t her and some six others from two sailors,' he said, 'but I
never dreamed she could talk!'

"Miss Helen paid him a big price and went off with Polly on her finger
chattering like one mad."

"O I'd love to see her," cried Beth.

"Well go over there some day. Here we are at home."

"I'm glad," said Ethelwyn. "It's nice to go away, but it's nicer to come
back."

_CHAPTER XVIII_
_How They Bought a Baby_

Spend your money
Speed you, honey,
Quick as you can fly
Up the street,
Toys and sweet
Money burns to buy.

And all this time they had saved their birthday money!

It was accidental, for they had in the multitude of other events and
presents, forgotten they had it until one morning, in emptying their
banks for "peanut" nickles, with a dexterity born of long practice, they
discovered the two gold coins, for they each had been given one, of
course, and they rushed off at once to show them.

"Haven't we saved this money, though?" they said, full of pride, and
then they straightway sat down to make plans for spending it.

"Let's each buy a puppy for a parting gift to Bobby and Nan," suggested
Ethelwyn, as she and Beth were soon going away to visit the Home.

"Yes, sir, let's," said Beth. "They dearly love Bose, and Mr. Smithers,
our vegetable man, has six and will sell us two, I know."

Mr. Smithers said he would be charmed--or words to that effect--to sell
them two Newfoundland puppies at five dollars each, and they struck a
bargain at once.

It was easier to do because mother had gone to town on business and was
to be away all day.

Mr. Smithers promised to bring them in that afternoon, and they went off
to wait until then with what patience they could muster.

They met Joe on their way to the barn, and noticed that his usual ruddy
countenance was grave and pale.

"My sister is sick," he explained, "and she's getting no better."

"Why don't you tell mother?" asked Ethelwyn.

"O it's everything your mother's done for us this summer, without
bothering her more," he said. "I'm going to try to get my sister up in
the country, but--I can't yet awhile."

"Will it cost very much, Joe?"

"No, not much, but there's so many of us to feed and clothe that we
never have any money left for anything else."

"Mother will help, I know," said Ethelwyn, and they went up to the
house, pondering deeply.

"Those horrid puppies! I wish we'd never heard of them," said Ethelw