Mary's Rainbow

kages-long ones, square ones, round ones, flat ones. The little girl's eyes shone with an eager light as she he

holly; a big sheet of dark green cardboard; another of blotting paper; spools of coarse silk; a p

of these tiny calendars under each. You may either use ribbon to hang them by or crochet a cord of this silk. I knew that you would not wish to send y

ings! I didn't know what in the world to make fo

easy way to make a

present first. Here is a snow scene. I shall paint that. It is so warm in Italy that Father will be glad to have something cool-looking hanging over his

when Mary had two pictures colored, and Gene

lled the Doctor from t

s afternoon. I was so busy." And Mary ran down

vely fat let

diary. He wrote a little every day and mailed it on the stea

those two letters, and her eyes filled with tears when

That was a nice little surprise for them, because they wouldn't expect us

s with the cablegram f

ll, we are qui

before the fire in the sitting-room. The Doctor saw th

octor, that I think you should have

have you with us, to

o write to my mother this evening. It will make her very

otters, two calendars, the horse reins and the whisk broom holder, but also a little card for Tom, Aunt Mandy's grandson, whom Mr. Selwyn had taken with him to Italy. A whole

which, as he explained to the little girl, her mother would wear on her head when she had an audience with the Pope; for the babies, tiny gold chains and miraculous medals. Nor had he forgotten Aunt Mandy and Tom. The table in the playroom was scarcely large enough to hold all the ga

and whah dey's done gone to, nohow, Massa Frank," chuckled the old cook. "W

you make, Susie, or we would have them all i

own self, Massa Frank, ef'n yo' reck

hem, Liza, or get a large

ver, Mary caught his hand in both of hers and held it to her cheek while she murmured wi

en out after the express man had bumped you down the front steps. Never mind. A box will arrive from Italy one of

I would

Mary began a calen

ne, even with Aunt Mary's gift. We always ta

self in her room while she made the present she had in mind. At last one evening at dinner, her uncle solved the question for her by asking: "Gene, will you kindly look over Mary's wardrobe and see what she will need in

needs." For Gene, like all girls, loved to shop, especially when

ed at her in surprise. "Hm! There is mischief in your eye, young lad

ocket. "I had a few lines from Aunt Mary to-day, and this little

uch a funny way. They make points instead of curves at the top and bo

or her and invite you to spend Christmas with us at Maryvale. Your little friends are all around me telling me what to say to you. They wish you to come out Friday morning, for they have many, many things to do to aid San

Johanna to invite me, Uncle;

not, pray

nd leave you alon

me that Father Hartley, the chaplain, will be happy to have me spend a few

o have Father and Mother and the babies home for C

e day-at meals and all-and in the evening until bedtime. In

se at night. Father Hartley's cottage

e convent grounds, not more

when I am asleep and

ink I go prowling about the house at night at the ri

u do; but it seems very strange that I should h

eep, how do you

hear the big clock at the foot of the st

"I was so sure that you would like to go, that I have made plans for a jolly time. One of them is that we shall send that big, old-fashioned sleigh, which has stood in the barn for years, out to Maryvale, and I shall take you and your little friends for a sleigh ride every day. Perhaps Aunt Mary and some of the Sisters could go with you. And

girls who could not go home and, more than all, for Gene, was

d my mind, Uncle. We w