V THE PALACE OF TIME
"I think the club ought to be for something that will improve our minds,"said Constance Harper.
"Well, I don't!" declared Lena Carey; "we get our minds improved inschool. I cram improvement every day, until my mind is fairly burstingwith it. I think the club ought to be just for fun."
"I think so, too," agreed Betty. "At least, I don't vote for theimprovement part. My mind needs improvement, goodness knows! But I don'tbelieve we'd ever get much out of a club of our own.
"But I do think it ought to be for something besides just fun," went onBetty.
"What do you mean?" demanded Lena. "If you don't study or have papers,what can you do but have fun?"
"Why, it might be for charity," suggested Jeanette Porter.
"Yes," said Betty; "that's what I mean. We can have lots of fun gettingup things for charity, and do good besides."
"I'd like that, I think," Constance said; "you can have lovely fairs andgarden-parties and all sorts of things for charity."
"We won't have a garden-party just yet," said Lena, as she drew closer tothe blazing fire.
"No," returned Constance, a little shortly; "I didn't mean to. But Isuppose the club will last through the summer."
"Of course it will," said Betty, who always interrupted when Lena andConstance began their sharp little speeches. "And before summer comeswe'll have an entertainment in the house."
It was now the first week in March, and, as the weather was raw anddisagreeable, the girls were glad to gather in Betty's cozy library, andnestle in soft, cushioned chairs drawn up to the big fireplace, with itscrackling logs.
The four girls had come over for the express purpose of forming a club ofsome sort, though the details of the plan were not yet thought out. Ofcourse, Jack had been promptly excluded from the conference, as it was tobe a girls' club.
"All right," he said, as he went unwillingly away; "we boys will get up arival club, and it'll be so jolly you'll want to disband yours and joinours."
"All right; when that happens, we'll do it," sang out Lena, as the doorclosed behind the reluctant Jack.
But after it was decided to have the club a charitable one, no one couldthink of just the right form that it should take. "Mother went to aconcert last night for the aid of the Orphan Asylum," suggestedConstance, and Lena promptly responded:
"Then they don't need our help. Let's think of something else."
"How about the Fresh Air Fund?" said Jeanette.
"Just the thing!" cried Dorothy. "I'd rather work for little childrenthan anybody else."
"All right, then; our object is settled," said Constance; "now what shallwe name the club?"
"Oh, wait," said Lena; "first we must elect officers and all that."
"First," said Betty, "we must decide on our members, We five, of course,and I'd like to ask Martha Taylor, too."
"Then you can leave me out," said Constance, promptly.
"Nothing of the sort!" said Betty. "You're perfectly silly, Constance. Idon't see why you don't like Martha. And she'd feel slighted to be leftout of a thing like this."
"Nobody likes Martha Taylor," observed Jeanette. "I don't think we needask her, Betty."
"Well, I do! And if you don't, you may leave me out, too!"
"Oh, Betty! Betty! Of course we wouldn't leave you out! Why, therecouldn't be a club without you."
"All right, then. It's Martha Taylor, too."
It was not often that Betty asserted herself so strongly, but when shedid the others generally yielded the point. Martha Taylor was not afavorite; although a member of the girls' class, none of them liked her,and she had no chum and almost no friend. There was no especial reasonfor this, for Martha was not ill-natured or disagreeable; but she washeavy and uninteresting, and never seemed to understand the others' jokesand fun.
But Betty felt sorry for her, and, seeing she was neglected by the othergirls, she stood up for her and insisted on having her for a member ofthe club.
"Well, you'll have to look after her," said Lena. "I never know what tosay to her. She only says 'Yes,' or 'No,' or 'I don't care,' when you askher anything."
"Well, she won't make any trouble in the club, anyhow," observedJeanette. "I don't see why Betty wants her, but if we have to have her,we have to, I suppose."
"Yes, we have to," said Betty; "and I'm going to telephone her now, andask her if she wants to come."
Whatever they may have thought, no one objected outwardly, and Bettycalled up Martha on the telephone and invited her over.
Needless to say, the invitation was accepted, and soon Martha appeared,looking greatly pleased.
"Hello, Martha," said Betty, most cordially, and made a place for thenew-comer by her side.
The others spoke pleasantly enough, but without enthusiasm, and then thebusiness meeting was begun.
After some discussion Betty was made president and Dorothyvice-president, Lena Carey was treasurer, and Constance was recordingsecretary, with Jeanette for corresponding secretary.
