Classic Audiobook Collection - The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carroll Watson Rankin ~ Full Audiobook [family]

Starting point is 00:00:00 the adopting of rosa marie by carol watson rancin borrowed babies the oldest inhabitant said that lakeville was experiencing an unusual fall he would probably have said the same thing if the high-perched town had accidentally tumbled off the bluff into the blue lake but in this instance he referred merely to the weather which was certainly unusually mild for autumn it was not however the oldest but four of the youngest citizens that rejoiced most in this unusual prolonging of summer for the continued warm weather made it possible for those devoted friends jean mapes marjorie vale mabel bennett and little betty tucker to spend many a delightful hour in their precious dandelion cottage the real tumble-down house that was now after so many narrow escapes safely their very own some day to be sure it would be torn down to make room for a habitable dwelling but that unhappy day was still too remote to cause any uneasiness of course when very cold weather should come it would be necessary to close the beloved cottage for there was no heating plant there were many large cracks over and under the doors and around the windows and by lying very flat on the dining-room table and peering under the baseboards one could easily see what was happening in the next yard these and other defects would surely make the little house uninhabitable in winter but while the unexpectedly extended summer lasted the cottagers were rejoicing over every pleasant moment of weather and praying hard for other pleasant moments of all the games played in dandelion cottage the one called mother was the most popular to play it it was necessary first of all to divide the house into four equal parts as there were five rooms this division might seem to offer no light task but by first subtracting the kitchen it was possible to solve this difficult mathematical problem to the cottagers entire satisfaction but of course one can't play mother without possessing a family the cottagers solved this problem also

Starting point is 00:02:02 thaty's home could always be counted on to furnish at least two decidedly genuine babies and jean could always borrow a perfectly delightful little cousin named anne halliday but marjorie and mabel to their sorrow were absolutely destitute of infantile relatives Mabel was the chief sufferer. C-date Marjorie, plausible of tongue, convincing a manner could easily accumulate a most attractive family at a very short notice by the simple expedient of borrowing babies from the next block. But nowhere within reasonable reach was there a mother willing to entrust her precious offspring a second time to heed this Mabel. Now Mabel, Mrs. Mercer would say, when Mabel pleaded to have young Percival for her very own for just one brief hour, I'd really like to oblige you.

Starting point is 00:02:48 you, but it's getting late in the season. You're not careful enough about doors and windows, and the last time you borrowed Percival, you brought him home with a stiff neck that lasted three days. But I did remember to return him, pleaded Mabel. Do you sometimes forget? querying Mrs. Mercer with interest. I did twice, confessed always honest, Mabel, but truly I don't see how I can help it when the baby's sleep and sleep and sleep the way those two did. You see, I made a bed for Gerald Price on the lowest-down closet shelf and he was so perfectly comfortable that he thought he was asleep for all night what about the other time that was Molly Dixon but then I had five children that

Starting point is 00:03:27 day and only one bed Molly slipped down on the crack at the back she's awfully thin and I never missed her until her mother came after her that was rather a bad time Mabel sighed at the recollection for Mrs. Dixon found the cottage locked up for the night and poor little Molly crying under the bed Mabel and you went to borrow my precious Percival but it couldn't happen again protested mabel earnestly betty says that i'm just like lightning i never strike twice in the same place that's the reason i get into so many different kinds of scrapes i'll be ever so careful though if you'll let me borrow percival just this one time mrs mercer however refused to part with percival other mothers approached by pleading mabel refused likewise to entrust their babies to her enthusiastic but heedless keeping they knew her too well the thing for you to do suggested marceau marjorie ostentatiously washing the perfectly clean faces of the four delightful small persons that she had been able without any trouble at all to borrow in blaker street is to find a mother that really wants to get rid of her children

Starting point is 00:04:31 yes said bob tucker who had dropped in to deliver a basket of apples that mrs crane had sent to her former neighbors you ought to advertise for the kind of mother that feeds her babies to crocodiles perhaps some of them have emigrated to this country and sort of missed the ganges river you might try the orphan asylum offered jean as a bomb for this wound it's only four blocks from here i have declared mabel dejectedly i went there early this morning what happened demanded betty who had just arrived with the little tucker under each arm they said they'd let them go permanently to responsible parties i didn't know just exactly what that meant so i said does that mean you'll lend me a few for two hours and would they well they didn't they said i'd better borrow a teddy bear how mean said sympathetic betty never mind i'll lend you peter this time say queried mabel after she had accepted betty's proffered brother what does permanently mean for keeps explained jean what are responsible parties jean and betty and i twinkle marjorie but not you that's good laughed bob who like marjorie loved to tease but never mind mabel after you've practiced a year or two on peter who's a nuisance if there ever was one you'll find yourself growing response whoop what was that that was a sudden crash that resounded through the house everybody rushed to the kitchen the big dishpan that mabel had left on the edge of the kitchen table was upside down on the floor at least half of little peter tucker was under it. But the half that remained outside was so unmistakably alive that nobody felt very seriously alarmed, except Peter. Thank goodness in Mabel, removing the pan. This is just a little

Starting point is 00:06:15 Tucker, not any Percival Mercer. Cheer up, Peter. You're not as wet as you think you are. There wasn't more than a quart of water in that pan, and it was almost perfectly clean. And Peter, soothed by Mabel's reassuring tone, immediately cheered up. End of Chapter 1. Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. This Leaverbox recording is in the public domain. Rosa Marie. Not long after Mabel's ineffectual attempt to borrow an orphan, Mrs. Bennett dispatched her small daughter to Lake Street

Starting point is 00:06:47 to find out, if possible, why Mrs. Maloney, the poultry woman, had failed to send the weak supply of fresh eggs. Now, the way to Mrs. Maloney's was most interesting, particularly to a young person of observing habits. There were houses on only one side of the, the street and most of those were tumbling down under the weight of sand that each rain carried down the hillside. But the opposite side of the road was even more attractive, for there one had a grassy shrubby bank, where one could pick all sorts of things off bushes and get burrs in one's stockings,

Starting point is 00:07:18 a narrow stretch of pebbled beach where one could sometimes find an agate, and a wide basin of very shallow water where one could almost, but not quite, stepped from stone to stone without lighting one's feet. It was certainly an enjoyable spot. The distance from Mabel's home to Mrs. Maloney's was very short, a matter of perhaps five blocks. But if a body went the longest way around, stopped to scour the green bank for belated blackberries, prickly hazelnuts, dazzling golden rod, or rare four-leafed clovers, or loitered to gather a dress skirt full of stony treasures from the glittering beach,

Starting point is 00:07:54 going to Mrs. Maloney's meant a great deal more than a five-blocks journey. Just a little beyond the poultry woman's house on the lake side of this straggling street, A small but decidedly attractive point of land jutted waterward for perhaps 200 feet. On this projecting point stood a small shanty or shack. Bill, as Mabel described it later, mostly of knot holes. She meant, without knowing how to say it, that the lumber in the hut was of the poorest possible quality. On this long-to-be-remembered day, a small object moved in the clearing that surrounded the shack, attracted Mabel's attention.

Starting point is 00:08:28 Curiosity led her closer to investigate. It's just as I thought, exclaimed Mabel, peering rapturously through the bushes, it's a real baby. Sure enough, it was a baby. Mabel edged closer, moving cautiously for fear of frightening her unexpected find. She saw a small toddler, aged somewhere between two and three years, roving aimlessly about the chip-strewn clearing, a child's round cheeks, chubby wrists, bare feet, and sturdy legs were richly brown.

Starting point is 00:08:58 A straggling fringe of jet-black hair. overhung the stout baby's black bead-like eyes. Near the doorway of the rickety shack, a man, half French, half Indian, stood talking earnestly with many gesticulations to a dark-skinned woman, framed by the doorway. The woman had large black eyes shaded by very long black lashes. She wore her rather coarse black hair and two long, thick braids that hung in front of her straight shoulders. In spite of her dark color, her worn shoes, her ragged, untidy gown, she seemed to her to Mabel an exceedingly pretty woman. The man, too, was handsome, after a bold, picturesque

Starting point is 00:09:35 fashion, but the woman was the more pleasing. Mabel approached timidly. She felt that she was intruding. "'Good morning,' she said, ingratiatingly. Is this your little boy?' "'Him girl,' returned the woman, with a sudden flash of white teeth between parted crimson lips. Name Rosa Marie. Yes, him my petite daughter. "'You like the looks on him, hey?' oh so much cried mabel impossibly oh would you do me a favor a favor repeated the woman with a puzzled glet w'est a favor oh would you lend your baby to me would you let me have her to play with oh for all day here queried the mother doubtfully no not here in my own home up there on the hill could i keep her until six o'clock i just adore babies and she's so fat and cunning oh please

Starting point is 00:10:30 Please, I'd be just awfully obliged." A look of understanding flashed suddenly between the man and the woman. But Mabel, stooping to make friends with little Rosa Marie, did not observe it. "'Your father, have nice house! Plainty food, plainty money?' queried the woman, running a speculative eye over Mabel's plain but substantial wardrobe. "'Oh, yes,' returned Mabel thoughtlessly. "'And besides, I have a playhouse.

Starting point is 00:10:55 That isn't—it isn't exactly mine, but I just about live in it with three other girls, and that's where I want to take Rosa Marie. I'll be awfully careful of her if you'll only let me take her. Oh, do you think she'll come with me? Couldn't you tell her to? The woman, bending to look into Rosa Maria's black eyes, talked loudly and rapidly in some foreign tongue. The mother's voice was harsh, but her eyes, Mabel noticed,

Starting point is 00:11:19 seemed soft and tender and much more beautiful than Rosa Marie's. Now, said the woman, turning to Mabel and speaking in broken English, If you want her, you must go at once. Go now, I tell her. you, go quite, quique. Pull hard, if she east dragged behind. But go, I tell you, go!" The voice rose to an unpleasant, almost too stirring pitch that jarred suddenly on Mabel's

Starting point is 00:11:42 nerves. But, obeying these hasty instructions, the little girl drew Rosa Marie out of the enclosure, led her across the street and lifted her to the sidewalk. Looking back from the slight elevation, Mabel noticed that the man was again talking earnestly and gesticulating excitedly, while the woman, once more framed by the doorway, followed with with her big black eyes, the chubby figure of Rosa Marie. I'll bring her back all safe and sound, shouted Mabel over her shoulder. Don't be afraid. Goodbye until six o'clock.

Starting point is 00:12:11 Escorting Rosa Marie to dandelion cottage proved no light task. Her legs were very short. It soon became evident that she was not accustomed to using them for walking purposes. The way was mostly uphill and the little brown feet were bare. At first Mabel led, coaxed and encouraged with the utmost patience. But presently Rosa Marie sat heavily on the sidewalk and refused to ride. rise. That is, she didn't say that she wouldn't rise. She remained sitting with such firmness of purpose that it seemed hopeless to attempt to break her of the habit. Mabel walked round and round her firmly seated charge in helpless despair. Rosa Marie and the sidewalk were one.

Starting point is 00:12:49 Want any help? asked a friendly voice. It belonged to a large, freckled boy who carried two pails of water from the lake to one of the tumble-down houses. Yes, I do, responded Mabel promptly. if you could just lift this child high enough for me to get a hold of her, I think I could carry her. So the boys, setting his pails down, obligingly lifted Rosa Marie's solid little person. Naval clasped the barrel-shaped body closely, and after word of thanks to the kind boy, proceeded homeward. But even now her troubles were not ended. By silently refusing to cuddle, Rosa Marie converted herself into a most uncomfortable burden. Her entire body was a silent protest against leaving her home.

Starting point is 00:13:28 Do make yourself soft and bunchy, pleaded Mabel, giving Rosa Marie's sundry pokes calculated to make her double up like a jackknife. Here, bend this way. Haven't you any joints anywhere? Do hold tight with your arms and legs. This way. Shaw. You're just like a stuffed crocodile.

Starting point is 00:13:44 Well, walk then, if you can't hang on like a real child. There's one thing certain you shan't sit down again. I suppose we'll get there sometime. End of Chapter 2. The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. This leverbox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 3. Mabel's Day Almost hopeless as it seemed at times,

Starting point is 00:14:09 Mabel and the silent brown baby finally reached Dandelion Cottage. There they found Jean, seated in a chair with her lovely little cousin, Anne Halliday, perched like a pink and white blossom on the edge of the dining room table before her, tying Anne's bewitching yellow curls with wide pink ribbons. Anne was a perpetual delight. for besides being a picture during every moment of the long day her ways were so quaint and so attractive that no one could help admiring her marjorie her countenance carefully arranged to depict the deepest sorrow stood guard over the marquot twins who touchingly covered with nasturtiums were laid out on the parlor cosy corner awaiting burial their blue eyes blinked and their pink toes twitched but on the whole they played their parts in a most satisfactory manner Betty, with two small but attractive Tucker babies clinging to her brief skirts, was exclaiming,

Starting point is 00:15:03 These are my jewels, when tired, dusty Mabel, pushing reluctant Rosa Marie before her, walked in. For mercy's sake, what's that? gasped Jean, sweeping Anne Halliday into her protecting arms. Is it something the cat dragged in? asked Marjorie. Is, can it be a real child? demanded Betty. this announced mabel with dignity is my child her name is rosa marie with all the distress on the e the distress seems to be all over both of you giggled marjorie that's just dust explained mabel did you both roll home like a pair of barrels queried jean or did the village improvement folks use you to dust the sidewalks what's the matter with the child's complexion demanded marjorie is she tanned coming home took long enough for both of us to get tanned returned mabel crossly but rosa marie's french i guess french french nothing exclaimed marjorie she's nothing but a little wild indian look at her hair look at her small black eyes look at her high cheekbones where in the world did you get her mabel explained for once the girls listened with the most flattering attention anne halliday bobbed her pretty head to punctuate each sentence the talker baby stood in silence with their mouths open even the nicely laid out markop twins on the sofa sat up to hear the tale

Starting point is 00:16:29 and she's all mine until six o'clock concluded mabel triumphantly if she were mine said jean i'd give her a bath i'd give her too giggled marjorie So Mabel, assisted by Jean, Marjorie, Betty, Little Anne, the two Tucker babies, and now they're very much alive, Marquotte twins, gave Rosa Maria a bath in the dishpan. Although they changed the water as fast as they could heat more in the tea kettle, although they used a whole bar of strong yellow soap, two teaspoons full of washing powder and a very scratchy washcloth lathered with sopolo, Rosa Marie, who bore it all with stolid patience, was still richly brown from head to heels when she emerged from her bath. let's play pocohontas cried marjorie seizing the feather duster put feathers in her hair and drape her in my brown petticoat i'll be captain john smith and bob tucker's rubber boots you won't either retorted mabel indignantly i guess after i dragged this child all the way up here to play mother with i'm not going to have her used for any old pocohontuses she's my child and i'm going to have the entire use of her washy lass after all replied marjorie cuttingly i don't want her i'm sure i wouldn't care for any of that colored children the usual shade is quite good enough for me but while the novelty lasted and in spite of marjorie's declaration rosa Marie was a distinct success. Little Anne Halliday's cunningest ways and quaintish speeches went unheeded

Starting point is 00:17:55 when Rosa Marie refused to wear shoes and stockings. She had never worn a shoe, and without uttering a word she made it plain that she had no intention of hampering her pudgy brown feet but the cast-off foot-gear of the young tuckers. Neither would she wear clothes, until Jean showed her the solitary garment she had arrived in, now soaking in a pan of soapy water. After they had arrayed her in a long-sleeved apron of Anne's. It didn't go round, but had to be helped out with the cheesecloth duster. It was evident that the unaccustomed whiteness bothered her. She was not used to being so remarkably stiff and clean. The Marcotte twins again prepared for burial, quarreled most engagingly as to which should be buried under the apple tree, both preferring that fruitful

Starting point is 00:18:36 resting place to the barren waist under the snowball bush. But nobody listened because Rosa Marie was doing extraordinary things with her bowl of bread and milk. Having lapped the milk like a cat, she was definitely chasing the crumbs around the bowl with a greedy and experienced tongue. It was plain that Rosa Marie had no table manners. As for the infantile tuckers, they were an old story. On this occasion, they crawled into the corner cupboard and went to sleep, and nobody missed them for a whole hour, just because Rosa Marie was emitting queer little startled grunts

Starting point is 00:19:04 every time Marjorie's best doll wailed, Mama, Papa, for her benefit. There was no doubt about it. Rosa Marie was decidedly amusing. The day passed swiftly, much too swiftly, Mabel thought. Very much mothered Rosa Marie, who had obligingly consumed an amazing amount of milk, all indeed that the cottagers have been able to procure, started homeward, towed by Mabel.

Starting point is 00:19:27 That elated young person had declined all offers of company. She coveted the full glory of returning Rosa Marie to her rightful guardian. Mabel, indeed, was visibly swollen with pride. She had given the cottagers a most unusual treat. She had not only surprised them by proving that she could borrow a baby, but I kept them amused and entertained every moment of the day. It had certainly been a red-letter day in the annals of the dandelion cottage. Mabel more than half expected to meet Rosa Marie's mother on the very first corner.

Starting point is 00:19:56 The other real mothers had always seemed desirous, over-desirous, Mabel thought, of welcoming their homecoming babies back to the fold. But the mother of Rosa Marie, apparently, was of a less grudging disposition. Mabel laboriously escorted her reluctant charge to the very door of the shanty without encountering any welcoming parent. The borrower of Rosa Marie knocked. No one came. She tried the door.

Starting point is 00:20:20 It was locked. How queer, said Mabel. Seems to me I'd be on hand if I had an engagement at exactly six o'clock. But then I always am late. Dragging an empty wooden box to the side of the house, Mayville climbed to the high, decidedly smudgy window, and peered in. There was no one inside. There was no fire in the battered stove.

Starting point is 00:20:39 The doors of a rough cupboard opposite the window stood open. disclosing the fact that the cupboard was bare. There were no bedclothes in the rough bunk that served for a bed. No dishes on the table, no clothing hanging from the hooks on the wall. Both inside and outside, the house wore a strangely deserted aspect. It seemed to say, nobody lives here now, nobody ever did live here, nobody ever will live here. End of Chapter 3.

Starting point is 00:21:05 Chapter 4 of the Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. This leverbox recording is in the public domain. An unusual evening. Mabel looked in dismay at Rosa Marie. Where do you suppose your mother is? she demanded. It was useless, however, to question Rosa Marie. That stolid young person was as uncommunicative as what Marjorie called the Little Stuffed Indians in the Washington Museum. The Indians to whom Marjorie referred were made of wax.

Starting point is 00:21:35 Rosa Marie seemed more like the little wooden Indian. The countenance of Little Anne Halliday changed with every moment. moment, but Rosa Marie's wore only one expression. Perhaps it had only one to wear. I say, said Mabel, gently shaking her small brown charge by the shoulders, where does your mother usually go when she isn't home? A surprised grunt was the only response. Rosa Marie, too suddenly released, sat heavily on the ground, thoughtfully scratched up the surface and filled her lap with handfuls of loose, unattractive earth.

Starting point is 00:22:07 Goodness, what an untidy child, cried Mabel. matching her up and shaking her, although Rosa Marie's weight made her useful guardian stiger. I wanted your mother to see you clean for once. Here, sit on this stick of wood. I suppose we'll just have to wait and wait until somebody comes. Well, sit in the sand if you want to. I'm tired of picking you up. Rosa Marie's home was in rather an attractive spot.

