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Page 51
"I have one doll dressed in Dutch costume, to show how the children
looked that the little Pilgrims played with in Holland; and another
dressed like a Puritan maiden, to show them the simple old New England
gown. Then I have two fine pictures of Miles Standish and the Indian
chief Massasoit.
"For December and January I shall have Christmas and winter, and frost
and ice and snow, with the contrasts of eastern and Californian
climates."
"I can get the Immigration Bureau to give you a percentage on that
story, Polly," said Uncle Jack Bird, who had strolled in and taken a
seat. "Just make your facts strong enough, and you can make a handsome
thing out of that idea."
"Don't interrupt us, Jack," said Mrs. Bird; "and go directly out, if
you please. You were not asked to this party."
"Where was I?" continued Polly. "Oh yes,--the contrast between
Californian and eastern winters; and January will have a moral story or
two, you know,--New Year's resolutions, and all that. February will be
full of sentiment and patriotism,--St. Valentine's Day and Washington's
Birthday,--I can hardly wait for that, there are so many lovely things
to do in that month. March will bring in the first hint of spring.
The winds will serve for my science story; and as it chances to be a
presidential year, we will celebrate Inauguration Day, and have some
history, if a good many subscribers come in."
"Why do you say 'if,' Polly? Multitudes of names are coming in. I
have told you so from the beginning."
"Very well, then; when a sufficient number of names are entered, I
should like to spend ten dollars on a very large sand-table, which I
can use with the younger group for illustrations. It is perfectly
clean work, and I have helped Miss Denison and her children to do the
loveliest things with it. She makes geography lessons,--plains, hills,
mountains, valleys, rivers, and lakes; or the children make a picture
of the story they have just heard. I saw them do 'Over the River and
through the Wood to Grandfather's House we go,' 'Washington's Winter
Camp at Valley Forge,' and 'The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.' I have
ever so many songs chosen, and those for November and December are
almost learned without my notes. I shall have to work very hard to be
ready twice a week!"
"Too hard, I fear," said Mrs. Bird anxiously.
"Oh, no; not a bit too hard! If the children are only interested, I
shall not mind any amount of trouble. By the way, dear Mrs. Bird, you
won't let the nurses or mothers stand in the doorways? You will please
see that I am left quite alone with the children, won't you?"
"Certainly; no mothers shall be admitted, if they make you nervous; it
is the children's hour. But after two or three months, when you have
all become acquainted, and the children are accustomed to listening
attentively, I almost hope you will allow a few nurses to come in and
sit in the corners,--the ones who bring the youngest children, for
example; it would be such a means of education to them. There 's
another idea for you next year,--a nurses' class in story-telling."
"It would be rather nice, would n't it?--and I should be older then,
and more experienced. I really think I could do it, if Miss Denison
would help me by talks and instructions. She will be here next year.
Oh, how the little plan broadens out!"
"And, Polly, you have chosen to pay for your circulars, and propose to
buy your sand-table. This I agree to, if you insist upon it; though
why I shouldn't help my godchild I cannot quite understand. But
knowing you were so absorbed in other matters that you would forget the
frivolities, and remembering that you have been wearing the same two
dresses for months, I have ventured to get you some pretty gowns for
the 'story hours,' and I want you to accept them for your Christmas
present. They will serve for all your 'afternoons' and for our home
dinners, as you will not be going out anywhere this winter."
"Oh, how kind you are, Mrs. Bird! You load me with benefits, and how
can I ever repay you?"
"You do not have to repay them to me necessarily, my child; you can
pass them over, as you will be constantly doing, to all these groups of
children, day after day. I am a sort of stupid, rich old lady who
serves as a source of supply. My chief brilliancy lies in devising
original methods of getting rid of my surplus in all sorts of odd and
delightful ways, left untried, for the most part, by other people. I
've been buying up splendid old trees in the outskirts of certain New
England country towns,--trees that were in danger of being cut down for
wood. Twenty-five to forty dollars buys a glorious tree, and it is
safe for ever and ever to give shade to the tired traveler and beauty
to the landscape. Each of my boys has his pet odd scheme for helping
the world to 'go right.' Donald, for instance, puts stamps on the
unstamped letters displayed in the Cambridge post-office, and sends
them spinning on their way. He never receives the thanks of the
careless writers, but he takes pleasure in making things straight.
Paul writes me from Phillips Academy that this year he is sending the
nine Ruggles children (a poor family of our acquaintance) to some sort
of entertainment once every month. Hugh has just met a lovely girl who
has induced him to help her maintain a boarding establishment for sick
and deserted cats and dogs; and there we are!"
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