“Aha,” said Barbara, “I believe I could do that. I have read such lots and lots of stories, I am sure I could do that. I should love to try. But they haven’t asked me. I couldn’t volunteer, for mother would think me very bold. Oh dear, I am sure I could serve in that way.”
All the way home she thought the matter over and then a plan came to her. Just back of the house there was an alley and the little children there were always looking through the fence at the flowers in her beautiful garden. She would tell stories to these little children and see what she could do. So she went into the house to find the stories she would use. All the afternoon she looked in her old books. Then she was sure she was ready.
For a long time she hesitated the next morning as she dressed. She must look her very best if she was to win 53 the children. Finally she chose a little blue gingham dress that she liked much—perhaps they would like it too. It was only ten o’clock when she went into the garden to wait. Dear me! Weren’t they coming this morning? One hour passed and then another half.
Just then Tommy, the boy who threw stones, and chased the cats, and did all sorts of things that were naughty, pushed his dirty face against the fence. Oh my, she could never tell stories to him! But Tommy saw her there in the garden and said:
“Wisht you would give me a posy. Mom’s sick and she hain’t got none.”
Then the gate of the garden was opened and Barbara said:
“Of course I will give you some flowers for your mother. Choose what you would like and I will cut it with these shears.”
“Um! Um!” said Tommy. “Um! I’d like some of them blue flowers. Say, I like blue flowers, and blue sky, and I like that blue dress. I wish Mary had a blue dress.”
“And who is Mary?” said Barbara.
“Oh, she is one of my sisters,” said Tommy. “You see, there is six of us and Mary is the pretty one. She has blue eyes and curls. Um! Um! I wish you could see her.”