a minute, however, exclaiming:
“Alice, there is a little girl in there sitting on the floor and cryinglike everything. What shall I do? Would you go in or would you goaway?”
Alice hesitated a minute, and then she said, softly:
“Let us go in by all means. The poor child may be in trouble, and, ifso, we may be able to help her.”
So the children opened the door, and Alice walked quietly towards thegirl. At first she was so absorbed by her grief that she did not hearany footsteps, but suddenly, being conscious that some one else was inthe room, she started to her feet, and, drying her eyes upon the cornerof her apron, she exclaimed:
“Oh! I beg your pardon, miss; I did not hear any one. Can I do anythingfor you?”
“We came in search of a drink of water,” said Alice, “and seeing you introuble we came in, hoping we should be able to do something to helpyou.”
“How kind you are,” said Sarah, for that was her name. “Indeed I am insore need of help, but I do not see how I can get it.”
“What is it that troubles you,” said Susy.
“Why, you see,” said Sarah, “mother and I live here by ourselves sincefather died, which is going on five years now. Well, what with his longsickness and being out of work, we got into debt. After he died motherand I, we worked awful hard. We paid up a little each year until we goteven again. But it wore poor mother out, for she did the bulk ofeverything, and now she has an awful cough, and is so bad she has tostay in bed nearly all day. All our money is gone now, and I can’t getfood for her, and how can she get strong again without it? I could earnsomething if I could get out, but I can’t leave her; and my clothes areso ragged that I can’t bear to be seen. I thought I would cook a coupleof potatoes, but I just took out the basket and found that there wereonly these bad ones left. I never lost my courage before,” she added,“for when we could work together we were bright and cheerful, but it isclean gone now.” And though the poor child tried to smile she failed,and, bursting into tears, she cried as if her heart would break.
“Sarah,” called a feeble voice from a little room near by, “Sarah, whomare you talking to?”
“Yes, mother,” said Sarah; “I’ll come in in one minute.”
So she took down a tumbler from a shelf, and after giving Alice and Susysome water she went into her mother’s room.
While she was gone Alice and Susy looked at each other for a few minutesin silence, then Alice spoke.
“Susy,” she said, “we must do something at once; it is too dreadful tothink of.”
When Sarah came back Susy said to her:
“Cannot the neighbors do anything for you?”
“We have not any near neighbors,” said Sarah; “and besides they do notknow anything about us. Mother and I only moved here a little whileago, and we don’t like people to know of our troubles.”
“Well,” said Alice, “there is one thing very certain, you must go homewith me and get a basket of provisions. After you have had something toeat we can decide what to do.”
“Oh, thank you so much,” said Sarah, gratefully; “but--but--”
“But what?”
“I don’t see how I can leave mother alone. She has to be looked afterall the time, and yet, oh, I should be so glad to see her eat a goodmeal.”
“I will stay with your mother,” said Susy, “and will take good care ofher, too; so run along.”
Sarah put on her hat, and, walking along by Alice’s side, she told herabout her past life. Her father had been a ship-carpenter. While healthand strength lasted he had plenty to do, but when troubles came peoplebecame tired of helping them. Money was borrowed, and bills had to berun up, and at last came his death and the expenses consequent upon it.
Since then they had been trying in every way to pay their debts, and hadgone on very well. Their house was larger than they needed, and they hadat last resolved to move to an adjoining village, and into a smallerhouse. They knew that at Sandy Shore there were many families spendingthe summer, and Mrs. Thompson hoped to get washing or sewing.
But her strength would not hold out forever, and the poor overworkedwoman broke down at last.
Alice and Sarah walked quickly on, taking the road close to the beachbecause it was not only shorter but pleasanter. The clouds weregathering apparently for a storm, and the birds flew back and forth asif uncertain whether to seek shelter or to stay out and face thetempest.
Mr. Grey’s cottage was soon reached, and leaving Sarah in the kitchen,with instructions to the cook to give her a good meal, Alice flew intothe house to find her mother.
