Mary's Rainbow

d, and told him that she had decided to go down town that afternoon. "Mary will not have so much time to get i

owder into her glass of milk, and that would have kept her in bed until dinner time. Well, I think w

is going t

ou may never have the house to yourselves again

glad, Uncle, is because I want to make Gene's Christmas present while she is out; and don't you think I could do withou

-night. By all means use every momen

e it up to-night, Uncle?

hand at tying ribbons. Shoe strin

up the things for the box without Gene. But I can't ask her to

eak to Gene a moment. Ask Liza to tell Jim to have the ca

urned to the hall, where Gene was waiting a

your fancy as a Christmas gift for the home folks; s

. I have been treated as a guest-no, as a member of the

had told me that she could be so happy and contented without her parents and little sisters, I would n

e that she needed someone of her very own to comfort her. But even at her worst, she has al

me no idea of your powers in that line, so I do not feel bound by the bargain I made with you and have taken it upon myself to d

to wave at Mary, who always stood at the window until he had passed out of sight; but a cry from Gene had called t

this, Mary!" And Gene sank on the lowest

didn't mean to give you bad money, you know. Here, I shall throw it right into the fire, and he will give you the good

dollar bills! And it isn't a mistake, either. Your Uncle meant to give them to me. He said so himself; but I was too mu

ney, Gene? I don't kn

o and has not been able to walk since. But wait until he gets the comfortable wheel chair that this money will buy for him. I shall not buy it to-day, though, for I should like to ask

treet with Gene safe inside it, she flew out to

h yo' doll hou

down town, and I have used every speck of paste in the bottle s

is. Yo' run 'long an' git de res' ob yo' fixin's ready, an' Liza'l

d, Susie? I would like your 'pinion about it. You see, t

but I reckon ma 'pinion

hall call you the very mi

ograph of herself, which she knew Gene liked very much; and then she cut strips of crepe paper, pink and dark green, and carefully pulled out the edges to make ruffles. Beginning at the edge of the cardboard, she pasted the g

he clock striking-one-two-three. I wonder when

and after a few moments, Liza entered fr

ime do you think G

ss May-ree. 'Bout

ss she comes earlier. It won't take so long to paste the pink ruffles on, because the nearer

An' when yo's ready fo' to tie dem

very word Gene had

ut the chair-that one has been up in the attic for years and years. There, my frame is finished all but

dat de mos' bu'ful present I ebah did se

Liza in her praise of

put it in Uncle's roo

veral places? The love that was worked into every inch of that picture frame and the dear little

r bell!" Mary stopped short at

Miss Gene, yo' come 'long down right aftah me an' tek her in de liberry an'

pened the door to admit Gene, who was followe

e days that I thought I had better bring them sin

ou see about that nice chair for your father?" Though Mary tried to ask the question in her usual tone, there was an anxious note in her voice, wh

's bed. There was a soft, white, cloth one braided with pale blue; a dark blue cashmere trimmed with tiny, white pearl buttons; s

ovely, Gene, lov

have shown very good tas

dark blue dress, as she seems to have nothing but white and pale blue ones. It may

d the Doctor, in response to a sign from Mary, fol

tell me you made

s. The edges of the ruffles are not very e

big hollyhock, and the uneven places make it more natural.

put it away. Where can we hi

dresser? There is a large flat bo

ning chat before the sitting-room fire, Mary told her uncle Ge

shall have to think of a way to get around that. Perhaps I can offer to lend it to her for as long a time as her father may need it. Run off to bed now. You have had

day after Christmas, and that he had advised her not to buy a chair until after his visit. "From what she has told me of

that morning to try

ght to pack your trunk this afternoon. Do you wish t

button at the back of its neck, and when it was pressed, the head turned around in the baby cap, showing a crying face instead of hair. At the same time, the doll cried and kicked and waved its arms about just as a very cross baby would do. Then, Mary said, Ame

she is are often wra

so sick. I shall wrap that around her, and the robe from my doll carriage, too. Now, Gene, you are laughing at

t smiling at what you said,

rs, you know, and if the letter should be lost, Uncle will remember exactly what I asked for. I should like a suitcase that I can carry myself-one just large enough for the

in after you leave me, dearie, and the

elp Susie with the baskets for the poor people