“We were talking of conditions in Europe, of the poor starving children there. It seems as if we should make every sacrifice to help them.”
Joanne drew a long sigh, and sat with downcast eyes and thoughtful expression. “I suppose every little helps,” she said, presently. “I was going to invite Winnie and Clausie to go to a matinée next Saturday, but I can give that up so I can send the money it would cost for tickets. The girls won’t mind when I explain. I wish I knew some way we could earn money. Miss Dodge wants us to think up some plan.”
Mrs. Pattison drew Joanne closer, and dropped a light kiss on her head. “You are a dear,” she whispered. “I saw Miss Dodge to-day, and I imagine she has this very object in view, for she spoke of it.”
“Can’t any of you think of some way we girls could earn money?” Joanne appealed to the others.
“I suppose you might make fancy articles,” remarked her grandmother. “No doubt you could find a sale for them now that Christmas is at hand.”
“Yes, but that takes so long, and we want something we can do in a hurry,” Joanne objected.
“You might go around and take orders for soap or something, like the little girl in your favorite book,” Dr. Selden suggested.
“Oh, yes, ‘Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.’ I could do that, but I don’t know who would like me to sell anything, and Christmas would be here before I found out.”
“We don’t seem very happy in our suggestions,” said Mrs. Selden; “I am afraid we can’t help you out.”
Joanne sighed again and looked around upon the group; her grandmother gray haired, a little pucker between the eyes, stout, neat and carefully dressed; her grandfather tall, spare, a trifle bald, keen-eyed; her Cousin Ned, a thoughtful look upon his handsome face, her Cousin Sue smiling down at her. Among them all must be developed some plan.