Re nese) a ia et pees *h hiss Bolieaca xe PDitereagteas aneanen seine eee NIA L eS wi ih EY ; it pee a pre eeEptres cieiee eae eLIE, SF 3 F eee= es a rs my Frese petrere at Lie ete ie cea has shi sts ra oie i i * cit nf a NCa areas a gs piesdatcat tall ot tipi hea or eens fi Mo tepthy sh ter bas sale Mand phat keds fear ar sibel aart coat epee trees Saye ee! ary Soha) tay rere erate ? pane ee Sere 2 — yore LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA FROM THE BOOKS OF C. WINN CANFIELDen ——-: ee > Pere ober eal eee ee! US pe bea hbehe ny has Se 4 es eee rery nee e Sabena Saat gha’-a <5 vest eee aber * eae Mu we cai * i Pega i ike} 3 a weinegnestiny bs oh ther Shida rhe pet Abs ake is, rest: Pes oat Sag teptiyh roe aeeerenes esr eskzanes aah sant eae tert af I: ae nar , ahd 15 + i seen irae teat t : Sreata aetaeasea tl aan bis : v iepak Sey | iets) aiepre $ reed it? 3 4 3 3 r aoe 7 eeeat ants pier age intser ant ont Sat eines rs eres ‘ teas Suan eel SRReoRt ete Tes ited sihtepira tye’ Mt cee ese see! eer nor wre Xerbereraset Ree A = Soret caer ae aa e ee mete eyes re Se rmreea tees — eeaStae an eet See eet ss Weent ha bibs. wisn am bns (atiree EAT ere atas esent + oa er Se a em hash isbesateie sehesbrshe Lbese sack OMG aU eEAL 4 5 £ Ou MO Me aac dan shat Moe see hi Pucca al Petite (Ted etshis + PADS REST Ls Aaah Phe b bheea ee ahs HP abeais tht cat ab eulo shi Rrra teiteplinteiepterse i os rae’ $f 28 e5be7: ati ; eS Leahe tt * MM 2 oon ay ees boats Thy aren ot eta er tatans | asit ih 4 Sc nh oral ars atee shan eesti pier babel (ThE): obhastrdy, etc iat ie a : “4 perth cree eeetieni tts recreate hee Skea usta ura gb FW coaGcracas lari aPeabo iar aterns preter eeehpeeenee seen Pees : eee eae sates tea p teeters ans atte ogee eee eh So Tirta cae eee ee ee ttt ta tbe . Fn ee ne ot fanaa ae ae ee er EOS Spebeterereresy Ere ee eee ar : Ladset iksad dak and bat cisetaat 3 ike Babi i eseeraae al 3 pteacshb sale ies hry oy +5 ye . ected A} be ah ohht b4RaRPLL Skt can bah z - c pickiest i 759 rah oar pace aie’s = ‘ rata i . att ipeeinnintis cicers LASPED HER HANDS AND BEGAN’ saSESy to ka aat Te eteerst ire ibe las geet a Len eee ee a be eey i. Se abl tates Si age 2rd FELICIA’S FOLKS BY ELIZABETH LINCOLN GOULD AUTHOR OF “FELICIA,” “FELICIA’S FRIENDS,” “FELICIA VISITS,” Ete. ILLUSTRATED BY MARY L. PRICE 4 ae eeees = 51 re WN) 4 Pca EFS ESE DR TSN CTE TN TESST TRSTS: Ya gk PUTS CUR BESET Sh EREDAR er age peas 105 ce EO - ars Teiteiteltertrestteicp sp to rectelterpetec tail teitetettstarectecte pelts Pelrttsttereersitsie its lertaters beaer cok ee: | Be SEES PSC pa veuter pessecsme scar gyessn ten deree stiseCunrs risecrratcor Lacs TesttgeoT atrgaet ote ree ae. earl [lp Sev ree eSeerereme To ucaO gy : eo SEIU TCR Dee AL Na bee ser see rte Tye PEPE it 46585 695 PRARETEL EDU RETA Lee ae eee tea font Telia, PEeL ella eat tel tet te ee sats a isacs tei teierait) site aaa 23 be shetee ts : 3 AGED ths ep aa Meas (TEE Chara Ge eter aca CraC tC yg ESC 8 GE ee hg ee hehe 2] e: ot, titer tes Ersii ty Phe eiten rebel tes Thi folie. lei Pelt rittiies PaearerTees Testes aac eedarse coe ries eles ih tee SUE ETT pene Teeaee set wt tue J t on rOPses COGS Lore Vesgteits tei te. eReMaC Daria Coucong oder Suraaetaeatceteet tots c a8 o4: teveereeses tiegomenc sitet iter ee wtrta ellos Sth aaat bes ia ¢ sbteber Sore iteme tte Ment nr ian ers Tet reerC UTS LA Ska oc He THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA Peeosaree aoe rat eTe Sa aae —— 4 Sree eae ort Sees Sone wee Serpe gees o yen wees = DCL SOAE TBE E ton TT sabnsnir er oI eeeres eae 8 Seer it yan bee ds Ae erty it Age its edn 3h oe Tvbreete Setas abt 3 abete) osha epinvels oat abe! Sr ter Ps cea iittettal sel can Tise atile ie ats a a baie? hs! proceed re wt bet Toes + Seek bean ea) suhep ee aeee arate EeeIntroduction BLACKBERRY HI. was not a very large place. In fact, Felicia Lane knew everybody who lived there, and everybody knew and loved her. Her father was the minister, and a previous book, “ Felicia,” told how the good people of the village were surprised to find that his thirteen-year-old daughter was to be his housekeeper during the long absence of her invalid mother. Martin was her very gentlemanly parrot, and Pedro was a trick dog who just happened tocometoher. Thesecond and third books of the series, “ Felicia’s Friends,” and “Felicia Visits,” described how the little girl and her friend Winifred won the affection of a very critical neighbor, Mrs. Cope, told of what they did in school, the good times they had together, and how they finally started the great project of a public library in Black- berry Hill. Of course they could not have done so much without the help of jolly Mr. Fosdick, Miss Shaw, their teacher, and good friends like the Tophams, and Mr. Ledyard, the railroad superintendent. It was he who brought the first automobile to Blackberry Hill, and who took little Ben Kingman away from his rather stern aunt to live with him in the city. Carina Lotti was a little Italian violinist whom Felicia and Winifred 34 Introduction met in quite a wonderful way, and Gilbert Faunce was the rich boy who lost Pedro and was finally glad that Felicia found him. As for the other people Felicia knew, why, nearly all of them appear again in this story. Wat aet bas the abs skbaayiaeakssiead tee eas Maki eibesa es F & = 5 FS bs R Es = aay Py shia + BME SMe ah ok Pues a pat suiteprijteteptes te ‘ht thar * aetna rah eae ha | eaereere cryCHAPTER II. Il. IV. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. AV II. XVIII. XIX. Town MEETING UNEXPECTED Honors GILBERT HELPs JAcK ARRIVES THE FLORAL DECORATOR ‘THE REHEARSAL WoRK AND DIPLOMACY GILBERT’S SURPRISE Memoria. Day ; Jack Pays a VISIT GreEAT HEMLOCKS FRIENDS AND FAIRIES THE Lisrary OPENS WINIFRED SPEAKS AN EventTFut Day FourRTH 0’ JULY Pepro Wins FAME THE Fair : : Fexicia’s MorTuHER , Contents 111 125 136 147 156 167 177 184> pe arene ee ere — reenter et ceeee Ryerss) eet es 5 , os 5 5 Ss 5 ees se sea ee are eae Ming vs oes erate intone iererecas pee ET at ——e ees = eee ra o erm i ere eases 5 bs Ss ¥ b= eked dA: Sedan 2h 3h¢ Yad reat bet) his ipa Sas oor bere ay + etl Cer he pryteteey siete ShcA bs esa Ls At cat Jac! 3 Bbc ah ast sets et ee! cord { ae ht ee hhFelicia’s Folks CHAPTER I TOWN MEETING Tue doors of the town hall stood hospitably open, for the day was warm, although the snow still lingered on the hill slopes, and in the pasture lands little pools of half-melted ice showed here and there. But spring had surely come to Blackberry Hill with more than a promise of summer. There had never been a better day for town meeting, all agreed. “There are men here that haven’t showed up for the last five or six years,” said Mr. Fosdick. “I contend that if we were to bring up some such matter o’ vital interest as this new library, they’d turn out in full numbers every year; but who’s going to sit through half an hour’s talk about how we’re planning to make old Abe Pickett clear up the road front of his house, when you don’t go past it on account of your farm being off to the other side the ridge, while his is in the south part of the town?” “There’s sense in what you say, Henry, same as usual,” remarked Mr. Topham. “I think now the town’s started in on what you might call educational work, with a chance for all to take hold, we shall have 9 eTerPsTTaLeETLSTTELte Ta TsLT eT totel Tel sere eit L arte tteree te Seg eRC Sty HE MAUR She Ta Te ssh she Ph she acd yell ih cae she ty Saas shiaiais de sslalis dahie hit tniasialsidsdancalinialiq uaepokPuapaneahaw so ideahedbsk oat she bas ees. sibvikesei Sad ae abe snes Ret eM estEses ee +h Sh bap phe Ges abet s440 Ske bike shedes skeake 3aess sp 5ie sal cat th? ubsth tres tat rake ss ets feet ae hat ak che} 404 eee eeone oer oh a LStDr Lratscrot liens LPO eee eae NT I a MN ee ee aT a a wee Ea, ML ee OL nk one bee OEE OO DU at be hee ee PLR ee ea he ce ee OS St ee MC Nae See Ws eB 10 Felicia’s Folks a full meeting every year. Soon as the appropriations for road-mending and the paint on the engine house have gone through, you’re going to step right up and speak, I take it.” “That’s my intention,” said Mr. Fosdick, and half an hour later his intention was carried out. With much gravity, his spectacles well in place, he read, in his loudest tones, Article Five in the Warrant. “ ee Mer oike aad) iteplMiertelsepierrtmtenten tbrecnaie _ . . seabazh Saha tht Fobinbitsiaegiey Tihtedyhitehesitofeeiesi tl teltreie tite 2 elith tlierts leltertal este tol? ye baske Sheott last eras ae Sag Shae i 4 Felicia’s Folks chime in, and betwixt us maybe we can head her off from asking just how much money I’m getting for the Jand. I shan’t tell her, anyway,” and Mr. Fosdick set his jaw firmly as the door opened, and Mrs. Cope, alert and smiling, welcomed them. “Step right in,” she said. “ I was thinking I’d have to run over to the parsonage for the news, seeing you'd hitched your horse there, Mr. Topham, but I’m pleased to hear direct, I must say. Did the appropriation pass off without trouble ?” “Tt certainly did,” said Mr. Topham ; “it was one o’ the most unanimous votes we’ve ever had. The room is appropriated, and also one hundred dollars for the year—some to be cash and some fire-wood—to main- tain the Blackberry Hill library in a state of repair and warmth during the next twelve months. As for its cleanliness, it seems as if ’twas almost liable to be scrubbed out of existence if all the women whose hus- bands said they’d been charged to offer their services —TI mean their wives’ services—get to work on it.” “T guess if they could hear Loreena Parks talk they'd all fall into the background,” said Mrs. Cope. “It seems as if Loreena planned to spend the greater part of the rest of her days right at that floor and wood- work. I hope to mercy the town will buy a steady pair o’ steps with good stout hinges, for Loreena is one that’s liable to dizzy spells when she gets at a cornice ; her ambition runs away with her. Was anything special said about Felicia ?” Pe Ae eee eGR On Be eee Pin ee eee We he ee etre NE ee ae LE ee ye eek wht Se Re ie ares Saig ar a Oh aah Bey ey apear ae, Pega SLown Meeting 15 “T should say there was; she had praise enough to turn her head if she’d heard it, and had that kind of a head,” said Mr. Fosdick. “The way she started the idea and worked it out, and talked to folks, and got ‘em interested was all set forth plain as day. Wasn’t a man there but wished she was his daughter, or least- ways his niece, by what they said.” “ And twas suggested by our friend Henry Fosdick here, that Felicia and Winifred, under the able direction of Mrs. Lydia Cope, should attend to the floral depart. ment—namely the ornamental blossoms to be culti- vated from seed and slip on the grounds laid out at the rear of the library by our same friend, he appropriating certain sums each year from an amount received by him from a sale of property to Mr. Ledyard,” said Mr. Topham, reciting his facts like a lesson. “What property and what sums?” demanded Mrs. Cope, turning to Mr. Fosdick. “Well now, part of that I can answer, and part I can’t,” said Mr. Topham, endeavoring to divert the gaze of their hostess to himself. “It’s his parcel of land near the old Corey place, but as to the amount re- ceived, and sums to be expended, our friend here has his reasons for withholding information—for the present. I don’t know a mite more about it than you do, but of course a woman of your intelligence can guess his rea- sons well as I can.” Mr. Topham looked so wise, and nodded so convinc- ingly at Mrs. Cope, that the good lady, for pride’s sake,tehbties sid® ick esbaaed: Sg pREO NE G5kr Gea See ATLA TT, bhetns SActad bh eacbar Paar sales) Ske tae hae 4803 LestesaTsbashtan ccate sc seh ake Ske aag a a bee a i r on ra eu a on rs # re Poa t te <8 el Pa Motte yielfiserpyrys Fuiphceh ae aeshbete: oo 4 eta oe ae SA See te ae ee ee eee ee 16 Felicia’s Folks assumed an expression equally wise, and nodded as if she had no lack of comprehension. “And now we must be going, I think,” said Mr. Topham, and withdrew as rapidly as possible, but not as quickly as Mr. Fosdick who was well out of the door before his friend reached it. “There, didn’t I manage that well?” inquired Mr. Topham with satisfaction, as they clicked the gate be- hind them. “You’ve blocked her way for a few days,” said Mr. Fosdick drily ; “ but she’ll pry the items out of me be- fore long—see if she doesn’t! There’s the piano going at the parsonage. Felicia’s home, and if I don’t miss my guess Winifred’s there too. Hear that volume 0’ ‘ a tone ?” A ek oe ee ee eeeCHAPTER II UNEXPECTED HONORS THE windows of the parsonage were open toward the south, and beside the volume of tone to which Mr. Fosdick referred, the two men pausing on the door- step heard Winifred’s laugh and Felicia’s voice count- ing in a clear high soprano, “ ONE, two, three, four; ONE, two, three, four.” Suddenly the music stopped with a sliding crash that indicated the entire abandonment of the young musicians to mirth. “Oh, Winifred!” gasped Felicia, “ what were you doing down there in the bass? It sounded like a like a rocking-horse! And it’s a march, you know.” “Tt felt like a rocking-horse,” gurgled Winifred. “There’s no use, Felicia, Miss Shaw will have to pick out duets where there are no black notes in the bass ex- cept when they come after one rest and before another. I can’t get my fingers up onto those little ridges and down again in quick time, any way in this world. I feel perfectly hopeless when I see them coming!” “*Bout the right time for us to enter,” said Mr. Fosdick, and he gave a deep, hollow cough. Instantly a brown and a yellow head appeared at the window, and with exclamations of joy Felicia and Winifred hailed the visitors. The heads vanished 17 NaN HIE ester tenia erie rate tstente te retra tee raT TONE Dristereats se rsesantegeoat seg iasne Aeafege Diane, (ear pcaDe crest acestTHAN Ope ee ierteeter tes Heiney } jayr head = Pestle ter seiserprucrenteTrebreinnyanesead toiriiivideiied liebe itchy Lintesiewinantet teeta eee ae tee = - 4 etic weeds fs Steak puter peare tert oe oeiys heal sheoar Sibi as hestioht cal pat tLedhe ahi oat fi ees onthe Pahey eae Ps: ibaa te Sbeeet saat cacao - SE gt hOue oa i oat abt ibe! BG 18 Felicia’s Folks from the window, to reappear a moment later at the door. Below the heads the two little figures were enveloped in checked gingham aprons with high necks and long sleeves, which had been rolled back for their piano practice. “Father’s gone to make some calls,” said Felicia, «“ and we are all alone by our twoselves. We've made some fudge—you shall see if it isn’t good—and we've practiced half an hour on a new duet, and we are just ready for visitors. Do please tell us about town meet- ing,” and she led the way to the study. “Well,” began Mr. Topham, slowly, “ there’s a piece of road over toward the turn to Green Corners that needs attention; it hollows out and leaves loose stones after every rain-storm. Some suggested one way to get over the difficulty and some another; it was talked up and down for pretty near an hour, shouldn’t you say, Henry ?” “Pretty near,” assented Mr. Fosdick, confining his glances to his friend, and avoiding the two pairs of eager eyes fixed on his face. “And then there was the matter of the engine house—how did you feel, James, about the way they took up that subject ? Did it seem to you the majority felt as much interest in it as they might have ?” “Oh, Mr. Fosdick!” cried Felicia and Winifred together——“ ple-ease tell us about the library.” Then he told them, giving many particulars which had been wmitted in the recital to Mrs. Cope, and theyUnexpected Honors 1g hstened with breathless eagerness to every word. When it came to the plans for beautifying the grounds, Winifred and Felicia clutched each other. “Think of our names being spoken right out in town meeting like that,” said Winifred. “Of all the honors that can ever come to us, Felicia, this will probably be one of the greatest, if not the greatest!” “JT feel that way, too,” said Felicia, solemnly, “and we hope you will never regret your choice, Mr. Fos- dick. Don’t we, Winifred ?” “Indeed we do,” said Winifred, earnestly, “for we are very grateful and proud.” “Of course we'll have to give Mrs. Cope her head,” said Mr. Topham, sagely, “ but that won’t trouble you young folks, if she happens to think geraniums would appear best where you'd sort o’ planned for verbenas, say ; you'll cater to her opinions, I presume, and not be down-hearted.” ‘““T don’t know anything about flowers, except geraniums, nasturtiums and sweet peas,” said Winifred, frankly,—“ I mean about making them grow, and I usually forget to water my flowers; but Felicia won’t forget, because she loves them all, even poor little scrawny things that are hardly alive.” “ Suitable watering-pots will be provided,” said Mr. Fosdick, looking over his spectacles at Winifred, “and a faucet will be placed in a convenient spot. It will be expected that each assistant will do her fair share of the watering—and no more,” he added impressively. srreitratett isi tiits Ti telteltitettarettareitita ts sate Thi sitartiTelsitet ah eek POe9E 3 ae e| Testes gpag eke seg! 183 feteltits Pa erhaba ate 83 | bee ua thehagdaa gs Ween pastoris (eorett real at a pccaesven Cite, ears ce erect Sept cies Tathe OMNES AU DACAAT ME NMcher ANCA eMC in Dee aha edbestie a poole 4 <3 pants he cat phe Sileas out Pubehl et oboe ares treet) ) it Watt one aat tech ice 20 Felicia’s Folbs “ Winifred always does her share of everything,” and Felicia put her arm around her friend, who looked a little indignant. “ He’s only joking, W initrd . “TI guess there won’t be any hard feelings between men friends as Winifred and I are,” said My. Fosdick, and in token of the same I have here a couple of little badges that I thought you two young ladies might honor me by accepting, and wearing w hen the garden season begins. Miss Shaw made them, and Nate Horner put the letters on according to an idea he and I talked over. How do you like them ?” “Oh, they are lovely!” chorused the little girls. Indeed they were pretty badges. The ribbon was white, and on it were painted the letters F. D. A., with a little vine enclosing them in a green circle. The letters themselves were of gold, and Mr. Fosdick called special attention to them. “I said to Nate that my two little friends were being appointed floral decorator’s assistants not for just one season, but for right along,” he said; “and I told him I didn’t want any wishy-washy gilt aad that would fade out and appent on it % ky a never been there, before the summer’s over. ‘You get the best there is and lay it on good and thick,’ I told him, and he did so. They stand right out from the silk, now don’t they? Nate says long as the badges last they’ll be there. The leaf green in that vine work is durable, too, and Miss Shaw chose a cream white ‘stead of the bluish white, which was a good thing. See those dekh ie nee anUnexpected Honors 21 ttle pins fastened in at the top to secure them to what garments you are wearing ?” “They are perfectly beautiful,” said Felicia, “ aren’t they, Winifred ? ” “It’s the handsomest ornament I ever owned except- ing my watch from Mr. Ledyard,” said Winifred, “and it comes ver-y close to that, Mr. Fosdick. I thank you from the bottom of my heart!” “So do I,” said Felicia. “ Now don’t go till you have tasted the fudge, and I want to give you some to take home to the family, Mr. Topham.” ‘I don’t feel that it’s much use for me to keep a stock of candy these days,” said Mr. Fosdick with a mock sigh, as he ate the generous piece Felicia had made him take instead of a little crumbly corner he had pre- tended to choose. “ With such proficiency right in the center of the town, there’ll soon be no call for my varieties.” “ Now, Mr. Fosdick, you know that isn’t true,” said Felicia, as she put a small parcel in his hand after giv- ingonetoMr.Topham. “You know we can’t make any such peppermints as you have, and molasses chocolates, gum-drops, stick candy, barley drops, lemon drops and marshmallows we can’t make at all! Nor lozenges!” “No, indeed, we can’t!” said Winifred, “nor peanut bars, nor cocoanut taffy.” “Well, now, my list sounds pretty fine, come to say it off that way,” said Mr. Fosdick in a more cheerful tone. “I don’t know but I shall pluck up heart enough ‘i SLTTETT Teen TTe rates terete rs piaite arr igttt Per sbeteaurst seenGeicssons sreve pee abatett Wak te. leant 2220s a9SEe a sara ahs aietx okie ee gates Metabatbacbershephcrsatebabeace sek Sah Fie | eats ae et ean SFertepiepeet io pane secahtesar Rcsesleet (Sia suets ates arecee oot sens * Page ses Sent cite th 22 Felicia’s Folks to lay in a little when the candy man comes around day after to-morrow. He’s a good, harmless feller, with a wife and five children ; I don’t know what might hap- pen to ’em if I withdrew my trade.” “T guess you’re justified in keeping on with him for a while longer,” said Mr. Topham, and after a moment the four friends parted on the best of terms, the elders chuckling as they went down the path and the little girls standing in the doorway, their arms around each other’s waists, watching while Mr. Topham unhitched the horse and drove slowly off, and Mr. Fosdick started for the grocery shop and home. ‘“Won’t mother be perfectly delighted when I show her my badge, and she knows what an honorary thing it is beside being so beautiful ?” said Winifred, fingering the ribbon. “There’s nobody like a mother to appre- clate things, is there? although of course fathers like yours are almost as good,” she added hastily, for Felicia’s lip was caught between her teeth as she looked at her badge. “Td send it to mother to see, if she weren’t quite so far away,” said Felicia softly. “Fathers have such different things to think about; but father will be pleased about it, ever so pleased.” “Don’t you mind,” said Winifred, her own eyes troubled as she looked at Felicia’s which had suddenly brimmed over. ‘ When your mother comes, she’ll Oh! there’s an automobile horn!” “It’s Gilbert’s,” said Felicia. “I knew they were OA pert prey tren rere anaes ON ea he Te Bee ee ee Ee ee PRP US ees Sr LE ar oe eee tre So. Win ete bape UR keeles he Be hk eee ee Re eee ears Pre ey es enUnexpected Honors 22 going back to Great Hemlocks this week ; I’m so glad you're here to see him.” “* Please help me get off this apron,” cried Winifred ; “it’s all covered with fudge stains in front.” “That wouldn’t trouble Gilbert,” said Felicia, but she pulled Winifred’s apron off as she spoke, smoothed her friend’s dress, and patted her hair ribbons into shape as the automobile stopped with a final toot of the horn. She forgot her own apron as she hurried to the door, but Gilbert was all the more pleased to see her in it. “How jolly!” he cried. “You've been making candy in that big apron, Felicia, or cooking something good! You can’t imagine anybody more ready for candy or cookies than I am.” “You shall have some,” said Felicia, laughing. “Gilbert, I’m so glad you’ve come, for Winifred ig spending the day with me.” As they entered the parlor together, there sat Wini- fred with a fixed smile on her round face, stiffly erect on one of the straight-backed chairs. She rose as Felicia began to introduce Gilbert, and when the intro- duction was finished she extended a limp hand for Gilbert’s cordial grasp. He shook the hand and then a smile, most unlike Winifred’s, broadened his face. ‘I know what you’re doing,” he said ; “ you’re play- ing society girl, like some silly thing you’ve seen when you were visiting Mrs. Hargate. It’s all right for fun, Re hs ee es sales SEAT a Eceenecst saraueneaseSeane ane Deon seat Unenestepsseane Aeon ene spe aussedyat Seatare Abii eek igoiriiteinnitelienineitt iteign eer erta cer cat ate rise et es Pe ee ee ee ee , > Trisha tts trite eras sorrepriyys 23634 SpasPhardad etd Sk dhrhas 98798 ore unser st lr ehtatr cares tat 24 Felicia’s Folks but you and I would never be friends if you were like that really.” He half turned away, but Winifred gave herself a twist and held out her hand again. “There couldn’t be anybody less like that, really, than I am, could there, Felicia?” she asked eagerly. “Please shake hands again, and [ll give you a truly Blackberry Hill shake this time. I want to be good friends with you, because Felicia likes you.” “ All right,” said Gilbert heartily, and the Blackberry Hill hand-shake was given and accepted with great earnestness. ‘‘ We won’t have any nonsense about Mr. Faunce, either,” said the boy, “ unless you prefer to be called Miss Harlow—anyway I’m afraid I should for- get, hearing Felicia call you Winifred all the time.” “Tf you called me Miss Harlow I wouldn’t answer,” said Winifred promptly. ‘Oh, Felicia, let’s have some of our candy to—to celebrate the occasion.” “Did you help make the candy, without an apron ?” asked Gilbert. ‘Felicia never lets me—she puts an apron on me before I’m allowed to take one stir.” “T had on one just like Felicia’s,” said Winifred, “only I’m so unfortunate about spilling things, it was all covered with fudge, and I thought I’d make an un- tidy impression on you, the very first time you ever saw me, so Felicia helped me hurry it off. Hereitis. I was looking out of the window, and I held it in my hand till I didn’t have time to carry it off or do any- thing with it, so I sat on it.” ; Pt OTs ey RO pee el CF yee yo ea ie ere See eel Be EN EELS Ge beter pirgs Swe rey vere voree ty oe ir ee he abe ree he eee eh ee ee ee es Deere cat beac re ir 0 Bir leaps Goo p ey eee er ene Pe egos eee ee re Bia a" > Fay See Were eetUnexpected Flunors 2% She held up the apron, a littte bundle of wrinkles, for Gilbert’s inspection, and in the laugh that followed, the last little suspicion of ice, that might have spoiled the afternoon, melted out of sight without so much as a tinkle. “Now tell us all you’ve been doing,” said Felicia over the candy plate a moment later, “and we'll tell you what we’ve been doing, and in half an hour father will be home, and that will be best of all.” Pete Fs CURE SESE IR ETT TE TAT ANI aC Tae PLP ase hs VEaa Ec pak eee ap eee eedee: CHa eae C Abe HE MERE gd NC Dga ah he ane e seca CHEN Thou cee ta cshek ae seeuhega os hese os eae ae eke Libleiaitled intel iniide frsit initstaltsdies lglg ine bballipeiteit Tete eltey atelbrebt et tertyhepteyt ect ent Gitpsaesateee saLees th seb y seine Figs uierten cepserveutantin Tat rpenage pints is feifs rib chs San shit 2 ee Sto ie tar of hash sh Tait Pap eenstctteren CHAPTER III GILBERT HELPS “For one thing,” said Gilbert, “I’ve heard of an idea—or rather I’ve seen it—that I thought would bea good thing for you, Felicia, and perhaps for you too,” he added, turning toward Winifred. “| never knew you could see an idea,” said Winifred saucily, but Gilbert simply passed her the candy plate and paid no attention to her speech. “I saw this idea,” he said firmly, “ata fair. I was staying with some of my relatives for a day or two, and we had to go to this fair, because they are interested in the charity for which it was given. It was an awful bore, most of it, but there was a sweet old lady there who had a table all by herself, and what do you sup- pose she had on it? You never could guess, so I'll show you.” From one of his pockets he took a small parcel, and removing the elastic band which held its soft tissue wrapping, he displayed two small bags made of dimity. One was white with a lavender figure, and the other lavender with a white dot: each bag was tied near the top with a narrow lavender ribbon in an old-fashioned flat bow, and its hemmed top opened out like a flower. 26 CO a he Se See ee ae Ped Chae ah ee eee es eee aa eRe eat ee!Gilbert Flelps 27 “Smell,” said Gilbert, and he handed a bag to each of the little girls. “Oh, it’s real lavender inside,” said Felicia, burying her small nose in the top of the bag. “ Not like the kind father bought once in the city ; that smelled good for a little while, and then it all went off,” and she waved her hand to illustrate the completeness with which the odor had vanished. “I told Mrs. Cope about it, and she said probably they’d just poured some extract over it.” “ Well, this is real English lavender, raised in the old lady’s summer home,” said Gilbert, “and I had a long talk with her about it. I told her about you, Felicia, and how fond you are of flowers and green things, and about the library, and she told me just how she’d raised the lavender, and gave me the address of the man from whom she got some seed, and I’ve sent for a lot for you. What’s more, she’s going to send you some plants herself the first of pe all started, and she said if you had the fair in September you could have a lot of bags, and all the peeple I’d bring over here would buy them. And —— “Oh, Gilbert, wait a minute!” cried Felicia. “ Do you mean that I can make the lavender grow right in my garden? Mrs. Cope has one little plant of it, that she’s always told me she cherished like a child, but nobody else in Blackberry Hill has it.” “The old lady says it’s died out because people haven’t known just how to treat it, or haven't given it eel AND RRm MSI RRR CTTERT shigltaliedtaipibebisiglissiacie isdislgninlielridsleciallalionseM ca oabel oat aes Aas aie ee babeaktas Fectas ScDMDAcDe ba RAMACAL SNE Ncdksdue stcaue Mere Eure tC est eerie seat th tsb eth tote bar sais’ 4: a etsene POE. sohs ibe eal AROb be shis aisha ais ca lau ttt sister st ttc t ibe 80a patent sage ate: iia ait eee ete *eitet 28 Felicia’s Folks the right soil, or the right place,” said Gilbert. “I have full directions for you. I wrote them all out. I stayed with her so long the others thought I was lost. She was tremendously interested about you and every- thing here, and I found out she knows father, so ’m pretty sure she'll come up to visit us next September. She told me her house could run itself without her for a day or two. She had regular twinkling eyes. I'd like to be her grandson, I tell you! Beside the lavender she raises lemon verbena and sweet-scented geraniums, and I managed to get a bag of each of those too, though they were almost sold out. She dries the leaves partly on newspapers, and then fills the bags.” From another pocket he took out another parcel from the wrappings of which emerged two more small bags, one of pale green silk, and the other of a soft rose- colored satin. “ She said you could get silk and ribbon remnants by sending to one of the big shops—she gave me the ad- dress,” said Gilbert: “she thinks pink is best for the geranium and green for the lemon verbena. She'll send you a couple of the lemon verbenas with the lavender. I told her I knew you had some of the geraniums.”’ “ Gilbert, I do think it was splendid of you to re- member about the library and us,” said Felicia, “ and to take pains—that’s what father thinks counts most of anything. He'll be just as delighted as Iam. And, Gilbert, something has happened to Winifred and meGilbert Helps 29 to-day, at the town meeting—we weren’t there, of course, but Mr. Fosdick and Mr. Topham came to tell us—something very important, we think it is.” Then together they told him about their appoint- ment and the badges, and Gilbert looked at them with much interest and approved most cordially of Mr. Fos- dick’s selection of assistants. “Would Mrs. Cope let you have some lavender and lemon verbenas over there, if the soil’s right ?” he in- quired. “Why not just tell her you havea little scheme you'd like to carry out in one part of the grounds, fora surprise? Wouldn’t that be all right ?” Felicia shook her head, but it was Winifred who spoke first. “You don’t know Mrs. Cope very well, do you?” she asked demurely. ‘“ No,I thought youcouldn’t. What we'll have to do is to plan very carefully so Mrs. Cope will be the one to suggest having the plants there on the library grounds. I’m afraid you wouldn’t make a very good floral assistant—for Mrs. Cope.” “But we can arrange it, I know,” said Felicia. “You see Winifred hasn’t any very good place fora garden, on account of cinders.” “You never saw anything like them,” said Winifred in as melancholy a tone as she could manage ; “ where they don’t fall of themselves, the wind blows them. How would you like to have nothing but wet soot for garden soil on damp days, and dry ashes in sunny weather? Mother Harlow did say once she thoughteet ritertaieyirytesdtert PaaLMCibeiee tee Vd Pitesti sanb ee PaLkea TF GAT A Peo eeree tert: ee w ¥ = SEEbPGPaGSS ALMA LACHaG Maashe Tas SACRE DRED Gas PaaeIac ace SE Hee Vacdaa sacar Heed ro 3 ealaesthisenrat itr ercer certs te Seas ee aee ot iat saat tet atyltifiticstest A eet 30 Felicia’s Folks we might get a prize for a new variety of petunias, white speckled with black, but as a rule we feel too sad about them to make jokes. We have a great many trials, living where we do, but still we enjoy it.” “T should think you would,” said Gilbert ; “ it must be quite exciting at times.” “Tt certainly is.” Winifred nodded violently to em- phasize her words. ‘“ Whenever mother reads of a new liniment or anything like that, if it’s not too expensive, she gets some of it; and we have a great many kinds of smelling-salts. Passengers that have stopped over have left them, and some have sent them back. We don’t have accidents here, of course,” she added hastily. “T should know there wouldn’t be any accidents at Blackberry Hill,” said Gilbert with a bow. “ But I suppose people get faint on the train sometimes, just as Carina Lotti’s mother did.” “Yes, and then up at the next station above here they are very careless,” said Winifred. ‘ Mother won- ders at it. She says some folks think no more of step- ping on or off a train after it’s begun to go than if ’twas an ox-cart. Mr. Wadleigh doesn’t allow such works when he can help it, but as mother says, he can’t be in a dozen places at once to prevent them. She thinks you can have accidents anywhere, any minute, if you don’t mind where you’re stepping, and take plenty of time. But mother’s real adventurous, too. She says she’d like above all things to go up im an air-ship, if she bate trat aac arcane ee eee ee Sarat tee ene ee ten ee rae ten eee ea ee EN Pte tiated oot en ee ase eek eee eh eer oe ol eat) hae Mae ete ed-~ Wa bel by Sogtynen ater Clee eeeGilbert Helps 31 knew the man that was running it, and could depend on him.” “Pye been in one, since the last time I saw you, Felicia,” said Gilbert. “It was good fun, too.” “Oh, my!” cried the two little girls in concert. “Weren’t you frightened to pieces?” added Wini- fred. “Oh, no,” said Gilbert easily ; “Sof course a boy has to get over being really frightened at anything when he’s quite small, or else he’ll never amount to much. But I must say my heart beat a little faster than usual when we started, and seemed to be rising till it got way up to my throat. I suppose it was the altitude.” Felicia’s eyes danced as she looked at her guest. “That’s the way I feel sometimes without any alti- tude,” she said; “ but with me it’s because I’m fright- ened.” “ Well, I suppose I may have been a bit uneasy, just at first,” admitted the boy, “but I soon forgot every- thing about myself as I looked down at the trees and houses and people, growing smaller and smaller, till the towns looked like pincushions with green edges, and then finally we looked down on some clouds. I tell you it made me feel as if I were of very little con- sequence!” “How long were you up in the air?” asked Wini- fred in a subdued, respectful tone. “ Only about half an hour in all,” said Gilbert ; “ but I’ll tell you something,” he added confidentially. “I sage Nag ENE apa Lealind babes bp borate diteCTeadbeakaes, isthe Shea oak ibae ee eh Sal cai sersteshioare } i ate fiesta — PASSES MPM MCMMA NING haste das MOMMA Me Mtr eMC MIn MLO acktmoiet re rab ef Totbet rer tebts (4 fein si ol igideser sitet te iten porte ge eet She, af Serdar i ae lat shee lakes ihe) Sse et he incatanreee reety ne aeeee , a sega ea ced UE Sed st thai ig: 32 Felicia’s Folks thought we'd been flying for about five hours! Anda good ten minutes came out of the half-hour, too, pretty near the ground, selecting a place to light.” Felicia’s mouth curved in a smile. “Time does seem very long when—when youw’re not quite sure what will happen next,” she said. “JT put my feet down hard on the ground when I got out of the aeroplane,” said Gilbert, still confidential ; “and I looked around at everything asif I’d never seen it before. I did have a more solid feeling than while I was up in the air, I'll admit that.” “Tt must have been wonderful,” said Felicia, with a long-drawn breath. ‘Oh, here comes father, and now you'll have to tell everything all over again, and so shall we.” There was even more to talk about than Felicia had expected, for Mr. Lane brought her a small package which proved to contain three photographs of her Aunt Mary and her little brother Johnny. In each of the pictures the child had turned his face so far around that only one cheek had been caught by the amateur photog- rapher ; but Felicia was as pleased as if they had been the most perfect pictures in the world. ”* she asked, displaying her treasures. “See, Winifred, what long eyelashes he has! You can see them, can’t you? And isn’t his hair pretty ?” While her friends admired the photographs as cor- dially as possible, Felicia searched the envelope and the “Tsn’t he a darling? rere PT Carre SeesGilbert [delps 33 piece of paper, in which they had been wrapped, for a written message. “Tt just says, ‘From Aunt Mary and Johnny, with love,’ father,” she said at last. ‘It doesn’t say when grandmother is going off for the visit, so they can come here.” Before Mr. Lane could reply, the voice of Felicia’s parrot was heard from the kitchen, as he woke from a iong nap. “Help!” he screamed. “Martin is a gentleman! Help ! “May I get him ?” asked Winifred and when she r os eared with a cage, Martin was in the best of pie ‘How d’y do! good-morning! good-day ! good-even- ing!” he said with glib amiability. “T wish I had a bird,” sighed Winifred. ‘“ Not ex- actly like you, Martin, for you’d get excited with the trains, and not a canary, for mother says the cinders would be bad for his lungs, but some kind of a strong bird, that wouldn’t mind trains or anything. If I had a dog or acat mother would never have a moment’s peace, thinking its life was in danger. Something in a cage is all that’s left for me.” “I believe I know of a bird for you,” said Gilbert, frowning thoughtfully as he looked at her. Winifred was actually dumb with amazement ; she had not fully recovered her powers of speech when she shook hands with Gilbert on his departure, a few min- utes later.isaedAL Ie Lesa EA MELSE Padad Heo Mks eA TRE et cecalarceeets oP erie ee DUNS Nano eeeteise eT a et cea at tare Tate Pet hehe eat Es: pres (Pele @ at | Sh Wybesh Coat Sac espe wrrecteh ti telit, Ne lasaess ty itoat dhs Ualeaae st Pah cat suCdee eet Pic ete the nt ut oat Uk yandee bai aeess eh as Se een gst 34 Felicia’s Folks “T’ll see about that bird for you,” he said as he re- turned her good-bye, “and you tell your mother the favor will be all on your side if you take him. I think nobody has spoken for him yet. I'll see.” He was evidently so much amused at his thoughts that Felicia and Winifred were filled with curiosity, which even Mr. Lane seemed to share. When he re- turned to the house, however, after a final word from Gilbert as he stepped into the automobile, the minister was smiling. “T think Gilbert has a good plan for you, Winifred,” he said, but no amount of questioning could induce him to say more, and to the “ guesses’ which the little girls tried, watching his face with each suggestion, to “see if it changed,” he presented such an inscrutable expres- sion that at last they gave up. “At any rate, I’ve had a perfectly beautiful time,” sald Winifred as she bade Felicia good-bye, “and I think Gilbert Faunce is just as nice as you said. Do you suppose that bird could be an eagle, Felicia? Do you?” “An eagle!” laughed Felicia, “at Blackberry Hill station!” “Then I give it up,” said Winifred. ‘“That’s all there was left to guess. Good-bye.” lg Relies ie eu br re Botte elo ee er eerie epee ie eenCHAPTER IV JACK ARRIVES ALTHOUGH Winifred said that the eagle was the only bird left to guess, she spent a good deal of time during the next few days thinking of forgotten song- sters, with the assistance of Mrs. Harlow, Felicia, Miss Shaw, and many of her older friends. Mr. Fosdick invited her up to his long room one afternoon with Felicia, and displayed to their delighted eyes a book filled with colored plates of birds, domestic and foreign, with strange names and brilliant plumage. “Like as not it’s some one o’ those that he or a friend of his has got tired of, same as he got tired of Pedro,” said Mr. Fosdick, stooping to pat the spaniel who was huddled against his knees munching a hard cracker with great enjoyment. “Might be that very bird there; he’d be pretty ornamental in the station window, now wouldn’t he? That red and yellow and green of his must be real cheerful looking. I shouldn’t wonder if Martin would be sort 0’ jealous to have such a high-colored bird as that come to town; but there, we can’t any of us expect to hold the public eye forever. Where does it say that bird lives when he’s at home ?” “¢QOentral Africa is the land which claims him for a 35 Tal d ttiniiieniiiit meetcaieteart rite tees fais bel telplis alin ibis tallied redssaaialinlalinl Lineh asbaeelsseatbaubisheabubtaretsttace he ate t hee Mibdsndad hog hintnahs ai catcaakeal atone SLsbeDAL Me TMLe aE ALP OAE Setbae Theo tas ESAT Pacokeaeeae sat aboal sabi har Galtal Par tettaet tit haat eran) F Pree ee Le kiaare _— WeeDaeaaaaas SEDRRUNCENG, Mes Ache INL DRED NENG eg AL Par Ihe She ME DAc dae IAcgaL Meese ed Leste RIAL: AGL Skea ess cede" Mabsks jut sos cht dap uaatcaicne SAT ra tere a ihitciieielty teltaies telteci elie Thier Teit> pag tesa esate! 26 Felicia’s Folks native,’” read Felicia; then she shook her head, and Winifred, reading over Felicia’s shoulder, also shook hers. “He and those next three birds all require a hot climate with tropical surroundings,” said Winifred ; “and there isn’t one single tropical surrounding at our house; mother had a palm that a lady left one day be- cause she had so many other things to carry, but the leaves turned brown and wizzled up in spite of all we could do.” “We'll have to count those out, then,” said Mr. Fos- dick regretfully, “ but there are plenty of others. See here—supposing ’twas a variety of bird that didn’t re- quire a cage, being large and free. How about one of these herons or something of that kind? I expect maybe ’twould require some shelter for winter weather, but otherwise, as I understand it, they’re built to con- tend with storms. ‘They thrive in sandy spots, some of those long-legged fowl do; and such a bird would be considerable company, I should suppose. Take that pinkish one, now; he looks intelligent, though I don’t know as he has any regular speech nor song.” “You know it couldn’t be one of those, Mr. Fos- dick,” said Winifred, and Felicia looked anxiously on the next page to see if there were any more likely can- didates to be found there. “Father did tell just one thing that Gilbert said to him, and I can’t understand it,” she said slowly as if x she were pondering over a weighty matter. “I said I ada Bee eh Bar tea ere ee ee Pere aA eye en nie eet et he eet‘Jack Arrives 37 wondered if the bird’s cage would be as big as Mar- tin’s, or whether it would be a little one, like the cage the Hilliards’ canary lives in; and father said, ‘ Gilbert thinks the bird won’t care much about a cage.’”’ “Felicia Lane, you never told me that!” cried Win1- fred reproachfully. “Twas only last night father told me,” said Felicia, “and I thought perhaps the bird would come to-day, and I might spoil part of Gilbert’s surprise.” “T don’t really believe I shall have it,” said Winifred gloomily. “It’s four days, and to-morrow it will be five, since Gilbert Faunce was here, and he spoke of sending word so I’d surely be at home to receive the bird. I believe somebody else had spoken for him while Gilbert was over here.” “I’m expecting you'll hear before night,” said Mr. Fosdick, and his words came true. When the little girls bade him good-bye they stepped into the post-office, and there in the Harlows’ box lay a square envelope, directed in a sprawling boy’s hand to “Miss Winifred Harlow, Blackberry Hill” With eager, trembling fingers Winifred tore it open and read : “¢Gilbert Faunce, wind and weather permitting, will pay his respects to Mrs. Harlow to-morrow, Saturday afternoon. In his charge will be Jack, the bird about to become the property of her daughter Winifred.’ “¢Jack!?” cried Winifred. “Ob, Felicia, what kind of a bird do you suppose he is? You must come down aaa TEGAN guns eae Aaa nea anne CRATE HUrwtett Wrevayeseese aeogtact seobedeove peetestot Par testeare stays iesaearaVESteREaaatEerpeisrtr yest eieat siesta bt cieg jaatedtei tiga i NSN DL NAME KM ACK ACM RCALEN MNO Nenu mee re TATE TeSTeert Forbin Haas a4 Pat Sat See PA Peas A; 38 Felicia’s Folks and spend the afternoon with me, so you'll see him the very first minute, when I do!” Felicia needed no urging. She even tried to hurry her father a little in his starting for his regular Satur- day afternoon trip to Green Corners. Mr. Topham was to drive him over, as often happened, and it seemed to Felicia that her good friend was unusually Jate In arriving. “I hope those poor mill people won’t think you’ve \orgotten all about the class, father,” she said when the clock pointed to five minutes after the usual time of starting, and still there was no sign of Mr. Topham’s horse jogging up the road. “ Now you needn’t laugh, .' - father ; it isn’t all because I’m in a hurry to go down to Winifred’s. There! he’s coming now.” “You could have let me start off for once without s* your being here to wave good-bye, I suppose,” said the minister with a whimsical glance at his excited little daughter, but Felicia scouted the idea. “I never heard of such a thing, when I’m being a fit helpmate,” she said as they went down the path together. “Think how long it is since I’ve stopped worrying about that,” she added, “and how much I worried about it at first !” They laughed together quietly over the recollection, and Felicia stole a glance over her shoulder at Mrs. Vope’s house, where there was no sign of life; the turtains, all drawn exactly alike, hung straight and notionless at the windows. Teoy ‘ Fack Arrives 39 “She has taken Miss Shaw to drive, with the livery stable horse,’ Felicia told Mr. Topham, and they laughed again. The livery stable had been the unfortunate venture of a man who had gone to Blackberry Hill to visit relatives and, being wrehout a ties, had remained there for two or three years. Finding that there was no call for the horses he had imported with the idea of making a handsome income by “ ee them out” connection with various carryalls and other ae he had disposed of his stock as best he could, and left town a sadder and a wiser man. One old horse he had sold to the Markhams, and they occasionally offered him for an afternoon to one or another of their neighbors who were not in a hurry to arrive at any given place at a special time. but although the Markhams had owned him for nearly three rs he was still known as the “livery stable horse,” and was never referred to in any other way by the residents of Blackberry Hill. In appearance he resembled a circus horse, being brown and white in patches, but nothing could have been less circus-like than his actions, or the downcast air with which he walked the hills. Mrs. Cope, however, had always enjoyed a drive behind him. “She says he’s the only horse she ever feels safe with,” said Felicia, as she stroked the long nose e of Mr. Topham’s horse in token of fare well. “She says an antaal that has to be urged so much will never go soiisidshtabeas Let cea speed iatesrong:Sacerrrestret-= ry etyatabreinetoviro ittiant seb nediori ies cota ebenteaiedttiteianitrianetnormesorprinvites abel babibar Liter har’ rape shetag Sea eeheEas, JI 40 Felicia’s Folks fast but what she can step out if she sees danger ahead, such as an au paresis or the road roller.” “That old livery stable horse wouldn’t mind an automobile or a road roller any more’n he’d mind the ferns side o’ the road,” said Mr. Topham. “ He isn’t more’n half awake any of the time, and most of it not more’n a quarter. Good-bye, Felicia. I shall look to you to inform me about that bird o’ Winifred’s when I fetch your father back.” “XC u keep Martin company, Pedro dear,” said licia, with a last pat to her beloved spaniel, and HI, tA 7 after a hasty good-bye to Martin she flew down the hi whisking around the corner, along to the station, and arriving breathless at the door where Winifred stood talking to her mother. [t’s mild weather for such quick stepping,” said the station mistress as she greeted Felicia with a hearty kiss, for the minister’s little girl was a great favorite rs. Harlow; “but then, I suppose you were full of fear that eld be behind hand. No slgn of your friend ye It was half an hour later that Felicia and Winifred. sitting at one of the open windows of the Harlows’ living-room, heard the automobile horn, and a moment later the car swung around the corner and along the cinder strewn road to the station. The two children flew to the door and Mrs. Harlow followed them. As the automobile stopped, Gilbert sprang out, andkh Arrives 4\ advanced with his hat in his hand, to be presented to Mrs. Harlow. “ Hasn’t he beautiful-manners ?” whispered Winifred to Felicia when the introduction had been performed and Gilbert stood listening with a deferential air to Mrs. Harlow’s remarks about the weather and the roads. “JI just wish the Hilliard boys would take lessons of him!” “You are willing I should give Winifred the bird, I hope,” said Gilbert, still with his deferential air. “I brought him with me. May I present him?” “Certainly you may,” said Mrs. Harlow, and Gilbert stepped back to the automobile, she said to Ninifred and Felicia, “I don’t know how anybody could refuse such a pretty-behaved boy as he is, ’m sure.” Gilbert’s frown was nowhere to be seen as he bore a great wicker basket into the living-room; his face was light with amusement. He set the basket down on the table, Mrs. Harlow hastily clearing a place for it; then he untied a stout cord which secured the cover ESS ee ey Gf MINES GEM SSE RS aeagg es SP PAE ha dwg PaaS a hae HER CaS SPPSEEME Po tacstaet ae rseoaGert deen Srota pre swategt SOx iG: Years tua spent seevEs & 08 and lifted it. “May I introduce Jack, one of the descendants of the original Jim Crow?” he asked with a flourish of his arms, as the group closed around the basket. “The tamest and cleverest of all his family. Mrs. Harlow, Miss Harlow, Miss Lane, this is Jack, a late resident of Great Hemlocks. Jack, hop out and meet the family.”te baighrahidsesstcshrseveseeugad esate Peas tbiaSeesbAD Lh ESCOLA! ah) wet Terentia septa leper seprerremte nearer rainnie ss SME titel Sil MM bith lter ets ters sitl fetal tel tales sete irons saaaslaalaeeatacsEsechulen eg 42 Felicia’s Folks He put his hand down on the edge of the basket, and a little crow hopped to it, and was lifted out, safely perched on Gilbert’s fingers, his sleek black head held quite erect and his bright eyes regarding the group with evident interest. “He'll be a little shy at first,” said Gilbert, stroking the shining black feathers with one finger, “but he’ll soon get over it, and he’s really great fun. He trotted around after me all one summer; since then the coach- man has had him, but he doesn’t care much for any- thing but horses. [’m glad you have on that bright plaid dress, Winifred ; he loves colers.” “T thought he might, because Martin does,” said Winifred, who was fairly dancing with excitement. “Oh, do you suppose he'll like me right off? Do you suppose he’ll sit on my hand now ?” “We'll try him,” said Gilbert, and he stepped close to Winifred. “This is your little mistress,” said Gilbert, holding his hand against Winifred’s which she had extended, breathlessly. “Step over and see how you like her.” The tame crow lifted one leg, then the other; then with a short hopping step he left Gilbert’s hand and settled himself firmly on Winifred’s trembling fingers. “Youwre all right now,” said Gilbert. ‘ What do you think of him ?” “Oh, he’s handsome!” breathed Winifred. “ Isn’t he, mother? Isn’t he, Felicia? He’s just as shiny as satin and his eyes are as bright !” © c ] i * i Xn bebe ee ee eee eats"S: REALLY -GREATer —_ = = = Pabaerara) reese ce eeoe ei ea beee cenaeenre renee aerate earns anne) Terns se a — TA Ra te ae 3 ‘ 5 Sra ie *. eS ener Se eee : ee er pe PR en rep Si es bs bs nr home tes: ps oe ne oe a Care eer et wt eee rere eS nae 5 3} Ticsaad Ath i ab eaeat hee sieis bes see sht ine shat 3 ehnecneerninniseenets a roa opt ee La rete cee? eth, pthd i coker i - n Pf ty svete oy ter ces - esha anes ake rg oe a bbe pitts ral Ptr Fepies Ses ibe) ewhh ine thane len Seok brus Ta Bol ose ee ere hebrewFack Arrives 43 “He's a beauty,” said Felicia, “and of course he'll love you, Winifred, because all kinds of birds and ani- mals do.” “She certainly has a knack with all kinds o’ crea- tures,” said Mrs. Harlow to Gilbert. “ Shall we have to keep him close for a while, for fear he might fly back to your father’s place ?” “ He'll be all right after he’s been fed and has walked out with Winifred,” said Gilbert. “ He doesn’t fly very much, and he’ll be happy here. He has only one bad trick ; I suppose you know what that is?” Mrs. Harlow nodded and laughed reassuringly. “Likes to hide things,” she said in a tone of great tolerance. “Some folks call ’em thieves, but I don’t. [’ve known of their bringing back things they’ve taken away. The best way with him will be to kind of start a hoard for him somewheres; then if we miss a thimble or any such little bright thing, we'll look it up right off. The only tame crow I ever saw before was a real honest bird, to my mind. If he took a spool o’ thread he’d leave a length of it hanging out so’s you could trace it. There’s nothing Jack could take here, any- way; I'll see to it that he doesn’t get into the ticket office, that’s all.” “I wonder if he and Martin would be friends,” said Felicia, but Gilbert shook his head. “ At any rate he and Pedro might be,” she added hopefully, “for they are the same color, and Jack is shiny like Pedro, too. We never guessed a crow, Gilbert, in all our guessing !” dieerret dd trecttireiter pre rit gis eaters eet riety Lislinbtaididebialihinsbilind shit pins tel nodacieda Unison no cbeiyaieliedCuidhL SALINE NaeSE NES aSR bat Mer suesessLgehLa a letamad aceeestest ace epee oer aheha fh tai celtel LOL Te 7 +) tai te TENN ote ee ertquste ston trad reine vent iasicideed renee Hitt Ae! aLaak tsar te eh ag SEPA Pcdnabbneeannedelanieat acc SLAMIb A er ear a eer array SN ARE De ee Bente SE Bey 44 Felicia’s Folks “T thought you wouldn’t,” said the boy. “ Why don’t you take him around the house and grounds, W inifred, and let him see his new home? Put him down, and hold a little piece of bread in your hand, and he’ll hop after you fast enough.” “Tl show him all over the house,” said Winifred, ‘but the grounds aren’t fenced off, you know. Sup- pe he hopped away from me?” “ He won't,” said Gilbert ; “ we'll all walk together— that is, if I may.’ “Of course,” said Winifred, “I want you to see the house and everything just the way Felicia did the first time she came, because you were her friend first and now you're mother’s and mine too, and besides that, you are my benefactor,” said Winifred. “I had to spell that in s school last week, and I spelled it with an ‘i,’ so now t’s fixed in my mind forever.”CHAPTER V THE FLORAL DECORATOR Wuewy Mrs. Cope learned of the new member of the Harlow family she expressed her mind freely and at considerable length. “JT never heard of such foolishness,” she said to Felicia, then to Miss Shaw, and as time went on, to every one shemet. She evenmadesome long-neglected calls for the purpose of saying what she thought about Jack. “J presume they were only too thankful to get rid of him,” she said to Mrs. Markham one afternoon during the next week. ‘Who knows but he’d made away with valuable jewels such as those folks the Faunces associate with wear common, every day ? Supposing he steals from folks there in the station, and Mrs. Har- low has to replace things? She wouldn’t beable. I know her income toa penny. I think there’s trouble ahead for the Harlows.” “But everybody will know about him,” said Mrs. Markham, easily, “and the door to the waiting-room shuts with a spring and is kept shut, so he can’t steal from folks even if he wanted to. And I understand the Faunce boy says he’s never made any trouble. He never takes anything unless it’s left around careless. 