"Me, first!" cried Bessie enthusiastically, reaching for her purse.
"I'll give ten dollars."

"My money is _all_ gone," mourned Grace, "but I'll _promise_ ten
dollars if you will take pledges."

In utter amazement Tabitha sat curled up on her pile of blankets,
watching the shower of gold and silver which poured into her lap. "Oh,
girls," she gasped, when she could find her tongue. "How can I ever
thank you? Mercy will be transported with joy. Here's more than
enough to pay all her expenses, and Carrie will want a share in it,
too. Aren't friends splendid!" Her voice was husky and tremulous, and
two bright drops glistened in her black eyes. What a beautiful world
this is to live in! Somehow, the spontaneous gift to little Mercedes
seemed a gift to her also, and she thoroughly appreciated the loving
act of her classmates. What a beautiful climax to her summer vacation!

Jessie sniffed audibly, and Vera surreptitiously wiped a big tear off
the end of her nose. Myra, who hated scenes, brought the group back to
the earth with a thump, saying briskly, "Come, let's to bed! I'm half
dead already, and my face is smarting like sin. I don't like your cold
cream, Kitty."

"Cold cream?" repeated Tabitha in surprise.

"Yes, I helped myself to the contents of the jar I found in your
suitcase. No one else had any, and my face was burned to a frazzle."

"Did you put that stuff on your face?" screamed Tabitha, holding up a
tiny white jar of creamy paste.

"Sure. Why?"

"Because it's corn salve. No wonder it smarts. Go wash----"

But Myra waited to hear no more. There was a wild scamper of bare feet
on the hall floor, the bath-room door banged noisily, water splashed
vigorously, and just as the girls were drifting off to sleep, they
heard Myra, snuggling down in her blankets, murmur sadly, "It's lucky
the Hall opens to-morrow. Otherwise these girls would soon be the
death of me."

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TABITHA'S VACATION***

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