Marjorie at Seacote

by Carolyn Wells

  CHAPTER XIX

  MORE FUN

  "Now, Helen," said Marjorie, as they left the dining-room, "you mustpractise for an hour."

  "Oh, Mother, I don't feel a bit like it! Mayn't I skip it to-day?"

  This was, in effect, a speech that Marjorie often made, and she had tolaugh at her mother's mimicry.

  But she straightened her face, and said, "No, my child; you must do yourpractising, or you won't be ready for your lesson when the teacher comesto-morrow."

  "All right, Mother," said Mrs. Maynard, cheerfully, and sitting down atthe piano, she began to rattle off a gay waltz.

  "Oh, no, Helen," remonstrated Marjorie, "that won't do! You must playyour scales and exercises. See, here's the book. Now, play that pageover and over for an hour."

  Marjorie did hate those tedious "exercises," and she was glad for hermother to see how poky it was to drum at them for an hour. As a rule,Marjorie did her practising patiently enough, but sometimes sherevolted, and it made her chuckle to see Mrs. Maynard carefully pickingout the "five-finger drills."

  "Keep your hands straight, Helen," she admonished her mother. "Keep thebacks of them so level that a lead pencil wouldn't roll off. I'll get alead pencil."

  "No, don't!" exclaimed Mrs. Maynard, in dismay. She liked to play thepiano, but she was far from careful to hold her hands in the positionrequired by Midget's teacher.

  "Yes, I think I'd better, Helen. If you contract bad habits, it's sodifficult to break them."

  Roguish Marjorie brought a lead pencil, and laid it carefully across theback of her mother's hand, from which it immediately rolled off.

  "Now, Helen, you must hold your hand level. Try again, dearie, and if itrolls off, pick it up and put it back in place."

  Mrs. Maynard made a wry face, and the other grown-ups laughed, to seethe difficulty she experienced with the pencil.

  "One--two--three--four," she counted, aloud.

  "Count to yourself, Helen," said Marjorie. "It's annoying to hear you dothat!"

  This, too, was quoted, for Mrs. Maynard had often objected to themonotonous drone of Marjorie's counting aloud.

  But the mother began to see that a child's life has its own littletroubles, and she smiled appreciatively at Midget, as she picked up thepencil from the floor for the twentieth time, and replaced it on theback of her hand, now stiff and lame from the unwonted restraint.

  "You dear old darling!" cried Midget, flying over and kissing thepatient musician; "you sha'n't do that any longer! I declare, King, it'sclearing off, after all! Let's take the children out for a walk."

  "Very well, we will. Oh, here comes Ruth! Come in, Ruth."

  Ruth Rowland came in, and looked greatly mystified at the appearance ofthe elder members of the group before her.

  But King and Midget explained what was going on, and said:

  "And you can be Aunt Ruth, come to call on us and our children."

  Ruth's eyes danced with fun, and she sat down, saying to Marjorie, "I'mglad to see the children looking so well; have any of them thewhooping-cough? I hear it's around some."

  "I have," declared Cousin Jack, and then he began to cough and whoop ina most exaggerated imitation of the whooping-cough. Indeed, in hisparoxysms, he almost turned somersaults.

  "I hab a bad cold id by head," declared Mr. Maynard, and he began aseries of such prodigious sneezes that all the others screamed withlaughter.

  "Well, your children aren't so very well, after all, are they?"commented Ruth, as they watched the two men cutting up their capers.

  "The girls are," said Marjorie, looking affectionately at her two"daughters."

  "Oh, I'm not!" declared Mrs. Maynard; "I have a fearful toothache," andshe held her cheek in her hand, and rocked back and forth, pretendingdreadful pain.

  "And I have the mumps!" announced Cousin Ethel, puffing out her prettypink cheeks, to make believe they were swollen with that ailment.

  "Well, you're a crowd of invalids!" said King; "I believe some fresh airwould do you good. Out you all go, for a walk. Get your hats, kiddies,and be quick about it."

  The grown-ups scampered away to get their hats, and the ladies put uptheir hair properly and took off their white aprons.

  The two men discarded their big collars and ties, but the game was notyet over, and the group went gayly out and down toward the beach.

  "May we go in bathing, Mother?" asked Mr. Maynard.

