Maggie’s eyes opened wider and wider as this astounding statement dawned upon her mind, and finally she dropped upon the floor beside the broom.
“Dat’s so—I coul’ buy de children all dey need an’ git some nice clo’es fer myself wid what was left!” sighed she, the tears of joy coming to her eyes.
Uncle Ben now felt sure he had read the girl aright. Her first thought had been of the little sisters and brothers who had never had what was necessary—she came last—if anything was left!
“Well, Maggie, I’m going to give you a new name for the singing teacher to use. You must always be ‘Margaret’ henceforth, and see to it, that everyone is corrected should they call you ‘Maggie.’ Tell them it was my order that you be called ‘Margaret.’”
“Oh, you’se sure kin read my wishes, Mister Uncle Ben! How I always hated that ‘Maggie’ widdout any soft music in its sayin’! But Margaret is differunt! It’s low and smooth!”
Even in this degree was the girl’s sense of harmony so finely attuned that she rebelled at hearing herself called by an inharmonious sound.
The teacher arrived with Mr. Richards and the music master on the one o’clock train, and the car soon carried them to Miss Selina’s country estate. A group of merry children met them on the steps of the veranda, and after a noisy time at luncheon, all started for the camp.
Uncle Ben had gone over the camp-ground that morning and made a list of names of those Little Citizens who showed any desire for music—to join the band or chorus at Happy Hills.
Mr. Richards had personally attended to the order of securing instruments made especially for half-grown young folks, and these bulky boxes had been shipped by special delivery to the train at the Pennsylvania railroad station that morning. They arrived at Happy Hills on the same train with the teachers.
Great was the confusion that afternoon as many of the Little Citizens tried to blow a cornet, bass horn or beat a drum. And such a squeaking and squealing as issued from many throats when the singing was tried out by the teacher!