CHAPTER XXV
THE END OF THE OUTING
Tess and Dot Kenway had a very serious matter to decide. Ruth haddetermined that, as they were all enjoying themselves at Pleasant Coveso much, the Corner House flag should continue to wave for a timelonger over their tent in the Willowbend Camp.
But there was something at home in Milton, at the old Corner Houseitself, that the younger girls thought they _must_ attend to.
"It's really a _nawful_ state of affairs," Tess declared, nodding hersunny head, gravely, and with her lips pursed up. "They are growingright up without knowing their own names. Why! I don't see how theirown mother knows them apart."
"Oh!" gasped Dot, to whom this was a new idea indeed. "I never thoughtof that."
"Well, it's so," said Tess. "I--I wish Ruth had sent for them and hadhad them brought down here when Rosa and Tom Jonah came."
"But they couldn't leave their mother, Tess," objected Dot. "They'retoo small."
"I--don't--know," said Tess, doubtfully. "At any rate, it's high timethey were named. You know, Mrs. MacCall says so herself."
Dot picked up the letter that the kind housekeeper at the old CornerHouse had written especially to the two smaller Kenway girls.
"She says they chase their tails all day long and they have had to putthem out in the woodshed to keep them from being under foot," Dotsaid, reading slowly, for Mrs. MacCall's writing was not like print.
"They must be named," repeated Tess, with conviction.
"But Ruth won't let us go home to do it," quoth Dot.
"And I don't want to. Do _you_?" demanded Tess, hastily. "I don't wantto leave the beach now, just when we're having so much fun."
Neither did Dot. But the state of the unchristened kittens--theyoungest family of Sandyface--troubled her exceedingly.
Tess, however, suddenly had one of her very brilliant ideas. "I tellyou what let's do!" she cried.
"What?"
"Let's write Mrs. MacCall and Uncle Rufus a letter, and ask them toname Sandyface's children their own selves."
"But--but _we_ want to name them," cried Dot.
"Goosey!" exclaimed Tess. "We'll choose the names; but Mrs. MacCalland Uncle Rufus can give them to the kittens. Don't you see?"
"Oh, Tess! we might," agreed Dot, delighted.
Tess ran to the tent for paper and pencil, and bespoke the favor of anenvelope addressed in ink to Mrs. MacCall.
"Of course, I'll address one for you," said Ruth, kindly. "But what'sall the hurry about writing home?"
Tess explained the necessity that had arisen. Sandyface's family ofkittens was growing up without being christened--and something mighthappen to them.
"You know," said Tess, gravely, "it would be dreadful if one of themdied and we didn't know what to put on the headboard. It would bedreadful!"
"And what names shall we send Mrs. MacCall?" Dot wanted to know, whenTess had started the letter "Deare Missus Mcall" and was chewing thepencil as an aid to further thought.
"Let's call them by seashore names," suggested Tess. "Then they'llremind us of the fun we had here at Pleasant Cove."
"Oh-oo! Let's," agreed Dot.
"Well, now," said Tess, promptly. "What will be the very first one?I'll write Mrs. MacCall what we want," and she proceeded to indite thefollowing paragraph to begin the letter:
"We are having so much fun down here at plesent cove that we cant find time to come home and name Sandface's babbies. But we want you and unc rufs to do it for us and we are going to send you the names we chose. They are----"
Here Tess's laboring pencil came to a full stop. "Now, you got thefirst name, Dot?" she asked.
"I got two," declared Dot, confidently.
"What are they!" queried Tess. "Now, we want them to be realsalt-water names. Just like fishes' names--or boats' names--or likethat."
"I got two," declared Dot, soberly. "Lots of men must be named thosenames about here. I hear them hollerin' to each other when they areout in the boats."
"Well, well!" cried Tess, impatiently. "What are the names?"
"One's 'Starboard' and the other's 'Port,'" declared Dot, seriously."And they are real nice names, _I_ think."
Tess was rather taken aback. She had a hazy opinion that "Starboard"and "Port" were not Christian names; they _might_ be, however, and shehad heard them herself a good deal. Besides, she wanted to agree withDot if she could, and so she sighed and wrote as follows:
"We got to names alreddy, Missus Mcall, and one's Starborde and the other is Port. They are very pretty names, we think and we hope you an unc rufs and Sandface will like them, to. You give them to the kittens that they seem to fit the best, pleas."
Neale, and Ruth, and Agnes came along some time afterward and foundthe smaller Corner House girls reduced almost to a state ofdistraction. They had been unable to decide upon two more names."Starboard" and "Port" had been inspired, it seemed. Now they were"stuck."
"It _does_ seem as though there should be some other seashore namesthat would sound good for kittens," sighed Tess. "I think 'Starboard'and 'Port' are real pretty--don't you, Ruth?"