  "Not in bathing, my son," returned Marjorie; "the waves are too strong.But, if you wish, you may all take off your shoes and stockings and go'paddling.'"

  However, none of the quartette of "children" accepted this permission,so they all sat on the sand and built forts.

  "Now, I guess we'll all go to the pier, and get ice cream," said King."How would you like that, kiddies?"

  "Fine!" said Cousin Jack. "It's getting warmer, and I'm hungering forice cream. Come on, all."

  "Gently, my boy, gently," said King, as Cousin Jack scrambled to hisfeet, upsetting sand all over everybody. "Now, walk along nicely andproperly, don't go too fast, and we'll reach the pier in good time."

  "Turn out your toes," directed Marjorie; "hold up your head, Ethel.Don't swing your arms, Edward."

  As a matter of fact the four grown people found it a little difficult tofollow these bits of good advice they had so often given carelessly tothe children, and they marched along rather stiffly.

  "Try to be a little more graceful, Helen," said King, and they alllaughed, for Mrs. Maynard was really a very graceful lady, and wasspoiling her gait by over-attention to Midget's rules. At the pier,King selected a pleasant table, and ranged his party around it.

  "Bring three plates of ice cream, and four half-portions," he directedthe waiter. And when it was brought, he calmly gave the four smallpieces to his parents and the Bryants.

  Cousin Jack's face fell, for he was warm and tired, and he wanted morethan a spoonful of the refreshing delicacy. But a surreptitious glanceat his watch showed him it was almost five o'clock; so he accepted hisplate without a murmur.

  "It's very nice, Mother," he said demurely, eating it by tiny bits,scraped from the edges as he had sometimes seen Marjorie do, when hershare had been limited to half a plate.

  "I'm glad you like it, son," she returned; "don't eat too fast,--holdyour spoon properly,--take small bites of cake."

  Ruth was convulsed by this new sort of fun, and asked Marjorie if theyhad ever played the game before.

  "No," Cousin Jack answered for her, "and I'm jolly well sure we neverwill again! I've had enough of being 'a child again, just for to-night!'And, if you please, ladies and gentlemen, it's now five o'clock! the jigis up! the game is played out! the ball is over! Here, waiter; bringsome ice cream, please. Full-sized plates, all around!"

  The amused waiter hurried away on his errand, and Mr. and Mrs. Maynardsat up suddenly, as if relieved of a great responsibility.

  "Bring some cake, too," said Mrs. Maynard, "and a pot of tea. Don't youwant some tea, Ethel?"

  "Indeed, I do, Helen; I'm exhausted. Jack, if you ever propose such agame again!"

  "I didn't propose it, my dear! Now, will you look at that! Everythingalways gets blamed on me!"

  And now there was plenty of ice cream for everybody, and the childrenwere allowed to have all they wanted, and they were all glad to get backto their rightful places again.

  "But it was fun!" said Marjorie, and then she told Ruth all about thefunny things they had done before she arrived on the scene.

  Then they all walked around by Ruth's house to take her home, and thenthey walked around by Bryant Bower to take the Bryants home, and thenthe Maynards went home themselves.

  "I'm going to write Kit all about it," said Marjorie; "she'd have lovedthat game, if she'd been here."

  "She loves any make-believe game," said King. "You write to her, Midget;I've got to write up _The Jolly Sandboy_ paper."

  "I should think you had! You haven't done one for two weeks."

  "I know it; but it's becaus
e nobody sends in any contributions. I can'tmake it all up alone."

  "'Course you can't. When I write to Kitty, I'll ask her if she hasn'tsome things we could put in it. She and Uncle Steve are always making uppoetry and stories."

  "Good idea, Mops! Tell her to be _sure_ to send me a lot of stuff, firstthing she does!"

  "Well, I will;" and Marjorie set to work at her letter.

  It was finished by dinner time, for Marjorie's letters to her sisterwere not marked by any undue precision of style or penmanship, and asMarjorie laid it on the hall table to be mailed, she told King that shehad given Kitty his message.

  "Father," said Midget, at dinner, that night, "what day did Cousin Jacksay was Pocahontas' birthday?"

  "I don't remember, my dear; but I'm quite sure he doesn't really know,nor any one else. I fancy he made up that date."

  "Well, do you know of anybody, anybody nice and celebrated, whosebirthday comes about now?"

