o we would have had no house. Well, the Lord knows what's best.
We could only have offered her a home. I'm glad the Insane Asylum was
endowed and the boys educated before the crash came."
Nora did not visit New York in the winter. She went South with her
father. The girls--Kate and Ethel--corresponded, and in that way Ethel
heard all of the news. The Judge came often and took Patty and Kate on
long motor trips. Mattie was doing nicely. She was employed in a Woman's
Exchange where she received twelve dollars a week and taught cooking and
sewing. Mollie was improving daily. Mr. Hastings had a fine position with
Judge Sands. Honora was away, but the rest of the girls were as usual.
The Camp Fires met weekly and everyone missed Ethel, but no one missed
her as did Aunt Susan. "Why," wrote Kate, "she says the light has gone
out of her life, and Tom roams around disconsolate. But," she added, "you
should see the up-to-date way in which he dresses. He is the pink of
fashion, I tell you."
Ethel laughed, and while reading would stop every now and then to
explain.
Then Ethel answered:
"I have joined Miss Westcott's Camp Fire Girls, and if you believe it,
Mamma goes with me. She doesn't like it, but she's a great help to me and
to the girls, for she teaches them so much. She's consistent and it will
take her some time to overcome her prejudices. Nanny Bigelow belongs,
and Harvey takes us when Mamma can not go. By the way, Harvey seems
quite interested in medicine, and after graduating he is going to study
it. We call him 'Doctor' Bigelow.
"Dorothy Kip's Day Nursery has proved a great success. It is the dearest
little flat, and the babies are sweet. Dorothy's old woman is a great
help, and I want you to know that Dorothy works hard. Why, she almost
runs the place on contributions and her allowance, and the little ones
are just as happy and comfortable as possible. She has books and toys,
and we girls take turns in going in and reading to the elder children, as
well as amusing the younger ones. That is a good charity, and Grandmother
(Kate noticed that Ethel had begun to call Mrs. Hollister 'Mother' and
the old lady 'Grandmother') goes nearly every pleasant day and takes
flowers. She generally spends the afternoon with them, so in a small way
Dorothy Kip is emulating Jane Addams. Who knows but some day she may be
her equal,--Oh!"
The second letter said:
"I must tell you something. The other evening Harvey Bigelow calle
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