CHAPTER IX
TO BOSTON
The trip to Boston became such an important topic that you would havethought the bazar was planned merely on its account, and not thatthe trip was planned on the bazar's account. Each of the little girlsmade a careful list of the things she meant to buy, and everyone wasconsulted about these lists; even Emma's advice was asked.
They were to make an early start so as to have plenty of time for theirown shopping and that which Mrs. Ramsey meant to do. So on the allimportant morning there was much bustling about and comparing of notes.
"What are you going to wear, Edna?" asked Dorothy.
"I thought I would put on my gray linen. What are you?"
"White, of course."
"Now why 'of course'? People don't always wear white when they aretraveling."
"But this isn't exactly traveling; it's just going to the city andwe're not more than an hour on the train."
"Well, I don't care. I am going to wear the linen. At least I am goingto ask Jennie what she is going to put on, for of course I shouldn'twant both of you to wear white and me not."
"What are you going to wear, Jennie?" Dorothy called out to the nextroom.
"My blue linen, the embroidered one."
"There, what did I say?" exclaimed Edna in triumph.
"Well, anyhow, it is much more dressy than yours; it is more colory,and it is embroidered. I wouldn't wear that plain thing if I were you."
All this made doubts arise in Edna's own mind, and she satdisconsolately looking at the frock she had brought out to wear.
"You'd better hurry and get dressed and not sit there dreaming,"Dorothy warned her.
"I wasn't dreaming," Edna contradicted, "I was just making up my mind.I might wear my Peter Thompson, only it might be too warm. I think I'dbetter go and ask Mrs. Ramsey." Suiting the action to the word she wentto Mrs. Ramsey's door and tapped gently. Mrs. Ramsey herself opened tolook down on the little figure in its pink wrapper. "Well, dear, whatis it?" she said.
"I don't know just what to wear," Edna confessed. "You see motheralways tells me. Dorothy thinks I ought to wear one of my white frocksand I think my gray linen would be better. I could wear the PeterThompson, but it is flannel and is pretty warm."
"Wear the linen by all means; it will be just the thing. You might takea little jacket of some kind and we can leave it at the station, in thepackage room, with my things. It may be cool coming back."
So Edna went off in triumph, donned her gray linen and was ready quitein time. She was too excited to eat much breakfast, and when they weretold that Mack was at the door with the automobile she clutched herlittle handbag very tightly, for it contained the precious dollar whichwas to buy so many things that day. It was but a short distance to thestation, but they were none too soon, for the train had whistled at thenext station, and it seemed but a moment before they were aboard and ontheir way. The train was filled with men on their way to business, withladies on their way to the city for a day's shopping, and there were afew who were bound for further places, their holiday over.
Edna, Jennie and Dorothy all sat together with Mrs. Ramsey a littlefurther along in front. Edna wondered how the conductor would know whothey were, for Mrs. Ramsey had a book of tickets. She thought maybe shewould say, "I have the tickets for my little girl in the blue frockand the one sitting with her in gray, and there is another with fairhair dressed in white." Would the conductor think they were all namedRamsey? She looked around her to see if there were any other littlegirls dressed in blue or gray or white, who might be mistaken for theright ones. But there was no trouble at all, for the conductor seemedto know intuitively and passed them by without so much as a question.
The big North station reached, the matter of shopping seemed very near,and there was some discussion as to where they should go first. Eachlittle girl had determined to buy at least three dolls to dress; withthe money that was left they would buy materials for fancy articles,for Mrs. Ramsey had promised them pieces enough for doll's clothes. Thedolls being such a very important matter, it was decided to get theseoff their minds at once, and therefore to a big, though inexpensiveshop they went.
Such a bewildering array as was laid before them nearly distractedthem. There was such a choice between blue eyes and black, brown hairand golden. Then, too, it was not every doll that had a pretty face,or there might be two whose claims to beauty were equally great, butat last the nine dolls of different types were picked out. To theseMrs. Ramsey added three more on her own account, and that purchase wasdeclared to be satisfactorily made.
Each little girl had decided to spend but half her money on dolls,though as Dorothy had but fifty cents to spend, her dolls did not makeas much show as she would have liked, but the others comforted her bysaying that the small dolls were just as pretty as the large ones, andwould probably be sold at once.
