ALL STRAIGHTENED OUT
Elizabeth Ann blushed and the people who had come to the fair clapped.
Doris forgot to be shy and beamed.
“Nobody ever guessed it was you, Elizabeth Ann,” she kept saying.
Uncle Hiram took them both over to the ice cream booth and there was
still some ice cream left, vanilla and chocolate. Before they had quite
finished their plates, Aunt Grace called to Uncle Hiram to come where
she was and look at something, and that left Elizabeth Ann and Doris
alone. The children in charge of the ice cream booth had gone to buy
something at one of the tables--for the fair was almost over--and the
teacher who had given the two little girls their ice cream had taken
her money box over to have the money counted where all the money boxes
were.
“P-st!” whispered someone right in Elizabeth Ann’s ear.
Of course she jumped, for it startled her.
“Here I am--back of these pillows,” said a voice and Catherine Gould
put her head out between two black satin pillows that had been left on
a piano bench.
“I think you were awfully mean to fool people, Elizabeth Ann,” said
Catherine reproachfully. “Of course if I had known who you were, I
wouldn’t have asked you to tell my fortune.”
“It was just for fun,” Elizabeth Ann answered, taking the last spoonful
of her chocolate ice cream and looking at her empty plate wistfully.
“Well, don’t you ever tell what I told you about the corncrib door, or
I’ll never forgive you,” said Catherine.
“Why I wouldn’t tell--I don’t carry tales,” Elizabeth Ann declared
indignantly, “but aren’t you going to tell Mr. Bostwick--or your
father?”
“Why should I?” asked Catherine, though her face turned red. “I’m not
sure I left it unfastened. I can’t be perfectly sure some of the boys
didn’t go to the corncrib after I left the candy there.”
Doris almost choked on her last bit of ice cream in her hurry to tell
Catherine what she thought of her.
“Why Catherine Gould, you’re telling a lie,” she cried. “I mean you
will be telling a lie, if you don’t explain to your father about the
corncrib door. He thinks Roger left it open, and Roger has to work for
him every Saturday.”
“I am not telling a lie, and don’t you say such things, Doris Mason!”
stormed Catherine. “Maybe I didn’t leave the door open. Anyway, it
won’t hurt Roger Calendar to work Saturdays--my father says idleness is
bad for anyone. And Roger _is_ careless--one day last summer he left
the pasture bars down and Mr. Bostwick’s cows got in the garden and ate
almost the entire first crop of peas.”
Someone struck a chord on the piano just then--that was to attract the
attention of everyone in the room. Elizabeth Ann peeked around a tall
man and saw that it was Roger who sat at the school piano.
“We’re going to auction the cakes that are left,” announced Mr. Fundy
the principal. “We have six fine cakes left and they won’t keep till
our next fair, so we’ll sell them to the highest bidder.”
Roger played softly while the cakes were being auctioned off and
they were soon sold. Aunt Grace bought a banana layer cake, much to
the pleasure of Elizabeth Ann and Doris, who liked banana cake. And
when the last cake had been sold and the money added to that already
counted, Mr. Fundy had another announcement to make.
“I’m glad to be able to tell you,” he said, “that everything in all the
booths has been sold; and we have cleared for our Christmas fund for
poor and sick children, exactly $160. I call that pretty fine for a
country school like ours.”
All the people clapped and Roger broke into a rollicking march on the
piano. With $160, Miss Owen explained to Elizabeth Ann who stood near
her, they could buy more than they had planned, and not a child would
have to be left off the list.
Then, of course, it was time to go home, and Elizabeth Ann and Doris
couldn’t talk about Catherine in the car for not only would Uncle Hiram
and Aunt Grace hear them, but Roger, who was going to have supper
at their house before he went to the Bostwick farm. Uncle Hiram had
arranged that with Mr. Bostwick, and it was a real treat for Roger who
seldom visited anywhere.
“Don’t you wish you had a piano of your own?” Doris asked him, when
they were almost home.
“Yes, I’d like one,” said Roger, “but the only way I’ll ever get it
will be to earn the money; and if people keep on saying I leave doors
open and kill cows, it will take me all my life to pay them. I never
will get any money saved for a piano.”
