Home land and far land and half the world around,
Old Glory hears our glad salute and ripples to the sound.[C]
[C] From the “Trail to Boyland,” by Wilbur D. Nesbit, Copyright 1904. Used by special permission of the publishers, The Bobbs-Merrill Company.
As Mary Frances sat down, the Story People clapped their hands enthusiastically; and the Ready Writer handed her her copies of the stories for the day. The copy of the poem which he had made, he kept for themselves.
As Mary Frances and the Story Lady were going out, the Story Queen stopped them and said:
“We shall expect you both to dinner to-night—just a little family party, you know.”
“Oh, thank you, that will be delightful,” both replied.
Mary Frances thought ruefully of her best dress hanging uselessly in the closet at home and wished she had it. “But it’s no use wishing,” she thought. “It’s all so unexpected.”
However, with the help of the Story Lady, she was arrayed for the occasion, and when she saw herself in the mirror she said, “There must be two of us; that doesn’t look like me.”
But it was she. So when they left their apartments and went downstairs into the dining-hall, she was in very high spirits.