XIV
Mother's favorite place in all the house was by the big window in the sitting-room. It was on the south side of the house; so they called it the Big South Window.
On bright days the sun shone through it and flooded the sitting-room with golden sunshine. From it Mother could see green fields near by and purple hills in the distance and the blue sky over all.
"I love my Big South Window," she often said.
She sat there to do the sewing and mending. She sat there to read and sometimes just to enjoy the view—orchard and woods, green fields and the big elm tree, purple hills and blue sky.
One day in Autumn, a letter came to Mother from her sister. "Please come and make me a visit," the letter said.
"I do not see how I can go," said Mother. "There are so many things to be done here."
"Oh, yes, you must go," said Father. "You have not had a vacation in a long time. We'll get Aunt Martha to come and keep house."
"I'll look after the chickens and the ducks," said Bobby. "And I'll keep the wood box full for Aunt Martha."
So one day in October Mother said good-by and went away on her long journey. She was to be gone three weeks.