“Yes, so it would, but because persons are strangers is no sign they are not pretty nice. I myself would rather have my things used by persons who could enjoy them than have them stored in heartless warehouses where, no doubt, the rats would gnaw holes in them and they would do nobody any good. I’d rent the house furnished for a goodly sum if possible and be careful about the tenant. Don’t take one who is not responsible. Storing furniture is like pouring money down rat holes. It costs and costs and finally, when you take the things out, they seem of so little value you wonder what on earth you have been paying for all the months or years. Sell or rent, but don’t store unless it is for a given, definite period. You have not thought of selling all your things?”
“I just couldn’t yet. I feel like putting off that evil hour for awhile. Grandpa Jim collected the pictures and rugs and furniture with such care. I can’t contemplate getting rid of them even though I may need the money sorely.”
“Nonsense! You won’t need the money sorely at all, not if you get busy and ship the dear old darkeys and come stay with me at the Higgledy Piggledy and begin to earn your salt and plenty of good beefsteaks to sprinkle it on, to say nothing of butter gravy and bread to sop in it.”
“Oh Josie, you are so funny!”
“Well, settle with the faithful retainers this very night. Call them now and let them know you are going to break up housekeeping tomorrow and they must pack up and start for their farm in Virginia. There is no use in dragging the thing out. Every day that this huge house is kept running is draining your already depleted bank account just that much more than it can stand. Let’s begin tomorrow to sort and ‘pick rags’ and get the house ready for a tenant. There is a lot of work connected with it and we’d best begin immediately.”
CHAPTER XII
MARY LOUISE MOVES
In the language of Bob Dulaney and Billy McGraw, “Little O’Gorman was a humdinger when she got started.” Elizabeth was left to run the Higgledy Piggledy Shop with some help from Irene and Josie took up her abode with Mary Louise to do what she called “pick rags.” The house must be gone over from attic to cellar, all useless and superfluous articles disposed of, all of the rarest pictures, rugs, and ornaments packed and sent to storage. What Mary Louise needed in the way of furnishings for the simple life she was to lead henceforth in the room that was to be partitioned off for her in the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, must be carefully and judiciously selected. There was a mountain of labor ahead of them but the girls pitched in with a will and, at night Mary Louise found herself sleeping better than she had for many weeks. Josie refused to leave her friend alone.
“I am going to stay right here camped on your trail until you are safely moved,” she asserted and there was no changing her although Mary Louise assured her she did not mind staying alone.
Irene helped in many ways. It was wonderful what the lame girl could do. She would wheel her chair from room to room attending to small matters that the more active ones had overlooked. To her deft fingers was given the task of packing the contents of the Colonel’s curio cabinet; tiny carven figures in ivory and jade, Phoenecian glass vases that had imprisoned the sunlight of centuries gone by, filigreed silver and gold ornaments set with rough-hewn jewels, bits of priceless embroidery from ancient Mexican convents, bronze Buddhas placid in their unearthly homeliness. There was a little of everything in the way of treasures in the Colonel’s cabinet.