"I almost wish I had bought two little ones and two big ones," Ednasaid, "but I suppose it is too late now."
"If you had done that," said Jennie, "you couldn't have had the threeshades of hair, and you did like those three so much."
"That is so," returned Edna, "I reckon I will let it go, but I don'tsee how I am going to give up any of them; they are all so pretty. I dolove dolls."
"They are perfectly sweet," agreed Dorothy, "while Jennie's are evenlovelier."
"They are bigger," said Edna, "but I don't think they are really anyprettier, but Mrs. Ramsey's are perfectly magnificent. I wish I hadCelia to help me dress mine; she does know how to make such prettythings."
"So does Agnes, but I tell you who will help us out, and that is MissEloise." Dorothy thought of this.
"So she will, though I expect she and Miss Newman will be busy makingthings themselves, for the bazar," replied Edna.
"But she can give us hints," Dorothy continued. "Oh, Edna, do you knowI have thought of something."
"What?"
"Why, we can write to our sisters and tell them about the bazar, andmaybe they can make some things for it. We will ask them to. I knowAgnes will."
"And I know Celia will. That is a lovely idea, but do you know,Dorothy, I have thought of something else that isn't a bit nice, andthat is we won't have a penny to spend at the bazar ourselves."
"That is so. I never thought of it before. I shall hate to go and notbuy a single thing, but it can't be helped and if we give the things weare getting to-day it will be the same as buying things."
This view of the matter satisfied Edna, and they followed Mrs. Ramseyand Jennie, who were walking ahead, into the next shop where they wereto get ribbons, gilt paint and a variety of things.
By one o'clock they were quite tired out and were glad when Mrs. Ramseyproposed that they have some lunch before doing any more. So they weretaken to a pleasant restaurant and ate with a relish the broiled steak,fried potatoes and salad which Mrs. Ramsey ordered. Then each chose herown dessert, Dorothy taking a chocolate eclair, Edna peach ice-creamand Jennie charlotte russe.
Then they started out again, and with Mrs. Ramsey's help managed tospend every penny to the best advantage, and that quite early in theafternoon, but they were tired enough to be ready to go when Mrs.Ramsey said they could get the four o'clock train. "Some day," she said,"we must come down on a pleasure trip. We will have the motor-car, andcan stay all night in town so you little girls can see something of thecity. There is much that will interest you."
"Oh, do take them to see the glass flowers at Cambridge," cried Jennie.
"Yes, they shall see those, and we will go to old North Church which ismade famous by Paul Revere's ride, and they shall see Lexington."
"Oh, yes, and mother, they must go to Concord where Louisa Alcottlived."
"That is a large order, as Ben would say, but I think we can manage iteven if we have to stay two nights."
"Aren't we having the loveliest time?" whispered Edna to Dorothy.
Dorothy nodded, and took a peep at the three dolls which she hadinsisted upon carrying hersel
f. The others were to be sent.
"I wish I had kept out one of mine," said Edna enviously; "it would beso nice to have it on the train to play with."
"I can't play with all three," said Dorothy generously, "so I can lendone to you and one to Jennie."
This was a fine plan, and the three little girls crowded into one seaton the train that they might have the satisfaction of playing with thelittle dolls which they dressed up in handkerchiefs. Such a good timethey had over them that Mrs. Ramsey had to call them twice when theyreached their station. Then they hurried out, nearly tumbling over oneanother lest they be left in the train.
Mrs. Ramsey had telephoned Mack to meet them, so the three little dollshad their first ride in a motor-car and were the first of their companyto arrive at the sea-shore. The children were so eager to get themdressed that they could scarcely wait for Mrs. Ramsey to get out herpieces. "Do, Mother, let us have them right away," begged Jennie.
"Don't you think you'd better wait till to-morrow when the other dollswill have come?"
"Oh, no, there is lots of daylight left, and we can help Dorothy dressthese and then she can help us dress ours; it will be ever so muchnicer that way. We are going to take them out on the porch and sewthere."