45 } Flees rostect sem stovs oa seeds Woes tears seas Stet areasEpuenicent lg Seed acoa geht SA Ga AE NEE PSU LIRLI AE SREP Hoare saeat spk aeee cekueeatteert ote replicreirenerserresremenerteernedreanadnennbtetirss ; wie eltslte tecitel tal ths bite) tele tereelt abies Garten Parte soe eh, Hee nas na ST 46 Felicia’s Folks And he’s a diverting little creature, I will say. 1 was down there yesterday, and I had to laugh at hin, sit- ting on one of the trunks, pecking at the brass tag. Mr. Wadleigh’s all taken up with him, already. Tells passengers to watch out when they get to Blackberry Hill station. Mrs. Harlow says Jack wouldn’t last twenty-four hours if she gave him half the food folks offer. He rides around on her shoulder considerable, and caws kind of under his breath.” “Tisn’t as if a crow had brains and could tall, like Martin,” persisted Mrs. Cope. ‘Oh, you needn’t smile like that. I know it took me some time to see all Mar- tin’s good points—but I always knew he was smart, from the very first. I call it a poor step they’ve taken, to adopt a crow, even if he is tame, and I shouldn't want anybody’s cast-off birds, I must say.” She departed with dignity, quite unconvinced, and the next day she set forth on a pilgrimage to the sta- tion in a most unyielding frame of mind. But Jack, all unconscious of her enmity, turned it into friendship before she had sat for more than two minutes in the Harlows’ living-room. She had looked severely at the bird, who was on the edge of Mrs. Harlow’s work- basket, when she entered. “He’s got his eye on that spool of red silk,” she said, as she removed her coat and gloves. She was gazing at him so sternly that she did not notice something which happened as she handed her coat to Mrs. Harlow. But Jack saw it; a round et ee ee Lat ee Wee eet a rea arnarsThe Floral Decorator 47 button, its thread severed by Mrs. Cope’s energy, slipped with a little clink to the floor, rolled over on its back and lay still. Jack left the basket and hopped over to it where it lay close to the lounge, behind the visitor. It was not an especially attractive button, black to be sure, his own color, but without luster. He decided that it was not a treasure trove for him. Just what he thought will never be known, but a mo- ment later Mrs. Cope was startled by a sudden addi- tion to the weight of her bonnet, and down over her nose, to her lap, rolled the button. “ Well, I never!” she cried, and at the sound Jack escended from her bonnet to her knee. “ Did that come off, and did you pick it up and give it back to me?” Jack stared at her with unwinking brightness. Mrs. Cope laughed and put out a cautious finger to stroke his feathers. “Well, there! I suppose Ill have to give right in to you, first thing,” she said. “I wonder if you knew how I felt toward you. I had forgotten that button was loose, though I noticed it last time I had the coat on. Well, I must say you’re smart for a crow, or most any bird. Now, supposing you get off my lap and I won’t say another word against you.” She raised her knees in such a decided way that Jack found his perch a sliding one, and hopped down to the floor, well satisfied. “T suppose likely he trails round after WinifredaeaSSE DRAB GCMEIALD Nhe LlcshaaAESAA aC Jar ALi oa EMS ase GAL hes teal aati etamtataccrot Taraneh? pois 9h /5G7' bs sAd ta shh eat bar auMarsas oat PhL dhedas iat ute oak both Seat she te tks if TARRALcAeRALE LE LEMMA MMOlEaLne ae Ear 48 Felicia’s Folks every minute she’s out of school,” said Mrs. Cope; “but there’s one thing she’ll have to make up her mind to, whether or no; I can’t have him ’round when we’re laying out the grounds for the new library, planting seeds and setting out bushes, for he’d make extra work for us, sure as this world; he’s a crow, if he is smarter than most.” “Oh, she won’t expect to have him with her then,” said Mrs. Harlow; “I'll keep him with me; he likes his home here real well, so far as we can judge. I expect the Faunce boy’ll be coming over to-morrow to see how he’s getting on.” “That boy takes ’most too much on himself,” said Mrs. Cope dubiously. “ What do you think of his going right ahead and talking to strangers about our Blackberry Hill affairs, and ordering seeds and so on without consulting anybody ? Seems kind of forward to me, though he appears all polite enough when you talk to him. Do you favor this bag idea he’s put in Felicia’s head and Winifred’s? I didn’t know but what if you thought ’twas a good notion | might sug- gest to Felicia that we set apart a space in the garden at the library for that sweet-smelling collection of hers ‘ Ds ly <£ when she gets it, over and above what she wants eep right in the parsonage garden, or give away. to My stars! that child would give away everything she has if there wasn’t somebody to caution her now and then. What do you say ?” Mrs. Harlow, to whom the little girls had confided Pa Sede n> Broth eR wee ail mea pt > Mage ECR Bg, Wire Pe We ao re ee A Ay cate eps ae tenonLhe Floral Decorator 49 their wishes and Gilbert’s, kept back her inclination to smile, seemed to be considering the matter carefully, and spoke after a moment’s silence. “Why, I should call it a first-rate idea,” she said, slowly. “It’s a good thing to get that boy interested in something beside himself, with all the money he has that he’s bound to spend some way. I was thinking the other night, ‘In case Lyddy Cope speaks to me, I’m going to make a suggestion’—if you don’t like it, no harm’s done. Didn’t you or somebody tell me the ground’s to be laid out with paths running different ways ?” “That’s the plan,” said Mrs. Cope; “smallish plots, some for flowers, some for shrubs, one or two for little evergreen trees, and if you'll believe me, Henry Fos- dick is set on planting one o’ those gnarly stunted Japanese things in one spot. And round the whole, instead of a fence, there is to be a barberry hedge, with a pine tree set each side of the main path open- ing, instead of a gate. How do you suppose it’ll look ? ” “Sounds pretty to me,” said the station-mistress, “real pretty ; sounds like a description of some of the pictures of gardens in these outdoor magazines. I don’t know why we shouldn’t keep up to the times in such ways as well as others,” she added with a side glance at her guest. She had touched the right spring, as well she knew. Mrs. Cope rose, and began to put on her coat. ete Pereislete treater steers pated strsnattatt tel ttaer EcTestent Yraveayeatatt csespeatt pratt Nso¥e Meenodgets a ee tedry rape toate Me NEMMRE Meats Meansease esp enicniat cc ch LABS GPSGOHUE MR SAcAML AES MSROSAPAL Pas vLcseAALOAGeSLSecstdetaadasieaseetoResseuamatrorceteeter iu aes seitepliyhieirensosrerreustentes trad esienineinbteds Pale sate te one ent ong acetate Gee ShcTR rete My _aLsndsadaeeanaleescsalialuan er eT et 50 Felicia’s Folks “It’s most train time, so you'll be busy,” she said, “and if I hurry I'll most likely catch Felicia and Winifred together coming home from school, and | can have a talk with them,and Miss Shaw, too. Good- day to you—and to you,” she added, addressing Jack, who was once more regarding the spool of red silk with an appreciative gaze; “ you keep on behaving as well as you’ve done to-day, and J] shan’t have any fault to find, though if you were my bird I’d put that spool out o’ your sight.” It is needless to say that she had no trouble in per- suading Felicia that her plan was a good one. As for Winifred, she squeezed Felicia’s hand which she was swinging when they met Mrs. Cope, until Felicia was almost ready to ery for mercy. Pedro, who had been awaiting Felicia’s return, sat swishing his tail back and forth over the short grass and giving little joyous barks now and then. “You understand no pets can be allowed to stray ‘round those flower beds,” said Mrs. Cope with a glance at Pedro, who rose and put a paw upon her skirt as far as he could reach. ‘“ No, sir, not you, though you’re a good little dog; but we can’t have you digging for oOo 7 bones, nor we can’t have any birds picking seeds out of the ground soon as we get them fairly planted. We'll all have to make some sacrifices,” she added mildly. “T shan’t be able to consider my rheumatism nor favor my knees as I’ve been in the habit of doing, in such an office as I’ve accepted.” hie Ree oe ee eeeer Lhe Floral Decorator 51 “We'll do all we can to help,” said Felicia eagerly, and Mrs. Cope smiled graciously. “T expect you will, both of you,” she said, “ but of course the brunt of the work and responsibility will come on me.” She parted from them in good spirits, and after the two little friends had congratulated themselves on the success of their plans they talked of the band rehearsal which they were invited to attend on Saturday even- ing. elPeTHt Tear ee teres eetene ti tnetp eter eget ota err aT Neeser ff * ott “If Gilbert Faunce should come over to-morrow afternoon, father said I might invite him to go to the rehearsal, too,” said Felicia. “They’ve set the time early on our account, you know, at seven o’clock, and father said Gilbert could telephone down to the Junc- tion and have the message repeated to his house, if he wished to stay, that is if his father or any one would be worried about him. The boys all want to see Gilbert.” “JT suppose the band rehearsal would not sound as well to him as it will to us, perhaps,” said Winifred, “because he’s heard so much music, and he seems to know a good deal about it, but I don’t believe he could play any better than our boys do on the cornet. Why, sometimes when Donald French is practicing, if there’s a little wind blowing from this direction, mother and I can hear him as plainly! It sounds just as solemn as anything you ever heard, and it echoes round the hills, all 2v00-00-y—you know how.” “Indeed I do,” said Felicia; now that spring wasSic shaDKconeas Ug sats acaGeALS MAPS GaNE SLES 2SAcsMEa NES aS oMGaAE JuzehLeSbesL ak ALabeed Lecueietacae ete abe se ans ret ah ties Slat eths Sista et eat bar seco ant ee Loe Tae at seat ah oahishirar iarcans aco eer ier see tan eRe TERE. CiclaLbabaddeaiaabealeneapsuetihe tases 52 Felicia’s Folks coming on, and w indows were sometimes left open, there were a good many sounds wafted out on the air which had never been heard before, and which some of the residents found rather hard to endure “But I calculate we’ve lived th mohigh the worst of Mr. Hilliard remarked to Mr. Lane one night, as they listened together to the wails and blasts which rose from the village to the hilltop. “Ned has got a pur- chase on his instrument now, and as his mother says, if you use a little imagination you can tell what he’s play- in ing pretty nearly half the time. I can’t say quite as + much for the other boys, but they’re improving. “So are mine,” said Mr. French hopefully. “I ex- pect to be fairly prot id of them when Memorial Day comes. Think of having a procession in Blackberry Hill after all these years! We'll all have to march, I sake it 1.” All the fathers and mothers were invited to the Saturday night rehearsal for the first time, and as the hour drew near there was considerable excitement over the prospect, among both the elders and the young peo- ple. Gilbert Faunce arrived in town early in the after- noon, and received his invitation. He laughed over the suggestion of the telephone message. Father won’t be home till late,” he said, “and there’s nobody else to care where I am. [I'll be de- lighted to stay.” He was invited to the parsonage for tea, and Wini fred was also asked. In the late afternoon, when Jack Sn ee a area areThe Floral Decorator 53 and Pedro had both been inspected and approved, there was an exhilarating ride in the automobile, with Mr. Fosdick between the two little girls on the back seat and Gilbert with Hurley, his young Irish chauffeur, in front. “The inn’s open now, so you can get a good supper,” Gilbert said to the young Irishman. “I wouldn’t mind if I didn’t, sir,’ Hurley answered him. “To hear them two little friends of yours say ‘Thank you,’ when they get out of the machine, and see the dimples in them two little faces, is supper enough for me any night—considering there’s always a bite ready for me when we get home, sir,” he added with @ broad smile.LioraLianedadaidainalesearsuStata tea ac UBD MEMS eases Getietaaatateetet esa einviertaednetaty at Par suing FON Say ae Tet a hee Ft perpen DURE SEEN PAMPER SPAN 002 he She aac oN CHAPTER VI THE REHEARSAL Tuer band rehearsal was one of the most successfu entertainments ever given at the town hall in Black- without a Iew berry Hill. Not that it went off hitches. or that the audience found no room for criti- cism ; but the spirit of the evening was that of friendl1- ness and encouragement. {ven Nate Horner felt that. “T know just how wobbly I sounded,” he said to Miss . l- TXT we 1 r Shaw. “but when I looked down at Mrs. Cope, expect- MOLL } ] ing to find her face all screwed up, there she was, look- p= ing as pleasant as pie! I guess ’twas a good thing we invited her to come with you.” “Of course it was, Nate,” said Miss Shaw, “and just think how many good times Mrs. Cope has given us all at her house. She’s beginning to feel acquainted with all you young people, and she’s pre ud of you as she can be, whenever you do anything well. You should have heard her the other day calling the attention of some one from Green Corners to the fireplace motto you made for the parsonage ; if you’d been her own boy she couldn’t have had more pride in her voice.” “That motto isn’t much,” said Nate huskily, but his face was crimson. “TI guess Ill go speak to Mrs. Cope how, and tell her I’ll do better when Memorial Day 54The Rehearsal 55 comes. No, I can’t, for there’s Mr. Lane rapping to 10W intermission’s over.” The performers had taken their seats on the platform and the minister was about to raise his baton when there was a stir at the back of the hall, and walking deliberately up the aisle between the rows of benches on which the friends and relatives of the band were seated, came Willard Slocum, his loose-jointed figure clad in a plaid ulster and his lips pursed as if to whistle, though no sound came from them. He had a lean, freckled face, a large nose, sharp, small eyes and a shock of light red hair through which he had evidently un his fingers by way of making a toilet before he hy stepped into the hall. “Excuse me,” he said as Mr. Lane turned with an in- quiring glance after his “ good-evening,” as the young man reached the platform ; “‘ Miss Kingman would have it that I must bring you this letter,” and he delivered an old yellow envelope into the minister’s outstretched hand; “and she said I’d got to wait till you’d read 1t, and then act according. You understand it’s nothing to me, whichever way ; it’s all her doings. Howd’ do, Ned; how d@’ do, Donald,” and with a negligent air as of one wholly detached from his surroundings, Willard Slocum seated himself on the front bench, placed his hands in the pockets of the plaid ulster, and leaning his head as far back as it was possible for a head to go, he gazed at the ceiling, his lips again pursed as for a whistle.ter eegrecyet htt iostelarebr epterneiorprigesteiotgb ine rineinpiedteinssniapie ae isthe sist REPEL Sag AEDES ALES 48 ta 34 baebhes eas rakcyec 30; oad thas sig 3 baat i she ateas ate Se agente Felicia’s Folks Mr. Lane opened the yellow envelope and drew from it a half sheet of ruled paper, of evident age “To the minister,” he read. “If you want some good drum playing in that band of yours, you get Willard Slocum to do it. He can go to rehearsals same as the others, and he’s not much older than they are. Do as you please about it. “RR. KINGMAN.” “Why, we should be delighted to have you join the band,” said Mr. Lane cordially. “ I wish we had known of it before ; Jack is our only drummer, and he’ll glad enough to have a companion, won’t you, Jack ?” Jack French asserted with most convincing earnest- ness that he should be only too glad to have assistance Then with a unanimous vote Willard Slocum was made a member of the band. “ We'll go on with the rehearsal now,” said Mr. Lane, 1 next time we’ll ask you to join us, Willard.” “ All right,” said the young man carelessly, but he removed his gaze from the ceiling, and rising, divested himself of the plaid ulster which he laid over the back of the bench, and reseating himself, folded his arms and prepared to listen. “That’s the fellow Hurley says is such a good mimic,” Gilbert told Felicia; “he says he can make himself look like any one he chooses : he has enter- tained Hurley and some of the others with imitationsLhe Rehearsal 57 of Miss Kingman, but Hurley says he won’t mimic her any more ; he says she’s been ‘kind 0’ good’ to him.” “T like that in him,” said Felicia warmly, and then as the band began to play again she could not say any more. “IT wish you had your drum here, so I might hear you play on it,” said Mr. Lane as he stood with Willard and Jack when the rehearsal was over and the other boys were talking to Gilbert or looking at him from the edge of the group gathered around Felicia and her guests. “Pve got it out there,” said the young man, jerking a thumb over his shoulder toward the rear of the hall ; “she made me bring it. She likes to hear it ; I don’t know why, but she does.” “Let us hear it,” said Mr. Lane, and the three walked quietly and unnoticed down the hall and out into the lobby. They closed the door, but a moment later it was opened from the inside and framed in the doorway stood Mr. Topham and Mr. Fosdick, with a solidly packed background made up of the rest of the audience. For Willard Slocum, slinging the strap over his shoulder with a practiced air, and saying only, “ Here’s something father taught me ; he was acrack drummer,” Jaunched out into such an elaborate arrangement of rat-tat-toos, as caused his listeners to gape with amaze- ment. “My powers!” gasped Mr. Fosdick, breaking off in the midst of a sentence to Mr. Hilliard, “ who’s that eI AEA AI SIE IO YORE AE EOI SERIE IE SILI T aoe GB GAR Ge RAR AHORA OE ESOSSE abanlaohGgh'y Shed acsaa EL? aA GANG DTT GshcakLa ME MES MAMEJeag tas Shes a ELan oietniateeetOt Part ar syitep hit leper ce tertqustanten tad einai: ™ 58 Felicia’s Folks got hold o’ the drum-sticks ? Here, let me get to that door!” Willard Slocum was not one whit dismayed by the gathering audience, and neither did he pay the least at- tention to them. His eyes were bent on the old drum, and the way in which he played it was a revelation to the listeners. At last, after a wonderful roll which be- gan faintly, grew to an almost deafening sound and then died away into silence, he unslung the drum, and as he set it down on the floor, glanced at Mr. Topham, whom he knew best of the group in the doorway. “T’m kind of out of practice,” he said apologetically, “but I guess maybe I can work up to the standard by the next rehearsal, so | won’t keep the others back.” Mr. Fosdick pressed forward, holding out his hand, > and behind him came a stream of excited boys, all eager to see the drummer, as if he must be changed in some subtle way from the tall, awkward young man who had sat on the front bench listening to their performance of “The Stars and Stripes.” “You’re welcome to our midst,” said Mr. Fosdick, shaking with vigor the long fingers clasped in his; “and you’re a credit to the father that taught you, and the town that you’ve come to live in. There are some that think I have considerable of a knack with the clap- pers, but that’s just a trick. This work o’ yours is what I should call artistic.” The boys drew closer, and as Mr. Fosdick stepped back, they plied Willard with questions, which he an.The Rehearsal 59 swered nonchalantly for a few moments, then picking up the drum, he started for the door. “She'll be looking for me,” he said by way of good- night, and vanished into the darkness. “ Gilbert,” said Felicia, as they all walked back to the parsonage where Hurley and the automobile were waiting, ‘you see how it is here in Blackberry Hill; every one has a wonderful talent. There’s Bobby’s voice, and Mr. Topham’s whistle, and Mrs. Cope’s sil- houettes, and Mrs. Topham’s cooking, and father’s preaching, and Nate MHorner’s illuminating. Oh, everybody has something; one of Winifred’s talents is making all kinds of animals like her, and do just as she wants them to do.” “You haven’t mentioned your own, I notice,” said Gilbert. “Tm not just sure what it is,” laughed Felicia, “for I’m afraid I don’t do anything quite well enough to call it a talent, though I like so many things. I wish it might be music, some day, but perhaps it never will.” ‘You have a better one than that,” said Gilbert, “but I shan’t tell you what it is.” He told Winifred a few minutes later, however, as he took her down to the station on his way home. “Of course you know what her talent is,” said Gil- bert, after telling her the first part of the conversation. ‘“Tt’s the very best one any girl could have—the talent for making a solid friend out of every man, woman and child who knows her.” Beare nnnes edpe eer emittance te : Nar tet Ghh’ Light Dag ch ott eth! partite " " Peay one eee? id a — - ———— A . NCPSEESA PS NISER SODA CD NINA a PNA IE PACPNC Sts SE Ene acd vneNG AGING FD ACHAA HALO A SLING MLEMG aa eLI MES ASK OPAL Thee sucsheaL onrALal te crecoa arate 60 Felicia’s Folks Winifred looked at him shrewdly through the dark- ness. “Why wouldn’t it be a good talent for a boy to have ?” she inquired. “T don’t know,” said Gilbert frowning thought- ully ; “it might, perhaps—but ’twould be an awfully hard one for me to cultivate,” he added frankly. “1 don’t like people well enough to bother with most of them. Here we are at the station.” “I can tell you one thing,” said Winifred, her head on one side as she paused for a moment on the platform; “the more you ‘bother’ with them the nicer you'll be. I wouldn’t let a girl get so far ahead of me in anything if I were a boy! Good- nicht.” And with that parting shot Winifred opened the door of the living-room and closed it behind her, while Gilbert, whistling under his breath, got into the car again and ordered Hurley to “let her go, and get home as soon as possible.” “T suppose,” he said to himself with a short laugh, “that I didn’t talk enough with those boys to suit her, but I hadn’t anything to say to them. They didn’t play well, except that drummer, so I couldn’t compli- ment them. And they stood around, looking so green. Oh, well, I suppose there are things I might have said,” admitted Gilbert to himself; “next time I’ll have to do it. I can stand Winifred’s scoldings, but Mr. Lane and Felicia mustn’t be disappointed in me. I know whatThe Rehearsal 61 Pll do—Ill ask every one of them over to our place to spend a day, when the roses are in bloom.” The frown cleared away, and he shouted to Hurley, above the whir of the machine. “You needn’t speed any more, Hurley,” he said; “slow upa bit and tell me how you got on at the inn 99 Peeve jetawatete vaste. tear? fas senéindmiininaiaatstsceStziciude ae Papebervsdgeiseeetaft-ie ing vty tebtedt ti eatearatn eaterneicvpr pest etgrigybivtgrbteiepinutedn singe ae eet oat SMS H eptelsrernumtei-e rreteenagesebiets rod a Uetnrtireesersy Ch iehce epee iti tee CHAPTER VII VORK AND DIPLOMACY THE next few weeks were packed full of interest and excitement for the children of Blackberry Hill. It was a most obliging spring; the mud dried with sur- prising quickness, as if it knew how many long walks were to be taken over the roads by young and old. In the woods the trilliums and arbutus showed their lovely heads earlier than for many vears before. ] lovely heads earlier than for many years before. The floral decorator’s assistants, with Miss Shaw. made many a pilgrimage for the little wild things springing up from the black leaf mold, and took many charming sprays and garlands to the schoolhouse for its decora ion. Meanwhile the boys scoured the roadsides and vood-lots for small evergreens, with Mr. Fosdick and ur. Gregg as occasional companions. The former her- mit knew trees better than people, as he had studied them constantly during his years of seclusion, and he was a great help to the boys. He hada way of ram- bling on about the habits of the different trees which made them seem almost like human beings. Once or twice he accompanied Miss Shaw and the little girls, and they found his talk most fascinating. On Topham Farm Bobby « 62 ,* uscovered some young firWork and Diplomacy 63 balsams, straight and sturdy, and two of these were chosen for the sentinels to stand at each side of the entrance to the library grounds. In order that the entrance might be sutliciently dignified Mr. Fosdick submitted a plan to which the directors promptly agreed. “Just because the post-office door is front, and the library grounds back, there’s no reason why they should look as if they were back,” said Mr. Fosdick with emphasis. “ We’ve got to build a new flight o’ stairs anyway. Now what I propose is to have them turn toward the back, and build in a kind of vestibule porch, with a door, so’s to make it appear as if the library and post-office were entirely separate. But there could also be a door into the post-office from the vestibule porch, as well as outdoors, so folks could step in and get their mail when it arrived and carry it up- stairs to read, if they were spending the afternoon, say.” There were two good carpenters in the little town, and they offered to give their labor for the desired changes. When Arbor Day dawned, soft and smiling, with a fleckless sky, the new door was finished, hand- somely paneled and further beautified by two old bull’s-eye glasses at its top. “They'll let the light shine out from that lamp Mr. Ledyard’s contributed to hang in the vestibule,” said Mr. Fosdick, who had persuaded the Markhams to give the old bull’s-eye panes which he had discovered were in their possession. “ And Mr. Ledyard writes thattie PACH MN NaI MenaNLnadsemMiaaar Asean eerie or i! Shiga iter ervtrieyis ake esutodt Ei oat serene: si pahs shasta Pak Det bansaEPaAbT eEPAL SALA. cat, TET ae Tee eaee mesa ahL tes Ot cae (RR ERE ay 2) Seer hedihiabiahaslanesesusteanetaee tere va 64 Felicia’s Folks little Ben’s gift is to be a lantern to hang from a great iron hook, outside, on all except bright moonlight nights. Seems real good to think of the little flier having a hand in it, and light is what he likes above all t hings Any stranger who had chanced to pass through Blackberry Hill that day at any time after eight o’clock in the morning m ight well have wondered what was going on. Instaad of being indoors, occupied with household duties, the women of the town were hurry- ing up and down the hill, carrying baskets, sometimes laden, sometimes empty and q uickly to be filled again. “We've got to get in all oe work we can this morn- ing,” said Mrs. Cope to. Mrs. Topham and Mrs. eG as they hung curtains, arranged sofa-cushions, beat furniture, put up hooks and lamp-brackets and hice pictures and engravings. “One _ session to-day, by order of the school board. That means there’ll be nineteen children here soon as they’ve swallowed their dinners, and I don’t know’s they'll even wait for that, some of them.” “When I saw Felicia and Winifred this morning,” sald Mr. Fosdick as he deposited an armful of books, “they weren’t what you could really call walking, they were kind o’ skimming over the ground’s if ‘twas air or something lighter. You don’t need to smell for dust in those books. Lyddy Cope. I’ve been over every one of ’em with a dampish cloth, and they’re clean as whistles.” The formal opening of the library, with invitationsWork and Diplomacy 65 sent out to friends and relatives in neighboring towns, was not to take place until June, but duri ing the month of May Blackberry Hill’s own people were to meet there once a week to furnish the lone room gradually, and as they saw fit. “Then when the visitors come it will be homelike caw won’t Mrs. Topham ?” Felicia had said to her first Blackberry Hill friend. “Just the way we'd like it to be.” “Tt. will, for erat? assented Mrs. Topham. “Long as you and Winifred will take a hearty luncheon to school, and go straight to the library from tied: ~ apposing you ow a couple of dusters in your basket. Vl reckon there'll be ae ty of books and things that wil iH Ho a soca thorough dusting before they’re put anywhere. Felicia assented ea gerly, but when she and Winifred rrived at the top of the new flight of stairs on the afternoon of the eventful day, w ie flushed cheeks and shining eyes, it seemed to them at first as if ther could be not a speck or grain of dust in such a place. The painting of the room had been kept for a surprise to Felicia, and she was full of delight when she saw it. “We consulted Mr. Ledyard about the colors for decorating it in the best, most appropriate, and suit- able style,” Mr. Fosdick told her. “And we consider the results are good as anybody need wish.” It was a charming room. All the old woodwork had been painted white ; the walls were tinted pale yellow, fi Vi petseeaeesh teogtnec se reat ote seotraeaty Vee este arr ‘ encesta NARS Nad a Meo ALE SA sG ARES MSRP MOAL he asec ake alesoeaddetaeg artes Pars seinen hierar shrerruate non rrireinne i She thee pei ar heh Pat hh tag os Mie ee tar day 342 H Peat sas es coneoateteontset ett i siosl aL scsabdaalaadanearnsbtshesei eats si 66 Felicia’s Folks and the bricks and tiles of the old fireplace had been scoured till they shone. Soft cream white curtains hung at the windows, the little panes of which gleamed and sent out sparkles in the spring sunshine. “Oh, Winifred, isn’t it lovely!” breathed Felicia with clasped hands. “Tt is.” said Winifred with a subdued air; “ but, ob, Felicia, that paint means the boys will have to be very careful about dirt—and you know what some of them are !”’ “ Don’t worry over that,” said Miss Ellen Markham, who had paused to hear the children’s comments ; “white paint shows every bit of dirt, to be sure, but it’s the easiest thing in the world to wash, and so are these painted walls; and if there’s going to be dirt, I like to see it and get rid of it. I’m coming one day every week to scrub. I love it,” said Miss Ellen with energy. “And you see this old floor hasn’ta bit of paint on it; Mr. Ledyard charged us to leave it Just as it was, after cleaning, and put down rag mats. That red and black one front of the fireplace mother made when she was a girl.” Every household had contributed a mat, and the old floor was gay with all the colors of the rainbow, blended years before, and softened by time. Round and oval they were, with one exception, an extra- ordinary square mat of green and brown with an old- goxd border, which lay in front of one of the long white bookcases.Work and Diplomacy 67 “Tf you'll believe me, Miss Kingman sent that,” Mrs. Cope told Mr. Fosdick. “Not a word with it, except, ‘Gift of Rh. Kingman.’ What do you suppose has come over her ?” “JT don’t suppose anything about it,” said Mr. Fosdick. “I know what’s come over her. It’s pride in that Slocum chap, that’s what. But if you ask me what *tis about him that pleases her so, why I can’t tell ye, ’less it is that he hasn’t wasted any more words than she has since he went there to work, I reckon. And some say he’s got a kind of a look like a brother of hers that died when he was about Willard’s age. The reason I think it may be so is because Mrs. Mark- ham says young Kingman died o’ lung disease, and I understand she’s given Willard a chest protector an’ two mufflers beside those mittens we heard of; seems to want to keep him warm. Mrs. Markham says the brother that died was the only living being Miss King- man ever appeared to set store by. Hullo, little girl, how does this strike you?” He had caught Felicia’s arm, and drawn her attention to the two stools on which they had sat on the day when he took Felicia to the “ Private Exhibition.” “Don’t they look kind 0’ cozy?” he inquired. “ Near together in front o’ that low book-shelf they have a kind of asociable air. Suppose you and Winifred were to try them, and see how they work.” The two little girls tried them, while Mr. Fosdick beamed approval. Then they tried the different win- Caeos Mus aetiiea inamilsee tbe tre See Net NASANS aD a ONL SA AG ACRE a Sed + aeheee rss Siok ca Tay eho hing eet ela eee fae tee Te ee cand delaalaastSUAeDMARC tee 68 Felicia’s Folks dow-seats, and a big chair drawn near the fireplace, which was roomy enough to hold them both comforta- bly. They were sitting in that when Mr. Fosdick, who had left the room, reappeared and beckoned to them. ‘The boys have arrived,” he said, “and Mrs. Cope is down there with them. You two F. D. A.’s had better come with me, before anything is done. I wan this thing carried out accordi ig to strict parliamentary rules, and it’s your place to be on the grounds now, we sitting in chairs as if this was ordinary play time.” e he dy uulled down his spectacles to look over them + his little friends with twinkling eyes, but before his entence was finished they had jumped from the chair, ian seized him by his hands. Winifred with her free hand tried to push the npectalas up into place, but Mr. Fosdick gave her a gentle shake. “Hands off, young lady,” he said as he withdrew his fingers from her grasp and adjusted the spectacles at the proper angle. “Some day you'll know what ’tis to need four eyes, and you won’t want outsiders tamper- ing with any one of ’em. You and Felicia go ahead, and I’ll come behind. I haven’t got used to these new stairs yet, and I have to pick my way. I knew all the bad boards in the old ones, but these seem so fair and steady I’m liable to get careless and go headlong.” When they reached the outer door, there stood the boys, with spades and hoes and wheelbarrows full of rich soil, while just outside the entrance was the Top- hams’ farm wagon with a load of small trees. Mrs.Work and Diplomacy 69 Cope was at the back of the wagon, talking with Bobby. “T shouldn’t call those birch trees a sensible choice,” she was saying as she caught sight of two little white birches; “they won’t thrive like the others, and be- sides I should advise all evergreen trees; otherwise you'll have bare, leafless branches when winter comes.” “There,” whispered Winifred to Felicia, “she’s be- gun!” But Felicia laughed softly. “See Mr. Fosdick,” she said. “ He’ll make it all right without one bit of trouble. Father says Mr. Fosdick is a real diplomatist, like the men who go to foreign courts, and keep all the different nations feel- ing pleasant with each other.” Mr. Fosdick had walked in a leisurely fashion out to the wagon and stood with his hands loosely clasped behind him, and on his face a smile which included Mrs. Cope, Bobby, and the wagon load. And when he spoke, it was as if he had not heard Mrs. Cope’s dis- paraging remarks. “JT want you to take special notice of a couple of little birch trees in there, Lyddy,” he said genially, “for'we got the idea of having them from the descrip- tion of the estate of one of these multi-millionaires. When I read about how their pale green stood out, ‘delicate but well defined against the background of pines ’—that’s the language of the article, not my own —and how the ‘graceful swaying branches made en- chanting shadows on the snow ’—quoting again—I was PUR eS CALE ee ea eee SSeS eae Gb Uf MCP hE Shs Ae aa eae oat see ag sersE aoe at MC cscead tar she c abeaL sca ag a teae chest Le CE rae Ee Teeve prneesesetay stounit suerte gine Menten? bee Ne: fear scope crest HeeVesetst nate seatshcssishtasepant ser hsalas eo ese PSL Yaa Me SeeaeeabesLdaesedslaadad ease aLseadun tee neterceteer 2 i a cakeanaktoareaee ee siete creas eee ate arenes tirhiiariani itty tonti Ts bee cach etht ake batons a.” seddbminahnlantaestiaa aa ete 70 Felicia’s Folks minded to consider that old birch back o’ your house, and how I’ve seen its little twigs shadowed out on the snow sunny days and moonlight nights, and I said to myself, ‘ We'll have two of those, whatever else we do or don’t have.’ ” Mrs. Cope looked sharply at him, but he was gazing with affection at the little birches, whistling under his breath. “ Well,” she said in a half-grudgin they’d do for an experiment.” “?*Oourse, that’s all any of these are,” said Mr. Fos- dick, nodding ; “ just experiments ; but I think they’re bound to come out well with all of us so interested in them. Now, Lyddy, suppose you set the little girls to tone, “‘ I suppose Y © ? work, and I'll tackle the boys. I shall want to borrow Felicia and Winifred for a few minutes when we get to ght *twould be a pretty notion to have them put into the ground by the two little girls. Of course the boys will do all the real work there is to it. You see being just two little girls and two little firs " Mr. Fosdick paused, and beamed at Mrs. Cope, who the sentinel fir trees, for we directors all thou looked over to her two assistants, bending over a basket of small shrub-like plants. “See them just teetering back and forth on their toes and heels,” said Mr. Fosdick. ‘“ Better set ’em to work, Lyddy. Nice little pair o’ children as any town could show, aren’t they ? ” “Yes, they are,” said Mrs. Cope, whose face had Saar ln near LeeWork and Diplomacy 71 cleared. “Those are artimesias, children,” she con- tinued, as she walked briskly across the grounds to Felicia and Winifred. “The first thing is to spread out our stock and see what we have to depend on, then mark the spots, dig suitable holes, have the two water- ing pots full and to hand, and an extra pail of water— then we can begin to set out.” It was after six o’clock when the gardening was done for the day. For the last hour Mrs. Cope had directed affairs from a wheelbarrow, her back having given out some time before that. Felicia’s back, when at last she straightened it up, seemed stiff and lame for a moment, and so did Winifred’s, but they forgot all about being tired when, with all the workers of the afternoon gathered to watch them, they bent to lift the little fir trees and set them in their appointed homes, to stand as sentinels. As soon as the trees were in place the boys shoveled earth around them with right good will. Then the boys broke into cheers and all the company joined them. ‘“ Winifred,” said Felicia, as the two friends walked down the hill together, tired bat happy, “ didn’t you feel very solemn when you lifted your fir tree ?” “Felicia,” said Winifred, “it was the very solemnest moment of my life. I almost cried, and I had a cold feeling run up and down my spine.” “So did I,” said Felicia. “But still, I wouldn’t have missed it, would you?” “Not for worlds!” said Winifred fervently.eT eee Sere een Bcgaessatsezbcshd Mt aSeeNbat her bhcSeaScosuetddeestasbaaile eacaetcate CHAPTER VIII GILBERT’S SURPRISE {rt seemed as if May must have known that year how anxious the good folk of Blackberry Hill were over the grounds of the new library, for never in the history of the little town had she treated them more generously. There was enough bright sun, and there were plenty of showers. Not a shrub died, and the flowers, for which room was left on Arbor Day, sprang up and grew so fast when once they were in the ground that they fairly caught up with some of the plants set out two weeks before them. “They are the gladdest fiowers I ever saw,” F ‘is. is : RE ee ‘ Rie veiiteaie’ ia Winifred one afternoon when the w atering-pots elicia told had been emptied and refilled many times. ‘ And, oh, Winifred, the lavender and lemon-verbenas that Gil- bert’s dear old lady sent are growing just as if they didn’t know but they were still in their old home in garden. Isn’t it lovely of them to doit?’ Winifred laughed, but she put her arm around Felicia at the same minute. “T don’t see how any plant could have the heart to do anything else, with you watching it and loving it every day,” she said. “Felicia, what do you suppose Gilbert’s surprise is that we’re to know day after to- rye) nee Seer tee ee a a eaGilbert’s § urprise 73 morrow ? I put a ribbon bow on Jack, the way Miss Loreena dresses up Martin, to see if I could make him handsomer than ever to show Gilbert, and he’s hidden it! Not in the place mother selected for his hoard either. I’ve decided that crows prefer to select their own hoarding places—and mother agrees with me. What do you suppose Gilbert’s surprise is ? ” “JT don’t know,” said Felicia; “it can’t be another bird, for we each have one now, and the flower garden is full, so it can’t be more plants. I don’t see what there is left unless it is something more for the library. Gilbert says his father is so interested about it he wants © come some day and see it for himself—not on the opening day—for Gilbert says his father doesn’t like crowds, and of course it will be pretty crowded that day, with people from Green Corners and everywhere. He wants to see it with just father and Mr. Fosdick and you and me, Winifred—think of that! I asked tilbert to let me look at his photograph of Mr. Faunce last week when he came.over, and I think he doesn’t look so very stern after all. You look at the picture real hard, and you can make it almost smiling.” “T can’t,” said Winifred. “I think he looks very severe, like Mrs. Cope when she’s displeased, only of course his features are all different from hers. Well, if he’s coming I wish it was over with, that’s all. Prob- ably I shall have a big spot somewhere on my clothes when he comes, and on the way home he will say, ‘Gilbert, my son, Felicia Lane is a friend of whom I ESR HE GSE ELE SEB Se HAUSE EG SIPS EAE ose aG CaaS SHEARS SERENE HATH ETE SEANE Briveecratt ser owegtata snort rena ee awaseus bos 6: Year! soaps spust sre Seateae seats feos cr rer 22 A ETO ore Oo ar a nee ae ea eee ee eee ese nse a in ee eee naa a ae a A aot AOL ar tay ha prea ere et MY AER ES Fah AR SAT AR, SNES SNSA agaE Lee Acaees Ease PAD aE Thee bas sea SEL HEaL Letaadintatasietaat tees Poe sephepiyH leptes Selterreuste ton rrabrsinnieniabie): " IL PaL OEP ee ake tad tac one cib ete (Pace ESE ate at i Poh itertt ye: 74 Felicia’s Folks approve, but let me hear no more talk of Winifred Har. low—a careless, untidy girl!’ ” Winifred had drawn her eyebrows together in a frown and made her voice as gruff as possible, so that Felicia laughed and laughed at her. “ Felicia!” cried Winifred. ‘“ You don’t suppose Mr. Faunce could be the surprise, do you? That would be too disappointing! ” “No, he can’t be the surprise,” said Felicia, “ for he must know from Gilbert that father is not at home till late Saturday afternoon, and he’d wish to see the li- brary by daylight. I hoped Gilbert could come over Monday for the Memorial Day service, but he can’t be- cause they are to have company. Just think what a vacation we’ll have, Winifred, three days in a row!” “T know it,” but Winifred looked rather sober; “Sunday and Monday will be almost like two Sundays, I think,” she said. “There’s church both days, and the band is to play slow march pieces, Ned Hilliard says. He took his instrument out to Topham Farm yesterday, and what do you suppose happened ? ” “T know,” said Felicia ; “ he left it on the grass and Jenkins broke his rope and played with it, and made a great dent in it.” Winifred giggled. “JT guess it will sound pretty queer after that,” she said. ‘“ He told me Jenkins dented it just where the tones need a lot of room to spread out. He put the tongs down as far as they’d go in it, to see if he couldSPAS PR ETE G24 TSE SSUES Be TENE 25, behisaaheneseeMent abc reet otic nc Gilbert’s Surprise 75 open them and press the brass out again, but he told me it was no use. I think Jenkins is a perfectly dread- ful goat, don’t you ?” “T don’t like him,” said Felicia decidedly. “ Mrs. Topham says he has his good points, but she’s never told me what they are. Oh, Winifred, I had a beauti- ful long letter from mother last night, and she sent her love to you, and said she’d like to see Jack.” “You give mine to her,” said Winifred. ‘“ Did she say when she’s coming home ?” “No,” and Felicia’s eyes grew wistful, “but she’s better and better all the time, Winifred; it can’t be so very long now before she’ll be strong enough to come. Sometimes it just seems as if I couldn’t wait another minute to see her. My family has been separated pretty long, I think.” When Saturday afternoon came, Miss Shaw and Felicia were down at the station, helping Winifred weed her cindery garden. They were all swathed in big aprons, but when they heard the toot of the Faunce horn the aprons were quickly slipped off, to disclose three pretty linen dresses, new and spotless. Miss Shaw’s was white, Felicia’s pink and Winifred’s blue. “Jt seemed as if this might be a very special occasion, father,” Felicia had said as she whirled around in the study for the minister’s approval. “ And we've all three just finished putting the braid on them—see, around the collar and cuffs—and our aprons come way if] SParreeSe MN srtoteneamh seananeanesoaae se neomedty Deateane Wosespe seatdisiahishediaaaidlabmaneEaa Steady saprtitedstiteatabare tears itera ine reteinpinaieiit sige vepphcirinhnerise iene sees pT oan shea Det bar sat iharsht sae D4Li gh cas. 3) en ih Paes ee reg teo tag eae cThekk (Hae Ske yE cha e 76 Felicia’s Folks down below them, and it’s such a beautiful day. Miss Shaw said she felt just the same.” Mr. Lane looked at his little daughter with a smile, and pinched her cheek. “T see exactly how it is,” he said. “I took one of my new handkerchiefs with the embroidered initial for very much the same reason; the spring is working her charm. We all feel it. I don’t know but I shall buy a new hat over at Green Corners.” They made a pretty group, the young teacher with her two pupils, waiting to welcome the guest, and Gilbert fully appreciated the fact. ‘““You’re just the very three people I want,” he said gaily as he shook hands with them. “Father has de- cided to stay at home for the next two weeks, and he has asked me to invite all the young people here to go over to our place a week from to-day, if it is pleasant, to spend the afternoon, have tea on the grounds and come home by moonlight. And I want you three to go with me this afternoon, please, to give the invitations. Now don’t sayno,”and he looked anxiously at Miss Shaw. “Tt sounds delightful,” she said, while Felicia and Winifred held their breaths; “but how could it be managed, Gilbert? It would take any Blackberry Hill horses five or six hours at least to travel the distance between us and Great Hemlocks—and then they’d be too tired out to come home the same day, I’m afraid. You see we don’t make long journeys from Blackberry Hill.” ye eet eeGilbert’s Surprise 77 “ She’s a real trump,” Gilbert told his father in re- peating the conversation. “ You’d have thought she’d been born and brought up in that dear little one-horse place and never expected to live anywhere else,” but what he said at the time was quite different. “That’s all arranged, if you'll only agree,” he an- swered quickly. “Two of my relatives have gone out to California for a month, and they’ve been visiting us and have left their big touring cars at our place. One of the chauffeurs is there, and one of our men can manage the other car all right. They'll hold eight apiece, and Hurley and I can take you three, and father says Mr. Ledyard is coming up here for two or three days next week—they met and had a talk the other day—with the little Kingman boy, and we want him to carry over Mr. Fosdick, and your father, Felicia, if he can get off from Green Corners. Don’t you think he could, for one afternoon ?” While Gilbert talked, Felicia and Winifred had stood clutching each other’s arms, their cheeks burning redder and redder. When Gilbert asked his question Felicia caught her breath with a little gasp. “Oh, I think so! I don’t know! Gilbert, would you just as soon say it all over again, a good deal slower ?” she begged. For not a week before, there had appeared in one of the daily newspapers sent up from the city an account of Great Hemlocks which made it seem a veritable Wonderland—a place suchas little Felicia had never seen, a Birtevesntar csrciitosat ic iapre eave we Crete. earl fez p pest ant estat este eNC MeN Fer actos Rearareer er tr)if 4 iM Sens PNHAEDAEOGD NE The Ma dac or a a4C Hee: se OEPabP NCC ah2 Sg Hae Muah tee 2c 2 aL Heo hke: ‘Srhereicltt tear hice cpherrescapr ages entsany rite pinata tobpte a sop envintnbnurrbbeteatrainy 78 Felicia’s Folks even in her dreams. The prospect of seeing it with her own eyes was almost too dazzling ; Felicia could scarcely believe in it, ready though she always was for new and unexpected pleasures. But Winifred’s mind was leaping on to the next Saturday. Already she saw herself seated in the automobile beside Felicia, being whirled over the ground, leaning back as elegantly as possible, with hands folded in her lap. Suddenly a dreadful thought came to her. “Gilbert,” she said in a tragic tone, breaking in on his repetition of the plans to Felicia, “I have nothing fit to wear! I tried to catch Jack yesterday when he was carrying off one of my pencils, and I fell against mother and the ironing board, and my best muslin that mother was pressing out for Memorial Day slid on to the stove and burnt a hole right in one of the most prominent places on the skirt. Felicia can go, and Miss Shaw, but I shall stay at home, and oh, dear! it doesn’t seem as if I could bear it!” “What in the world are you talking about ? ” asked Gilbert impatiently. “What’s the matter with that dress you have on? It’s pretty enough for any party, I should say.” “Tl wear this one of mine, Winifred, if father says I may go,” Felicia assured her, and Miss Shaw promised to wear her white one, so Winifred allowed herself to be comforted, and within five minutes her spirits were as high as ever. Sean nerves bre looms iene tree ee ee eee ere eeeeR abs Esispbtndtada alt Lenbtsial tedswinia deiteps debt oh take Lgsietodncbe be tie tein in fa phe tt Gilbert’s Surprise 79 “Tt’s all right, I suppose,” said Gilbert in a moment of confidence to Miss Shaw, “but I don’t see why Felicia couldn’t have worn that little muslin of hers that has the roses dropped all over it, if she wanted to. Miss Parks showed it to me the other day ; she’d just finished doing something to it when I went to the parsonage, and she said Felicia looks like one of the flowers herself when she has it on. She’s such a little lady, and I’d like my father to see her in it. Say, Miss Shaw, of course Winifred’s all right, but don’t you think Felicia gives up to her a bit too much ?” Miss Shaw laughed and shook her head. “Oh, no,” she said ; “ Winifred copies her in every way she can, and she’d do anything in the world for Felicia, just as Felicia would for her. Don’t you know how it is with friends, Gilbert ?” He looked at her doubtfully for a moment. “Not that kind,” he said slowly. “I wish I did. What kind of a boy is that Bobby Simpson, Miss Shaw ?” “He’s the very best sort of a boy,” said the young teacher heartily. “He is kind, and generous, and thoughtful; and he’s full of music as he can be. He’s not much of a talker, to be sure, but I think you’d like him for a friend, Gilbert, if you knew him well.” “Tt’s such a bother to get acquainted with people,” said the boy frowning; “but I’m bound to try for it with him, to please Mr. Lane and Felicia—and you,” he added, with a little bow to Miss Shaw. a shlgltaliadiainad a ar ere RN IOI BES ac poke Unb eor pk REA Se SEPA BS Oo Rar a ETPoe scence Tae et roa ea teat HScsbcdSca SES ASuzsid aE Toe Shc Soe5 ashe Staak aoeaabastdegsattaates cottadsas ttatesnaascaeanns n aoe is 4 coh Tee pT Me per sepiereesmenten trad eeinage Wy Parbhe see eget pate she she the tan etc eee 4 80 Felicia’s Folbs “You didn’t have any bother making friends with them,” she said smiling at his sober face. “Oh, they’re different from anybody else,” said Gil- bert quickly. “Why, Miss Shaw, when I went there that first time, to find Pedro, I acted like a perfect cub! And they—why they made me so ashamed of myself, and yet so glad, that I’ve never got over it yet. }’ve told my father all about it, and that’s why he’s $0 anxious to see them. Usually—usually I have a fretty good opinion of myself, father thinks,” he said frankly, eae a little gulp; “but I don’t when I’m with the Lanes, I can tell you; and yet they say the uicest kind of things to me—you know w hat I mean.” ‘“T know,” and Miss Shaw nodded. “It’s the Lane way. And Felicia’s mother must be lovely. I hope so much she will come home this summer. Felicia has a good many lonesome times for all her pretty smiling ways ; she misses her mother every day.” Gilbert opened his eyes very wide “Does she?” he asked in a wondering tone. “She always seems so happy. Look at her now coming out of the door with Winifred.” But Miss Shaw only smiled by way of answer. She knew that Felicia was a sunny-tempered, happy little girl, but she had also, watching her with loving eyes, seen many things which had quite escaped Gilbert. She had seen the corners of Felicia’s sensit ive mouth tremble, and then settle into determined firmne ss many a time when Winifred flung herself into her mother’sGilbert’s S&S: urprise 8i arms, and poured out the story of some good time or pleasant news. Winifred had never seen it, for when she turned a to her friend, Felicia’s smile was al- Ny TAY Ss fr ead Galant * waited at the parsonage to make sure of Mr. Lane’s consent to the pla 1 that afternoon, when all the other invitations had been pie en and provisionally ac- cepted. “You see how it is, sir,” said the boy; “everything depends on your approval. You won’t fail father and me, will you?” rt? I think it would be delightful to go,” said Mr. Lane after a moment’s thought; “so delightful that I believe I shane turn my Green Corners class over to a young man who has offered to take it for me at 1y time when I wished to go elsewhere. I should eo to meet your father and see your beautiful home, Gilbert, and I enjoy above all things being included with the young people in any of their pleasures.” : cae all say they have their best times with you, BTN ERA SSPE RENTER ESB EBEDS REED EPO PECEG YT WE SSE BEPIGT PSE DN RE PREG NESE DS ESGTERD GORE TUCS PS GUIS LDS UIT DUE SEST AGS CORRS GuuR UEC ES (74 eiseone seeigg seam onersoeat num ses see Sse Seat evtareseeat rosters yesnadtana sean atety Venlestean> feape sbaveseaVesboMnitaia eases ag ebcst 7) HY al sir,” — 2 boy; “then I may tell father it’s all right. ‘There’s a little extra surprise for that after- noon. I thon perhaps I wouldn’t tell even Felicia. It’s 7 The minister held up a warning hand. “Then don’t tell me,” he said in mock alarm; “ let me be one of the children for that day. You’ve no idea how hard it is not to tell things to Felicia! She seems to know by instinct when one has a secret, andaE sh] aD i eSSuaepsceend ie aca SeSaGrAdrUMeSgseaHUd uc SNcaSED IL ft? rece eas ihaG LE satt tals carts oe gt rs na 4 dkihia Shc ha satshe dscah dotaaals tibacanila4es astida sa tadhadacatamaat co ealaiemmaneaeRERe AERC Ce 82 Felicia’s Foles though she doesn’t really tease to know it, her face has the expression, and her eyes have the look of one who is ready and eager for confidences. Better not tell “All right, sir,’ and Gilbert shook hands with the minister, just as Felicia put her head im at the study ‘Is everything settled ?” she asked. ‘Oh, I see it is, just by looking at you! I wish Winifred could know it to-night, to sleep on!” “Vl telephone her from the post-office on my way ‘“ ‘ home,” said Gilbert. “ Anything to make you com- a » Y fortable, Felicia ! ’ So it happened that while Winifred was eating 5 blackberry jam, her mother called her to the tele phone. “Yes,” said Winifred’s excited voice in answer to the voice from the post-office. ‘ Yes—o-o-oh ! goody, goody! Yes! good-bye. “ Now, mother,” she said as she turned away from the telephone, “let’s put my dress away in the top drawer, done up in tissue paper, till next Saturday. Jack Harlow, you get right away from my napkin- ring, and my blackberry jam. I don’t know but I'll give you just a taste, after all, for you are not invited to the party!” “T’m glad you’re going to that place of the Faunces’, Winifred,” said Mrs. Harlow a little while after. “I suppose likely you may meet other young folks, Gil-Gilberz’s Surprise 83 bert’s friends—the kind you met when you stayed with Mrs. Hargate, rich folk’s children. You liked some of those you saw in the city, didn’t you?” There was nothing in her tone to disturb Winifred, and her face was turned away. If the little girl had seen the anxious look in the kind eyes, she might have answered the question differently. “T liked them ever so much,” she said with enthu- siasm. “They were so pretty, and they wore such beautiful clothes, and they knew how to dance and do all sorts of things. Mrs. Hargate asked me once if I didn’t think children in the city could have as good times as those in the country, and I told her I thought they could, only different kinds of times.” “You liked the city, didn’t you?” asked Mrs. Har- low quietly. “T loved it all the while I was there,” said Winifred. “The lights at night, and the automobiles, and all the entertainments, and the lovely warm houses!” “We're pretty warm here,” said Mrs. Harlow. “ But of course this isn’t like a real house.” “Of course not,” said Winifred; “how they laughed when I told them where I lived!” “Tt is a funny place,” said Mrs. Harlow. “ But— there’s the telephone ringing again. I'll see to it this time. You do your studying, dear.” It was a telephone message about a matter connected with railroad business, and it was some minutes before Mrs. Harlow was ready to sit down again. She looked tlie ais ede adele tlie issinL dns fab tacesonia lelaLon binefs asielgabecsaincbeboisoies tine boat bitete her aon et Ae Re Meee ee 84 Felicia’s Folks at the little fair head bent over the big atlas, and her eyes held their anxious look again. “T’d rather be sure before I say anything more,” thought Mrs. Harlow. “I’m going to wait a little; I have a right to do that, | guess. At any rate, I shall do it.” Winifred looked up from the atlas, her eyes blinking in the lamplight. “Ts there anything the matter, mother?” she asked. ‘ What makes you look at me that way ?” “T’ve got to fix your hair ribbons to-morrow,” said Mrs. Harlow; “iron them out well; they look really mussed up.” Pa HINIRMUM A Gus ce Gis re ieabe! Lk re | dhe fee , Hes ADCS Ese SRESAOSAIN ue Mea eS dues dpcaata aaa eames tiaccoamee oe el toatl eCee toa taLoer Eeearwc ls eee tT Pi Ped PheD Ses eB 2962945 She bear INg 2h 4 A Paae sie thee Peeie soe tee) eae aan nayCHAPTER IX MEMORIAL DAY MermorraL Day was beautiful. The procession formed at the church, after a short address from Mr. Lane, and in its ranks were included all the men and boys of the village. Just behind the band was an open carriage drawn by the livery stable horse and filled with flowers; the gardens of Blackberry Hill had yielded up all their blossoms, that no grave in all the cemetery, no matter how small or obscure, should be without a flower on that day. “For there’s more than one kind of hero, as the minister says,” remarked Mr. Fosdick. ‘“ And all those quiet folks lying in there, no matter whether they died before the country’s trouble, or during the time of it, or afterward, they had things of their own to bear, and nobody could do it for ’ children and babies, and ’twould be queer folks that wouldn’t want to lay a flower front o’ their little head- stones, any time there’s a chance.” “Wasn't it a good idea of the minister and Mrs. Cope having that carriage and the livery stable horse ?” said Mr. Topham as they plodded up the last rise to the little graveyard on a hillside with its background of tall old pines. “He seems to feel the occasion, the way he’s stepping. : et 85 ePaGeS FPA SPaMT RE OnE tT nEEPURT SET SOTSEDNT EC DEESEO 1 SOONER CDE SODAE SNE HEDUT BROT POP STE NEI SOME DME OUENGTRD LESTE SPSRU REE SESE STALE LUGR TERIAL TASTE PTAC SNP IG CEC SRE Ge Sai Gian es MelraPen se eG Eoea theta gcetees git aap aeeSeeattc tee sy,isco ARO ARIES ABAS CA Sie asSGeaeH a shedeca NEDA SeesAdaE DoegShcsees aouetda a dstansde asset a tette eat Preane teas iLan Seeetrta ose trees ge 7 rg 3h ay ag kag 3 reba ahe ian 074 86 Felicia’s Folks “As to that,” said Mr. Fosdick, “you aren’t as well acquainted with his gait as some of us; he’s got what you might call a procession step for all times. But he looks real dignified, I will say, and his trappings are most like silver. The boys all took a hand at them, and I understand Willard Slocum finished up the pol- ish. I don’t know why he isn’t with the band to-day. Nate’, Horner says he’s got an arm that works just like one 0’ these great iron rods you see in engine rooms where there’s big machinery set in motion. Nate seems all taken up with his talents. I guess they’ll be pretty good friends. Hear the band, will you? Don’t they do that ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ first-rate ? There’s a real go toit. I could ’most march to battle behind that tune, peaceable as I am.” The women of the village were already in the ceme- tery when the procession arrived, and they helped with the distribution of the flowers. Mrs. Cope directed her two floral assistants with