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message to Susy, to come to her house as soon as possible, “as she had
something _very_ particular to say,” ran in the opposite direction to
Dr. Pool’s house.
Dr. Pool lived in a very pretty house not far from Mr. Grey’s, although
it was quite a distance back from the ocean. There were some beautiful
old trees growing near the house, and behind it there was a small pond
of freshwater. As Alice drew near the house she saw Patrick just driving
the doctor’s horses down for a drink.
“Good!” exclaimed Alice. “There are the horses, that means that Dr. Pool
is at home.”
So Alice ran to the door, and rang the bell. It was answered by Nettie
Pool, the doctor’s oldest daughter.
Netty was a lovely girl, and was a great favorite with every one. When
Alice saw her she said:
“Oh, Netty, I have something very particular to tell you, but first I
must attend to business.”
“That sounds very solemn,” said Netty, laughing; “but do come inside
while 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 the
message from her mother. She told him exactly where the woman lived, and
about all the trouble they had had.
“I am going over in that direction,” said the doctor, “in about two
hours, and I will then call and see her, and let your mother know her
condition.”
“That is beautiful,” said Alice. “Now I can go back and talk to Netty.”
The children had a long talk over their plans,
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and Netty said she should be delighted to help them in it, and to have
one of the lemonade tables.
“You might come back and take tea with me,” said Alice, “and we can talk
it over. Why, there is Susy now; how nice that is! Let’s hurry on, and
overtake her.”
So Susy was soon with them, and they had an opportunity to talk the
whole affair over as they walked slowly home.
There was a great deal to be done in preparation for this “lemonade
fête,” as the children called it, and for several days the three girls
were very busy. There were invitations to be written, a big tent to be
put up, the games, which had not been used since last summer, to be
looked over, besides countless little things which always arise to be
done at such a time.
But at last the eventful day arrived, and everything was ready. The
three girls stood under the tent in breathless excitement waiting: for
their expected guests.
“Oh, I wonder if any one will come,” said Alice, “and I wonder how much
we shall make! I do think everything looks lovely.”
“I hope every one else will think so, and will leave their money behind
in 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 coming
along,” said Alice. “I suppose they will want some cake. Come on, my
young friends; come and get some lemonade. No matter if you do cry all
night with colic, it will be tears shed in a good cause.”
“Oh, Alice, how silly you are,” said Susy, laughing. “I suppose Mrs.
Brice is just behind, and has stopped to talk to some one at the gate.
She will take good care that no colic follows this festive scene.”
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“Yes, you are right,” said Netty. “See! there comes a crowd of ladies
and gentlemen. Oh, dear, my heart is thumping so; I do wish it would
stop.”
But although the three girls were having their fun all by themselves,
they looked very demure to the people who came to take lemonade at their
tables. They stood quietly waiting, with their fresh muslin dress,
dainty white aprons with pink ribbon bows on the pockets. Soon people
began to come in crowds, and there was amusement for every one. Those
who liked archery found bows and arrows waiting for them; those who
liked croquet had only to pick out their mallets and begin a game. The
tennis balls flew back and forth, and even the older ladies found
comfortable chairs in the shade of tents or arbors where they could chat
away the afternoon. As for the little people who came there was no end
to their fun. They played “oats, peas, beans,” and tag and every sort of
delightful game.
But the best of all was to see the cake and lemonade disappear. Again
and again the plates were filled with cake, and the pitchers with
lemonade, only to be emptied and refilled.
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When the pleasant party was about to break up, Dr. Pool stood up and
asked the people to give him their attention for a few minutes.
So every one listened, and he told them the story of poor Mrs. Thompson
and her brave struggle with poverty. “My little friends tell me,” said
he, “that they have made ten dollars this afternoon.
“My kind little friends, Alice and Susy and Netty, have confided to me
that they would like very much to take upon themselves the support of
this family. You see, if we can just keep her mind easy and give her
good food for a few weeks, she will get up and be as strong as ever, I
think. But she is in a bad way now, and unless care is taken of her at
the present time it will be too late.
“It has been suggested that we should have one of these delightful
lemonade parties every Saturday for a few weeks, and so raise money
enough to keep Mrs. Thompson until she is able to support herself.”
But suddenly a scream was heard, and every one ran in the direction of
the sound, and what do you think they saw?
Mrs. Martin had come in the afternoon, but being obliged to go home
early, she had left her two little girls, promising to send the nurse
for them. The children consequently played around, enjoying themselves
immensely, until looking up suddenly they saw their nurse approaching.
“There’s Elise,” whispered Nannie. “Oh, I don’t want to go home.”
“We’se better hide,” said Freddy.
“I don’t see any place to hide,” said Nannie.
“Let’s dit up on dis fence,” said Freddy, “and turn our backs, and she
will never see us.”
So the children climbed up, and sat very still with their backs turned
towards Elise.
Of course they were discovered, and the scream of disappointment
followed. They insisted that it was too early to go, and that they
wanted to stay. But at last they were coaxed into going pleasantly, and
then one after another of the party said good-bye, and the lawn was soon
cleared of guests.
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The next day Mrs. Grey went with the children to the village, and
selected such provisions as she thought most suitable for Mrs.
Thompson’s use. She also selected some calico for dresses for Sarah.
Mrs. Grey took the bundles, and getting back into the carriage they
proceeded on their way to Mrs. Thompson’s cottage.
Their knock was answered by Sarah, who opened the door with a bright
smile upon her face.
“Oh, ma’am,” she exclaimed, as she saw Mrs. Grey, “you don’t know how
much better mother has been since you sent her the beef tea, and other
things. Why she could speak quite loud this morning. Only,” she added,
“she says she ought to get up and work now that she feels so much
better. But I’m sure she ought not, for the doctor said most particular
as how she was to stay in bed.”
“She mustn’t think of getting up,” said Mrs. Grey. “I will go in and see
her.”