This inspection continued, the Blue Birds enjoying every phase of it, until they arrived at one of the newest Nests—that is the tenants had just come from the city. Marybell had been asked to look after them until a regular Health Member was selected for that district of the camp.
As the visitors came near the Nest they saw a little girl with skirts pinned up about her waist, standing bare-legged in the creek, which was up to her knees. She was bending over and doing something energetically, but her back being turned to the Health Officer and the Blue Birds, they could not see what it was that so occupied her time and attention.
“What’s dat gals’ name—out in de brook?” Marybell asked one of the six Little Citizens of the Nest.
“She’s Annie Markey,” said several voices obligingly.
“What’s she standin’ in de crick fer?”
“She’s scrubbin’ her teet’ like we wuz tol’ to do.”
“Scrubbin’ her teet’ in all dat water! How long’s she been at it?” wondered Marybell.
“Ever since we came back from breakfus’, cuz she says she was tol’ all dat grey had to come offen her front teet’, an’ she can’t rub it off,” explained the oldest of the group.
Marybell hurried down to the creek and called: “Annie—hoh, Annie Markey, come out here!”
Annie turned and saw the Officer beckoning her. She came up on the bank, and Marybell saw she held a bit of broken mirror in one hand and the brand-new toothbrush in the other.