what all her friends and neighbors agreed was excellent judgment. When all the graves had been decorated the company gathered under one of the great trees which were scattered here and there through the cemetery, and sang a hymn to- gether, the boys playing their very best. ‘¢Through the night of doubt and sorrow, Onward goes the pilgrim band, Singing songs of expectation, Marching to the promised land.”’Memorial Day 85 / “My, but that’s a heartening sound,” said Miss Lo- reena Parks as she stood behind Felicia. “I haven’t the gift of song, as you know, but I can feel the rush of it just the same as if I took part, seems to me. And the boys are going to march off playing it; now isn’t that good? I suppose you'll be able to hear it way down the road?” she asked wistfully. “Must sound pretty, fading away gradual, likethat. I recollect how ‘twas when I had my hearing. But, dear me, my little contrivance that Mr. Ledyard gave me makes me whole-footed for most occasions, so I won’t complain.” ‘““We shan’t be able to hear it very far to-day, Miss Loreena,” said Felicia gently, speaking into the “little contrivance”; “for the wind is blowing the sound right away from us. But hasn’t it been lovely? and not sorrowful one bit ?” “Hear that child,” said Mrs. Cope to Mrs. Topham. “Tt’s little she knows of sorrow. Well, I’m glad ’tis so. It comes to all, soon enough, full measure, heaped and running over,” and she sighed heavily. “One of your rheumatic days, I know, Lyddy,” said Mrs. Topham with sympathy. “When you're free from it, ’m certain you feel as I do that there’s full as much happiness heaped and running over as sorrow, now don’t you?” “You were always a more cheerful make-up than I,” said Mrs. Cope. “See here, how do you feel about being left out of the invitations for Saturday ?” “Left out! I’m not left out,” returned Mrs. Top- reSEPIC SE PaC OST Te Pre Sete NE Soe M4 TeaYE taser tutte” ETDs TePHiEN Ua Tua SianicsateRec CD sfose a PETMG; Teapeaau Due gM SR CATE AEDE VEG UTUETE Kear Hieaiea etiecreeore ancae etseaear iter teste MicMaseC taeij sy fin ty piranha nptinniens Sa eta et a eae 88 Felicia’s Folks ham stoutly. “I never belonged in, nor James either. Bobby’s invited.” “How do you account for Henry Fosdick and the minister being included then?” inquired Mrs. Cope. “ Well, of course, it’s all right about the minister, but I see no occasion for Henry Fosdick being invited.” “Oh, come now,” said Mrs. Topham, “ you do, too, Lyddy. Here, take my arm going over this hillock. You know Henry Fosdick has a boy’s heart in him that’ll never grow old. And he has no ties, and the little Kingman boy’ll be here. Let’s not grudge him 8) © 1Y Ad his little extra chances.” “Tm not grudging him,” said Mrs. Cope. “ Well, Ge © © I suppose we might as well be thankful we both have those that’ll tell us about the grand doings, even if we must sit at home and wait for them to come back aml gratify our curiosity.” “How’s your work for the fair going on?” asked Mrs. Topham briskly, and once launched on that topiv, Mrs. Cope became less lugubrious. Meanwhile the little floral decorator’s assistant were walking home with their arms around each other's waists, stepping quite soberly along. As they passed the road that led down toward the Kingman house they were startled to see the figure of Miss Kingman apparently rising from an old tree stump by the roadside. Felicia bowed and smiled, but Miss Kingman did not acknowledge her greeting in any way. “Here, you!” she called, and the two little girlsMinh eye ecearisrre sere rate * es 4 eF oa <4 3 7 G ms ra pea ace ey Ss a SCWETERE’S THAT BAND GONE?ra Meats PPee se TeT STE ae siesne vat tboa noah i 5 fro eros Trvieeenay Sea seaact Tans ons bean 34 5 PRrs A rah oar baccais peere cs souk oka kd Soa! ecErtsMemorial Day 89 wheeled about to face her, half frightened at the fierce- ness of her tone. “‘Where’s that band gone?” demanded Miss King: man of Felicia. “They’ve gone to old Mr. Bedlow’s to play him a piece, because he’s too feeble to get out of the house now,” said Felicia. “Well, I want them to come down to my house next,” said Miss Kingman fiercely. ‘“ Willard had a fall this morning, and he hurt his head, so he couldn’t march with the rest. His father was im the Civil War, and two of his uncles. I should think he had as good aright to be played to on Memorial Day as anybody else—if not better than most. I’m going back to the house now. You stay here, and head the band down my way. I’ve wasted an hour already. Now mind you tell them what I want.” With that she turned and marched off again, while the two little girls stared after her in bewilderment. “T think she has a pretty ordering way with her,” said Winifred, using one of Mrs. Harlow’s phrases with much zest. “How does she know the band will want to go way down there ?” “Oh, of course they’ll go,” said Felicia hastily ; “but wasn’t it guod of her to take the trouble, Win1- fred? It shows she really thinks a great deal of Willard, doesn’t it? Nate thought she’d kept him at home to-day, and wouldn’t let him play with the band.” ATE eee ee eee eee eee eee a eee eee eee eee ee eee eee a ea Leal ee ee ee a ee eae ee a ee ee et ro EAS 8D wee ee eT ae ete tat Meare eaeatce ee ee ence ne ee eS Tei tiieeiie ps wplterrar tticsiiei tales eat el a vest Oss Ue seesrea Tec Ea TD oa eR Ghr este GeesSAL co asa MASA SUS a ce eset gu atthes Usman ecemeeeromade oat males RLSeR Ce eT seit leper te serreustaytos trad reining Peetinn Peart chee Spa ea a caee 5g chy Seat dee ake go Felicia’s Folks The day had grown very warm, and the band did not leok particularly delighted at the prospect of the stony, hot walk down to the Kingman place and back, but Nate Horner persuaded them that it was really a compliment which had been tendered them, and Mr. Lane added his word of approval, so they started off again. When they reached the Kingman house, there, in two chairs on the grass in the side yard, sat Miss Kingman and Willard Slocum. Willard’s head was wound about with strips of cotton cloth, but under the bandages his eyes twinkled shrewdly as he called “ good-day” to the visitors. They responded in chorus, and then after a moment’s consul- tation they struck up “ Marching through Georgia.” “Good work!” called Willard when they finished, and stood mopping their foreheads with handkerchiefs already moist from previous exertions. ‘“ Let’s have another.” They played a second, and then, being urged, a third selection, and received generous commendation from Willard. Miss Kingman said nothing, and in the mid- dle of the third selection she marched into the house. “Had about all she can stand,” whispered Ned Hilliard to Bobby, but a moment after the band had stopped playing, the screen door from the kitchen was banged open from the inside by a vigorous foot, and out stepped Miss Kingman bearing a great japanned tray, crowded with glasses filled with iced lemonade. “ Here, you come help yourselves,” she ordered herMemorial Day gl guests, “and be quick about it before my arms give way!” The boys sprang forward without waiting for a second invitation. Miss Kingman was not a gracious hostess, but they knew good lemonade when they saw it, and the tinkle of ice when they heard it—that was enough for them. “My! but that’s good!” said Ned Hilliard, as he drained the last drop from his glass before the other boys had half finished theirs. “I didn’t know how thirsty I was,” and he looked apologetically at his hostess who had set the tray on the ground and resumed her seat. “You go in the kitchen and fetch out that pitcher youll see on the table nearest the door,” she said; “ I mixed up some more in case anybody craved a second glass. You help it round.” Ned did as she commanded, and then he paused beside Miss Kingman, after refilling Willard’s glass. He stole a glance at her, and discovered that she looked a little less forbidding than usual. He held his glass high in the air. “Come on, boys!” he cried. “ Let’s give three good cheers for Miss Kingman and her lemonade!” Miss Kingman’s face did not change while the cheers filled the air, but a tiny spot of red appeared above each of her prominent cheek-bones. When the sound had ceased she rose, grasped the tray firmly with both hands, and held it toward her guests. re re Se a a TE Bae A ae RT RE A Ok PS RAT PT Ae Ro ae eG CRS FRET INL TaeT NAT SE TUR ahe aR CoNCT TEL Per eeS Ui isec ec aie Gr eautcut! os eesti Sag PSR PREZ IN ED TOUR TATPREF ETON DUE IMGOSN EINE SG REC TEC SATIS CIEE SUC Mae A ESEC 1M CSAC IR CUE ANSE C75 TEC S4E INET /eeSSeHIC ING 1 _ — 5 es bie pote ditesanatesacait roe Diy see mrene Pea tterec enti nee eccetine acne cent eee cease UGG penta Tut tots tra eucen MCMC CMR teas re LS ea cb aes Sc ae ce Scaee aac i atpest erence iyrresrprigaragiagb rarity pie ane 92 Felicia’s Folks “Put your empty glasses on here,” she said; “no, I don’t want any help carrying it. I want to say one thing; just because I was pretty stiff with Ben you needn’t think I’m a reg’lar dragon. I like folks to have some backbone to ’em, and if they’re scared of things it makes me mad, that’s all. Willard and I get on well enough, with no nonsense. I want you boys, some of you, to come down here once in a while of ap evening—you oldest Hilliards and the Horner boy, and the Frenches. Willard isn’t but two—three years older’p you—he got his growth too soon. You come down here with him from the post-office sometimes, and you can have apples and nuts—whatever truck you want. Good-day to you.” “ Good-day!” called the boys, and then the kitchen door banged shut, and there arose a clashing of glass and the sound of a soap-shaker in energetic hands. “Say, are you a wizard or what?” asked Nate Horner, going close to Willard, and speaking in a hoarse whisper, with a backward glance toward the kitchen door. “Just plain Yankee, that’s all I am,” drawled Willard; “she and I are constitutioned considerable alike, tough as pine knots, both of us. When Mr. Ledyard told me about her I knew I could get on with her all right, and he knew it too. But that little chap, her nephew, he wasn’t any more suited to live with her than if he’d been made o’ porcelain—he’s better off ~~Memorial Day 93 where he is, and I’m first-rate whereI am. We have kind of symposiums here, evenings, she and I, some- times. She’s got an old melodeon in there that she plays the ‘ Battle of Prague’ and one or two other old- timers on, and I play her drum solos. We have real gay evenings now and then. And then I tell her all the news, and picture out what’s happened. She seems to like me better’n the daily paper.” “T guess that’s because you save the two cents it would cost,” said one of the boys, but Willard looked at him with sudden sharpness. “None o’ that, young man,” he said. “She’s been good to me, and whose lemonade have you just been drinking, I’d like to know ?” “Hers,” said the boy in a shamefaced way; “ but lots of folks like to save money—she isn’t the only one.”’ “That’s all right,” said Willard; “I thought you spoke as if she was.” There was an embarrassed silence for a moment, and then Nate broke it by saying that he thought it was about time for him to be getting home to dinner. “ Anything special you’d like to have us tune up on as we march off?” he asked Willard. ‘“ We can play half a dozen hymn tunes, and half a dozen patriotic— that’s our repertory—but we’re pretty sure of every- thing in it.” “Say, play ‘The girl I left behind me,’ won’t you ?” asked Willard. 5 5 PRESS SE APEC IEE OSE Si Sees eesacey! ‘3ac% 2)! Pacer yer 4aeahes ie c7pee shes CIRCUS PT EPS Re = e255 FT a i spel ual -anPys o ‘Cag: 2 ie) eit sorry * . 7 TE Pere gary BEEECUEE NAP Re ee arestoaet snes tta sues Ncotcader ats Meegie> seraey ress onrrpec ceestestc Jet suasetstecpens te ituies fr itit septa smepecat tome setn EME ST CELLET rar ccfcaten cuter ae gasses pape ssrafe nt anette co ca etree cnte eget state Se sc eeeI Cece Tay CPRGPRCOU ER Sar PUC TRL PRED ULE She TREDN CTU SUL TTL OME 25a NRE SETTET SE DRGSTCL gE Ty E2107 Ute iene EPR ACME aTS Tre TEGPER OTT CMa tic sce ea aaah ca akeSSMS ENED ke ipaepinny shone bersheses 7snt5) Senin 1 if PREP Mee METAL aE POA LINES NEUE ree Net Ja thet OEM Meee or eT 94 Felicia’s Folks “Sure! that’s one of our best pieces,” said Nate and Ned Hilliard together. ‘“ But wouldn’t she be mad to have us play it?” in- quired Donald French in an awed tone. “You don’t know her well as I do,” returned Willard with a broad smile. “’T would tickle her, that’s what ’twould do. TU risk it.” So it happened that after a hearty good-bye to Wil- lard who promised to be on hand for the next re- hearsal, “head or no head,” the Blackberry Hill band formed in the road, and after one or two false starts, marched gaily off to the strains of “ The girl I left be- hind me.” Nate Horner, looking back, saw a figure in the kitchen doorway, doing something so surprising that he lost his place in the tune, and gave a resounding note at the time when he should have been silent. “ She was waving her dish-cloth at us,” he said in re ply to the reproaches of the rest of the band. “At least she was waving it, and if it wasn’t at us, I don’t know what it was at. I came near dropping my in- strument.” “Willard,” said Miss Kingman from the doorway, “vou come in out o’ that hot sun this minute. I never saw such a careless boy as you are, in all my days. Do you think some of them will come down here off and on, and get acquainted with you? You do? Well, that’s all right then, and I shan’t feel my lemonade was wasted. I want you to know I used up one dozen ofpsvereeveremmenrmsemer scr Tai Soe Memorial Da Ly 95 Henry Fosdick’s best lemons on that band, and I hope they won’t forget it.” “T don’t believe they will, Miss Kingman,” said Willard as he stood listening to the strains of “ Annie Laurie,” borne faintly back to him, “and I shan’t either. I guess they’re playing to the two little girls now. They’re a pretty good sort, those two.” “T don’t know anything about girls, nor I don’t want to,” said Miss Kingman fiercely. Then she looked with searching eyes at Willard. “ For pity’s sake, you didn’t expect me to invite them down here, did you, and the teacher and Lyddy Cope and all that possy o’ women folks ?” she asked. “No, ma’am,” said Willard with emphasis; “and what’s more, they’d be scared to come if you asked ’em,” he added with a chuckle. “ What would they be scared of, ’d lke to know?” demanded Miss Kingman. “Well,” drawled Willard, who already regretted the words that had escaped him, “they might be afraid I’d drum their hearing away.” Miss Kingman set the last tumbler in its place on the shelf, and then she stood before him, arms akimbo. “T know well enough what you mean,” she said de- fiantly, “and it’s nothing to do with you and your drums, Willard Slocum. But we’ll see whether they’ll come or not if I ask ’em. Is there anybody else in this town has such raspberry bushes as mine?” And with a set of the jaw which Willard had learned Seaite lari t sa pee awe ec ee crere. erro Essar Sa ACDAR Epa seeonte He MESMaanT NTeeE OE tr Mee CONE Peep once conca ens apie Ceior ree eo eLeeATC Ue ee CUSUNCQSoe Sc SC cc uce a Reade UCase Rac seen seria nc ecuest rte st ti teats= ae i | ae 2 E Ss = es = & Pas bd S ey 96 Felicia’s Folks to know well, Miss Kingman shook the kettle on the stove and being dissatisfied with the result, pumped a dipperful of water and emptied it into the kettle with- out spilling a drop or relaxing her features. “Yes, sir, we'll see,” she muttered as she clashed the dipper into place on its nail; “ that’s what we’ll do— } »2 we'll seeCHAPTER X JACK PAYS A VISIT THE news of Miss Kingman’s treat to the band, and her request for callers, created a good deal of excite- ment in the village. “Perhaps she’s going to turn right around and be just as kind as every one else in Blackberry Hill,” said Felicia hopefully to Miss Loreena, as they talked the matter over the next day with Martin and Pedro for audience. ‘She can’t have a good time, the way she lives, and the way she feels, can she, Miss Loreena? Maybe she’d like to have me take Pedro down there to see her; he’s such a darling, and he’s so clever !” “JT think Martin would suit her disposition a good deal better than Pedro,” said Miss Loreena drily, “ and I wouldn’t count too much on her wanting any visits from you just yet a while, Felicia. You see, she isn’t made up exactly like other folks; she has a kind of a queer, cross-grained streak in her, but some way or other she likes that Willard Slocum, and she’s willing to give up some of her own wishes for the sake of pleasing him—that’s about all, so far,” said Miss Lo- reena cautiously, “though I’m not saying she may not be all made over new in the course of time. I don’t 97 sa re REE SA RAPS le OA a eas Meee e eee ee ee eee eee cee ee eee ee eee cece cen i ea ee eee ea ea ean aANC MEM IMG Nc eaten eee bruce eadan tceractiens eo nemmmeenar eee eT Con 98 Felicia’s Folks believe she’ll treat little Ben any different from what she ever has when she sees him next time.” “Oh, it seems as if perhaps she would, Miss Loreena,” said Felicia, still hopeful. ‘ Because, don’t you know f you’re hi wing a good time with one person, it makes — you feel very pleasant tow ard other people even if you don’t usually care much about them. That sounds mixed up, but you understand me, don’t you, Pedro ? - She hugged the spaniel with five letters of the alpha- = — yet belated on white cards which he was at the time = olding between his teeth, ready for his lesson to be- in; for Pedro was being trained with daily care for he wonderful exhibition to come later in the summer. IQ orf Miss Loreena shook her head, but after all it was Felicia who was the more nearly right of the two, as far as little Ben was concerned, for a strange thing hap- pened when the Ledyard automobile stopped at the Kingman house next day. Li ttle Ben was about to step out, with fear and trembling, to pay his respects to his aunt and cive her an embroider ered neck-handkerchief which he had boug Pe with the assistance of Mr. Led- yard’s housekeeper, when Willard, his head still band- aged, came down to the car from the barn. “ Hullo, little chap,” he said by way of greeting to Ben, after his bow and “how d’y’ do” to Mr. Ledyard. “Miss Kingman’s gone up to the village; why don’t you make me a visit till she gets back ?_ I’ve been laid up for a day or two, and I’m lonesome. Can you spare him, Mr. Ledyard ?Jack Pays a Visit 99 “Yes, indeed. I havesome matters to look after, that won’t interest him at all, for the next half hour or SO,” sixre said Mr. Ledyard. “Jump out, Ben, and Ill come back for you when the business is over.” It was nearly and hour later that Mr. Ledyard, as he swung around the corner from the main road, saw Miss Kingman ahead of him, a bundle under her arm, her skirts well lifted to avoid the dust, and her head thrust forward in its usual fashion. “Let me give you a lift, Miss Kingman,” he called, stopping the machine and jumping out, with little idea that she would accept his invitation. But Miss Kingman gave one look at him and the automobile, and another at the stretch of dusty road before her. “ve always wanted to ride in one of these things,” she said, advancing toward it. “ How do I step in? I’d like to sit front where I can see the workings of it. If ’d been a man,—as I wish I had,—I should have taken to machinery, most likely.” As she stepped up to the seat she desired, something stirred on the roof of the car, but neither she nor Mr. Ledyard saw it. “Tve been up buying odds and ends of ribbon to fill out with what ve got to make a quilt for the fair,” vouchsafed Miss Kingman as they began to roll over the road. “That Lane child and the Harlow girl were here. Winifred Harlow had her tame crow with her. He’s a saucy bird, but he’s nobody’s fool, I can see 7 Peter pe evista eT ee ee PUSeSpeoTra ins evar sacar DEE UOERR Ee SHD UTE ORL UEE CvCE Pes ese UVC Cs EACLE cea eae CDoi Hesse ee MSE aan SERUM ee Messe nea Deane ceenae ose enieertnes eo eee Me TeeT ncihe pSGME SED SPaA SAP Se Dac ech 45h f Pubs one Pak CoScoE a CPUEoTeSR EM ae tat es 100 Felicia’s Folks that. This is considerable of an improvement on walk- ing,” she added with her nearest approach to a smile. “Tm glad you find it so,” said Mr. Ledyard politely. “Tf there’s anything I can explain about the machine I'd be very glad to do so.” He was deep in explanations when they reached the house. It was fully five minutes before Miss Kingman was ready to alight. Five minutes gave plenty of time for a small, unnoticed passenger on the roof to discover a good hiding place in a convenient tree, and step to it. ‘The spot selected proved not only a good hiding place, hut one which provided a fine view of the Kingman house and yard. The windows stood open, without screens, and the front door was also open. On the steps sat Willard Slocum and little Ben. Willard was telling a story to which his small companion listened vith wonder and delight. He was so filled with it that he forgot to be afraid when he rose to shake hands with his aunt. “Oh, doesn’t he tell the best stories—the most inter- esting ones that ever you heard ?” he said breathlessly. Miss Kingman was feeling elated between her suc- cessful shopping and her ride. She looked at her little nephew with some favor. “T’m glad you’ve found it out,” she said crisply. “ Here, you two look at these silks I’ve bought to help make a quilt while I go in the house with Mr. Ledyard. I want to show him an old book I have, to see what he thinks of my offering it to the library.”Jack Pays a Visit 101 The breeze was blowing so strongly that it was hard to look at the scraps of silk and ribbon without their fluttering away. “PU get some stones to hold them down,” said Ben, and he started with a handful of the bright scraps still in his fingers; as he picked the stones with his other hand, the breeze tore three or four of the soft silks from his grasp. ‘You ought to have laid them down here,” said Wil- lard from the door stone; “ better pick them right up, and bring them here before you try to carry the stones ; you aren’t much of a hand to plan, I guess.” “Mr. Ledyard says my head is almost always in the clouds,” said little Ben, as he chased the fluttering scraps. “There, I think those are all that blew away.” But he was mistaken, as the watcher in the tree could have told him. A bright yellow silk, most at- tractive and desirable, had landed on one of the top- most twigs of a bush quite close to the tree. If Miss Kingman had happened to step out just then, she would have missed it. But instead of Miss Kingman, Felicia and Winifred came, laughing and panting, from the road. As they reached the gate they evidently tried to be sober, but it was hard work. Winifred’s eyes were on the automobile. Without a word to Willard or little Ben, she climbed to the top of the stone wall which commanded a view of the roof of the car. | “He isn’t there, Felicia!” she cried. “ But he was RCPERTC TS DIS a eva ree svete Ne See” Dare fos pe pres GoYe Testes Tete ess eel CBee Tai aarad gi CaN CS rer POR aree ia ntarar tans sea meca castes eageessensta eesi meee ante Cnt esata Te nea ee Ste Steen aEPLLA ND EMA SCALES ie UN aa naa vias aseansinseeae AE cant fhe i> ESSERE SSSR SEE PERE eaL eoec she a kee orca 102 Felicia’s Folks there, I know! Isaw him! Tm perfectly sure I saw him, though we were so far away !’ “T thought I did too,” said Felicia. “Ob, how d’you do, Ben? how d’you do?” and she smiled her greeting to Willard who had risen and with little Ben was strolling down to the wall on which Winifred was perched. ‘““What’s happened ?” he drawled. ‘“ You look as if you'd lost something.” “T have,” said Winifred, descending from the wall, and beginning to search the bushes. “ I’ve lost Jack my ond run away, or r hopped away, or flown away—I don’t know which! e I don’t much believe he’d do any one of the three long enough and quick enough to get him down here, at the rate you seem to have been going since you > s* missed him; at least not ahead of you, drawled Wil- lard. “But you ann understand,” said Winifred im- patiently. ‘“ What I mean is that he was at the store with Felicia sil me, and he was just as quiet, watching Miss Kingman buy her pieces of silk, and she really spoke to him as pleasant as any body could. So Felicia and I left him there to go into Mr. Fosdick’s side and get weighed, for we haven’t been weighed for nearly two weeks, and last time I was three pounds heavier than Felicia, and I wanted to see if I’d run it off.” “That was an important point,” said Willard gravely, as Winifred paused for breath.Jack Pays a Visit 103 “Of course we wish to weigh exactly the same if possible,” she went on, still shaking the bushes, “and perhaps we might have been there five minutes. At any rate when we opened the door again and went into the post-office-and-notions-side, Miss Kingman was gone, and Jack was gone, and the boy that was tend- me ® store and post-office for that hour didn’t know one thing about it, except he said he thought he saw Jack er oat of the door behind Miss Kingman, but he was reading a book and he wasn’t sure. I should know he didn’t belong in Blackberry Hill,” said Winifred scornfully , “not to notice anything so special as eo shee ' JAaCK : “Must have come oe the city,” said Willard. “ That’s plain any “You needn t laugh at me,” said Winifred. ‘“ Well, we flew around the corner, and what did wesee? We Mr. Ledyard’s automobile stopped, and Mr. Led- yard himself putting Miss Kingman into it, and then pe fing right off, and as they onion we saw—or I did— something black on the top of the car at the back give a ae of flap! and I know it was Jack. He probably started to follow Miss Kingman, and the automobile came along, slowing up a little at the turn and he fiew right up on it. I presume he planned it all out. But where is he now?” “Don't look at me like that,” Willard besought her: “he isn’t concealed about me anywhere, and we saween't even seen him, have we, Ben?” oS 7 See E Tae PONE PRG TRGSTR SHI peasuEsNUECMRPTSS Virsttacu eercty nc) semsecl cae cuece seo urees Ea Pere TRG ey praises esa cones rer een ae ae sed estes ere ss Liha Seiten ee orks Setscheint neaye negate eprreapr etree itp into opine inant in eet att etary Me patsat aeons hee se NGe ken Meat 104 Felicia’s Folks “Na, but I’d like to,” said the little boy eagerly ; “let me help find him, Winifred.” “Jack! Jack!” called Winifred, and then Felicia took her turn. “Perhaps he changed his mind and flew back home,” suggested little Ben. “He couldn’t,” said the two friends, and Felicia added, “ All the way as we ran we kept calling him and looking for him. Oh, Winifred, what is that, way up in that tree? I see something yellow, and I see— i x . 