Part 10 (1/2)
”Why, it's from Uncle Cliff!”
Blue Bonnet tore the end off of the envelope hastily and began reading aloud:
”'I fear I cannot reach Woodford the day before Christmas as I had antic.i.p.ated, Honey, because of a matter here which is delaying me, but I will arrive sometime on Christmas Day. Go right on with any plans you may have for that day, as trains are uncertain and I might get in very late. If I am not there in time to say ”Merry Christmas,” remember that I am saying it in my heart and wis.h.i.+ng every happiness to the best little girl in the world. I shall answer your letter in person; we will discuss the room-mate at that time, and also the other matter which seems to lie so close to your heart.'”
”He means Carita Judson,” Blue Bonnet explained. ”I told him how much I wanted her to go with me to Miss North's school.”
”'Remember me to your Grandmother and Miss Clyde, and tell them that I am antic.i.p.ating my coming visit with pleasure. Enclosed you will find a little check for the Christmas shopping which I had hoped to enjoy with you, but since I cannot you must enjoy it for us both.'”
”That's all. Isn't he a dear! Well, if he gets here on Christmas Day I sha'n't complain.”
Blue Bonnet handed the little pink slip of paper which had been enclosed in the letter, to her grandmother.
”Take care of it for me, Grandmother. I don't need it any more than I do a sore thumb, as Uncle Joe used to say.”
Christmas week dawned bright and clear. Real Christmas weather, Blue Bonnet thought one morning as she opened her window and looked out at the trees in the apple orchard with their burden of glistening snow.
Christmas was to be celebrated rather differently from last year. Since Uncle Cliff was not to arrive until Christmas morning, Blue Bonnet had been permitted to spend the preceding days much as she pleased, shopping, and enjoying the We Are Sevens' holidays with them.
Two days before Christmas she bounded in to her grandmother's presence in a great state of excitement.
”Grandmother!” she exclaimed, ”I've got the loveliest idea! I was just over to Kitty Clark's, and the doctor is getting a Christmas tree ready for the people out at the Poor Farm. They are going to have it at four o'clock to-morrow afternoon, and he says that Kitty and I may go along and help if we want to. I asked him what he was going to give them, and he said not much, unfortunately, but a good time. He said he had hoped to be able to collect enough money this year to buy those old ladies a phonograph--you know--a Victrola--but everybody seems to feel so poor. I thought of the check Uncle Cliff sent me and I told the doctor about it.
He didn't want to take it, but I said he just had to, and I ran home to get it. Where is it, Grandmother?”
”But--Blue Bonnet, you couldn't get a phonograph here in Woodford. Not the kind you would want--”
”No, of course not; but Doctor Clark said if you thought best for me to give the money he could telephone to Boston this noon, and they could get it here on the four-twenty train, without any doubt. Oh, Grandmother, please don't say no. Seems to me I can't stand it if you do. Don't you remember how old Mrs. Prior loved Alec's songs that day she was here to see us? Why, she just seemed starved--”
Mrs. Clyde rose and went to the foot of the stairs.
”Lucinda,” she called, ”come down a minute, will you?”
Blue Bonnet did not give her grandmother time to explain, but laid her plan before her aunt in a torrent of words.
At first, Miss Clyde seemed bewildered. Then a very tender, sympathetic look pa.s.sed between mother and daughter.
”I hardly think, Blue Bonnet, that your check would pay for the Victrola,” Miss Clyde said. ”We should not want to get anything but the best--something that would last; and records are very expensive.”
Blue Bonnet looked woefully disappointed. Then she smiled delightedly.
”But, Aunt Lucinda, there's money left from what Uncle sent to buy my clothes, you said so. Let's take that. Oh, please, Aunt Lucinda.”
”I think it would be a beautiful thing to do, Lucinda,” Mrs. Clyde said, and Blue Bonnet flew to her grandmother and gave her a hug that nearly took her off her feet.
”You know how little those poor people have to amuse them, and, as Blue Bonnet says, Mrs. Prior seemed quite starved for music.”
Miss Clyde never acted upon impulse. She thought for a few moments, then turning, went up-stairs slowly. When she came down she handed Blue Bonnet a check.
”I think this will buy the Victrola--and some records, too,” she said.