s said
people's hearts were friendly and in Mifflin their faces were friendly,
too. Yes, they were, Jimmie Bronson, when I lived there. Perhaps they
have changed. It's a long time since I left."

Jimmie gave a whoop. "Long time! It isn't two months. And it would
take more than sixty days to put that sour look on old Mr. Mallow's
face. He nearly ate me up alive when I asked for a job after Aunt Nora
died. No, Mary Rose, you're wrong, all wrong, about Mifflin. There
isn't any place in this whole world that's like what you think that old
burg is."

"Isn't there, Jimmie?" Mary Rose was very troubled. "Is that what I'm
really to believe?"

There was a quiver in her voice that made James Bronson turn and look
at her. He flushed all over his freckled face, to the very roots of
his red hair. He even put out his tanned hand and patted Mary Rose's
arm. "No, Mary Rose," he said slowly. "I guess you're right. You're
always looking for friends and so you'll find them. You keep on being
a silly simp and thinking of Mifflin as the new Jerusalem and perhaps
it'll grow into one."

"It would if everyone thought it would," Mary Rose insisted and the
troubled look slipped away from her face. "If people feel friendly
they'll find friends."

"And she believes it," Jimmie told Mr. Jerry when they were cleaning
the car together that evening. "Gosh, aren't girl kids queer! I
couldn't tell her the truth but I guess I know Mifflin better than she
does."

"I'm glad you didn't tell her the truth, Jim." Mr. Jerry lighted his
pipe and gave Jimmie the hose. "She'll learn soon enough."

"Of course she will," agreed Jimmie. "She's just got to find out that
folks aren't going up and down the streets holding out the glad hand.
That's what I say, Mr. Jerry, if people feel so friendly inside why
don't they show it outside? Gee whiz!" he stopped to squeeze the water
out of the big sponge. "Wouldn't it be a great old world if they did,
if folks were what Mary Rose thinks they are?"

"It would. And as every little bit added to what there is makes a
little bit more you could help the good time along by feeling a bit
more friendly to the world yourself, James," advised Mr. Jerry,
stepping off to look at the car. "Mary Rose is right when she says
that smiles are just as catching as frowns. Take it from me that it
never makes a bad thing any worse by thinking that it is better than it
is."

Jimmie Bronson's opinion of Miffl