the pier to the deck of the huge navy +collier.</p> + +<p>"Old <i>Jason</i> looks grim enough in his gray war +paint," he commented.</p> + +<p>"But those great latticed arms of the six cranes +look as if he were trying to play Christmas tree," +suggested Mrs. Emerson.</p> + +<p>The speeches were full of good will and Christmas +cheer. Back on to the pier went the listeners +and then amid the cheers of the throng on the dock +and the whistles of near-by boats and the strains +of "The Star Spangled Banner" from the boys' band +and the waving of handkerchiefs and hats, the huge +gray steamer slipped out into the stream and started +on her way across the ocean.</p> + +<p>It was when the U. S. C. was making its way back +to the automobiles that a piercing scream attracted +their attention.</p> + +<p>"That sounds like Fräulein's voice," said Helen, +looking about for the source of the cry.</p> + +<p>"<i>Meine Tochter!</i>" exclaimed Mrs. Hindenburg at +the same moment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> + +<p>And then they came upon Fräulein, her arms about +the neck of a bearded man, who stroked her hair and +cheek with one hand while with the other he clung to +one of the crutches which gave him but an insecure +support.</p> + +<p>"<i>Lieber Heinrich!</i>" cried Mrs. Hindenburg as she +caught sight of the tableau.</p> + +<p>"It's—yes, I believe it's Mr. Schuler! Look, +Helen, do you think it is?" whispered Roger.</p> + +<p>"It must be," returned Helen. "It's hard to tell +with that beard, but I'm almost sure it is."</p> + +<p>"His leg! Oh, Helen, his leg is gone!" lamented +Ethel Blue.</p> + +<p>The Rosemont party's certainty was relieved by +Mrs. Hindenburg who turned to them, beaming.</p> + +<p>"It iss Mr. Schuler; it iss Heinrich," she explained. +"<i>He</i> has lost his leg. What matter? +He is here and the <i>Tochter</i> is happy!"</p> + +<p>Happy indeed was Fräulein when she turned her +tear-stained face toward the others.</p> + +<p>"He has come," she said simply, while the rest +crowded around and shook hands.</p> + +<p>It seemed that he had obtained leave to return to +America because he had lost his leg and could fight +no more. Yes, he said, Mademoiselle Millerand +had nursed him when his leg was taken off.</p> + +<p>The spectators of the moving pictures looked at +each other and nodded.</p> + +<p>Mademoiselle had sent a message to the Secretary +of the United Service Club, he went on. It was—he +took a slip of paper from his pocket book.</p> + +<p>"Message received. Answered in person."</p> + +<p>The Club members laughed at this whose whole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +meaning it was clear that Mr. Schuler did not appreciate.</p> + +<p>He had arrived, it seemed, only two hours before, +on an Italian boat, and had heard on the way up +from Quarantine of the sailing of the Christmas +Ship and so had crossed to wave a farewell before +going out to Rosemont.</p> + +<p>"And here I have found my best fortune," he said +over and over again, his eyes resting fondly on +Fräulein's face.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A WEDDING AND A SURPRISE</div> + + +<div class='cap'>IT was a simple wedding that the U. S. C. went to +in a body a few days after the arrival of the convalescent +German soldier. Mr. Wheeler, the principal +of the high school, acted as best man, and Miss +Dawson, the domestic science teacher, was maid of +honor, but Fräulein also gathered about her in the +cottage sitting-room where the ceremony took place +a group of the young girls who had been kindest to +her when she was in trouble.</div> + +<p>"I want you and the Ethels and Dorothy," she said +to Helen; "and if your friends, Della and Margaret, +would come with you it would give me greatest pleasure."</p> + +<p>So the girls, all dressed in white, and wearing the +forget-me-not pins that Grandfather Emerson insisted +on giving them for the occasion, clustered +around the young teacher, and the three boys, a +forget-me-not in each scarfpin, held the ribbons that +pressed gently back the cordial friends who were +happy in Fräulein's happiness.</p> + +<p>It was the Club that decorated the house with +brown sedges and stalks of upstanding tawny corn +and vines of bittersweet. And it was the Club that +sang a soft German marriage song as the bride and +groom drove off toward the setting sun in Grandmother +Emerson's car.</p> + +<p>Life seemed rather flat to the members of the U.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +S. C. after the wedding. For the last two months +they had been so busy that every hour had been filled +with work and play-work, and now that there was +nothing especial scheduled for every waking moment +it seemed as if they had nothing at all to do.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to ask Roger about his house," +laughed James who came over with Margaret one +afternoon and confessed to the same feeling.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," answered Helen.