  "The latter part of July? No, Midget, I don't. Why?"

  "Oh, 'cause I think it would be nice to have a celebration, and youcan't celebrate without a hero."

  "Do you call Pocahontas a hero?" asked King, quizzically.

  "Well, she's a heroine,--it's all the same. When do you s'pose herbirthday was, Father?"

  "I've no idea, Midget; and Cousin Jack hasn't, either. But if you wantto celebrate her, you can choose any day. You see, it isn't like abirthday that's celebrated every year, Washington's, Lincoln's, oryours. If you're just going to celebrate once, you can take one day aswell as another."

  "Oh, can I, Father? Then, we'll have it next week. I'll choose Augustfirst,--that's a nice day."

  "What's it all about, Midge?" asked King.

  "Oh, nothing; only I took a notion for a celebration. We had such goodtimes on Fourth of July and on my birthday, I want another birthday."

  "I think it's a good idea to choose some uncelebrated person likePocahontas," said Mrs. Maynard; "for if you don't celebrate her I doubtif anybody ever will."

  "And you see we can have it all sort of Indian," went on Midget. "Youknow we've a good many Indian baskets and beads and things,--and,Father, couldn't you build us a wigwam?"

  "Oh, yes, a whole reservation, if you like."

  "No, just one wigwam. And we'll only have the Sand Club. I don't mean tohave a party."

  "All right, I'm in for it," declared King, and right after dinner, thetwo set to work making plans for the celebration.

  "Cousin Jack will help, I know," said Marjorie; "remember how he playedIndians with us, up in Cambridge, last year?"

  "Yep, 'course I do. He'll be fine! He always is."

  "Let's telephone, and ask him right away."

  "All right;" and in a few moments Cousin Jack's cheery "Hello!" cameover the wire.

  "Well!" he exclaimed, "if it isn't those Maynard scamps again! Now, seehere, Mehitabel, it's time you and Hezekiah went to bed. It's nearlynine o'clock."

  "But, Cousin Jack, I just want to ask you something."

  "Not to-night, my Angel Child. Whatever you ask me to-night, I shall sayno to! Besides, I'm reading my paper, and I can't be disturbed."

  "But, Cousin Jack----"

  "The Interstate Commerce Commission has to-day handed down a decision infavor of----"

  "Oh, King, he's reading out of his newspaper, just to tease us! You tryhim."

  King took the telephone. "Please, Cousin Jack, listen a minute," hesaid.

  But all the reply he heard was:

  "Ephraim Hardenburg has been elected chairman of the executive committeeof the Great Coal Tar Company, to succeed James H.----"

  King hung up the receiver in disgust.

  "No use," he said; "Cousin Jack just read more of that newspaper stuff!Never mind, Midget, we can wait till we see him. I guess I will scoot tobed, now; I'm awful sleepy."

  But when Cousin Jack heard of their project, a day or two later, he wasmore than willing to help with the celebration.

  "Well, I just guess!" he cried. "We'll have a jamboree that'll make allthe good Indians wish they were alive now, instead of four hundredthousand years ago! We'll have a wigwam and a wampum and a tomahawk andall the ancient improvements! Hooray for Pocahontas!"

  "Gracious, Jack! you're the biggest child of the lot!" exclaimed Mrs.Maynard, who sat on the veranda, watching the enthusiasm going on.

  "Of course, I am, ma'am! I'm having a merry playtime this summer with mylittle friends, and as I have to work hard all winter, I really needthis vacation."

  "Of course you do! But don't let those two energetic children wear youout."

  "No, ma'am! More likely I'll wear them out. Now, for the wigwam,kiddies. Have you a couple of Navajo blankets?"

  "Yes, we have! and a Bulgarian one, or whatever you call it, to pieceout," cried Midget, as she ran to get them.

  "Just the thing!" declared Cousin Jack. "Put them aside, we won't usethem till the day of the show. 'Cause why? 'Cause it _might_ rain,--but,of course it won't. Now, for feathers,--we want lots of feathers."

  "Old hat feathers?" asked Midget.

  "Ostrich plumes? Nay, nay, me child. Good stiff quill feathers,--turkeyfeathers preferred. Well, never mind those,--I'll fish some up fromsomewhere. Now, blankets for the braves and fringed gowns for thesquaws. I'll show you how, Mehitabel, and you and your respected mothercan do the sewing act."

