It was a merry, excited group of four children who ran up the front steps of the Warren house very promptly at three o’clock on the afternoon of December 18. Elsa had forgotten all about being sorry that school had closed, now that Uncle Ned had come; Ben had forgotten all about his intense desire to run away from home; Alice had forgotten all about the cold which had kept her from the last Club meeting, and Betty, on her part, had forgotten pretty nearly all that she had learned in school the last term; indeed, she had almost forgotten that there ever was any school.
The open fire was burning brightly; the five unfinished sets of paper dolls, the paints and the brushes were ready on the table; and Miss Ruth, in her golden-brown, fur-trimmed gown, welcomed the Club with a feeling of real pleasure in having all these lively children coming to her house. She was heartily glad her Aunt Virginia had decided that she liked the children’s noise, for Ben came in with an unmistakable “Whoop!” and cried out, “No more school!” and the other children began talking rapidly.
“May I bring my Christmas presents and keep them here?” questioned Betty. “Max and Janet find every single thing I hide away.”
“My Uncle Ned has come to stay till Christmas,” exclaimed Elsa; “he’s gone to the city this afternoon, or maybe I shouldn’t have wanted to come even to the Club!”
“I’ve brought back the two sets of paper dolls you sent for me to paint,” piped in Alice. “And Ben’s brought something to show you.”
Thereupon Ben opened the box he had in his hand, and blushing with pride, showed the Club ten tops he had carved, carefully and well, painted with bright colours. “They are for the Convalescings,” he explained when the girls gave him a chance to speak; “and I think I’ll have time to make a few more.”
“Mamma is making some of the beautifulest rag dolls,” exclaimed Alice enthusiastically.
“We must finish painting the paper dolls this afternoon,” cried Betty, “for just think, Christmas comes a week from to-day.”
“Can we take the dolls out to the Convalescent Home, Miss Ruth?” Elsa asked, with shining eyes.
“Yes, we can all go there Christmas morning. I have arranged that with Miss Hartwell. With the dolls Mrs. Holt is making, and ours, we shall have enough to give a doll to every little girl there; and with Ben’s tops and some tin soldiers which I am going to provide for the boys, we shall have something for every boy.”