</p> + +<p>"Helen is full of ideas up to her very eyebrows, I +believe," said Ethel Blue. "She's just giving us a +holiday."</p> + +<p>"Mother said we needed one," assented Helen. +"After we've had a few days' rest we can start on +something else. There's no need to call on Roger +yet awhile."</p> + +<p>"Why not? My idea is a perfectly good one," insisted +Roger, strolling in.</p> + +<p>Just at this minute Mary entered with a note for +"The Secretary of the United Service Club."</p> + +<p>"For you, Ethel Blue," said Roger, handing it to +his cousin.</p> + +<p>Ethel Blue slipped a cutter under the edge while +the others waited expectantly, for the address indicated +that the contents was of interest to all of +them.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" she cried as she read. +"What is it? Is it true?"</p> + +<p>She was so excited that they all crowded around +her to see what had taken away her power of explanation.</p> + +<p>The letter was signed "Justine Millerand."</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle," cried all who could see the signature.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She says," read Ethel Blue, finding her strength +again, "'Here is the Belgian baby you asked for. +She is two years old and her name is "Elisabeth," +after the Queen of Belgium!'"</p> + +<p>"Is that all?"</p> + +<p>"That's all."</p> + +<p>"But she says, '<i>Here</i> is the Belgian baby.' +<i>Where</i> is the Belgian baby?"</p> + +<p>They turned toward Mary who had remained in +the room.</p> + +<p>"There's a Red Cross nurse in the reception +room," she explained. "She said she'd rather you +read the letter first."</p> + +<p>They made a rush for the door. Roger reached +it first and ushered the nurse into the living room. +She was dressed in her grey uniform and sheltered +under her cape the thinnest, wannest mite of humanity +that ever the Club had seen outside of the +streets of a city slum.</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle Millerand said you had asked for +a Belgian baby," she began, but she was interrupted +by a cry from the entire throng.</p> + +<p>"We did; we did," they exclaimed so earnestly +that any doubts she may have felt about the cordiality +of their reception of her nursling were banished at +once.</p> + +<p>"Your mother?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe Mother really expected it to come, +any more than we did," replied Helen frankly, "but +she will love it just as we will, and we'll take the very +best of care of her."</p> + +<p>She offered her finger to Elisabeth, who clutched it +and gazed solemnly at her out of her sunken blue +eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ethel Blue in the back of the group gave a sob.</p> + +<p>"She'll pick up soon when she has good food every +day," the nurse reassured them, and then she told +them of her own experiences.</p> + +<p>She had been, it seemed, in the same hospital with +Mademoiselle in Belgium. Out on the field one day +a bit of shrapnel had wounded her foot so that she +was forced to come home. Mademoiselle had asked +her to bring over this mite "to the kindest young people +in the world," and here she was.</p> + +<p>The baby's father and mother were both dead, she +went on. That she knew.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure her name is Elisabeth?" asked Dorothy.</p> + +<p>"That's what she calls herself."</p> + +<p>By this time Elisabeth had made friends with +every one of them and was sitting comfortably on +one of Roger's knees while Dicky occupied the other +and made acceptable gestures toward her.</p> + +<p>"She'll be happy here," said the nurse, and rose to +explain her visit to Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>Like the girls, Mrs. Morton had not expected that +Mademoiselle would respond to their request for a +Belgian baby and she was somewhat taken back by +its appearance.</p> + +<p>"I can see that you did not look for her," the nurse +suggested, "but when you are on the spot and are +seeing such hideous distress every day and a chance +opens to relieve just one little child, it is more than +you can resist. I know that is why Mademoiselle +Millerand sent her."</p> + +<p>"I quite understand," responded Mrs. Morton +cordially. "Elisabeth shall have a happy home in +Rosemont."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And a baker's dozen of fathers and mothers to +make up for her own," said James.</p> + +<p>"And we're grateful to you for bringing her," +said Ethel Blue, offering her hand.</p> + +<p>It was after the nurse had had a cup of tea and +had returned to New York that Helen called the +Club to order formally.</p> + +<p>"The Club has got its work cut out for it for a +long time to come," she said. "I don't think we +have any right to bring this baby over to America +and then send it to an orphanage, though that would +be the easiest way to do."</p> + +<p>"We'll never do that," said Margaret firmly.