  Well, Cousin Jack planned just about everything, and he and the childrenturned the house upside down in their quest for materials. But Mrs.Maynard didn't mind. She was used to it, for the Maynard children wouldalways rather "celebrate" than play any ordinary game.

  CHAPTER XX

  A CELEBRATION

  The first of August was a perfect day for their celebration.

  They had concluded to hold a Sand Court session first, for the simplereason that so much matter for _The Jolly Sandboy_ had arrived fromKitty that King said his paper was full, and he thought it would be niceto help along the celebration.

  Cousin Jack declined an invitation to be present at the reading, sayingthat the Pocahontas part was all he could stand, so the Court convenedwithout him. Ruth was Queen for the day. This was for no particularreason, except that Marjorie thought it would be a pleasure to thelittle new member, so she insisted on Ruth's wearing the crown.

  Very dainty and sweet the little Queen looked, with her long flaxencurls hanging down from the extra gorgeous gilt-paper crown, thatMarjorie had made specially for this occasion.

  As the session began, a meek little figure appeared at the Courtentrance, and there was Hester!

  "Now, you Hester!" began Tom Craig, but Hester said:

  "Oh, please let me come! I _will_ be good. I won't say a single crossword, or boss, or anything."

  "All right, Hester," said Midget, kindly, "come on in. If the Queen saysyou may we'll all say so. Do you, O Queen?"

  Ruth looked doubtful for a minute, for she was a little afraid ofHester's uncertain temper; but, seeing Marjorie's pleading look, sheconsented.

  "All right," she said; "if Hester won't throw water on me."

  "No, I won't!" declared Hester, earnestly.

  "Well," said King, "just as long as Hester behaves herself she may stay.If she carries on like fury, she's got to go home."

  Hester sat down and folded her hands in her lap, looking so excessivelymeek that they all had to laugh at her.

  "Now," said the Queen, "we're gathered here together, my loyal subjects,to listen to,--to, what do you call it?"

  "_The Jolly Sandboy_," prompted King.

  "_The Jolly Sandbag_," said the Queen, misunderstanding.

  But she was soon put right, and King proceeded to read his paper.

  "It's 'most all done by Uncle Steve and Kitty," he said, "and it's sonice, I thought you'd all like to hear it."

  "We would," they said, and so King began.

  "Uncle Steve's part is all about animals," he said. "It's a sort ofNatural History, I guess. First is a poem about the Camel.

  "The camel is a cu
rious beast; He roams about all through the East. He swiftly scours the desert plain, And then he scours it back again.

  "The camel's legs are very slim, And he lets people ride on him. Across the sandy waste he flies, And kicks the waste in people's eyes.

  "He kneels for people to get on, Then pulls his legs up, one by one; But here's what troubles them the worst-- To know which leg he'll pull up first.

  "Sometimes, when he is feeling gay, The camel likes to run away; And, as he's just indulged that whim, I can't write any more of him."

  "I think that's lovely," said the Queen, enthusiastically. "Your uncleis a real poet, isn't he?"

  "Our family all can write poetry," said Marjorie, seriously. "Father andMother both write beautiful verses."

  "Now, here's the next one," went on King. "This is about all sorts ofdifferent animals,--and it's funny, too:

  "The whale is smooth, and black as jet His disposition sweet; He neatly combs his hair, and yet He will not wipe his feet.

  "The wombat's clever and polite, And kind as he can be; And yet he doesn't bow quite right When he goes out to tea.

  "The snake is bright and understands Whatever he is taught; And yet he never will shake hands As cordial people ought.

  "'Most everybody loves the newt; But I've heard people tell, That though he's handy with a flute He can't sew very well.

  "So animals, as you may see, Some grave defects display; They're not like human beings. We Are perfect every way."

  "Oh, that's a fine one!" cried Hester. "Mayn't I copy that, and have itto keep?"

  "Of course," said King. "I'll make you a copy on the typewriter. Now,here's a silly one. I mean nonsensical, you know. But I like it:

  "THE FUNNY FLAPDOODLE

  "There was a Flapdoodle of France, Who loved to cut capers and dance; He had one red shoe And the other was blue, And how he could shuffle and prance!

  "One day he was kicking so high That a breeze blew him up in the sky; The breeze was so strong It blew him along Till the Flapdoodle just seemed to fly.

