A Dear Little Girl's Summer Holidays

by Amy Ella Blanchard

"Where have you been?" asked Mrs. Ramsey when they at last returned to the hall.

"We've been spending the last of our money," Jennie told her. "Did you make two hundred dollars, Mother?"

"We think so, though it has not all been turned in yet. Your money seems to have lasted pretty well if you have just spent the last of it."

Jennie laughed, and then told about the funny pair with their piece of soap and roll of tape. But somehow it didn't appear so funny to her mother as she expected it would, for instead of laughing she gathered the three children to her and kissed them all three, murmuring, "You dears."

When all the returns were made it was found that a little over the two hundred dollars had been taken in, and this was expected to be quite enough to buy furniture for the new house when it should be built. Cap'n Si was quite overcome, but had few [155]words. It was not like his kind to express many thanks. The house was to be begun at once that it might be ready before cold weather. Enough had been subscribed for a beginning to be made, and several gentlemen had pledged themselves to see it through in case there should be a lack.

The dolls returned in state to the house from which they had been taken, and the matter of names was much discussed. Finally Edna decided that she would name hers after Mrs. Ramsey and so her doll was called Virginia. Dorothy wavered between Edna and Jennie, but finally concluded the latter would be more in keeping with the occasion. Jennie was not long in making up her mind that Eloise should be the name of her doll.

"I have always thought it such a lovely name," she said, "and Miss Eloise will be so pleased, I know," as indeed she was.

Mrs. Morrison and Louis had gone home just before the bazar came off, as they were to stop on the way to see Mrs. Morrison's sister, but Louis told Edna that his Uncle Justus had persuaded his mother to send him to boarding-school the next year, and strange to say he liked the idea, so it will be seen that Uncle Justus did have the talk he had in mind that evening of the sailing party. Edna was not allowed to go away without having the sail to Gosling Island, and this time there was no headache to interfere, but all went smoothly, and the sail home by moonlight was something to be [156]remembered. It was decided that the Ramseys should go as far as Boston with the little girls when they were ready to go home, and that a stop of a couple days should be made. Miss Newman and Miss Eloise closed the little bungalow, but hoped to return to it another year.

"I never dreamed of such a wonderful summer," Miss Eloise told her three little friends as they were taking that moonlight sail. "To think that I, poor invalid I, should actually have earned some money, and am so much better that I may be able to earn more. Oh, my dears, you don't know what it means to me to help sister who has sacrificed her life to me. I am going to tell you that she gave up her lover and all her dream of a happy home, such as other women have, because I must be her first care. I want you to know how dear and good she is, for I don't think people always appreciate her. I have found that out since I have been more in the world and have seen more people."

This little group was to itself, Miss Eloise lying on a pile of rugs and the children around her. The others were in another part of the vessel.