BUSY DAYS
Ten days later school was already in full swing. Mary Lee had been
placed in a grade lower than her friends because she had lost so much
time while at the orphanage and at the Quinns. She had been able to
arrange for the necessary spare time and so was able to become Dr.
Payson's "assistant," as he jokingly called her.
Each of the girls had received a card from the Andersons who were now
in the Adirondacks and who were to remain there for several weeks.
Mary Lee had also received a letter from Tom Marshall, forwarded to
her by Mrs. Quinn. He was on his way to Mexico and he told her that
his mother had died, but so peacefully that it had left him no
bitterness. His sorrow held only the regret that he had not been more
with his mother during the last few years. He thanked Mary Lee again
for her help and voiced the hope that he would see her again some day.
Pleasant days followed each other. The girl enjoyed her work at Dr.
Payson's office as much as she did school. What time she did not
devote to her studies and to the office was spent agreeably with the
other girls.
It had been decided to hold the Campfire meetings on Friday nights and
the girls were doing fairly well in the absence of their leader, Aunt
Madge. Following Mary Lee's example, they were desirous of being Red
Cross girls.
Ruth, who was secretary, was instructed to write to the Red Cross
Committee volunteering the services of the seven girls.
"What can we do?" Alice Brown, one of the girls, pessimistically
asked.
"Why, we can make bandages, after a few lessons," replied Mary Lee.
"And some of us can sew and knit," added Letty.
"Oh," said Alice, as if a light had struck her. "Why of course."
Before they could get a reply to their letter, the President and
Congress had declared war against Germany. This made them doubly eager
for their answer and with the idea of preparing ahead of time, at Mary
Lee's suggestion, they immediately invited Miss Walker, a friend of
Mrs. Anderson, who was a trained nurse, to teach them how to make such
bandages as might be needed. Miss Walker readily consented to give one
evening a week to teaching them.
The war came somewhat close to Mary Lee when Dr. Payson told her that
he intended to answer the first call for physicians.
"Would you like to come along?" he asked her jestingly.
The girl took his question seriously and for a moment was not sure.
She pictured the wounded and dying with her ready imagination and felt
as if she would not be equal to it.
Then a new and clearer thought came.
"If I'm to be a nurse," she said determinedly to herself, "I mustn't
think of such things. I mustn't think of myself at all."
But Dr. Payson, who had watched the serious minded girl with
considerable amusement, added:
"There isn't any need for sudden decision on your part. I'm afraid you
couldn't come even if you would. You are somewhat young, for one
thing, and I hope there won't ever come a time when they will need
anybody so young," he concluded as a serious look came into his eyes.
Then he changed the subject and went into a detailed explanation of
what was to be done with a case that was to come in a little later
that day, and how he would expect Mary Lee to assist him. She listened
carefully as she was anxious to get practical experience.
"I wish I could have you here all the time," Dr. Payson remarked a
little later. "You are such a help. I tell you this because I feel
sure it won't turn your head."
The girl flushed with gratification and vowed to herself that she
would give her very best to her work always. And although Dr. Payson
did not add it, he had noticed with considerable satisfaction how neat
the girl was and how strong a point she made of keeping things in
order.
In the midst of a number of questions one afternoon, a sudden thought
struck her and she stopped short.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Payson, I should not be bothering you with my many
questions," she remarked contritely. "I didn't realize before, how
many I ask."
"You are not bothering me," he answered with decision. "I want you to
ask questions; in that way I shall be able to get your best help, so
be sure you always do."
After that Mary Lee, taking him at his word, never hesitated. In this
way she was learning much and daily growing more efficient.
Letty, for one, was keenly interested in Mary Lee's position and at
such time when she was free she begged to be allowed to go with her to
Dr. Payson's office. But excepting Saturday mornings when Dr. Payson
did not come to the office, Mary Lee, much as she would have liked to
have Letty with her, had to reluctantly refuse permission. She felt
that the situation was not play and even on the Saturday mornings that
Letty did come she made her help in getting things in order.
School events were now in full swing. Mary Lee became a member of the
Basket Ball Team because of her quickness and strength. At the same
time Letty was made a substitute.
At one of the Campfire meetings Mary Lee suggested to the other girls
that they start a large Junior Red Cross Group at High School.
