“Remember, you’re going to take care of my girl,” warned Daddy. “Don’t let her get too tired, and try to make her comfortable, and don’t let any one or anything bother her.”
Sunny Boy gravely promised to look after Mother. He felt very proud that Daddy trusted him to take care of her on their first long journey together, and he resolved to wait on her all he could and to save her every possible step.
Harriet, who was not going with them, but who was going to help Aunt Bessie keep house until they came back, was bustling about, pulling down shades and closing and locking doors. The canary had gone, and Sunny Boy had a funny feeling that their house was going on a journey, too. In his trotting around after Harriet, while Mother was telephoning a last good-by to some friend, he found a square white box on the parlor table, neatly tied with red string—one of that mysterious kind that makes your fingers fairly itch to untie the string and look inside. Sunny Boy went in search of Mother.
“Could I open it?” he asked coaxingly. “I’ll tie it right up again, Mother. Maybe you have forgotten what is in it.”
“’Deed I haven’t!” laughed Mrs. Horton. “Give it to me, dear. It’s a surprise for you—we’ll open it on the train.”
Sunny Boy obediently handed her the package, and in a few minutes he had forgotten all about it.
At last the house was ready to leave, and Harriet kissed him and said good-by. Sunny Boy watched her down the street until she turned the corner. He had a little ache in his throat, but he was too big a boy to cry.
“Precious,” said Mother who knew perhaps how he was feeling, “I’m afraid I’ve left my little coin purse on my bureau. Would you mind going up and getting it for me?”
The house upstairs was very still and hot. Sunny Boy tiptoed softly as he hurried into Mother’s room. There on the bureau lay the little silver purse and a clean handkerchief that smelled like a bunch of violets.
“You left your hanky, Mother,” he cried, running downstairs. “And you said folks should never, never, begin to go anywhere without a clean hanky, you know.”