“In a couple of weeks more they’ll all be green,” said Jean, her dark eyes bright with anticipation. “And we’ll plough them and sow them, and they’ll grow and grow, kids, and turn a real golden harvest over to us by fall.”
10. New Home, New Friends
“Goods have come,” called Mr. Ricketts from the mailbox one morning. The pink freight card lay on top, and he seemed as pleased as anyone to find it there. “Letter from out West too, I noticed, so I presume you folks will be settled pretty soon.”
“I almost feel as if I ought to let him read what Mr. McRae says,” Mrs. Craig said amusedly. “He’s so friendly and interested.”
As she opened the letter, the girls gathered around her chair, eager-eyed and curious to see what it contained. Jean declared that she liked the handwriting because it was firm and plain without any flourishes. Kit was sure he used a stub pen and was rather morose and dignified. Doris asked if she might keep the postage stamp for a memento.
“You read it, dear. I’d much rather you did,” their mother said, handing it over to Mr. Craig.
Rebecca was out in the buttery singing softly to herself about some day when the mists had rolled in splendor from the beauty of the hills, so there was just their own family together as they listened anxiously for the verdict. The letter ran:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, April 4th
Mr. Thomas Craig, Elmhurst, Connecticut
Dear Mr. Craig: Your letter of March 28th received. I should be very glad to rent the old house down at Stony Eddy on a lease, but do not want to let it go out of the family. Miss Craig can tell you the conditions under which it came into my possession and why I am not at liberty to part with it. If you care to rent it at $65 a month, it is yours. Any necessary repairs it may need I am willing to make. I have never seen the property myself, but whatever Miss Craig says about it will be satisfactory to me, as she was my Aunt Trowbridge’s dearest friend.
Hoping if you decide to take the place, you may be happy there, I am,
Yours sincerely, RALPH McRAE.
“It’s ours,” Jean breathed thankfully.
“I always felt that it was, somehow,” Mrs. Craig smiled happily around at her family. “And I know you’ll like it, Tom.”