Micky and Skelly were surprised at seeing all the fine vegetables and flowers growing in each square, and when Nelly told them of string beans, radishes, lettuce, and other produce that the children had gathered and sold to the housekeeper at Happy Hills, the two city boys began to see how profitable and pleasant a life on a farm must be. Ten times more profitable than selling papers!
Maggie’s pet aster was admired to her heart’s content, but when Skelly bent down to sniff at it, that he might please Maggie by praising its perfume, he could not truthfully say a word in its defence.
Maggie laughed merrily. “You don’t like de smell, do you?”
“Hully chee, Maggie! I t’hot it was sweet like roses, but it’s just like medicine smell!” said Skelly.
A few Police sauntered up, eager to be introduced to the two strangers, and because the newcomers were a year older than the other boys at camp, they were shown about with much pride.
The Fire House and apparatus were displayed and admired, then the base-ball diamond and the team that was practicing for a match game against the Police Team was visited.
After this, the pigs had to be exhibited, and the Street Cleaning Squads were interviewed. By the time Micky and Skelly had met the Health Board, and the many other Squads and Boards formed that summer, they had met every Little Citizen at Camp, for everyone was a member of one or more organizations.
Miss Martin was very pleasant to the strangers and took them to the Refectory for some refreshments although it was not suppertime and dinner was long past. Later they were shown the Nest they might occupy for their visit, and when Skelly was removing his shoes that night preparatory to retiring, he whispered to Micky:
“Say, Mick! Ain’t dis a place, dough! Wish to goodness we had come out here sooner and stayed longer, eh?”
“It’s fine, all right, but yeh see, ef we hed been here and tooken up the place fer two sickly boys, it wouldn’t-a been right! We’se is big and healthy and didn’t need country-life like some of dem poor little kids we saw coming away from Noo York dat day in summer,” replied Micky, thoughtfully.