Amy Ella Blanchard

“ Ben went on thoughtfully, and as if he had no idea of their having stopped guessing. "Its body was reared some distance above the water, but it was making its way very successfully, I thought."
"It was a dog!" cried Edna triumphantly.
"Of course it was," echoed the others. 105 Ben heaved a long sigh. "How mistaken persons can be when they are sure they are right. I admit that if I were writing about this object you might think I was writing about a dog, but I wouldn't be because it was not a dog."
"Then it was a horse or some kind of animal." Dorothy was very sure of this. ”

“ The door was opened to her by Miss Newman.
"Why, Edna Conway, what in the world brought you over here by yourself?" was Miss Newman's surprised greeting. "Why, the child is drenched to the skin. Come right in to the fire." She ushered her into the tiny living-room where a cheerful fire was blazing on the hearth. Before this Miss Eloise was sitting. "It is Edna, Ellie," said her sister, "and the child is soaking wet. My dear child, why did you come out in this fog wearing that flimsy gingham? ”

“ Miss Eloise put out her hand to clasp her sister's. "It sounds too good to be true," she whispered.
"But, Mamma," cried Jennie suddenly, "have you forgotten the porch party? It is almost time for the children to come."
"Dear me!" exclaimed Mrs. Ramsey, "I very nearly forgot, though I told Emma what preparations to make, and I am sure it will be all right. Still, you little girls had best go change your frocks so as to be ready." ”

“ I do love dolls."
"They are perfectly sweet," agreed Dorothy, "while Jennie's are even lovelier."
"They are bigger," said Edna, "but I don't think they are really any prettier, but Mrs. Ramsey's are perfectly magnificent. I wish I had Celia to help me dress mine; she does know how to make such pretty things."
"So does Agnes, but I tell you who will help us out, and that is Miss Eloise." Dorothy thought of this.
"So she will, though I expect she and Miss Newman will be busy making things themselves, for the bazar," replied Edna. ”

“ She reached the beach at last. The tide was coming in higher and higher, and was sweeping around 85the point where the cave was, rushing in and out with a great noise. Edna shuddered as she thought; suppose she had not been able to get away before now and had been hemmed in on both sides by the waves. Once in a while the fog lifted slightly, and she strained her eyes for a sight of the boat. Once she was sure she saw it, but a second view disclosed a lobsterman coming in from hauling his lobster-pots. He rowed steadily, but passed by too far out for the little girl to attract his attention. ”

“ Too late, Dorothy, we've passed it."
"Make up another, Ben," urged Dorothy.
"Well, here goes. If I wanted to be sure of an intellectual meal, what would I do?"
They guessed several things, but Ben shook his head at each answer. "I think it is a very hard one," declared Edna. "Intellectual is a hard word anyhow. You will have to tell us, Ben." ”

“ Not a soul was to be seen.
"That is the funniest thing," said Edna disappointedly. "I wonder where in the world everybody can be. Surely they could not be hiding," but to make sure she looked in closets and even under the beds, then she went slowly downstairs to Ben.
"There isn't a soul anywhere," she told him. "Oh, Ben, I am so dreadfully disappointed. What do you suppose has become of everybody?" ”

“ A SAILING PARTY
"What a time you have been done!" exclaimed Jennie when Edna appeared. "How did you happen to go to the bungalow? Come in and tell us all about it. Mother, here's Edna," she sang out.
"Come in to the fire," said Mrs. Ramsey from the door of the living-room. "These sea-turns chill one to the marrow. Was that Rudolph who brought you over? That was very nice of him. I was just about to tell Mack he'd better go for you."
Edna entered the house and stood before the fire. Dorothy who was established near at hand, looked up from the book she was reading. ”

