“Never mind, Mother,” Frank consoled her, “Alice and Dick will revel in these vulgar westernisms. 82See if they don’t. Why Mother, it’s by slang that a language is enriched, didn’t you know that?”
“That will do, Frank. I should think you would try to help me keep up correct standards instead of hindering. You will feel very differently when Jilly is a little older.”
The train was due at two-thirty at the neighboring town of Garland–the neighboring town being some nine miles distant. They decided to have an early dinner at home, then Dr. Morton would drive the spring wagon in for the guests, Frank would take the farm wagon for the trunks, while Jane and Ernest formed a sort of ornamental body guard on their new ponies.
“My, but you present an imposing appearance!” laughed Marian coming out to the road with Jilly to see them off.
“We do look rather patriarchal,” said Frank, glancing around at the impressive array. “If we only had you and Mother mounted on donkeys, the reception committee would be complete. I will do my best to apologize for your absence.”
“If you are late, send Jane on ahead, they can see her a mile off on that calico pony.”
“The piebald is conspicuous,” said the Doctor, “I guess Captain Clarke picked him out for the Chicken so her mother could see her from afar.”
Chicken Little ignored this pleasantry. “Thank 83you for saying calico, Marian. I was just wondering what to call him and that will do beautifully.”
“Oh, have some mercy on the poor beast,” put in Ernest. “Think of his having to answer to the name of Calico. Why don’t you call him gingham apron or something really choice?”
“Allee samee, his name’s Calico. If you want to call yours, Star of the Night or Aladdin or something high falutin, you just can.” Jane set her lips firmly. She didn’t specially care for Calico but she wasn’t going to be laughed out of it.