</p> + +<p>"If we are going to take care of it it means that +we'll have to earn money for it and give it our personal +care. Now, all in favor of accepting Elisabeth +as our Club baby, say 'Aye.'"</p> + +<p>There was a hearty assent.</p> + +<p>"There are no contrary-minded," declared the +president. "From now on she belongs to us."</p> + +<p>"And here's my forget-me-not pin to prove it," +said Ethel Blue, fastening it on the baby's dress.</p> + +<p>"Just what we'll have to do about her we must +think out carefully and talk over with our mothers," +went on Helen. "But this minute we can accept our +new club member and cry all together, 'Three cheers +for Elisabeth of Belgium.'"</p> + +<p>And at the shout that followed, Elisabeth of Belgium +gave her first faint smile.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />THE END</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Girl Aviators Adventures</h2> + +<div class='author'>By MARGARET BURNHAM</div> + + +<p>Contact! Gas! Ignition! with a roar of motors and whirling +propellers the Aviator Girls glide down the runway. Gracefully +the big ship takes the air, circles the airport and they are off on +their glorious adventures among the clouds. These books are +printed from an easily readable type, bound in cloth, and jacketed +in an illustrative wrapper printed in full colors and varnished.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Girl Aviator series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. <span class="smcap">Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. <span class="smcap">Girl Aviators on Golden Wings</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. <span class="smcap">Girl Aviators Sky Cruise</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. <span class="smcap">Girl Aviators Motor Butterfly</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Motor Maids Travels</h2> + +<div class='author'>By KATHERINE STOKES</div> + + +<p>A fast motor and the thrill of the open road, with the whole +world for a playground. Come with the adventurous Motor Maids +as they surmount every obstacle and unravel every mystery they +encounter in all parts of the world. The easily readable type and +cloth binding jacketed in an attractive illustrative wrapper that +is varnished makes the books a welcome addition to any library.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Motor Mairds"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. <span class="smcap">Motor Maids' School Days</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. <span class="smcap">Motor Maids Across the Continent</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. <span class="smcap">Motor Maids at Sunrise Camp</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. <span class="smcap">Motor Maids in Fair Japan</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +<i>For sale at all Booksellers or sent<br /> +Postpaid on receipt of 40 cents</i><br /> +<br /><br /> + +<br /> +M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY<br /> +<span class='small'>711 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET, CHICAGO</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>VICTORY<br /> +BOY SCOUTS</h2> + + +<p>Come with the Boy Scouts on their hikes, learn with them +secrets of woods and waters, join them at their council fires, +overcome with them the many problems and trials that make +the Boy Scouts the outstanding young men in their community.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Boy Scouts series"> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">1. Afloat; or, Adventures on Watery Trails</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">2. Boy Scouts in an Airship</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">3. Boy Scout Electricians</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">4. Boy Scouts on Open Plains</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">5. The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">6. Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">7. Great Hike; or, the Pride of Khaki Troop</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">8. Pathfinder; or, the Missing Tenderfoot</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">9. Storm-bound; or, a Vacation Among the Snow Drifts</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>10. Tenderfoot Squad; or, Camping at Raccoon Bluff</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>11. Under Canvas; or, The Search for the Carteret Ghost</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>12. Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +<i>For sale at all Booksellers or sent<br /> +Postpaid on receipt of 40 cents</i><br /> +<br /><br /> + +<br /> +M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY<br /> +<span class='small'>711 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET, CHICAGO</span><br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ethel Morton and the Christmas Ship, by +Mabell S. C. 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