“ Curly-Head followed him with pleased expectancy, and when they opened the package to disclose several pieces of panuchee, it was share and share alike.
"That's a nice generous boy," whispered Jennie to her companions. "I know what I am going to do; I am going to let him spend the rest of my money."
"And I'll let the little girl spend mine," declared Edna.
"Where do I come in?" asked Dorothy. "To be sure I have only ten cents and it wouldn't go a great way. I wonder if there are any more children who haven't had any money to spend." ”

“ This silenced Dorothy, and the children were made happy by being served with two saucers of ice-cream which they ate solemnly, aware that they were being watched by their benefactors.
When the last drop had vanished Jennie and Edna each took her last nickel and gave it to the children. "Now," said they, "this is for you to spend anyway you like."
"And this," said Dorothy, bringing forth her ten cents, "is for you to spend for your mother. Now don't forget," she charged the boy. "You understand it is to buy something for your mother." ”

“ I will tell Peter to bring up the pony and cart in half an hour." She walked away toward the stables, Dorothy joined her and Edna was left with her cousin feeling half indignant with Louis and half miffed with the girls. Why couldn't they have asked her and Louis to go to the stables? They might have known Louis, being a boy, would be interested in the horses.
She was roused from her thoughts by Louis who said, "I say, Edna, you don't want to go to drive, do you? It's stupid to just go driving up and down the roads; it's lots more exciting to go out in a boat. I like a sail-boat, don't you?" ”

“ I think this is the finest kind of picnic. Don't you wish our mothers could see us, Edna?"
"I don't see how I am able to eat so much?" remarked Edna. "I thought I was as hungry as I could be at lunch time and when it was over I didn't feel as if I ever wanted anything to eat again, but now I am just as hungry as if there had never been any lunch."
Cap'n Si laughed at this. "That's what the sea air does for folks," he said. "I guess you'll take a 52pound or two more home with you than you come with." ”

“ There comes the postman, I wonder if he has a letter from Jennie. We promised one another we would always write on blue paper because blue is true, you know, and that looks as if it might be a blue letter the postman has on top. I'm going to see."
"I'll wait here," returned Dorothy. "It's too hot to move."
She sat fanning herself with the lid of her piece box, watching her friend the while. Once or twice Edna stopped on her way back, and finally she began to dance up and down, then ran toward Dorothy, calling out, "Oh, there's a lovely something to tell you. ”

“ Shelly Beach came to be a familiar spot, the grove was more than once explored, the drives up and down the coast became old acquaintances, while Cap'n Si grew to be as well known as any member of Jennie's family. The little girls were never allowed to go out in a sail boat and never were permitted to go too far in the rowboat though Mr. Ramsey promised that some day they should all go on a sailing party, even Miss Eloise. The salt baths and the fine air were doing Miss Eloise so much good that one might expect almost anything would be possible for her before the summer was over. ”

“ Money always burned a hole in Dorothy's pocket, and it was hard for her to pass a candy shop without spending her pennies. Mrs. Ramsey knew this and knew also that while Dorothy was quite as generous as the other two she would have less to offer.
Both Jennie and Edna agreed with Dorothy that it was a very good plan to spend the money in this way and they at once began to plan what they should buy.
"I think we all might make a trip to Boston in a day or two," said Mrs. Ramsey. "How would you like that? I think we might spend our money to better advantage there." ”

“ Have a good time."
"Isn't she dear?" said Dorothy, when they were out of the room. "Does she always let you have anything you want, like that?"
"Oh, yes, generally. If she doesn't it is because there is some good reason why I shouldn't. I will take some extra salt and maybe Cap'n Si will get some fish and cook them for us on hot stones. He does that sometimes, and they do taste so good. I'll get Emma to pack everything in a little basket."
"Where do we go to get in the boat?" asked Edna. "Do we have to go to the steamboat wharf?" ”

“ That is a lovely idea, but do you know, Dorothy, I have thought of something else that isn't a bit nice, and that 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 not buy a single thing, but it can't be helped and if we give the things we are getting to-day it will be the same as buying things."
This view of the matter satisfied Edna, and they followed Mrs. Ramsey and Jennie, who were walking ahead, into the next shop where they were to get ribbons, gilt paint and a variety of things. ”