This gave each an office with the exception of Martha, and as soon asBetty saw how things were going, she calmly created an office for herfriend.
"I nominate Martha Taylor for auditor," she said, in her most decidedway.
"What's that?" asked Lena.
Now Betty wasn't quite sure herself what an auditor was, or whether itwas a usual office in a club, but she didn't care. It made an officialtitle for Martha, and so kept her from feeling slighted.
"An auditor?" responded Betty, airily. "Oh, that's the one who looks overthe books and accounts of all of us, to see if we've added up right, andall that."
This wasn't a specially pleasing idea to the treasurer and the twosecretaries, but they understood Betty's determined expression, and theysubmitted with good grace.
So matters went on pleasantly, and Martha was greatly elated at beingchosen to fill what she considered a most important office.
"But I don't always add right myself," she said conscientiously.
"Never mind; I'll help you," said Betty, smiling at her. "Now, girls, fora name. I don't like a high-sounding name. Let's have something plain andstraightforward."
"The Fresh Air Fund Club," suggested Lena.
"The Fresh Air Club is shorter," said Constance.
"The Fresh Club is shorter yet," said Dorothy, laughing, "and the boyswill call us that, anyhow, when they hear about it."
They decided on "The Fresh Air Club," and then, all business mattersbeing settled, they proceeded to plan their first entertainment.
"Let's have something really nice," said Martha. "We can get Hetherton'sHall to hold it in, without paying anything. My uncle is one of themanagers, and I know he'd let us have it for a charity."
This was a most advantageous offer, and, had it come from any one else,it would have been hailed with enthusiasm. As it was, nobody said much,except Betty, who exclaimed:
"Why, Martha, that will be fine! If we don't have to pay for the hall, wecan make a lot of money, for that's generally the biggest item."
"Yes," agreed Constance; "all the things to sell will be given to us, orwe'll make them ourselves. You mean a sort of fair, don't you, Betty?"
"Yes; only a special kind, you know--a bazaar, or something like that."
"What is a bazaar?" asked Martha, with such an air of blank ignorancethat Constance frowned at her.
"A bazaar," began Lena, "why, a bazaar is--it's just a bazaar. Anybodyknows what a bazaar is."
"Oh," said Martha, not much enlightened, but realizing that she wassupposed to be.
"Lena didn't explain it very clearly," said Betty laughing. "I'm not sureI know the difference myself between a bazaar and a fair."
"Neither do I," said Constance; "I think they're about the same, onlybazaar is the new-fashioned name."
"And a bazaar is bigger," said Dorothy, "more elaborate, you know, withbooths and flags and things like that."
"
And you dress up in costumes at a bazaar," added Jeanette.
"Good!" cried Betty. "I love dressing up in fancy costumes. What sort dothey wear?"
"Oh, sometimes all sorts of costumes, and sometimes just flower-girldresses and things like that."
"If you mean that sort of a fair, I read about one not very long ago thatmight be very nice, I think," suggested Martha, a little timidly.
"What was it?" asked Betty, as no one else expressed any desire to know.
"Well, it was a bazaar of the months. Only you have to have boys init--six girls and six boys, and each one has a table and sells thingsbelonging to that month. Flowers for May, you know, and fans for August,and all sorts of things for Christmas, the December one."
"It sounds lovely," said Dorothy kindly; "but it would be funny to sellChristmas things and valentines and fans in March."
"Not at all," said Betty. "People could buy their valentines andChristmas presents, and hide them away till next year. I think it's afine idea. Then each one of us could dress up in a costume to fit themonth, such as the Queen of May or the April Fool."
"Yes," said Martha, "but you have to have boys for Fourth of July andApril Fool and Santa Claus."
"Well, we will," declared Betty. "We'll ask six boys to be honorarymembers of the club and help us with the bazaar. Let's call Jack in now."
They all agreed to this, and Jack came in, much pleased to help with thegreat project.
As the young people talked it over, it seemed to assume grandproportions, and Betty proposed that they lay the whole plan before hermother before they should proceed further. Mrs. McGuire listened withgreat interest as the purpose of the Fresh Air Club was explained to her.
"Excellent!" she said at last "I'm sure it will be a lovely bazaar,there's room for such pretty decorations and costumes. Have you chosenyour parts?"
They hadn't, but, with Mrs. McGuire's assistance, they undertook thematter at once.
Everybody agreed that golden-haired Constance must be the May Queen. Shewas just right for it, with her blue eyes and fair, pretty face.
