“I don’t know about that,” replied Mrs. Merrill, “you see, I know what there is to see on our ride and you don’t. Better ride while you can and play in the park this noon.”
So a few minutes later Mr. Merrill put them all three into a big car and started off toward the business part of the city for his work.
The girls had never ridden in a sight seeing car before and they begged a place right by the driver so they would be sure to see and hear everything. Mrs. Merrill sat just behind them where they could speak to her and also could have the comfortable feeling that she was very near. First they drove down the river and saw glimpses of the broad St. Johns River and enjoyed the pretty trees and gardens and homes that nestled along its low banks. Then they turned back through the city and out on the other side.
“Where we going now?” asked Mary Jane when she noticed that the houses were getting smaller and fewer and further apart.
“Out to the Farm,” replied the driver.
“A regular farm where they grow chickens and things like my Grandmother does?” asked the little girl.
“It’s a regular farm all right, Miss,” said the driver, “but they don’t grow anything your Grandmother does. They grow alligators and ostriches.”
“My gracious!” exclaimed Mary Jane, her eyes open wide with amazement, “do they plant ’em?”
The driver laughed and answered, “You just wait and see—we’re most there now. See that white fence and those buildings? There we are!”
With a flourish he stopped by the big white gate and Mrs. Merrill and the girls got out of the car. “You’ll wait for us?” she asked the driver.