“ Mrs. Ramsey had telephoned Mack to meet them, so the three little dolls had their first ride in a motor-car and were the first of their company to arrive at the sea-shore. The children were so eager to get them dressed that they could scarcely wait for Mrs. Ramsey to get out her pieces. "Do, Mother, let us have them right away," begged Jennie.
"Don't you think you'd better wait till to-morrow when the other dolls will have come?"
"Oh, no, there is lots of daylight left, and we can help Dorothy dress these and then she can help us dress ours; it will be ever so much nicer that way. ”

“ Each of the little girls made a careful list of the things she meant to buy, and everyone was consulted about these lists; even Emma's advice was asked.
They were to make an early start so as to have plenty of time for their own shopping and that which Mrs. Ramsey meant to do. So on the all important 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 are traveling." ”

“ Ramsey directed the chauffeur to see about the trunks while he conducted the little girls to the waiting-room where he left them, returning in a moment to hurry them to the train, and the second part of their journey began.
"I never was in a parlor car before," whispered Dorothy to Edna as the porter turned their seat to a proper angle and adjusted their footstools.
"I was once," replied Edna.
Here Mr. Ramsey handed over some picture papers to them and a box of chocolates. "I am going into the smoking-car," he said. "Do you think you young ladies can get along a little while without me?" ”

“ Do they live in Lexington?"
"Oh, no, we are all staying at the Parker House. We went to see the Old North Church, and we were going to Lexington and Concord, all of us, but somehow we got separated from them, and we couldn't find them anywhere."
"We knew they were coming to the subway, for Ben said so," Dorothy chimed in, "and we thought we might find them there. A policeman showed us the way."
"That was like looking for a needle in a haystack," said the lady, "for you didn't know which of the subway stations they meant, did you? There are a great many, you know." ”

“ Billy Potter with round eyes stared straight ahead, taking interest only in the passing of an occasional vessel; Mallie, with drooping head responded yes or no to the questions put to her, and both visitors refused to leave their chairs to go anywhere or see anything. Presently Miss Eloise called Jennie softly and she immediately responded.
"You're having rather a hard time of it, aren't you dear?" said Miss Eloise.
"Oh, Miss Eloise, you don't know what sticks they are. I can't make the little girl say anything but yes and no, and the boy won't even say that much; we have all tried him." ”

“ Ramsey listening with absorbed interest. "What will they do, Papa?" asked Jennie. "They have nowhere to go and no clothes and no furniture. Oh, dear, isn't it dreadful?"
"Some of their neighbors have taken them in temporarily, and as soon as needs be we shall gather up whatever can be spared in the way of clothing for them. Then there is a plan on foot to get up a bazar in order to collect money for their furniture when they shall have another house."
"How will they be able to build a house? I know they are very poor." ”

“ At the words "good lady," Ben opened his eyes very wide at Edna and she collapsed into a fresh attack of giggles while Ben turned gravely to Mr. Ramsey to say, "And I shall be delighted, too, Mr. Ramsey. I think it will give the boys on the yacht a treat if I spare them my presence for one afternoon."
"Now, Benjamin, you are entirely too modest," said Mr. Horner. "He is quite the life of the party, Mr. Ramsey, I assure you. They will not miss an old fogy like me, but young blood like Ben's gives a great infusion of spirits."
The little girls stole a glance at Ben. ”

“ After the visitors had departed, the two younger of them quite thawed out, and promising with great readiness to come again, the three little girls returned to their place on the sands.
They were discussing the two Potter children when suddenly Edna sang out: "I see a boat coming."
"There are always boats coming and going," remarked Dorothy; "I don't think that is anything very unusual."
"But they don't often come so close to the shore, as if they were making right for this little landing," protested Edna.
Jennie sprang to her feet. ”