  "He flew 'way up into the stars, And, somehow, he landed on Mars. Said the Flapdoodle: 'I Do not like to fly; I think I'll go back on the cars.'

  "So a railroad was rapidly built, And they wrapped him all up in a quilt; For the Flapdoodle said: 'If I stick out my head I fear that I'll somehow get kilt!'

  "The railroad train whizzed very fast, But they landed him safely at last; And through future years He related, with tears, The dangers through which he had passed."

  "Oh, that's the best of all!" said Midget; "I love that kind of funnyverses. Isn't Uncle Steve clever to write like that! Any more, King?"

  "Yes, one more. It isn't about animals, but it's a sort of a nonsensepoem, too. It's called 'A Queer Hospital.'

  "There's a hospital down on Absurdity Square, Where the queerest of patients are tended with care.

  "When I made them a visit I saw in a crib A little Umbrella who had broken his rib.

  "And then I observed in the very next bed A bright little Pin who had bumped his poor head.

  "They said a new cure they'd decided to try On an old Needle, totally blind in one eye.

  "I was much interested, and soon I espied A Shoe who complained of a stitch in her side.

  "And a sad-looking patient who seemed in the dumps Was a Clock, with a swell face because of the mumps.

  "Then I tried very hard, though I fear 'twas in vain To comfort a Window who had a bad pane.

  "And I paused just a moment to cheerily speak With a pale Cup of Tea who was awfully weak.

  "As I took my departure I met on the stair A new patient, whom they were handling with care, A victim perhaps of some terrible wreck-- 'Twas a Squash who had fatally broken his neck."

  "This is the nicest _Jolly Sandboy_ paper we've had yet," said Tom, asKing finished.

  "Yes, it is," agreed Marjorie. "But I thought Kit wrote some of it,King."

  "She did. I'll read hers now. It's an alphabet, all about us down here.Kitty wrote it, but she says Uncle Steve helped her a little bit withsome of the lines. It's called 'The Seacote Alphabet.'

  "A is the Automobile we all love. B is the Boat in the water we shove. C is the Coast that stretches along. D is for Dick, our Sandow so strong. E's cousin Ethel, so sweet and refined. F, Father Maynard, indulgent and kind. G, Grandma Sherwood, who dresses in drab. H is for Hester and Harry Sand Crab. I, for Ice Cream, the Maynards' mainstay. J, Cousin Jack, always ready to play. K is for King, and for Kitty, (that's me). L is for Lakewood, where I went to sea. M, Mother Maynard, and Marjorie, too. N for Nurse Nannie, who has lots to do. O for the Ocean, with big breakers bold. P for the Pier, where candy is sold. Q for Queen Sandy, in regal array. R, Rosy Posy, so dainty and gay. S is for Seacote, and Sand Court beside. T is for Tom, the trusty and tried. U, Uncle Steve, who's helping me write. V for these Verses we send you to-night. W, the Waves, that dash with such fuss. X the Excitement when one catches us. Y for You Youngsters, I've given your names. Z is the Zeal you show in your games."

  "My! isn't that scrumptious!" exclaimed Hester. "You're a terribly smartfamily, Marjorie."

  "Oh, I don't know," said Midget, modestly. "Kit's pretty clever atwriting rhymes, but King and I can't do it much. We make up songssometimes, but Kitty makes the best ones."

  "I wish I could do it," said Ruth; "but I couldn't write a rhyming thingat all."

  "Well, that's all there is in _The Jolly Sandboy_ this week," said King."I didn't write any myself, and the things you others gave me, I'vesaved for next week. Now, shall we go and celebrate Pocahontas'birthday?"

  "Is it really her birthday?" asked Ruth.

  "No, we're just pretending it is. But you see, poor Poky never had herbirthday celebrated; I mean,--not legally, like Washington,--so we'regoing to give her a chance."

  The Sand Club trooped up to the house, and found Cousin Jack waiting forthem. He was a little surprised to see Hester, but he greeted herpleasantly, and Hester looked so meek and mild, one would hardly believeshe had a high temper at all. A wigwam had been built on the lawn, andthough it was only a few poles covered with blankets, it looked veryIndian and effective.