Starting point is 00:22:32 The big, quiet lake was smooth as glass, and every object along its picturesque bank was mirrored faithfully in the quiet depths. The western sky was faintly tinged with red. Against it the spires and tall roofs of the town stood out sharply, but at this quiet hour they seemed very far away. Mabel, seated on the wooden box as she had placed under the window, leaned back against the house and clasped her hands about her knees, while she gazed dreamily at the picture and listened with enjoyment to the faint lap of the quiet water on the pebble beach.

Starting point is 00:23:05 Both Mabel and Rosa Marie had had a busy day. Both had taken unusual exercise, and now all the sights and sounds were soothing, soothing. You can guess what happened. Both little girls fell asleep. Rosa Marie flat on her stomach, pillowed her head on her chubby arms. Mavel's head, drooping slowly forward, grew heavier and heavier until finally it touched her knees. An hour later the sleepy head had grown so very heavy that it pulled Mabel right off the box

Starting point is 00:23:34 and tumbled her over in a confused, astonished heap on the ground. My goodness, gasped Mabel, still in hands and knees. Where am I, anyway? Is this Saturday or Sunday? Why, it's all dark. This, this isn't my room. Why? Why, I'm outdoors. How did I get outdoors? Mabel stood up, took a step forward, stumbled over Rosa Marie, and went down on all fours. What's that? Gasp, bewildered Mabel, groping with her hands. She felt the rough black head, the plump body, the round legs, the bare feet of her sleeping charge.

Starting point is 00:24:06 memory returned why it's rosa mary and we're waiting here by the lake for her mother it ugh it must be midnight but it wasn't it was just exactly twenty minutes after seven o'clock but with the autumn sun gone early to bed it certainly seemed very much later the house was still deserted i guess said mabel feeling about in the dark for rosa mary's fat hand we'd better go home or some place come rosa mary wake up i'm going to take you home with me oh please we'll please we're going to take you home with me oh please we'll be able to take you home with me oh please we're just wake up. There's nobody here but us. It's way in the middle of the night and there might be anything in those awfully black bushes. But Rosa Marie, deprived of her noontide nap, slumbered on. Mabel shook her. "'Do hurry,' pleaded frightened Mabel. "'I don't like it here.' It was anything but an easy task for Mabel to drag the sleeping child to her feet, but she did it. Rosa Marie, however, immediately dropped to earth again. During the day she had seemed stiff, but now, unfortunately, she proved most distressingly limber.

Starting point is 00:25:09 She seemed, in fact, to possess more than the usual number of joints, and discouraged Mabel began to fear that each joint was reversible. "'Goodness!' breathed Mabel, when Rosa Marie's knees failed for the seventh time. "'It seems wicked to shake you very hard, but I've got to!' Even with vigorous and prolonged shakings, it took time to get Rosa Marie firmly established on her feet, and the children had walked more than a block of the homeward way before, Rosa Marie opened one blinking eye under the street lamp. If it had been difficult to make the uphill journey in broad daylight with Rosa Marie wide awake

Starting point is 00:25:43 and moderately willing, it was now a doubly difficult matter with that young person half or three-quarters asleep and most decidedly unwilling. I wish to goodness, grumbled Mabel, stumbling along in the dark, that I'd borrowed a real baby and not a heathen. The longest journey has an end. The children reached Dandeliont cottage at last. People found the key, unlocked the door, tumbled Rosa Marie, clothes and all, into the middle of the spare room bed, waited just long enough to make certain that the Indian baby

Starting point is 00:26:11 slept. Then, reassured by gentle half-free snores, Mabel, still supposing the time to be midnight, ran home, climbed into her own bed nearly an hour earlier than usual, and was soon sound asleep. Her mind was too full of other matters to wonder why the front door was unlocked at so late an hour. Mrs. Bennett, dressing to go to a party, heard her daughter come in. how fortunate said she now i shan't have to go to jean's and marjorie's and betty's to hunt for mabel she must be tired to-night she doesn't often go to bed so early end of chapter four Chapter 5 of the Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin.

Starting point is 00:26:54 This Leaverbox recording is in the public domain. Returning Rosa Marie Early the next morning, Jean, needing her thimble to sew on a vitally necessary button, ran the supposedly empty cottage to get it. Taking the shortcut through the Tucker's backyard, she found Betty feeding Billy, the seagull, one of Bob's numerous pets. Billy always wakes everybody up crying for his breakfast, explained thoughtful little Betty, Bob's spending a week at the Ormsby's camp, so I have to get up to feed Billy so father can sleep.

Starting point is 00:27:26 Why don't the other boys do it? Mercy. They'd sleep through anything. Going to the cottage? Yes, come with me, returned Jean, while I get my thimble. It's so big that it almost takes two to carry it. All right, laughed Betty, crawling through the hole in the fence. Jean's thimble was a standing joke.

Starting point is 00:27:44 A stout and prudent godmother had bestowed a very large one on the little girl, so that Jean would be in no danger of out. growing the gift. Gene was now living in hopes of some time growing big enough to fit the thimble. Why, exclaimed Jean, after a brief search, the key isn't under the door mat. Where do you suppose it's gone? Here it is in the door, but how in the world did it get there? I locked the door myself last night and tucked the key under the mat. I know I did. I saw you do it, corroborated Jean. Perhaps Marjorie's inside. It isn't Mabel, anyway. She's always the last one up. "'Mercy, me,' said Betty,

Starting point is 00:28:20 "'who have been peeking into the different rooms "'to see if Marjorie were inside. "'Come here, Jean. "'Look at this!' "'This was brown little Rosa Marie "'sitting up in the middle "'of the pink and white spare room bed. "'Like, as Betty put it,

Starting point is 00:28:33 "'a brown bee in the heart of a rose. "'Her small, dark countenance "'was absolutely expressionless, "'so there was no way of discovering "'what she thought about it all. "'My sakes!' exclaimed Jean, "'with indignation, "'that lazy Mabel never took her home, after all.

Starting point is 00:28:48 why we'll have a whole bunch of wild indians coming to scalp us right after breakfast how could she have been so careless this is the worst she's done yet but it's just like mabel said betty giving bent for once to her disapproval in mabel's thoughtlessness she likes things ever so much at first then she simply forgets that they ever existed who forgets demanded mabel bouncing in at the front door you returned jean and betty with one accusing voice prove it you forgot to take rosa marie home last night i never did i took her every inch of the way home stayed with her all alone in the dark for pretty nearly a year and then had to bring her all the way back again walking in her sleep so there now but why in the world didn't you leave her with her own folks her horrid mother wasn't there and between em i didn't get any supper and only a little sleep but what are you going to do queried astonished jean after she drinks this quart of milk a cold explained Mabel, I'm going to take her home again. Where did you get so much milk? asked Betty, suspiciously. Mabel colored furiously. I begged it from the milkman, she confessed.

Starting point is 00:29:59 That's why I'm up so early. I've been sitting on our kitchen doorstep for two hours waiting for him to come. Mabel spent all that day industriously returning Rosa Marie to a home that had locked its doors against her. No pretty dark French mother stood in the doorway. No tall, dark man wandered about the yard. No neighbor came from the tumbling houses across the street to take. explain the woman's puzzling absence. It proved a most tiresome day. Mabel was not only mentally weary from trying to solve the mystery, but physically tired also from dragging Rosa Marie up and down the hill between Dandelion College and the child's deserted home. The girls

Starting point is 00:30:34 went with her once, but, having satisfied their curiosity as to Rosa Marie's abiding place, turned their attention to pleasanter tasks. Walking with Rosa Marie was too much like traveling with a snail. One such journey was enough. Moreover, Mabel's pride had suffered. A grinning boy, looking from plump Mabel's ruddy countenance to fat Rosa Marie's expressionless brown one, had asked wickedly, "'Is that your sister? You'd look enough alike to be twins!'

Starting point is 00:31:00 After that, Mabel feared that other persons might mistake the small brown person for a relative of hers, or, worse yet, mistake her for an Indian. "'Goodness me!' groaned Mabel, toiling homeward from her second trip. It was hard enough to borrow a baby, but it's enough sight worse. getting rid of one afterwards, there's one thing certain, I'll never borrow another. Late in the day, Mabel thought on Mrs. Maloney, the egg woman. Perhaps she would know what had become a Rosa Marie's banished mother. Dropping Rosa Marie inside the gate, Mabel knocked at Mrs. Maloney's door. The folks that lived in the shanty b'ant? asked Mrs. Maloney. Sure, darling, nobody's

Starting point is 00:31:40 lived there for years and years, see gypsies and tramps and such like. But day before yesterday, No, yesterday morning, I saw a young French woman. A black-eyed gal, with two long braids and one small engine? Sure, I know the one humane. Her man in Jim Pete died a month ago, some two days after they came back to the shack. Where is she now? asked Mabel. How would I be after no one? She came and she went, like the rest of them.

Starting point is 00:32:10 There was a man, not a gentleman and not exactly a tramp, talking to her yesterday. Perhaps you know where he is. and find anybody. Depend upon it, said Mrs. Maloney, easily. She's gone with him. She's Mrs. somebody else by now, and good riddance to the pair of them. But, objected Mabel, drawing the branches of the small shrub aside and disclosing Rosa Maurice sprawled on the ground behind it. She left her baby. The nation she did, gasped Mrs. Maloney, for once surprised out of her serenity.

Starting point is 00:32:39 Would you think of that now? I've been thinking of it, returned Mabel miserably, and I don't know what in the world to do. You see, she left the baby with me. Take her home, would ye advise Mrs. Maloney hastily, so hastily that it looked as if the Irish woman feared that she might be asked to Mother Rosa Marie. I'll keep an eye on the shack for ye. Is that good for nothing black-haired wand comes back? We'll be up with the news and two shakes of a dead lamb's tail, so I will. In the main time, be a mother to that innocent babe yourself. She needs one if ever a child did. I've been that for two whole days now,

Starting point is 00:33:15 grown, Mabel? Thoughts right, thoughts right, encouraged Mrs. Maloney. You were just cut out for that same. Good luck, go whittie. Rosa Marie spent a second night in the spare room of Dandelion Cottage. She, at least, seemed utterly indifferent as to her fate. End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6 of the Adoptic of Rosam Marie by Carol Watson Rankin.

Starting point is 00:33:44 This Lieber Fox recording is in the public domain, The Dark Secret. The poor cottagers sat in solemn conclave around the dining room table next morning. Rosa Marie flat on her stomach on the floor, flapped milk like a cat, and licked the bowl afterwards. But no one paid the slightest attention. I think, said Jean, removing her elbows from the table, that we'd better tell our mothers and Auntie Jane all about it at once. They'll know what to do.

Starting point is 00:34:11 So do I, said Marjorie. So do I, echoed Betty. I don't, protested Mabel. whose hitherto serene countenance now showed signs of great anxiety. If you ever tell anybody, I'll never speak to you again. This joke, if it is a joke, is on me. I got into this scrape and it's my scrape. But, objected Jean, we always do tell our mother's everything.

Starting point is 00:34:38 That's why they trust us to play all by ourselves, said Dandy Lion Cottage. Give me just a few days, pleaded Mabel. Perhaps that woman got kept away by some accident. I'm sure Rosa Marie's mother has mother feelings inside of her. Some place. I saw him in her face when I was leading Rosa Maria away. I know she'll come back. Until she does, I'll take care of that poor deserted child myself.

Starting point is 00:35:01 It's a blessing she never cries anyway, observed Betty. If she were a howling child, I don't know what we'd do. As it is, she's not much more trouble than a teddy bear. If Mrs. Mates hadn't had a missionary box in her cellar to pack for reservation Indians of assorted sizes and shapes with the cast-off garments of all Lakeville. If Mrs. Bennett had not been exceedingly busy with a seamstress, getting ready to go out of town for an important visit, if Auntie Jane had not been even busier trying to make green tomato pickles out of ripe tomatoes,

Starting point is 00:35:32 if Mrs. Tucker had not been too anxious about the throats of the youngest three tuckers to give heed to the doings of the large members of her family, these four good women would surely have discovered that something unusual was taking place under the cottage roof. as it was not one of the mothers not even sharp ante-chain discovered that the cottagers were borrowing an amazing amount of milk from their respective refrigerators the novelty worn off rosa marie became a heavy burden to at least three of the cottagers tender consciences mabel's conscience may have troubled her but not enough to be noticed by a pair of moderately careless parents mabel however grew more and more attached to rosa marie the others did not to tell the truth the borrowed infant was not an attractive child many small indians are decidedly pretty but rosa marie was not her small eyes were too close together her upper lip was much too long for the rest of her countenance and her large mouth turned sharply down at the corners but loyal mabel was blind to these defects she saw only the babyish roundness of rosa marie's body the cutting dimples in her elbows and the affectionate gleam that sometimes showed in those small black eyes but then it was always mabel who found beauty in the stray dogs and cats that no one else would have on the premises

Starting point is 00:36:45 during these trying days the cottagers almost quarreled that child is all cheeks complained marjorie petulantly they positively hang down do you suppose we're giving her too much milk she's disgustingly fat and she hasn't any figure she has altogether too much figure declared jean almost crossly i fastened this little petticoat around what i thought was her waist and it slid right off so now i've got to make buttonholes such a nuisance pity you can't use tacks at a hammer giggled marjorie the clothing of rosa marie had presented another distressing problem she owned absolutely nothing in the way of a wardrobe the single unattractive garments she had worn on her arrival had not survived the girl's attempts to wash it they had left it boiling on the stove the water had cooked off and the faded gingham had cooked also to make up for this accident all four of the cottagers had contributed all they could find of their own cast-off garments but these were of course much too large without considerable making over. If, said Jean, reproached fully as she took a large tuck in the grown-up stocking she was trying to remodel for Rosa Marie, you'd only let me tell my mother she'd give us every blessed thing we need. One live little Indian in the hand ought to be worth more to her than a whole dozen invisible ones on a way off reservation,

Starting point is 00:38:04 and you know she's always doing things for them. Jeannie maids threatened Mabel. If you tell her that's the very last breath I'll ever speak to you. i'll be good sighed jean but i just hate not telling her and this horrid stocking is still too long button it around her neck giggled marjorie who flatly declined to do any sewing for rosa marie that'll take up the slack and save making her a shirt don't bother about stocking said betty fishing a round lump from her blouse here's a pair of old ones i found in the rag bag one's black and the other's tan but they're exactly the right size and that's something what's the use demurred marjorie she won't wear them. If Rose and Marie were about eight shades slimmer, said Jean, I could easily get some of Anne Halliday's dear little dresses. Her mother gave my mother a lot day before yesterday for that reservation box. But goodness, you'd have to sew two of them together sideways to get them around

Starting point is 00:38:59 that child. She is awfully thick, admitted Mabel. Yet, after all, dressing Rosemary was not exactly a hardship. Indeed, it is probable that the difficulties that stood in the way made the task only so much the more interesting. Then, of course, dressing a real child was much more exciting than making garments for a mere doll. Whenever the cottagers spoke of Rosa Marie outside the cottage, they referred to her as a DS. D.S. St. for dark secret. This seemed singularly appropriate, for Rosa Marie was certainly dark and quite as certainly a most tremendous secret, a far larger and darker secret than the troubled girls cared to keep, but there seemed to be no immediate way out of it.

Starting point is 00:39:38 fortunately the stolid little d s was amiable to an astonishing degree she never cried also she stayed put if mabel put her in the corner she stayed there if she were tucked into bed there she remained until someone dragged her out she spent her days rolling contentedly about the cottage floor her nights in deep calm slumber never was there a youngster with few or once teaching russ or me to talk furnished the cottagers with great amusement the round brown damsel very evidently preferred grunts to words, but she was always willing to grunt obligingly when Mabel or the others insisted. Say, this little pig went to market, Mabel would prompt. E, ugh, ugh, e, e, e, he, Rosamory would grunt. Then when everybody had laughed her very hardest, Rosa Marie's grim little mouth relaxed to show for an instant the row of white teeth that Mabel scrubbed industriously many times a day. This rare smile made the borrowed baby almost attracted.

Starting point is 00:40:35 But not to Marjorie. From the first Marjorie regress, guarded her with strong disapproval. Fortunately, from Mabel's secret, little Anne Halliday, the Marcott twins, and the two Tucker babies, were too small to tell tales out of school. So in spite of sundry narrow escapes, Rosa Marie remained as dark a secret as one's heart could desire. End of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 of the Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. This lever of ox recording is in the public domain. Discovery

Starting point is 00:41:11 school began the first of october fortunately repairs to the building had delayed the opening and there was rosa marie still on the cottager's hands still a dark and undivulged secret in the meantime mabel had paid many a visit to mrs maloney who for reasons of her own had kept silence about the borrowed baby probably she felt that mrs bennet would blame her for advising mabel to harbor the deserted child no darlint mrs maloney would say encouragingly oi ain't exactly seen her but she'll be back presently she'll be back presently oh most any time now just do be wait impatient and you'll see me come walking in most any boying day with yon black-haired lass at me heels and fool to the eyes of her with gratitude any day at all miss mabel buoyed by this hope mabel had waited from day to day hoping for speedy deliverance and now school we'll just have to get excused for part of each day said marjorie always good at suggesting remedies last year all my recitations came in the morning perhaps they will again then if one of you others could do all your reciting during the afternoon we could manage it the year previously mabel had been obliged to spend many a half hour after school making up neglected lessons now however she studied furiously if she failed frequently it was only because she couldn't help making absurd blunders it was never for lack of study in this one way at least rosa marie proved beneficial the united efforts of all four made it possible for rosa mary to possess a more or less unwilling guardian for all but one hour during the forenoon it grieves one to confess it but rosa marie spent that solitary hour securely strapped the leg of the dining-room table but stolid as ever she did not mind that

Starting point is 00:43:02 it was there that auntie jane discovered her the second week in october auntie jane had missed her best saucepan rightly suspecting that marjorie had carried it off to make fudge in she hurried to the cottage discover the key under the door-matt opened the door and walked in rosa marie was grunting e gurg ug e e e to her brown toes for mercy's sake what's that gasped auntie jane with a terrified start there's some sort of animal in this house arming herself with a broken umbrella that stood in the mended umbrella jar in the front hall auntie jane peered cautiously into the dining-room the animal turned its head to blink with mild expressionless curiosity at auntie jane "'My soul!' ejaculated that good lady. "'What are you, anyway?' The pair blinked at each other for several moments. "'Are you a baby?' demanded Auntie Jane. "'No response from Rosa Marie.'

Starting point is 00:44:02 "'What?' asked Andy Jane, cautiously drawing closer, is your name?' "'Still no response. "'Who tied you to that table?' "'Silence on Rosa Marie's part. "'I'm going straight after Mrs. Mait, declared Auntie Jane, retreating backwards in order to keep a watchful eye on the queer object under the table, I might have known that those enterprising youngsters would be up to something if I gave my whole mind the pickles. Excited Auntie Jane collected not only Mrs. Mapes, but Mrs. Tucker and Mrs. Bennett before she returned to the cottage.

Starting point is 00:44:34 And then, the three mothers and Auntie Jane sat on the floor beside Rosamery and asked questions, useless questions, because Rosamory licked the table leg bashfully but yielded no other reply. This lasted for nearly half an hour, and then, school being out in the four cottagers discovering their front door wide open, Jean, Betty, Marjorie, and Mabel, all sorts of emotions tugging at their hearts rushed breathlessly in. On beholding their mothers and Auntie Jane, they too turned suddenly bashful and leaned, speechless against the cottage wall. Whose child is that? demanded all four of the grown-ups in concert. "'Mine,' replied Mabel. "'Mabel's,' responded the other three with this heartening promptness. "'What?' gasped the parents in Auntie Jane.

