FATHER AT HOME
"Father coming home?" cries Betty, as Mrs. Langdale folds up the letter, from which she has just read an extract, "O mother, how beautiful, coming home the day after to-morrow!"
"How jolly!" shouts Bob. "Three cheers for father!" "Jolly, jolly, three cheers!" echo the younger children; and mother says:—
"Well, it is good news. Such a dreadful time it has been. I declare I've not felt quite myself one single minute since he went away. And, then, the money, too; not that he'll be well enough to go on with his work for months to come."
To Betty, however, the one joyful fact is enough.
"But to have father home again! It seems almost years since that night when he lay on the couch, so white and still. I say, mother, do let us give him a real welcome home—do let us make him see how glad we all are!"
"Why, Betty, what a girl you are! You really should think before you speak. You know very well that we haven't a penny to spend on anything."
"Of course, I know. But, mother, that isn't what I mean. Couldn't we do something? For instance, I'm sure dear father likes to see things neat and nice. Couldn't we have a real big, spring-clean all over the house?"
"A 'spring' clean in summer, you silly child!"
"Well, you know what I mean. Let's have the curtains down, and the carpets up, and polish the furniture all over."