"Do I have a booth?" she said. "What shall I sell?"
"Not exactly a booth for you," said Mrs. McGuire, "but a bower, a realMay Queen's bower. And you must sell flowers, of course--not onlynosegays, but potted plants and ferns and things like that."
"And wild flowers and pond-lilies! Oh, Constance, your booth will be theprettiest of all!" cried Dorothy, a little enviously.
"You won't find many wild flowers or pond-lilies in March," said Mrs.McGuire, smiling; "but the florist will help us out with many blossoms,and we may have to use paper flowers for the bower. Dorothy, you are justthe one to be the Summer Girl; that's the one for August, you know."
"Oh, I will! And I know just how I'll fix my booth! I've just thought ofit. I say, girls, suppose we don't tell all about our booths, butsurprise each other! Just choose our parts, you know."
"All right!" said Betty, "choose away. Jeanette, what month do you want?"
"I'll take June," said Jeanette, who already had a pretty plan in herwise little head.
"I want October," declared Lena, her eyes twinkling as she thought ofHallowe'en possibilities.
"September was represented by Diana in the bazaar I heard about," saidMartha; "I think Betty ought to be that. She'd make a lovely Diana."
"So you would, Betty!" said Constance. "Do take that."
"Very well," agreed Betty. "What do I sell?"
"Grapes," said Lena; "but as you can't get grapes in March, you'll haveto sell grape jelly!"
"I can get hothouse grapes," said Betty. "But this leaves only Novemberfor Martha. What can you be, Martha--a turkey?"
"November isn't much of anything," said Martha. "It's sort ofuninteresting."
"Well," said Constance, tossing her head; "it's the only one left."
Betty's eyes flashed at this, but she only said:
"All right, Martha, you take November. I've a good idea for it; I'll tellyou afterward. Now let's fix up the boys. What month do you want, Jack?"
"Well, since you ask me, I'll take January. I'm great on January."
"All right; and we'll ask the other boys and let them choose. Oh, I hopethey'll all do it! Won't it be fun?"
It was fun, but it also proved to be a great deal of work. Indeed, if thegrown-ups hadn't helped them out, the young people could scarcely havecarried the affair through. Grandpa Irving took a great interest in itfrom the beginning, and planned so many improvements and additions thatthe bazaar soon became a really large enterprise.
It was called "The Palace of Time," and Mr. Irving agreed to assume thecharacter of old Father Time and preside at the bazaar.
His principal aids were four ladies who represented the four seasons, andwho were to wear appropriate costumes to designate Spring, Summer,Autumn, and Winter. Each of these ladies presided over the three boothswhich belonged to her season, and thus the success of the young people'sbooths was made more sure.
The other boys had proved quite as pleased as Jack to take part in theaffair, and all of those who were to take part, as well as many of theirfriends, worked hard during the few weeks of preparation.
One thing Betty resolved, and that was that Martha must have anattractive booth and one that should somehow prove to be among the mostpopular. After she told her grandfather how the other girls felt towardMartha, Mr. Irving also declared that he, too, would look out for her.
"Never you mind, Betty," said her grandfather; "we'll just fix it so thatMartha's booth will be crowded with people all the evening."
And so, though nobody knew exactly what Martha was going to do, it wassoon known that hers would be the supper booth.
Lemonade was to be served by July; ice-cream by August; flowers, ofcourse, would be sold by May; and candy would be found in the Februarybooth.
But November being the month of Thanksgiving and plenty, it was deemedappropriate to have the more substantial refreshments on sale there.
Martha was delighted with the plan Mr. Irving proposed, and, with thehelp of Miss Connington, the young lady who took the part of Autumn, shemade ready for her November booth.
When the night of the bazaar came, everything was in readiness, andhundreds of people were waiting for the entrance-doors to open.
And when at last they were admitted, the beautiful scene was greeted withgreat applause.
At the end of the room was the throne of Father Time. This was on araised platform, behind which was a large sheet painted with the figuresof the zodiac.
Time himself, who was, of course, Mr. Irving, was robed in long whitegarments, which fell in classic folds about his tall and stalwart frame.A white beard and "forelock" added to the effect, and he carried a scytheand hour-glass.
But his genial smile and cordial words of greeting were not much like thegrim old gentleman who is represented as going about and cutting downall, both great and small. Not wishing to shirk his part of the real workof the evening, Mr. Irving had some small articles for sale on his"throne." There were hour-glasses and smaller sand-glasses; clocks andwatches; diaries and calendars; and even a metronome, which, he said, hewas particularly anxious to dispose of, because it beat Time! As allthese articles had been donated, and as they were quickly bought from theentertaining old gentleman, the funds of the Fresh Air Club wereconsiderably added to, that night, by Father Time.