Starting point is 00:45:21 "'I borrowed her,' explained Mabel, so she's mostly mine. "'She's spending the day here, I suppose,' said Mrs. Mames. "'Yes,' faltered Mabel. "'Marjorie giggled and Mabel turned crimson. "'I hope, Mrs. Bennett, severely, that you're not thinking of keeping her all night.' uh uh we faltered mabel we we sort of did well exclaimed mrs bennett not knowing how very late she was i guess we've come just in time mabel put that child's things on and take her home at once i can't replied mabel why not she hasn't any home no home no it's it's run away what that baby no stammered mabel that baby's home not Not the house. Just her mother. She, she, she, oh, she'll be back someday.

Starting point is 00:46:15 Mabel Bennett, demanded Mrs. Bennett, suspecting something of the truth. How long have you had that child here? Not, oh, not so very long, evaded Mabel. Mabel demanded her mother. Tell me instantly, exactly how long. About, yes, just about five weeks. Five weeks, gasped Mrs. Bennett. Five weeks! freaked Mrs. Tucker. Five weeks, groaned Mrs. Mapes.

Starting point is 00:46:44 Five weeks, cried Auntie Jane. It will be five tomorrow, said Betty. No, the day after, corrected Marjorie. For the next few moments the mothers and Auntie Jane were too astounded for further speech. The girls, too, had nothing to say. All four of the cottagers kept their eyes on the floor, for they knew precisely what their elders were thinking. Jean, began Mrs. Mappes reproachfully.

Starting point is 00:47:08 i wanted to tell stammer jean i wouldn't let her defendant mabel looking up they all wanted to tell but i wouldn't let them truly they did mrs mapes but five whole weeks murmured mrs bennett i wondered that you were able to keep the secret so long why i've been over here half a dozen times at least to ask for my sisters and other things that mabel has carried off so have i said mrs mabes so have i echoed mrs tucker and so have i said auntie jane and i've never heard a sound from that remarkable child you see confessed betty blushing guiltily we kept the door locked whenever we saw anybody coming we whisked rosa marie into the spare room closet. If Rosa Marie had been an ordinary child, explained Jean, she would probably have howled, but you see, every blessed thing about us was so new and strange to her that she just thought that everything we did was all right. And anyhow, she doesn't have the same sort of feelings that Anne Halliday does. Anne would have cried. You naughty, naughty children, scolded Mrs. Mapes, to keep a secret like that for five whole weeks. But mother protested

Starting point is 00:48:14 Jean gently. We never supposed it was going to be a five weeks long secret. We didn't want. wanted to be, we've been expecting her horrid mother to turn up every single minute since Rosa Marie came. It was all my fault, declared loyal Mabel. They'd have told the very first minute if it hadn't been for me, blame me for everything." What? asked Mrs. Bennett. Do you intend to do with that, that atrocious child? She isn't atrocious, blazed Mabel with sudden fire.

Starting point is 00:48:44 She's a perfect darling when you get used to her, and I love her. "'She isn't so very pretty, I know. "'She's good, and that, and that's. "'Why, you've said yourself that it was better to be good than beautiful.' "'But what do you intend to do with her?' persisted Mrs. Bennett. "'Keep her,' said Mabel firmly. "'She doesn't eat anything much but milk and sample packages.' "'You can't. I won't have her in my house.

Starting point is 00:49:08 "'Why her parents are probably dreadful people.' "'That's why she ought to have me for a mother and you for a grandmother,' pleaded Mabel earnestly. "'But if you don't like her, I'll keep her here.' "'But you can't, Mabel. It's so cold that there ought to be a fire here this minute, and you can't possibly leave a child alone with a fire.' "'Couldn't you take her, Mrs. Mates?' pleaded Mabel. "'No, I'm afraid I couldn't. If she were the least bit lovable.'

Starting point is 00:49:34 "'Oh, she is!' "'Not to me,' returned Mrs. Makes, firmly. "'Wouldn't you take her, Mrs. Tucker?' "'What, with all the family I have now? I couldn't think of such a thing.' "'Then you,' begged Mabel, turning to Auntie Jane. There's only you and Marjorie in that great big house. Oh, do take her. Mercy! I'd just as soon undertake to board a live fair. Why, nobody wants a child of that sort around. She's as homely? I'm extremely glad, said Mabel, with much dignity and a great deal of

Starting point is 00:50:05 emphasis, that my child doesn't understand grown-up English. Perhaps, said Mrs. Mates, smiling with sympathetic understanding, we four older people have better talked this matter over by ourselves. Suppose you walk home with me. I think, said Auntie Jane, forgetting all about the saucepan that had led her to the cottage, that the orphan asylum is the place for that unspeakable child. Yes, agreed Mrs. Bennett, she'll certainly have to go to the asylum. End of Chapter 7. Chapter 8 of the adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson-Renken. This Cedarvox recording is in the public domain. The Fugitive Soldier The cottage door closed behind the three excited parents and Aunt Jane.

Starting point is 00:50:54 The four cottagers, all decidedly pale and subdued, looked at one another in silence. It is one thing to confess a fault. It is quite another to be ignominiously found out. Jean and Betty and Marjorie were feeling this very keenly, but Mabel was far more troubled at the prospect of losing Rosa Marie. The orphan asylum breeds Betty at light. It's wicked, blazed Mabel, to make an orphan of a person that isn't. I've heard, said Marjorie, reflectively, that orphans have to eat fried liver.

Starting point is 00:51:30 Horrors, gasped Mabel, and codfish. Oh, horrors, moaned Mabel, who detested both liver and codfish. And prunes, pursued teasing Marjorie, wickedly remembering Mabel's dislike for that wholesome but insipid throat. The prunes proved entirely too much for Mabel. Puff, prunes, she sobbed, and you stand there and don't do a thing to save her. I guess if I were Eliza escaping with my baby on cakes of ice. Rosa Marie's about the right color, giggled Marjorie, who could not resist so find an opportunity to tease excitable Mabel.

Starting point is 00:52:07 You'd all be glad enough to help me, but when it's just me... Oh, we'll help, Sue Dene's slipping an arm around, Mabel. You know we always do stand by you. "'Yes, we'll all help,' promised Betty, "'if you'll just tell us what to do, "'only please don't get us into any more trouble with our mothers.' "'There's the cellar,' suggested Mabel, "'doubtfully, yet with glimmerings of hope.

Starting point is 00:52:30 "'I read once a story about a lady who sat on a cellar door, "'nitting stockings. "'Why, in the world, demanded Marjorie, "'did she sit on the door? "'Some soldiers were hunting for an escaped prisoner "'and she had him hidden there. "'Was the cellar all horrid with old paper, and rats and mice and spiders and crawly things with legs?

Starting point is 00:52:49 asked Betty with interest. I hope not, shuddered Mabel, but a soldier wouldn't mind. Dear me, I wish we'd clean that cellar when we first came into the cottage. If we had, it'd be just the place to hide Rosa Marie in. Perhaps it isn't too late now, said Marjorie, stooping to loosen the ring in the kitchen floor. Let's look down there, anyway. Let's, agreed Betty, it'll be something to do, at least. Everybody helped with the door.

Starting point is 00:53:13 when it was open and propped against the kitchen stove, the poor girls crouched down to peer into the depths below. Even Rosa Marie, who had been released from the table leg, crept to the edge to look. They were not very deep depths. The place was filled as rubbish, mostly old papers and broken pasteboard boxes, but it was perfectly dry and clean except for a thick layer of dust. That's clean it out, some Mabel, recklessly grasping an armful of dusty papers and dragging them forth. "'Phew!' exclaimed Jean, tumbling back. from the hole. Er, er, er, er, hash!

Starting point is 00:53:46 Oh, kash! Hoo! Lovered Betty, likewise tumbling backwards. Who is she? Who is she? Sneezed Marjorie. Kachoo, kachoo, kachoo! Sneezed Rosa Marie, her head bobbing with each sneeze. Kachoo, kurcho, krchoo! It's pepper, explained Mabel, when she finished her sneeze.

Starting point is 00:54:04 I spilled a lot of it the day I missed her dinner party. I didn't know what else to do with it, so I swept it down that biggest crack. Goodness, what a housekeeper, rebuked Jean. wiping her eyes. It's good for moths, consoled Betty. At any rate, Rosa Marie won't get moth eaten. Perhaps, suggested Mabel hopefully, it's driven away all the rats and crawly things. Working more cautiously, the girls drew forth the yellowed papers and pasteboard left by some former untidy occupant of the cottage.

Starting point is 00:54:33 They burned most of the rubbish in the kitchen stove. Jean standing guardless burning pieces should escape to set fire to the cottage. The work of clearing the cellar, indeed, was precisely what the girls needed, after the humiliating events of the day. All four were growing more cheerful, but they worked as swiftly as they dared, for they felt certain that the cellar as a place of concealment for Rosa Marie

Starting point is 00:54:52 would be speedily needed. The cellar proved to be a square hole about three feet deep. When Mabel, who was for once doing the lion's share of the work, had swept the boarded floor and sides perfectly clean, it was really a very tidy, inviting little shelter, as neat a shelter as a fugitive soldier could desire.

Starting point is 00:55:10 Now, said Mabel, will put a piece of carpet and an old quilt in the bottom, tack clean papers around the sides. Papers rattle, offered Marjorie sagely. Then we'll use cloth, because, and may while snatching an apron from the hook behind the door, we'll begin right away to practice with Rosa Marie so she'll get used to it. Then we must rehearse our parts, too. The retreat ready, Rosa Marie went without a murmur into the underground baby tender.

Starting point is 00:55:35 Marjorie gave it that name. Rosa Marie, at least, would do her part successfully, but it was different above ground. Who demanded Jean is to sit on the door and knit? I couldn't. I'd fly to pieces. It's my child, said Mabel. I'm going to. But, objected Marjorie, you can't knit. You don't know how. I can crochet, triumphed Mabel, and I guess that's every bit as good. Where, asked Betty, is your crochet hook?

Starting point is 00:56:03 But that, of course, was a question that Mabel could not answer, because Mabel never did know where any of her belongings were. Thereupon, Jean, Marjorie, and Mabel began a frantic search for the missing article. Mabel had used it the week previously, but could remember nothing more about it. Goodness, grown Mabel groveling under the spare room bed in hopes that the hook might be there. If I dreamed that my child's life was going to depend on that hook, I'd have kept it locked up in father's fireproof safe. That's what you get, said Marjorie, with one eye glued to the top of a very tall vase, for being so careless. It isn't in here, anyway.

Starting point is 00:56:38 here's one announced betty scrambling in hastily and locking the door behind her i skipped home for it but there's no time to lose all of our mothers and auntie jane are going out of mrs mapes's gate with their best hats and gloves on there's something doing in another moment the cellar was closed a rocking chair was placed upon it and mabel with ball of yarn and crochet hook in hand was nervously twitching in the chair her fingers were stiff with dust there had been no time to wash them so the lute that she tied at the end of the white yarn was most decidedly black But Mabel was thankful to achieve a loop of any color, with her whole body quivering with excitement and suspense. Goodness, she quavered. That soldier lady was a wonder. Think of her looking calm outside with her heart going like a Dover egg-beater. Do I look calm? Here, said Betty, extending a basin of warm water. Soak your hands in this. Warm water is said to be seething. Also cleansing, giggled Marjorie. Hurry, gasped quickier jeans snatching the basin and hurling a towel in Mabel's direction.

Starting point is 00:57:37 i heard our gate-click there's somebody coming don't let him in breathed mabel defiantly i'm afraid said jean we'll have to anyway soothed betty we'll peek first there's the doorbell end of chapter eight chapter nine of the adopting of rosa marie by carol watson rankin this silver box recording is in the public domain a surprise jean and betty flew to one window marjorie to the other mabel wanted to find fly, too, but she remained faithfully at her post, feeling quite cheered by her own heroism. It's dark gray trousers with a crease in them, not skirts, announced Marjorie, peering under the edge of the shade. Probably a man from the asylum, shuddered Betty. Let's keep very still. He may think that this is the wrong house and go somewhere else.

Starting point is 00:58:36 But, objected Jean, he'll only come back again. Yes, sighed Betty. I suppose we'll have to open the door. You do it, Marjorie. i don't want to returned marjorie unexpectedly shrinking it seems too much like giving rosa marie into the hands of the enemy after all we're going to miss her dreadfully and mabel will be just about broken-hearted she does get so attached to things oh he's ringing again we'll have to unlock the door sighed jean placing her hand on the key but dearie me i feel just as marjorie does about it knit fast mavel the key turned in the lock but the girls did not need to open the door the visitor did that then there were rapturous cries of mr black mr black mabel wanted to greet mr black too for there was nobody in the world that was kinder to little girls and the stout gentleman who had just opened the door but she remembered that the soldier lady in spite of the dover egg-beater heart had remained seated placidly knitting so mabel likewise sat still and plied her crochet hook hi hi exclaimed mr black what are you all locked in for and here i had to ring four times when i come with a present apples right off the

Starting point is 00:59:44 the top of my own barrel. Began to be afraid I'd have to eat them all myself. You were so long letting me in. If we'd guess that it was you and apples, said Marjorie, we'd have met you at the gate. Where's the other girl? asked Mr. Black's big cheery voice. Doesn't she like apples, too? In the kitchen, chorus Jean, Marjorie, and Betty. Bless my soul, said Mr. Black's writing kitchenward. Here she is, knitting like any old lady. Aren't you coming in here to eat apples with the rest of us?" "'Can't,' mumbled Mabel. "'What's the matter, Grandma, teased Mr. Black, rheumatism troubling you today?'

Starting point is 01:00:21 "'Nope,' returned Mabel. "'Lost all your teeth?' "'Nope.' "'Are you knitting me a pair of socks, or is it mittens?' "'Just a chain,' replied Mabel, suddenly beaming. "'But Mr. Black, does it really look as if I were knitting?' "'Precisely,' smiled Mr. Black, "'so much as that you remind me of the story of the woman

Starting point is 01:00:42 who sat on the trapdoor and knitted. That is a trapdoor. Here's the ring sticking up. The girl shot a quick glance at the floor. Then they gazed guiltily at one another. Sure enough, the tell-tale ring stood upright, ready for use. No one had thought to conceal it. Is there a wounded soldier down there?

Starting point is 01:01:00 asked Mr. Black, jokingly. No, shouted all four with suspicious haste. The deep silence that followed was suddenly punctuated by a muffled sneeze from Rosamory. undoubtedly some of the pepper dislodged from the crack on the floor had sifted down to the prisoner the faces of the four girls flushed guiltily mr black looked wonderingly at the little group it was plain that something was wrong jean who had always met her friend's glance with level truthful eyes was now looking most sheepishly at her own toes betty hitherto always ready to tell the whole truth was now fiddling evasively with the corner of her apron marjorie's bare skin was crimson her usually frank blue eyes were intent on something under the kitchen table. Is there some sort of animal in that cellar? demanded Mr. Black. Rosa Marie chose this moment to give another large sneeze. Is it something you're afraid of? demanded Mr. Black.

Starting point is 01:01:54 Afraid of losing, mumbled Mabel, shamefacedly. Poor Mabel realized only too well that she, with her knitting and her too perfect playing of the park, had given the secret away, and she felt all the bitterness of failure. Seizing the back of Mabel's chair, Mr. Black drew it swiftly off the trapdoor, in another moment he had the door open. Rosa Marie, blinking at the sunlight, bobbed upward. Mr. Black involuntarily started back from the opening. What in the world is that? he gasped. A monkey?

Starting point is 01:02:22 And indeed the error was a perfectly natural one, for all he had been able to see was a tasseled head of hair, beneath which gleamed small black eyes. I should say not, blazed Mabel. It's my little girl, my Rosa Marie. Does she bite? Is she dangerous? Is that why you treat her like potatoes? most certainly not returned mabel with dignity she's an indian bless me said mr black leaning cautiously forward let's have a look at her now the secret was out everybody eagerly clutched some portion of rosa marie's clothing she was drawn with some difficulty in sundry trarings of cloth from the soldier's retreat mabel cuddled the blinking small person on her lap did you pick her up in the woods asked mr black or did you simply kidnap her or dreadful thought did you order her by number of from some catalog, and did they charge you full price?"

Starting point is 01:03:13 Then Mabel, helped by the other three, told all they knew of the history of Rosa Marie and of Mabel's affection for the queer brown baby. They told him everything. Mabel, with visions of the orphan asylum's doors, yawning to engulf precious Rosa Marie, considered it a very sad story. She felt grieved and indignant because Mr. Black, instead of sympathizing, laughed until his size shook. Even the pathetic diet of liver, codfish, and prunes seemed to amuse him.

Starting point is 01:03:39 "'What would you have said if your mothers had asked you where this child was?' inquired Mr. Black presently. "'I mean when you had her downseller.' "'Gene looked at Betty. Betty looked at Marjorie. Marjorie looked at Mabel. "'We never thought of that,' confessed Betty. "'Oh, grown Mabel, holding Rosalie closer. Our plan isn't any good after all. We'd have to tell the truth if they asked. We always do.' "'Yes,' said Jean. They'd get it out of us at once. Even, teased Marjorie shrewdly, if Mabel sitting upon that trapdoor, were not every bit as good as a printed sign. Never mind, soothed Jean, slipping an arm about Mabel's shoulders.

Starting point is 01:04:18 We'd rather be honest and smart, since we can't be both. Mabel needed soothing. She sat still and made no sound, but large tears were rolling down her cheeks and splashing on Rosamore's black head. Mr. Black regarded them thoughtfully. He noticed, too, that Mabel's moderately white hands were closed tightly over Rosa Marie's brown fingers. It reminded him some way of his own useful agony of parting with a puppy that he had not been allowed to keep. He had always regretted that puppy. Suddenly the front door, propelled by some unseen force, opened from without, to admit the three mothers and Auntie Jane, followed closely by Mr. Tucker, Dr. Bennett, and two young women in nurses' uniform.

Starting point is 01:04:56 They crowded into the little parlor and filled it to overflowing. None of the cottagers said a word, but Mabel, tears still rolling down her cheek, silently clasped both arms tightly about Rosa Marie's body. It began to look as if Rosa Marie would have to be taken by force. It's all arranged, announced Mrs. Bennett, breathlessly. The asylum is willing to take her, and she is to go at once with these young ladies. Come, Mabel, don't be foolish. Take your arms away.

Starting point is 01:05:21 You're behaving very badly. There, there, I'll buy you something. You're just a little too late, so Mr. Black, keeping watchful eyes on Mabel's speaking countenance. I've decided to take the responsibility. of Rosa Marie into my own hands." End of Chapter 9. Chapter 10 of the Adopting of Rosemory by Carol Watson Rankin, this Liverpoolx recording

Starting point is 01:05:49 is in the public domain. Breaking the News When Mr. Black went home that afternoon to explain the matter to his good sister, Mrs. Crane, he took with him not only Rosa Marie, but Jean, Marjorie, Betty, and Mabel, whose parents had given them permission to escort the brown baby to her new home. You see, said he, while waiting for Rosa Marie to be made somewhat more attractive, I want you to tell the story to Mrs. Crane precisely as you told it to me. But don't mention me until you get to the very end.

