WHAT TWOCHILDREN DID

BYCHARLOTTE E. CHITTENDEN

NEW YORKHURST & COMPANYPUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1903, BY GEORGE W. JACOBS & CO. _Published, September, 1903_

[E-book Transcriber's Note: Obvious typos have been corrected andmissing punctuation provided. ]

Contents

 I. ON THE WAY II. AT THE SHORE III. BETH AND HER DOLLS IV. THE WEDDING V. THE NEW WAY VI. A PLAN VII. THE SECRET VIII. THE REWARD IX. ONCE A YEAR X. BETH'S BIRTHDAY XI. THE DAY AFTER XII. SUNDAY XIII. THE FOUR TOGETHER XIV. THE WEDDING AND THE VISIT XV. THE LOST INVITATION XVI. THE MAIL AND ETHELWYN'S VISIT XVII. OUT AT GRANDMOTHER'SXVIII. HOW THEY BOUGHT A BABY XIX. BOBBY'S GRANDFATHER XX. THE VISIT TO THE HOME

What Two Children Did

_CHAPTER I__On the Way_

 In the train we're watching Outdoors speeding by: Endless moving pictures, Framed by earth and sky. 

"Mistakes are very easy to make, I think, " said Ethelwyn, with an uneasylook at her mother who sat opposite, thinking hard about something. Thereason Ethelwyn knew her mother was thinking, was because at such timestwo little lines came and stood between her eyes, like sentinels. 

"Do you think God made a mistake when He sent us here?" asked Beth. 

They were in a Pullman car which was moving rapidly along in thedarkness. Inside it was very bright and beautiful, and would have beenmost interesting to the children, had it not been for those two lines intheir dear mother's face. 

"She is thinking about the naughty things we have done, " said Ethelwynto Beth in a tragic tone, at the same time taking a mournful bite out ofa large, sugary cooky. They had eaten steadily since starting, and anyone who did not understand children, would have been alarmed at possibleconsequences. 

On the seat between them there was a hospitable-looking basket with ahandle over the middle and two covers that opened on either side of thehandle. Underneath the covers and the napkins the children, entirely totheir joy, had found sandwiches without limit. Some were cut round, others square, and all were without crust; inside they found mincedchicken, creamy and delicious, also ham and a little mustard, and bestof all were the small, brown squares with peanut butter between. 

"It's like Christmas or a birthday, having these sandwiches, " saidEthelwyn. "They're all different and all good, and each one seems betterthan the others. "

Then they began on the cookies, and bit scallops out of the edges, whilebetween times they thought about their last mistake and their mother'sforehead lines. 

Sitting up straight against the velvet cushioned seat, the two childrenlooked about the same age; the two heads were nearly on a level, as wereboth pairs of feet stuck out straight in front of them; but Ethelwyn'scame a little farther out than Beth's, and her golden head came a littlefarther up on the seat than Beth's dark one. 

Just now there was a small cloud on their horizon. Although they foundthe interior of their palace car, the porter, and the passengers, fascinating, and the luncheon an endless feast, they both felt thatbefore they slept they must straighten things out; hence their firstquestion. 

Mrs. Rayburn came back presently to a realizing consciousness of the twoanxious faces opposite hers, and with a smile dismissed the sentinellines. 

"God never makes mistakes, " said she, with refreshing faith andemphasis. "It is we who do that. "

"I think, " said Beth, slowly pondering on this, "that the old surplus inthe garden of Eden who bothered Adam and Eve has something to do withit. "

"Serpent, child, " said Ethelwyn crushingly, beginning on cake. 

"Surplus, I mean, " said Beth, getting out a piece of cake for herself. "I'd give a good deal, sister, if you wouldn't always count yourchickens before they're hatched!" Whereupon she climbed down and wentover to sit by her mother, where she glared indignantly at her sister. Her dear "bawheady" doll was in her arms. 

This doll was so called because early in life he had lost his wig, andthereby developed a capability for being a baby, a bishop, or a boy. There was a fascinating hole on top of his head, thus making it possibleto secrete things like medicine or food until they were fished out witha buttonhook or darning needle. He was fed on cake now, but wasgenerally given crusts, when there were any, because Beth did not likethem. 

"Why did you ask that question?" asked their mother. 

"We thought you looked as though we'd made you an awful lot of trouble, "said Ethelwyn, regarding the gorgeous ceiling of the car. 

"Yes, you did, although I was not thinking of it just then; you ranaway--"

"Walked, mother, " corrected Beth, "to the 'lectric car, withgrandmother's gold dollar, to go down to buy a trunk specially for ourdolls--"

"It was fun, mother, " put in Ethelwyn, "only when we stood up and fussedto see who'd push the button to get off, the man slowed up so fast weboth fell through a fat man's newspaper into his lap and upon his toes. He was angry too, for he just said 'ugh, ' when we asked him to excuseus, please. The trunk man gave us back four big silver nickels with thetrunk; we put them inside, and you can have them, mother, to help healyour feelings. "

"Your mistake was in not asking--"

"We thought you'd better not be 'sturbed, 'cause ever since grandpa andbrother died, you've thought such a lot, and looked so worried--"

"But I was more worried about you when I found you weren't in the houseor grounds; I thought you might be lost, and I was about telephoning tothe police station about it, when you came, and there was just time tocatch the train. "

Then Ethelwyn got down, and went over to squeeze in on the other side ofher mother. She knelt on the cushions and patted the dear face until thelittle smile they loved, came out again, and drove the care lines away. 

"Children are such a worry, mother, " she said in a funny, prim fashion, "that I should think you'd be sorry you ever bought us. "

"But we are going to be good from now on, so good you'll nearly dielaughing, " said Beth, getting up to pat her side of the face. 

Their mother laughed now in a bright fashion they loved, and squeezedthem up tightly. 

"No, no, chickens, " she said, "I'm never sorry I bought you; you werebargains, both of you, but I've had much to think of, and plan for, inthe last few months, and perhaps I've neglected you somewhat. "

"Can you tell us 'bout things, mother?" asked Ethelwyn. "P'raps we couldhelp some. "

"Yes, I am going to, but not now, for the porter wishes to make up ourbeds. "

"There are stickers in my eyes, " said Beth, yawning. "There's one morequestion I'd like to know about though, " she said as they moved acrossthe aisle. "If God can't make mistakes, why does He let it be so easyfor folks to?"

"That I don't just know, " said her mother, "but it's a good sign when weknow they are mistakes. "

It was only a short time after this that they were all asleep in theircurtained beds, and while it was still dark, and the children were toosleepy to realize much about it, they reached their destination and weredriven to the seashore, cottage where they were to spend the summer. 

_CHAPTER II__At the Shore_

 Underneath the washing waves The requiem of the sea, For those whose hopes are buried there, Is tolling ceaselessly. 

It was interesting to go to sleep in a Pullman car, and to wake up in adainty room hung with rosebud chintz draperies, and with an altogetherdelightful air of coziness about it. 

But there was something outside their room that, like a magnet, drewthem out of bed. They climbed on chairs, and gazed eagerly out of thewindows. 

The house they were in, was on a hill. Pine trees grew near, and therebelow them and very near, was the great silvery blue sea, with thesunshine flashing on its tossing waves? The children gasped withdelight. 

"It's another door to Paradise, " said Ethelwyn. 

"The gold place that shows where the sun sets is another one, " saidElizabeth. Then they heard their mother, who had come in quietly, and ina moment was cuddling them up in her arms. 

"We've lost a lot of time, I'm afraid, " said Ethelwyn after they hadgiven her a bear hug and a kiss. 

"That ocean is the prettiest thing, mother. P'raps that's the way toParadise where father and grandfather and brother have gone. "

"Yes, " said their mother, helping them into their clothes. "It is one ofthe ways. "

"Tell us about this place, please, " begged Ethelwyn, "and how wehappened to come to such a de-lic-ious place. Will you have to work sohard, motherdy, here? And will the little lines come between your eyes?"Whereupon Elizabeth at once abandoned to their fate, her harness garterswith their many buckles, and climbed up to see. Yes, the lines had gone, and she kissed the place to make sure before she climbed down again. 

"Hoty potys is the twissedest things, " she remarked, worse tangled thanever. 

"Hose supporters, dear child, " corrected Ethelwyn with the exasperatingair that always roused Beth's wrath. 

"This cottage, " mother hastened to say, while she untangled the buckleswith one hand and buttoned Ethelwyn's waist with the other, "belongs toMrs. Stevens and her daughter, Dorothy. I have known them for years. Recently they wrote asking me to bring you children and come to them forthe summer; they, too, were lonely, and they knew that I needed rest, quiet, and time to plan for the future. There are few people livinghere but fisher folk--"

"Christ's people?"

"Yes, like them in trade, at least. They are poor and need help--"

"Are we rich people now, and can we buy things for them?"

"Your grandfather left you a great deal of money, children, and you mustlearn to use it generously. It was his wish, and mine, that you shouldbegin at once to think about such things before you learn to love moneyfor its own sake, and what it will buy. "

"O, we don't care at all, do we, sister?" said Beth, stretching up ontiptoe to get her "bawheady" from the bureau. "We'd just as lief give itaway as not, 'cause we've always you, mother dear. "

"Is the money more than grandmother's gold dollar?" asked Ethelwyn. 

"Much more. "

"O, then we'll have fun spending it for folks; I'd like to. But, oh, I'm hungrier than I ever was before. "

"Me, too, " said Beth. "I feel a great big appeltite inside me. "

They decided at once that the dining-room also was charming, with itscheery open fire of snapping pine knots, for the air outside was chilly. Then, too, there was a parrot on a pole, who greeted them with, "Well, well, well, what's all this? Did you ever?"

Miss Dorothy Stevens had the kind of face that children take to at once. There never could be any question about Aunty Stevens, who laughed everytime they said anything, and who on top of their excellent breakfast, brought them in some most delicious cookies--just the kind you wouldknow she could make, sugary and melty, entirely perfect, in fact, --totake down on the beach for luncheon. 

After breakfast was over they at once started for the beach. SierraNevada, their colored nurse, following them with small buckets, shovels, wraps, and cushions. 

"Mother, this is the nicest place, and I love the Stevenses; but why arethey sad around the eyes, and dressed in black, like you? Has theirfather gone to Paradise too?" asked Ethelwyn, as they walked along. 

"Yes, dear. Besides, the young captain whom Dorothy was going to marrywent away last year and, his ship was wrecked and he has never beenheard from. So they fear he was drowned. "

"O, mother, can this pretty sea do that? What was it they were sayingabout a tide?"

Their mother tried to explain all she knew about the tides, and when shehad finished, Ethelwyn said:

"I think it would be easier to remember to call it tied, and thenuntied. "

_CHAPTER III__Beth and Her Dolls_

 Dollie's poor mother is quite full of care, As she who lived in a shoe, For this child is tousled, this one undressed-- Mother has all she can do. More dollies there are, than possible clothes, Some of them must go to bed. And some to be healed by mother with glue, Lacking an arm or a head. Then others, wearing the invalid's clothes, Care not a fling or a jot Nor know that to-morrow their own fate may be The bed, or the mucilage pot. 

The first Sunday that the children were at the seashore was warm andbeautiful. 

Mrs. Rayburn and Mrs. Stevens went to church in the picturesque stonechapel built by a sea captain, as a memorial to his daughter who wasdrowned on the coast some years before this. 

"We'll be really better girls to stay at home some of the church time, "said Ethelwyn at breakfast, "we'll go this evening with Miss Dorothy. "

"My dolls are needing a bath and their best clothes for Sunday-school, "said Beth to Ethelwyn, who had decided to go down on the beach; "and Ican do it all comfy and nice while you are gone. "

So Ethelwyn and 'Vada went for a run on the beach, and mother Elizabeth, with a look of happy care on her face, and her beloved six dolls in herarms, came out on the porch, where she had already taken a basin ofwater, soap, a tiny sponge, and towels. 

Directly she became aware of some one near her, and looking up saw agirl with dark eyes and short, straight hair watching the proceedingswith much interest, her hands clasped behind her back. 

"My name is Nan, " said the visitor as soon as she caught Elizabeth'seye, "Who are you? Is this your house? We've just come, and mother is inbed with a headache, and father's gone to church, so I'm roaming aroundseeking something to devour--"

"Does that mean eat?" said Elizabeth, a scene in one of her picturebooks of lions devouring their prey coming into her mind. 

"I think it's what my father calls a figure of speech. He's aminister--a clergyman, you know. We've come down here to board, and he'sgoing to have the services in the Chapel of the Heavenly Rest. Mother'ssick about always, so I have to roam around--Say, I know a game; let'sbaptize your children. "

"They don't need it; they're not born in sin--"

"Everything is, " emphatically. "Don't try to teach a minister's childthings, for pity's sake. I'll do the baptizing. Come along. "

The rainwater barrel, half sunken in the ground, was at one of the rearcorners of the house. 

"We are not allowed to play in that, I think, " said Elizabeth uneasily. 

"That doesn't mean me, I'm older'n you. Here, give me the doll without awig. "

Down went the beloved "bawheady" with a thud that carried desolation toBeth's tender heart. Four others followed in quick succession beforeBeth could protest. Then clinging to Arabella, she started to run. Nantried to run after her, but caught her foot on the barrel's brim andstraightway joined the five dolls. Elizabeth opened her mouth to shriek, when in an opportune moment, a young man appeared on the scene, andspeedily fished out Miss Nan, who dripped and coughed and choked;inarticulate, but evidently wrathy sounds wrestled for utterance in herthroat. At last she shook herself free. 

"I'm perfectly degusted with this whole preformance, " she said as shewent stalking off, dripping as she went. 

Then the young man laughed and laughed, until he became aware ofElizabeth wistfully staring at him. 

"What is it?" he asked. 

"My dolls. They're baptized clear to the bottom; please get 'em out. "

"I'll do it, if you will take this note to Miss Dorothy Stevens, " saidthe young man, at once throwing off his coat and pushing up his shirtsleeve. Beth, before she trotted off, saw that he had a blue anchor onhis arm. When she came back, the rescued five lay stretched on the grassin a pathetic row, and she at once ran to her prostrate children. 

"You are to go to the parlor and tell Miss Dorothy all about it, " shesaid, in passing, to their rescuer. "Your note made Miss Dorothy cry;and she was all white 'round her mouth. Thank you for the dolls, " shecalled as an afterthought. 

So busy was she drying her afflicted family that it was some time afterthe others had reached home that 'Vada, wildly excited, came to findElizabeth and to tell her that Miss Dorothy's sweetheart had come back. 

"From Paradise?" queried Beth, getting up at once and bristling all overwith questions she wanted to ask him about that interesting place. 

"Mighty nigh, " said 'Vada, rolling her eyes. "He was shipwrecked on theraging main, and hit on de head wid somefin that done knock all de senseout of him, so he's pick up by some folks dat didn't know 'im, an' hewent cruisin' aroun', till he come to, and, by 'me by, back to see hissweetheart. "

Elizabeth went into the parlor later on, and stared so insistently atthe young captain that her mother drew her gently to one side andwhispered to her. 

"But I'm anxious to see a sweetheart that has been in Paradise, mother, "she explained. 

_CHAPTER IV__The Wedding_

 Bells ring, Birds sing, Every one is gay; Hearts beat, Chimes sweet, On a bridal day. 

It was one of the things for the children to remember always, that MissDorothy was married while they were there to help. 

They helped so much in the matter of scraping all the cake and icingpans, stoning, and especially eating, raisins, that it was a wonder theywere not ill. 

The morning on which the wedding was to take place dawned as bright andgolden as could be desired. 

It was a very simple, pretty wedding in the stone chapel, towards which, in the early morning, the bridal party walked. Nan, Ethelwyn, andElizabeth went ahead, bearing flowers, and after them came Miss Dorothyin her white gown, clinging to the arm of her sailor lover. 

Mrs. Stevens and the children's mother, together with a few friends, awaited them in the pretty church, and Nan's father married them. Theythen all went to the bride's home for breakfast, immediately afterwhich, the young couple were going away for a year. This fact, and themother's sad face impaired the appetites of the guests, with three nobleexceptions. The trio at the end of the table ate with zest andunimpaired enthusiasm, of the good things that they fondly believedmight never have reached their present point of perfection had it notbeen for their skill. 