"Very fine," agreed her older sister, while Agnes restrained hergiggles.
"Why not call one of the others 'Hard-a-Lee'?" suggested Neale,gravely.
"Is _that_ a seashore name?" asked Tess, doubtfully.
"Just as salt as a dried codfish," declared Neale, confidently.
"I think it is real pretty," Dot ventured.
"Then we'll call the third one 'Hard-a-Lee,'" declared Tess. "I'lltell Mrs. MacCall so," and she laboriously went at the misspelledletter again.
"But how about the fourth one?" asked Agnes, laughing. "He's not goingto be a step-child, is he? Isn't he to have a name?"
"Yes. We must have one more," Tess said, wearily. "Won't _you_ give usone, Aggie?"
"Sure!" said Agnes, promptly. "Main-sheet.'"
"'Starboard, Port, Hard-a-Lee and Main-sheet.' Some names, those!"declared Neale.
"I like them," Tess said, reflectively. "They don't sound like othercats' names--do they, Ruthie?"
"They most certainly do not," admitted the oldest Corner House girl.
"And are they pretty, Ruthie?" asked Dot.
"They are better than 'pretty,'" agreed Ruth, kindly. "If you childrenare suited, I am sure everybody else--including the kittensthemselves--will be pleased!"
The labored letter was therefore finished and sent away. As Dot said,"it lifted a great load from their minds."
But there was another matter that served to trouble all four of theCorner House girls for some days. That was what Mr. Reynolds, thelumberman, was going to do about Tom Jonah.
The girls seldom left their tent now without taking the dog with them.He was something of a nuisance in the boat when they went crabbing;but Agnes would not hear of going out without him.
"I know that man will come back here some time and try to get himaway," she declared. "But Tom Jonah will never go of his own freewill--no, indeed!"
"And he won't sell him again, he said," sighed Ruth. "I don't just seewhat we can do."
However, this trouble did not keep the Corner House girls from havingmany good times with their girl friends at the Spoondrift bungalow,and their boy friends on the beach.
There were fishing trips, and picnics on Wild Goose Island. Theysometimes went outside the cove in bigger boats, and fished on the"banks," miles and miles off shore. There was fun in the evenings,too, at the hotel dances, although the Corner House girls did notattend any of those held at the Overlook House, for they were notexactly friendly with Trix Severn.
One day Pearl Harrod's Uncle Phil arranged to take a big party of theolder girls to Shawmit, which was some miles up the river. Ruth andAgnes went along and that day they left Tom Jonah at Willowbend totake care of the smaller girls.
Ruth determined to see Mr. Reynolds, so when they reached Shawmit, shehunted up the lumberman's office. She found him in a more amiable moodthan he had been on the morning he dr
ove to Pleasant Cove to get TomJonah.
"Well, Miss!" he said. "How do you feel about giving up that dog?"
"Just the same, sir," said Ruth, honestly. "But I hope you will tellme who the man is you sold Tom Jonah to, so that we can go to him andbuy the dog."
"Do you girls really want old Tom Jonah as much as _that_?" asked Mr.Reynolds.
"Yes, sir," said the girl, simply.
"Willing to buy the old rascal? And he's nothing but a tramp."
"He's a gentleman. You said so yourself on his collar," said Ruth.
The man looked at her seriously and nodded. "I guess you think a wholelot of him, eh?"
"A great deal, sir," admitted Ruth.
"Well! I guess I'll have to tell you," said the man, smiling. "Old Tomevidently thinks more of you girls than he does of me. Tell you what:After I got home the other day I thought it over. I reckon Tom Jonah'schosen for himself. I paid my brother-in-law back the money he gave mefor him. So you won't be bothered again about him."
"Oh, sir----"
"You keep him. Rather, let Tom Jonah stay as long as he wants to. Butif he comes back to me I sha'n't let him go again. No! I don't wantmoney for him. I guess the old dog likes it where he is, and his daysof usefulness are pretty nearly over anyway. I'm convinced he'll havea good home with you Corner House girls."
"Just as long as he lives!" declared Ruth, fervently.
So Mr. Reynolds did not prove to be a hardhearted man, after all.Agnes and Tess and Dot were delighted. There was a regular celebrationover Tom Jonah that evening after Ruth got home and told the news.
It is doubtful if Tom Jonah understood when Dot informed him that hewas going to be their dog "for keeps." But he barked veryintelligently and the two smaller girls were quite convinced that heunderstood every word that was said to him.
"Of course, he can't talk back," Tess said. "Dogs don't speak ourlanguage. But if we could understand the _barking language_, I am surewe would hear him say he was glad."
