and did you see this one?" asked Dorothy, holding up a card to
view. "It's the little Japanese Garden on the Wooded Island in the
same park."
"Look!" exclaimed Alfy, showing them all another card, "here is one of
the Art Institute!"
Mrs. Calvert, who had been searching through the various cards, said,
"I think these three are very interesting, this of the store, this
one of our hotel, and this other of the Life Saving Station in the
park."
"Well, have you all selected those you wish?" said Dorothy. "Because,
if you have, we can all go over there to the writing room and send
them all right off."
"What a beautifully appointed room," said Mrs. Calvert, as they
entered the spacious, well lighted writing room, with the mahogany
desks and generous supply of good quality writing paper, pens,
ink-wells, etc. There was also in the corner a stamp machine, in which
one deposits the right change and secures the desired number of stamps
in return.
"I want to send cards to Ma and Pa Babcock. Ma always likes me to, so
she can show them down at Liza Jane's," said Alfy.
"I would like to send one to Gerald Banks and his sister, and, of
course, to Jim," said Dorothy.
"I think there are just two I wish to send. I want to send one to Mrs.
Quarren," rejoined Ruth, "and if you do not mind, I think I should
like to send one to Jim, also."
"Of course I don't object," laughed Dorothy. "Jim would be pleased to
think you had remembered him. But let me see which one you are going
to send him so I may send him a different one."
"Very well," answered Ruth. "I will send the one of the hotel."
"And I," responded Dorothy, "will send the one of the lake and Wooded
Island in Jackson Park."
"I think I shall send Jim a card also," said Mrs. Calvert. "But I
shall send him the one of the store. My list is just a little longer
than all you girls' lists. I shall send cards to Frau and Herr
Deichenberg, little Lemuel and old Ephraim, and Jim, whom I mentioned
before."
"Shall I get the stamps?" said Ruth.
"Can I go with you?" asked Alfy. "I want to see how the machine
works."
"Certainly, come on," added Ruth. "How many shall we need?"
"You had better get fifteen," answered Mrs. Calvert.
"You see," remarked Ruth to Alfaretta, "that one can only deposit
nickels and dimes in the slot."
"What are you going to put in?" questioned Alfy.
"I am going to deposit first a dime and then a nickel in the slot
that's marked for one c
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