"Should you think, " Elizabeth paused to say, in a somewhat muffledvoice, entirely owing to plum cake and not grief, "that one of us ismarried too?"

"My father, " returned Nan loftily, "is not given to making mistakes ofthat kind. There weren't husbands enough to go 'round anyway. "

"What is a husband?"

"You've been helping make one, child, and you ask that!"

So Elizabeth concluded it was a small portion of the refreshments thathad escaped her notice. 

Afterwards they went down to the harbor from which the bride and groomwere to sail. 

"Like the owl and the pussy cat, " said Ethelwyn, cheerfully. 

As they kissed their friend good-bye, they placed around her neck apretty chain, hanging from which was a medallion with their picturespainted on it. 

"You can look at us when you get lonesome, " suggested Beth. 

The last good-bye was said, and they drove sadly home in a fine, drenching rain that had suddenly fallen like a vail over their goldenday. 

'Vada had started the open fires and they were cheerfully cracking, while Polly from her pole croaked crossly, "Shut up, do! Quit making allthat fuss!"

Mrs. Rayburn took Aunty Stevens away with her, and by and by in theafternoon, they found her tucked up on the couch in their sitting-roomlooking somewhat happier. 

"Aren't you glad you have us, and specially mother?" asked Beth, kissingher. 

There was only one answer possible to this, and it was given with suchemphasis that Ethelwyn nodded and said, "That's the way we feel. Motherknows how to fix things right better'n anybody, unless it should beGod. "

"Let's sing awhile, sister, while mother thinks of a story or two, "suggested Beth. 

So they squatted in front of the grate and sang, "Chick-a-dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee, I am so glad that Jesus loves me. "

Then they sang what they called "Precious Julias, "

 "Little children who love Mary Deemer. "

"Why, " Beth stopped to ask, "does it say Precious Julias when it's 'boutMary Deemer, sister?"

"Middle name, prob'ly, " answered Ethelwyn; "anyway that's Mary Deemer, "pointing to a picture of Murillo's "Magdalene, " "and the reason thatshe's loved by children, is because she is pretty and good. If you aregood, Elizabeth, people will love you. "

"I'm as good as you are, anyway, " began Beth wrathfully, when she sawNan in the doorway. 

"May I come in?" she asked, wistfully. "Mother has a headache, father'sgone fishing in a boat, and I've a toothpick in my side. "

"Come in, deary, " said Mrs. Rayburn, who felt an infinite pity forsturdy little Nan, with her invalid mother. "Bless me, what cold hands!What's this thing you have in your side?" she continued, cuddling Nan upin her lap. 

Nan breathed a contented breath. "O, it's gone now. It's a sharp, pointed thing that sticks me when I'm lonesome. "

"We're having Sunday-school, the singing part, and you may come ifyou're good, and know a verse, and won't baptize the Sunday-school, "said Beth, multiplying conditions rapidly. 

"I know a verse that father says he thinks ought to be in the Bible, "said Nan. 

"Let's not have Sunday-school, " she continued, snuggling down on Mrs. Rayburn's shoulder. "It's so nice here, and I want to tell you 'bout mydream I had the other night. Dreamed I went to heaven awhile, and when Icame home I slid down fifty miles of live wire and sissed all the waydown like a hot flatiron. "

"There's a gold crack in the sky now that shows a little weenty bit ofHeaven's floor, I think, right now, " said Ethelwyn, going to the westwindow. 

They all followed her, and sure enough there was the gold of the skyshining through the misty rain clouds. 

"Now, if God and the angels would just peek out a minute, I'd bethankful, " said Elizabeth. 

_CHAPTER V__The New Way_

 It's--hard--to--work-- And easy to play; I'll tell you what we've done, We play our work And work our play, And all the hard is gone. 

The children were always glad when Mrs. Flaharty came to wash, for shewas never too busy to talk to them, nor to let them wash dolls' clothesin some of her suds, nor, in her own way, to converse, and to explainthings to them. 

One Monday morning the two were in the back yard with gingham apronstied around their waists for trails, and with one of Aunty Stevens'bright saucepans which they put on their heads in turn. In this rig, they felt that their appearance left little to be desired. 

They were having literary exercises while Mrs. Flaharty was hanging thewhite clothes on the line, and, by reason of her exceeding interest inthe proceedings, she took her time about it too. 

In the midst of Ethelwyn's recitation of "Mary Had a Little Lamb, " shepaused to say, after, "The eager children cry, "

"What do you s'pose the silly things cried for?"

"'Cause they didn't have any lamb, prob'ly, " promptly replied Elizabethfrom the audience, where she sat surrounded by her dolls. "Hurry up, sister, it's my turn. "

"Is it ager, children, you're askin' about?" asked Mrs. Flaharty, flopping out a sheet. "If you'd ever had the ager, what wid the pain inyour bones an' the faver in your blood, you'd be likely to cry--whin youhad the stren'th. "

"Is it shaking ager?" asked Elizabeth doubtfully. "Oh, I didn't knowthat. Come and sit down on the steps, Mrs. Flaharty, and I'll tell astory I made up for this special 'casion. "

"It's troo wid the white does I am, an' I reckin I can sit and take mebreath before I begin on the colored; besides, I'd have to be takin'away the foine costumes ye has roun' your waists, if I wint now. " SoMrs. Flaharty sat down ponderously. 

"I've a poem, too, " said Ethelwyn, taking her place in the audience, andElizabeth began:

"Once there was a little boy whose father was cross to him, and kept himhome all the while, and when he let him go anywhere, he said he'mustn't' and 'don't' so much, it spoiled all his fun. Once the boy wentin the woods where lived a fairy prince. 'Go not near the fairy prince, 'had said the boy's father so much that the boy thought he'd die if hedid. So the fairy prince looked over the back fence and said, 'Avastthere, ' so the boy avasted as fast as he could. 'I'm in trouble, ' saidthe fairy prince. 'What about?' said the boy. 'I can walk only on onefoot till somebody cuts off my little toe, ' said the prince. 

"So the boy did it with his father's razor, and it thundered andlightened, and his father came and scolded over the back fence, but theprince waved his magic cut toe; then they all banged and went up on aFourth of July sky rocket, till the father fell off and bumped all hiscrossness out of him, and like birds of a fevver, they all livedtogevver afterwards. "

"The saints be praised, " said Mrs. Flaharty, fanning herself with herapron. 

Then Ethelwyn came forward. "This is my poem, " she said, bowing to theaudience. 

 "A little girl lived way down East, She rose and rose, like bread with yeast, She rose above the tallest people, And far above the highest steeple. She kept right on till by and by She took a peek into the sky--"

"Oh, what did she see?" asked Elizabeth, interested at once. 

"That you can guess, " replied the poet with dignity. "Mother says shelikes poems and pictures that you can put something into from your ownsomething or other, I forget what--you let folks guess about it. "

"My sister is smart, " complacently remarked Elizabeth to Nan, who hadjust come over. 

"So am I, then, " said Nan, not to be outdone. "I can make up beautifulpoems. "

"Let's hear one. "

So Nan came forward, bowed profoundly and began:

 "I have a little kitty, Who is so very pretty, Tho' growing large and fat, I fear she'll be a cat. One day, my sakes, she saw a dog, Her tail swelled up just like a log; He barked, she spit, She does not love dogs, not a bit. "

"What color is she?" asked Ethelwyn. 

"That is left for your guessing part, " said Nan promptly. 

Mrs. Flaharty now reluctantly arose. 

"It's a trate to hear ye, " she said, "but I mus' git troo, and go home. There's a spindlin' lad named Dick nex' door but wan to where I live, that can walk only wid a crutch an' not able to do that lately. He'd becheered entoirely wid your rhymes an' tales. "

"O, maybe mother'll take us to see him this afternoon. We'll ask her. She's intending to go down that way herself, I know, and she'll be sogood to Dick; she just can't help it, " said Ethelwyn, and at once theydashed off to see, leaving the saucepan crown rolling down the yard, andtheir gingham aprons lying on the steps. 

_CHAPTER VI__A Plan_

 It's nice to get gifts, But better to give: For giving leaves always a glow That warms up a part In every heart; The joy of it never can go. 

There was woe in Ethelwyn's heart and pain in her throat, and the woewas on account of the pain; for Elizabeth and her mother had gone totown to arrange things for Dick, who was to be taken to the hospital, where he was to undergo an operation that would, in all probability curehim. And now Ethelwyn, ever desirous of being at the head and front ofthings, had taken this wretched cold and could not go. 

Very shortly after Mrs. Flaharty had told them about Dick, their motherhad taken them to see him. His home was a long way from their cottage, where the fisher people lived, and the sights and smells in the hotsummer air were hard to bear even for those who were well. Poor littleDick, lying day after day on his hard bed, with no care except what thekind-hearted washerwoman could give him, felt that life was an ill thingat best, and he was fast hastening out of it, with the assistance of illnutrition and bad ventilation. Dick's own mother and father were dead, and his stepmother, a rough-looking creature, when she remembered him atall, looked upon him as a useless encumbrance, and by her neglect wasmaking him very unhappy. 

Ethelwyn and Elizabeth, quite unused to suffering of this sort, satsoberly by, during their first visit, and watched their mother bendingtenderly over the feeble little invalid, and ministering to his needs. 

In a week's time they had changed things marvelously. The stepmotherhad, for a sum that meant a great deal to her, relinquished all claimupon Dick, so he was placed in the care of a sewing woman, who, byreason of rheumatism in her fingers, could not sew any more; and shefilled the starving sore spot in her childless heart with a lovingdevotion to Dick. The sum paid her for this care kept them both incomfort, and Dick, with flowers and birds about him, and with wholesome, dainty food, gradually lost his gaunt, hunted look and began to take afresh hold of life. 

The doctor attending him gave it as his opinion that in one of the cityhospitals the little fellow might be cured, and it was to see about thisthat Elizabeth and her mother had gone to town. 

The night before they were all in their sitting-room, talking it over. Aunty Stevens, who was greatly interested, had brought her knitting andjoined them. 

"It would be a lovely work, " said Mrs. Rayburn, thoughtfully looking atthe fire, "to make a home for Dick and many such poor little weaklings, somewhere up on these heights where, with fresh air and good, well-cooked food, they could have a fighting chance for life. "

"There's our money, " said Ethelwyn, cuddling her hand in her mother's. "Let's make one with it. "

"Would you like that?"

"Yes, indeed we should, " they answered in a breath. 

"But it would take a great deal of money, and instead of being very richwhen you grow up, and being able to travel everywhere and have beautifulclothing and jewels, you might have to give up many things of thatsort. "

"But, " said Elizabeth, climbing up into her mother's lap, "isn't doingthings for poor children like Dick, better than that?"

"There's no doubt about it, " said their mother, her eyes shining as shekissed the tops of the two round heads now cuddled on her shoulders, inwhat Beth called her "arm cuddles. "

"Well, we don't mind then, do we, sister?"

"No indeed, " said sister promptly, kicking her foot out towards thefire. "Dresses are a bother, and always getting torn, and travelingmakes you very tired, only the luncheon's nice. But I'd lots ratherbuild a home. "

"Let's see, " said mother, "if you are as ready to give up something now. Elizabeth's birthday is next week and Ethelwyn's next month. I hadthought we might take a short yachting trip, --all of us, Nan, AuntyStevens--"

"O, mother, " they cried, turning around to hug her. 

"Then there is a doll in town that can walk and talk. Beth, deary, youchoke me so I can't talk;--and a camera for sister. Would you mindgiving up these things to help pay the hospital expenses, or to buy awheel chair or some comfort for Dick?"

Down went the heads again, and dead silence reigned except for thecrackling of the fire and the clicking of Aunty Stevens' needles. 

"May we go away and think it over?" said Ethelwyn soberly. 

"Yes. "

So they slid down and disappeared to think it out alone, as they alwaysdid when obliged to settle questions for themselves. Ethelwyn wentoutdoors, and crawled into the hammock on the porch. The wind blewmistily from the sea and was heavy with dampness and cold, but the childpaid no attention to that; she was so busy thinking. Surely, shethought, there was money enough for Dick and the others without givingup her camera and the sea trip. She had longed for a camera all summer. Nan had the use of her mother's and had taken their pictures in allplaces and positions, and she did so wish for one. But then, there waspoor Dick, how uncomfortable he had looked. 

Elizabeth, meantime, went to the bedside of her beloved doll family. They were lying serene and placid, exactly as she had placed and tuckedthem in at bedtime, with her own motherly hand, and the memory of Dicklying racked with pain on the comfortless bed where she had first seenhim, almost decided her at once. But a doll that could walk and talk, though, would be lovely. 

"But then, darlings, " she said, after a little, "you might think I wouldlove her better than you, and you are such dears, you don't deservethat. "

So Beth kissed them all with fervor, her mind quite made up. 

While they were away, Aunty Stevens said, "Isn't that a pretty hardtest?"

The children's mother shook her head thoughtfully at the dancing fire. 

"I hope not, " she said. "I don't wish them to do things now that theywill repent of afterwards. But it seems to me that if they are trainednow to be unselfish, they will always be so. Don't you think, dear Mrs. Stevens, that the whole trouble with the world is its selfishness?"

"No doubt at all about it, " said the older woman, nodding emphaticallyover her flying needles. 

"Then if the world is to be made better, and rid of this, which lies atthe bottom of all the crime, sin and unhappiness, the younger ones of uswill have to be taught to sacrifice, at least some luxuries, to helpgive less fortunate ones the necessities of life, " said Mrs. Rayburn, getting interested, and talking fast and earnestly. 

"How I hate the expression 'Look out for number one, ' It's such teachingas this, that makes human beings so forgetful of others, " she went onafter a little pause, "and the modern socialist only seems to be tryingto exchange one set of selfish, grasping rules for another of the samesort. So the world will go on, until the laws are again based on theteaching of our Lord, and Christian socialism will prevail. "

"Yes, you are quite right, but what are you among so many?" asked AuntyStevens, smiling across at her friend. 

Mrs. Rayburn's cheeks flushed. "Yes, I know, " she said. "I suppose itlooks as though I alone were trying to reform the world; but I am not. Iam only one little atom trying to teach still smaller atoms that theymust do their share. "

"Was it not in 'Bleak House' that that exceedingly unpleasant personageused to give away her children's pocket money? And the black looks shereceived from them when she was not looking, were something dreadful. "

"Well, " said Mrs. Rayburn, laughing, "I hope you don't think the casesare parallel. "

"No indeed, I don't. I was trying to say, I think you are right becauseyou go at it in the right way, and let them choose. Then, because theylove and have perfect confidence in you, they will be pretty likely tochoose the right way. "

"People so often say, 'Let children have a good time, ' but interpreted, from their point of view, a good time, means a selfish time. That isselfish enjoyment, but it might be good occasionally to put to the testthe truth that it is more blessed to give than to receive. "

Elizabeth now came in with her baby doll in her arms. She soberlyclimbed up again into the blessed fold of her mother's arms. 

"I'd just as lief Dick would have it as not, momsey, for I've my heartchock full of dolls now, and it will be so good to have Dick and otherswell and comfyble. "

Ethelwyn came a moment later. 

"It's all right, mother, " she said, also climbing up to her place. "Ican make pictures with a pencil more easily than I can bear to thinkthat Dick needs my camera money, I'll be glad to do it, mother. "

But Ethelwyn's voice was hoarse, and the next morning she was not wellenough to go to town. 

_CHAPTER VII__The Secret_

 Such fun to have a secret! To tell one too is fun. But then there is no secret That's known to more than one. 

Ethelwyn had intended to have a most unhappy day, so after her motherand Beth went, she lay face down in the hammock with a very damp ball ofa handkerchief squeezed up tightly against her eyes. But by and by sheheard Aunty Stevens calling her. "Here I am, " she answered, at oncesitting up. 

"Do you feel well enough to help me make some apple pies?" Ethelwynrolled out of the hammock, and ran into the kitchen in a trice. 