"But, dearie, I think I ought to be with you, because these dolls forthe bazar should be dressed very neatly, and not botchily as they mightbe if you were doing them merely for yourselves."
"Indeed, indeed we will try to be very neat."
"Can you cut out the things yourselves? To-morrow I thought I would letEmma help. She could do some of the work on the machine."
"But these littlest dolls don't need a machine. It will be lovely tohave Emma help with the bigger ones. Edna can cut out real nicely. HerAunt Elizabeth taught her how to sew, and she is as neat, oh, just asneat as can be. I wish you could see."
"Very well, go along, then. I don't suppose it will do any harm sinceyou are so very eager, and if I find they don't look well enough I cansee to it afterward."
Jennie scouted the idea of their not looking well enough and bore offthe bag of pieces in triumph, and a happy trio was soon establishedon the porch, work-bags in evidence and dolls carefully placed outof danger. Edna, who had been taught by her Aunt Elizabeth Horner tobe very systematic, proposed that they first select their materials."This white stuff will do for their underclothes," she told the others."I'll put that aside and then you each choose what you want for frocks.Dorothy must choose first because they are her dolls."
"Then you choose second because you are company," said Jennie.
"We'll take turns, then," said Edna. "You can choose first when itcomes to your dolls and Dorothy can be second, then when it comes tomine I will choose first, you can be second and Dorothy can be third."This was considered a very just arrangement and Dorothy began to turnover the pieces for her first choice.
"I think I should like this pretty piece of blue silky stuff," shesaid, "and I will dress the doll with the middle colored hair; I thinkit will be becoming to her."
"Then I will take this little speckly piece for the doll with thelightest hair. She can have a pink sash and will look too sweet."
Jennie decided upon a thin bit of yellow for her doll of decidedlybrunette type and they set to work.
"I can cut out for mine and then you two can cut yours exactly thesame," Edna told them, "for the dolls are all the same size and itwill be very easy." But the cutting out had scarcely begun before itwas time for dinner and the dolls had to be put away till later in theevening when all should gather around the big table in the living-room.
However, after dinner it was found that the larger package had arrived,so of course this had to be opened, and what with talking over this andadmiring that, it was bedtime before anyone knew it. But the dolls wereall carried upstairs and were set a-row where the children could seethem first thing in the morning. The bag of pieces was lugged along,too. "For we might want to get up early and work before breakfast,"said Jennie with industrious intent.
But the breakfast hour arrived before the children were out of bed, sotired were they from their trip, and the row of staring dolls was givenlittle attention in the haste to get dressed. After breakfast the piecebag was dragged out again. Emma's work was taken by one of the otherservants and the morning long hands and tongues were busy, so thatby lunch time the three little dolls appeared nicely clad, and one ofEdna's and one of Jennie's were nearly ready. To dress nine childrenwas quite a task even for three little girls, especially as thechildren increased in size as the work progressed and though a skirtfor a doll six inches long required but few stitches, when it came toone twice the size the fingers grew very tired.
"Suppose you don't do any more doll clothes to-day," said Mrs. Ramseynoticing the weary sighs. "You have done a fine morning's work, andto-morrow you can start in again. I think this afternoon you'd bettertake the pony and do some errands for me, and I will make a fairexchange by helping you with the dolls to-morrow."
This was such a sensible and just arrangement that the little girlsreadily agreed and started off in high spirits to leave an order here,take a note there, and finally to wind up with a call upon Miss Eloise,who, they knew, would be interested to know about their trip to thecity.
"I was just thinking about you children," said Miss Eloise from thelittle porch of the bungalow, where she was sitting when they droveup. "I am going to have a sewing-bee to make things for the bazar, youknow, and I want you all to come."
"Oh, lovely," cried they. "Tell us about it, Miss Eloise."
"Day after to-morrow, it is to be, and those that have dolls to dresscan bring them, or you can bring anything else, fancy work or anything.I can't sew very long at a time, but I can try to entertain you and cancome in strong with advice." She laughed, and the girls crowded aroundher.