Starting point is 01:06:21 With her hair brushed and braided and her fat little body stuffed into a pink gingham apron that the cottagers had laboriously cut down from a wrapper of Mrs. Halliday's, Rosa Marie looked her best in spite of the fact she wore no shoes and stockings. She trotted contentedly at Mabel's side, but Betty, who was supposed to be walking with Mr. Black, pranced delightedly about him in circles to show her gratitude. Jean and Marjorie followed more sedately but with beaming countenances. Now that Mrs. Crane was no longer poor, she was always dressed very neatly in black silk. Except for that she was precisely the same jolly, good-natured woman that she had been when she lived alone in the little house, just across the street from Dandelion Cottage.

Starting point is 01:07:00 Now, however, she lived with her brother, Mr. Black, in his big, imposing, but rather gloomy house. She had no husband, he had no wife, and neither had any children. Perhaps that is why they were both so fond of the dandelion cottagers. Mrs. Crane was planting bulbs in the garden when Mr. Black ushered his procession in at the gate. Bless my soul, said she. Here you are just in time to help. I always said that if I ever got a chance to plant all the tulip bulbs I wanted, I die of pure happiness. But I guess I stand more chance of dying of a broken back.

Starting point is 01:07:32 My land! I planted 2,348 of the best. looking bulbs I ever laid eyes on, and there ain't a hole in those boxes yet. They're all named, too. Here's Rachel Roos, Rose Grisdalen, Rosie Mundy, Yellow Prince, the Duke of York. Think of having him in your front yard. And Lady Grandison, two inches apart, clear to the gate. But land?

Starting point is 01:07:56 I suppose a body's tongue to go lame counting diamonds. Why don't you let Martin plant them? asked Mr. Black with a twinkle in his eye. It was plain that he enjoyed his talkative, elderly, sister. And have them all bloom in China? retorted Mrs. Crane. Now you know, Peter, that Martin couldn't get a ball right end up if there were printed directions on the skin of every vault.

Starting point is 01:08:16 But Jean there and Betty, we'll do it, cried the girls, just tell us how. Two inches apart, pointed end up, all the way along these little trenches, directed Mrs. Crane, seating herself in the wheelbarrow. No, not you, Mabel. You and Martin, well, I won't say it. Why, what's the matter with your face? to me as if you're dusted the coal bin with yourself and then cried about it. What's the trouble?

Starting point is 01:08:40 Thereupon Mabel introduced Rosemory, who have been shyly hiding behind a rosebush, told her story and graphically described the horrors of the orphan asylum. Well, I don't believe that any orphan asylum is as black as you've painted that once in Mrs. Crane. It does seem a pity to shut a little outdoor animal like that up in a cage when she ain't used to it. Now, Peter, you listen to me. Why couldn't we keep Rosa Marie here for a time? Like enough, her mother would back for her most any day. In the meantime, she'll be more company than a cat, and easier to wash than a poodle. Well, now I don't know, returned Mr. Black, winking at Mabel.

Starting point is 01:09:13 A child has a great deal of trouble. Shame on you, Peter Black. It's only yesterday that you brought a wretched old horse to keep his owner from ill-treating him, and here you are refusing? Oh, not exactly refusing. Be grudging, anyway, to rescue that innocent little lamb? She means black sheep, whispered Marjorie into Jean's convenient ear. "'From that institution, Peter Black, I'm just going to keep that child anyway.'

Starting point is 01:09:39 At this all five laughed merrily. Rosemar Marie cheered by the sound, reached gravely into a paper bag, gravely handed each person a tulip-bald and appropriated one herself. She took a generous bite out of hers. "'We'll plant him in a ring around that snowball bush,' said Mrs. Crane, rescuing the bit and ball, bite and all. That should be Rosa Marie's own flower bed. "'There's a nursery on the second floor,' said Mr. Black. You girls must help us fix it up, and mabel perhaps you would like to spend this money for some toys that would just exactly suit rosa marie mabel beamed gratefully as she accepted the money and the responsibility never before had anyone singled her out to perform a task that required discretion it was always jean or betty or sometimes even marjorie that was chosen Never before had the greatness been thrust upon Mabel. She lavished grateful, affectionate glances on Mr. Black,

Starting point is 01:10:28 and inwardly determined to save part of the cash with which to buy him a Christmas present, not realizing that that would be a misappropriation of the funds. Mabel, however, felt a pang of jealousy when Rosa Marie digging contentedly in the sand at Mrs. Crane's feet, allowed her former guardian to depart absolutely unnoticed. I did think, confided Mabel to Betty, who walked beside her, that she'd at least look as if she cared. That night the mothers made peace with their daughters, and Andy Jane extended a flag of truth to Marjorie. "'It was all for your own good,' explained Mrs. Bennett, her arm about Mabel, who was missing the pleasant task of putting Rosa Marie to bed.

Starting point is 01:11:05 "'I couldn't let you grow up with little Indian continually at your heels. You'd have grown tired of her, too, and by keeping silence so long you did a great deal of harm. If we known about the matter at once, we might have been able to find her mother. Now it's too late.' "'I never thought of that,' said Mabel contrately. "'I'll tell right away next time.' mabel there mustn't be a next time promise me this instant that you'll never borrow another baby unless you know that his mother really wants to keep it promise all right i promise said mabel cheerfully but i can't think remarked mrs bennet what possessed mr black to be so foolish as to take such a child into his own home there were other persons that wondered too why mr black should burden his household with the care of what martin his man called an uncivilized savage but the truth of the matter was just the this. The large, silent tears rolling down Mabel's forlorn countenance had suddenly proved too much for the tender heart of Mr. Black. In some ways, perhaps, impulsive Mr. Black was not a

Starting point is 01:12:03 wise man, but, where children were concerned, there was no doubt of his being an exceedingly tender person. End of Chapter 10. Chapter 11 of the Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin, this leverbox recording is in the public domain. The Alarm Now that the burden of caring for Rosa Marie was shifted to older and more competent shoulders, the cottagers' thoughts returned to their schoolwork. It was time. Never had lessons been so neglected.

Starting point is 01:12:39 Never before had four moderately intelligent little girls seemed so stupid. But of course with their minds filled with Rosa Marie, it had been impossible to keep the rivers of South America from light-mindedly running over into Asia, or the products of British Columbia from being exported from California. These fortunate girls attended a beautiful school. That is, the building was beautiful. It stood right in the middle of a great big grassy block, entirely surrounded, as Betty put it, by street, which of course added greatly to its dignity.

Starting point is 01:13:12 It was built of raindrops sandstone, a most interesting building material because no two blocks were alike, and also because each stone looked as if it had just been sprinkled with big splattering drops of rain. It was hard when looking at it to believe that it wasn't raining. and certain naughty youngsters delighted in fooling new teachers by pointing out the deceiving drops that flecked the ballastrade perhaps even the grass was fooled by this semblance to showers for in summer-time it grew so thriftily that no one had to be warned to keep off so a great many little people froliced in the schoo-yard even during vacation of course the dandelion cottagers were not in the same classes in school jean being the oldest the most sedate and the most studious was almost through the eighth grade marjorie being naturally very bright and also moderately industrious was in the seventh mabel and betty were not exactly anywhere you see betty had to stay out so often to keep the next the youngest tucker baby from falling downstairs that naturally she had dropped behind all the classes as she had ever started with and mabel of course mabel meant well but when she studied at all it was usually the lesson for some other day for this blundering maiden never could remember which was the right page

Starting point is 01:14:26 but one day she happened by some lucky accident to stumble upon the right one and on that solitary occasion she recited so very brilliantly that miss bonner and all the pupils dropped their books to listen in astonishment and mabel was marked one but in spite of this high mark in good black ink if one stood less than seventy-five red ink was employed the thing did not happen again that fall because mabel was too busy bringing up rosa marie to study even the wrong lesson however she was still busy bringing up rosa marie to study even the wrong lesson however she was still she was exceedingly fond of pretty Miss Bonner, and, having learned the exact date of that young woman's birthday, hoped to appease her by a gift to be paid for by contributions from all the pupils in Miss Bonner's room. Mabel herself received and cared for the slowly accumulating funds, and the little brown purse was becoming almost as weighty of responsibility as Rosler-Marie had been. Sometimes it rested in Mabel's untrustworthy pocket, sometimes in her rather untidy desk,

Starting point is 01:15:23 sometimes under her pillow in her room at home. One day Mrs. Bennett found it there. Why, Mabel, she exclaimed, where did all this money come from? I know you don't possess any. It's the MBBPF, responded Mabel, who was brushing her hair with evident enjoyment, and two very handsome military brushes. I guess I'd better put it in my pocket. The what? asked puzzled Mrs. Bennett.

Starting point is 01:15:49 The Miss Bonner Birthday Present Fund. I'm the Cust Custodium. "'What kind of cuss?' asked Dr. Bennet, who had just poked his head in at the door, to ask, if by any chance, Mabel had seen anything of his hairbrushes. "'The custodium,' replied Mabel with dignity. "'I think she means custodian,' explained Mrs. Bennet, rescuing the brushes. "'Well,' retorted Mabel, the toad part was all right if the tail wasn't. "'Marjorie named to me that, and she's always using bigger words than she ought to.'

Starting point is 01:16:21 "'So as somebody else,' said Dr. Bennett, forgetting to scold about the brushes. but I think the custodium had better hurry, or she'll be late for school. That was Friday, and the little brown purse contained $2.47, which seemed a tremendous sum to inexperienced Mabel. She remembered afterwards how very big, imposing, and substantial, the school building had looked that morning as she approached it and noticed some strangers fingering the raindrops to see if they were real. Indeed, everybody, from the largest taxpayer down to the smallest pupil,

Starting point is 01:16:51 was proud of that building because it was so big and because there were no more raindrops sandstone left in the quarry from where it had been taken. Even thoughtless Mabel always swelled with pride when Taurus paused a comment on the queer spotted appearance of those massive walls. She meant to point that building out someday to her grandchildren as the fount of all her learning, but the huge, solid building looked as if it would certainly outlast not only Mabel's grandchildren, but all their great-great-grandchildren as well. But it didn't. The catastrophe came on Saturday.

Starting point is 01:17:21 Afterwards, everybody in Lakeville was glad, since the thing had to happen at all, that the day was Saturday. For no one liked to think what might have happened had the trouble come on a school day. It was also a Saturday in the first week of November, which was not quite so fortunate, as there was a stiff north wind. At two o'clock that afternoon the streets were almost deserted, but weatherproof Dick Tucker, with his hands in his pockets, was going along whistling at the top of his very good lungs. By the mare's chance he glanced at the wide windows of Lakeville's most pretentious possession, the big public school building. From four of the upper windows floated thin, softly curling plumes of gray smoke. The windows were closed, but the smoke appeared to be leaking out from the surrounding frames. Hello, muttered Dick, suddenly shutting off his whistle.

Starting point is 01:18:07 That looks like smoke. The janitor must be rebuilding the furnace fire. But why should smoke? I guess I'll investigate. The puzzle boy ran up the steps. pulled the vestible door open and eagerly pressed his nose against the plate glass panel of the inner door, which was locked. Through the glass, however, he could see plainly that the wide corridor was thick with smoke. He could even smell it.

Starting point is 01:18:30 Great guns, exclaimed Dick. There's things doing in there. That furnace never smoked as hard as all that, and besides, the janitor always has Saturday afternoons off. Perhaps the basement door is unlocked. Dick ran down the steps to find that door, too, securely fastened. I guess, said Dick, with another look at the curling smoke about the upper windows, the thing for me to do is to turn in an alarm. Dick happened to know where the alarm box was situated, so feeling most important,

Starting point is 01:18:57 yet withal strangely shaky as to legs, the lad made for the corner a good long block distance, smashed the glass according to directions, and sent in the alarm, a thing he had always longed to do. Five minutes later, the big red hose cart, with gong ringing, firemen shouting, and dogs barking was dashing up the street. The hook and ladder company followed in a meat wagon, or rather a meat wagon horse, galloped after. The foundry whistle began to give the ward number in long, melancholy, terrifying toots, and the hosehouse bell joined in with a mad clamor. People poured from the houses along the horse cart's route, for in Lakeville it was customary for private citizens to attend all fires.

Starting point is 01:19:35 Dick, feeling most important, stood on the schoolhouse steps and pointed upward. The horse cart stopped with a jerk that must have surprised the horses. firemen leaped down in a twinkling the foremost had smashed in the big blast door. It's a fire all right, said he. Meanwhile, the janitor, chopping wood in his own backyard, which was his way of enjoying his afternoon off, had listened intently to the fire alarm. Six, too, he said, suddenly dropping his axe.

Starting point is 01:20:01 Guess I'll have a look at that fire. That's pretty close to my school. End of Chapter 11. Chapter 12 of the Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. This Silverbox recording is in the public domain. The Fire Jean, Betty, Marjorie, and Mabel ran with the rest to see what was happening, for their homes were not far from the schoolhouse.

Starting point is 01:20:31 Indeed, owing to its ample setting, the building was plainly visible from all directions, and from a distance it always loomed larger than anything else in the town. To all the citizens, it was a most unusual and alarming sight to see thick black smoke, curling about the eaves and rising in a threatening column above the familiar building. Such a thing had never happened before. Marjorie was the first of the quartet to discover what was going on. She had opened her bedroom window, the better to count the strokes of the fire-bell, when, to her astonishment, she saw the fire itself, or at least the smoke thereof.

Starting point is 01:21:06 Her first thought was of her three friends, for of course no cottager could view such a spectacle as this promised to be, without the companionship of the other three. so marjorie flew around the block like a little excited hen dr tucker said and collected the girls they ran in a body to join the swelling crowd that surrounded the smoking building keep out of danger called auntie jane who was watching the fire from her upstairs window we will shrieked marjorie who with the other three was rushing by don't get mixed up with the hose warned dr tucker who was carrying young peter to view the fire we won't promise betty we'll stand on the very safest corner this is it declared jean stopping short of the sidewalk we can see right over the heads of the folks that are closest to the building should you think panted mabel hopefully that there'd be school monday looks doubtful said marjorie not upstairs anyway returned jean everything must be smoked perfectly black and it's getting worse every minute instead of better goodness cried mabel suddenly turning pale I oughty new and alarming thought. I do hope it won't burn my room. The money for Miss Bonner's birthday present is in my desk. It's a horrible lot of money to lose. I ought never to have left it there.

Starting point is 01:22:25 Dear me, do you think? Phew, cried Jean, paying no heed to Mabel. Look at that. That was a terrifying flash of red that suddenly illumined six of the big upper windows. The high school room groaned Betty. It's its flames. Why doesn't somebody do something, ground. an indignant taxpayer. That building cost fifty thousand dollars. Fire started from a defective flu on top floor, explained another bystander, but that's no reason why the whole place should go. There's no fire downstairs, but there will be. What's that?

Starting point is 01:22:58 No water. Broken hydrant? Mayville listened attentively. The bystander continued. Then the whole building is doomed. It's had time enough to get a tremendous start. Oh, look, cried Jean. It's bursting through into the next room. My room. Oh, how tremendous. dreadful. All our plants, our books, our pictures. Oh, oh, I can't bear to look. Firemen and volunteer helpers were hurrying in and out the wide south door. Men carried out towering piles of books and tossed them ruthlessly to the ground. Miss Bonner's big pink geranium was added to the heat. The janitor appeared with the big hall clock. That wouldn't go at all on ordinary occasions, but now was striking 727, or something like that, all at one stretch.

Starting point is 01:23:41 It seemed to be crying out an alarm. roar of flames can now be heard, likewise. Why? exclaimed Jean, wheeling suddenly. Where's Mabel? Wasn't she right beside you a minute ago, Betty? I certainly saw her there. She was, but she isn't now, returned Betty, looking about anxiously. I thought she was behind me. Dear me, murmured Motherly Jane. I hope she hasn't gone any closer. Suppose the scallops on that roof should begin to melt off. Oh, look! cried Marjorie. There, in the doorway!

Starting point is 01:24:09 All three looked, just in time to see a short, not very slender girl. in an unmistakable red cap, dart in at the smoky doorway. Oh, grown Jean, it's Mabel. Oh, moaned Marjorie, why did I ever tell her that there was a fire? I'm afraid, hazarded Betty, that she's gone to Miss Bonner's room to get that money. Betty was right. That was exactly what Mabel had done. All along Mabel's way, hands had stretched out to stop the flying figure, but the hands were always just a little too late.

Starting point is 01:24:40 You see, the owners of the tardy hands did not really. quickly enough, that rash little Mabel actually meant to enter a building whose top floor was all in flames. She was fairly inside before the onlookers grasped the situation. How perfectly foolish! cried Marjorie, stamping her foot in helpless rage. Of course somebody will get her out. There's two men going in now, but how perfectly silly for her to go in at all! Mabel, however, was not feeling at all foolish. No, indeed. The little girl, to her own way of thinking, was doing a worthy, even a heroic deed. She was rescuing the people. She was rescuing the precious $2.47.47 that her class had so laborously raised by Miss Bonner a birthday gift.

Starting point is 01:25:19 She would have liked to accomplish it in a little less spectacular manner, but, no other way being available, she had made the best of the circumstances and was ignoring the crowd. She hoped indeed that no one had noticed her. With so much else to look after, it seemed as if one small girl might easily remain unobserved. To be sure she was risking her life, the life of the only little girl that her parents possessed, but that seemed a small affair beside $2.45,000. The roof might fall, the cornice might drop, the huge chimney might collapse, the suffocating smoke or scorching flames might suddenly pour into that still unburned lower room. Let them!

Starting point is 01:25:55 Heroes never stopped for such trifles with such a sum at stake. By this time, Jean, Marjorie and Betty were white and absolutely speechless with fear. Four firemen were sitting on Dr. Bennett to keep him from rushing in after the little girl he had promptly recognized as his own, and five women were supporting and encouraging Mrs. Bennett, who had grown too weak to stand, although she still had her wits about her. "'Fifty dollars' reward,' Mr. Black was shouting, "'to the man that gets that child. "'He would have gone after her himself,

Starting point is 01:26:25 "'but Mrs. Crane had him firmly by the coattails, "'and both Dr. and Mrs. Tucker were clinging to his arms. "'Be Aisy! Be Aisy!' "'Mrs. Maloney, the egg woman, was murmuring to the world, in general. "'Miss Mabel's the kind that's always escaping. "'Just be the skin of her teeth. "'Rest, Aisy! them fire laddies will be havin' her out, ab that door and n'other jiffy.

Starting point is 01:26:48 But although the crowd rested as easy as it could, the moments went by and no Mabel appeared. With every instant the fire grew worse. By this time the smoke and angry sheets of flame had burst through the roof and were streaming with mighty threatening roar, straight up into the blackened sky, a splendid sight that was visible for a long distance. There was no water to check the mighty fire. For a few moments after the hose had been attached, the hydrant had burst in the water that should have been punching the fire was quietly drenching the feet of many and unheeding

Starting point is 01:27:16 bystander. And presently the thing that everybody expected happened. With a lingering, horrible crash, a large part of the upper floor dropped to the main hallway below. Smoke poured from the lower windows and doorways. In another moment, leaping hungry flames were visible in every room except the basement. The entire superstructure seemed now just like a gigantic topless furnace, and of course it was no longer possible for even the firemen to venture inside. But where was Mabel? End of Chapter 12. Chapter 13 of the Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin.