"O if you only knew how I love to cook, Aunty Stevens, " she cried. "Andnobody will hardly ever let me. I can make the bestest cookies if anyone else just makes the dough. So if you don't feel just prezactly well, you can sit in the rocking-chair, and I will do it all. "

"Thank you, deary, but I'm feeling pretty well to-day, so we will worktogether. Let me tie this apron around you. "

Then Aunty Stevens brought out the dearest little moulding-board androlling-pin, and drew out of a corner a small table. 

"O isn't everything about this just too cunning? Did these used to beMiss Dorothy's?" said Ethelwyn in a rapture, Mrs. Stevens nodded. 

"Here's your dough, dear. Now roll it out to fit this little plate. "

This took time, for it persisted in rolling out long and slim, and notat all the shape of the plate, but at last it was fitted in. 

"Now what comes?" said the little cook, lifting a red and floury face. 

"A thick layer of these apples--no, just a layer of sugar andflour--then the crust won't soak. Now the apples. Sugar them well. Putany of these spices on that you wish. "

"I like the taste of cinnamon, and spice-oil, but nutmegs are so cunningto grate. I b'lieve I'll put 'em all in, " said Ethelwyn, criticallystudying the spice shakers. 

"Now dot the apples over with butter, a dash of cold water, and asprinkle of flour. Now roll out your top crust. Cut little slits for itto breathe through; pinch the two crusts together, after you have wetyour finger and thumb in cold water. There! now it is ready to go in theoven. "

"O isn't it sweet?" said Ethelwyn. "Nobody can cook like you, AuntyStevens. Nobody. I think it's a great--great appomplishment. "

"Thank you, dear. Now sit down, and when I have cleaned up things alittle, we'll go out on the west porch, and I am going to tell yousomething. I have saved it for a secret for the little girl who couldn'tgo to town to-day, but who gave up her birthday presents for the sake ofothers. "

"O goody, " said Ethelwyn, beaming with joy. "Next to cooking, I love tohear secrets. And would you mind telling me a thing or two, I have beenthinking about lately? I have been meaning to ask mother about it. Youknow in church we say we believe in the resurrection of the body. Well, what do you s'pose, " leaning forward impressively--"becomes of thebodies the cannibals eat?"

"Well, Ethelwyn, " said Mrs. Stevens with a gasp. "I suppose it's noharder than to resurrect them from anywhere else. "

"O yes, I should think so, " said Ethelwyn earnestly, "because they'd getdreadfully mixed up in themselves. But never mind. I suppose the Lordcan manage it. "

Aunty Stevens and she then went out on the porch that faced the sea. 

"O now I'm going to hear the secret, " said Ethelwyn, sitting down on thearm of the chair. "And my own pie is in the oven baking. Aren't wehaving a good time, Aunty Stevens?"

"Yes, we are, " said Aunty Stevens, hugging her. "And now I am going totell you. I'm afraid, deary, that I have been a very selfish woman. Whenmy husband died, I felt as though I had nothing to live for but Dorothy, and when she too went away, I felt that there was no use in living. Theother evening when I heard you all planning for others, it occurred tome to be ashamed, for here is this house, and I am all alone in it. Whyit's the very thing for a children's rest and training school. "

"O Aunty Stevens, " said Ethelwyn, getting up close to hug and kiss her. 

"I can give the cottage, and I can manage it, and your money can fit itup, and hire teachers. "

"Yes, sir, " said Ethelwyn, wildly excited. "You can teach them to makepies like mine--"

"Yes, they can be taught to do all sorts of things about a house--"

"And Dick?"

"He shall be the first one. "

"And his 'dopted aunt?"

"Yes, indeed. She can help in many ways. "

"O this is lots better than going to town. I just wish I could tellmother and Beth. Seems to me I can't possibly wait. "

"I see Nan coming. Suppose 'Vada should take you two down to have yourluncheon on the beach. "

"The pie, too?"

"Yes, and other things, if your throat is better, so you can go. "

"O it's all well, cured with joy, I guess. Anyway mother said I might gooutdoors, you know. It was the noise and smoke in town she thought wouldhurt me. "

So they went off on their picnic, and did not come home until time todress for the train that was to bring back Mrs. Rayburn and Beth. 

"Well Ethelwyn, " said Aunty Stevens, meeting her, "how was the picnic?"

"The picnic as far as the pie, and other eating were concerned, wasperfect, but Nan was a trial sometimes, " said Ethelwyn, sighing deeply;"she said she couldn't possibly go home, 'count of her mother having aheadache as usual, and she was as cross as a bear. I had my hands prettyfull with that child. She does not give in to me like my sister--I willsay that. " And Ethelwyn again sighed deeply, as she walked into thehouse for her bath and toilet. 

When the train stopped, and Elizabeth appeared, Ethelwyn and she rushedat each other, and both began to talk at once. 

"I've a secret that will make your eyes stick out--then I made a pie--"

"I saw the doctor that makes bone people. There was one for a sign atthe pittalhos where we were--"

"Hospital, child. "

"And he was undressed, even from out of his skin; you could, see clearthrough him. I was scared, because I thought that the doctor would makemother and me into one, but he was nice and said he'd cure Dick. We sawhis bed all white--"

"Wait till you know the secret. I saved you a piece of pie--Nan wantedit--"

"I rode up in an alligator--"

"Elevator. "

"And a man at the pittalhos said, 'where did I get those dimple holes, 'and I said prob'ly they wasn't fat enough to stuff it all--he laughedthough at that. "

And so they chattered on until they reached home. 

_CHAPTER VIII__The Reward_

 To help the sorry, hungry poor, Or ease a burdened one, Begins to bring the answer, when We pray "Thy Kingdom come. "

It all unfolded like a beautiful flower, and every one was interested ingetting ready the Children's Rest and Summer Training School, which wasto be the name of the cottage. In the midst of it all, Mrs. Stevens oneday received from Japan a long and happy letter from Dorothy and herhusband; and a mysterious box, which was smuggled away for the birthday, came for the children. 

Dick was getting better every minute, and was looking forward with eagerdelight to the time when he should go to the Rest, well and strong. 

In the Rayburn sitting-room one evening, the children were looking overa portfolio of photographs. 

Aunty Stevens as usual was knitting, and laughing with them over thepictures. 

Ethelwyn was showing them, for she had seen them before. 

"This is Beethoven, " she announced, holding up one of the great masters. "He isn't very pretty, but I s'pose he made up in being clever. "

"He is sort of kind-looking, " said Beth, who always liked to saysomething nice about every one. 

"He is better than pretty, " said Ethelwyn. "He's a very good musician. He can play the piano. "

"Where does he live?"

"Paradise, I think. Mebbe not, though. "

"I'm sorry for his folks. "

"This is Handel. "

"What of?" and Nan got up to look. 

"Not a dipper-handle, but a man of that name. He could play too. "

"He looks kind of like a woman--look at his hair. "

"That is his wig. "

"Was he a bawheady?" and Beth got up to look more closely at the man whowas afflicted like her beloved doll. 

"I s'pose he must have been. But it doesn't show like your doll's, " saidNan. 

"This is a bust of Diana. "

"Where is she busted?"

"All but her head and shoulders. "

"Who did it?"

"A man I guess. This is the 'Kiss of Judas. '"

"Oh, isn't Judas mean-looking?"

"Looks like a bug thief. " This from Beth. 

"Burglar, child, " said Nan. 

"Bug thief is what I meant, " said Beth with dignity, for she didn'tpropose to be corrected by Nan or sister. Then she walked over to hermother. "Are you very old, mother?" she asked. "I've been meaning toask. Are you a hundred, or eleven, or is that your size shoe?"

"Elizabeth Rayburn!" said Ethelwyn, dropping the photographs and comingover to her mother, followed by Nan. "Our mother isn't old at all!"

"No I know she isn't, only she must be toler'bly old, to know so muchgoodness. "

"I'm just old enough to love you, " said their mother, laughing andhugging them all three at once in a way she had. 

"I've some money in the bank, " said Nan presently. "I've been thinkingwhat I'd buy for the Rest, and I've 'bout decided on a feeble chair. "

"Goodness me! I shall never sit in it, if it's feeble, Nan, " said AuntyStevens, laughing. 

"No, _for_ the feeble, " corrected Nan. "I want my mother to givesomething too; she has some money, and I believe if she would give itfor my brother's sake, she would feel better and wouldn't cry so much. Perhaps she will. "

"We are all going to church to-morrow, 'cause your father is going topreach about the Rest, --pray over it too, and mother's going to sing theoffertory, two verses, if the sermon's too long, and three if it isn't. You tell your father that, for singing is much more interesting thanpreaching any day. "

"Ethelwyn!"

"Why it is, mother. "

"I'll tell father, but he is likely to go on a long time when he is oncestarted, " said Nan. 

"If I don't go to sleep, I'll be sure to wiggle, " said Beth. 

But they all went to sleep. 

Ethelwyn sat in the choir seats close to her mother; while Elizabethsat below with Aunty Stevens. Nan sat quite near them and sweetly smiledat Elizabeth. 

"How do you feel?" she asked in a shrill whisper. "Wiggly? I told fathernot to preach very long, but there is no telling. Mother has some gumdrops for me if I wiggle. "

"Don't you think you will then?" asked Beth. 

But Nan's mother stopped further disclosures by turning her daughteraround, and setting her down with emphasis on the other side of her. 

Fortunately they all three fell asleep in the early part of the sermonand did not wake up until Mrs. Rayburn began to sing. At the first noteEthelwyn slipped down, and stood with her hand in her mother's. ThenElizabeth eluded Aunty Stevens's vigilant eye, slipped out of the seatand walked up and stood on the other side, her head raised looking intoher mother's face, and to their great delight the three verses weresung. 

_CHAPTER IX__Once a Year_

 Birth days, Earth days, Seem very few; Year days, Dear days, When life is new. 

By constant and hard work, the house was ready for occupancy onEthelwyn's birthday. 

Two or three days before it was finished, Nan's mother came over, themelancholy look on her face somewhat lifted. She brought with her thedeed of the land adjoining the cottage and sloping down to the sea. Thisland she at once undertook to have equipped for a playground withswings, tennis courts, a ball ground and all the things that delightyoung hearts. 

"It is for Philip, " she said simply. "I have put his money into it, andperhaps, by looking a little after homeless, suffering children, I canforget my own heartache. "

"You have chosen the very best way to do so, " said Mrs. Rayburn. 

Nan's "feeble" chair came the night before the opening, and all three ofthe children christened it, by getting in, and wheeling it over theshining floors at a high rate of speed, thereby proving it to beanything but feeble. 

The morning train brought a bevy of pale-faced, joyless-looking waifs. 

At first they were stiff and shy, but under the vigorous leadership ofNan, Ethelwyn, and Beth, they were soon organized into a Rough RidersCompany, and slid down the banisters, and shot out into the playgroundwith shrill yells of delight. 

Dick was general, for he was not yet strong enough to run, so he sat inhis wheel-chair, and directed the others. 

"We made him general, for generals never have anything to do but bossothers; they are never killed or anything, " explained Nan. 

A doctor from the hospital had sent down a wagon and goat team. Therewere bicycles and a hobby-horse, and boats safely fastened; so theyrode, ran, trotted, or sat in the boats, all the happy day. 

Two things were almost forgotten in all the excitement. One was, thatthis was Ethelwyn's birthday, and the other, that they had to go awaythe next day. 

In the evening, however, there was a birthday cake, with eight candleson it. Then they had the fun of opening the box from Japan. 

There was a whole family of quaint dolls for Elizabeth, labeled byDorothy's husband, "Heathen dolls: never baptized. "

"Nor never will be, by Nan, " said Elizabeth, fondly hugging them to her, and fixing guilty Nan with a steadfast glance. 

There was the cunningest watch for Ethelwyn about the size of a quarterof a dollar. 

"It's a live one, though, " said its owner proudly, shaking it andholding it up to her ear. 

There was a parasol and a sash for Nan, and three Japanese costumescomplete for the "three little maids from school. " These, they at onceput on. Then they all went out on the lawn, and hung Japanese lanternsin the trees, and Nan's father set off the fireworks, which were also inthe box; so the day closed in a blaze of glory. 

At last they were in the sitting-room again. 

The adopted children clean and dressed in white gowns were asleep intheir dainty iron beds, and dreaming of happiness past, and to come. 

Nan, her father, and mother, and Mrs. Stevens came in for a last word. 

"I shall put on mourning to-morrow, " announced Nan in a melancholyvoice, "for I shall be a widow. What makes you go away, Mrs. Rayburn?"

"School and business call us to town, Nan, but we shall come everysummer, and spend Christmas here, too, I hope. "

"This has been the best birthday I ever spent or ever expect to, " saidEthelwyn with the air of having spent at least fifty. "It is such a goodidea to give things away instead of always getting them, but if you cando both, as happened this time, it covers everything. "

Then they were all quiet for a little while, until Mrs. Rayburn went tothe piano, and touching the keys, sang softly:

 "And does thy day seem dark, All turned to rain? Seek thou one out whose life Is filled with pain. Put out a hand to help This greater need, And lo! within thy life The sun will shine indeed. "

_CHAPTER X__Beth's Birthday_

 The space between our birthdays seems to grow apace, When we're young they loiter; when we're old they race. 

It began with a bad time; and so did the next day, as things sometimesdo, even though they turn out all right at the end, like a rainy morningthat clears off into a blue and gold afternoon. Ethelwyn and Beth didnot fall out very often, but then they didn't have a birthday veryoften, nor Christmas, nor any other of the days when the land flows withice cream and candy, and is bounded on the next day by crossness andpitfalls. 

That was one reason. 

That day early they had decided never to be bad again, never; "because, "said Ethelwyn, "it is very troublesome getting good again, and makesmother feel bad. "

"Uh huh, " said Beth. 

They were not up yet, and the door leading into their mother's room wasopen. 

This was their "present" birthday, but they had not yet begun on theirpresents. For fear you shouldn't understand this, I will tell you Beth'sway of explaining it. 

"Sister and me is twin children two years all but a month apart, and onthe first birthday which comes in July, we have presents, and on thesecond, in August, we have a party, or a trip away, or something, and wehave all the month to choose in. "

They generally chose thirty different things. Their mother nearly alwayslet them have the last one, but once or twice, as when they wanted to goup in an air ship, she compromised on a steam launch on the river, assafer, and nearer at hand. 

This morning being "present" morning, they were glad to see thesunshine darting in at their window, and to hear the birds singingoutside something like this--

 "Wake up, children: the day is new. It's full of joy for dears like you. "

So they woke up laughing, at least Ethelwyn did, and told Beth what thebirds sang; but Beth was sleepy and uttered her usual "Uh huh. "

"You are a very lazy child, " said Ethelwyn in a superior tone, "and arenot thinking about your presents at all, nor the making of goodrevolutions. "

"What's them?" asked Beth, still with her eyes shut. 

"Something you need to make very much, for you are not too good a child, I'm sorry to say. Mother esplained about people making things like thatat New Year's, and birthdays, and so I've been thinking of somespecially for you--"

"I can make my own, " said Beth, fully awake now, "and I can help makeyours when it comes to that, I guess. "

"Well, " said Ethelwyn, "I have been thinking of a few for you to beginwith. One is, never to be late for breakfast, and not to be selfishabout getting the bath first, and never wanting to give up when yoursister wants you to--"

"You can make your own, while I'm getting my bath first now, " said Beth, sliding out of bed. "I'm anxious to see my presents. "

Ethelwyn, speechless with rage, hastened her departure with a push, andthen fell asleep until the breakfast bell rang. How mortified she feltafter what she had said to Beth! Sierra Nevada hurried her through herbath and toilet as quickly as she could, but she would be late forbreakfast anyway. When she came into the dining-room, her mother kissedher gravely, but she was not allowed to look at her presents untilafter she had eaten. She felt very miserable at the shrieks of delightfrom Beth, who was dancing around her doll house, with its two floorsbeautifully furnished, and dolls of every size, shape, and color livingin it. 

No wonder the oatmeal and the muffins lost their flavor!

But Ethelwyn effervesced quickly, and as quickly subsided. Presently shewas glad again, for there were books, candy, games, a walking doll fromParis that could talk as well, and a camera from Aunty Stevens. Thecamera, she told her mother, she had been longing for for years andyears. 