  The Maynards had contrived costumes for all, and in a few moments thegirls had on gay-fringed skirts and little shawls, with gaudyheaddresses, and the boys had a nondescript Indian garb, and wonderfulfeathered headpieces, that hung grandly down their backs like BigChiefs.

  Also they had pasteboard tomahawks, and Cousin Jack taught them awar-whoop that was truly ear-splitting.

  "First," said Mr. Bryant, "we'll all sing the Blue Juniata, as that is apretty Indian song, and so, sort of appropriate to Pocahontas."

  So they all sang it, with a will, and the song of "The Indian Girl,Bright Alfarata," was, in a way, a tribute to Pocahontas.

  "Now," Mr. Bryant went on, "some one must tell the story of Pocahontas.Harry, will you do it?"

  But the Sand Crab was too shy to speak in public, so Cousin Jack askedRuth to do it.

  "I don't know it very well," said Ruth, "but I guess it was like this:Captain John Smith was about to be tommyhawked all to pieces by admiringIndians. As the fell blows were about to fell, up rushes a beautifulIndian maiden, with her black hair streaming in the breeze. 'Fear thounot!' she said, wildly; 'I will save thee!' Whereupon she flang herselfupon him, and hugged him till he couldn't be reached by his tormentors.The wild Indians were forced to desist, or else pierce to the hearttheir own Pocahontas, beloved daughter of their tribe. So they releasedCaptain John Smith, and so Pocahontas married Captain John Rolfeinstead, and they lived happy ever after. Hence is why we celebrate herbirthday."

  Ruth clearly enjoyed the telling of this
tale, and threw herself into itwith dramatic fervor.

  The others listened, enthralled by her graphic recital and thrillingdiction.

  "My!" exclaimed Midget, as she finished, "I didn't know you knew so manybig words, Ruth."

  "I didn't, either," said Ruth, calmly; "they sort of came to me as Iwent along."

  "Well, that's just as smart as writing poetry," declared King, and Ruthwas greatly pleased at the compliments.

  "Now, my dear young friends," Cousin Jack said, by way of a speech, "theexercises will now begin. As you know, we are celebrating the birthdayof a noble Indian Princess. Therefore, our sports or diversions will allbe of an Indian character. First, we will have an Indian Club Drill."

  He produced Indian clubs for all, the boys' being heavier ones than thegirls.

  These were new to the Maynards, but Cousin Jack soon taught them how touse them, and instructed them in a simple drill.

  Hester learned more quickly than Marjorie, for she was more lithe andagile, and swung her clubs around with greater ease. Ruth seemed to knowinstinctively how to use them, which was partly due to her proficiencyin fancy dancing. But they all learned, and greatly enjoyed theinteresting exercise.

  Cousin Jack presented the children with the clubs they used, and theypromised to practise with them often.

  "It'll be good for you growing young people," said Mr. Maynard, "and youcan form a sort of a Pocahontas Club."

  Then he had a gramophone brought out to the lawn, and they whisked theirclubs about to inspiriting Indian music.

  "Now, I dare say you're tired," said Cousin Jack, "for Indian clubexercise is a strain on the muscles. So sit in a circle on the grass,and we'll all smoke pipes of peace and swap stories for a while."

  The "pipes of peace" turned out to be pipes made of chocolate, so theywere all willing to "smoke" them.

  "Mine's a pipe of pieces!" said Midget, as she broke the stem in bits,and ate them one by one.

  The others followed her example, and the pipes had disappeared beforethe story-telling fairly began.

  But Cousin Jack told them some thrilling Indian tales, and so interestedwere his hearers that they gathered close about him, and listened inabsorbed silence.

  "Was that true, Cousin Jack?" asked King, after an exciting yarn.

  "Well, it's in a story-book written by James Fenimore Cooper. You're oldenough to read his books now, and if I were you children, I'd ask myparents to buy me some of Cooper's works."

  "I'm going to do that," cried Hester, her eyes dancing at the thought ofreading such stories for herself. "I never heard of them before."

  "Well, you're young yet to read novels, but Cooper's are all right foryou. You might read one aloud in your Sand Club."

  "Yes, we will!" said King. "That'll be fine. Then one book would do forus all. Or we might each get one, and then lend them around to eachother. My, we're getting lots of new ideas from our celebration. Indianclub exercises and Cooper's stories are worth knowing about."