Starting point is 01:27:59 This leverbox recording is in the public domain. A heroine's come down. Mabel, with the janitor and four pursuing firemen at her reckless heels, had made a bold dash to the long corridor that led to Miss Bonner's room. Owing to a strong upward draft, there was surprisingly little smoke in the corridor, and none at all in Miss Bonner's distant corner. Still hotly pursued, Mabel, who had the advantage of knowing exactly whether she was bound,

Starting point is 01:28:26 darted down the narrow aisle, reached into her desk, and, unselfishly passing by, sundry dearly loved treasures of her own, seized the fat brown purse, sets joy to find it when so many of the desks had been stripped of their contents. She was none too soon for the next moment the janitor's hands had closed upon her, and, plump as she was, the sturdy fellow easily carried her out of the room, although Mabel protested crossly that she would much rather walk.

Starting point is 01:28:50 In this uncomfortable fashion, they reached the corridor. Not that way, not that way, shouted the fireman, pointing toward a glowing, spreading patch on the ceiling of the main hall. It's breaking through, you can't reach the door. It's not safe at that end. Down to the basement, shouted the janitor, nodding toward a narrow doorway, through which the men promptly vanished. Then, seemingly a new thought assailed the janitor. Open door number 12, he shouted after the men, Then hurriedly pushing up a sliding door at the safest end of the hall, and murmuring, quicker this way, the janitor unceremoniously lifted Mabel and dropped her down the big dush suit.

Starting point is 01:29:29 What a place for a heroine! In spite of her surprise, Mabel felt deeply mortified. It was humiliating enough for a would-be rescuer to be rescued, but to be dropped down a horrid, stuffy, dusty chute, and to land with a queer, springy thud on a pile of sliding stuff, the contents of a dozen or more wastebaskets in the result of innumerable sweet. weepings was worse. In a very few seconds the hasty janitor had opened the lower door of the chute and, with the fireman standing by, was calmly hauling her out by her feet.

Starting point is 01:29:57 Oh, she can never tell them that part of it. And then, as if that were not bad enough, that inconsiderate janitor seized her by the elbow and hurried her right into the coal bin, forced her to march over 80 tons of dusty black sliding coal, and finally compelled her to crawl. Yes, crawl, out of a small basement window on the safest side of the building. safest side of the building. The only explanation that the rescue of out saved was a gruff statement that the fire was more to the other end and that shortcuts saved time. Mabel tried to tell him what she thought about it but the janitor seemed too excited to listen. Of course by this time the Bennets, the cottagers, the firemen, the janitor's wife and most of the bystanders were in a perfectly dreadful state of mind for the

Starting point is 01:30:41 coal hole window is not on their side of the building. Mabel was glad of that, so none of her friends witnessed her exit. The cottagers in particular were clutching each other and fairly quaking with fear, when a familiar voice behind them panted breathlessly. I saved it, girls. Jean, Marjorie and Betty wheeled as one girl. It was certainly Mabel's voice. The shape and the size were Mabel's, but the color.

Starting point is 01:31:05 Oh, cried Jean in a horrified tune. Are you burned? Are you all burned up to a crisp? But thoughtful, Betty, after one searching look to make certain that it really was Mabel, had not stopped to ask questions nor to hear them answered. She remembered that the Bennets were still anxious concerning their missing daughter and straightway flew to relieve their minds. She's safe, Mabel's safe, she shouted running to the Bennets, to Mr. Black, to the Tuckers, to all Mabel's friends,

Starting point is 01:31:30 and completely forgetting her own usual shyness. Yes, she's all safe. No, not burned, just scorched, I guess. Then everybody crowded around Mabel. Mrs. Bennett was about to kiss her, but desisted just in time. Mabel, she cried as Jean had done, Are you burned?" No, mumbled Mabel, indignantly.

Starting point is 01:31:49 I'm not even singed. I just came out through the coal hole, but you need to tell. That horror janitor dragged me out over a whole mountain of coal. Thank heaven, breathed Mrs. Bennett. Huh, snorted Mabel. That's a mighty queer thing to thank Kevin for, when it was only last night that I had a perfectly good bath. That's the meanest janitor. Where is he?

Starting point is 01:32:10 Demanded Dr. Bennett eagerly. I must thank him. yes said mrs bennett i must thank him too and i said dr tucker should like to shake hands with him and would you believe it not a soul had a word of praise for mabel's bravery not a person commended her for saving that precious purse instead the local paper devoted a whole column to lauding the prompt action of that sickening janitor dr bennet gave him a splendid gold watch the school board recommended him for a carnegie medal all because of the dust-shoe don't let me hear any more dr bennett said that night about that miserable two dollars and forty-seven cents i'd rather give you two hundred and forty-seven dollars than to have you take such risks yes sir rejoined mabel meekly but you didn't say anything like that the day before yesterday when i asked for three more cents to make it an even two fifty i must say i don't understand grown folks mabel you go go take that bath and when you're cleaning up to kiss come back and say good-night yes sir sighed mabel but i do do wish I could raise three more cents." Dr. Bennett fished two quarters and three pennies from his pocket and handed them to Mabel.

Starting point is 01:33:19 "'There,' said he, "'you haven't even three dollars, but I hope you won't consider it necessary to rescue them in case of any more fires.' Fortunately, there were no more fires, but the original one made up for this lack, by lasting for an astonishing length of time, for seven days a school building continued to burn in a safe but expensive manner, for the 80 tons of coal over which Mabel had walked so unwillingly had caught fire late in the afternoon and had burned steadily until entirely reduced to ashes it was a strange uncanny sight after dark to see the mighty ruins still lighted by a fitful glare within only the four walls the bare outer shell of the huge structure remained you see all the rest have been wood and steam pipes every splinter of wood was gone but the pipes and there seemed to be miles of them were twisted like mighty serpents they filled the cellar and seemed fairly to writhe in the scarlet glow it made one think of dragons the volcanoes and things like that and caused creepy feelings in one's spine.

Starting point is 01:34:15 Even the dust chute was gone. Mabel was glad of that. She hated to think of the janitor proudly pointing it out to visitors and saying, I once dropped a girl down there. End of a heroine's come down. Chapter 14 of the adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. This sleeve of box recording is in the public domain. A Birthday Party

Starting point is 01:34:43 But if Mabel derived little joy from her experience as a heroine, there was at least some satisfaction in knowing that there could be no school on Monday, for Mabel was decidedly partial toward holidays. If I ever teach school, she often said, there'll be two Saturdays every week and no afternoon sessions. Gene, however, really liked to go to school. So did Marjorie, but Betty was uncertain. If, said Betty, I could go long enough to know what grade I belonged in, it might be interesting, but when you only attend in patches, it's sort of mixing. There's a little piece. She seemed me in three different grades.

Starting point is 01:35:18 When Mrs. Crane realized there could be no school on Monday, she too was pleased. She stopped a moment after church on Sunday to Sunday to Sunday school. My, she said, how spruce you look. They did look spruce. Tall Jean was all in brown, even to her gloves and overshoes. Marjorie's trim little winter suit was of dark green broadcloths with gray furs. For neat Auntie Jane, whatever her other failings, always kept Marjorie very beautifully dressed. Betty's short, quilted skirt was red under a boyish black reaper that had once belonged

Starting point is 01:35:50 to Dick, and a black hat that Bob had discarded as too floppy had been wired and trimmed with scarlet cloth to match the skirt. This hand-me-down outfit was very becoming to dark-eyed Betty, but then Betty was pretty in anything. Plump Mabel was buttoned tightly into a navy-blue suit. Although she had owned it for barely six weeks, it was no longer big enough either lengthwise or sidewise. But, said Mabel cheerfully, by holding my breath most of the time, I can stand it for one hour on Sundays. How would you like, asked Mrs. Crane to spend tomorrow with me and Rosa Marie? We'd love to, said Jean.

Starting point is 01:36:27 We'd like it a lot, said Marjorie. Just awfully, breathed Betty. Oh, goody, gurgled Mabel. You see, said Mrs. Crane, I'm not altogether easy about Rosa Marie. I do every living thing I can think of, but some way I can't get inside that child. shell. I declare it seems sometimes as if she really pities me for being so stupid, and I think she's falling off in her looks. Oh, I hope not, cried Mabel fervently.

Starting point is 01:36:54 No, agreed Marjorie. It certainly wouldn't do for Rosa Marie to fall off very much. However, returned Mrs. Crane loyally, she might be very much worse, and at any rate she is warm and well-fed, even if she does seem a bit foreign. So that janitor put you down through the dust chute, did he, Mabel? You must have landed with quite a jolt. No, I returned Mabel rather sulkily, for everyone was mentioning the dust chute. I had all September's and October's sweepings to land on. It was all mushy and springy like mother's bed. How, pursued kindly Mrs. Crane, did he get you out?

Starting point is 01:37:29 I'd rather not say, mumbled Mabel, flushing a brilliant crimson. No one else had thought to ask this dreaded question, and the papers fortunately had overlooked this detail. Why? Giggled, teasing Marjorie. He must have dragged her out by the feet because she's so fat that she couldn't possibly have turned herself over in that narrow space.

Starting point is 01:37:47 It's just like a chimney, you know. I've often looked down that place and wondered if Santa Claus can manage to trip down. Oh, Mabel, it must have been funny. Tell us about it. Mabel grinned, but it was rather a sickly grin. First, she said, he clawed out a lot of paper and stuff. Ugh, it was horrid to feel everything sliding out

Starting point is 01:38:05 right from under me. I don't know how far I was going to drop. Then he grabbed my two ankles and just jerked me out on the bias through that little door at the bottom. I suppose it was a lot quicker, but he didn't need to make me climb all that coal. Yes, he did, returned Jean. The cornice on the other three sides was all loose and flopping up and down into flames. Pieces kept falling. The coal-bin side was the last to burn.

Starting point is 01:38:27 The wind went the other way, and Miss Bonner's room was the last to catch fire. That janitor, declared Mrs. Crane with conviction, knew exactly what he was about. Now, girls, you will be sure to come tomorrow, won't you? I think it will do Rosa Marie good, and there's a reason why I'd like a little company myself, but I shan't tell you just now what it is. Oh, do, begged all for. No, returned Mrs. Crane. It's a secret, and not a living soul knows it but me.

Starting point is 01:38:52 I'll tell you tomorrow. We'll surely come, promised the girls. Of course they kept their promise. The four cottagers arrived very soon after breakfast. We're let in most sedate leave by Mr. Black's man, who smiled when the unceremonious visitors, rush pell-mell past him to fall upon Mrs. Crane, who was watering plants in the breakfast room. Tell us the secret, shouted Mabel. Oh, I mean, good morning.

Starting point is 01:39:16 Good morning, smiled Mrs. Crane, setting the watering pot in a safe place. The secret isn't a very big one. It's only that today is my birthday, and I thought I'd like to have a party. You're it. The cook is making me a birthday cake, but she doesn't know that it is a birthday cake. Goody, cried Mabel. Doesn't Mr. Black know it's your birthday, query Jean? I don't think so. You see, it's a long time since Peter and I spent birthdays under the same roof, and men don't remember such things very well. We'll surprise him with the cake tonight.

Starting point is 01:39:44 Now let's go to the nursery. Rosa Marie's doll countenance lighted up at the sight of her four friends. She gave four solemn little bobs with her head. Mercy, cried Marjorie. She's learning manners. And see, said Betty, she's stringing beads. That's a surprise, said Mrs. Crane proudly. I taught her that.

Starting point is 01:40:04 "'Forteen,' said Rosa Marie, unexpectedly. "'Goodness me!' cried Mabel. Can she count?' "'Yes,' said Mrs. Craying guardedly. "'But not to depend on. In fact, fourteen is the only counting words she can say.' Peter taught her that. "'Forteen,' repeated Rosa Marie, holding up her string of beads. "'You ridiculous baby laughed, Mabel, hugging her. "'Who are the pretty beads for?'

Starting point is 01:40:30 Rosa Marie hurriedly clapped the string around her own brown throat. No, no, Remonstrated Mrs. Crane. You're making them for Mabel. But Rosa Marie set her small white teeth firmly together and continued to hold the beads against her own plump neck. She knows whose beads they are, laughed Jean. I can't teach her a single Christian virtue, sighed Mrs. Crane. There isn't one unselfish hair in that child's head. She's too young, encouraged Betty. All babies are little savages. Not Anne Halliday, said Jean. who fairly worshipped her small cousin.

Starting point is 01:41:03 That's difference in Marjorie, and was born with manners. The little talkers weren't soothed, Betty. Rosa Marie will be generous enough in time. I wish I could believe it, sighed Mrs. Crane. Hi, hi, what's all this racket? cried Mr. Black from the doorway. Is Rosa Marie doing all that talking?

Starting point is 01:41:20 Get your things on quick, all of you, and come for a ride with me. A ride, exclaimed Mrs. Crane. What in? An automobile, returned Mr. Black, turning to wink comically at Betty. An automobile, echoed Mrs. Crane. I'd like to know whose.

Starting point is 01:41:36 There's only one in town, and I don't even know the owners. Yours, twinkled Mr. Black. It's your birthday present. How did you know that this was the day? Perhaps I remembered, said Mr. Black, smiling rather tenderly at his old sister. You used to have them on this day. I do still, boomed Mrs. Crane.

Starting point is 01:41:56 That's why I invited the girls. They're my birthday party. But what's this about automobiles? Only one. It's yours. Peter Flack, I don't believe you. Look out the hall window. Everybody rushed to the big window in the front hall.

Starting point is 01:42:12 Sure enough, a splendid motor car stood at the gate. Peter, faltered Mrs. Crane. Have I got to ride in that? I've never set foot in one, and I'm sure I'd be scared to it this late day. What? Not riding your own automobile? Bless you, Sarah. In another week, you refuse to stay out of it. Get your things on everybody and warm ones too.

Starting point is 01:42:31 Find extra wraps for these girls, Sarah. There's room for everybody but Rosa Marie. Now, isn't that just like a man, so Mrs. Crane looking about helplessly? Whose clothes does he think you're going to wear for extra wraps? His or mine? Everybody laughed, for obviously Mr. Black's house was a poor one in which to find little girl's garments.

Starting point is 01:42:51 We'll stop at your house, said he, and pick up some duds. Besides, perhaps your mothers might like to know that you've been kidnapped. What? No hat on yet? Here pin this on, so Mr. Black canning Mrs. Crane, a pink dust cap. I can't wait all day. Mercy, that's not a bonnet, cried Mrs. Crane, scurring away, I'll be ready in two minutes. End of a birthday party. Chapter 15 of the adopting of Rosa Marie. This is a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 01:43:25 For more information not volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. recording by Maria D. Fatima the Silver The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. An unexpected treat. Peter demanded Mrs. Crane, stopping short on the horse block. Who's going to run that thing? I am. Not with me in it. You don't know how.

Starting point is 01:43:54 My dear, I've been learning the business for five weeks. So that's what has taken you to be. Byncroft every afternoon for all that time. That's exactly what, admitted Mr. Black. And you're sure, queried Mrs. Crayne doubtfully, that you understand all those fixings? Every one of them. Will you promise to go slow? There's a fine for exceeding the speed limit, twinkled Mr. Black.

Starting point is 01:44:22 Well, I'm glad of that, said Mrs. Crane, permitting her patient brother to help her into the vehicle. My, but these cushions are soft. Yes, said Betty, it's just like sitting on baking powder biscuits before they're baked. How do you know? asked Mr. Black. Because I've tried it. You see, Minister's wives are dreadfully interrupted persons, and one night when Mother was making biscuits, some visitors came. Instead of popping one of the pans into the oven, mother dropped it on a dining room chair on her way to the door and forgot to the door

Starting point is 01:44:57 and forgot all about it. When I came in to supper, that chair was at my place, and I flopped right down on those biscuits. And I had to stay sitting on them because father had asked one of the visitors, such a particular-looking person, to stay to tea. And I knew that mother wouldn't want a perfectly strange man

Starting point is 01:45:18 to know about it. That was certainly thoughtful, smiled Missa Black. Now, is everyone comfortable? If she is, we'll be. go for those extra wraps. The new machine rolled down the street and turned the corner in the neatest way imaginable. Mrs. Crane looked decidedly uneasy at first, but when Mr. Black had successfully steered the birthday present past the ice wagon, a cold team, a prancing pony and two street cars, she folded the hands that had been nervously clutching the side of the car and leaned back

Starting point is 01:45:53 with a relieved sigh. But when Mabel asked the question, Mrs. his crane silenced her quickly. Don't talk to him, she implored. There's no telling what might happen to us if he were to take any part of his mind off that helm for even a single second. Don't even look at him. What did happen was this. After the extra wraps had been collected and donned,

Starting point is 01:46:18 Mr. Black carried his charges all the way to Byncroft, a distance of 17 miles in perfect safety. The road was good. was mild and the only team they passed obligingly turned in at its own gate before they reached it. They stopped in front of the biggest and best hotel in Byncroft. Everybody out for dinner, ordered Mr. Black. But Peter expostulated Mrs. Crane, hanging back, bashfully. I mean, my everyday clothes.

Starting point is 01:46:50 Well, this isn't Sunday, and you always look well dressed. You're a very neat woman, Sarah. Well, I am neat, but black alpaca isn't silk, even if my sleeves are this year's. And for goodness sake, Peter, don't ask me to pronounce any of that bill of fare if it isn't plain everyday English, for you know there isn't a French fibre in my tongue. You order for me. There's only one thing I can't eat, and that sparse snips. It was a very nice dinner and plain English enough to suit even matter-of-fact Mrs. Crane.

Starting point is 01:47:26 After the first few bashful moments, the four girls chattered so merrily that all the guests at other tables caught themselves listening and smiling sympathetically. I never at a really truly hotel dinner before, confided Betty happily. And to think, sighed Jean contentedly, of doing it without knowing you were going to. That always makes things nicer. And I never expected to ride in a navy blue automobile, murmured Marjorie. Or to have four kinds of potatoes, breathed Mabel, who sat half surrounded by empty dishes.

Starting point is 01:48:04 Little birds' bathtubs, she called them. You must be a vegetarian, smiled, Mr. Black. No, denied Mabel, only a potatoian. Mabel, objected Marjorie. There isn't any such word. Yes, there is, returned Mabel calmly. I just made it. Well, I'm sure, sighed Mrs. Crane,

Starting point is 01:48:24 I never expected to have any such birthday as this. You see, said Mr. Black, giving his sister's plump elbow a kindly squeeze, this is a good many birthdays rolled into one. It seems hard mourned, Mabel, who was earnestly scanning the bill of fare. To read about so many kinds of dessert, when you've room enough left for only three, I wish I'd begun saving space sooner. You're in luck, laughed Betty. A very small, thin one is all I can manage.

Starting point is 01:48:54 spinach, pineapple ice, I guess. Anyway, said Marjorie, I shan't choose bread pudding. We have that every Tuesday and Friday at home. Auntie Jane has regular times for everything, so I always know just what's coming. I'm going to have something different, hot miss pie, I guess. Ice cream, said Jean, with hot chocolate sauce. Bring me, said Mabel, turning to the waiter.

Starting point is 01:49:22 Hot miss pie, ice cream with hot chocolate sauce. sauce and a pineapple ice with little cakes. Bring little cakes for everybody, added Mr. Black. I declare said Mrs. Crane, I don't know when I've been so hungry. Now, remarked Mr. Black, half an hour later. I think we'd better be jogging along toward home, because it won't be as warm when the sun goes down, and I want to show you some of the sites in Bancroft. There's a pretty good candy shop a few blocks for.

