Part 28 (1/2)

”I'll cut the b.u.t.tonholes,” said Mrs. Bobbsey, ”then Nan and Mildred may work the b.u.t.tonholes by sticking a pin through each hole. The other girls may then sew the b.u.t.tons on.”

It was wonderful how quickly those little pearl b.u.t.tons went down the backs of the ap.r.o.ns.

”I believe I could make an ap.r.o.n all alone now,” said Nan, ”if it was cut out.”

”So could I,” declared Mildred. ”It isn't hard at all.”

”Well, here's my patterns,” spoke up Freddie, who with Flossie had been busy over in the corner cutting ”ladies” out of a fas.h.i.+on paper.

”No, they're paper dolls,” said Flossie, who was standing them all up in a row, ”and we are going to give them to the fresh-air children to play with on rainy days.”

It was only half-past four when Nan rang the bell to dismiss the sewing school.

”We have had such a lovely time,” said Mabel, ”we would like to have sewing to do every week.”

”Well, you are welcome to come,” said Aunt Sarah. ”We will make night dresses for the poor little ones next week, then after that you might all bring your own work, mending, fancywork or tidies, whatever you have to do.”

”And we might each pay five cents to sew for the fresh-air children,”

suggested Mildred.

”Yes, all charity sewing cla.s.ses have a fund,” Mrs. Bobbsey remarked.

”That would be a good idea.”

”Now let us fold up the ap.r.o.ns,” said Nan. ”Don't they look pretty?”

And indeed the half-dozen blue-and-white ginghams did look very nice, for they were carefully made and all smooth and even.

”When can we iron them out?” asked Flossie, anxious to deliver the gifts to the needy little ones.

”To-morrow afternoon,” replied her mother. ”The boys are going to pick vegetables in the morning, and we will drive over in the afternoon.”

Uncle Daniel had given the boys permission to pick all the b.u.t.ter-beans and string-beans that were ripe, besides three dozen ears of the choicest corn, called ”Country Gentleman.”

”Children can only eat very tender corn,” said Uncle Daniel, ”and as that is sweet and milky they will have no trouble digesting it.”

Harry looked over every ear of the green corn by pulling the husks down and any that seemed a bit overripe he discarded.

”We will have to take the long wagon,” said Bert, as they began to count up the baskets. There were two of beans, three of corn, one of lettuce, two of sweet apples, besides five bunches of Freddie's radishes.

”Be sure to bring Sandy back with you,” called Freddie, who did not go to the camp this time. ”Tell him I'll let him be my twin brother.”

Nan and Aunt Sarah went with the boys, but how disappointed they were to find a strange matron in charge of the camp, and Sandy's eyes red from crying after Mrs. Manily.

”Oh, I knowed you would come to take me to Freddie,” cried he, ”'cause my other mamma is gone too, and I'm all alone.”

”Mrs. Manily was called away by sickness in her family,” explained the new matron, ”and I cannot do anything with this little boy.”

”He was so fond of Mrs. Manily,” said Aunt Sarah, ”and besides he remembers how lonely he was when his own mother went away. Maybe we could bring him over to our house for a few days.”

”Yes, Mrs. Manily spoke of that,” said the matron, ”and she had received permission from the Society to let Edward pay a visit to Mrs.