"Tell me about the trip to Boston," she went on. "How many dollsdid you buy, and what else did you get? Sister and I have thought ofseveral nice things to do for the bazar, and ever so many of the youngpeople are going to help. Rudolph is going to donate some photographsand will take orders for others; then some of the boys are going intothe woods for tiny little cedar and pine trees which we are going toplant in pots. Mrs. Morrison's sister has promised to make some paperdolls--I remember the beautiful one she made for Louis to send to youlast year, Edna,--and, oh my, we are going to have a big time."
She stopped to take breath and the children began to tell of their tripto the city, of their purchases, and all the rest of it.
"If Ben were only here," said Miss Eloise when they had finished theiraccount, "we might give the little play that the G. R. club gave at theclose of the year, but we couldn't do it without him."
"Besides," said Jennie, "we are the only ones of the club who are here,and there wouldn't be enough time to get it up."
"Why couldn't we do it when we go back?" suggested Edna. "We mightsell tickets, you see, and get ever so many to come, for there werequantities of people who wanted to come last time, but we could inviteonly so many."
"Why, Edna, that is a great scheme," cried Miss Eloise. "It would bevery little trouble, for those who took part before, as they all havetheir costumes and would only have to look over their parts. Let's tellsister." She called Miss Newman from the house and it was agreed thatsuch a plan might easily be carried out. "And," said Miss Eloise, "itwill be a true Golden Rule performance. Dear me, what wonderful thingsare happening all the time, now that I have come out of my shell."
This new idea was talked of all the way home and the children were soeager to tell Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey of it, that the little pony was urgedon at his smartest pace. Of course Mrs. Ramsey was charmed at the newplan for raising funds for Cap'n Si, and Edna felt much pleased thatshe had thought of it. "Although," she said when she was praised forher quick wit, "I might not have thought of it if Miss Eloise had notspoken of how nice it would be to have it here."
"Then we'll give Miss Eloise her share of credit," said Mrs. Ramseysmiling at the child's
honesty.
That evening was given to the winding of worsteds, the marking ofdesigns, and the cutting out of various bits of card-board for certainfancy articles. Four more dolls were dressed the next morning bythe help of Mrs. Ramsey and Emma, and in the afternoon there was asewing-bee on the bungalow porch, and more plans were made for thebazar. Mrs. Ramsey was present and organized an idea party to meet ather house the next day. Everyone was to bring an idea to be carriedout at the bazar and so the ball was kept rolling and the work for theentertainment went forward in a way that promised a very successfulaffair. Dorothy and Edna did not fail to write home about the fire andthe bazar and made their request for contributions of money or fancyarticles. They watched eagerly for replies, and when these came in theshape of two letters apiece, they gave little squeals of delight, forboth Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Evans wrote and enclosed a dollar to be spentat the bazar. "For," said the mothers, "we know you have taken allyour spending money for the dolls and things, and will not have any tospend."
"Now I am perfectly happy," cried Edna. "Is yours a dollar, too,Dorrie?"
"Yes, a whole dollar. And Edna I think I shall buy back one of my owndolls. I love the one in blue so much that I just can't give her up."
"Maybe I will buy my dear one with the light hair," returned Edna. "Idon't suppose a dollar would be enough to buy one of Mrs. Ramsey'sbeauties, though I believe I would rather have one of those thananything in the world, even if I didn't have a cent to spend onanything else."
"Oh, but I think it would be more fun to spend the money for differentthings, and not for just one."
"But when the one is a doll like that exquisite creature in eveningdress, with the cunning fan and the sweet little lace handkerchief, Ithink I'd be perfectly satisfied not to have another thing."
"You mean the one with the golden hair? She is a darling but although Ilike her dress, I think I would rather have the dark-haired one."
"That is because you have golden hair yourself; you always wantdark-haired dolls, I notice." The two were sitting on the porch withJennie just inside by the window busily working away at an embroideredcenterpiece she was doing in outline. She did not join in the talk, buthad long ago decided that her choice of the three handsome dolls wouldbe the one with ruddy brown hair dressed in street costume with hat andfeathers.
Her father, in whose smoking-room she was sitting, looked up with asmile as Jennie arose to join her friends. "Bless their dear littlehearts," he said to himself. "I think they are about the sweetest threeit has ever been my lot to see, and my own girl is the dearest of themall, even if she isn't quite the beauty Dorothy is."