The young ladies who represented the four seasons were dressed as if theywere models for the pretty modern picture calendars. They did not sellthings, but hovered round the booths that were under their supervision,and took care that everything went right.
The booths themselves were marvels of elaborate ingenuity.
January was what looked like a snow palace. It was really a littlemosque-shaped house, built of a light framework covered with cotton-wool.This was sprinkled with diamond-dust, and scattered bits of tinselfrosting, and glass icicles. It was electric-lighted, and a morefairy-like palace could not be imagined. Jack presided over it in t
heguise of Jack Frost. His suit was white Canton flannel sprinkled withtinsel frost, and his peaked cap and roundabout jacket were trimmed withermine--or what looked like it.
He had on sale anything and everything that had to do withJanuary--skates, sleds, sleigh-bells, warm caps and mittens, New Year'scards, year-books, and even soap-stones and foot-warmers for sleighs. Hisbooth was a gay and cheery place, with a bright fire of gas-logs blazing,and red-shaded lamps all about.
Mrs. McGuire had assisted, and many visitors thought Jack's booth thefinest of all.
Harry Harper, as St. Valentine, presided over the February booth. He wasdressed like the pictures of the old saint, and in his booth were manycupids and doves.
The decorations were garlands of paper roses tied with blue ribbons, andred hearts and gold darts of all sizes. He had a real little post-officeestablished, and did a thriving business with the tender missives he hadin stock. He also had the candies, as they were "sweets," and then Harry,with a view to making more money, had declared that he was entitled touse all the holidays that belonged to his month, so he added a smalltableful of souvenirs appropriate to Washington's Birthday and Lincoln'sBirthday. There were little hatchets, and bunches of cherries, andportraits of both Presidents, and these favors sold as well as hisvalentines.
The next booth was March, and this was a funny one. It represented alion's den, and was a sort of cave which was built partly of real rocks,and partly of huge boulders made of wood and covered with brown muslinand moss.
Bob Carey was the lion, and as he had procured a lion's "make-up" from atheatrical costumer's, he was a fine animal. He said that, as March, hehad to be either a lion or a lamb, and he preferred the lion's part. Itwas not easy to find articles for sale appropriate to March, but he hadsucceeded in getting donations from the shopkeepers of garden implements,such as rakes and spades and hoes, which are useful in that month; alsopackets of flower and vegetable seeds, and (which made every one smile) ahuge pile of sheet music, consisting only of popular _marches_. He had,too, funny little souvenirs for St. Patrick's Day, and so humorous wasBob himself, in his character of the Cozy Lion, that he had manyvisitors.
April was in charge of Elmer Ellis, and he was an "April Fool." Hiscostume was that of a court jester, and the bells on his cap and on hisbauble jingled merrily as he played pranks on all who came his way. Hehad no booth, but was under a huge umbrella, as, he explained, it mightrain at any minute in April. He sold umbrellas, rubbers, rain-coats,sprinkling-cans, garden hose, and also he had a stock of what were knownas "April Fool candies." These he sold readily, for they are harmless funand cause great merriment. Also he sold bundles carefully tied up withcontents unknown, which "fooled" the buyers.
Constance Harper was the May Queen and held court under a beautiful arborof vines and flowers. She wore a white frock with flower garlands, and along white veil crowned with flowers.
She held a gilded scepter, and pages stood at either side to wait on herRoyal Highness. Her little slippered feet rested on a satin cushion, andpretty Constance certainly was the most attractive picture in the hallthat night.
She sold flowers of all sorts--lovely growing plants and ferns, anddainty baskets of blossoms, as well as tiny nosegays and boutonnieres.Altogether, it was probably the most beautiful booth of all, and itreceived great admiration.
June was Jeanette Porter. She had not taken the idea of the "month ofroses," but chose to represent a "Sweet Girl Graduate."
Over her white frock she wore a black silk gown, and on her head a"mortar-board."
She looked like a fair, sweet Portia, and her wares were all books. Shedid a fine trade, for Jeanette was a general favorite, and the booksfound a ready sale.
July was in charge of Fred Brown, and he represented "Young America."
Although a big boy, he dressed himself in the garb of a little one, andblew his tin trumpet and waved his flag with all the boisterousness of achild of ten on Independence Day.
