From that moment, Skelly was a subdued young man, for he was too interested to remember his threats about going back to the city, and he saw so many familiar faces of children—yet not familiar as they had been once, for these faces were round and rosy, and the children happy and always busy about something which is the secret of true happiness and contentment.
Little Mother Maggie was introduced to Nelly’s two visitors, and after a time, the little hostess asked Maggie to sing and show the boys how she was improving.
Without demur, Maggie sang her old favorites, and even though they sounded suspiciously like “the goody-goody hymns” he had heard before, Skelly sat and listened, keenly appreciative.
“Come and see my prize asters, now,” said Maggie, turning to lead the way to the Little Farms.
“Oh, and Micky, what you think?” exclaimed Nelly, eagerly.
“What?”
“Dutchy Bill what blows de brass horn, won a prize fer best playin’ dis month!” said Nelly, delightedly.
“An’ Ikey Einstein, your friend, took the medal for courage when Bob, the horse, ran away wid on’y two little kids in the buckboard. Ikey jumped out and hung on de horse’s neck till Mister Uncle Ben could catch up and help,” added Maggie.
“We raised seven fine hogs for market, boys. But Mister Uncle Ben bought them from us hisself, and is going to use ’em in the Blue Bird and Bobolink Home dis winter, you know,” laughed Nelly, eagerly.
So the four rattled on, telling great bits of news—at least it was great for Little Citizens—and finally they reached the garden plots.