ork. Therefore
her motor and her services were temporarily at their disposal.
It is amazing what women and girls are accomplishing these days without
masculine aid, and whether or not this is a fortunate state of affairs,
the war has left no choice.
Since they were both strong and energetic, Vera and Peggy were glad to
have reached home at so critical a moment. However, the other girls were
getting on quite comfortably without their aid. Bettina and Alice
Ashton, having placed a plank at the end of the car, managed so that the
large boxes and packing cases could slide onto the ground without being
lifted. Nearly every box of any size bore the name of "Miss Patricia
Lord."
Finally, "Gill," for the Camp Fire girls were by this time calling Mary
Gilchrist by her diminutive title, as she seemed to prefer it, standing
up on the seat of her motor, began signaling for attention.
"Be quiet for a moment everybody, please, and listen as diligently as
you can. I am not a magician, nor yet a ventriloquist, yet if you will
be perfectly silent you will think I am one or both."
The next instant and Mary's audience became aware of an extraordinary
combination of familiar noises proceeding from the depths of her motor.
One felt like a guest at a "mad tea-party," although of a different
nature from Alice's. The noises were a mingled collection of squawks and
cackles and crowing, and pitched in a considerably lower key, a rich but
unmistakable grunt.
Alone Aunt Patricia appeared gratified, almost exultant.
Stepping over toward the car with her long, militant stride, she gave
her commands briefly.
"Here, Vera, you have more brains than the other girls, help me to move
these crates. Polly Burton considered it possible to run a community
farm without a farm animal within twenty miles. But then she was not
brought up on a small place in Ireland where we kept the pig in the
parlor!" And here Miss Patricia's rich Irish brogue betrayed her
cheerfulness for she only gave sway to her Irish pronunciation in
moments of excitement.
The next moment, not only with Vera's but also with Peggy's and Alice
Ashton's aid, the four women dragged forward a large wooden box with
open slats containing a noble collection of fowls, then another of geese
and ducks. Finally with extreme caution they engineered the landing of a
crate which had been the temporary home of a comfortable American hog
and her eugenic family.
"Good gracious, Aunt Pat
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