“Now, here’s your money. Two nickels, dear. I’ve just given them a bit of a polish in the suds while you were up-stairs. One is to go with, and one to come home. I’ve been puzzling it out, and the best thing is for you to go to the nearest car-line you find; then ask the conductor how nigh it will take you to the Place. He’ll be kind to you, I know. They’re always obliging, the conductors are, and when it’s anybody like you, why they just seem to tear themselves to pieces to be nice. You’ll have no trouble, honey, not a mite. And when you get there, don’t forget to make your manners, pretty, like I’ve taught you. Say everything to cheer the lady up, if she seems down-hearted a bit, and good-by, good-by. Bless you, Mary Jane!”
Mrs. Bump stood at her doorway and Mrs. Stebbins at hers, to watch the little figure hop away, and when it turned at the corner and they caught a glimpse of the radiant face beneath the picture-hat, they smiled upon each other well satisfied.
“No harm’ll happen to her!” said Mrs. Stebbins, confidently. “She’s one of the Lord’s own.”
“I’m not fearing! though I’m going to miss her powerful,” answered the mother, and retired to her tub.
Mary Jane’s heart beat so with excitement that she could hardly breathe. Here she was, going alone on an unknown journey, to ride in a car quite by herself, and to pay her own fare exactly as if she were a grown-up. She had to tightly clutch that corner of her little handkerchief wherein the nickles were tied, to make herself realize the delightful fact; and already, in her dutiful heart, she was planning how she could save, by not eating quite so much of her portion of food, and so, in time, make up to her mother for this unwonted extravagance.
Indeed, she thought so fast and deeply, that she stood on the corner and let the first car go by without signalling it. Then she brought her wits to the present and when the next one whizzed up she was ready for it, raising her hand and motioning it to stop, as she had seen other people do.
It did stop, of course, and to such a little passenger, also, of course, the conductor was quite as kind as Mrs. Bump had prophesied he would be. He lifted Mary Jane into the very front seat of all and he would have been glad not to take a fare from her. But this his duty compelled him to do, and when he had received it he paused a moment beside her to inquire:
“Taking a ride, are you? Well, it’s a nice morning.”
“Isn’t it! Just beautiful. Yes, I’m going to Mt. Vernon Place.”
“Whew! you are? Well, this is the wrong car—Never mind. You can transfer. Mt. Vernon Place is a long way from here and quite the swellest part of the town; you know that, I suppose.”