“You don’t know what this means to me,” he said. “I hated the thought of giving up that orchard as I’ve worked hard for many years to make it productive. Now I’ll be able to remain there.”
“Will you rebuild your house?” Rosemary asked him.
“Indeed, I will. When it is finished, we’ll have a house warming party. The Brownies are invited!”
“We’ll be there,” promised Veve.
Not only did Mr. Hooper thank the Brownies, but afterwards, he told his friends how the girls had saved his orchard.
In turn, they told other persons, until it seemed that almost everyone at the cherry festival heard about the affair.
The Brownies were asked so many questions they were glad when it came time to select the queen of the fiesta. Everyone gathered near the platform where the election was to be held.
“I wonder why folks keep looking at us and whispering?” Rosemary remarked uneasily. “I don’t like it!”
Mr. McLean now read off the names of several girls who hoped to be chosen queen. These candidates had entered their names with the committee.
“If you wish, you may write in additional candidates,” Mr. McLean instructed. “The queen—” he paused for emphasis—“or queens, we feel, should be truly representative of Rosedale. The festival committee wishes to send to Washington the person or persons who have done the most to make this affair a success.”