Starting point is 01:49:54 here before we start toward Lakeville. We can run down in about an hour. Peter demanded Mrs. Crane, what is that speed limit? About eight miles an hour. And it's 17 miles? Now Sarah, don't go to doing arithmetic. You know you were never very good at it. If I were to keep strictly within that limit, you don't want to get out and push. Got all your wraps? Whose muff is this? Here's a glove whose neck belongs to this pussy cat thing here's a handkerchief and two more gloves well well it's a good thing you had somebody along to gather up your duds what my hat why that's so i did have a cap here it is in my coat pocket there was still time after the pleasant ride home for a good frolic with rosemary and a cozy meal with mrs crane strangely enough everybody was again hung enough to enjoy the big birthday cake and the good apple sauce that went with it.

Starting point is 01:51:01 Then Mr. Black carried them all home in the motor car and delivered each damsel at her own door. But only one stayed delivered, for the other three immediately ran around the block to meet at Jean's always popular home. You see, they had to talk it all over without the restraint of their host's presence. I think, said Mabel ecstatically, that Mr. Black, is just too dey forwards. Some folks are too stingy to live with their automobiles and horses. And never think of giving anybody a ride. He's certainly very generous, agreed Jean. Of course, ventured Marjorie meditatively. He has plenty of money or he couldn't do nice things. He would anyway, declared Betty. It's the way he's made. Don't you remember how Mrs. Crane was

Starting point is 01:51:52 always being good to people even when she was so dreadfully poor? Well, Mr. Black would be just like that, too. Even if he hadn't a single dollar, he has a Santa Claus heart. There are folks, admitted Marjorie, that wouldn't know how to give anybody a good time if they had all the money in the world. There's Auntie Jane, for instance. She's a very good woman with a terribly pricking conscience, and I know she'd like to make things pleasant for me if she knew how, but she doesn't poor thing. She doesn't know a good time when she sees one. And Mrs. Howard Slater doesn't either.

Starting point is 01:52:31 Good evening girl, said Mrs. Mapes, coming in with the newspaper in her hand. I thought I heard voices in here. Have you had a nice day? You're just in time to read a paper. There's something in it that will interest you. End of chapter 15. Chapter 16 of the adopting of Rosa Marie. This is a Librivox recording.

Starting point is 01:52:59 All LibriVox. recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Maria Fatima the Silva. The Adopting of Rosemary by Carol Watson Rankin. A Scattered School It seemed too bad for such a delightful day to end sorrowfully, but the evening paper certainly brought disquieting news. It stated that the school board hoped to provide within a very few days, suitable school rooms for all the pupils. And in another item, the unfeeling editor complimented the board on its enterprise.

Starting point is 01:53:41 I'd like that board a whole lot better, said Marjorie, if it weren't so enterprising. I suppose we were going to have at least a month to play in. Just before Christmas too, grumbled Mabel, they might at least have waited until I'd finished father's shoe bag. And what do you think? Mother says I'd better give that janitor Christmas present. Perhaps the paper is mistaken, soothed Jean. You know it always is about the weather, reports.

Starting point is 01:54:11 If it says fair, it's short rain, and when it says colder, it's quite certain to be warm. Besides, there isn't a place in town big enough for all that school. But this time it was Jean and not the paper that was mistaken. In just a few days, the school board announced that its hopes were real. It had found suitable quarters for all the classes. Two grays went into the basement of the Baptist Church. The underground portion of the Methodist edifice accommodated two more. The A-O-U-W hall opened its doors to three others.

Starting point is 01:54:51 A benevolent private citizen took in the kindergarten. A downtown store hastily transformed itself from an unsuccessful harness shop into nearly as an unsuccessful a haven for two other grades. The City Hall gave up its council chamber to the seniors, and the Masons loaned their dining room to the juniors, without, however, providing any refreshment. The enterprising board had telegraphed for desks the very day of the fire, and as soon as that dreadfully prompt furniture arrived, it was remorselessly screwed into place. The stationer too had speedily ordered books.

Starting point is 01:55:34 They too travelled with unseemly haste from New York to Lakeville. By Thursday, less than a week after the fire, there were desks and seats and books for everybody. And would you believe it, they even kept school on Saturday that week. And now a utterly unforeseen thing happened. Here the two Jean, who was usually the first to be ready, had stopped for Marjorie and Betty. All three had stopped.

Starting point is 01:56:00 finished dressing Mabel, who always needed a great deal of assistance, and then all four had walked merrily to school together. But now this happy scheme was entirely ruined, for here was Jean doing algebra under the Baptist roof, Betty struggling with grammar in the Methodist basement, Marjorie climbing two long flights of stairs to the A-O-U-W hall, a Mabel passing six saloons to reach her desk in the made-over-harnessed shop. It isn't just what we'd choose, apologize the school board, but it won't last forever.

Starting point is 01:56:37 We'll build just as soon as we can. Except for the inconvenience of having to go to school separately, the children were rather pleased with the novelty of moving into such unusual quarters as the board had provided, but the mothers were not at all satisfied. That Baptist cellar is dampened, jeans throat, is delicate, complained Mrs. Mabes. I know she'll be sick half the winter, but of course she'll have to go to school there as long as there's no better place. That methodist church is

Starting point is 01:57:09 no place for children, declared Mrs. Tucker. Its brick walls were condemned seven years ago, and it's likely to fall down at any moment, even if they did brace it up with iron bands. But Betty's too far behind now for me to take her out of school, so I suppose she'll just have to risk having that church tumble in on her. It's a shame, sputtered Auntie Jane, for Marjorie to climb all those stairs twice a day. It's all very well for the ancient order of United Workmen to climb two flights with grown-up legs, but it isn't right for delicate girls. However, there's no help for it just now, and I can't say I blame the child for sliding down those banisters, though of course I do scold her for it. There are saloons of the saloons of

Starting point is 01:57:57 both sides of that harness shop said mrs bennet and six more this side of it besides a livery stable that is always full of loafers and bad language mabel has never been allowed to go to that part of town alone and now i have to send a maid with her twice a day but of course she has to go even if the maid is more timid than mabel is by next year consoled the board we'll have a bigger and better schoolhouse than the old one in the meantime we must all have all have patience. Except the Mabel, without the others to get her started, was always late, and that Betty, without Marjorie to coach her on the way, found it difficult to learn her lessons. School life went on very much as usual, Fermat soon settled down, as things always do,

Starting point is 01:58:45 and Lakeville turned its attention to fresher problems. Poor Betty, indeed, was busier than ever, because Miss Rossiter, the domestic science teacher, whose classes were temporarily housed in the Methodist's kitchen, discovered the Betty could draw. Every day or two, she asked Betty to remain after school to copy needed illustrations on the blackboard. One day, Miss Rossiter demanded a cow.

Starting point is 01:59:12 She needed it, she explained, to show her class the different cuts of meat. A side view of a plain cow, said she. I think, said Betty, reflectively nibbling the fresh stick of chalk. that I could do the outside of the cow, but I know I couldn't get his veal cutlets in the proper spot. I'll give you a diagram, smiled Miss Rossiter, for I see very plainly that it wouldn't be safe not to. Perhaps Miss Becky thinks, ventured a belated pupil, a pink-cheeked girl with an impertinent nose, that one cow is a whole butcher shop. Well, returned Miss Rossiter, meaningly, it isn't a great while since some other folks.

Starting point is 01:59:55 were of the same opinion, but since you are now so very much wiser, you may label the parts after Betty has drawn them. The girl made such a comical face that Betty's gravity was in sad danger, but she accepted the chalk. On the cow's shoulder she printed, pork sausages, on the flank, mutton chops, on the backbone, oysters on the half shell, on the breast, buttons. Betty looked puzzled and doubtful, but Miss Rossiter laughed out. right. Henrietta Bedford, she said. You're a complete humbug. If you don't settle down to business, you won't get home tonight. I'm going to walk home with Betty, returned Henrietta, quickly substituting the proper labels. I can easily write out that luncheon menu while she's

Starting point is 02:00:45 putting feathers on the cow's tail. And the new girl did walk home with Betty and teased her so merrily all the long way that Betty didn't know whether to like her or not. Near the cottage they met Jean, Marjorie and Mabel, just starting out to look fibrillated Betty. This, said Betty, introducing her new acquaintance, is Henrietta, Henrietta Plantagenet,

Starting point is 02:01:13 assisted Henrietta Bedford smoothly, I am really a Duchess in disguise, but I've left all my retainers in Ohio. And I'm simply dying for friends. This is my day for collecting them. I always collect friends on Tuesdays. You are indeed fortunate to have happened upon me on Tuesday. But Elizabeth, why not finish your introductions? This obeyed, overwhelmed Betty, is Jean.

Starting point is 02:01:38 This is Marjorie and this is Mabel Bennett. What, the damsel of the dust chute? I am indeed honored. Then, as her quick eye travelled over Mabel's plump figure, Henrietta added wickedly. Was that shoot built to fit? Mabel flushed angrily.

Starting point is 02:01:59 It is I apologised, Henrietta, that should wear those blushes. Forgive me, dear damsel. I have an overquick tongue and all my speeches are followed by repentance. But I have a warm heart and I'm really much nicer than I sound. See, I kneel at your insulted feet.

Starting point is 02:02:19 Whereupon this ridiculous girl with the impertinent nose flopped down on her knees on the sidewalk and made such comically repentant faces that all four giggled merrily. Get up, you goose, laughed Mabel. Your apology is accepted. Come along with us, urged Jean. We're going to have hot chocolate at our house.

Starting point is 02:02:42 Mother is trying to fatten Marjorie. Betty and me. She seems to succeed best with no personal remarks, please. Dear maiden, I will inspect your home from the outside, but I regret that I'm strictly forbidden to go inside any strange house without my grandmother's permission.

Starting point is 02:03:02 You'll have to call on me first. She is very particular in such matters, but, added Henrietta with a sudden twinkle, I'm not. So, if you kindly rush in and make that chocolate there's no earthly reason why I shouldn't stand just outside your gate and drink it. Oh, cried Betty, is it possible that you're Mrs. Howard Slater's new granddaughter? I am, admitted Henrietta, but I'm not so new as you seem to think. She has owned me for 14 years.

Starting point is 02:03:36 Now, hustle up that chocolate. I've just remembered that I am to have a dress tried on at four. It is now half-past. End of Chapter 16, Chapter 17 of the Adopting of Rosa Marie. This is a Librivox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Maria D. Fatima the Silva. The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. An invitation.

Starting point is 02:04:16 Betty asked Jean, when the girls were, rustling up the chocolate in Mrs. Maip's kitchen. The weather was now too cold for Dundee-Lyion cottage to be habitable. Where did you find her? At school, replied Betty. She comes in for domestic science. I've seen her about three times, and every time she's had that stiff Miss Rossiter, laughing. You know who that girl is, don't you? I've heard something, said Marjorie, but I can't just remember what? About some woman. girl named Henrietta. Well, you've seen Mrs. Howard Slater? All the girls have seen Mrs. Slater, the beautifully-gowned, decidedly aristocratic old lady, with abundant but perfectly white hair

Starting point is 02:05:04 and bright, sparkling black eyes. Mrs. Slater, who seemed a very reserved and exclusive person, had spent many summers and even an occasional winter in her own handsome home in Lakeville. She lived alone except for a number of servants, for both her son and her daughter were married. The son lived abroad, no one knew just where, and soon four years previously Mrs. Slater's daughter, who was Henrietta's mother, had died in Rome. Since that event, Henrietta had been cared for by her uncle's wife, and she had spent a winter in California and another in Florida with her grandmother, but this was her first visit to Lakeville. said that Henrietta's mother had left her little daughter a very respectable fortune,

Starting point is 02:05:54 but her father, an English travel of note, was also wealthy, and it was known to a certainty that Mrs. Howard Slater was a moneyed person. Yes, said Marjorie, replying to Betty's question, we sit behind Mrs. Slater in church, and she's the very daintiest old lady that ever lived. She's as slim and straight as any young girl. She's perfectly lovely to look at, but... Yes, but, agreed Jean. She seems very proud and not very...

Starting point is 02:06:25 Get nearable. I don't know whether I'd like to live with her or not, but I know I'd feel terribly set up to own a few relatives that looked like that. How do you like Henrietta asked, Mabel? I don't know, said Betty. Neither do I, replied Jean. It takes time, declared Marjorie,

Starting point is 02:06:47 to discover whether you like a person or not. And when it's such a different person, truly, she isn't a bit like any other girl in this town. It takes longer. The chocolate shreddy announced Jean, opening a box of wafers. Here, Betty, you carry Henrietta's cup and I'll take these. Let's all have our chocolate on the sidewalk. Henrietta, her hands in the pockets,

Starting point is 02:07:11 was leaning against the fence and humming a tune. Her voice in speaking was very nicely, modulated, which was fortunate because she used it a great deal. She straightened up when the door opened. I'm a nice, equal, says she. I hope that chocolate's good and hot. My, what a nice big cup. And wafers. I'm glad I stayed for your party. I've had chocolate in France, in Germany, in Italy, in Switzerland, and in England, but I do believe this is the very first time I've had any in America. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. said, Jean, that you have to have your first on the sidewalk. I shan't next time, promised to Henrietta. I have a beautiful plan. I made it while waiting for the chocolate.

Starting point is 02:07:58 You're all to come after school tomorrow and pay me a formal call. Then I'll return it. After that, I suspect I shall be allowed to run in. But first you'll have to call formally. A formal call? Gasped Betty. We've never made a formal call in all our lives, objected Jean. They're dreadful, agreed Henrietta, but in this case, you really have to do it. I've planned it all nicely. In the first place, you must hand your cards to the butler. Cards, gasped Jean and Betty. Cards, snorted Mabel, flushing indignantly.

Starting point is 02:08:35 We haven't a card to our names. You must have them, declared Henrietta firmly, or Simmons may consider you suspicious characters. Simmons is a very lofty person. can write some, you know, because Simmons holds his chin so high that it interferes with a view, so he'll never know what's on them. Then you must be very polite to grandmother and say, yes, ma'am, no, ma'am, thank you, ma'am, and not very much else. You've seen grandmother, of course. Then you know how very formal and stiff she looks. Well, you must be like that, too. I'll try, said Mabel, but it'll be pretty hard work.

Starting point is 02:09:17 "'Be sure to wear gloves,' cautioned Henrietta. "'Grandma is exceedingly particular about shoes and gloves. "'I know it's a lot of trouble, but you'll find it pays, "'for after you've beaten down the icy barrier that surrounds me, "'you'll find me quite a comfortable person. "'And do come, just as early as you can. "'I'm really desperately lonely. "'This was a different, Henrietta, from the merry one the betty had encountered.

Starting point is 02:09:45 That other Henrietta had made her laugh. This one with the wistful, sorrowful countenance and the forwards, I'm really desperately lonely, was almost moving her to tears. You'll surely come, pleaded Henrietta. We'll come, promise Betty, cards and all. Au revoir, said Henrietta, carefully balancing her cup on the top rail of the fence. I must run along now to try on my clothes. Was that French, queried Mabel gazing after the departing figure?

Starting point is 02:10:19 I think so, replied Jean. She can certainly talk English fast enough, said Marjorie. I suppose just one language isn't enough for anybody that chatters like that. Do you think, asked Betty, she meant all that about cards and gloves and butlers? She's so full of fun most of the time that I don't exactly know whether to believe her or not. I think she did, said Marjorie. You see, I sit behind Mrs. Slater in church, and I'm thankful that it's behind. Perhaps that's the reason, vented Betty, that nobody will rent the three pews in front of her.

Starting point is 02:10:56 Father says, it's hard to even give them away. No one likes to sit in them. That's it, agreed Marjorie. One would have to be sure that her back, hair was absolutely perfect to be at all comfortable in front of Mrs. Slater. And that, groaned, discouraged Mabel. is the sort of person I'm to make my first formal call on. You'd better take your bath tonight, advised Jean, and lay out all your very best clothes. And don't forget to polish your shoes. Father has some blind cards, said Betty,

Starting point is 02:11:30 and he writes beautifully. I'll get him to do cards for all of us. I think, said Marjorie, with a puzzle there, that we ought to take five or six apiece. I know Auntie Jane leaves a whole lot at one hand. house sometimes. No, correct, Jean, we need just two. One for Mrs. Slater and one for Henrietta.

Starting point is 02:11:52 My aunt, Mrs. Halliday, always gets two whenever her sister-in-law is visiting there. There are holes in my best gloves, mourned Betty. They came in a missionary box, a missionary gloves are never very good even to start with. Besides, Dick wore them first. I never had a new pair of kid gloves. never mind said always generous mabel i must have about six pairs and i've never had any of the things on i know i've outgrown some of them your hands are a lot smaller than mine come over and i'll fix you out mother said we'd have to give them to somebody and i guess you're just exactly the right somebody i hate the thing myself "'Goodie,' rejoiced Betty. "'I wish,' said Jean,

Starting point is 02:12:40 "'that my shoes were newer, "'but I'll get the boys to black them.' "'I can't help you out,' laughed Mabel. "'My shoes are short and fat, "'and yours are long and slim. "'A coat of Wallace's blacking "'will be all that's needed, thank you, Mabel. "'There's nothing like having brothers

Starting point is 02:12:59 "'when it comes to blacking shoes. "'We'll have to get up a little "'earer tomorrow morning,' said Marjorie. mercy exclaimed jean are you leaving all those chocolate cups on the fence for me to carry in of course north said obliging betty season two come on you lazy people end of chapter seventeen chapter eighteen of the adopting of rosa marie this is a librivox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox recording by emily isabella the adopting of rosa marie by carol watson rancin chapter eighteen obeying instructions the four girls were wonderfully excited all the next day they were restless in school and fidgety at home a body would think scoffed auntie jane at noon that you were going to your own wedding don't worry so i'll have everything ready for you to put on the moment you get out of school. Oh, thank you, breathed Marjorie fervently.

Starting point is 02:14:16 That'll help a lot. But I do hope that Betty's father will remember to do those cards, and Auntie Jane, could you lend me a perfectly inkless handkerchief? Jumping January, growled Wallace Mapes, Jean's older brother. That makes 19 times, Jean, that you've reminded me of those miserable shoes. I'll black them when I've finished lunch. I'm not going to rush off in the middle of my oyster soup to black anybody's best shoes. Is it a reception? asked Roger.

Starting point is 02:14:49 No, replied Wallace, just a formal call on Henrietta Bedford. She's in my French class, said Roger, and Kippard snakes, you ought to hear her a sight. She took up and down and all around poor little Miss McGuinness, whose French was made right here in Lakeville. It's a daily picnic. you won't forget my shoes will you reminded anxious jean i'd like to know how i could demanded wallace feelingly although mabel had taken the most complete bath the night before she spent the noon hour taking another she put on her best stockings and shoes but looked doubtfully at her sunday suit if i have to do my language in ink reflected she it'll be all up with my clothes i'll just have to change after school the girls were out by her half-past three. Fortunately, Miss Rosita needed no more cows that afternoon. So Betty was home in good season. All four dressed speedily. Three of them got into their gloves unassisted,

Starting point is 02:15:52 but Jean, Marjorie and Betty found plump, impatient Mabel, seated on the piano stool with her mother working over one hand, her perspiring father over the other. Several other gloves that had proved too small were scattered on the floor. You needn't think, said Mabel, greeting her friends with an expressive grimace, that I ever picked out these lemon-coloured frights? Somebody sent him for Christmas. None of the pretty ones were big enough. I've tried four pairs. Neither of these, returned Mrs. Bennett, and the colour certainly is outrageous, but it's Hobson's choice. And just remember, Mabel, if you touch a single door-knob, they'll be black before you get there. And don't put your hands in your pockets, and please don't rub them along the

Starting point is 02:16:41 fences. There, mine's on as far as it will go. I guess you'd better finish this one, said Dr. Bennett, abandoning his task. I'd rather tackle up cases smallpox than wrestle with another job like that, should look much better in mittens. Mittens, snubbed Mabel. You can't make formal calls in mittens. Now, somebody, please put me into my jacket and hat if I'm not to touch anything. The decidedly depressed four in their Sunday best started down the street. Mabel's gloves, owing to their brilliant colour, was certainly conspicuous, and unconsciously she made them more so by the careful and rigid manner in which she carried them. It was plain that she had them very much on her mind. And when her hat tilted for it over one eye, she left it there.

