ip, Fel and I; all we cared
about was the wedding. And I did hope I should have a string of wax
beads to wear on my neck.

Here is our reply to the letter. (The words in Italics are Fel's.)

"DEAR LITTLE MOTHERS: We thought we would write to you. _We are
glad we shall go to the wedding._ Do you think you can buy me
some wax beeds? _We want to see you very much._ But I want the
wax beeds, too. Fel said a prayer for my sickness. I think she
is a very pias girl. The cow is dead, &c., & ect. So good by."

"From MAJ and RUPHELLE."

CHAPTER XI.

THE FIRST CAR RIDE.

It seemed as if cousin Lydia never would get ready to start. Ever
since the letter from our mammas, Fel and I had been sure we were
wanted at home; but there was no end to the things cousin Lydia had to
do, and so far as we could see, Miss Samantha and Miss Julia didn't
help her much. We dared not say this, however; we laid it away in our
minds, with twenty other things we meant to tell our mothers when we
got home.

My great consolation while waiting was a Maltese kitten with white
toes, and eyes the color of blue clay; and when, at last, the joyful
time came for going to Willowbrook, I begged to take that kitty with
us. Miss Julia said, "Nonsense!" But cousin Lydia was really a
sensible woman; for what did she do but butter Silvertoe's paws, and
tie her into an egg-basket.

"But you must take care of her yourself, Maggie; I shall have my hands
full with you, and Ruphelle, and the baggage."

Kitty behaved beautifully at first; but presently the rough mountain
roads began to jar upon her nerves, I think; for by the time the stage
reached the station, she was scratching and mewing at such a rate that
I was ashamed of her. I lagged behind, so cousin shouldn't hear.

And was this the depot? A jail, I should say. Such a wicked man
staring through the hole in the wall! Wonder what he was put in for?

"The ticket-master, that is," said cousin Lydia, smiling at me, though
I hoped she couldn't see what I had been thinking.

Then she bought the tickets; but she wouldn't let Fel or me keep ours.
She said the kitty was all I could manage. So I should think!

We heard a shriek like my Big Giant. It frightened me dreadfully; I
began to think there _was_ such a man. No wonder kitty jumped. Next
moment some yellow things came tearing along. Then I knew it was the
cars.

"Come," said cousin Lydia, climbing the steps.