And so the little mother of the Martins told to a most sympathetic and interested listener the drama which had recently been enacted in their log-cabin home.
“And, oh, teacher, Miss Bayley,” the child said, “I never, never could have come to school again if my little sister had stayed away. She’s all the sister I’ve got to love. I couldn’t give up Ken or Baby Jim either, but—but I guess a girl needs another girl in a special way that boys can’t understand, don’t you, teacher?”
The young woman nodded emphatically, and there were tears close to her eyes. What a cruel, hard experience these children had been going through, and all alone.
“I do, indeed, Dixie,” she said. “There are so many tasks and pleasures and little confidences that only girls can share with each other, but I am glad that everything happened just as it did, for now Carol knows that her own home is best and she will be more content.”
But Dixie looked a bit troubled, and the young woman asked: “Dear, what is it? Was there something else that you wished to say?”
“Yes, teacher, Miss Bayley, it’s this. Next month is Carol’s birthday, and, oh, if only I could give her a blue silk dress I’d be the happiest! She loves pretty things and she’s never had anything silk.” Then eagerly, anxiously, “Miss Bayley, could I get a silk dress for two dollars and thirty cents?”
The young teacher hesitated not at all. “Of course you can, dear girl. That is, you can get the blue silk by the yard and then you can make the dress.”
The freckled face that at first had brightened, looked doleful again. The child shook her head as she said: “I couldn’t, teacher. I don’t know anything about how to put on patterns. Grandma Piggins did, and she made us the gingham dresses, but she made them button in front, and Carol wants buttons in the back.”
“And so she shall have them, dear. Of course you can’t use a pattern yet, but I will show you how.” Then, before the small girl could express her gratitude, the young teacher exclaimed: “I’ll tell you what we’ll do, little Miss Martin. To-morrow will be Saturday, and you and I will go to Genoa on the nine-o’clock stage, shall we? Then you may choose the silk and a pattern. I have some lace in my trunk that will do nicely for trimming. How would you like that?”
“Oh, teacher, Miss Bayley, I’d love it! I’ve never been to Genoa but once.” Sudden tears in the child’s eyes assured Miss Bayley that the once had been a sad occasion, as indeed it had been, for with her father she and Ken had gone to select a coffin for their beautiful mother.