Uncle Tom sent each of them some candy, and a five dollar gold piece, with a note intimating that they were to spend it as they liked. Thenthere were two bicycles from Uncle Bob, some more candy, a pony, andsome home-made molasses candy from their grandmother. The pony was areal live pony, and Joe, a dear friend of theirs, from a near-by liverystable was to take care of it. 

"I feel thankful that we are a large family of relatives, " said Beth, after a long and speechless period of rapture. 

Their mother, being a wise woman, put away some of the candy, all butgrandmother's molasses, and a box or two for friends. Then came littleNora, the niece of their dressmaker, Mrs. O'Neal, with a quart ofpecans, for the birthday. She went home with a box of candy, and toldher little sister Katie about it. 

"O I wanted to go too, " wailed Katie. 

"You were asleep, dear, when I went, but I told them the nuts were fromyou, too. "

"But I wanted to hear them say, 'thank you!' Take me now. "

"I have to go down town for auntie. But she'll let you go. "

"Yes, indeed, " said their busy aunt when asked. 

So Katie went up-stairs to make herself tidy. 

"It's mesilf wants to take a 'silvernear, '" she said as she scrubbedherself; and then in an evil moment, she beheld a small plate with abunny on it, which Nora owned and loved. 

"It's just the thing, " thought Katie, "and kind of partly mine becauseit's in our room. "

So she took it with her when she went, and it burned her little handlike fire. 

Ethelwyn and Beth were preparing a tea party in the doll house. 

"O Katie, how nice!" said Ethelwyn. "We'll put it in the tea party. Wewere coming over to get you and Nora to come; there are some beautifuliced cakes coming up in a minute. "

"I can't stay, " said Katie feebly, "I feel kind of sick inside. "

So saying she rushed home, but it was no use; poor Katie's consciencegrew worse all the time, and presently she came back. 

"I--I--know you won't like me any more, " she said, red and miserable, "but it's Nora's plate I gave you, and I'm no better than a thafe. "

But Ethelwyn and Beth put their arms around her, and comforted her dearlittle sore heart. 

"I know just how you feel, " said Ethelwyn. "I took mother's gold dragonstick-pin for my dolly's blanket one day, because I was in a hurry, andlost it of course, and felt so mizzable, as if nothing could ever benice again. Now take the plate and go and get Nora, dear, and we'll havethe best tea party. "

And they did, and the guests had each another box of candy for their"silvernears, " besides, but Ethelwyn and Beth ate far too much, andthat's the reason their next day good time began by being a bad timetoo. 

_CHAPTER XI__The Day After_

 In the lovely playtime, life seems always gay. In the sober worktime, sometimes it grows gray. 

Mother was superintending the strawberry jam in the kitchen, givingorders to the grocery boy, and paying Mrs. O'Neal for sewing, all atonce. 

You can't do this unless you are a mother, but mothers can do almosteverything at once. 

"It's a fortunate thing that the Bible says everybody mustn't work onSunday. It says man-servant, maid-servant, cattle, stranger within thygates, but nothing at all about mothers, though, because they positivelyhave to, " said Ethelwyn, after a profound season of thought in thehammock. 

"When our mother rests, she darns stockings, " said Beth, who wasdressing her doll near by. 

"Not on Sunday, child!" said Ethelwyn scandalized. 

"Well nobody said she did, I guess. She tells us Bible stories then. Ialways think they sound so pretty, against her Sunday clothes, " saidBeth. 

"Pooh!" said Ethelwyn who was cross. She was going down to the grocerypresently on her wheel to get some eggs, but she was putting it off aslong as she could. 

She started after awhile, and unluckily had the groceryman tie the eggson the wheel. She came along safely, until within view of Beth lyingcomfortably in the hammock; then with a desire to show off, she spurted, or tried to, and her wheel ran off the walk, and tipped her off upon thegrass on top of two dozen eggs!

Her mother picked her up, and after stilling Beth's laughter, and hercrying, washed her, and put her in the hammock, all in so short a timethat only a yellow stain on the grass showed that a tragedy hadhappened. 

Then mother went back to her jam. 

Beth snickered at intervals, however, though Ethelwyn sternly bade herbe quiet. 

"You were so yellow and funny, sister, " said Beth, giggling. 

Ethelwyn opened her mouth for a reply that would do justice to thesubject, when Bobby, their next door neighbor came along. "Hullo, Bobby, " they cried. 

"Hullo, " said Bobby at once. 

"Come in and see our birthday presents, " said Ethelwyn, and Bobby atonce trotted up the walk. 

He was a round-faced little chap, with small freckles on his button of anose. 

His family had just moved into town from a farm. 

"Where have you been, Bobby?" asked Ethelwyn as they went towards thehouse. 

"I went down to the grocery for mother; I thought I knew the way but Igot mixed up, and stopped under a lamp-post, to think. Pretty soon awoman came along and put a white letter in a box; so I thought I'd savetrouble if I put mother's grocery list in, and I did. A man in grayclothes came along, and unlocked it, and took the letters all out. Itold him 'bout my list, and he laughed, and gave it to me, and asked meif I didn't know 'bout letter boxes? I didn't, so he told me, and tookme along with him down town. "

"Sister--" began Beth, giggling, "went to the grocery--"

"Let's play in the house, " said Ethelwyn frowning at Beth. "You can stayawhile, can't you, Bobby?"

"I guess I'd better ask, first, " said Bobby. He trotted home and sooncame back with his face shining from soap and water, and his hairbrushed straight up so that it looked like a halo around the full moon. 

Then Nan, the minister's daughter, came in. She had also come to live intheir town and was the same funny, outspoken Nan, as always. 

"It's a very convenient thing that I know you children, " she had said, "for it's a great trouble to have to find out, and learn to knoweverybody in a town. "

They were playing games in the nursery, when mother came up-stairs, having finished the jam, ordered the groceries, and paid Mrs. O'Neal. 

She was going to combine resting and mending, as usual, so she came tothe nursery, just as they were beginning a temperance lecture. 

Bobby was selling tickets, and mother cheerfully paid a penny, and satin her low rocker near the window. 

Nan had chosen to be lecturer, so Ethelwyn, Beth, and Bobby made asomewhat reluctant and highly critical audience. Besides, there were thedolls in various uncomfortable attitudes, but very amiable nevertheless. 

And to them all, Nan now came forward and made a profound bow. 

"My subject is Temperance, ladies and gentlemen, " she began, "and I hopeyou'll pay attention, because it's a true subject, as well as a usefulone. 

"I wish men wouldn't get drunk. It's dreadful smelly even going by asaloon, so I don't see how they can. I think it would be very nice ifpleecemen would think once in a while about stopping such things asdrunkers, but they probably like to have saloons around for themselves. A nice thing would be, to have ladies, like your mother and me, forpleecemen. Then we'd scrub things up, and pour things out, till youcouldn't smell or taste a thing. But men are meaner than women"--Bobbylooked dubious--"some men aren't though"--he looked relieved. "Thereason we are so nice and 'spectable, is because my father is aminister, and doesn't dare do disgraceful things, and your motherdoesn't get time. So we should be thankful, instead of wishing we had acandy store in the family, and being sorry we have to set examples forother kids. No! No! No! children, I mean. That's all, and I hope youwon't forget all I've told you. "

"Let's play church now, " said Ethelwyn promptly, "and I choose to bepreacher, because I know about Moses and Abiram. The choir will pleasesing Billy Boy. "

So they put on nightgowns for surplices. 

"What can I do?" said Beth, who was tired of always being an audience. 

"Take up the collection, " said Ethelwyn, "we need some more pennies. "

"'The sermon, beloved, " said Ethelwyn after the singing, and a littlepreliminary ritual, "is about Moses and Abiram, who both wanted to beboss of the temple. 

"'I will be boss, ' said Moses. 

"'Not much, ' said Abiram, standing on his tippest toes. 

"Then they fit, and I've forgotten which one whipped, 'cause we haven'tgot that far yet; anyway it's lunch time, so do hurry and take up thecollection. "

_CHAPTER XII__Sunday_

 No matter how bad we are through the week, When Sunday comes 'round we grow very meek. 

"I hope, Beth, " said Ethelwyn, who always woke up first, "you willremember to-day is Sunday, and not quarrel with your sister, " But Bethcuddled down in the pillows and refused to answer a word. After a while, Ethelwyn, watching the sunbeams dancing on the pink wall, went to sleepherself, and opened her eyes only when her mother kissed her awake. 

Sierra Nevada, being a devout Roman Catholic, always went to early masson Sunday mornings, and their mother gave them their baths, to theirgreat delight and comfort. The bath was all ready for them now, crystalclear with the jolly sunbeams dancing on its silver disk. 

"We'll get a sunshine bath, " said Beth, trying to catch the goldendrops. 

"Inside and outside, " said mother smiling. 

"You look so pretty, motherdy, " said Ethelwyn approvingly, "So muchprettier than black, cross old 'Vada, who always rolls her eyes at meand says, 'Miss Effel, you is de troublesomest chile dat ebba was bown. 'You have sense, and in that blue gown, white apron, and cap, you arepretty. You get prettier all the time you are getting old, mother. You'll be a beautiful angel when you are very old. "

"Thank you, " said her mother laughing. "Come on now, do you know yourverse?"

"I did, " said Ethelwyn, "but the verse hasn't any sense: it's about St. Peter's wife's mother being sick with the fever--"

"And St. Peter cut off the priest's right ear, and then he went out andcrew bitterly, " said Beth, jumping up and down to see how high she couldsplash. 

"Elizabeth!" said her mother, going off into spasms of laughter. "Youare a heathen! Can't you ever get things right? I will say, though, Ithink the verses they select for infant classes are anything butsuitable, but for pity's sake don't say the one you told me, you willdisgrace me. I will hear you after breakfast. "

But Aunt Mandy the cook was sick with the toothache, which she called a"plum mizzery" in her face, and mother was so busy, that 'Vada, who hadreturned and was more solemn than ever, dressed them and took them toSunday-school. 

The infant class sat on seats that began close to the floor, andgradually rose to the top of the room. Ethelwyn and Nan sat high up, while Beth was a little way below. Bobby sat near her, and had grinnedall over his round face when she came in. 

"I've brought my white mouse in my pocket; I'm going to stay for church, and I get lonesome, " he whispered. 

"Uh huh, " said Beth nodding, "I've brought my paper dolls. " But sisterpunched her in the back with her parasol to be quiet, and just then theteacher asked her verse. 

Beth thought hard. "Mother said I mustn't tell you about the priestcrewing about his cut off ear, " she said thoughtfully, "but I knowanother verse about St. Peter, it's easier to merember than the otherone, 'cause it's poetry. "

 "Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater, had a wife and couldn't keep her--"

"Next!" said the teacher with a face red, and then she coughed. 

The next was Bobby, who cheerfully took up the refrain, where Beth leftoff. 

 "--Put her in a pumpkin shell, and there he kept her very well, "

he concluded promptly. 

The older pupils, with two scandalized exceptions, --Ethelwyn andNan--laughed, and the younger ones turned around and looked interested. The teacher coughed again and changed the subject. 

But the adventures of Bobby and Beth were by no means over, for whenthey came out into the large room where the hundreds of scholars sat, the infant class was marshaled up into the choir seats to sing "PreciousJulias" as Beth still called it. The upright of the front seat wasstanding unfastened from the floor, waiting for repairs, but no one knewit, Beth and Bobby least of all. They, and six other infants pressedclose up against it, and sang with all their might. 

Unfortunately they pressed too hard on the loose back. All at once itwent over, and eight unfortunate infants sprawled flat on their faces, hats rolling off, and books tumbling down. 

Everybody stopped singing to laugh, but it changed to little shrieks ofdismay, as a poor frightened white mouse, thrown out of Bobby's pocketby the shock, went running down the aisle. 

Bobby ran after it in hot pursuit. 

Beth followed loyally, for she had seen where it went. 

They caught the trembling little creature at the door, and then theylooked at each other. 

"Let's go home, " said Bobby. 

"Uh huh, let's, " said Beth. 

They met Beth's mother on the way to church. "We'll stay at home to-day, mother, " said Beth, "we've had just all we can stand. "

So they went home and played church in the front yard, until Ethelwynand Nan came home just before the sermon. 

Those young ladies had fully intended solemnly to lecture the two athome, but it was very pleasant under the trees, with the birds, andBobby and Beth singing lustily, so they joined in, and Ethelwyn thenpreached. "I choose to, " she said, "because I went to an awfully drylecture on art or clothes or something, with mother. I slept some, 'cause it was almost as hard to understand as a sermon, but when I wasawake I heard a good deal that will do you good. 

"Clothes, " she went on after this introduction, "will ruin your healthif you don't look out, and study statoos and things for some kind ofline, clothes-line, I guess. So when you see a lot of whitestatoos--which aren't as interesting as the circus but more good forlearning, which is always the way in this life--learnified things arelikely to be dry--you'll learn something. But I went to sleep before Ifound out what or why statoos is the thing to study; but they are socold-looking, from being undressed, that I think it would be a kind actto make pajamas for them, and trousers for our dolls so they will livelonger--"

"_I_ will not, " said Beth firmly, from the congregation. "It wouldn't befun to have all boy dolls, and you know it, sister, and besides wasn'tBilly Boy the first doll we broke after Christmas? and he's up-stairsnow waiting for his funeral. "

"O, let's have it now, " said Nan, who didn't like sermons unless shepreached them. 

"No, here's mother and we'll have to have dinner now, so we will havethe funeral to-morrow, " said Ethelwyn. 

_CHAPTER XIII__The Four Together_

 Begins with a funeral and ends with a feast. Sorrow is drowned for this time at least. 

It fell out that there were _two_ doll funerals the next day. 

Beth lost Ariminta, her composition doll, and she went down into thegarden early to find her. She looked in Bose's kennel, but it wasn'tthere; then she saw a robin in the path digging worms, and he looked sowise that she followed him to the early harvest apple-tree, and sureenough! there was Ariminta on a lower branch where she had put her thenight before. She was very wet, for it had rained, and her wig was quitesoaked off. So, filled with remorse, Beth went after the glue-pot. 

"I never knew such a mean mother as I am, " she said, "I haven't anythinkery at all, worth mentioning. If your grandmother, my dear, shouldleave me out, till my hair soaked off--say, sister, " she broke offsuddenly to ask--"what keeps our hair on?"

Ethelwyn never at a loss for an answer, said promptly, "Dust, child"

"I haven't any, " said Beth, feeling her short brown curls cautiously forfear they would come off. 

"It's small in small persons, and big in big persons, " said Ethelwyn, with a patient air of having given much thought to the subject. 

"Ho!" said Beth. "Well if Ariminta's going to be dry for Billy Boy'sfuneral, I'll have to dry her in the oven. "

But alas! for Beth's "thinkery not worth mentioning!" In her haste toget back to prepare herself and family for the funeral, she forgot totell Aunt Mandy, who was going to make cake, and so started a fire inthe stove. When she opened the oven door to put in the cake, she tookout Ariminta's remains, and that is why there were two subjects for afuneral instead of one. 

Beth was exceedingly sorry, and wept a few real tears over Ariminta. 

"I'm a double widow, and a orphing to-day, " she said, "and I don'treserve a single child to my name!"

Nan and Bobby came to the funeral, and Bobby chose to be undertaker, while Nan insisted on preaching the sermon. 

"You preached yesterday, " she said to Ethelwyn, who also wished to. 

"And you did the day before--"

"I think I ought to, " said Beth, "because it's my fam'ly. "

"That's why you shouldn't, child, " said Nan. "Would my father enjoypreaching my funeral sermon, do you think?" she asked triumphantly. Andwhile they were doubtfully considering this, she began the service. 

Beth attired in Aunt Mandy's large black shawl was very warm andmournful. 

The family, especially Billy Boy's widow, were wrapped in black calicoswaddling garments, and looked more stiff than ever, but still smiling. 

The remains were in cigar boxes, all but Billy's wig and eyes which Bethhad thoughtfully saved for another doll. 

"I am sorry I have to preach this sad sermon, " said Nan. 

"Might have let me, then, " said a voice from the congregation. 