“Avast there,” Uncle Hiram mumbled over his shoulder. “The wind can
blow in the east only so long; your east wind is about blown out and
you ought to be looking for clear weather.”
“I hope you’ll get a nice west wind soon, Roger,” said gentle Aunt
Grace. “I’m having waffles for supper--maybe they will help.”
They couldn’t help laughing a little at the idea of waffles being a
west wind, but Roger told Aunt Grace that hot waffles were as good as a
spell of clear weather to him; a west wind, he explained to Elizabeth
Ann, always brought clear weather.
Elizabeth Ann looked at Doris and Doris looked at Elizabeth Ann. But
they couldn’t make up their minds what they ought to do.
Roger had his golden brown waffles and went home, whistling cheerily as
though he had forgotten such unpleasant things as corncrib doors, and
perhaps he had. Aunt Grace went out into the kitchen--excuse us, the
galley--to set her bread. And Elizabeth Ann and Doris sat on the floor
of their bedroom and talked about Catherine Gould until Uncle Hiram
called to them that it was high time sailors their age were fast asleep.
In the morning, on the way to school, Elizabeth Ann and Doris were
still talking about Catherine.
“I don’t want Roger to have to work Saturdays for Mr. Gould,” said
Elizabeth Ann. “It isn’t fair; he used to have two hours to himself
every Saturday and he could go over to Mrs. Weber’s and play on her
piano, he told me. Now he can’t do anything because Mr. Bostwick says
he must help him every minute to make up for the time he has to give
Catherine’s father.”
“But you can’t make Catherine tell her father,” Doris pointed out. “And
you don’t want to tell him yourself--you told her you wouldn’t.”
Elizabeth Ann shook her head so that her red tam almost fell off.
“No, of course I wouldn’t tell,” she declared. “But I am going to think
and think and by and by I’ll find a way.”
Doris had great respect for Elizabeth Ann’s thinking powers and she
watched her anxiously the rest of the day. Catherine was absent from
school, so when they left the bus at the cross-roads in the later
afternoon, only Roger was with them. He turned off at the lane leading
to the Bostwick farm, and as soon as they were alone, Elizabeth Ann
turned eagerly to Doris.
“I know what to do!” she exclaimed. “I’ve thought it all out--first
we ask Uncle Hiram to promise that he will tell Mr. Gould about
Catherine--how she hid the candy and forgot to fasten the door and then
let him think Roger did it. But before Uncle Hiram tells Mr. Gould, he
must make him promise that he won’t scold Catherine.”
“She ought to be scolded,” said Doris sternly. She didn’t like to be
scolded herself, mind you, but she didn’t mind seeing other people get
their “comeuppance,” as Aunt Grace called it.
“Well, perhaps,” Elizabeth Ann admitted, “but we can’t help that. If
Catherine thinks she is going to be scolded, she will never tell.
And if we can promise her no one will say a word, she won’t mind
telling. We want Roger to stop working for Mr. Gould--never mind about
Catherine.”
“Yes, but how can you tell Uncle Hiram when you said you wouldn’t?”
asked the practical Doris.
“I’m going to see Catherine now and ask her to let me tell,” Elizabeth
Ann explained. “You go on to the house and tell Aunt Grace where I am;
I’ll come as soon as I see Catherine.”
Doris went on, grumbling that the plan wouldn’t work. But the
surprising thing about it was that it did, it worked out exactly as
Elizabeth Ann planned. Catherine said if her daddy wouldn’t scold or
punish her, she didn’t mind having Uncle Hiram tell what had happened.
And Uncle Hiram, though at first he said he wouldn’t ask Mr. Gould
to make any silly promises, finally consented. He told him the story
Elizabeth Ann had told him--about the corncrib door and the candy, and
Catherine’s fear that led her to shift the blame to Roger.