5 . i | aren’t those Jack’s eyes? The crow sat very still, holding his latest treasure firn — L ily beneath his claws. Suddenly the tree seemed to rock on its foundations. It might have been an earthquake or a hurricane, in- stead of the combined strength of one lean young man and three children. Jack decided the ground was much safer than that tree top. Accordingly, a mo- ment later he hopped quietly out from a bush on which he had alighted on his downward course, and with the silk held in one claw he flew to Winifred’s shoulder, poising himself on one leg with the air of a bird who had found his proper resting-place, and was glad to be there. “Why, Jack Harlow!” cried Winifred, removing the silk from his grasp, just as Miss Kingman and her guest appeared at the front door. “If you aren’t the naughtiest bird that ever saw! What do you sup- pose Miss Kingman will say when she hears what‘Jack Pays a Visit 105 you’ve done, and sees how you’ve raveled and mussed that silk? I’m ashamed of you and I’m scared, too!” It seemed, however, that Miss Kingman was a per- son whose actions and feelings it was impossible to predict ; for when she saw Jack looking impudently at her from Winifred’s shoulder, she gave a short laugh. “Tt sounded rusty, father, as if she hardly ever used it,” Felicia told the minister that night, but it served to show Miss Kingman’s state of mind. When she had heard the story she laughed again, and reached out one of her work-hardened fingers to stroke his head, a caress which he permitted, but evi- dently did not enjoy. “That’s all right,” she said as Winifred reproved him for pecking at the owner of the yellow silk. “No reason why he should like me; he doesn’t know me. You let him have that piece o’ silk again. Ill make him a present of it. If a scrap o’ silk can make him contented, he doesn’t ask much, I say.” When Winifred, deposited at the station with her crow by Mr. Ledyard, told Mrs. Harlow the story, there were exclamations enough to suit her. “Well, I declare that beats all I ever heard,” said Mrs. Harlow. “I should have expected she’d say the bird must be made away with for his impudence. And here you come with a present, you saucy runa- way!” and she looked at Jack with what she intended for a severe expression, which did not alarm him in the least. ca oP esac rss aU SPECIE er Sor Rita funT RRP PRS PISO TMC e ep eae T ttre eine cca cca Cue eal aa Se SE EaSee eter ate oe A Schieber cgyrresaprpraratranpn eigenen nates robpie vane renee rues by he ae Felicia’s Folks “T shan’t let him go up to the village with me again, mother,” said Winifred, as the crow sat on the sewing machine, his head bent to gaze at his golden treasure. “Nobody knows when he flew on to the automobile, and he’ll never tell, so it isn’t safe to let him go off the place. Poor Jacky, you wanted a little change, didn’t you ? ” and she stroked his head. “T don’t want him to feel penned up while you’re away and I’m busy,” said Mrs. Harlow, “and now he’s learned the advantages of travel he'll be wanting to go off again. J don’t know—maybe ’twasn’t wise for me to let Gilbert Faunce give him to you, ightfully. “Suppose anything y © she added thou: hap- ‘Oh, nothing could happen to him, mother,” said Winifred. ‘He'll look after himself: won't you, Jac] ee ry hat wasn’t what I meant,” said Mrs. Harlow, but she did not explain what she had meant and Winifred, playing with 1 mother had said. The next morning Mr. Ledyard made a call at the station, and when Mrs. Harlow told sa her problem te iO YY Tr +/ae) ‘cel r Vy tina -} qt l 4 le Crow, scarcely noticed What her about Jack, he quickly offered a solution. “There’s a good he ‘n-house on my land,” he said; “T’ll have it moved down here, and set up near the blackberry bushes. There are plenty of iachelia in it where Jack can hide his treasures, and I’ll have a win- dow made on each side, so he can study the landscape,Fack Pays a Visit 107 Bobby and Ben will help Some of the other boys will They all like Winifred, and and a lock put on the door. me; well do it to-day. want to help, I know. think Jack is great fun.” “You haven’t ever regretted taking Ben, have you?” asked Mrs. Harlow abruptly, then she flushed. “JT don’t know where my manners have gone,” she said before Mr. Ledyard had time to answer her question. ‘You’re just as kind as you can be to think about that hen-house for Jack; it’ll be complete for him.” Mr. Ledyard’s keen eyes took account of her fora moment. “Mrs. Harlow, you’re looking thin,” he said. “ Are you working too hard? You ought to take a vacation. I’ll see about it.” “Don’t you say a word—please!” besought Mrs. Harlow, laying her hand on his sleeve. “I don’t need any vacation, nor I don’t want one. I haven’t been sleeping quite as well as usual, and this is the season 1’ the year when I do thin out some.” “ What’s kept you awake? ‘The express trains ?” asked Mr. Ledyard. “Mercy no! I don’t pay a mite of attention to them,” and Mrs. Harlow laughed a little. “It’s Winifred—l get to thinking about her; she’s growing fast, and she’s pretty and bright. I wish I could do better by her. Do you think—don’t you think that I ought to give her all the chances that come in her way? Same as little Ben has them ?” iE aT sre atoale IL Laas Mer uit tee MEME oa eee te cue ateceseticats oct pETERUREDIERTE Gar DHbE OTAGUE EYE INC TU7 Sup set ta tree ster Seite cal ert cae asi + ret Sesicesea Neenah TRIAL veep eel Eat tani oal r ey * peht ecg heat eb oi UE rasta ase thee star shee | RAMU Ge aeieanaeat tema teeeeenan tredamamatrarattee eee Ere er eons 108 Felicia’s Folks Mr. Ledyard, with his mind on some of Mrs. Cope’s criticisms, spoke warmly. “T certainly do,” he said with decision. ‘ Winifred is an unusually bright, attractive little girl. Don’t keep her from anything in the way of pleasure that will help her to be a sweet, contented, useful young woman ; you are the one to decide what is best for her, to guide her judgment.” “To guide her judgment,” echoed Mrs. Harlow, with troubled eyes. ‘ Well, thank you. How’s your bun- galow coming on?” she asked, with deliberate intent to _— on save her worries, and interest herself in her good friend. ‘Henry Fosdick told me the other day he was afraid now they’d got it far enough up so the wall gave a lit- tle shade to sit under they wouldn’t work so fast.” “Myr. Fosdick informed me that for ‘imported labor ’ they came from over the state line. you know—they did full as well as he expected,” said Mr. Ledyard. “Henry isn’t narrow, not really,” said Mrs. Harlow, “but he does like to have local talent employed. | A } told him the other day that if you’d hired Blackberry Hill men to build that bungalow, between haying, ber- rying and all, you wouldn’t have got a mite of wear out of it this summer. You see all our carpenters are a good many things b y a , s beside; we don’t have any regular specialists here, such as they have in bigger places.” “ You don’t need them,” said Mr. Ledyard. “ Ben and ( are going to have a housewarming as soon as we get ©Jack Pays a Visit 109 in and settled, Mrs. Harlow. Everybody in town will be invited.” “T shall like to see it, above all things,” said Mrs. Harlow. “Is it true, what I’ve heard, that there’s a kind of a gallery to it, so you can ah over and look down, all inside ? ” ‘“You’ve not been deceived,” Mr. Ledyard assured her. “The bedrooms are up-stairs, leading off the gallery, and there’s an opening in fh center witha window that looks toward the west. It’s a pretty place.” “T know ’tis,” said Mrs. Harlow, s shaking hands cor- dially with her guest as he rose to go. “ There’s that for me to see, and the new library a aa grounds. I haven’t been up there yet. The expressman’s been getting mar- ried, and had two weeks’ vacation, but now he’s . going to be settled right in Blackberry Hill, and he said I could leave him and his wife in charge any time, when there were no trains due for two or three bus I’m expecting to get a good many short holid: ays that way, after all “ghese years. You think ’twould be ali right, don’t you? You represent the railroad to me, and if you disapprove, of course I wouldn’t go a step.” “JT approve most decidedly,” said Mr. Ledyard. “Good-bye. You are not to be at Great Hemlocks, I believe ? ” “No,” and Mrs. Harlow laughed appreciatively ; “Lyddy Cope and I, and all the grown folks, are left out. It’s only you and the minister and Henry Fos- Se ya ate eae Ee may cone rrr pe PERT AG UCD NT CLYDE ag SSE SE SS a Petra ued neva MMS Se CD eepeta na See Tees es nich icc atu teen eM heh ces Ceca Cusco ithSeat PASO RE oa aed ena Usama terme eae sedaronser ee LEASE EEE LTS RAE WET Ee erect 110 Felicia’s Folks dick—just you three big boys—and the small fry ; but when Winifred comes home ’twill be just about the same to me as if I’d gone! Good-bye again.” The smile faded from her face as she looked after him. “He hasn’t made it a mite easier for me,” s slowly, “not a mite. And I’ve written Mrs. I I'd send her an answer soon asI could. Well, I shall,” and she raised her head defiantly, “ but I didn’t set any date. I guess she can wait; I guess whenever I write her, twill be as soon asI could! I’ve had to wait for things all my days, and then—when you've got them —sometimes you have to give them away. Is’pose that’s what’s coming to me.” he said largate+ DMNDpD XI CHAPTER X ym yr _ sf r GREAT HEMLOCKS SATURDAY morning Felicia woke to find the sky overcast, and at first she was very sure it must be get- ting ready to rain. She dressed herself slowly, with many glances at the sky and much wrinkling of her straight little nose. “Pedro,” she said as she tied on her hair ribbons, “you are such an unselfish darling that I know you'll feel sorry for Winifred and me if we have to stay at home this afternoon, won’t you ? ” The brown eyes gazed steadily up at her, and the silky black tail thudded softly on the floor. Felicia stooped to pet him. “Oh, you are such a comfort,” she toldhim. “I can say things to you that I can’t to any one else, not even father, when they’re just foolish things, and you always look just as interested. [Tm sure you understand them all. I would not have Martin know for worlds,” whis- pered Felicia, her lips at Pedro’s ear, “ but even though he seemed to listen, his remarks showed me he didn’t understand, and then I couldn’t squeeze him as I can rou,” and she suited the action to the word. “I shall tell my mother when she comes that you have taken her place, just as nearly as you could,” she whispered, 111 Bs pe areca Se a Pee eer Sa Seae a PEPIN GEE SUC IAT TOR Mie see se Cave C Tor TST caTE Paar MnO PAPE Teen eepe Tet ema ec chan Sea canethe sh Ihphheat bat aLiarsin aes Pee ae reeset sag oe tk ta ota St Ied fh Ate frst tina i need enamine HERTHA SRC! ro lrean Bry yarner eee Pe ee a we re ee ae ee Lee ee Le eee es ee ee nbs ensure rare rn ress rania renee mene ral ha RIEL ie or fen bt wae pa |. arse eae wows vane wenram ee See teh LE TS Ee Sa Felicia’s Folks rele: nes him, “and she’ll love you for it, Pedro, and ines yourself, too. Now let’s go down to Martin.” ane eerie when he was taken from his darkened eeping-room to the kitchen, stepped back and forth, ck b: and forth, on his a , and peered out through his cage bars and up at the sky as if he had never seen it before. “Oh, Martin, do you think it’s going to rain?” asked Felicia. ‘I’ve looked and looked at the clouds, and I’ve sniffed and sniffed at the air, and I cannot tell. What do you think ?” But Martin was saved from replying by something that caught Felicia’s eye at that moment—a great round drop on the stone sté« p outside the kitchen door ; and it was followed by more drops, big and splashing Felicia’s mouth drooped. “Oh, Pedro and Martin, isn’t it too bad!” she cried. “Do you suppose it will keep on harder and harder, and our beautiful plan will have to be given up?” “The best of luck,” said the parrot in a low tone, as if he were not quite sure that his offering would be ac- aia under the circumstances. ‘ Good-morning ; lartin is a gentleman!” he added in the same subdued “Oh, dear,” said Felicia, “ of course we'll have to make the best of it, but this seems such a hard thing to make the best of, Martin. There, I think I heard Mrs. Cope’s bell ring. I must run over and sea what she wants.Great Hemlocks 113 Martin remained on his perch, subdued and thought- ful, as she flew across the neighbor path, with Pedro at her heels. Mrs. Cope was standing in her kitchen doorway, holding the door slightly ajar. ‘“ Good-morning ; did you want me?” asked Felicia as she reached the door. “Qh, isn’t it too bad it’s raining, Mrs. Cope?” “That’s why I rang for you,” said her neighbor briskly. “JI knew you'd be fearing a storm, but ’tis only one of those rain squalls that come before a change of wind—‘ Rain before seven, shine before eleven’ the old adage has it, and ’tis more often so than not. I get a different view from my kitchen from what you do. See that thin place in the clouds?” and she turned Felicia gently about by her shoulders. “There! I thought that would encourage you. Yow’ll have a fine, cool afternoon for your party, child. Suppose you let Martin and Pedro come over and spend the afternoon with me. You know Loreena’s coming to do up my parlor curtains, so she can’t keep house for you while you're gone.” “Why, they’d love to come, I know, Mrs. Cope,” said Felicia glowing with eagerness and pleasure. “T’ll tell them about the invitation now, when I go home. I think you’re just as kind toask them! Id dress Martin up with one of his ribbons, only after he’s been admired for a few minutes he begins to feel cross with it on his neck, and I’m afraid he wouldn’t let you take it off.” den ehetiort eter arr tle shi car th decane ShiaiNe Se eats pnt char eresprsresatien pease ruehet athe RS Tot” Law igk a Le ape ease erems aree eee Tis teh ERE TE SSeS 114 Felicia’s Folks “Mercy no! I shouldn’t think of trying,” said Mrs. Oope. “ You let him come over plain—that is, plain er acre ra tane ha 7: P ron sec Sh ERE Tie La as he ever can be, with all those colors. And don’t dress Pedro up, either. I bought a rubber ball the other day, on purpose, to have ready for him some time, and I'll play sitting-still ball with him, maybe, and perhaps he’d do one or two of his tricks for Loreena and me.” “Oh, there are quite a number Miss Loreena can make him do,” said Felicia, “and he’d enjoy them as much as you would.” “Well, with what he can do and Martin’s conversa- tion, I don’t believe we shall be lonesome a minute,” 1 ' P., ] r ‘ . y sald Mrs. Cope. “Run along now, and get your at SRSRRALP SESE eh eS MAAR UNC ml A S her’s breakfast, or Loreena Parks will catch you ' napping for once. She makes first-rate help for you, doesn’t she?” “T don’t know what father and I would do without her,” said Felicia. ‘There, I can almost see the blue under that thin place in the clouds, Mrs. Cope. Thank you for ringing good-bye for a little while. Serer eran aie bet sith te Teele tel ieltel te liblte me over, and She ran back, joyfully followed by Pedro who had made several short excursions on his own account while Felicia talked with Mrs. Cope. He and Martin received the news of their invitation for the afternoon each in his own way, Pedro silently, with interested eyes and swiftly moving tail, Martin with a great many remarks, all more or less inappropriate. Felicia Berek ke oe ay etek Rint any eo engnd heen geemt ee gee se ee bok ee eee CeGreat Hemlocks 11¢ » sang as she got breakfast ready, and when her father came down-stairs she was all smiles and dimples, though the rain was still spattering down on the steps. “It’s only one of those little rain squalls that come before a change in the wind, father,” said Felicia in a reassuring tone as the minister looked at her with whimsically raised eyebrows after a glance out of the window. “Mrs. Cope rang me over and explained it to me; she was afraid we might be feeling disap- pointed.” ‘“T hope you thanked her for me as well as for your- self, Felicia,” said Mr. Lane in the serious way which 1ever deceived his little daughter. ‘It was most kind in her to think of my possible disappointment.” “Oh, father!” cried Felicia. “ But wouldn’t you have been just a little bit disappointed ?” and she looked up at him coaxing the smile she knew was ready for her. “Don’t you feel excited about the party, father ?” “Feel my pulse,” and the minister held out his wrist for her, the smile twitching at his mouth. “JT don’t know what I should do if you weren’t just the way you are, father,” said Felicia when her fingers had clasped his wrist, and he put his arm around her; “voure just as young in your heart as I an—and I have griddle-cakes all ready to fry for you.” “JT don’t know who wouldn’t be young in his heart under such circumstances,” said the minister, “and as SW Ggapht fas bael ia eg sdtud ATb To He T pie ahe Gee She Smack oo Mi iselaa reeds EERE ae teysindaeinaied nsec AaMadhebAhe bide SL MESO Bh RANA ene ena 116 Felicia’s Folks for the party this afternoon, I’m looking forward to it just about as eager rly as my little girl.’ One o’clock was the time set for the arrival of the three automobiles from Great Hemlocks, and although that was an hour at which Blackberry Hill housewives were usl very busy in their kitchens with a pile of din- ner dishes, it was evident that this particular day was an exception to the rule. Some knockers, already shining like gold, were receiving an extra rub; several lower gardens were being watered, although high noon is not considered by horticulturists a favorable O © time to use the watering-pot. There were front porches which received a wholly unnecessary sweep- ing, and gravel paths which were carefully searched for sharp, obtrusive pebbles ; rose-bushes were trimmed > nd fences were tested to see if there might be a loose A } staple or picket in their length. And such unfortunate persons as lived off the main road found themselves in sudden dire need of a package of ginger snaps or an ounce or two of baking-soda, and hastened to the store. “T don’t know as I ought to go off, with trade brisk as it is just at present,” muttered Mr. Fosdick to his erk. ‘Do you think you can ’tend to them all, if they keep coming from now till ree n? There’s seven of em gathered here already. Do you feel The boy was beginning to know Blackberry Hill and its ways—and his employer. autos have started, I guess they’ ll find be When theGreat Hemlocks 117 they can get on a spell longer without what they came for,” he muttered. <“ Say, isn’t that one o’ their horns ? Mr. Ledyard’s has a different sound from that.” “You join the group at the door and see,” said Mr. Fosdick tolerantly. “I’ve got to step up-stairs and get my overcoat. Fresh as the wind has come out, I’ve got to protect my bones a mite more’n I planned.” The guests were all ready, gathered at the parsonage gate, when the three cars stopped there. They were packed in with much gayety, and in less than ten min- utes they whirred up to the store, where Mr. Ledyard waited with little Ben hopping up and down on the door-step, his hand in Mr. Fosdick’s, calling greetings to his friends. Mr. Lane was transferred from Gilbert’s crowded car to the Ledyard automobile, Mr. Fosdick took his seat beside the minister, little Ben jumped up to the seat beside Mr. Ledyard, and then with much sounding of horns, off they started, with the waving handkerchiefs of the group on the steps for a good-bye. Felicia and Winifred, seated one on each side of Miss Shaw, drew long breaths as the trees flew past. ‘‘ Miss Shaw,” said Felicia, “ did you ever have things happen that were so much more beautiful than any- thing you ever supposed could happen, that you could hardly believe they really had ?” Winifred leaned forward, her face alight with mis- chief. “You may parse that sentence,” she said across Miss Shaw to Felicia. Wipe tes kd cock ae eT al ent ESTATE TNE eee eee eee ech ct a econ uo Ceca os EeSs AEEM I RS aA a a RR EH AUB ioe ro BIO NG Her Solr hort 118 Felicia’s Folks “We aren’t in school to-day,” and Miss Shaw patted Felicia’s hand as they laughed together. ‘ And 1 know exactly what she means, Winifred.” “Oh, so do I,” said Winifred, “only I believe it’s even more so with me than with Felicia. I feel asif I was just bubbling over inside, Miss Shaw, I dotruly !” “You look that way,” said Miss Shaw. “ Gilbert,” for their young host had turned in his seat, “do you realize what a lucky boy you are to be able to give so much pleasure to so many friends all at once ?”’ Gilbert took off his hat and swept a half-circle in the air with it. . t 4 IC “T realize how lucky I am to have some of the friends,” he said, with a glance that included his three guests, and went beyond them to the Ledyard automo- bile not far behind. Felicia and Winifred each pressed Miss Shaw’s arm, and a moment later, when Gilbert had turned away, Winifred put her lips close to Miss Shaw’s ear, and out whispered. “He has the most grown-up manners I ever saw,” she said ; “mother thinks so, too. Shouldn’t you think all the other boys would try to copy them ?’ But to her surprise Miss Shaw shook her head as she smiled “You wouldn’t lke them so well if they did,” mn eee > @ said softly. Winifred pondered for a moment with wrinkled fore- head.Great Hemlocks 119 “ Well—perha ips I shouldn’t,” she said at last ; “ but guess there'll never be any danger of my finding out or sure. Felicia was really too happy to talk ; she sat with rosy ee and shining eyes, looking at the beautiful land- cape unrolled before her, and changing with every curve of the smooth, winding road. Ww hen Gilbert ti ‘urned, from time to time, to see if his guests were en- oying their ride, Felicia smiled at him i in the friendly + which always warmed his heart, but even then she had eneine to say. Winifred, on the contrary, chat- tered on, asking all sorts of questions, plucking Gilbert by the sleeve now and then, to call his attention to some bi S farm, and ask if he knew who lived there. t last, however, when Gilbert pointed to a great h ane One hill, its windows gleaming in the sun, a < of snowy sheep in a pasture near it, and said that some friends of his father lived there, Winifred’s chat- ter ceased. “Is it near Great Hemlocks? Are we almost at your father’s place ?” she asked, and then on Gilbert’s telling her it was only a mile or so farther, Winifred straight- ened her hair ribbons, leaned forward to give one glance at Felicia, then sat very erect, folding her hands. When they swung into a broad driveway, between two stone posts and puffed rather slowly up between the solemn hemlocks from which the place took its name, up and up, till they came out again into the bright sunlight, Felicia’s heart was beating fast. She kb peed Ci See rE wa BO oe Pe anes ToT PUGPUL PRES VEPUEE TAR TUETERTESTS GELELTER TERTERT EE TOT PETA ITE TEES PON BET TICLE TPE PTE SAR OE PERNT YE? DPIC TU ESTEE TY STS SE Seite tae MEME APNE Sa Tera Ee Pn Tet Crea occ ceca eka eeeects eee Sissedh ap saebbesa alas a SgPMedUdEMaZShcaUE ES MLSeE AML Inecota tas Lie Mansddsuaaade uaaeeuateseemaahunc tc tesaaecomane.t 120 Felicia’s Folks saw a beautiful house, larger than any she had ever seen before, with broad piazzas and stately pillars, and all sorts of windows. On the piazza were lounging chairs of wicker and bamboo, with bright and dull- hued cushions here and there. Down from the piazza sloped a green velvet lawn, dotted with flowering shrubs in some parts, in others unbroken. Felicia’s eyes saw it all, but they had no chance to dwell on it, for as the automobile stopped at the foot of the steps leading to the piazza, a tall, grave- faced man held out his hand. ‘May I help you out?” he asked. “Iam sure you are Gilbert’s little friend Felicia Lane, and I am very glad to see you.” “Oh, thank you, sir,’ and Felicia’s shining eyes looked up at him as she stepped out, her hand held firmly in his. ‘“ We are all so delighted to be here, and we think it was so kind of you to ask us. This is Miss Shaw, and beyond her is Winifred Harlow,” and while Gilbert smiled to see that the introductions were taken off his hands, Felicia stood close by his father as Miss Shaw and Winifred received their greetings. Winifred tripped over her own feet in her eagerness to reach the ground, with the result that she would have pitched head foremost if it had not been for Mr. Faunce’s hand. “Oh, dear!” she said to Felicia a moment later, as they stood watching the boys tumble out of the other cars. “I needn’t talk about Nate Horner being awk-Great Hemlocks 121 ward or any one else; what kind of a first impression do you suppose I made on Mr. Faunce? Felicia, have you any pins? I stepped on the hem of my skirt— mother says nobody could do it, short as my skirts are, but I manage to. Oh, thank you. Miss Shaw, will you please pin me up?” For a few moments she looked doleful, but after that everything was forgotten in the delight of wandering over the beautiful grounds. “Seems as if there couldn’t be anything prettier in the world than those terraces and rose arbors,” said Mr. Fosdick to Felicia when he found himself beside her at onetime. “J’ve counted more than fifteen dit- ferent kinds of roses that I don’t know, and most as many more that I’m not any way sure of, beside those I’m acquainted with. Look at ’em climbing up and nodding down at us! I declare it’s a pretty sight.” “TI do wish Mrs. Cope might see them,” said Felicia ; “and the water-garden, I wish she could see that. Did you ever see anything lovelier than those pond- lilies, the pink ones and the white ones? And all along the edges the wild azaleas, and that beautiful purple loosestrife! Let’s go down there again fora minute and look, Mr. Fosdick. Winifred is with Miss Shaw sitting in one of the rose arbors, so she won’t miss us.” “JT should hate to have her miss me,” said Mr. Fos- dick as they walked down a little winding path, over some gnarled tree roots, then down an irregular flight eae see BS Ese aE bie WR AUT Pye DEY es Tap see eR RTE CIS Va Larne ates, tre te ent EME RTP ee ert et ey ar ecl et cuhe Sck co eae ae122 Felicia’s Folks of stone steps to the water-garden. “ Well now, this is a wonderful spot, isn’t it? Let’s stoop down and see our faces in the pool, or whatever you call it. Lyddy would like this, without doubt.” 4 “IT hope Lyddy is not some one who should have been invited to the party and was left out by mistake,” said a voice behind Felicia, and she turned to see Mr. Faunce with a square flat leather case in his hands. “Oh, no, sir,” said Felicia quickly; “she didn’t ex- pect to be invited; she’s Mrs. Cope, our next door neighbor; perhaps Gilbert has told you about her; he’s seen her three or four times. She loves flowers oat SancSba/k So oUSAcod 4 ec 4 edu EN kane ac AGPS SSSR asec cobes ae a ALASESREN DRE and all growing things dearly. Perhaps she wouldn’t say much to you about how beautiful she thought everything here, but afterward we should all hear about it. She’s the floral decorator for our new library grounds.” “Gilbert has mentioned her,” said Mr. Faunce, smil- ing to himself as he remembered how his son had re- ferred to Mrs. Cope—She’s always afraid I won’t ‘realize my privileges,’ as she calls it,” Gilbert had told him; “and she’s like a self-appointed guardian to Mr. Lane and Felicia and almost everybody in Black- berry Hill.” “Yes, sir, 1 knew he would have told you about her,” said Felicia, “because she’s a very important person.” “So I judged,” said Mr. Faunce, smiling at Mr. Fos- dick over her head. “I thought you might like to see SR ca at tate ere Re ber ennai a re eh a it NO ee 1h aN Ip ae eA ON NOR, BEA TPN ERAT RONG: He SR Fe EAS BM OE pe GRGreat Hemlocks 123 the flowers and trees in this mirror,” and he opened the leather case, and spread it before Felicia. She saw that there were two dark surfaces, like black glass, she thought, framed in the leather. “Take it,” said Mr. Faunce holding it out to her. “T know you are the kind of little girl who can be trusted not to drop it. Hold it so that you will see what is behind you, a little at one side, so that your face will not be reflected in it. There!” Felicia looked. She saw the tiny flowers on their swaying stalks, the great trees in the background, their branches moving in the breeze, the June sky with its fleecy, sunlighted clouds, and a little grassy hillock. “ Oh,” she cried, “ what is it, Mr. Faunce? I never thought there could be anything so beautiful. All the things are so small and so perfect, and all mov- ing in the breeze. There’s even a butterfly. Look, Mr. Fosdick! Look quick!” she said, hurrying to share her treasure for fear it might vanish. “ Please what is it, Mr. Faunce ?” “Tt is a Claude Lorraine mirror,” said Mr. Faunce, smiling at her. “It is named for a famous land- scape painter who lived in Europe a long time ago. The glass is slightly convex, you see, and it is that and the peculiar preparation of the mirror that make the tiny landscapes so beautiful.” “Ts it the only one in the world—this one?” asked Felicia. “Oh, may Winifred look in it?” pomeettctcpliaes on Shesai ad Steere eayt tye tetra ss ar at eer eae* ibe evapora ota ee ite abe enantio PAR ay ae See ire ers Sree ae am a PA Doll a SPY Ee aE SATS OLA TRA EA ET Ws 124 Felicia’s Folks “Certainly ; we’ll find her as soon as you have seen a few more pictures in it,” said her host, ‘and ie Just then there was the sound of a silver whistle, soft but clear. “Pardon me,” said Mr. Faunce, as he took out his watch. “I can scarcely believe it,” he added, “ but in fifteen minutes it will be time for our supper on the lawn. We have set the hour early, because of what is to come afterward,” and he gave a quizzical glance at Felicia. ‘‘ We shall just have time to look at the pictures I want you to see, walking back to the rose ) arbor where I saw your friend sitting with Miss Shaw.” ‘Mr. Faunce,” said Felicia, as she went up the flight of sunken steps with a tall friend on each side, “if | shouldn’t ever go anywhere again till ’m an old, old lady, this would have been enough—it certainly would!”CHAPTER XII FRIENDS AND FAIRIES Tue feast on the velvet lawn was one long remem- bered by the children of Blackberry Hill. The strange and delicious things they ate, the beautiful glass and china from which they were served, the white-capped maids who flitted over the lawn from table to table, and seemed to know their wishes by instinct—every- thing was like fairy-land. There were seven tables, with three or four at each table; Mr. Faunce had consulted Miss Shaw as to the most agreeable arrangement of the guests, and the re- sult was most delightful. Miss Shaw herself sat with Nate Horner and Ned Hilliard and Donald French; Mr. Lane had three of the younger boys with him ; Felicia sat with Mr. Fosdick, Gilbert and little Ben Kingman; Winifred was close by with Mr. Ledyard and Ted Hilliard, Ben’s special friend, and Mr. Faunce had a watchful eye for the other three tables at one of which he sat with Jack French, Bobby and one of the little boys. Felicia’s eyes were like two stars as she looked about her, scarcely knowing what she ate. Winifred, glanc- ing at her from time to time, felt that her friend was neglecting her opportunities. 125 A eg ett et aa Wael bit eles aad reer apne Tatts Peteyte ney ~ res oer ere ee a te areae a" oe ae a oo ee Ce og a ear rn mone fe amare oar ear Baral thinner eee ae at eA Oe ee Le eee Em Le reer ree oe 126 Felicia’s Folks “ Look at her, Mr. Ledyard,” said Winifred ; “ she’s eating that fluffy cream without realizing it! I never saw anybody like Felicia. What are you looking at ?” she demanded as Felicia’s glance met hers, across the space between the two tables. “It’s that vista. Gilbert’s just been telling me about it,” said Felicia softly. “ A vista is a view, Winifred, that you get between things, way off; the gardeners make it, if it isn’t there at first.” Winifred turned to Mr. Ledyard, her face puckered with amusement. | wen 94 ey ene wmaoce 9 99 , ie ‘ ] ‘Doesn't that sound crazy ?” she asked him. and then she turned back again to her friend. tc TF : ; 3 :: a4 5 as : - - How do tney make 10! she asked. + ‘r ; h ‘ ang ] “ wn : : They cut down bushes and branches of trees that os baw ; . 