"The mourners will please keep quiet, " said the preacher sternly, "andif the widow and orphans wouldn't grin so, I'd be glad. You'd better bethinking about how you'd feel to be buried, and you are likely to be inthis family, " she continued with an offensive accent on _this_. 

"Let's hurry up, I'm hot, " said the chief mourner. 

So they went down and buried the boxes, singing "Billy Boy" as arequiem. Bose watched their departure with interest, and dug up bothboxes without delay. 

Bobby and Nan were invited to stay to lunch, and they accepted withcheerful alacrity. 

"I asked mother, for fear you'd ask me if I could stay, and she said yesindeed I _could_, and she'd be glad to have me, " said Nan. Bobby yelledhis request over the fence, and was told he could stay too. 

They had strawberry jam, hot biscuit, fried chicken, and little frostedspice cakes, for which Mandy was famous. 

"Just supposing your mother and mine had said no, about this luncheon, "said Nan to Bobby. "I never could have gotten over the loss of thesecakes. "

"You've eaten four. I'm glad Mandy made a good many, " said Beth calmly. 

"Why Beth!" said her mother horrified. 

"Yessum, she has, " continued Beth. "I've passed them four times, and shetook one every time. I've had five!" she concluded. 

In the afternoon the postman brought them a letter from their CousinGladys, who was in Paris with her father and mother. So they allgathered around mother to hear it. 

 "DEAR E. AND B. , " it began. 

 "This is a silly city. 

 "They talk like babies. No one can understand them. I'd like them better if they'd talk plain American. 

 "Their stoves look like granddaddy long legs; they are funny boxes, and when you are cold, they wheel them into your room, and stick the pipe in the hole, and by and by wheel them out. We live in an artist's house on a street that means Asses street, and our front room is a saloon but not a drinking one, and it runs right through the up-stairs to the skylight. You have to pay for that. Think of charging for daylight! We went to a bird show and I saw a cockatoo sitting on a pole asleep. 'Scratch its back with your parasol, Gladys, ' said mother, so I did, and it opened one eye when I stopped, and said, 'Encore, ' I was put out to think even the birds didn't talk American, but when I said so, mother laughed but I don't see why. 

 "Write and tell me all the news. No more now from

 "Your cousin, "GLADYS. "

"O, it's thundering!" said Bobby when the letter was finished. 

Beth at once climbed into her mother's lap, as if for protection. 

"Are you afraid of a shower, Beth?" asked Nan. 

"No, --not--a shower, " said Beth, "only I don't like it when it goes oversuch a bump!"

Mother kissed her and sent the others up-stairs to get ready for a show. 

"Get up a good one and I'll pay five cents admission, " she said. 

"Oh I'll go too, " said Beth, "p'raps when I am busy I won't notice thenoise. "

By and by they called Mrs. Rayburn, and she went up-stairs with hersewing, and dropped her nickel into a box, because the whole force wasin the show. They were getting ready in the next room, from which washeard much giggling. 

Presently the door opened, and in walked Ethelwyn draped in a greendenim closet door curtain, and bobbing up and down at every step. 

"What is this?" said mother. 

"You have to guess, it's a guessing show. "

Then came Beth in her Japanese costume, fanning vigorously. 

Nan followed in a Turkey red calico wrapper, beloved of 'Vada's heart. She tumbled down every two or three steps, which might have been thefault of the wrapper, or part of the show. 

Last of all was Bobby, very hot and sweaty, in a moth-ball smelling furrug, and ringing a bell. 

"It looks like the four seasons, " said mother. 

"O mother, but you are smart, " said Ethelwyn; "we thought you couldn'tpossibly guess, so we were going to charge you another nickel!" shecontinued in a disappointed voice. 

"I will pay it for guessing, " said mother, laughing. 

"I'm spring, all dressed in green, and I spring when I walk, " saidEthelwyn beginning again. 

"I'm summer, " said Beth fanning. 

"And I'm fall, " said Nan, tumbling down, "that hurts the worst, " sheadded with pride. 

"I'm Christmas, " said Bobby, "and I know now why it doesn't come insummer. My! I'm hot!" he continued, mopping his brow. 

"I'm Fourth of July, " said Beth. 

"And I'm Thanksgiving and turkey--"

"There isn't a thing but April fool in spring, I do believe, " saidEthelwyn, disgusted. 

"Decoration Day, Arbor Day, and May Day, " said mother. "It was a fineshow, and the sun is out. You may go down now, and buy peanuts with yourmoney. "

_CHAPTER XIV__The Wedding and the Visit_

 Out in the country, God's flowers bravely grow. And all the dusty wayside is edged with golden glow;

They were up in the nursery the next morning, having a wedding. A dollhad opportunely lost her wig, and that always meant a good deal ofexcitement for the wigless one, for she was at once put to bed, andgiven medicine through the opening on top of the head, or made into aboy doll. 

This last happened now; poor cracked and dead Billy Boy's wig wasjauntily glued on the wigless head, and the late Janet became LordJimmy, and was in the process of being wedded to Arabella, the walking, talking doll from Paris. 

They were propped up in the doll house, and Beth was marrying them. 

"Lord Jimmy, " she said, "wilt thou marry Arabella and nobody else andbe her quilt in time of trouble--?"

"A quilt!" said Ethelwyn. "What's that?"

"A comfort then, " said Beth with dignity, "or something like that. Anyway I wish you wouldn't talk in the middle of the wedding--and giveher clothes, and things to eat, eh? Make him nod 'yes, ' sister. " SoEthelwyn, reaching out an energetic hand, clutched the bridegroom by thewaist and made him bow so low, that his freshly-glued wig came off. 

"O, for goodness sake, sister, " said Beth, in an exasperated tone, "Inever knew any one that could upset things like you--"

But their mother was heard calling them, in a way that meant somethingnice, so the poor bald-headed bridegroom and his wig were left at thefeet of the haughty Arabella, who stared rigidly at the landscapeoutside, and tried not to see him. 

"We are going to drive out to Grandmother Van Stark's to spend the day, and perhaps a little longer, " said mother. 

"Oh won't that be the nicest thing!" they cried in a breath. "Who can goon the pony?"

"Ethelwyn may ride out, and Beth back, " said mother. 

"I've always been so thankful to think you weren't born a _no_ and_don't_ mother, " said Ethelwyn, hugging her. "Are we going right away?"

"Right away. "

Sure enough there was Joe leading Ninkum, their own pony. Mother andBeth were to go in the phaeton. 

All the way out they played games with the trees and flowers. Ethelwynrode alongside the phaeton. 

They counted the spots they passed that were purple with thistles, andthey were many. Others were pink and white with clover and daisies. Their mother told them the story of the Field of the Cloth of Gold, whenthey drove down the lane bordered with golden Spanish needles. 

But they enjoyed the missing word game the most, because it was new. 

"It's your turn to make up a game, mother, " said Beth. 

"I will give you lines that rhyme, only I will leave off the last word, after the first line, " said mother, "and you must guess what that wordis. "

 "There was a man rode to the mill. The road ran steeply up the--"

"Hill, " cried Beth. 

"Yes; now let sister guess the next. "

 He stopped beside a flowing--"

"Rill?" asked Ethelwyn, after thinking awhile. 

"Yes. "

 "This horse was dry, so drank his--"

"Fill. "

 "Along there came a girl named--"

"Jill. "

 "He wished that his was Jack, not--"

"Will. "

 "For people sometimes called him--"

"Bill. "

 "This really was a bitter--"

"Pill. "

 "And made him feel both vexed and--"

"Ill. " Mother had to tell them that, because they both guessed sick. 

 "He brought his gun along to--"

"Kill. "

 "A bird to give to Jill a--"

"Quill?" Ethelwyn guessed after a long time. 

 "They lingered long, they lingered--"

"Till, " and again mother had to tell them this. 

 "The sun went down and all was--"

"Still. "

They had both missed one, so they each had to pay a forfeit or get up agame. 

But they were now within sight of Grandmother Van Stark's fine oldcolonial house, and there on the porch stood grandmother herself, whohad seen them coming, so had come out to meet them. 

"Oh isn't our grandmother pretty though?" said Ethelwyn, as they turnedin at the circular driveway. She had snow white hair, dark eyes and avery stately carriage. 

She welcomed them warmly, and invited them into the grand old hall withits white staircase and mahogany rail. 

Modern children seemed almost out of place in this old-time house. 

"I always seem to think you need short-waisted frocks, and drooping hatslike Sir Joshua Reynolds's, and the Gainsborough pictures, " said theirmother laughing. 

"O may we go up to the attic and dress up?" begged Ethelwyn. 

"After while, " said grandmother. "It is luncheon time now. I am glad youcame to-day, my daughter, for Nancy, the housemaid, has gone home for aweek's rest, and there is a meeting of the women of the church thisafternoon to arrange about a rummage sale, and a loan exhibition, andthey are rather depending upon me to contribute to both; but as Nancy isaway, I cannot well leave for I am a little overtired with more dutiesthan usual. So I have made a list of things that I will lend, and give. I should like you to take it down. "

"Yes, mother, I will, but what about the children--?"

"O mother, please let me stay, " begged Beth. "I will take excellent careof grandmother, and I will take Nancy's place, so grandmother can liedown; I know how, I've watched Nancy lots of times. You can takesister. "

This was the final arrangement, and soon after luncheon they drove awayto town. Grandmother disappeared up the beautiful staircase aftershutting the blind doors, and shading the hall from the afternoon sun. 

Then Beth arrayed in a red sweeping cap, instead of Nancy's white one, which she and cook failed to find, and armed with a huge silver salverfor cards, instead of Nancy's small one, took up her position in thehall, on the bottom stair, to await visitors: but the hall was full ofslumberous shadows, with sunshine flecks dancing down from the blinddoors to the polished floor. It is not strange, therefore, that by andby the red sweeping cap began to droop over the silver salver, untilfinally they all settled down together, and the new parlor maid wassound asleep, to the music of the tall old clock in the corner of thehall back under the stairway. 

Then some one came up the walk, and rapped briskly with the end of hisriding whip on the blind doors. 

The parlor maid suddenly awoke, stumbled to the door, and fumbled withthe fastenings, but it was no use, she couldn't open them; thereupon sheturned the slats and looked through at the young clergyman standingthere. 

The red cap nodded affably. 

"Could you climb in through the window, s'pose?" she asked. 

This was such a new and startling novelty at the Van Stark homestead, that the visitor laughed, while the parlor maid patiently waited for hisdecision. 

He had shone in athletics at his college, so when he stopped laughing, he put his hands on the stone window-sill leading into the library, andvaulted in so lightly and easily, that Beth was delighted to think shehad thought of it. 

She then went back to adjust her sweeping cap, which had dropped off, and to pick up the salver, which she had put down to free her hands. 

"Put your card there, " she instructed him, bobbing her head towards theexact centre of the salver, and thereby completely covering one eye withthat abominably big and wobbly cap. 

The reverend gentleman gravely complied, whereupon the maid swungherself around, but with caution, somewhat after the manner of a boatcarrying too much sail. 

After Mrs. Van Stark had come down, the parlor maid reappeared withouther badges of office, and was duly presented to the rector of thechurch, who made no sign, save a twinkle of his eye, of having met herin another, and humbler capacity, but shook hands and talked to herwithout that insufferable air of patronage which elder people at timesseem to delight to bestow upon their juniors. 

As he was taking his leave, he explained that he was going down into thegrove for a little while to read and to take pictures. 

As he went out, they met, coming in, an old lady whom Grandmother VanStark greeted with rare cordiality, kissing her on both cheeks andcalling her Tildy Ann. She called grandmother Jane Somerset, andexplained that her son, going to town, had brought her that far on hisway, and would call for her on his return. 

She had brought her knitting in a beautiful silk bag, and explained thatshe was making a long purse of black silk and steel beads, for the saleat the church. 

Beth brought grandmother's bag down to her, and grandmother producedsilk stockings that she was knitting for the same purpose. 

They sat down for a comfortable chat, and Beth, feeling that it was tooprehistoric an atmosphere for her, by and by stole up-stairs to theattic and went on a rummage for old clothes in which to dress up. 

She found an old figured silk gown, with short sleeves. By much rollingup and pinning, she made the skirt the right length. Then she pulled outan old green silk calash and set it on her head. This she felt was afinishing touch, so she softly crept down the stairs and past the oldladies, who had entirely forgotten her, and out on the lawn; then shewalked down the circular driveway and out into the road, where presentlythe clergyman, striding along to where his pony was tied, overtook her. 

He looked with astonishment at the quaint little figure in the silkfrock, but when the disguised parlor maid looked out from the depths ofthe great bonnet, he went off into peals of laughter again. 

"You seem to laugh a great deal, " said Beth. 

He at once stopped and said:

"It is a weakness of mine, and now let me beg a favor of you. Will youcome back to the porch, and sit in a Chippendale chair, and let me takeyour picture for the sale at the church?"

"Yes, I don't mind at all, " said Beth promptly, turning around andputting her hand in his. "You see Mrs. Tildy Ann and grandmother werehaving such a long-way-back time, I had to dress up to matcheverything. "

"I see, " said the minister. "But she may presently miss you and beworried. "

"O that's so, " said Beth. "Let's hurry. I promised to take care ofgrandmother, " she added, in a remorseful tone. 

But nothing had happened, and the picture proved a great success, manyof them being sold at the fair. 

"I don't like it much, " said Beth, when she saw one, "for it reminds meof how I forgot to take care of my Grandmother Van Stork. "

"It will do you good, I trust, " said her mother. 

"It'll improve my thinkery, I hope, " said Beth. 

_CHAPTER XV__The Lost Invitation_

 A heartache when the heart is young, Seems quite too big to bear; But when it ends in laughter, Away goes every care. 

When they started to return the next day, Beth in triumph mountedNinkum. She had a little difficulty in turning around to wave a farewellto dear grandmother on the porch, because the pony took this opportunetime to munch the grass at the road-side, and Beth nearly went over hishead. 

"Dear me, Ninkum, you are very rude, " she said, much vexed. "You try tospill me off, besides making Grandmother Van Stark feel as though youdidn't have enough to eat while you were visiting her!"

There was another disturbing feature also, and that was sister, whosecountenance kept peering above the phaeton top, and who shoutedexceedingly unwelcome advice, until silenced and firmly seated by thematernal command. 

However, these were small things, compared with the bliss of gallopingdown the smooth road, bordered by flowers and green fields. 

"I am very fond of wild flowers, " said Ethelwyn by and by, "because theycome right from God's garden, and they keep things so cheerful andbright out in the country. "

"I remember some verses about wild flowers and woods that a friend ofmine wrote, " said mother, "and I intend sometime to put some of them tomusic. "

"O say one, mother, " said Ethelwyn, who loved verses. So Mrs. Rayburnbegan:

 "I know a quiet place, Where a spring comes gurgling out, And the shadowed leaves like lace Fall on the ground about. 

 "A tempting grapevine swing Is swung from the near-by trees, And life is a dreamful thing Lulled by the birds and bees. 

 "Flowers at the great trees' feet Are sheltered quite from harm; For above the blossoms sweet, The oak holds forth his arm. 

 "Perhaps if I lie quite still, I may hear far down below, The first and joyous thrill Of things, when they start to grow. "

"I've wondered if they do get out of the seed with a little cracky pop, "said Ethelwyn. 

"What, sister?" asked Beth, coming up on Ninkum. 

"Flowers and things. "

"I've wondered how things know how to make themselves flowers, and notpotatoes, or something like that, " said Beth; "but I suppose God tellsthem. "

"And I've often thought what was it that makes part of them stalk andleaves, and then all at once end in a flower, " said Ethelwyn. Then, after a moment's silence, she proposed, "Let's have another game. "

"Yes, mother, you think of one. "

"I was thinking of one this morning, " said mother, "for I thought likelyyou would be asking me to make up one, though it isn't my turn. "

"O, but motherdy, you are so much smarter than we are!" said Ethelwyn. 

"That is one way to get out of it, " said mother, laughing. "Well, I willtell you a story, and leave a blank occasionally, which you must fill upwith the name of a tree. 

"There were two little girls who dressed exactly alike, and, as theywere very near the same age, it was difficult to tell which was the--"

"Elder?" said Ethelwyn, after a hard think. 