Mr. Gould was sorry about Roger and went at once to see Mr. Bostwick to
tell him a mistake had been made, and that Roger wasn’t careless after
all. And of course Roger no longer had to work all day Saturday at the
Gould farm. But Mr. Gould was even sorrier about his own little girl,
and he said that no matter what happened another time, if Catherine
would come to him and tell him he wouldn’t scold but would help her to
set the mistake right. And Catherine promised to tell him after this.
Of course it was almost Christmas by this time--less than two weeks to
Christmas Eve. But we haven’t enough pages to tell you about Christmas
in the Bonnie Susie, so that will have to wait till another book. Only
you may be sure Elizabeth Ann and Doris had a wonderful time, for the
country is the place for little girls to enjoy Christmas.
THE END
Elizabeth Ann Series
By JOSEPHINE LAWRENCE
_For Girls from 7 to 12_
[Illustration: _The_ Adventures _of_ ELIZABETH ANN]
Elizabeth Ann is a little girl whom we first meet on a big train,
travelling all alone. Her father and mother have sailed for Japan,
and she is sent back East to visit at first one relative’s home, and
then another. Of course, she meets many new friends, some of whom
she is quite happy with, while others--but you must read the stories
for yourself. Every other girl who reads the first of these charming
books will want all the rest; for Elizabeth Ann is certainly worth the
cultivating.
THE ADVENTURES OF ELIZABETH ANN.
ELIZABETH ANN AT MAPLE SPRING.
ELIZABETH ANN’S SIX COUSINS.
ELIZABETH ANN and DORIS.
ELIZABETH ANN’S BORROWED GRANDMA.
ELIZABETH ANN’S SPRING VACATION.
ELIZABETH ANN and UNCLE DOCTOR.
ELIZABETH ANN’S HOUSEBOAT.
Publishers
BARSE & CO.
New York, N. Y. Newark, N. J.
LINDA LANE SERIES
By Josephine Lawrence
For Girls from 12 to 15
CLOTH LARGE 12 MO. ILLUSTRATED
[Illustration: LINDA LANE HELPS OUT]
“The trouble with Linda Lane,” said Mrs. Quincy, “was that she
‘couldn’t get along with folks.’” As everyone knows, a girl needs
friends to love her and believe in her. It isn’t to be wondered at that
Linda wasn’t happy. Then little Miss Gilly came to the rooms of the
Society, the only home Linda knew, and took the girl home with her. A
new life begins for Linda, and she finds, to her surprise and delight,
how to get along with people, how to make friends, and slowly and
surely how to be happy.
Linda admires independence above all other traits of character. She has
plenty of that quality herself and she is the kind of girl who not only
cheerfully fights her own battles, but those of the weaker who cannot
defend themselves. She is “bossy,” lovable, impatient and loyal, a born
manager, whose plans invariably work out to satisfactory conclusions,
and Linda has a definite plan which gradually unfolds in these books
written about her--the sort of plan only a girl without a home and
parents of her own could think of and carry to completion. Linda Lane
knows what she wants and she is willing to work and trust to her own
efforts to make her wishes come true.
1. LINDA LANE.
2. LINDA LANE HELPS OUT.
3. LINDA LANE’S PLAN.
4. LINDA LANE EXPERIMENTS.
5. LINDA LANE’S PROBLEMS.
6. LINDA LANE’S BIG SISTER.
Publishers
BARSE & CO.
New York, N. Y. Newark, N. J.
CHARMING STORIES FOR GIRLS
The Corner House Girls Series
By GRACE BROOKS HILL
[Illustration: _The_ CORNER HOUSE GIRLS]
Four girls from eight to fourteen years of age receive word that a
rich bachelor uncle has died, leaving them the old Corner House he
occupied. They move into it and then the fun begins. What they find
and do will provoke many a hearty laugh. Later, they enter school and
make many friends. One of these invites the girls to spend a few weeks
at a bungalow owned by her parents, and the adventures they meet with
make very interesting reading. Clean, wholesome stories of humor and
adventure, 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.
12 THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY.
13 THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS FACING THE WORLD.
PUBLISHERS
BARSE & CO.
NEW YORK, N. Y. NEWARK, N. J.