7? nas alense c¢ 15441] wr ie4 . —— . Snut 1t out. sald Felicia. Hittie Dy little. till you see it area 1 ro. That viste ia of o nian af the ee more an more. Nat ViSta iS i piece Of t06 Fiy er ] 4 1] bank and the lovely hill slope. Can you see it from where you sit ?” * NOt quite,” she said, and then she looked at Mr. Ledyard, who was watching the friends with interest. “There are places where Felicia goes, in her mind, where I don’t follow her,” said Winifred hal lf sorrowful, half amused. ‘ Miss 7s 3A ] 1 1} . Winifred shook her head, and cave a small sigh. Shaw Says Our temperaments are entirely different, and she thinks that’s a good founda- tion for friendship, as long as our tastes are generally alike. Though they don’t seem to be just this minute,” she added, attacking her “ luffy cream” with renewed° 1 ee Friends and Fatries 127 zest. “ Mother says I’m nota very ethereal child, Mr. wee I’m not sure whether that word is just right, but it means you’re pretty solid, and you enjoy thine you can take right hold of isn using your imagina- ion much, mother told me.’ “Tam made a good deal like that myself,” confessed Mr. Ledyard, “so I appreciate your feelings.” . But - wouldn’t want Felicia one bit different,” said Winifred earnestly ; “of course you know I love her just the way she is.” “We ali do,” said Mr. Ledyard with so much deci- sion in his tone that Winifred’s loyal heart was satisfied. When at last the supper was over, Mr. Faunce, rising from his seat, blew the silver whistle to attract the at- tention of his guests. “Our next neighbors,” and he pointed toward the west, “are to have a little entertainment this evening, for the pleasure of their guests and friends, and I have permission to take my guests over there. We will walk along through the wood path that starts close to the hemlocks, and by the time we reach my neigh- bors’ grounds they will be ready to see us. The neighbors are Mrs. Creighton and her daughter Miss Natalie.” The guests were gazing at him, all wide-eyed and some, it must be admit ted, open-mouthed. Almost in silence they rose from their seats and straggled across the lawn, down to the wood path, Mr. Faunce leading the way. But they forgot to be embarrassed a few mo- Sean ar od Ee ES ISETY POM SSCL 1 sea ELpees peer e cree eases 128 Felicia’s Folks ments later, when their host stopped before a big rock which stood near the beginning of the path. ‘“ Hullo!” he called, and from all around him there came“ Hullo!” growing fainter and fainter, till the last one could scarcely | ry i said Mr. Faunce to little Ben, who was standing near. “( ‘all something as loud as you can.” ‘““Who’s the echo?” called the boy in his high clear voice, and “ Who’s the echo?” came back from right and left and above and below, or so it seemed to the listeners. Then all the others tried it, and as the obliging echo answered, the guests fell to talking and laughing with one another again, and forgot the ordeal be ‘fore them —the meeting of nobody knew how many strangers. But Felicia, walking with Winifred, was delightedly imagining new pleasures in store for them. “Don’t you think Miss Natalie sounds very tall and slender and beautiful?” she asked Winifred. “ With brown eyes and red-gold hair and a lovely trailing lace gown? ‘That’s the way it sounds to me.” “It sounds as much that way to me as any other,” said Winifred truthfully. “ What does Mrs. Creighton pene like to you, Felicia ?” “TI can’t quite tell,” and Felicia half shut her eyes to think eh ; “it sounds fine, and gray-haired and al- most like black velvet, Winifred, 1 think. Doesn’t it to youn 7” ‘ Maybe,” said Winifred cautiously. ‘See how dark ve heard.39-9 SHE PERFEGI LY BEAUAIEUL:3 = a9 i Fe ahi bar Sulsate ni Ser oane oe baa eo atch eos t es SeatiasFriends and Fatries 129 it’s getting, Felicia. I can hardly tell which are green shiny laurel leaves and which are pink laurel blossoms now.” The path was bordered with laurel, and it broadened as they went on. At last they came to the end of it, and passed through a little wicket gate, and were sud- denly in a wide clearing. Over at one side there was a grove of pines, standing well apart from each other, and near the grove was a knoll; on the terraced side of this knoll were placed rows of seats, some of which were already filled with people, talking and gazing about them. As Mr. Faunce and his guests advanced in a strag- gling line across the green, a tall, slender young woman stepped from a group standing at the foot of the knoll, and when she reached Mr. Faunce held out her hand with a charming smile. “Tam so glad to see you,” she said, “and all your friends,” as she included the entire company with a raceful gesture. “I have saved seats right in front for them, so they might not miss anything. I do hope they will enjoy it.” Felicia looked at her with her heart in her eyes. “Tsn’t she perfectly beautiful ?” whispered Winifred, breathing hard. “It’s so dark I can’t see the color of her eyes, but her hair is like what you imagined, and she has a Jace scarf, almost trailing.” “ Miss Natalie,” said Gilbert, stepping forward, “Id like specially to introduce Mr. Lane to you, and Felicia¥ hisathc ead cane os Maes Sat kt eee anes E pear (ic ike sepa ge Dee ee ee ate ata Pare rarer eres nolan Somaya re eRe hw eo LOLS SS an bp apayn eer paar een Eee See te eet 130 —and Winifred Harlowe, Felicia’s best friend,” he es : scien ie “) ro lf micnhiay yy crié¢ : € added. just in time, with a half-mischievous glance at As j & thy < a tee Ds rwel wh aalra ‘ A +1 . ‘ > #17 — Winifred’s scarlet cheeks. ‘“* And there are two ar +] +] oa aes widen lek the line to Miss Loree otners, he sald, cvolmg aiong& the ine to JyLiIss . 4 : “tive . hi i. a8. shaw, who stood talking to Mr. Fosdick. Y r , } ei = << en Tes . “These are the two little girls who are friends of co 8 a Mache. aa 2 al “ Carina Lotti, sald Miss Natalie, and she held out her T ars . lax, ¢x7n woolTa bands to them both. 7 heard hen pias two weeks ago, and I must tell you about it. éé 1} re a oe “+ Lnals mee } . , — li ft+a, 4 She writes to us,” said Felicia, her eyes UW] lifted to the beautiful face: “‘she sends lovely post-cards, and 5 m I 5 sometimes letters to Winifred and me. isn’t 1t sweet ¢ “TI fancy she enjoys doing it,” said Miss Natalie; “I ‘ 7 *5 am sure she does. + S woe / : ‘ n 7 7 aain AT ows tne rets a few more than I do,” said Winifred. \f but I don’t mind. She’s visited Felicia. Mother and I haven’t any place for visitors, though we'd just love “ I J : , ¥ . 2 ,. 11 a ae | 4 ic 99 to have them. We live in Blackberry Hill station. c¢ 7 - awed [Ants 2) eas ces Tato]; < Misoah How interesting,” said Miss Natalie. Might I go 53 to see you some day ? Winifred choked, and then clutched Felicia’s arm, as their new friend added, “ And to the parsonage, to see you, Felicia ?” “ Oh, how lovely!” they cried together. ‘“ Will you —truly ?” “You can see how much pleasure it would give them,” said Mr. Lane quietly. ‘I hope you willsurely come.” “Indeed J will,” she answered, and then turned toFriends and Fairies 131 greet Miss Shaw and Mr. Fosdick as Gilbert introduced them. Mr. Ledyard proved to be an old acquaintance, and he drew forward little ae and Bobby. “This is the boy with the beautiful voice, isn’t it?” Miss Natalie asked Mr. Ledyard as she held Bobby’s hand and looked at his serious face, and Bobby turned crimson. “Carina Lotti told me of you,” said Miss Natalie; “she told me about the Christmas party when you sang for her playi oa and she said she should never forget i if i “There, Bobby, aren’t you proud now ? ” asked Win- ifred. ‘I should be.” “He needn’t answer that,” said Miss Natalie kindly. “ Boys who can sing may be excused from talking as much as the rest of us. Am I to meet your other friends, Gilbert, one by one, or as a whole?” As a whole,” said Gilbert, for Nate Horner had begged to be excused from a ee introduction, and the other boys had joined in the pise “These are all Blackberry Hill boys, and all the Blackberry Hill boys there are,” he sai id, waving his hand toward the line 66 behind him. The boys all took off their hats and murmured some- thing in response to Miss Natale’s greeting, but no one could have told what they sald. 66 NT Axcr 79) k 7 t th o5 ee id Mi Now I want to take you to my mother,” sal iss Natalie. “before you sit down.” She walked on, between Mr. Faunce and Mr. Lane,vf SSS RSCG AC ll es ASA cn MDNR 132 Felicia’s Folks stepping with grace which Winifred, close behind with Felicia, tried to imitate. “Do I look as if I were walking like Miss Creigh- ton?” she inquired of Gilbert in a lowtone. “I’m trying to.” “ Not exactly,” admitted Gilbert ; “ but it may be the difference in the length of your skirts, partly.” ‘ No, it isn’t,” said Winifred with her usual frank- ness; “it’s the way I put my feet down or take them up or something. I'll have to practice.” “Felicia doesn’t know whether she’s walking or fly- ing,’ said Gilbert; “ which is it, Felicia ? ” ‘Tm walking,” she said demurely, “ but I feel as if I could fly if I tried.” Ten minutes later they were in their seats, waiting with eager faces for the entertainment to begin ; they did not in the least know what it was to be. But in the midst of Felicia’s delight and wonder, something else tugged at her heart. “To think of Mrs. Creighton being blind,” she said to Winifred. ‘Oh, I never imagined that. Isn’t it sorrowful ? ” as . “She didn’t look sorrowful,” said Winifred shrewdly ; ‘“T’m sure she didn’t, Felicia.” “No,” said Felicia thoughtfully, “she really didn’t, and she smiled just like her daughter. I wanted—lI wanted to kiss her cheek, didn’t you, Winifred ? ” Winifred gave herself a little shake before she an- swered. Ree en Se eeFriends and Fairies 133 “No, I never thought of such a thing,” she said— “but perhaps I’d have liked to do it, if you had. Felicia, see those people coming through the wood, and sitting down there where the light is shining. They have instruments ! ” “It’s an orchestra, a real orchestra,” said Felicia, under her breath. “Oh, listen! listen! Winifred.” “What is it?” she asked, leaning forward to Miss Shaw who sat two seats beyond her, when there came a pause in the music. “ Please, what is it they have played?” “It is the overture to the ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ by Mendelssohn, Felicia,” said Miss Shaw softly. ‘And it tells me what you are to see in a few moments. Listen and watch; don’t lose anything— or let Winifred. There is a rare treat in store for you.” The next afternoon, when the “ Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the good-bye to her new friends, and the ride home in the moonlight were things of the beautiful day before, Felicia wrote her mother one of the longest let- ters she had ever sent. “There never could be anything else so beautiful, mother,” she wrote of the “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” “There were all those stately people— Hippolyta (she was queen of the Amazons) and Theseus, and Hermia and Helena, and the young gentlemen who wanted to marry them—and there were the funny ones like Quince and Snug and Bottom.Daina soars Bessie Maes Meth es 134 Felicia’s Folks Oh, how we laughed at them! and then, oh, mother, then there were the fairies, dancing everywhere, in and out of the woods, hiding and peeping out from trees ! ‘And Puck, mother, Puck was like a will-o’-the- wisp, a real firefly, and there was a little light that shone on him and danced just as he did. And the “Once the fairies made a ring, and at other times they flew in little winding processions, and all the time the music played. Winifred and I squeezed eacl 1 other’s hands till they ached—only we didn’t know it till it was all over! “When we were coming home by moonlight we were as quiet as mice, Gilbert told me—but I think he didn’t mind. “He knew 1 ras._~because we couldn’t think of me KneW It was ecause Wwe coulant think Ol] it anything that seemed worth saying after what we'd heard. “J like his father; he was very kind to me, and to all of us, and some day he is coming over to Black- berry Hill to see us and the library, and to bring Miss Natalie Creighton, who is the most beautiful person I ever saw. “ But Mr. Faunce looks very, very stern when he isn’t talking or listening to any one, and once when [ looked at him and then at father, I just hugged my- self, and thought ‘What a lucky girl you are, Felicia Lane !’ “ Wasn’t it fine of Mr. Faunce and Gilbert to invite us all that way? But when I thanked them Mr. Faunce laughed and said, ‘I really believe we have had more fun out of it than you have.’ And I really and truly believe they did, mother, and Miss Natalie, too.”Friends and Fairies 135 “And when you come home, mother—oh, won’t it be pretty soon ?—there won’t be one single thing in the world left to wish for, by Your loving “ FELICIA.” . 4 Gy ee ae 7 +] by 4 4 oa cs 3 a po i ss | 4 ey 9 % LyPosie shai col eNOS Seeding ate Spee: esMEREE EEE CHAPTER XIII THE LIBRARY OPENS THE next event in Blackberry Hill was the “ Open- ing Day” at the library. That had been set for the sec- ond Saturday in June, and although it was not quite the sort of day Felicia and her friends would have chosen, it “turned out better than it might have,” as Mrs. Cope, in an uncommonly cheerful frame of mind, remarked. It was a day of frequent showers, but they were not severe enough to keep visitors away, and every one was in excellent spirits. "* } . . "Lis weather borrowed from April ** ‘ remarked Mrs. Topham, who arrived at the parsonage beaming, in the midst of a smart shower in the morning, wit Desmazes and her husband. “I want them to see all there is to see, this morning, before the folks crowd in, and try to talk to them. They get confused, not knowing much of our language, that is, not to have it right ready at their tongues’ ends, and then it makes ‘em appear sort of slow-witted, which they aren’t, either of them. Suppose you hop right into the wagon and go up there with us now, Felicia, and help me point out everything that’s of interest. She can, can’t she, Mr. Lane?” “Nobody has any duties at home to-day, I think,” 136The Library Opens 137 sald the minister; ‘“ Felicia and I have been invited to take dinner with Mr. Fosdick to be as near the scene of action as possible all the time, and Winifred is included in the invitation. My Green Corners class will be here this afternoon; the young people have hired a couple of barges and they’re coming in a body.” “T think all the towns round about will be well represented,” said Mrs. Topham, settling her bonnet as they drove up the hill. “I suspect they’ll all feel a mite crestfallen to think how well we’ve done without making any outside talk or calling for assistance, but they’re all kind folks, too—they’ll be glad for us. My sakes! Felicia, there are teams coming from the Wil- lowville road already. It’s well we made an early start.” When they reached the library there were half a dozen people who were seeing the room under Mrs. Cope’s guidance. She received Mrs. Topham’s party with an air of agreeable condescension which was almost too much for the gravity of her lifelong friend, She talked to Mr. and Mrs. Desmazes in a loud voice, which grew louder whenever she gathered from their expressions that they failed to understand her. “ James, I want you to listen to Lyddy,” said Mrs. Topham to her husband drawing him to one of the windows near which Mrs. Cope and the patient Desmazes were standing, looking at a picture of George Washington, presented by the Markhams. “I Soe ee ee eee eee eee erence een recSessa ass SGME SAIS NG AEE AEs emu Sa ASSP ahd caREA aE (tee: SARE eae Se oe eg mene e RR oe Beer eet Ee wets Be) 138 Felicia’s Folbs believe she thinks being foreign-born is the same as being deaf—if she can only shout loud enough they'll understand her; that’s the way she sounds to me.” At last, when some friends from Green Corners appeared, Mrs. Cope permitted the Desmazes to escape from her attentions, and Mrs. Topham and Felicia took them in charge. All morning the visitors came and went, and the Blackberry Hill people acted as hosts and hostesses. “‘ Lyddy was all for having a ‘reception committee’ at the first,” said Mr. Fosdick to Mr. Topham just before noon time, “ but I don’t see as there’s been any real need. You are going home for dinner ?” “ Yes; mother and I aren’t used to being right in the middle of things all the time, as you are,” said Mr. Topham; “we're going to drive home, have a cold dinner, and then we'll rest up a little, mother and I will, before coming back, so’s to be fresh for the even- ing. We'll have a bite of supper both before and after. I guess there won’t be many meals eaten at regular times to-day.” “Felicia and I’ve set dinner time at half-past one, thinking that might be a kind of a slack season for the visitors,” said Mr. Fosdick, “but I don’t know as there’ll be any slack season. I’m going to give them a fish-chowder such as they seem to think I have a knack for, and Felicia’ll toss some of her biscuits together ; we’ve got the ingredients all on hand. I don’t expect we shall make much of supper, any of us;The Library Opens 129 a little jam and cake maybe, taken standing up, and a left-over biscuit or so.” After dinner, when Felicia and Winifred; having washed and wiped the dishes, returned to the library, no one was there but Mrs. Cope, but she seemed to be in a state of considerable excitement. On one of the tables was a square box to which she called Felicia’s attention. “Td like to know what you make of that,” she said to the little girl. “ Read that address.” “Gilbert Faunce, Care of Blackberry Hill Library. Not to be opened till called for,’” read Felicia slowly. “Oh, it must mean that Gilbert is coming here this afternoon. Did the expressman bring it?” “He did,” said Mrs. Cope, “and he called out to me as he was going to ‘ take particular notice of the direc- tions on the box.’ He’s one that doesn’t quite know his place, but he means well enough. It’s come from a big city shop, for there’s the name, Greenwell and Com- pany, stationers. Now you don’t suppose he’s invested in a lot of foolish writing paper that nobody’ll use, just because we put that old secretary of the Frenchs’ over in the corner? Boys have no common sense about such matters.” Winifred tilted the box up on one end. “JIt’s too heavy for stationery,” she said promptly. *Tt’s as heavy as rocks.” ‘“ Now I hope ’tisn’t any specimens,” said Mrs. Cope dubiously. ‘That would be just likea boy. They’re STS eveeye CET URS Ey CeaE ft a coe a a alae SUAS EIR ONSETOOTEETIEINE GL ONTER rausyetraaeenayterqerane peeme: NERIOTON SET TT ee eee nnnSRAMAMUiRA RIT a GSS NERS IS Mette an vedic inane 140 Felicia’s Folks all for collecting things that nobody wants to see, and that make a place look all cluttered up. I shall be real tried with him if it’s any of those gee-odys or whatever their names are.” “ They wouldn’t come from a stationer’s,” said Felicia, her chin in the cup of her hand. “The clock says after half-past two now, Mrs. Cope. Maybe he’ll be here pretty soon.” In fact it was only a few moments later that Gilbert arrived, but although he seemed much pleased to see the = box, he made no motion to open it. Instead he walked to one of the windows, and looked up at the sky. “Sun’s coming out,” he said to Felicia, as he turned to see Mrs. Cope and the two little oirls standing near the box with hopeful expressions on their faces. “ it i thought it was going to stay out a few minutes I'd open the box.” He looked at Mrs. Cope with the teasing eyes which Felicia had learned to know meant some sort of a sur- prise in store. But Mrs. Cope was in no mood for teas- ing. es ol ‘elicia and Winifred, you come down-stairs with me, and out to the garden for a minute,” she said shortly. “ Your friend will excuse you, just for a min- ute,” and she gazed over Gilbert’s head. ‘ Perhaps ch > he’ll prefer to open his box in private.” “Oh, it’s some fun, Mrs. Cope,” said Felicia as they went down-stairs ; “ he’s just langhed at me.” But Winifred for once sympathized with Mrs. Cope.The Library Opens 141 ‘I think he’s a real tease,” she said indignantly. “ Who cares what’s in his box, anyway ?” Felicia laughed. “T do,” she said. ‘ Mrs. Cope, don’t our badges look pretty to-day on our white dresses ? ” “ They do,” said Mrs. Cope, “and I’m real proud of you both. I want to show you something ; you know I didn’t wish any help about that bed where I planted the forget-me-nots. Well, you look over there, now, and see if you know why.” Hand in hand Felicia and Winifred followed Mrs. Cope to an oval bed near the center of the grounds. When they reached it, Mrs. Cope stood aside, and the children, obedient to her gesture, stepped forward. The bed had a border of candytuft, planted thickly and kept from straggling; it was white, pale pink, rose pink and crimson, and had been started in boxes at home by Mrs. Cope, and put in the ground without any help from the little floral decorator’s assistants. In two long rows and a short one (between the two) she had set out tiny forget-me-not plants, and had told Felicia and Winifred that she wished to take entire charge of that bed herself. “Tt needs special care, and you might over or under water it,” she had said when issuing her commands. “T’m trying an experiment, and I want to see how it will come out.” The children had regarded her wishes—indeed they had plenty of other beds to water without touching that PP AA A SS? HE MYO RC SE ae se yOT eT eC PreS Teer c TTS sii a Tek ePaper eeaTeercas ote retrea le tstiaas Soke out uc na Lecce we oder tereSue SLE MaAeUUi3c Bic A GRE SLA omRA AAA eka Sa MM MO AR RNAS 142 Felicia’s Folks one. Now as they stood looking down at it, they understood why they had been requested to leave it alone, for there, plainly lettered in the little forget-me- nots, were three words, “Felicia and Winifred.” The letters were not perfect in shape ; some of them re- quired a bit of imagination to make them unmistak- able, but the effect of the whole was surprisingly clear. “Oh, Mrs. Cope!” cried Felicia and Winifred, and in another moment the floral decorator found herself al- most smothered by her young assistants. “TI intend to do it in something permanent,” said Mrs. Cope in a muffied but satisfied voice, “ now l’ve found I can do it; Nate Horner helped me plan it out, and we said at the time ’twould be a good idea to do the names in some permanent plant, a perennial that would spring up year after year, and be cut back and kept in shape. The letters being such a large size, a little blossom or leaf out o’ the line doesn’t make any difference ; in fact Nate said he thought they looked like ornamental flourishes ; we shall improve on some of the letters at our next setting out. The ‘1’ in Felicia isn’t all I could wish, nor the ‘f? in Winifred.” “T think they are beautiful,” said Felicia earnestly. “Don’t you, Winifred 2? “T do,” said her friend promptly, “and what’s more, I think they are a great honor: between our badges and our names in that flower bed I feel as if we'd had a great leal of honor. I guess mother will think SO, too,”Lhe Library Opens 143 “T should like to have a long flower bed with Mrs. Lydia Cope in nasturtiums,” said Felicia. “I think it would be handsome, but I suppose you’d rather not,” as Mrs. Cope shook her head. “That wouldn’t do at all,” she said briskly, “ for ’m only one of many ; all deserve mention if one does, for all have worked in their different ways. You two little girls are the only two; and Felicia being almost as you might say the founder of the enterprise it seems appro- priate—and you her intimate friend,” she added to Winifred who took her explanation with unusual meek- ness, while Felicia’s cheeks grew pink under this unex- pected tribute. “Why, I only thought of it,” she said ; “ everybody else has done everything except the little pieces of things I’ve helped about.” “. However that may be,” said Mrs. Cope, “ we'd bet- ter be getting up-stairs again before any more visitors come. The sun’s been out bright for ten minutes now, and perhaps your friend may have decided to open that box of his he was so mysterious about a while ago.” She led the way up-stairs with haste, but when they reached the library door at the head of the stairs, she stepped back with a sudden exclamation. The door stood open, but Gilbert was not in the room; at that moment they heard the toot of his horn, and the whirr of the automobile as it left the door of the post-office. With him had vanished the square box; but what wasSki aSheaik J NS ohe aaa AAL dsb ene teenca kdb ea ke mA a4 aaah ea Patho Senha, x SLi wera re se eetneT Spare haere cba nara rare Srerer orb Sabi heakaeeenaeeieur 144 Felicia’s Folks it that filled the room with such beauty, and sent bars and flecks of rich color over the walls? On one of the tables, where it would catch the sun, was a many-sided paper-weight of glass, and on top of one of the shelves near a window stood another. “Well I declare, that was a pretty thing for him to do,” said Mrs. Cope, stepping over the threshold after her momentary amazement. “ Prisms, you see, chil- dren. Look at the rainbow colors on the walls. and everywhere. My! look at that bar of rose-color and violet on the old secretary! Why, if the sun will only stay out, I guess we shall hear considerable said about this last gift to the library. Of course some might say it, wasn’t according to parliamentary rules for folks to go off and leave their gifts without waiting to see whether the board of trustees would accept them—but we haven’t held to strict rules from the first. I call those paper-weights a great addition.” “And Gilbert didn’t stay to let us thank him.” said Felicia sorrowfully. ‘IJ think that is too bad.” “He'll be back, you see if he isn’t,” said Winifred, and indeed she was right, for Gilbert returned an hour later with four of the boys whom he had picked up on the road, taken for a ride, and brought in triumph to the library. “Say, Felicia, he’s all right, Gilbert is.” said Ned Hilliard at the first opportunity, in a hoarse whisper which could scarcely have failed to reach its subject, standing near by with Mrs. Cope. “He’s kind of aLhe Library Opens 146 don’t-come-too-near-me chap at first, but when you get to know him, as we’re getting to, you don’t mind.” “Vm glad you like him,” said Felicia softly, “for father says he needs just such friends as you boys can be to him.” “Your father’s all right, too,” said Ned, and Donald French joined heartily in this sentiment. “ We all think so,” he said briefly but in a most con. vincing tone. “Oh, thank you,” said Felicia, with the delight she always showed at any praise of her father. “I think so myself.” “JT shall call you by your first name after this,” Mrs. Cope remarked to Gilbert, to whom she had stepped up almost immediately on his entrance, hold- ing out her hand. “ You’ve associated yourself with Blackberry Hill folks now, by this appropriate gift of yours, and also by mixing in with our boys. You won’t find any better boys than ours, no matter where you hunt,” and she looked at him searchingly. “Mrs. Cope,” said Gilbert in his most gallant man: ner, “if you will count me a worthy associate for them, that is all the honor I could desire.” Mrs. Cope’s face wore its most cheerful expression as she gave him a slight push toward the door, her hand on his arm. “You come help me entertain what’s coming in now,” she said. “You can get ’round her if anybody can, I guess. It’s Miss Kingman, with a book under a Ee tire terir eres crerry ROUpR ago be ehasRra ss Una ea bee146 Felicia’s Folks her arm, and there’s Willard Slocum’s head looming up behind her. MHere’s a chance for you to exercise all the ways and manners you’ve got, young man—you’ll need them !” rerianinatninnsrm tsi iainiia nse aR leh Gaara eset aaah a a" bh i o = = b= isCHAPTER XIV WINIFRED SPEAKS AFTER the great day of the library opening, life in Blackberry Hill went on its usual quiet way for two weeks. Every one was busy, with work for the coming fair added to the ordinary duties. And Mrs. Topham, Mrs. Cope, Mrs. Markham and her daughters, beside many others, were putting up strawberries in various forms for possible sale. ‘I should think the firm in the city that I do my trade with would wonder what’s come over us up here in the hills,” said Mr. Fosdick to Mrs. Cope one morn: ing. “I don’t know ’s there’s any use my buying any more o' those lightning jars that have always been so popular, not this year at any rate. Folks are all for fancy shapes. I want to know if you saw that jam that Miss Ellen Markham has put up in those fancy tumblers ; there’s considerable cutting round the bottom of ’em, and up toward the top there’s a gold band—I said to her that I’d always thought her wild strawberry preserve would be good enough for the crowned heads of Europe if served out of a tin cup, but she allowed she wasn’t planning for crowned heads ; she was plan- ning for the rich folks the Faunce boy intends to fetch over here. ‘Crowned heads are apt to be cramped 147aye epterreserpr prota te ier TL desi hea i252 kh tance este RM RE SMRASG 148 Felicia’s Folks financially, when it comes to little extras like jam,’ she told me. She spoke real familiar and careless of royalty—her jokes, you know what they are,” he added. “M-m,” said Mrs. Cope, absently. “I'd like to look at those smallish glass vases on the top shelf there. How many are there of those? Six? Well, I’ll take them.” “Those are intended for posies, Lyddy,” and Mr. Fosdick held one toward his customer. “ You see é “I don’t care what they’re intended for,” said Mrs. Cope. “They’ll be used for a new recipe for straw- berry jelly—strawberry and ”—she compressed her lips before the last word could pass through them—“ a new recipe,” she repeated, “ something I learned of through Miss Shaw.” I shouldn’t try to make it even if you told me how,” be m7 aid Mr. Fosdick. “ Well. good luck to you, Lyddy. Here come some more women after glassware. I won- der if I couldn’t work off those old goblets on some of c ‘em. I don’t see why not.’ ‘What you doing in the preserving line?” he asked Felicia that afternoon when she a Winifred stopped for some errand, on their way home from school. “Or do you leave that for Loreena Parks ?” “T have to leave it for Miss Loreena,” said Felicia. laughing up at him, “for father says I mustn’t try to do one single thing more, Mr. Fosdick, till school is over, for I have a part in the last-day exhibition, andWinifred Speaks 149 of course I rehearse with Pedro every afternoon for a little while, and I practice three-quarters of an hour on the piano.” “Don’t say another word,” and Mr. Fosdick lifted his hand in protest. “You’ve made out a clear case for yourself, though I don’t see how you can cram quite as much into a day as all that comes to. Wini- fred and you keep up your duets, I suppose.” “Yes, we keep them up,” said Winifred, “but it’s only because I’m Felicia’s intimate friend—that’s the only reason she can bear it. I was never meant to play the piano. I don’t know just what my talents are, except that Mrs. Cope told mother, right before me, that she didn’t believe there was another man, woman or child living whose tongue could go as fast as mine.” “You're a splendid reciter,” said Felicia warmly. “Miss Shaw says you are the best one of us all for humorous pieces; you can keep your face straight and make everybody else laugh.” “JT don’t care for that sort of piece at all,” said Winifred discontentedly. “I don’t see why I do those best. What I lke is a very sad piece with sobs in it. When I was visiting Mrs. Hargate she took me to hear a real elocutionist, because I told her, when she asked me, I’d like that best of anything. The elocutionist was tall and dark and her voice went way down deep. I can make mine go that way if Miss Shaw would only let me; and one piece she spoke ina kind ofaSR aera ae Ea ae Lar Lee be be ee Se bre on es gehen amen 150 Felicia’s Folks hiss, her lips almost tight shut. That made me shiver! But there was another piece, where almost everybody died or else was left all sole alone, and it was full of sobs. I’ve practiced those till I think they sound al- most exactly like hers. Would you care to hear me do a few, Mr. Fosdick ? ” “You mean right here and now?” inquired the storekeeper. ‘““T’d just as soon,” said Winifred, obliging and even anxious. “I can do them any time.” ‘“ Let’s step outside, around toward the horse sheds,” said Mr. Fosdick, and he led the way. “That boy who tends store for me is a sort of a down-hearted chap at the best of times, and if there’s going to be any exhibition of sorrow, I’d a little rather have him out of hearing,” he said in explanation of his suggestion. “I saw over my shoulder that he was listening, mouth open, to all we said, and scattering Mrs. Cope’s granu- lated sugar all over the counter. Now let’s have the piece with as good sobs as you can manage.” “Tt is called ‘Alone,’” said Winifred. “1 found it in a book mother has.” She fixed her eyes on the roof of the horse sheds, clasped her hands before her, and began : ShBssgebg Shi ahaghteU Moh eed agua agdiG ‘‘<«The night was dark, the night was drear, The flying leaves were dry and sear.’ ’’ There were forty lines of this cheerful composition,Winifred Speaks 151 and Winifred repeated them without a mistake, and with many sobs and catchings of the breath. Felicia listened to her with open admiration. Mr. Fosdick paid the closest attention, and toward the last of the poem he appeared to be overcome by emotion of some sort, and had recourse to a large handkerchief in which he buried his features, and from which he emerged wiping his eyes. “That was first-rate,” he said cordially to Winifred, as the two friends turned eager faces to him, awaiting his verdict. “It showed memory and considerable alent of two-three kinds, in my opinion. But I guess Miss Shaw’s in the right of it to keep you to the hu- morous pieces ; you wouldn’t want a whole room full of folks all worked up till they cried out loud, now would your” “You haven’t cried much,” said Winifred decidedly. “T shouldn’t be a bit surprised if you’d laughed into that handkerchief instead of crying one single drop. Mother laughed one day. She said she felt kind of hysterical. I don’t see why.” ““Tut-tut,” said Mr. Fosdick, “I shall have to go down and speak real firm to your mother if she doesn’t appreciate talent when she hears it. You going on home now, children? Well, good-bye till next time. I shall be at the exhibition, that’s one thing cer- tain.” “Tt’s a real trial to me, Felicia, that people always—- almost always—laugh, or look as if they wanted to, bs Choad bem Core oPer tee tri ogotr Soe tiisn Te Usa a ke es hs aol SATS yr. ee ear wr a ma nae A ALESi sR eS ne S ce An aRGeancednm ot NORTE oy gitar ee pee eer el ee bene Snare 152 Felicia’s Folrs when I’m serious,” said Winifred. “I can’t help my face being round, and I can’t help my dimples, but they give people a wrong impression ; they’re sure to think there’s nothing to me but just fun.” “Oh, no, they don’t, Winifred,” said Felicia, “ not the ones like me that really know you. But isn’t it queer you wish just the opposite of what I used to wish when we first came here last year? I used to wish somebody would stand right up in church and say, ‘Just because Felicia Lane is our minister’s daughter, we mustn’t expect too much behavior of her.’ But now I don’t care; everybody here knows I’m a lit- le girl who likes fun as well as you do, and they don’t try to make me different.” ot ‘Do you suppose there will be many visitors at the exhibition ?” asked Winifred, loitering at the gate for a few last words. ‘“ Mother says now our town has grown to be such a popular place she feels we ought to expect strangers at any time.” “T shouldn’t think outsiders would care so very much about the school exhibition,” said Felicia thoughtfully. ‘ Winifred, suppose—just suppose—Mr. Faunce happened to come over that day with Mrs. Creighton and Miss Natalie—wouldn’t it be a splendid time? They’d see how lovely Miss Shaw is, and how pretty the schoolroom looks, and they’d hear your recitation, and the dialogue that all of us are in, and they’d see all the people, and then the library after- ward ! ” eeeWinifred Speaks 159 “If they come,” said Winifred, “I shall probably choke right up in my throat, I shall be so awfully scared. “Oh, no, you won’t,” said Felicia. “I think maybe they’ll come that day—from something Gilbert said to father.” “Oh, dear, I wish they wouldn’t,” said Winifred. “Felicia, I shall walk down the hill as nearly like Miss Natalie Creighton asIcan. You watch and see if I look any more like her, from the back, than I did that day. ‘I’ve been practicing, but of course I cannot see myself, and mother hasn’t seen Miss Natalie, so it’s no use for me to ask her, and she thinks my own way of walking is good enough for Blackberry Hill; but as I told her, ‘my lines may be cast elsewhere some day.’ That’s in a book, Felicia, and I only said it for fun, Don’t look so scared ; you know [ lke them cast right here where they are, and of course mother knows that, too. Now you watch me and see if I walk like Miss Natalie. “Do I?” she called, when she had gone a little distance. “Don’t be too polite, Felicia, tell me oO Li Uc. “T think you do,” called Felicia, her head on one side, considering the matter. “If you were tall, and your dress trailed in the back, you’d look as if you walked almost exactly the way Miss Natalie did.”’154 Felicia’s Folks ‘All right! Good-bye till to-morrow,” called Wini- fred. “ You’re so encouraging, Felicia. I shall keep on practicing.” A few moments later she burst in on her mother joyously, “T’ve had a beautiful time,” she said. “I’ve recited to Mr. Fosdick. I love it better than anything! If I lived in the city and we had money, Mrs. Hargate said I could learn to speak as well as the lady we heard, she thought. “And Felicia thinks I do walk quite a good deal like that beautiful Miss Natalie Creighton! What makes you so solemn, mother? Are you tired? Til do lots of things to help, right off.” ‘“ No, ’m not tired,” said Mrs. Harlow. “JI got kind of lonesome, that’s all.” ‘‘Lonesome!” echoed Winifred. “ Didn’t the trains come and people get off and everything just the way they always do ?’ “Yes, dear,” said Mrs. Harlow, “ yes, they came, and folks, plenty of them. Never mind; I’m not lonesome now you've come home. Folks get to be my age, and they’re liable to feel latinas once in a while. It can’t be ee I guess.” “Pm glad I don’t,’ "Said Winifred. “Id hate it! What are we going to have for supper, mother ? You’re sure you don’t feel lonesome any more ?” and she gave her mother’s shoulders a gentleshake. ‘“ Then laugh at me.”Winifred Speaks 155 And Mrs. Harlow, with the pain, of which no one knew, crying to be eased, looked at the little girl and laughed so heartily that Winifred was satisfied.are rT See eee ater EES Ca Ic seas egaechcle chiapas CHAPTER XV AN EVENTFUL DAY It happened as Felicia had guessed ; the school ex- hibition had not fairly begun when there came the sound of Gilbert’s horn. Mr. Fosdick was making a short speech to the children whom Miss Shaw had asked him to examine in geography—his favorite subject— and he paused as his ear caught the sound. “ Perhaps ’tisn’t exactly constitutional,” he said with a bow to Miss Shaw and the parents and friends gath- ered about the room, “but it seems likely there are some belated visitors, and seeing they’ve come from a distance it wouldn’t be overstepping the rules to wait a minute for them. They’ll want to hear this geograph- ical exhibition, I know.” In a few moments there appeared in the doorway Miss Natalie Creighton, Mr. Faunce. Gilbert, and a I young man with a studious face and a pair of dreamy yes behind his spectacles; this was Gilbert’s tutor. an absent-minded person who cared only for books, and had never won more than mild tolerance from his charge. “JT brought him along to wake hi a bit,” whis brought him along to wake him up a bit,” whis pered Gilbert to Miss Shaw when the introductions had 156An Eventful Day 159 been made; “ he’s never seen a district school, and it will do him good.” Everything went off so well that Miss Shaw felt justly proud of her pupils. The dialogue was much ap- plauded, and Winifred’s “ humorous piece” caused even the dignified Mr. Faunce to laugh heartily. “The child has undoubtedly a talent for recitation,” he said to Miss Shaw ; “she has an excellent voice, and a natural gift for amusing her listeners, that is evident. She might make a successful parlor entertainer in time.” Miss Shaw saved the well-earned praise to deliver it to Winifred some day when she needed encouragement. There was only one thing which seemed amiss. Mr. Lane had not arrived. He had told Felicia that he should be late, as he had an errand at the station at train time, but that was well past, and still there was no sign of the minister. Felicia’s face lost a little of its brightness as she watched the door, and listened for his step all in vain. “What is the matter with your little friend, Gil- bert?” asked Mr. Faunce, under cover of a song in which the whole class took vigorous part. ‘She looks as if something were troubling her.” “Tt’s because her father hasn’t come,” said Gilbert ; “she doesn’t half enjoy anything unless he sharesit. I believe PU slip out and tell Hurley to run the car down to the parsonage, and see if everything’s all right.” “ Better go yourself, too,” said his father. “Ill tell Miss Shaw.” PA et et Be a aera e ee eee eee eg LEE" cS Sah CG et dS ea ANCES eS 158 Felicia’s Folks The boy slipped out of the room, and jn another mo- ment the automobile whirred down the hill. As it reached the parsonage Gilbert sprang out, but as he went up the walk he saw a tiny figure standing in the open doorway. The chubby, brown-eyed stranger re- minded him in some way of Felicia, and in a moment his thoughts leaped to the truth. “Are you Johnny Lane, I wonder ?” he asked, and the little boy backed away from him, a shy smile on his face, not speaking a word, but nodding many times. “Come,” said the baby voice, addressing some one who was evidently in the study, “ come see boy.” In response to his summons there appeared in the hall a rosy, capable-looking young woman, who was followed by Mr. Lane. “ Ah, Gilbert, this is kind of you,” said the minister. “These are Felicia’s Aunt Mary, Miss Gordon, and her little brother, as I suppose you guessed. Incidentally, my son,” and he lifted the baby boy in his arms, “ but he doesn’t feel much acquainted with his father yet. I was not sure they would come to-day, so I did not tell Felicia, for fear of disappointing her; and we’ve talked so long, perhaps she is worried. I’m sorry.” “The exhibition is nearly over, sir,” said Gilbert. “Couldn’t I take you all up to the school just for the last of it ?” The minister looked doubtfully at his sister-in-law, but she spoke up with cheerful briskness. “T’m not a bit tired,” she said, “and as forny er Oe Sea An Eventful Day 159 Johnny, he slept all the way here, and he’s fresh as need be.” The class were repeating the sovereigns of England in chorus a few moments later, when the automobile stopped for the second time in front of the schoolhouse, Felicia’s lips moved with the others, but her eyes were on the door, and the corners of her mouth were not quite steady. “One step up, young man,” she heard Gilbert’s volce saying, and in another minute in he came, the tiny figure in its Russian blouse holding tightly to his hand, while behind came the minister and Miss Gordon. The group paused in the doorway. Miss Shaw did not turn her head. “Now will Felicia repeat the names of our presi- dents in order ?” said Miss Shaw. “Oh!” said Felicia, her eyes on the baby in the doorway, “ I—I can’t think of one of them!” “Why, Felicia!” said Miss Shaw, and then she turned, to follow the little girl’s gaze. “IT can tay alf’bet,” said the baby’s voice, ad- dressing Felicia. “A, b, t—a, b, t!” Felicia moved up the aisle from her seat as if she were perfectly oblivious to every one in the room; she saw only the baby. When she had almost reached the door, she broke into a little run. “It’s Johnny,” she said, as she passed Miss Shaw and the smiling, mysti- fied visitors. ‘It’s my little brother.” When she was close to the baby, she knelt and BS ee Tb CDRS eT PRET EEETTS Sa a160 Felicia’s Folks opened her arms, looking at him with all her loving heart in her eyes. “Tf he won’t go to her, he ought to be spanked,” said Mr. Fosdick to Mr. Hilliard. “I should consider this was a good time to start a tune if ever there was one. He remembers her—see. Well there, that’s all ok 190 right! For the baby, after a long, wondering” look at Felicia, took two steps forward, put his little arms around her neck, and snuggled his head down on her shoulder. “Don’t you see your Aunt Mary, Felicia?” asked the minister gently, and Felicia lifted a shining face to her aunt. Sdn Mesh aah #535; aaLE UGS MEA ARS he kG ce cane “Oh, please excuse me!” she said. “I’m so glad to see you, Aunt Mary; you knowl am. But Johnny’s so little, and I was so afraid he’d forgotten me!” “Tt’s all right, dear,’ said Miss Gordon, patting Felicia’s head. “I understand perfectly.” “A very sensible young woman—sister to Felicia’s mother, of course,” said Mrs. Cope to Mrs. Markham. “JT had a notion she would be here before long. spar pas eva vers bere es ere ra ase epee SCTE res DIRESE COTES ETT See Ot Perce etae pee tt aT Maar RT rep ant Te ere lec east etree mer eaentiey) FRESE SPIRE PURSUE PEC SIT Tues DaPaee ER Tec Per tt Stoc Tesi ose ere ceeceet mec asecd ietsit ic cet ih si ae LA ASC nace ae Fesessge SE seh 188 Felicia’s Folks your intimate friend has a very large, warm place all her own,” and Felicia gave Winifred a look which left her friend in no doubt of her meaning. In spite of Winifred’s cheerful prophecy and Felicia’s hopes, the day of the fair came without any word from Mrs. Lane to tell when her little daughter might ex- pect to see her. In fact the day of the fair showed Felicia with a disappointed face when her father re- turned from the morning mail. For the regular weekly letter from Colorado had not come the night before, nor was it to be found in the box that morning. Mr. Lane, however, seemed untroubled, and Felicia took comtort from that fact. ‘You know the last letter was unusually long,” he told Felicia as they walked to the town hall a little later, just before the noon hour, when all Blackberry Hill would take luncheon together. “I’m sure you will hear from her by night,” he added. “ You know your mother has never failed her little girl.” “Neither of you has ever failed me, father,’ and Felicia slipped her hand in his, determining to let no more thoughts of the delayed letter have a place in her mind that day. ficult to hold to her determination after 16 hall, for there was so much to do and so much to see that felon scarcely had time to think of anything except what was right before her. First there was the luncheon which she and Winifred helped Miss Shaw serve, under the direction of Mrs. It was not di she reached tlThe Fair "189 Topham and Mrs. Cope. Up and down the length of the tables spread at one end of the hall their willing feet went, till every one had received a full share of the good things provided by the housekeepers of Blackberry Hill. Then when they were ready for their well-earned luncheon came a delightful surprise. Down the long hall came a well-known little figure; the piquant face with its brilliant dark eyes could belong only to one person in the world, and the children flew to meet their dear Carina Lotti. Winifred as she rose from her chair upset her plate of salad, so that it was with trick- ling streams of yellow, white and green meandering down her skirt she reached her goal. “Qh, see what I’ve done!” she wailed. “ Don’t come near me, Carina, with those lovely clothes. When did you come, and how did you get here?” “Miss Natalie Creighton has done it all, with her great kindness,” said Carina, as she stood holding her two friends fast by their hands. “I am to play at her house to-morrow for a grand company, and she in- vited me this day that I might see my mother and my dear friends. She has just brought me here. How fine you look, Feleecia and Weenifred, my friends! I have brought a song to play for our friend Bobbie to sing with me if he will, and if you would all like to hear it. He knows the song already, for I sent it to him one while ago, in a secret.” By this time other people had crowded around the Rrameneeversesutfeeseecanesue eeviatesrinecstewit tse seaveauat rate sec tie wage! caer te ter eb Cntsrattar ctuiaec ca Sette mene reitetenee mreienitegat eS Tiu actos ie sti icrccaeeaieos Pee ESSE TCR ocE TEs oecteatsn Lac SS tGse ATCC vaee cane Rane: Soar? Sesee ON CSE DROS TO eT eteBe sare ATT aie teenie eniinpuidinea- iia pal vee Stay aise 190 Felicia’s Folks little violinist, eager for a word with her, for all Black- berry Hill had claimed a share in her charm and her talent, since she had first played for them. She was glad to see them all, and later, with her mother on one side and Felicia and Winifred “taking turns” on the other, she made a tour of the fair, not slighting a single booth or person. There was plenty for her to see, and her little purse was opened at every booth, while her arms were gradu- ally filled with bundles. “Now you don’t need to buy that dusting-cap and bunch o’ dusters, dear child,” said Mrs. Markham. “What’ll you ever do with them? And don’t think of taking any of the gingerbread animals, just because Ellen brought them to your notice. Ellen, I’m ashamed of you!” “But I have never seen anything so very wonderful as that lion in the gingerbread,” said Carina smiling at the mother and daughter. “I could never leave him— with that mane so natural! It would be a forever re- gret to me.” ‘‘ Hasn’t she pretty ways?” said Mrs. Markham to Mrs. Hilliard as Carina and her retinue moved on to the next booth. “I’m ’most glad I wasn’t able to get things ready for an attic sale as I’d hoped, for she wouldn’t have been here then to see the animals and all.” t the cake and candy table Carina was most gener- ous. “I have the sweet tooth, and many of it,” sheLhe Fair 191 said, flashing a smile at Mrs. Markham as she chose four boxes of candy, and bestowed one on each of her companions. ‘“ And where are the wonderful bags of lavender and the other things I heard of, Feleecia ?” “They’re all ready on a little table to be set outside that curtained-off place by the window,” said Felicia. “That’s where Mrs. Cope is to make her silhouettes when she’s ready. She thought the bags would attract people, she said.” “T must have my silhouette for the mother,” said Carina, “and some of the little bags for my trunk, to put with my dresses to make a sweet smell for them.” Behind the violinist and her friends trailed a com- pany of people, all listening to hear what she said and see what she did. But of this Carina was happily un- conscious. Winifred, however, was well aware of the throng of admirers shifting and growing in the back- ground, and it gave her much satisfaction. At the laundry booth, presided over by Miss Parks, the boys in their Chinese costumes, humming the queer tunes which Bobby had taught them, were only too eager to deliver to Carina the packages of towels and collars for which she asked with sparkling eyes. Johnny, who was with Miss Parks, stared up at her over the low counter with wide-eyed admiration. “Please lift him over to me, Bobby, so he can shake hands with Carina,” said Felicia. “See here, Johnny, this is my dear Carina Lotti, whom you’ve heard me talk about ever so many times.” Ya TTT Se ee ee etait tastiest Rett este tt etre eeeat car oeoPincaeet cit same Seon TUE ie. Jew. gc eMC ant EMEM MOTE MEM MEATCSE REET Tears sal Se eEGLBER SAG PaC UPD Nps LS REe SCZ ESC IGG hdc ne Bhd 7h pts tues tucieeger dee mc gacs teste sets otter 20 bese en tane mes eeumedsestesae Srteanbaeercaut sos terse MaDe fee tat a 7 Sent om runs NERS SeE Sak era rvesneeC Tet TotterSmt Tae ree SEE Ss dagbit abaeSue ks MSSESMG SMES Gane SG kt ek oun egeanaldbeonsSenbuonescaledd ise Mie ie 192 Felicia’s Folks Johnny held out a small, warm hand, sticky from a recent tribute of molasses candy presented by Nate Horner and allowed by Miss Loreena. “How do,” he said tranquilly, and as Carina shook his hand a slow smile dawned on his serious little face. “ Pretty,” he said, looking at his new friend ; “ pretty.” “Tt is because I am so happy he says that, the dear httle bambino,” said Carina. pinching his cheek. “When comes your mother, Feleecia ?” “Oh, I don’t know,” said Felicia. “We hope very soon, but the letter didn’t come this morning even, and it should have come last night. But father is not wor- ried, so I mustn’t be, he says.” “ Perhaps,” began Carina, as a thought came to her, but before she could say another word, Wini- fred, behind Felicia’s back, screwed her face into such an unmistakable scowl of warning and then changed it to a broad smile, that Carina said no more of what she thought. Instead, she squeezed Felicia’s hand. “She will come soon,” she said affectionately, “and then there will be the beautiful time for you, Feleecia.”CHAPTER 21% FELICIA’S MOTHER FreLicia was thinking of it—that “beautiful time,” as she walked toward home with Winifred at night, when the fair was over. She had stayed till the last minute; every little sweet-smelling bag was sold, all her ornamental cakes had gone, and on a slip of paper were the carefully written orders for three big birthday cakes for friends of Miss Natalie and her mother. Carina had played and Bobby had sung, and every- thing had been delightful to the very end. Mrs. Cope with her scissors and a few little “tag ends” of sil- houette paper, which were all she had left from a large supply, had sat on one of the long benches, listening to the music, with Miss Kingman and Willard Slocum, her last two subjects, not far away. After that, everybody had said good-bye to every- body else, and the automobiles and carriages and wagons had whirred, rolled or rattled away. A group of the Blackberry Hill people had lingered to lock the hall and. walk away together. Felicia was tired; her little feet 4Q2 acc Rent Iae neta east Oc regio oR an CREME STEceSEIL Uitcrbattas CrcSSettie Tune MOSSE neNes OM Icobe Sats a MEOROSE MTOM OESeaT Serer tose aise aoe ane MUM NOME ee Sreensesac testes Tes tone yaar mneteauiranesTeesvesHiESeedH SreabertesserWT MMEOMeERT UCL aeTUcucancaaetienics avers teste shes! as restrHisbibecentan i SiiaSue a atehend Sh dsec ac AaRHNGaAL 194 Felicia’s Folks ached with weariness, though she had not wished to ride home. Her father had not been at the fair since early in the evening, when he had returned to the parsonage —to let Miss Gordon see the end of the good time and hear Carina play. “Good-night!” they all said, rather hurriedly, Felicia thought, when the parsonage was reached. Mrs. Cope and Miss Shaw had turned in at their own moment before. Only Winifred really took “s on ++ baud » —) pane io r her good-night. She kissed Felicia twice, gave ee ct 5 a little shake and ran off after her mother and the ben 1} rKODaAMS. bod cs la TUT . 7 . ** . ‘ }; eo ¢ M1, ‘ , ‘ 2 “We're all tired.” said Felicia. “ There’s a lamp in i Atel " sie Meio, Be siete t the kitchen. and I can see a flicker in the study. [’m 7 } glad father’s lighted the fire, for it’s chilly, I think. 4S But Felicia did not say then what she wished; in- } ’ 1: aorh ac al , Toor stead she gave a little sigh as she opened the door and t “JTt’s all been beautiful,” she said half under her breath, “all beautiful. There’s only just one thing | want. If I could walk in this door, and over to the fireplace——— Oh!” As if she were in a dream, her hands stretched out before her, Felicia followed her wish across the study to the fireplace. The room was dim; only the little flames from the log, half-burned already, lighted it ; only the soft sputter of the apple wood could be heard ; for some one, sitting in the low chair drawn before theFelicia’s Mother 195 fire, her head thrown back, her eyes meeting Felicia’s through the dusk, held her breath. “ Mother,” whispered the little girl, “is it truly you? Oh, mother, mother, you’ve come!” The Books in this Series are: PELICLA BPEHEICIAS FRIENDS FELICIA VISITS FELICIA’S FOLKS SPPrenTee Partie recrimarierteu rai teal cs ren ua sautMrrree Tecoma au cberi ce Ot OD a eae ie eee a Rica ecu ru rceatlta pla eiaplorie itt a tigajicy SERRE SSSA RSMAS UAC ose na irr, Paley peeves tober mene bn oa ton! ELIZABETH LINCOLN GOULD Wie ELIZABETH LINCOLN GOULD was born and brought up in Boston, re- ceiving her education in the public and private schools of the city which was always her loved home. Her father was a publisher and book- seller, and from the time when she was a very little girl she was writing stories and verses for children—her first efforts being made long before she had mastered the art of spell- ing. As a child she loved out-door play best, but be- ing a little city girl she missed many of the good times which come to country children. She loved music, fairy stories, and a very old bat- tered doll best of all the treasures to be found indoors. In the city street where she lived there were a good many housefuls of children, most of them were several years older than she, but there were two boys nearest her age, with whom she played so happily and who taught her so many lessons that a little girl without brothers often misses, that she always liked little boys for their sakes ever after. And for the sake of the many little girls who were her schoolmates and friends, she < 7 1 all the little girls, the maughty ones and the good ones, the mischievous and the serious. Miss Gould died in Boston, December 11, 1914. Miss Gould wrote the following books: The Admiral’s Granddaughter The Admiral’s Little Housekeeper imiral’s Little Secretary Admiral’s Little Companion , - . tend fend jon J 4 thee ~ ve? om oO b-,. oD - c O m~ 4 ~~ ila icia’s Friends a Visits 5 Folks | Polly Prentiss Goes to School Prentiss Goes A-Visiting rentiss Keeps a Promise i,eee or ee ars See we Te Layets sees Sr ee ce ee A RSLs twa wea ae ntgeee tie etesst st he tt Waris a ee } pe ssersrsr's thetey bee Hj Bos A es bealeds eae ee ea TEAC Tea N one ee RTE aE 4 att A st area A Pel oat Srna putes 4 Series breaths aot Bees! rattan Sree Mt ay tie she Lehto ited wee eu tetser ss tekdabits, rarer i epecaer iy orn Le pete eabess ae a, eitere os een "4 ry ae obese: eaeecooett eeeTt coeesahy Gray ai babes gat Srp pas Lahn ever siti see agr keaat abe See siieage =: i ‘= ST ist She Sor bad wife— =< eee ae —~ eee Sr Sa he eens . peseee Saat n meres * Arm SSiscar etic ies neretrersesnrer ar. SSeS ate ae nee ae EARP ES EERE ALC ALS CE LY ORY 3 ipaasamansa iinet arts pore rete ait dsobtiselgl Perro ’ > + cd 4 * PRE Hees foiteqaite aaee orca aera te Meee Taras ona barareas ct ore ra ass fer abrereseeeenictr’ Ss Peioitatts Lttctcoses ci rereerttes co Ccracrer rare ors fa b Aye Ct ads aS