The vegetables, animals, and flowers might have experienced gross neglect during the next few days, after the automobile arrived, had it not been for Mrs. James’ insistence that “duty came before pleasure.” Even so, Natalie spent no time weeding the beds but gave the “farmer’s curse” ample opportunity to thrive luxuriantly.
The third day after the Lowdens had promised to hunt up Sam and send him to Green Hill Farm, a most unique post-card came for Rachel. It had the picture of the Woolworth Building on one side, and the information that this was a “gift card” given to those who visited the tower. On the side with the address, Sam printed with lead-pencil, “Deer ant: wurd cam fer me to be shoffer at yur place. Money O. K. comin rite away. sam.”
This elaborate epistle was displayed by Rachel with so much family pride that the girls had hard work to keep straight faces. But they knew how hurt Rachel would be if she thought the writing was illiterate, so they said nothing.
“If that card was mailed yesterday, as the postmark shows it was, Sam ought to be here to-day,” said Mrs. James.
“Yes, but he won’t get here in time to drive us to Ames’s farm for the guinea-hens,” said Natalie.
“As that will be my last act of law-breaking, I’ll drive,” announced Frances.
Therefore, the girls hurried away in the car. They had not gone more than half the distance to Dorothy Ames’s home, when Natalie saw a dog following the machine.
“Go home, old fellow!” called she, waving her hat to drive him back.
But the dog stood momentarily still and wagged his stumpy tail, then galloped after the car again, to make up for lost time.
“Girls, what shall we do with that dog?” cried Natalie in distress. “If he follows us much further he may get lost.”