His booth was a mass of flags and bunting and fireworks, and he soldanything he could find that was patriotic, from copies of the Declarationof Independence to a package of torpedoes.
He also had the lemonade for sale, as that seemed to him to be a Fourthof July beverage. He had persuaded a few men, the best speakers he knew,to deliver occasional short orations, so, with these attractivenovelties, it was no wonder that his booth was well attended all thetime.
August was left to Dorothy Bates. She was one of the prettiest of all,though one of the simplest in her costume and manners.
She was a Summer Girl; and dressed in a white duck outing-suit, hersailor-like blouse turned in at the throat and turned back at the wrist,she was a charming picture.
She had no booth, but sat in a hammock beneath a cleverly contrivedshade-tree. About her, on what represented grass and sand, werecamp-stools, and her visitors were served with ice-cream and littlecakes. Also, she sold fans and parasols, and so gay and winsome waspretty Dorothy that the camp-stools were always occupied, while othersstood waiting their turn.
September was Betty's month. She had had a beautiful Dianahunting-costume made for her, and in the dark-green cloth, with its blackbraid and gilt buttons, Betty's slim, straight young figure looked verypicturesque. Her booth was a sort of tent, with the flap turned back, andshe sold sporting goods of all sorts.
Some kind shopkeepers had donated fishing-rods and reels, trout flies,game-bags, bows and arrows, and many such wares. Betty was happy and gay,and her dark curls clustered round her merry, rosy face as she wheedledher patrons into making further purchases of all sorts of wares.
October was Lena Carey's choice. She used all the traditional features ofHallowe'en, and in a semi-darkened tent she told fortunes to gulliblevictims. Dressed as a witch in a red robe, a black cape, and a red peakedhat, she fondled her own pet black cat, though old Tabby would not lookweird and mysterious.
The interior of Lena's tent was scarefully decorated with bats andstrange devices, and was adorned with lighted Jack-o'-lanterns.
Lena was clever at fortune-telling, and, as her clients were not exactingas to methods, she managed to satisfy them all with most pleasant, evenif most improbable, promises for the future.
Next came November, which was Martha's. At first it had not seemed easyto think of a character for Martha appropriate to November. But as Bettylooked at the round, stolid face, full of wholesome good nature, but notpiquant or fascinating, she exclaimed:
"Good gracious, Martha! You're just like your grandmother. Do chirk upand giggle sometimes!"
Then her own speech gave her an idea. "Martha," she cried, "that's justit! You shall be your own grandmother! November is the Thanksgivingmonth, and the very spirit of the Thanksgiving feast is the Grandmother."
So chubby-faced Martha was transformed into the dearest old lady you eversaw--white hair, cap, and spectacles; plain gray gown, with kerchiefcrossed on her bosom, and knitting work beside her; everything ofold-fashioned style, even her reticule and black silk mitts.
Mr. Irving, true to his word, assisted with Martha's booth. It was indeeda realistic old-fashioned New England kitchen, with its settingsrepresented as faithfully as possible. And the homely old New Englandsupper viands that were served there were so good and delectable thatMartha's booth was crammed with people from opening to closing time.
December, as you'd doubtless guess, was a Christmas tree.
Although it was really March, so splendid was the great tree, decorated,and lighted elaborately, and so jolly was Ralph Burnett, who stood by asSanta Claus, that it was difficult not to think it was Christmas eve.
On the tree everything was for sale. The wares first, and, when they weregone, the decorations, and even the electric lights and candles weresold.
Indeed, everything in the whole place was sold. As the evening wore on,all the supplies gave out, and the frantic "months" ran around to eachother's booths trying to beg or borrow something to sell. The cash-boxeswere full of jingling coins, yet the buyers were un
satisfied. The FreshAir Club had not expected such a large and generous audience, and theystood in their dismantled booths, resolved to have even a larger andfiner bazaar, next winter.
"And, you see, Grandpa," said Betty to Mr. Irving, "Martha did have asuccessful part as November, and her full share of custom. Why, Martha'skitchen was full of people all the time. Constance was perfectly lovely,sitting in state on her throne, but, now and then, there weren't manypeople around her booth."
"Well, Betty, sometimes people would rather eat than buy flowers."
"Yes; that's why I felt sure Martha's booth would be a success. But, ofcourse, I sha'n't say anything to Constance about it."
And Constance never mentioned the subject, but Martha was never slightedby the girls again.