Starting point is 02:17:31 rather than risk damaging those immaculate lemon-hued gloves. Take by muff, implored Marjorie, that yellow splendour lights up the whole street. No, surre, declined Mabel. If Mrs. Slater wants gloves, she's going to have him. Do you think I'm going to suffer like this and not have him show? So Mabel, a swollen, imprisoned but gorgeous hand dangling at each side, a big navy blue hat flopping over one eye, strutted muffless down the street. That's the house, announced Jean as they turned the corner, that big one with the covered driveway. Ah, shuddered Marjorie, it gives me chills to think of ringing such a wealthy doorbell.

Starting point is 02:18:16 Are the cards safe, Betty? My, I hope you haven't lost them. In my pocket in an envelope assured Betty. Can you see any white, queried Jean nervously, I think my top petticoat has been. broken loose. It seems all right, said Marjorie, stooping to test it with little sharp jerks, firm as the rock of Gibraltar." It won't be if you pull it like that, objected Jean. Somebody open the gate, requested Mabel.

Starting point is 02:18:42 I can't touch things. Everybody stand up straight, commanded Marjorie. We must look our best when we go up the walk. I wish I hadn't come, demurred Betty hanging back diffidently. Let's wait till it's darker. no asserted jean we'd better get it over yes agreed mabel i don't want to wear these gloves a minute longer than i have to all right sighed betty despondently but you go first jean They had waited on the imposing doorstep for five long minutes when it occurred to Marjorie to ask if anyone had pushed the bell. No, replied Jean with a surprise, dear. I thought you had.

Starting point is 02:19:25 And I, said Betty, suppose that Mabel had. How could I? demanded Mabel hotly in these gloves. And then all four began to giggle. Never before had such an inopportune fit of helpless, hysterical giggling scenes. the cottages. No one could stop. Tears rolled down Mabel's plump cheeks and fettered by her lemon-colored gloves she had to let them roll until Betty wiped them away. And that set them all off again. In the midst of it, Marjorie's sharp elbow inadvertently struck the pushbell and Simmons, the imposing, much-dreaded butler opened the door. Instantly the giggling ceased.

Starting point is 02:20:08 Four exceedingly solemn little girls filed into the big hall. betty groped nervously for her pocket found it and endeavoured to extract the cards but the large stiff envelopes stuck and for a long embarrassing moment betty fumbled in vain while the butler his chin very high and scornful as marjorie said afterwards waited at last the cards were out diffident betty dropped them envelope and all on the extended plate but jean deftly seized the envelope and shook out the cards Next followed a most unhappy moment. Simmons was evidently expecting them to do something. They hadn't the remotest idea what. Then, to their great relief, there was a sudden swish of silken skirts, a flash of scarlet and lively Henrietta,

Starting point is 02:21:00 who had slid down the broad banister, was greeting them warmly. Grandmother's out, said she, come up to my room and have a real visit before she gets back. Simmons just toddle down to the lower regions for some fruit and anything else you can find. Send them up to my room. Something very like a smile flitted across Simmon's wooden countenance. Perhaps it amused him to be ordered to toddle. Do you like my new gown, queried Henry Ater, leading the way upstairs and flirting her accordion pleated skirts in a graceful fashion? It's my dinner dress. I have to dress for dinner every night, such a fuss for just two of us.

Starting point is 02:21:39 Come in here, this is my sitting-room. "'How very odd,' said Jean, finding her voice at last. "'Isn't it laughed Henrietta, shaking her brown curls?' She wore them tied back with two enormous black bows. Grandmother's a mixture of everything, you know, French, English, New York, Dutch, and her furniture shows it. Lots of it came from Europe, and fathers picked up things in India and China, such a jolly dad as he is.

Starting point is 02:22:06 That's why this place is such a jumble. I like it, declared Jean. it looks interesting as if there were lovely stories in it there are said henrietta drawing aside a heavy silken curtain and i keep making new ones to fit this is my bedroom this next one is my dressing-room and this is my baths oh shudded mabel do you take shower baths every morning laughed henrietta what a lovely dressing-table exclaimed betty peering into the oval mirror and smiling into her own dark eyes i never saw such pretty things even in a catalogue it's french said henrietta but all those little jewelled boxes came from calcutta father just loves to buy little boxes with inlaid tops oh here's greta with lovely things to eat henrietta hastily swept her belongings from the dainty little table and the smiling maid deposited the heavy tray tangerines nuts figs and sponge cake chatted henrietta that's very nice greta help yourselves to chairs girls here's a tabaret for you little marjorie catch jean and the merry little hostess tossed a golden tangerine to jean oh wait she added you mustn't take off your gloves or get them soiled because grandmother always gets in about this time and you know you must be very formal with grandmother i'll pail them for you now draw up closer you mustn't spot your gloves so i'll feed you first a bit of sponge cake all round now an almond now the orange oh i'm forgetting myself now more sponge cake

Starting point is 02:23:41 this is fine said betty i'm always hungry after school so am i said jean if i'd s'pose said mabel that formal calls were like this i'd have started sooner are you a different person every time anybody sees you asked Betty curiously. Why? queried Henrietta. Because explained Betty, you seem so very changeable. You're a mischief in school. Yesterday you seemed almost sad. And today, you're so polite. Oh, thank you, said Henrietta, rising to sweep a deep and very much exaggerated curtsy. Nobody ever before said that I was polite. Miss Henrietta, said Greta, tapping at the door, the carriage has just turned the corner. Follow me, said Henrietta with an instant change of tone as she hurriedly brushed the crumbs from her lap and pulled Mabel's jacket into place.

Starting point is 02:24:37 Follow me and don't make a sound. It's time to be formal. End of Chapter 18. Chapter 19 of the adopting of Rosa Marie. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. Recording by Emily Isabella

Starting point is 02:25:08 The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin Chapter 19 With Henrietta Through a long corridor around several corners and down two flights of back stairs, the formal callers their hearts in their throats followed Henrietta, who finally paused at the basement door. There, said Henrietta Mysterio, you're safe at last now listen you must slip out through the alley walk slowly round the block approach the house with dignity ring the doorbell and present your cards to

Starting point is 02:25:40 Simmons we we can't faltered Betty he has them now I'll poke them out through the letter slot laughed resortsful Henrietta you're not going to escape that formal call wait your hats over one air Mabel there now you're perfectly lovely now don't forget to pick up the cards entirely bewildered by head generator's pranks, the conventional visitors walked out through the alley, strolled round the block, and nervously ascended the front steps. There, sure enough, were eight white cards popping out through the letter slot. My goodness, gasped Jean, they're not our cards. This one says Mrs. Francis Patterson. And this, said Marjorie, picking up another, says John D. Thomas, sole agent for Todd's shoes.

Starting point is 02:26:26 According to mine, giggled Betty, I'm Miss Ethel Louise Cartwright. What's on your name? yours, Mabel. With love from father, groaned Mabel. What in the world shall we do, queried Jean, gathering up the remaining cards. Not one of them will fit us. Give them to Simmons in a bunch, suggested Marjorie. He didn't look at the last lot, so perhaps he won't now. So the girls, gathering what courage they could, touched the bell, presented their odd assortment of cards to Simmons, who almost succeeded and not looking astonished at seeing the callers again so soon, and were ushered into the reception room. Such a sedate Henrietta advanced to meet them. Such a dignified but charming old lady rose to shake hands all around. Such a sheepish quartet of visitors perched

Starting point is 02:27:11 on the extreme edge of the nearest four chairs. Mrs. Slater smiled encouragingly, but Henrietta from her post behind her grandmother's chair displayed every sign of abject terror. We came to call, faltered Jean. That was pleasant, responded Mrs. Slater. You were just a in time to have some tea. Midge, will you please ring for Greta? I'm very glad you came, for I wanted my granddaughter to meet some of the young people. Mrs. Slater, her slender beringed fingers moving daintily among the cups, made the tea. Henrietta, in absolute silence and much-subdued in manner, passed the cups, the delicate

Starting point is 02:27:48 sandwiches, and the little frosted tea-cakes. Midge demanded Mrs. Slater, turning suddenly to her granddaughter, What in the world is the matter with you? You haven't said a word for fifteen minutes. I never knew you to be still for so long a time. It's my conscience, groaned Henrietta dolefully. I'm in another scrape. What have you done now? asked Mrs. Slater,

Starting point is 02:28:12 who seemed very much less terrifying than the girls had expected to find her. Confession is good for the soul, my dear. Henrietta's infectious love gurgled out suddenly and merrily. I've frightened four girls into almost spasms, said she. You see, Granny, I told them they'd have to call formally if they wanted me to visit them. When they came, you were out, so I took them upstairs, gave them things to eat in a jolly good time, generally. Then, just for a joke, I had Greta tell me when you were coming, and I led them carefully down the back way, made them go round the block and do it all over again, cards and all. You see, Granny, they don't know you. They haven't seen anything but your husk.

Starting point is 02:28:50 And I had them scared blue, didn't I, girls? "'Midg you shouldn't have done it,' reploved Mrs. Slater, whose black eyes, however, were sparkling with only half-suppressed merriment. That wasn't quite a courteous way to treat your guests. "'Forgive me,' pleaded Henrietta flopping down on her knees and looking the very picture of penitence. "'Walk on me, Jean, wipe your shoes on me, Betty. I grovel at your feet, at everybody's feet.' "'Don't grovel too hard on that dress,' warned Mrs. Slater.

Starting point is 02:29:19 "'Am I forgiven, implored Henrietta, gathering up her ruffles with a labrifice, at care? The girls were not certain. Their pride had been injured, and they eyed Henrietta doubtfully. When you have known Mitch as long as I have, said Mrs. Slater, you'll discover that she is really too tender-hearted to her to fly. But you'll also discover that she never misses an opportunity to play pranks on every soul she loves. It's a symbol of her favour. She will never tell you an untruth. She is too honourable to practice downright deceit, but depend on it, girls she will fool you until you won't believe your own ears, and she's always sorry afterwards. She spends half her time apologising.

Starting point is 02:29:58 "'Ah, do forgive,' pleaded extravagant Henrietta, suddenly extending and ploughing hands. "'I mean it, truly, it wasn't nice of me.' Jean, stooping suddenly, kissed the upturned lips. "'Why?' exclaimed Jean, genuinely surprised. "'I didn't know I was going to do that.' "'She gets around everybody,' said Mrs. Slater, and the worst of it is she's so good and so naughty that you'll never know whether you like her or not why granny exclaimed henrietta don't you know i know that i like you said the old lady smiling fondly at pretty whimsical henrietta but you know very well that i also regard you with strong disapproval i consider you a very faulty young person you're a dear granny breathed henrietta kissing the old lady's delicate hand but i'm quite sure you're spoiling me isn't she betty were you like henrietta queried jean when you were young

Starting point is 02:30:51 my dear you have found me out laughed mrs slater i was just such a piece of impishness but my father was very severe and i think i began earlier to restrain my prankishness midge unfortunately has a lenient father and a doting grandmother between them she is having pretty much her own way "'I'll be good,' promised Henrietta comically, in spite of them. But you see girls, with such a pair of relatives dogging my footsteps, it's uphill work. After a little more conversation, the girls rose to depart. Mrs. Slater begged them to come again. She said that she enjoyed young people. Then the big front door was closed behind them, and the dreaded visit was over. "'So,' said Marjorie, that's what Mrs. Slater is like inside.

Starting point is 02:31:35 "'Mabel, unable to bear them longer, was recklessly peeling off her lemon-colored gloves. "'She's lovely inside and out,' declared Betty, "'but I never dreamed that she was like that.' "'She wouldn't have cared if I had gone without gloves, warned or grieved Mabel. "'I'd like to pay Henrietta back for that.' "'Girls?' asked Marjorie. "'Do you like Henrietta?' "'I adore her,' declared Jean.

Starting point is 02:31:59 "'I think I like her,' said Betty. "'I know I don't,' asserted Mabel, waving her throbbing hands in the evening breeze to cool them. I do and I don't, said Marjorie. I admire her, but she makes me uncomfortable. I feel as if she were just playing with me. She seems more than fourteen, murmured Jean dreamily. That's because she's travelled so much, explained Betty.

Starting point is 02:32:23 She's like the big Opel and Mother's ring, mused imaginative Jean, one moment or warm and sparkly, the next all cold and quiet. And you never know, supplemented Marjorie, which way, it's going to be. I like folks that are downright bad or good, said Mabel Crossley. Berglars ought to be burglars and ministers ought to be ministers and they all ought to be

Starting point is 02:32:45 marked so you can tell them apart. Else, how are you going to? End of chapter 19. Chapter 20 of the adopting of Rosa Marie. This is a Librevox Recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 02:33:05 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox recording by emily isabella the adopting of rosemary by carol watson rancom chapter twenty the call returned the following saturday the girls carried their christmas sewing to jeans the sewing had not reached a very exciting stage so tongues moved faster than fingers mabel was still working on a shoeback for her father but, owing to some misadventure, one of the two compartments was several sizes larger than the other. Mabel regarded this difference with disapproval until comforting Jean came to the rescue. Perhaps, suggested Jean, there's a difference in the size of your father's feet.

Starting point is 02:33:49 Oh, there is, cried Mabel gleefully. His right shoe is always tighter than the left. But, objected quick-witted Marjorie. It isn't his feet that are going into that bag, it's his shoes, and they're the same size. oh groaned mabel settling into a disconsolate heap that's so never mind said betty give me the bag and i'll fix those pockets betty was embroidering an elaborate pincushion for her mother but she stopped so often to help the others that there seems small hope of its ever getting finished marjorie who was making one just like it for her auntie jane was progressing much more rapidly jean rummaging in her work-bag was trying to decide which of four parts of her part completed articles to so on when a carriage stopped at Mrs. Mabes gate. "'It's a caller,' said Jean. "'We'll have to vacate.

Starting point is 02:34:41 "'Here, scurry into the dining-room with all your stuff. "'I'll answer the bell, and you, Betty, remind Mother to take off her apron. "'She's apt to forget it.' "'Jean, stopping long enough to twitch the chairs into place, went primly to the door. "'Good morning,' said a familiar voice. "'I've come to return your visit. "'It's all right, James. You needn't wait.' "'Come back, girls,' said Jean, when she had ushered the

Starting point is 02:35:03 the caller in. It's Henrietta. What luck, said Henrietta, pulling off her gloves. Now I can make a long, long call instead of four short ones. What are you doing, Christmas presents? Give me a spool of fine white threads and pens and a sofa pillow. I'm going to make one too. Take off your things, said Jean smilingly. Henrietta wiggled out of her jacket and tossed her hat on the couch.

Starting point is 02:35:27 What is it going to be? asked Betty, watching the merry visitor's deft fingers fly to and fro. "'Lace,' returned Henrietta. "'I learned to make it in France. "'Of course, these aren't the right materials for very fine lace, "'but I can make an edge of a pin-cushion or a mat. "'I like to do things with my fingers.' "'Can you draw?' asked Betty.

Starting point is 02:35:47 "'A little,' returned Henrietta modestly, "'but you mustn't tell Miss Rositor, "'or she'll have me doing cows and pigs and roosters.' "'What grade do you belong?' asked Jean. "'None,' laughed the visitor, "'arranging the pins in what looked like a very intricate pattern. "'I couldn't be graded. I'm having domestic science under the Methodist Church,

Starting point is 02:36:06 senior Latin in the council chamber, postgraduate French in the cloakroom of the A-O-U-W Hall, sophomore American history with the Baptists, and I'm doing mathematics in the kindergarten, or somewhere down there. I had to go back to the very beginning. If I ever tell you anything with numbers in it, don't believe it. I don't know six from 600,

Starting point is 02:36:25 but I'm doing lessons in five different buildings and getting lots of exercise besides. That's doing pretty well for my first year in school. "'Your first year?' cried Marjorie. "'Surely you're fooling.' "'Not this time,' assured Henrietta. "'I've had governesses and tutors ever since I could think, "'but this is truly my first school year, and it's great fun.

Starting point is 02:36:46 "'But if I stay in America, I'm going to go to boarding school,' grandmother says. "'I've always wanted to, and Granny thinks it will be good for me to be with other girls. "'You see, I've always lived with grown folks, so I need to renew my youth.' "'Mother's been reading the boarding school advertisements in the magazines lately,' said Mabel. i heard her read some of them aloud to father but of course they couldn't have been thinking about me but they sounded interesting the hapsoffered betty they had read all the stories and those boarding schools were all they had left to read i guess so said mabel aunt jane reads them too added marjorie there's some money that is to be used for my education and nothing else when i've finished with high school i'm going to college oh well laughed jean lightly you're safe for another five years i'm not returned henrietta i'm not returned henrietta i'm not I'm going next September, and if grandmother had known how the schools were going to be, you wouldn't be having the pleasure of my company now.

Starting point is 02:37:39 She says I'm getting thin in the pursuit of knowledge. It's too scattered in Lakeville. That's why she made me ride today. Look, cried Mabel, her eyes bulging with astonishment. She's really making lace. It's for you, said Henrietta, flashing a bright glance at Mabel. It's an apology, mam'selle, for my past, and perhaps my future misdeeds. I said I didn't like you, blurted honest, Mabel.

Starting point is 02:38:02 But I do. Don't depend on me, said Henrietta. I don't wear well. You'll find the real me rubbing through in spots. Granny says I'm an imp that came in on one of Dad's Hindu boxes. Why does your grandmother call you Midge? asked Betty. Because she doesn't like Henrietta. You see, I have five names.

Starting point is 02:38:21 They do that sort of thing on the other side, and I take turns with them. When I find out which one suits me best, I'll choose that one for keeps. What are they? demanded Mabel. Henrietta Constance Louise Frederica Francesca. You see, there isn't a really suitable name in the lot. But when you have five quarrel some aunts, as father said, you have to please all or none of them by giving your poor helpless baby all their horrid names. Call me Sally.

Starting point is 02:38:46 I've always wanted to be Sally. Think of anybody, laughed Jean, with as many names as that, wanting a new one. Where's that baby you adopted? asked Henrietta, abruptly changing the subject. didn't one of you adopt a baby or something like that? It was Mabel, replied Marjorie. The rest of us are pretty good, but Mabel's sort of thoughtless about borrowing things. She just happened to borrow an unreturnable baby one day. Where is it now?

Starting point is 02:39:11 At Mr. Blacks, her name is Rosa Marie. I'd like to see her, said Henrietta, carefully moving a pid. Stay to luncheon, urged Jean, fathers away, so there'll be plenty of room. Afterwards we can all pay a visit to Rosa Marie. I'm afraid, said Marjorie, she's getting. to be a burden to Mrs. Crane. Yes, agreed Betty, but it isn't Rosamoree's fault. Mrs. Crane has been reading a lot of books about bringing up children.