"Yes. "

"I didn't really know there was such a tree, but I had heard somethinglike it, and thought there wasn't a younger tree. "

"One of the little girls was named Louise and the other Minerva, andpeople grew to calling them by their initials, which together made--"

"Elm, " said Beth. 

"They were very good children, and people used to say what a nice--"

"Pear, " they both said at once. 

"They were. They had cheeks like a--"

"Peach. "

"It was spring, and they were invited to a sugaring off party, and theysaw the men tap the trees to make--"

"Maple sugar, " cried Beth, who knew that, if she knew anything. 

"So, when they went home, they tapped a tree in the front yard, andinvited a party to come and eat maple sugar; but they tapped the wrongtree, and their father was vexed, saying, 'I ought to take a ---- to----'"

But mother had to tell them these words for they had never heard ofbirch, or of yew. "'I wonder if you will be ----'"

"Evergreen, " said Ethelwyn, after a little prompting. 

"'All your life. ' 'I thought, ' said one, 'that maple sugar parties werevery ----'"

"'Pop'lar? (mother had to tell them this also), 'at this time of year. '"

"---- laughed their father. "

"Haw, haw, " said Ethelwyn, who had been thinking of the tree under whichthey played at home. 

"'I'll have to take you to the seashore to play on the ----'"

"Beech, " said Beth in triumph. 

"Then he lighted a cigar and knocked off the ----"

"Ash, " said Ethelwyn. 

"And walked down street, whistling a song from 'Mikado. ' Tit ----"

"Willow, " they both cried at once, for they knew that song as well asthe tree. 

"You have done well, " said mother, "but you each have two fines to pay, and it really is your turn next time; so you must remember to think up agame. But here we are at home, and there is 'Vada coming out to meetus. "

"O, 'Vada, what has happened since we went away?" said Ethelwyn, climbing out. 

"Mista Bobby gwine to give a party this ebenin'; it's his birthday, andhis uncle brought him some fiah works like those you all had las' yeah, "said 'Vada. 

"O goody! did he invite us?"

"Nome, not to say invite. But he's been in to see if you all wasexpected home. "

"O, it won't matter, " said Beth easily; "we'll go anyway. Of course heknew we would come. "

When Nan came over, she brought her invitation with her. It was veryformally enclosed in a small envelope, and informed his friend thatBobby would be at home on that very evening. 

This struck Beth as very silly. 

"Of course he'll be at home if he's going to give a party! Just asthough he'd be anywhere else!" she remarked. 

They wished to go over immediately and tell Bobby that they were homeand all ready to be invited, but their mother would not allow this. 

"He will come over by and by, " she said. But the day went by and noinvitation came, although great preparations were going on, as theycould see, for they kept very near the window that looked out on Bobby'slawn. A slow drizzling rain was falling, or they would probably havebeen much nearer. But Bobby was evidently very busy getting ready. Theycaught only flying glimpses of him, and their hearts grew heavy withintheir breasts. 

"O dear! I shall never, never get over this, never!" said Beth, swallowing the lump in her throat. 

"I wouldn't have thought Bobby could have done it, " said Ethelwyn, alsoswallowing. 

After their bath, they begged for their best slippers, silk stockings, and embroidered petticoats, and on having their hair done in theirdress-up-and-go-away-from-home style. "Because, " said Ethelwyn, "something may happen yet to make him think of us. "

So mother let them have on what they liked, for she was very sorry forthem. 

In the evening, after dinner, when the electric lights came flashingout, it was worse, because, still standing forlornly by the window, theysaw the orchestra come, with their instruments, and presently thesounds of music came floating up to them. Then the ice cream man came, and Beth, who had almost melted to tears at the sight of the orchestra, shed them openly when the ice cream went around the side of the house. Having no handkerchief, she wiped her eyes on Soosana, her big rag doll. She always loved Soosana when she was unhappy, for she was so squeezyand felt so comfortable. 

"I hope Bobby will be sorry when he has time to think about it, " sheremarked in a subdued tone. 

"Look at that!" said Ethelwyn in such a hopeful voice that Beth at onceemerged from her eclipse behind Soosana, and looked with all her eyes. 

There was Bobby, resplendent in a new suit and slippers with shiningbuckles, running across the lawn. 

Ethelwyn and Beth at once pushed up the window, in order to meet himhalf-way. 

"Do you want us, Bobby?" called Beth encouragingly. 

"Yes; why on earth don't you come?" cried Bobby. "We are all ready todance and Nan and everybody but you, are there, and I wouldn't let 'embegin till you came, so hurry up. "

"We will, " they cried in a breath, "and we would have come a long timeago if you only hadn't forgotten to invite us till so late. What madeyou, Bobby?"

"Why I didn't!" said Bobby in a surprised tone. "I took your invitationover to your front door and--and--your bell is pretty high up--"

"Yes, I can't reach it at all, " said Beth breathlessly; "go on. "

"So I shoved it under the door--"

Ethelwyn disappeared like a flash, and, sure enough, under the carpet'sedge she could see sticking out the little white corner of theenvelope. She knelt down and pulled it out, then ran back. 

"We'll come right over in a minute, Bobby, " she called happily. "We'repretty nearly all dressed for fear you'd remember you had forgotten--"

"All right, hurry up, " called up Bobby. 

Down on the floor went Soosana, all damp with tears, but she stillsmiled broadly at the ceiling in the dark. She probably did not, if thetruth were known, quite enjoy being used as a handkerchief, but she feltit was her mission in this life to act as comforter, and so she bore itwith cheerfulness. The next morning she was told by happy, thoughsleepy, Beth that it was a "beyewtiful party, with fireworks, and icecream, and dancing, and games, and souvenirs. I should never have beenso happy again, Soosana, if I had missed going, I know, " she concluded, kissing Soosana with such fervor, that she put a dent in that portionof her doll's head where she had been kissed; but this time Soosana wassure she did not care. 

_CHAPTER XVI__The Mail and Ethelwyn's Visit_

 Good-bye, speed by Days till we meet again. Hearts' ease, ne'er cease, Keep free from fret or pain. 

There had come an interesting mail that morning, for it began withanother letter from Cousin Gladys, who was in London now for the winter, and there was also one from Aunty Stevens and from Grandmother VanStark. While the two children ate their oatmeal and cream, they readtheir cousin's letter. This was it:

 "DEAR COUSINS:

 "We have seen the Coronation, and my eyes ached, there was so much to see and do. It was worse than a circus with six rings. 

 "The King is not pretty, but I suppose that won't hinder him from being good, and nurse is always saying, 'Pretty is that pretty does, Miss Gladys. ' I think she thinks that the two hardly ever go together. The dear Queen is pretty, however, and so young-looking and sweet that even nurse has to give in about her. 

 "I will tell you all about it when we come home, but it tires me now even to think about it. One morning I begged to go back to the hotel and rest, and nurse was so disappointed that I told her she could go out and I would stay alone. I dug around in my trunk and got rather homesick, looking at the things I had at home. I found some jacks but no ball, so I thought I would go down to a near-by shop, and buy one. I slipped down and out, before I had time to think about mother making me promise not to go anywhere alone. I turned a corner or two, but didn't find the right kind of a shop. It was cloudy, and sort of foggy, and crowds and crowds of people were pushing along. I knew all at once that I was lost, and I began to feel a lump in my throat, bigger than any ball you ever saw, and just then I saw a tall man coming towards me. I saw only his legs, but they looked so Americanish that I rushed up, and said, 'Please take me to the L---- Hotel, ' He stopped at once and said, 'Well, I certainly will; I am going there myself. ' He was a minister from New York. He laughed when I told him about the jacks, and then he talked to me in such a nice way about going out alone, that it made a great impression on me. I found mother and nurse in such a state when I got back. I was kissed and then put to bed to eat my supper, but the minister came to call in the evening, and when I had promised never to do such a thing again, they let me get up. He was so nice, and brought me a ball. I play jacks every day now, and think of America and nice 'things like that. I shall be glad to get there again. 

 "Yours truly, "GLADYS. 

 "P. S. --I can probably beat you at jacks when I get back, I practice so much. "

"I'll get mine out to-day, " said Ethelwyn, "and we'll see whether shecan or not. When will she come home, mother?"

But mother was reading Aunty Stevens's letter, and did not hear. 

"The Home is getting on beautifully, " she said presently. "There areten pale little children out there now. Dick is quite well and strongagain, and helps with the work in every way. They are very anxious thatwe shall come on this summer. "

"O let's; for my birthday, " said Ethelwyn. "Can't we, mother?"

"I will see. But Grandmother Van Stark would like one of you to come outand stay with her for a few days. Peter is coming in this afternoon andwill take one of you out. "

"O me!" they cried at once. 

"Let's pull straws, " suggested Ethelwyn; so she ran to find the broom. It was she who drew the longest straw, and Beth drew a long breath, saying with cheerful philosophy, "Well, I am thankful not to leavemother. I'd prob'ly cry in the night, and worry dear grandmother. " Soevery one was satisfied, and Ethelwyn, dimpling delightfully under herbroad white pique hat, bade them good-bye, and took her place besidePeter in the roomy old phaeton. 

"Are you any relation of St. Peter's?" she asked politely, after theywere well on the way. 

"Nobody ever thought so, " said Peter, looking down at her with a twinklein his eye. 

"Well, I didn't know, " she said. "I thought I'd like to ask you somequestions about him if you were. We have had a good deal about him atSunday-school lately. I'm studying my lessons nowadays for a prize; theyare going to give a sacrilegious picture to the child that knows herverses the best by Easter, and I think maybe I'll get it, for I'm onlyabout next to the worst now. "

"How many are there of you?"

"O, a lot; but if I do get it, I shall ask for a goat and cart instead. We have plenty of pictures at home, but we are much in need of a goatand cart. "

Peter had a peculiar habit, Ethelwyn afterwards told her grandmother, ofshaking after she had talked to him awhile, and gurgling down in histhroat. She felt sorry for him. "He was prob'ly not feeling well; maybewhat Aunt Mandy calls chilling, " she said. 

She found grandmother making pumpkin pies, for the minister and his wifewere coming to dinner the next day. Grandmother was famous for makingpumpkin pies, and never allowed any one else to make them. 

"It's my grandmother's recipe, " she said, and Ethelwyn nearly fell offher chair trying to imagine grandmother's grandmother. 

"I shouldn't suppose they would have been discovered then, " she said, after a struggle. "Pumpkin pies don't go out of style like clothes, dothey, grandmother?"

"Mine never have, " said grandmother proudly. "I suppose Mandy nevermakes pumpkin pies. "

"Yes she does, but they don't grow in yellow watermelons; they live intin cans. "

"Pooh!" said grandmother, "they can't hold a candle to these. "

"No, but why would they want to?"

"Hand me that japanned box with the spices, please, dear. Now you'll seethe advantage of doing this sort of thing yourself; here are mustard andpepper boxes in this other japanned box, but I know just where theyalways stand, so I could get up in the night and make no mistake. "

Just then grandmother was called away from the kitchen. 

"Don't meddle and get into mischief, will you, deary?" she said. AndEthelwyn promised. 

She intended to keep her word, but while she was smelling the spices, it struck her that it would be a good joke to season the pies from theother box. "Like an April fool, " she thought; so she took a spoon andmeasured in a liberal supply of mustard and red pepper; then she wentout into the yard. 

It was fortunate that the minister and his new wife were not cominguntil the next day. Ethelwyn, however, spent a very unhappy afternoon. That night she woke up sobbing, and crawled into grandmother's big bed. 

"What's the matter, child?" said grandmother, sitting up in bed with astart. "Are you sick?"

"Yes, grandmother, awful! You'll never like me again, I know. " And thenshe told her about the pumpkin pies. 

"Well, child, I am thankful you told me, " said grandmother with a sigh, "for when you are as old as I am, and have a reputation for doingthings, it goes hard to make a failure of them, and I should have beenmuch mortified. Fortunately there are plenty of pie shells, and there ismore pumpkin steamed, so that I can season and put them together in themorning. But I am glad, dear child, that your conscience wouldn't letyou sleep comfortably until you had told; be careful, however, neveragain to break your word. Remember the Van Starks' watchword, 'Love, Truth, and Honor. ' Now cuddle down here and go to sleep. "

Ethelwyn, feeling much relieved, slept in the canopy bed withgrandmother, until long past daylight. When she came down-stairs, thegreat golden pies were coming out of the oven, and the minister and hiswife violated propriety and made Grandmother Van Stark proud and happyby eating two pieces each. 

_CHAPTER XVII__Out at Grandmother's_

 Grandmother's house, I tell you most emphatic, Is full of good times from cellar to the attic. 

There came to Grandmother Van Stark's one day, a forlorn black trampkitten, mewing dismally. 

Ethelwyn, who loved kittens devotedly, was melted to the verge of tearsby his wailing appeals in a minor key; so she cuddled him and fed him onLady Babby's creamy, foamy milk. In the intervals of eating, however, hestill wailed like a lost soul. 

"The critter don't stop crying long enough to catch a mouse, " said cook, eyeing the disconsolate bundle of grief with strong disfavor. 

"He almost did this morning, Hannah, " said Ethelwyn in his defense. "Isaw him watching a hole, and he's so little yet, I grabbed him away. Besides, I don't like mice myself, and I was so afraid I'd see one ortwo. "

"No danger; his bawling will keep them away, " said Hannah, grimly. 

"O, well then, his crying is some good, after all, " returned Ethelwyn, triumphantly. "That's a good deal nicer than killing the poor littlethings. "

"Humph!" said Hannah. 

But Grandmother Van Stark had given orders that Johnny Bear--so namedfrom one of Ernest Thompson-Seton's illustrations, which Ethelwynthought he resembled--was to be treated tenderly and fed often, becauseEthelwyn loved him, and she herself loved to feed hungry people andanimals. 

But one morning there was a great commotion over the discovery that amouse had been in Grandmother Van Stark's room. 

"This is a chance for Johnny Bear to make a reputation as a mouser, "said grandmother. "We will take him up-stairs to-night and he shall havea chance to catch that mouse. "

"O grandmother, I'm sure he will, " said Ethelwyn, earnestly; so shetalked to him that afternoon about it. 

It had rained in the afternoon, --a cold drizzly rain, so Nancy hadlighted a little snapping wood-fire in Grandmother Van Stark'ssitting-room. Into this opened the sleeping room in which was Ethelwyn'ssmall bed, and the big mahogany tester bed, where Grandmother Van Starkhad slept for more years than Ethelwyn could imagine. 

Ethelwyn put Johnny Bear and his basket in front of the grate. It wasso "comfy" that he stopped yowling at once and began to purr. 

"How does middle night look, Nancy?" said Ethelwyn, as she lay in herlittle brass bed, watching the dancing shadows on the wall. 

"Like any other time, only stiller, " replied Nancy. "Go to sleep now, Miss Ethelwyn. "

So Ethelwyn presently fell asleep and woke up with a little start justas the clock was striking twelve. 

Johnny Bear was stirring around uneasily in the other room. He had beenvery still; his stomach was full, and his body warm, so that therereally was no possible excuse for making a noise. In fact, there was afaint scratching in the closet that concentrated his attention, andfroze him into a statue of silence. 

Presently he pounced, and a little shriek, piteous and faint, told thestory. Then Johnny Bear played ball with his victim, and ran up anddown the room as gaily as if he had never known what it was to cry. 

But all at once something went wrong; a crackle in the grate sent aglowing coal over the fender and on the rug, where it smoldered andsmoked, and then ran out a little tongue of flame. So Johnny Bear beganto mew again loudly and uneasily, the clock struck twelve, and Ethelwynawoke. 

"Hush, Johnny Bear, dear, " she said softly from the other room; "you'llwake up grandmother. "

But grandmother was awake, and lifted her head just in time to see thetongue of fire. 

She was over the side of the bed in a minute, and, snatching up apitcher of water, dashed it over the rug. 

Ethelwyn jumped up too and snatched Johnny Bear in her arms. 

"I don't think twelve o'clock at night looks stiller, do you, grandmother?" she asked. "Aren't you glad Johnny Bear came to live withus, and--oh! oh!" he cried, for she had stepped on a soft little mouse, lying quite still now on the floor. 

