Dora was delighted. People in the little brown cottage thought twice before spending a dollar. Father had told the children that he was saving money so he could send them to school a long time, and was buying insurance. That meant if anything happened so Father could not work in the printing-press, there would still be money to take care of Mother and the little girls. Dora had not expected to have a new coat.
“Will it be blue, Mother?” she asked after a time. Lucy was paring apples now, and Dora didn’t think it was quite fair for her to choose those with nice smooth skins and leave the specked ones for Dora to do. But she did not say anything.
“Will what be blue, child?” asked Mother. “Look at your gingerbread, Lucy.”
“My coat,” said Dora. Lucy dropped her knife and flew to the oven.
How good that gingerbread did smell! It had turned into a desirable brown cake.
“Is it done, Mother?” Lucy asked.
“Try it and see,” said Mrs. Merrill. “We will look at the blue coats, Dora.”
Lucy brought from the pantry one of the clean straws Mother kept to test cake. She stuck it into her gingerbread. When she drew it out the straw felt dry and smooth.
“It is done,” she said.