And as our story of the Corner House girls' visit to Pleasant Covebegan with Tom Jonah, we may safely end it with the assurance that thegood old dog will spend the rest of his life with Ruth and Agnes andTess and Dot, at the old Corner House in Milton.
THE END
CHARMING STORIES FOR GIRLS
(From eight to twelve years old)
THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS SERIES
BY GRACE BROOKS HILL
Four girls from eight to fourteen years of age receive word that arich bachelor uncle has died, leaving them the old Corner House heoccupied. They move into it and then the fun begins. What they findand do will provoke many a hearty laugh. Later, they enter school andmake many friends. One of these invites the girls to spend a few weeksat a bungalow owned by her parents; and the adventures they meet withmake very interesting reading. Clean, wholesome stories of humor andadventure, sure to appeal to all young girls.
1 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS. 2 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS AT SCHOOL. 3 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS UNDER CANVAS. 4 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS IN A PLAY. 5 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS' ODD FIND. 6 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A TOUR. 7 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS GROWING UP. 8 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS SNOWBOUND. 9 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON A HOUSEBOAT. 10 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS AMONG THE GYPSIES. 11 CORNER HOUSE GIRLS ON PALM ISLAND.
BARSE & HOPKINS
NEWARK, N. J.--NEW YORK, N. Y.
THE POLLY PENDLETON SERIES
BY DOROTHY WHITEHILL
Polly Pendleton is a resourceful, wide-awake American girl who goes toa boarding school on the Hudson River some miles above New York. Byher pluck and resourcefulness, she soon makes a place for herself andthis she holds right through the course. The account of boardingschool life is faithful and pleasing and will attract every girl inher teens.
1 POLLY'S FIRST YEAR AT BOARDING SCHOOL 2 POLLY'S SUMMER VACATION 3 POLLY'S SENIOR YEAR AT BOARDING SCHOOL 4 POLLY SEES THE WORLD AT WAR 5 POLLY AND LOIS 6 POLLY AND BOB
_Cloth, Large 12mo., Illustrated._
BARSE & HOPKINS
_PUBLISHERS_
NEWARK, N. J.--NEW YORK, N. Y.
CHICKEN LITTLE JANE SERIES
By LILY MUNSELL RITCHIE
Chicken Little Jane is a Western prairie girl who lives a happy,outdoor life in a country where there is plenty of room to turnaround. She is a wide-awake, resourceful girl who will instantly winher way into the hearts of other girls. And what good times shehas!--with her pets, her friends, and her many interests. "ChickenLittle" is the affectionate nickname given to her when she is very,very good, but when she misbehaves it is "Jane"--just Jane!
Adventures of Chicken Little Jane Chicken Little Jane on the "Big John" Chicken Little Jane Comes to Town
_With numerous illustrations in pen and ink_
BARSE & HOPKINS
_PUBLISHERS_
NEWARK, N. J.--NEW YORK, N. Y.
Dorothy Whitehall Series
_For Girls_
Here is a sparkling new series of stories for girls--just what theywill like, and ask for more of the same kind. It is all about twinsisters, who for the first few years in their lives grow up inignorance of each other's existence. Then they are at last broughttogether and things begin to happen. Janet is an independent go-aheadsort of girl; while her sister Phyllis is--but meet the twins foryourself and be entertained.
6 Titles, Cloth, large 12mo., Covers in color.
1. JANET, A TWIN 2. PHYLLIS, A TWIN 3. THE TWINS IN THE WEST 4. THE TWINS IN THE SOUTH 5. THE TWINS' SUMMER VACATION 6. THE TWINS AND TOMMY JR.
BARSE & HOPKINS
_PUBLISHERS_
NEWARK, N. J.--NEW YORK, N. Y.
THE MARY JANE SERIES
BY CLARA INGRAM JUDSON
Cloth, 12mo. Illustrated.
With picture inlay and wrapper.
Mary Jane is the typical American little girl who bubbles over withfun and the good things in life. We meet her here on a visit to hergrandfather's farm where she becomes acquainted with farm life andfarm animals and thoroughly enjoys the experience. We next see hergoing to kindergarten and then on a visit to Florida, and then--butread the stories for yourselves.
Exquisitely and charmingly written are these books which every littlegirl from five to nine years old will want from the first book to thelast.
1 MARY JANE--HER BOOK 2 MARY JANE--HER VISIT 3 MARY JANE'S KINDERGARTEN 4 MARY JANE DOWN SOUTH 5 MARY JANE'S CITY HOME 6 MARY JANE IN NEW ENGLAND 7 MARY JANE'S COUNTRY HOME
BARSE & HOPKINS
_PUBLISHERS_
NEWARK, N. J.--NEW YORK, N. Y.
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