"O Johnny, how could you?" she said sorrowfully, quite forgetting herinstructions to him in the afternoon. 

"But he is brave, isn't he, grandmother?"

"Very, " said grandmother, "and he shall have a saucer of cream in themorning. But come now, chicken; I've put out the fire, and covered theother, so I think we can sleep in peace. "

So they both went to sleep, and Johnny Bear from that time on wept nomore. 

The next morning, Ethelwyn joyfully told Hannah and Peter all about it. Their praise was unstinted enough to suit even her swelling heart, andshe proudly took the saucer of cream to Johnny, saying, "There, darling, everybody loves you now, even Peter and Hannah and Nancy, because you did your duty so nobly. I knew you would, so I loved you allthe time. "

"Miss Ethelwyn, " said Nancy, appearing, "there are callers in thedrawing-room, and your grandmother wishes you to come in. "

Ethelwyn went in, and was presented to several of the ladies of thechurch, who had come to see about a reception to be given to theclergyman and his new young wife. It was, Ethelwyn found with joy, to begiven at Grandmother Van Stark's. 

"O may I stay up?" she begged, and grandmother, who always found it hardto deny her grandchildren anything, said she might. When evening came, Ethelwyn dressed in her best white frock, a little later than the hourwhen she usually went to bed, came down the staircase with grandmother, who was more stately and lovely than ever? In her black velvet gown, with the great portrait brooch of Grandfather Van Stark, surrounded bydiamonds, in the beautiful old lace around her neck. 

Grandmother was permitted to sit while receiving the guests. Between herchair and where the clergyman and his wife stood, Ethelwyn slipped herown little rocker, and sat there, highly interested in the streams ofpeople that came by. 

"It's like a funeral, " she announced during a slight lull. 

Grandmother and the clergyman looked around startled. 

"Why, child, what do you know about funerals?" asked grandmother, whilethe clergyman, of course, laughed. 

"'Vada took me and Beth once to a big mercession, and we went into a bigchurch and the folks all went up and looked at somebody, just liketo-night. 'Vada said it was a big gun's funeral, just like you and yourwife, you know, " she concluded cheerfully, nodding to the clergyman. 

"Well of all things--" began grandmother, but a new lot of people comingin demanded her attention. 

The clergyman and his wife, laughing heartily, shook hands with the newpeople, and Ethelwyn was rather indignant to hear her remark repeatedseveral times. 

"I'm not going to say anything more, " she thought, "they always laughso. "

She sat very quiet, indeed, until by and by the lights and the pink, blue, and white gowns danced together in a rainbow, and then she knewnothing at all about the rest of it, nor that the minister himselfcarried her up-stairs and put her in Nancy's care. 

But the first thing of which she thought in the morning, was therefreshments, in which she had been so vitally interested the daybefore; so she came very soberly down-stairs to a late breakfast. 

"Well, chicken, " said grandmother, "how did you like the reception?"

"Not very much, " said Ethelwyn. "I'm so ashamed to think I didn't getany ice cream--"

"There's some saved for you; and I think I see your mother and Bethcoming in the gate, I was so sorry they couldn't come last night. "

"I do believe they _are_ coming, " said Ethelwyn, standing on tiptoes, "and, yes, see, they have Bobby and Nan with them, to help take mehome!"

There was a wild triple shriek from the surrey, followed by three smallforms climbing rapidly down. They were proudly escorted by Ethelwyn tosee Johnny Bear, the chickens, Peter, Hannah, and Nancy, all beforemother was fairly in the house and the surrey in the barn. 

They ate the reception refreshments with such zeal that grandmothersaid, "Well there! I was wondering what we would do with all the thingsthat were left, but I needn't have worried. "

"No, the mothers are the only ones that need worry, --over the afterresults, " said Mrs. Ray burn, laughing. 

They started home in the afternoon, all standing on the surrey steps andseats to wave a farewell to dear Grandmother Van Stark as long as theycould see her. 

Of course they played games going home, and this time Ethelwyn hadreally made up one. 

"I'll say the first and last letter of something in the surrey or thatwe can see, and then whoever guesses it can give two letters. " So shegave "m----r, " and Beth guessed mother at once; then Beth gave "h----s, "and Bobby disgraced himself by guessing horse, but he was warm, becauseit really was harness, and Nan guessed it. Then she gave "f----s, " andthat took them a long time, because it didn't sound at all likeflowers, but Bobby finally guessed it, and then he gave them "g----s, "which mother guessed as girls. 

"You tell us a story, motherdy, " said Ethelwyn, cuddling up close. "Ijust love to hear you talk, I haven't heard you for so long. "

"Were you homesick for me?"

"Not ezactly, " said Ethelwyn, "but I had a lonesome spot for you allwhenever I thought about it. "

Ethelwyn always pronounced the word "exactly" wrong. Her mother liked tohear her say it, however, and one or two more; "for they will grow outof baby-hood all too fast, " she said. 

"I went over to see Miss Helen Gray yesterday, " said Mrs. Rayburn, "andshe told me some funny stories about Polly, her parrot. You know she isreally a very remarkable bird. Ever since Miss Helen has lived alone, she and Polly have been great friends, and it seems as though Pollyreally understands things she says to her. She bought her in NewOrleans, where she boarded next door to the Cathedral. So Polly soonlearned to intone the service, not the words, but exactly theintonation. 

"One day Miss Helen, who allowed her all sorts of liberties, let herout, but first she made her tell where she lived. '1013 H---- Street, 'Polly said. 'Will you be good and not get lost?' 'Yep, ' said Polly, soshe went out, and Miss Helen heard her talking in the yard. A lady camealong beautifully dressed. 

"'La, how fine, ' said Polly. 

"The lady looked around angrily, thinking it was a boy. 

"'Didn't see me, did you?' said Polly, and then the woman saw the funnylittle green bird on the lawn and she petted and complimented her untilPolly felt very much puffed up. 

"Miss Helen went in for a few minutes, though, and when she came out, Polly was gone, stolen probably by some one that slipped up behind her. 

"Poor Miss Helen grieved and grieved over her, and offered greatrewards, but to no avail. In about a year she went to Florida, and oneday, going by a bird fancier's that she knew, the man invited her tocome in, saying that he had a lot of new parrots to show her. 

"O I wonder: if Polly is there!' she said, and told him about her. 

"'No, I haven't any that know as much as that, ' said he; 'but there isone who looks as if she understood things, but she won't, or can't, talk. '

"So Miss Helen went in, and there, sure enough, was her poor Pollyhuddled up sulkily in a cage. 

"'Polly, ' called Helen, and Polly started and came to the front of thecage. 

"'Helen, Helen, ' she called, going perfectly wild; '1013 H---- Street. I'll be good! Yep! Yep! Yep!' and then she began to intone the service. 

"The bird fancier was astonished enough. 

"'I bought her and some six others from two sailors, ' he said, 'but Inever dreamed she could talk!'

"Miss Helen paid him a big price and went off with Polly on her fingerchattering like one mad. "

"O I'd love to see her, " cried Beth. 

"Well go over there some day. Here we are at home. "

"I'm glad, " said Ethelwyn. "It's nice to go away, but it's nicer to comeback. "

_CHAPTER XVIII__How They Bought a Baby_

 Spend your money Speed you, honey, Quick as you can fly Up the street, Toys and sweet Money burns to buy. 

And all this time they had saved their birthday money!

It was accidental, for they had in the multitude of other events andpresents, forgotten they had it until one morning, in emptying theirbanks for "peanut" nickles, with a dexterity born of long practice, theydiscovered the two gold coins, for they each had been given one, ofcourse, and they rushed off at once to show them. 

"Haven't we saved this money, though?" they said, full of pride, andthen they straightway sat down to make plans for spending it. 

"Let's each buy a puppy for a parting gift to Bobby and Nan, " suggestedEthelwyn, as she and Beth were soon going away to visit the Home. 

"Yes, sir, let's, " said Beth. "They dearly love Bose, and Mr. Smithers, our vegetable man, has six and will sell us two, I know. "

Mr. Smithers said he would be charmed--or words to that effect--to sellthem two Newfoundland puppies at five dollars each, and they struck abargain at once. 

It was easier to do because mother had gone to town on business and wasto be away all day. 

Mr. Smithers promised to bring them in that afternoon, and they went offto wait until then with what patience they could muster. 

They met Joe on their way to the barn, and noticed that his usual ruddycountenance was grave and pale. 

"My sister is sick, " he explained, "and she's getting no better. "

"Why don't you tell mother?" asked Ethelwyn. 

"O it's everything your mother's done for us this summer, withoutbothering her more, " he said. "I'm going to try to get my sister up inthe country, but--I can't yet awhile. "

"Will it cost very much, Joe?"

"No, not much, but there's so many of us to feed and clothe that wenever have any money left for anything else. "

"Mother will help, I know, " said Ethelwyn, and they went up to thehouse, pondering deeply. 

"Those horrid puppies! I wish we'd never heard of them, " said Ethelwyn. "Then we could give Dick the money. What did you think about them for?"

"You did yourself. "

"No, I didn't. Anyway, let's watch for Mr. Smithers at the back gardengate, and tell him not to bring them. "

So they went down through the garden, and, looking over the gate, theysaw a very sulky little colored girl carrying a long limp bundle ofyellow calico, with a round woolly head protruding at the top. 

"O that cunning baby I Where'd you get him?" they cried both at once, opening the gate to look at him. 

The sulky nurse shifted the bundle to her other shoulder. 

"Allus had him, mos', " she said; "him or 'nuther one, perzactly likehim, to lug roun' while ma's washin'. "

"Don't you like to play with him?" asked Ethelwyn in a shocked tone. 

"No, I don't, " was the emphatic reply; "nor you wouldn't needa, ef youhad it to do contin'ul. "

"Why, you can play he's a doll. "

"He's showin' off now, but when he gits to bawlin', you ain't a gwine tomake no mistake 'bout his bein' nuffin' 'tal but a cry-baby, " shecontinued, preparing to move on. 

"Would you sell him?" asked Beth eagerly. 

"Yessum, I sholy would, " said his sister with a gleam of interest; "weain't a gwine to miss him, wid six mo'! I'll sell him easy fo' adolla'. "

There was a hurried consultation between Beth and Ethelwyn. 

"It's cheaper, and would leave nine dollars for Joe. Bobby could keephim one day, and Nan the next, or we could get something else for one ofthem. I think Nan would like him the best. "

"We will buy him, " said Ethelwyn, at the end of the consultation. 

There was a moment of hesitation, and then the yellow bundle went intoEthelwyn's outstretched arms. 

Beth went off to get the money. She ran breathlessly down the street toget the change, she was so afraid the girl would change her mind andtake back the baby. 

There was no doubt but that the girl was in rather a dubious state ofmind over it, but the silver dollar clinched her resolution, and shewalked firmly off, without a backward glance in the direction of thegurgling Samuel Saul, which was the alliteral name of the yellow bundle. 

Ethelwyn and Beth, after a further consultation, took him to the attic. They considered it providential that Sierra Nevada was assisting in thelaundry, and that the coast was therefore free from all observers. 

Samuel Saul was rocked in the cradle in which the ancestors of thechildren, as well as themselves, had been rocked, and he, well contentedwith the motion and not ill pleased with his surroundings, presentlyfell into a delicious slumber. 

"'Rockabye baby on the tree top, '" came from the open attic window, andfloated down to Joe currying Ninkum, and to 'Vada, Mandy, and AuntSophie in the laundry. 

Joe smiled at the cheerful refrain, and 'Vada, sure that they were in nomischief, mopped her dripping brow, and went on with her work. 

Watching Samuel Saul's peaceful slumbers grew a little monotonous aftera while, so Beth descended to the kitchen for a plate of cookies and aglass of water, and leaving this substantial luncheon beside theirsleeping charge, they went down-stairs and for a while played on thepiano with more strength than anything else. After that they took morecookies and went over to play with Bobby. 

Bobby, making a chicken yard out of wire netting, was delighted to haveassistance, and they telephoned for Nan, who speedily joined them. 

"Mother's gone to town to-day to see your grandfather, who owns a bank, Bobby, " said Ethelwyn. 

"I expect it's on account of his losing a whole lot of money, " rejoinedBobby, standing on tiptoe on a box to pound in a nail. 

"Where did he lose it? Were there holes in his pockets?" asked Beth, unrolling the wire at Bobby's order. 

"On change, " said Bobby, with his mouth full of nails. 

"Our money is in your grandfather's bank, and the Home money andGrandmother Van Stark's. I hope he hasn't lost anybody's but his own, "said Ethelwyn anxiously. 

"You're not very polite, " said Nan. 

"Well I do, but if he lost only change, prob'ly it's his own, andmother's gone to give him some more. "

"Pooh!" said Bobby, "it's not--"

But before he could say anything more, excited voices were heard, andfour black and shining faces appeared over the top of the fence, while aguilty eye looked through a knot-hole farther down. 

"Has you all seen anything of a low down black pickaninny which islos'?" This remark came from 'Vada. 

"Which is _stole_, " corrected a mountain of flesh, quivering with wrath. 

"Is it Samuel Saul?" asked Ethelwyn. 

"It is so; will you projus him?" asked the mountain. 

"He's in the attic asleep; his sister sold him to us for a present toBobby and Nan--"

"O let's see him, " cried Nan, with lively interest. 

"You all is gwine to leab him alone--" began the mountain, when Mandyturned ponderously in her direction. 

"Will you, Martha Jane Jenkins, please kindly rec'lect dat you is'sociatin' wid quality now, an' take a good care how you talk, thoughsholy it may be de fus time dat you has ebber been in good sassity--"

"Dat is sholy de trufe w'en I has been wid you, " said Martha JaneJenkins, wrathfully. 

But now from the open attic windows were heard such piercing shrieksthat they all with one consent turned in that direction. 

"Americky, you go bring me you brudda, " instructed Martha, cuffingsoundly the girl with the guilty eye. 

Presently America and the children returned with the wailing Samuel Saulto the place where Mandy, 'Vada, and Aunt Sophie were standing, loftilyignoring the angry mother and making caustic remarks calculated to addto her discomfort. 

In the capacious arms of his mother, Samuel Saul ceased his repining andcontentedly gurgled again. As the united ones went off, Martha JaneJenkins with her head in the air and America remorsefully weeping in therear, Ethelwyn said, "Well, our dollar's gone, and our baby too, and Ithought we had made such a bargain. I don't know what Mr. Smithers willsay. "

"And poor Joe too, " said Beth. 

"There comes Mr. Smithers now, " exclaimed Bobby. 

"Yes an' I ain't got your puppies either, for when I got home I found myboy had sold two and given away two, so there wasn't any left but whatwe wanted to keep. "

"Well, I'm thankful, " said Ethelwyn; "for we bought a baby instead, onlyits mother took it back, and we just had to use the rest of the moneyfor something else. Thank you, Mr. Smithers. "

"You're entirely welcome, " responded he. 

_CHAPTER XIX__Bobby's Grandfather_

 And now let's be glad, While everything's bright. Days that are sunny Are shadowed by night. 

That evening there was considerable news to tell mother when she camefrom town, and she both laughed and lectured them a little over the babyepisode. After the children told her what Bobby had said about hisgrandfather losing money, they asked anxiously, "Oh mother, did he loseanything of ours?"

For the first time in a long while the two straight worry lines cameback between mother's eyes, and the children immediately climbed in herlap to kiss them away. 

"I can't tell yet, dearest ones, " she said after a while. "I have beenvery foolish to leave so much of our money in one bank, I am afraid, butI had such faith, too much, perhaps, and I fear--"

It was very comforting to have their dear warm cheeks against her own, and courage, almost vanquished during this trying day, came back. Afterawhile she laughed with them again, and told them stories until bedtime, promising them also that Joe's sister would be sent to the Home as soonas she was able. 

The next morning, however, the lines came back, and the children, seeingthem, resolved that they would write Bobby's grandfather a letter. 

"If there's anything I'm glad of, it's that I know how to write, " saidEthelwyn. "It was very hard to learn. "

They went up-stairs to the nursery where their own small desks were andtaking some of their beloved Kate Green a way paper with pictures ofquaint little children on it, after much trouble, ink, and many sheetsof paper, as well as consultations with Bobby and Nan, they finished andposted a very small envelope to Bobby's grandfather, whose address theyobtained from Bobby. 

