FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   >>  
defies me." "No, Mamma," cried Ethel, coming down stairs and putting her arm around her mother, "I only object to sailing under false colors. All of our life has been sham--sham--and make believe, and I can not see Papa growing older and more bent every day, when he should be young looking and happy. And I know that it's worry over getting the money for me that I may make a show for people to think me wealthy. And when Aunt Susan came here you told everyone that I was to be her heiress. Why, Mamma, she is poorer than we are. Every penny of her money was lost four years ago, and Tom Harper--her adopted son--supports her. Then there's dear Uncle John. He's nearly five years older than Papa and he looks ten years younger. Why? Because he has nothing to worry him. And when I see the lines and wrinkles coming into your pretty face I think it's all for me, and I've decided to give it up. I shall still go out with the friends who care for me, but they must know me as I am; and next summer I want you to come with me to Camp. You are so clever and can teach the girls so much about sewing and dressmaking. "Mamma dear, let's turn over a new leaf. Let's give up all sham and be happy. Then we can tell who are our true friends and they'll be all we need." Here Ethel put her arms around her mother who at once burst into tears, sobbing: "And I wanted you to make a g-good m-match." "Never mind," laughed Ethel. "Who knows? I may marry better than ever. Cheer up, Mamma dear," and from that hour the mother and daughter changed places. And Grandmother Hollister whispered to her son: "Behold! a miracle." * * * * * * [Transcriber's Note: The following nine pages were bound with "How Ethel Hollister Became a Campfire Girl." They constitute a separate story.] THE FLOWERS' WORK "See, mother! I've finished my bouquet. Isn't it beautiful? More so, I think, than those made by the florist which he asked two dollars for, and this has cost me but seventy-five cents." "Yes, yes, it is very pretty. But, dear me, child, I cannot help thinking how illy we can spare so much for such a very useless thing. Almost as much as you can make in a day it has cost." "Don't say _useless_, mother. It will express to Edward our appreciation of his exertions and their result, and our regards. How he has struggled to obtain a profession! I only wish I could cover the platform with bouquets, ba
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   >>  



Top keywords:

mother

 

Hollister

 

friends

 
coming
 
useless
 

pretty

 
finished
 

Campfire

 

Became

 

FLOWERS


separate
 

constitute

 

laughed

 

Transcriber

 

miracle

 
Behold
 

changed

 

daughter

 

places

 
Grandmother

whispered

 
express
 

Edward

 

appreciation

 

Almost

 

exertions

 

platform

 
bouquets
 

profession

 

result


struggled

 

obtain

 

florist

 

bouquet

 

beautiful

 

dollars

 

thinking

 

seventy

 

object

 

heiress


poorer

 

Harper

 

adopted

 

supports

 

putting

 

sailing

 
growing
 

wealthy

 

colors

 

people