Of course Mrs. Grey was shocked to hear such a dreadful story, and atonce ordered a good basketful of provisions to be prepared for Sarah totake home.
“Mamma,” said Alice, “I was thinking that Susy and I might raise somemoney to take care of Sarah and her mother. Don’t you think we oughtfirst to call in a doctor to see Mrs. Thompson?”
“By all means,” said Mrs. Grey. “If she is not so ill but that good careand proper food may restore her to health, there will be greatencouragement to provide what we can for her. If, on the other hand, sheis not likely to recover, some provision ought to be made for Sarah, andthe mother must be made comfortable while she lives.”
“If we only had more time,” said Alice, “we might get up a fair.”
“Why not furnish lemonade and cake,” said Mrs. Grey, “then invite allour friends in the place to come over. We can provide amusements forthem. You have a good many out-of-door games, tennis, croquet, archery;get them all out and let everybody use them, but have it understood thateach person must spend something in lemonade and cake. You might have aseries of afternoons like that, and in that way you could aid a greatdeal, I am sure.”
“Oh, mamma,” exclaimed Alice, “that is just the thing. I must fly backand tell Susy.”
“Very well,” said Mrs. Grey. “You had better stop at Dr. Pool’s and askhim to go over and see the poor woman. And tell him I should be veryglad if he could come here soon afterwards, and let me know what hethinks of her case.”
So Alice, after sending Sarah off with a
message to Susy, to come to her house as soon as possible, “as she hadsomething _very_ particular to say,” ran in the opposite direction toDr. Pool’s house.
Dr. Pool lived in a very pretty house not far from Mr. Grey’s, althoughit was quite a distance back from the ocean. There were some beautifulold trees growing near the house, and behind it there was a small pondof freshwater. As Alice drew near the house she saw Patrick just drivingthe doctor’s horses down for a drink.
“Good!” exclaimed Alice. “There are the horses, that means that Dr. Poolis at home.”
So Alice ran to the door, and rang the bell. It was answered by NettiePool, the doctor’s oldest daughter.
Netty was a lovely girl, and was a great favorite with every one. WhenAlice saw her she said:
“Oh, Netty, I have something very particular to tell you, but first Imust attend to business.”
“That sounds very solemn,” said Netty, laughing; “but do come insidewhile you tell me what that wonderful business is.”
“My business is with your father,” said Alice; “is he at home?”
Netty said he was in his office, so Alice went in and delivered themessage from her mother. She told him exactly where the woman lived, andabout all the trouble they had had.
“I am going over in that direction,” said the doctor, “in about twohours, and I will then call and see her, and let your mother know hercondition.”
“That is beautiful,” said Alice. “Now I can go back and talk to Netty.”
The children had a long talk over their plans,
and Netty said she should be delighted to help them in it, and to haveone of the lemonade tables.
“You might come back and take tea with me,” said Alice, “and we can talkit over. Why, there is Susy now; how nice that is! Let’s hurry on, andovertake her.”
So Susy was soon with
them, and they had an opportunity to talk thewhole affair over as they walked slowly home.
There was a great deal to be done in preparation for this “lemonadefête,” as the children called it, and for several days the three girlswere very busy. There were invitations to be written, a big tent to beput up, the games, which had not been used since last summer, to belooked over, besides countless little things which always arise to bedone at such a time.
But at last the eventful day arrived, and everything was ready. Thethree girls stood under the tent in breathless excitement waiting: fortheir expected guests.
“Oh, I wonder if any one will come,” said Alice, “and I wonder how muchwe shall make! I do think everything looks lovely.”
“I hope every one else will think so, and will leave their money behindin proportion to their admiration,” said Susy.
“Surely some one ought to be coming by this time,” said Netty.
“There, there, look! I see those two little Brice children comingalong,” said Alice. “I suppose they will want some cake. Come on, myyoung friends; come and get some lemonade. No matter if you do cry allnight with