Bobby's grandfather, on coming down the next morning to the bank, foundthis communication among the official-looking matter on the desk. Thepicture in the corner of the envelope was surrounded by these words:

 "Little Fanny wears a hat, Like her ancient granny; Tommy's hoop was--think of that-- Given him by Fanny. "

The poke-bonneted pair with Tommy and his hoop looked curiously out ofplace among their official surroundings. 

The lines of worry were thickly sown in the banker's face, and as therewere no round, rosy-cheeked children in his silent home to kiss themaway, they stayed and grew deeper each day. He half smiled, however, ashe picked up the Greenaway envelope and curiously broke the seal. Thisis what he read:

 "DEAR BOBBY'S GRANDFATHER, "We live next door to Bobby, who is quite often a nice boy, though he wishes us to say always, and we are sorry to learn that you are losing change money, for your sake, and for fear you'll go on and lose ours, Grandmother Van Stark's and the Home's. Ours doesn't matter so much as the others, for we have $9. 00 left of our birthday money, and it's lasted so long that it will prob'ly go on lasting, specially if we forget it, or unless we buy more babies, which we shan't do now because of not being able; but dear grandmother without money would be awful, and the Home not to have money for the poor little city children that are sick would be awful, too. Please, please don't lose that, and we will pray for you and love you hard all the days of our life. Amen. 

 "As there is no more paper in our boxes on account of spoiling so much we will say good-bye. 

 "ETHELWYN, BETH, NAN, and BOBBY. 

 "P. S. --The first one she wrote it. 

 "P. S. --My mother said because she had faith in you was why you have our money, and so have we. "

When the banker had finished this somewhat remarkable epistle, of whichthe children had been so proud, there were tears in his eyes, althoughhis mouth was smiling, and the lines of worry did not seem so deep norso stern. 

He pushed his other mail aside unread, and sat for a long time thinking. Presently he called for his stenographer, and dictated telegram aftertelegram, the import of which made that impassive person start andglance up in amazement several times. Then, seizing a sheet of paper, the banker started to write a letter for himself. 

 "DEAR CHILDREN, (it began)

 "Do not worry. I shall not lose one penny of yours, nor Grandmother Van Stark's, nor the blessed Home's, nor any one's, I hope, but my own, and not enough of that to hurt; at any rate, I shall still have enough, I think, to buy a railroad ticket to Bobby's house. So tell him that I wish he'd tell his mother to have a good supper to-morrow night, and you children must plan it and all come and eat with me. 

 "Yours, with love, "BOBBY'S GRANDFATHER. 

 "P. S. --Be sure to have plenty of candy for supper. "

The excitement and the joy that this letter produced were somethingstartling. Away went the worry lines from Mrs. Rayburn's dear face, andback came the laughter the children loved. In Bobby's house they planneda most wonderful menu of fried chicken, candy, cake, and ice cream. Mandy baked spice cakes at Nan's and Bobby's special request, and nobodythought anything whatever about indigestion or after effects; for whereeverybody laughs and is happy, there is no need to fear indigestion. 

The children went to the station to meet the guest, and, when the traincame in, greeted him with shouts of welcome, and, proudly surroundinghim, marched down the street like a royal procession. 

There would not be words enough to describe the feast that followed atBobby's house. All the children wished to sit next to his grandfather, so that he had to change places at every course (all of which had candyinterludes) and thus that mighty matter was accomplished to the entiresatisfaction of the children. 

And after supper Bobby's grandfather played games with them and soonlost his worry lines, probably on the floor where he was playing horseor bear. No one picked them up, so it isn't positively known where helost them. When Ethelwyn and Beth suddenly bethought themselves thatthey were to go with their mother to the Home the next day, to takeJoe's sister there, it was at once decided that Bobby and Nan should gotoo, for one beautiful outing before school should begin. 

"And we will need it, " said Bobby, with a deep sigh over the arduouseducational duties before him. 

Then Bobby's grandfather brought out some curious knobby-looking bundlesfrom his valise, and while the children shut their eyes, he hid thepackages and then turned the children loose to find them. There was agreat outfit of Kate Greenaway writing paper for Ethelwyn; a blackdoll-baby apiece for Beth and Nan; and a watch with a leather fob andjockey cap attachments for his namesake, Bobby. There were also a bookand a game for each one. While they were playing with their gifts, Mrs. Rayburn and Bobby's grandfather talked apart, and it was a happy talk, as Ethelwyn and Beth could see when they came up to where they weresitting. 

When at last it was time to say good-night, Ethelwyn and Beth had asurprise for Bobby's grandfather. It was four silver dollars. "Two ofour dollars are gone to help take Joe's sister to the Home, " Bethexplained, "but this is for you on account of your losing the changemoney. It's from us all, instead of good-bye presents we were going toget for Nan and Bobby. They said they'd rather. "

Bobby's grandfather hesitated just a little and was about to make agesture of refusal, when, seeing their mother shake her head, he kissedthe children's red cheeks and said, with a shake in his voice, "You dearchildren, I'll keep these and your letter, as long as I live, so as notto forget your faith in me. "

_CHAPTER XX__The Visit to the Home_

 On the train we ran through rain, Then out in sun and blue; And all the trees bent down and raced, And all the houses too. 

Somehow, that night, after the children were all in bed, and the grownpeople were talking over the next day's journey, it seemed to Bobby'sgrandfather that he too would like to go along, and he said he could notfor the life of him see why Bobby's mother should not go too, and alsoNan's father and mother if they wished. 

Well, it was short notice, but by telegraphing, telephoning and tellingby mouth they arranged it; and the next morning quite an imposing partyboarded the Eastbound Limited, and took possession of the drawing-roomcar, for Bobby's grandfather never did things on a niggardly plan. 

He and Bobby's mother were seated on one side, and Nan's mother (herfather could not leave) and Mrs. Rayburn were across from them, whileNan, Ethelwyn, Beth, and Bobby appeared and disappeared, like meteors, in the most unexpected places. Joe's sister was not well enough that dayto accompany them, so it was arranged that her brother should bring heras soon as she felt better. 

If I have, by the use of the word "grandfather, " given you an idea ofdecrepitude and old age, in the case of Bobby's grandfather, I wish atonce to change that idea. 

He was a very erect and handsome man, with a white mustache indeed, butwith a firm mouth underneath that gave no sign of diminished force. 

He had always told Mrs. Rayburn that he thought it was very foolish forher to give such large sums of money for charity. 

"It's not right, " he now repeated, twirling his mustache. The morningpaper lay across his knees, and, as he spoke, with an air of finalityand disapproval, he picked it up. 

"What isn't right, grandfather?" asked Bobby, suddenly appearing on theback of his chair, and encircling his grandfather's neck with a pair ofsturdy legs. 

His grandfather drew him down by one leg into his lap. 

"Giving all your money away to people who don't appreciate it, " heexplained. 

"How do you know they don't?" asked Bobby. 

"Because, sir, people don't appreciate what is given to them, as much asthey do what they earn. "

Bobby pondered over this. 

"I like my Christmas presents better than the money I get for choppingkindling, " he replied at length; "because the Christmas money is more, for one thing. "

"And more certain, " put in his mother, laughing; "the kindling moneyisn't always earned. "

"Are you talking about the Home money?" asked Ethelwyn, looking over theback of the chair in front of them. 

"Yes. "

"But we like to give it, and so will you, when you see how nice it is, and Dick and Aunty Stevens and the best cookies that she can make. What's the good of keeping money? We can always buy more down at yourbank, " she concluded easily. 

"You may not always think so, young lady, nor take such wide views ofthings. When you grow up, you may wish you had more money, " said thebanker, laughing. 

"Does keeping money make folks happy?" inquired Beth, suddenly poppingup. 

The lines in grandfather's face deepened, and there came over it a lookof care. 

"Not always, child, I must confess, " he said at length. 

"Besides, my father says not to lay up treasure for roth and must tocorrupt!" put in Nan, coming to the surface. At this, they all shouted, much to Nan's discomfiture. 

For awhile the banker looked out on the showery landscape, then heturned to the children's mother. 

"Perhaps you are right, Mrs. Rayburn, " he said gently. "The world is alltoo selfish;" and he sighed as he said it. 

"It is indeed, " came the emphatic answer. "There is no crime, there isno sin, that has not for its basis selfishness. It is the evil part oflife, and the Christ life that ought to be man's pattern, is the type ofunselfishness. "

"Well, " said the banker, taking up his paper, "I am open to conviction. "

The sun was shining when they arrived at the pretty station, and theyall stopped on the platform to listen a moment to the organ note of thesea. As they waited, a wagon drove up, and a young fellow jumped out andran towards them. 

"It's--it's--Dick! Dick who used to walk on crutches!" cried Ethelwyn, fairly rubbing her eyes in astonishment. 

There were no signs of lameness now in this tall youth, and his face wasradiant with happiness. He could not speak for a moment, as he shookhands with those whom he knew, and of whom he had almost constantlythought with heartfelt gratitude. 

"My sakes! Aren't you mended up well, though?" said Beth, walkingaround him admiringly. 

They all laughed at this, of course, and Dick was then introduced toBobby's mother, his grandfather, and Bobby himself. 

"Dick is the first patient of the Home, " said Mrs. Rayburn, "and he doesit credit. He is Mrs. Stevens's right-hand man now. Where and how isdear Mrs. Stevens?"

"She is well but could not leave to come to the train, " said Dick. "Shecan hardly wait to see you, though. "

"I do sincerely trust she has baked a bushel of cookies, " said Ethelwyn, as they climbed into the wagon. 

The approach to the Home was very beautiful. The sun was going down in ablaze of glory, and the wagon wound around the hill road to where thecottage, gay with flags and striped awnings, crowned its summit. 

Then, above the roar of the sea and the clatter of hoofs, came thesound of children's voices calling from the broad piazza, "Welcome home! Welcome home!"

Then a child's voice sang, "To give sad children's hearts a joy, To give the weary rest, To give to those who need it sore, This makes a life most blest. "

As Bobby's grandfather helped the grown people out of the wagon--thechildren had climbed down without waiting for help--he cleared histhroat once or twice. 

"I'm nearer conviction than I was, " he said. 

As she hurried towards the porch, Mrs. Rayburn smiled to herself. 

Nan's mother waited, and walked up with Bobby's grandfather. Over herhad come a great and happy change; her eyes were now full of earnestlight, and she had forgotten her headaches and other small ills. 

She now looked up into the banker's face. 

"After all, life to be beautiful and to reach rightly towards eternityshould be helpful, and self-forgetful; do you not think so?" she said. "I was long learning the two great commandments, which embody the wholedecalogue, and I probably never should have learned them if it had notbeen for these blessed children, and their mother. "

"H--m, h--m, " said the banker. 

On the porch were twenty children. In forty eyes the new light ofhappiness was dawning. At the beginning, many of them had been hopelessand even evil, but now it was all different, for they had found out thatthey could laugh. 

Aunty Stevens herself, full of laughter and bubbling over with joy atseeing her friends again, surrounded by the shouting children, made themmore than welcome. 

Bobby's grandfather was armed with a huge box, which he hadmysteriously guarded all day; he now set it down upon the porch. 

"If you children don't make this box lighter at once, I shall have nouse for you, " he declared. And they all, scenting candy with infallibleinstinct, fell upon it with rapture. 

They had tea on the lawn, that evening, and, after a consultation withMrs. Stevens, Bobby's grandfather sent a message over the telephone thatwas followed very shortly by a man with ice cream and a huge cake. Wheneight o'clock came, one of the teachers began to play a march on thepiano in the hall. At once the children fell into line, marking timewith their feet, and singing, "Good-night, good-night, Children and blossoms who sleep all the night, Always will wake up happy and bright, Good-night, good-night!"

As they sang, they marched away to bed. The others followed them in. 

The boys' dormitories were in a building on one side of the lawn, andthe girls' on the other, while the babies' nursery was in the mainbuilding. 

The spirit of the Home was helpfulness, so each child aided some oneelse in getting ready for the night. When they were in their whitenight-gowns, they all dropped upon their knees, and one of the teacherssaid a short prayer after which they all joined with her in the Lord'sPrayer. 

When the guests came down into Aunty Stevens's sitting-room where theopen fire was dancing--for the evening was a trifle chilly--Bobby'sgrandfather put a few questions to Mrs. Stevens. 

"When the children are thievish and given to bad language and lying, what do you do?" he asked. 

"In some way they seem to shed those things, as a worm does its cocoon, after they are here for a while, " she answered. "In the light of lovingcare, the sunny child nature comes out--it cannot help it, any more thana rose can help blooming in the sun; and, with the other children whohave been here from the first to regulate things, we do not have muchtrouble. They are too young to stay vicious, and when they go away theyare well enough grounded in good habits not to forget them, we hope, andto go on helping others. "

"Do you have to refuse many applicants?"

"Yes, that is one trouble. We ought to be able to take at least fiftychildren, and we need an infirmary; but those things will come in time. "

Bobby's grandfather opened his mouth to speak, just as Bobby himselfclimbed into his lap with a question trembling on his lips. 

"Well, sir?" inquired his grandfather. 

"May I have some of the money you're going to leave me, to give now, just as Ethelwyn and Beth did?" asked Bobby. 

"How do you know I'm going to leave you any, you young freebooter?"

"Well, I s'posed you would; most people would think so, 'cause I'm namedfor you, and you always said you liked me, " remarked Bobby, somewhatembarrassed. 

His grandfather patted him comfortingly on the back. 

"Yes, Bobby, I do like you, and all the better for your request. We'llbuild the infirmary, and maybe more. I am open to conviction no more, "he added, looking towards Mrs. Rayburn, "for I _am_ convicted and I hopeconverted. "

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BIOGRAPHICAL LIBRARYOf the Lives of Great Men

A limited line comprising subjects pertaining to the careers of men whohave helped to mould the world's history. A library is incompletewithout the entire set. 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, LIFE OF--American Statesman and Discoverer ofElectricity. 

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, LIFE OF--Discoverer of America. 

DANIEL BOONE, LIFE OF--Famous Kentucky Explorer and Scout. 

DANIEL WEBSTER, LIFE OF--American Statesman and Diplomat. 

DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN ORATORS--Who Have Helped to Mould AmericanEvents. 

EMINENT AMERICANS--Makers of United States History. 

JOHN GUTENBERG, LIFE OF--Inventor of Printing. 

NAPOLEON AND HIS MARSHALS--Celebrated French General and Commander. 

ORATORS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION--Whose Speeches Ring With Patriotism. 

PAUL JONES, LIFE OF--American Naval Hero. 

PATRICK HENRY, LIFE OF--Distinguished American Orator and Patriot. 

PHILIP H. SHERIDAN, LIFE OF--"Little Phil"; Famous Union General Duringthe Civil War. 

WASHINGTON AND HIS GENERALS--First President of the United States, Revolutionary Army General and Statesman. 

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Oliver Optic Books

Few boys are alive to-day who have not read some of the writings of thisfamous author, whose books are scattered broadcast and eagerly soughtfor. Oliver Optic has the faculty of writing books full of dash andenergy, such as healthy boys want and need. 

ALL ABOARD; or, Life on the Lake. BOAT CLUB; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton. BRAVE OLD SALT; or, Life on the Quarter Deck. DO SOMETHINGS; a Story for Little Folks. FIGHTING JOE; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. IN SCHOOL AND OUT; or, The Conquest of Richard Grant. LITTLE BY LITTLE; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway. LITTLE MERCHANT; a Story for Little Folks. NOW OR NEVER: or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright. POOR AND PROUD; or, The Fortunes of Katie Redburn. PROUD AND LAZY; a Story for Little Folks. RICH AND HUMBLE; or, The Mission of Bertha Grant. SAILOR BOY: or, Jack Somers in the Navy. SOLDIER BOY; or, Tom Somers in the Army. TRY AGAIN; or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. WATCH AND WAIT; or, The Young Fugitives. WORK AND WIN; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise. THE YANKEE MIDDY; or, The Adventures of a Naval Officer. YOUNG LIEUTENANT; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer. 

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