CHICKEN LITTLE JANE SERIES
_By_ LILY MUNSELL RITCHIE
[Illustration: CHICKEN LITTLE JANE COMES TO TOWN]
Chicken Little Jane is a Western prairie girl who lives a happy,
outdoor life in a country where there is plenty of room to turn around.
She is a wide-awake, resourceful girl who will instantly win her way
into the hearts of other girls. And what good times she has!--with her
pets, her friends, and her many interests. “Chicken Little” 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
Chicken Little Jane in the Rockies
PUBLISHERS
BARSE & CO.
NEW YORK, N. Y. NEWARK, N. J.
HAT MAY
_AN ENCHANTED PRINCESS_
_By_ LUCY THURSTON ABBOTT
_For girls from 8 to 14_
NET $1.00
[Illustration: HAT MAY]
This charming story is concerned with the fortunes of a little girl
whom a whim of Fate has placed in charge of a woman and her lame
husband living on the New England coast--the Winkiepaw pair--and
the woman, whom Hat May always looks upon as a cruel ogress of her
imaginary fairy world, treats her very badly indeed.
The story covering Hat May’s doings is everything that a book for girls
between the ages of eight and fourteen should be. The characters are
skillfully drawn and true to nature; also while there is considerable
pathos connected with the ill-treatment of Hat May; so too there is
discovered in the telling an abundance of childish and delightful humor.
BARSE & CO.
Publishers
New York, N. Y. Newark, N. J.
~The Rusty-Cats~
_A story of Hat May and her friends._
BY LUCY THURSTON ABBOTT
_Author of “Hat May.”_
(For Girls from 8 to 14)
Summer has come again to Carey Hill bringing with it the “rusticators,”
or, as the Carey children are called, the “rusty-cats.” With them
comes happiness to Hat May the little enchanted princess, and hope
of recovery to her little crippled friend, Hank. The mystic rites of
The Seven Bloody Bones baffle prying Mrs. Winkiepaw who is forced
to grant more freedom to her slave, Hat May. The success of Ariel’s
wonderful play, written especially for the Seven, buys a wheel-chair
for Hank, and then when the summer is over, and life with the ogress
becomes too hard to bear, Phin cleverly rescues Hat May and defeats
the ill-tempered ogress. Can anyone guess the beautiful word which
disenchants Hat May and takes her from her dreary and sordid existence
to one of beauty and happiness?
_Price Net $1.00_
Publishers
BARSE & CO.
NEW YORK, N. Y. NEWARK, N. J.
Transcriber’s Note:
Changes to the original publication have been made as follows:
Page 16
where Lyn had stopped it _changed to_
where Lex had stopped it
Page 27
Oh, yes, Aunt Nellie _changed to_
Oh, yes, Cousin Nellie
Page 28
it looks as thought _changed to_
it looks as though
Page 47
to go and leave him. _changed to_
to go and leave him.”
Page 63
bunk is like a a box _changed to_
bunk is like a box
Page 73
Aunt Grace, smiled a little _changed to_
Aunt Grace smiled a little
not to learn ship time _changed to_
not to learn ship-time
and its nice to hear you _changed to_
and it’s nice to hear you
Page 93
“Whose the little girl _changed to_
“Who’s the little girl
Page 98
Where do we register” _changed to_
Where do we register?”
Page 100
sang, too and so did Doris _changed to_
sang, too, and so did Doris
Page 119
material called zibilene _changed to_
material called zibelene
Page 159
he forgot to close it.’ _changed to_
he forgot to close it.”
Page 168
had been expressibly explained _changed to_
had been expressly explained
Page 190
“It can’t be much further, Elizabeth Ann. _changed to_
“It can’t be much further, Elizabeth Ann.”
Page 198
And everyone of them had _changed to_
And every one of them had
Page 200
packages before she brought them _changed to_
packages before she bought them
Page 213
that it did it worked out _changed to_
that it did, it worked out
Linda Lane Series
a girl needs friends to lover her _changed to_
a girl needs friends to love her
End of Project Gutenberg's Elizabeth Ann's Houseboat, by Josephine Lawrence