“It is a very big wish,” replied Kathleen, so soberly that everyone stopped laughing and became quiet in a moment. “It is bigger than a knife, or a book, or a pair of gloves. It is almost bigger than the moon. I’m wishing that little Mary Ellen could see.”
“I wish it, too,” said Hannah earnestly.
“And I!” “And I!” cried the others, gathering close around Kathleen as she knelt before the bubbling spring and filled the cup with the clear, cold water.
“Perhaps it will come true, then,” said Kathleen, “if we are all wishing so hard,” and she smiled bravely up at them through her tears, as she drank the very last drop of water in the cup.
CHAPTER XV
GOOD NEWS FROM COUSIN BEE
“Here are two letters for you, Kathleen mavourneen,” said her Uncle Tom, one morning about a week later, as the family were seated at the breakfast table.
“Two letters for me!” exclaimed Kathleen in surprise. “Perhaps one of them is from Father,” and she jumped out of her chair and ran around the table to get them.
“It is, it is!” she cried, looking at one of the letters. “The postmark is Portrush in County Antrim, and that’s near the Giant’s Causeway.”
“Open it, and see what it says, alanna,” suggested her Aunt Hannah, as Kathleen continued to study the envelope; and all the ten young Malones stopped eating their breakfast, and turned eager eyes upon their cousin.