The idea took like wildfire at school and over forty girls made
application at the first meeting.
The idea had the enthusiastic backing of Miss James who was a teacher
in English at the school and who had been made the director of the
group by the faculty.
"Suppose," said Miss James, "we form a Committee on Plans. There will
be so much to do and so many in the school who will be anxious to join
that we should have plans formed."
The girls all agreed. Besides Miss James seven girls were appointed,
and Mary Lee, Letty and Ruth were three of them.
As if to help the Committee on Plans the answer from the Red Cross
Committee came to Ruth the next morning.
Ruth read the letter through breathlessly, and then hurried over to
meet Letty and Mary Lee before their departure for school.
The two girls were just leaving the house as Ruth turned the corner.
"Mary Lee, Letty!" she called to them excitedly and waved the letter.
Passers-by stopped and smiled at the girl and her excitement but she
was heedless of the stir she was causing.
Mary Lee and Letty turned at the call and hurried to meet her.
"I've got the letter! I've got the letter!" she exclaimed.
"Will they let us do anything? What do they say? Let's sit down and
read it," Letty responded with great eagerness.
Mary Lee, not a bit less excited, turned to see where they could sit
down.
"Let's sit down here," she directed and the three girls seated
themselves on the steps of Letty's house. Mary Lee then immediately
turned to the letter.
It was of considerable length. It told the girls that the help they
could give at the time was threefold. While some of it might not at
first thought be the Red Cross work, as they probably had associated
their idea of it, it was, as they would realize after a little
thought, the best kind of Red Cross help. The letter closed very
nicely, after outlining the things they could do, with an appreciation
of their offer which was so opportune and the assurance that their
help was greatly needed.
"My," said Mary Lee, "it's like ready made plans for our committee.
Let's hurry and show it to Miss James. We'll be late if we stop and
talk it over, there is so much to consider."
So the girls hurried to school with a consciousness that the
opportunity for service was straight ahead of them and in definite,
concrete form.
After the first period, the three girls were free and they
immediately hastened to see Miss James.
"It is perfectly splendid, isn't it?" was her comment after reading
the letter through. "I wonder how many of the rest of the committee
can be excused so that we can go over this letter at once."
Two of the other girls could come and they did. Miss James then read
the letter aloud.
"You see, girls, they want us to plan along three different lines.
First, and this is the plan that we all had--we should turn to making
useful things which would be used by our soldiers and our allies. You
see, they want us to be very practical about this.
"Second, they want every member of this group to help in the planting
of some vegetable garden. That is a splendid practical idea, not hard
to follow and it should prove of great benefit inasmuch as the food
supply of the country would be materially increased.
"Third, they want us to form a division whose work will be to call
attention of households to the great need of eliminating luxuries, and
being economical and frugal. That, too, is possible for us to do.
"Of course, young ladies, we by ourselves can do our share. But it
helps to know that there are to be other groups like our own formed
throughout the country--for that means we shall be a part of a very
big thing."
"Isn't it fine?" Mary Lee added with great enthusiasm. "President
Wilson said the other day that help, such as this, is just as
necessary and useful as the service the soldier gives."
"We'll call a meeting of the group tomorrow afternoon, shall we?"
asked Miss James. "This afternoon we can get a report into definite
shape."
"But, Miss James," interrupted Letty. "If we have our meeting this
afternoon, Mary Lee cannot be present. She is at Dr. Payson's; nor can
she come tomorrow afternoon, or any afternoon."
Miss James turned to Mary Lee who nodded her head in confirmation.
"You see," she remarked apologetically, "I work afternoons and
Saturday mornings at Dr. Payson's office. But please," the girl added,
"you have your meeting and I'll help as I can."
"Well, there's one thing we know--we want Mary Lee with us, don't we
girls?" asked Miss James.
The girls agreed with decisive unanimity.
"So we will have our meetings at seven tonight and tomorrow, if all of
you can arrange to have an early dinner. I hope that this is
satisfactory. And in the meantime, girls, think about this and about
any ideas that are practical and feasible. Above everything else, let
us prove that we are a very practical, useful group."
It was almost time for the next period and so the girls made their way
to their classrooms.