‘I will have my hands full with a bag and an umbrella and a child,’ said Grandmother to Uncle Charles, who had come to take them down to the train. ‘I can’t think of allowing Patty to carry her doll. I have packed it in a box and addressed it to Patty’s mother, and I want you to leave it at the express office as you go home, Charles, if it won’t be too far out of your way.’
Uncle Charles promised to send Polly Perkins along that very day. So, with a farewell pat on the outside of the box that held her dolly, Patty and Grandmother started on their journey in the rain.
It was fun traveling in the rain, Patty thought. She liked to see the people bustling along in the wet. She liked to watch the dripping umbrellas bob in and out of the stations that they passed. She liked the muddy and almost empty roads, with only now and then a procession of ducks waddling along, or a lonely dog trotting by, or a farmer driving into town with perhaps a colt tied at the back of his cart.
As they drew near to the big city, Patty peered out of the misty window-pane over which ran rivulets of raindrops so thick and fast that the tall houses could scarcely be seen and the street-lamps looked like cloudy little suns dotting the way.
‘Are we nearly there?’ asked Patty for at least the hundredth time.
And at last Grandmother could answer, ‘Yes, Patty, we are. In five minutes more you will see Father, I hope.’
Grandmother was right. As the train drew into the station and men in little red caps, who wanted to carry your bag, Patty knew, came running down the platform, there on the platform, too, stood Father, and a second later Patty was in his arms.
Through the rain they rode home to Mother, waiting for them in the large white apartment house where Patty lived.
There were many houses on the long city street—tall white apartments, low red-brick houses, then tall white apartments again. Patty pressed her nose against the window of the cab, peering out at the familiar scene.
‘There are our Christmas trees!’ she cried, catching a glimpse of the two little fir trees that, in white flower pots, stood one on either side of the entrance to their apartment house.