You see, Mary Frances didn’t quite remember that they were only dolls. Even so, they have served a very useful purpose if they only teach the readers of this book some of their lessons.
“Ready, now, for practice,” said the nurse. “Girl No. 2 of each group is to act as a little daughter whose frock has caught fire.”
The girls remembered not to run, and “pretended” to smother out the flames.
“That was so well done,” said Miss Helpem, “that no one was severely burned, so we’ll merely have to treat for slight burns.”
The “mother” girl from each group went to Shesa Brave for carron oil, which she applied on gauze compresses to imaginary hurt fingers.
Then they reversed parts again, and played the “child” had frosted her fingers. The “mother” girls rubbed the fingers with imaginary snow, gradually restoring the circulation of the blood in the “frozen” parts.
Throughout all their fun the girls acted in a serious, purposeful manner.
“I’m not so certain that boys would ‘play in earnest,’” said Miss Helpem to Shesa.
“I think they would,” replied the young girl. “I’m certain Ibee is just as interested as Soami,” which pleased the assistant nurse more than I can tell you.