Virginia had intended to keep a little diary of events on her visit. But they moved too quickly for that. The snow came that had been promised by the weather man. Bundled in wraps, robes and hay, the gay sled load of young folks sped to their destination in the country, to the tune of sleigh bells. The party in town came off duly, a day or two before Christmas. The boys had been making skis in the wood-shed and kitchen and Virginia and Isabel had had their suspicions. Sure enough, on Christmas morning each girl had a fine pair, marked “Christmas greetings from the boys.”
It was hard to leave such a home full of cheer and Virginia was especially pleased to have Mr. Hunt tell her how much it had added to their Christmas time to have her with them. Every boy was at the train to see them off to Greycliff again. “Promise to come back next summer,” said Milton.
“If I can,” Virginia assured him. “Oh, Isabel,” said she, as the train carried them farther and farther away, “what a wonderful time I have had!”
“What did you like best?” asked Isabel.
“The folks, and the nice times you all have together. The parties were just great, but I liked the times in the kitchen when we were cracking nuts or making candy. Your brothers are handy at everything.”
“We’ve had to help Aunt Helen so much. Father and Jim made us in the beginning. Now we hire help, though, to come in and do the heavy cleaning. But it takes so much money to keep me at Greycliff and help the two boys through college. Lou will go next year, you know.”
“It was such a help to talk with them about things I could do to help out with my funds.” Virginia thought, too, with satisfaction, of the boxes of homemade candy which were on their way to Greycliff by the same train.
“You couldn’t do the things they do, of course, but it is fun to talk it over.”
“That recipe of your Aunt Helen’s is better than mine for the nut candy. I think the candy will keep soft longer. I feel as if I ought to pay her for it.”
“She was so glad to have a hand in it. Now we are going to charge enough for this candy to make what we ought to on it. Now, remember, and don’t get soft-hearted and give it away. I say ‘we,’ even if you would insist on buying all the materials. You see I’m interested in this business of yours.”