  "And now," said Cousin Jack, "if you're rested, suppose we march alongIndian File, and see if we can come across an Indian Meal."

  "Ho, ho!" laughed King, "I don't want to eat Indian meal!"

  "We'll see what it is before we decide," said Midget, judicially. "Whatis Indian File, Cousin Jack?"

  "Oh, that only means single file, or one by one. _Not_ like the Irishmanwho said to his men, 'March togither, men! be twos as far as ye go, an'thin be wans!' I want you to go 'be wans' all the way."

  So, in single file, they followed Cousin Jack's lead to the wigwam,which they hadn't yet entered. He turned back the flap of the tent, andthere was room for all inside. On a table there there were eight Indianbaskets, of pretty design. On lifting the covers, each was found tocontain an "Indian Meal."

  The meal was a few dainty little sandwiches and cakes, and a peach and apear, all wrapped in pretty paper napkins, with an Indian's head on thecorner.

  Exercise had given the children good appetites, and they were quiteready to do full justice to the "Indian Meal."

  Sarah brought out lemonade, and later ice cream, so, as Midget said, itreally was a party after all.

  Of course, the children kept the baskets and the pretty napkins assouvenirs, and when the guests went home, they said they were glad theydidn't know the real date of Pocahontas' birthday, for it _might_ havebeen in the winter, and then they couldn't have had nearly as much fun.

  "And it's lucky we decided on this day," said Cousin Jack, after thechildren had gone, "for to-morrow Ethel and I go back to Cambridge."

  "Oh, Cousin Jack, not really!" cried Midget, in dismay.

  "Yes, kiddy; we've changed our summer plans suddenly, and we're going toEurope next week. So we leave here to-morrow. And sorry, indeed, are weto leave our Maynard friends."

  "I'm sorry, too," said Midget, "_awfully_ sorry, but I'm glad we've hadyou down here as long as we have. You've been awful good to us, CousinJack."

  "You've been good to me, Mehitabel. And when I wander through theinteresting places abroad, I shall write letters to you, and when I comehome again, I'll bring you a souvenir from every place I've been to."

  "Well, you're just the dearest Cousin Jack in all the world!" saidMidget, and she gave him a big hug and kiss to corroborate her words.

  "And you're just the dearest Mopsy Midget Mehitabel!" he said, returningher caress.

  * * * * *

  THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES

  By VICTOR APPLETON

  12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING.

  Moving pictures and photo plays are famous the world over, and in thisline of books the reader is given a full description of how the filmsare made--the scenes of little dramas, indoors and out, trick picturesto satisfy the curious, soul-stirring pictures of city affairs, life inthe Wild West, among the cowboys and Indians, thrilling rescues alongthe seacoast, the daring of picture hunters in the jungle among savagebeasts, and the great risks run in picturing conditions in a land ofearthquakes. The volumes teem with adventures and will be foundinteresting from first chapter to last.

  THE MOVING PICTURE BOYSOr Perils of a Great City Depicted.

  THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WESTOr Taking Scenes Among the Cowboys and Indians.

  THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COASTOr Showing the Perils of the Deep.

  THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLEOr Stirring Times Among the Wild Animals.

  THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LANDOr Working Amid Many Perils.

  THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOODOr Perilous Days on the Mississippi.

  THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMAOr Stirring Adventures Along the Great Canal.

  THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEAOr The Treasure of the Lost Ship.

  GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

  * * * * *

  THE BUNNY BROWN SERIESBy LAURA LEE HOPEAuthor of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books

  Wrapper and text illustrations drawn byFLORENCE ENGLAND NOSWORTHY

  12mo. DURABLY BOUND. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING

  These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are eagerlywelcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Theireyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitivelittle Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.

  Bunny was a lively little boy, very inquisitive. When he did anything,Sue followed his leadership. They had many adventures, some comical inthe extreme.

  BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE

  BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM

  BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS

  BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE

  BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME

  BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS

  BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR

  BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY

&nb
sp; BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW

  BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE

  GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

  * * * * *

  Transcriber's Notes:

  Punctuation has been made consistent with contemporary standards.

  "BY THE SAME AUTHOR" page moved to after Title Page and notices.

  Page 44: "her. her." changed to "her." (arms around her).

  Page 111 "dulness" changed to "dullness" (A dullness seemed to fall).