“Well, why not build him a pen out of chairs?” was Joanne’s suggestion which was immediately adopted, and inside of this barricade the baby was placed, only to repeat his loud protests.
“Oh, dear,” sighed Virgie, “I’d no idea babies were so much trouble. Much satisfaction we shall have trying to sew if he keeps that up. I’m sure I don’t know what to do.”
“Put him down again and let us take turns in trying to amuse him,” Joanne made a second suggestion.
“Fine!” cried Virgie. “Of course we couldn’t expect the poor little tacker to be content without toys or some sort of entertainment. Get in, Joanne, and try your powers. We’ll take half hour shifts and see how it works, then no one will get exhausted, although,” she added, “perhaps I’d better take him home and work out the problem by myself without drawing you all into it.”
“Oh, no, no,” cried the rest, “let this be team work. Don’t think of such a thing, Virgie.”
So over the barrier Joanne climbed and in a few minutes gurgles of delight showed how successful she was in making baby Guy forget his woes, then each girl took her turn and at last their charge was in such a good humor that when some one proposed that he should be supplied with some things to play with, he was so well satisfied with a string of spools, a tin pan and a spoon, that he was left to his own devices.
“I don’t think that performance of his on the tin pan is particularly edifying,” remarked Claudia.
“Then let’s call it an accompaniment,” said Winnie; “we’ll all sing. No doubt he will like the added noise.”
“Excellent scheme,” returned Claudia. “What shall we sing, girls?”
“Oh, do let’s sing a lullaby,” said Betty Streeter, “‘Sweet and Low,’ for instance, then maybe he’ll go to sleep.”