Starting point is 02:39:37 You know, she never had any. Before she discovered how many things might happen to a baby, she was quite comfortable, but now she's always certain that Rosamoree is coming down with something. And she doesn't seem very bright, mourned Jean. Who, Mrs. Crane? No, Rosamoree. You see, we don't know exactly how old she is.

Starting point is 02:39:55 Mabel didn't think to ask, but she seemed. seems big enough to be lot smarter than she is. We're rather disappointed in her. I'm not protested Mabel loyally. She's just slow because she hasn't any little brothers and sisters. She's a dear child. Cheer up, soothed Mabel. As long as she's beautiful, she doesn't need to be bright. At this Marjorie looked at Jean, then at Betty, and smiled an odd, significant smile. Here was a chance to get even with Henrietta, and unconsciously, Mabel helped. She's beautiful to me, said Mabel, and she's ever so cunning.

Starting point is 02:40:32 What colour are her eyes? Dark, said Marjorie, darker than yours. Then she's a brunette? Yes, said Marjorie, as of considering the question. She's darker at least than I am. We all are, said Henrietta, with an admiring glance at Marjorie's golden locks. We seem to shade down gradually. Mabel comes next, then Jean, then Betty.

Starting point is 02:40:54 I'm the darkest because Betty's eyes are like brown and velvet. it but mine are black like bits of hard coal where does rosamoree come in i think said marjorie with an air of pondering deeply that rosemary is almost if not quite as dark as you are even darker perhaps but her hair isn't as curly dear little soul breathed henrietta tenderly i have a tremendous liking for babies but they're pretty scarce at our house but there was one in england that was oh if i could just see that english baby now wouldn't i just hug her henrietta's eyes were unwontedly tender her expression unusually sweet you're not a bit like you've been any of the other times observed betty i like you a lot better when you're like this i'm not myself to-day twinkled henrietta i'm sally just plain sally but beware of me when i'm frederica the disguised duchess that's when i'm not to be trusted i think said jean listening to some faraway sound that lunch is about ready good exclaimed henrietta the sooner it's over the sooner i can hug that darling baby it's been months since i've held one in my arms that dear little body you'll find began mabel but the other three prime promptly headed her off before she had time to explain, though Rosa Marie was a pretty big armful. "'It's time to go home!' exclaimed Marjorie and Betty and Corrus.

Starting point is 02:42:21 "'Come on, Mabel!' "'If you'll excuse me,' said Jean, speaking directly to Mabel. "'I'll go set a place for Henrietta. "'Sorry I can't ask everybody to stay, but come back at two o'clock.' "'End of Chapter 20. "'Chapter 21 of the adopting of Rosa Marie. "'This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 02:42:51 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Rachel The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin Chapter 21, Getting Even Luncheon at Jeans that day proved a lively affair, for both boys were home. Henrietta chatted as frankly and as merrily as if she had known them all her life. Wallace, who was shy, squirmed uneasily at first and kept his eyes on his plate, but Roger, who had encountered the visitor in his French class, was able to respond to her friendly chatter. "'I like boys,' asserted Henrietta frankly, "'but I haven't any belonging to me but one, and he's a horrid muff,

Starting point is 02:43:37 "'16 and a regular baby. He's my cousin.' "'I thought you liked babies,' laughed Jean. "'I do, but not that kind.' "'He's been Molly coddled until it makes you sick to look at him.' "'Trot him out,' offered Roger. "'I'll give him an antidote.' "'He's in England,' said Henrietta, "'and I hope he'll stay there.

Starting point is 02:43:59 "'He hasn't any idea of doing anything for himself. "'He's always talking about what he'll do "'when somebody else does such and such a thing for him.' "'You mean,' said Roger, "'he hasn't any American independence.' "'That's it,' agreed Henrietta. "'He'd have made a new. nice pink and white girl, but he's no use at all as a boy.

Starting point is 02:44:21 How dark it's getting, said Jean. I can hardly see my plate. I think, prophesied Wallace, breaking his long silence, that it's going to snow. The sky's been a little thick for three days. When it comes, we'll get a lot. Goody, cried Henrietta. I've never seen a real Lake Superior snowstorm, and I want to. So far all the snow we've had has come in the night.

Starting point is 02:44:47 I want to see it snow. You wouldn't, growled Wallace, if you had to shovel several tons of it off your sidewalk. Will it snow very soon? queried Henrietta eagerly. Probably not before dark, returned Wallace, turning to glance at the dull sky. It's only getting ready. Enthusiastic Henrietta,

Starting point is 02:45:09 that odd mixture of extreme youth and premature age, was all impatience to see Rosa Marie. She had telephoned her grandmother to ask permission to spend the day with her new friends, and now she was eager to add Rosa Marie to the list. It was easy to see that she was expecting to behold something very choice in the line of babies. Jean was tempted to undeceive her, but loyalty to Marjorie kept her silent. A baby, breathed Henrietta rapturously, is the loveliest thing in all the world. "'Isn't it most two o'clock?

Starting point is 02:45:47 "'Wait, I'll look at my watch. "'Mercy, I forgot to wind it.' "'Hark,' said Jean. "'I think I hear the girls. "'Yes, yes, I do.' "'Get on your things,' commanded Marjorie, opening the door. "'Beddy stopped to feed the cat, sew a button on dick, "'wash Peter's face, tie up her father's finger,

Starting point is 02:46:06 "'and hook her mother's dress. "'But she's here at last and we're to pick up Mabel on the way, "'because Dr. Bennett called her back to wash her face. "'We mustn't stay too long,' warned Jean, glancing at the dull sky. "'It looks as if it would get dark early.' "'Mrs. Crane was glad to see her visitors, "'and appeared delighted to add a new girl to her collection of youthful friends. "'You and Jean are just of a size,' said she.

Starting point is 02:46:31 "'And about the same age,' added Betty, "'who had always regretted the two years' difference in her age and jeans. "'I wish I were as old as that.' "'Aren't you afraid?' "'Blundered well-meaning Mrs. Crane, turning to Betty, "'that she'll cut you out. "'You and Jean have always been thick as thieves. "'Don't you let this pretty Henrietta steal your Jean away from you?'

Starting point is 02:46:54 "'Bettie, dear little unselfish soul, "'had hitherto been conscious of no such fear, "'but now her big brown eyes were troubled. "'This new possibility was alarming. "'We'd like to see Rosa Marie,' said Marjorie. "'Is she well?' "'She has a bad cold, turned Mrs. Crane, shaking her head sorrowfully.

Starting point is 02:47:15 I've just been looking through my books, and in the very first one I found more than twenty-five fatal diseases that begin with a bad cold. "'Didn't you find any that folks ever get over?' suggested Jean, comfortingly. "'Why, yes,' replied Mrs. Crane, brightening. "'I've known of folks pulling through at least twenty-four of them.' "'But there's one thing. "'You won't like Rosa Marie's clothes to-day. they're sort of an accident.

Starting point is 02:47:45 An accident? Questioned Betty. What happened? Why, you see, I ordered her a ready-made dress out of a catalog. It sounded very promising, but, well, it's warm, but I guess that's about all you can say for it. I'll take you to the nursery. I have to keep her out of drafts.

Starting point is 02:48:08 Rosa Marie, well and becomingly clad, would hardly have captured a prize in a beauty show, even with very little competition. Poor little Rosemary, suffering with a severe cold, appeared a most unlovable object. Her eyes were dull and all but invisible. Her nose and lips were red and swollen, and her wide mouth seemed even larger than usual. The catalog dress was more than an accident. It was an out-and-out calamity. Its gorgeous red and green plaid was marked off, like a city map in regular squares with a startling stripe of yellow. Moreover, the alarming garment was a distressingly tight fit.

Starting point is 02:48:49 It looked, sighed Mrs. Crane, apologetically. As pretty as you please in that book. But of course nobody would think of buying goods as that outside a catalog. But Rosamoree liked it. After the first glance, however, the cottagers did not look at Rosemarie or the hideous plaid. they gazed instead at Henrietta's speaking countenance. Having led their new friend to expect something entirely different in the way of infantile charms, they wanted to enjoy her surprise, but strangely enough they did not.

Starting point is 02:49:25 It was evident that something was wrong with their plan. The bright, expectant look faded suddenly from the sparkling black eyes. All the animation fled swiftly from the girlish countenance. Two large tears rolled down Henrietta's cheeks. Oh, she mourned. I was so lonely for a real, dear little baby. Dear me, sighed penitent little Jean. We thought you'd enjoy the joke.

Starting point is 02:49:53 We saw it once that you supposed that Rosa Marie was an ordinary child, a nice little pink and white creature in long clothes. It seems such a good chance to get even that we... It was my fault, apologize Marjorie. I tried to fool you. I never thought you'd care. I'm sorry, said offended Mabel stiffly, that you don't like Rosamoree.

Starting point is 02:50:16 She's much more interesting than a common baby, and I think when I picked her out. It isn't that, said Henrietta, smiling through her tears. You see, I had a baby cousin in England that I just hated to leave. Oh, the sweetest, daintiest little girl, baby, and she'll be all grown up and gone before I ever see her. again. I simply adored that baby. Never mind, soothed Betty generously. We've any number of real babies at our house, and three of them

Starting point is 02:50:48 are small enough to cuddle, and even the littlest one is big enough to be played with. What an accommodating family, said Henrietta, wiping her eyes. I guess they'll make up for this remarkable infant. Rosa Marie certainly isn't looking her best today, admitted Jean, but you'll really find her very interesting when you know her better. But she never does appeal to strangers. We've found that out. And just now, said Betty, she's surely a sight. But when you've seen her in the cunning little Indian costume that Mr. Black bought for her, you'll really like her. Perhaps, said Henrietta doubtfully. End of Chapter 21.

Starting point is 02:51:36 Chapter 22 of the adopting of Rosa Marie. This is Labor Fox, recording. all Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraFox.org. The adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. A full afternoon. Now, said Mrs. Crane, with a note of pride in her tone, I want to show you what Peter Black's been doing this time. It's in the library.

Starting point is 02:52:04 The interested girls followed Mrs. Crane into the cozy book-lined room. Mr. Black's purchase a little. were apt to be worth seeing. For, now that he had a family after so many years of solitude, he was spending his money lavishly, and he delighted in surprising his elderly sister with unusual gifts. There, said Mrs. Green, pointing to a square cabinet of polished wood, what do you think of that? Can you guess what it is? I think, replied Jean, it's a cupboard for your very prettiest teacups, the ones that are too nice to use. I think, said Marjorie, that it's a fireproof safe to keep Rosa Marie's plaid dress in, so it won't set the

Starting point is 02:52:47 house of fire, I guess, said Betty, it's some sort of a refrigerator to use on Sundays only. It looks to me, ventured Mabel, like a cage with a monkey in it. I've seen them in processions, only they were fancier. I know what it is, said Henrietta, because we haven't like it, but ours isn't as nice as this. Now turn your backs. requested Mrs. Crane. In another moment the girls were listening to a delightful concert. Wonderful music was pouring from the polished cabinet. I was the nearest right, asserted Mabel. Why? objected Betty. You said it was a monkey. Monkeys don't sing. I was right. Just the same. It's a hand organ, and everybody knows that a monkey is pretty near the same thing. The girls laughed for Mabel, who was usually wrong, always insisted obstinate.

Starting point is 02:53:41 that she was right. It's a phonograph, explained Henrietta, and the very best one I ever heard. It's a whole brass band, breathed Betty. I knew it was good, said Mrs. Crane, contentedly. Her Peter refused to tell what he paid for it. It took a long time for the phonograph to give up all that was inside its polished case, and before the entertainment was quite over, Mr. Black came in. Betty, eager to display her new acquaintance, hardly waited to greet him. before introducing Henrietta. It was a pleasure, as well as a novelty, to have so attractive a friend to present. This said Betty proudly, but a little flustered. Is my hen, Frinriette? I mean, my hen. Betty turned scarlet and stopped. The girl shrieked with delight.

Starting point is 02:54:31 Mrs. Crane laughed till she cried. Mr. Black's roars of laughter drowned the phonograph's best effort. I'm not your hen, giggled Henrietta, not even your chicken. This settles that name. I can't risk being mistaken for any more poultry. She's Henrietta Bedford, explained Jean, wiping her eyes. And how long, teased Mr. Black. Have you been keeping poultry, Miss Bettykins? About two weeks, giggled Betty.

Starting point is 02:55:02 She's Mrs. Slater's granddaughter. I don't like to seem in hospitable, said Mr. Black. A few moments later. but it's beginning to snow, and the weather's going to be a good deal worse before it gets any better. If you start now, you'll be home before the snow begins to drift. There's a strong north wind, and the thermometer's a bit downhearted. The girls had removed their wraps, and it took time to get into them. Also, Mrs. Crane, noticing that the girls were dressed for mild weather,

Starting point is 02:55:33 detained them while she hunted up a silk handkerchief to wrap about Marjorie's throat. a veil to tie over Betty's ears and some warmer gloves for Jean. Henrietta and Mabel refused to be bundled up. The outside air was many degrees colder than it had been two hours earlier and was full of flying snow. The wind came in gusts. Yet there was something bracing and stimulating about the stirring atmosphere, particularly to Henrietta.

Starting point is 02:56:02 Oh, cried she, this is fine. Why can't we take a long walk? It's a shame to hurry home. I just love this. Isn't there somebody we can go see? Hasn't anybody an errand? Yes, said Mabel, doubtfully. We could go down to Mrs. Maloney's. Mother told me this morning to get her bill, and I forgot all about it. Mabel always has a few forgotten errands laid away, teased Marjorie. She can show you, too, where she found Rosa Marie. It's down that way. I hope, said Henrietta, making a comical grimace, that there's no danger of finding.

Starting point is 02:56:39 any more like her. But let's go. It's a shame to miss any of this. Going down the hill toward Mrs. Maloney's was entirely delightful, for the wind, of which there was a great deal, was at their well-protected backs. They fairly scutted before it, laughing joyously as they were swept along, almost on a run. Going westward at the bottom of the hill was not so very bad either, for here the road was somewhat sheltered, though the snow was much deeper than the girls had expected to find it. Mrs. Maloney, the garulous egg woman, was at home. She expressed her surprise and delight at the advent of so many unexpected visitors. Tis meself thoughts got to see so many pretty faces, said she, flying about to find chairs. Tis the lovely complexion you have today, Miss Jean. And who's the

Starting point is 02:57:32 little lady with the rosy cheek, the grandchild of Mrs. Lady Slater, would ye heart to thought now? And how's Betty Darling, with all her perky smiles? Thoughts good, thoughts good. And Miss Mabel here, sure she's the fat one. Mother, explained Mabel, with dignity, would like her egg bill. Bill is it, replied Mrs. Maloney, graciously. Sure, there's no hurry at all, at all. the sooner it comes the sooner tis spint ah well if you're afore insistin no one had insisted just count the beans in me old teapot i very wan stands for one dozen eggs at twenty-five since the dozen thirteen beans announced jean who had counted them several times to make certain sure persuaded smooth-tongued mrs maloney you'd best be taken one more than one more than one more than you'd best be taken one more than one more than you'd best be taken one more than more dozen, Miss Mabel, twould be sore, unlucky to stop Wyd 13. While she was counting the eggs, Mr. Maloney, redolent of the stable and bearing two steaming pails of milk, came into the kitchen.

Starting point is 02:58:46 Mrs. Maloney, beaming with hospitality, went hastily to the cupboard, brought forth five exceedingly thick cups, filled them with milk, and passed them to her dismayed guests. Some persons like warm milk fresh from the cow, with a cow smell overshadowing all other flavors. Mrs. Maloney's visitors did not. They were too polite to say so, however, so there they sat, five martyrs to courtesy, sipping the distasteful milk. It clogged their throats. It made them feel queerly upset inside, but still, solely out of politeness. They continued to sip. Take bigger swallows, advise Mabel, and a smother whisper, I cook can't, breathed Betty. Mr. Maloney had left the room. Presently, Mrs. Maloney,

Starting point is 02:59:37 in search of a basket for the eggs, stewed to rummage in the untidy recess beneath the cupboard. Quick as a wink, Henrietta emptied her cup into the original pail, but the other unfortunates were left to struggle with their unwelcome refreshment. Henrietta, however, gained nothing by her trick for the egg woman, discovering that her cup was empty, promptly refilled it, much to the amusement of the other victims. Henrietta, discovering their state of mind, was moved to defiance, lifting her cup with a determined glint in her black eyes. She drank every drop in four courageous, continuous gulps. In a twinkling, the other girls had imitated her example, and were declining Mrs. Maloney's pressing offer of more milk. Just a wee sup, pleaded Mrs. Maloney, reaching for

Starting point is 03:00:28 Jean's cup. No, thank you, said Jean, rising hastily. We ought to be getting home. Getting home, however, proved a different matter from getting away from home. After escaping Mrs. Maloney's insistent hospitality, the girls waited across the snowy street and out toward the point to see if Rosa Marie's home were still there. The door, hung from one hinge and snow had drifted and was still drifting in at the doorway. Do you think, asked Henrietta, gazing at the deserted house, that Rosa Marie's mother will ever come back? No, returned Jean. Not to any such homely baby as that, declared Marjorie. She will come back, asserted Mabel, loyally. She loved Rosemary. I saw it in her eyes.

Starting point is 03:01:19 looks don't matter with mothers soothed betty a cat likes a homely yellow kitten as well as a lovely white one and dick has more freckles than bob but mother likes him just as well rosa marie's mother stood right in that doorway said mabel and as long as i could see her her eyes were stretching out after rosa marie they must have stuck out on pegs like a lobsters giggled henrietta by the time you reached the queen I think you're mean, muttered Mabel. I repent, apologized Henrietta. For a moment I relapsed into Frederica, the disguised Duchess. But now I'm your own kind-hearted Sally, and I wish that my toes were as warm as my affections. Let's start for civilization. We seem to have the world to ourselves. Doesn't anybody else like snow? I wonder. End of Chapter 22. Chapter 23. of the adopting of Rosa Marie. This is a Libra Fox recording.

Starting point is 03:02:30 All Libra Fox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraFox.org. The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. Taking a walk. Phew, gasped Jean. Wheeling as the north wind, sweeping round the corner, caught her square in the face. I don't think much of that. it's like ice ugh groaned margery i wish i'd stayed home mercy gulped henrietta it's blowing my skin off after that no one had very much to say the girls needed their breath for other purposes with heads down and jackets pulled tightly about them they started up the long hill with the wind in their faces it was not a pleasant wind

Starting point is 03:03:24 cold and cutting. It flung icy particles of snow against their cheeks, nipped their unprotected ears, stung their fingers, and found the thin places in their garments. It rushed down their throats when they opened their mouths to speak, wrapped their petticoat so tightly about them that they had to keep on winding themselves in order to walk at all. Heaped the whirling snow in drifts and filled, the air so full of flakes that it was only between guests that the houses were visible. Worst of all, the way was very much uphill, and Mabel, besides being short of breath, was burdened with the basket of eggs. The snow seemed to take a delight in piling itself directly in front of them. Ugg, gasped Henrietta, I wish my stockings were far-lined. They thawed out and

Starting point is 03:04:22 Mrs. Maloney's, and now they're frozen stiff. I don't like them. Mine, too, panted Mabel, and all my skirts, groaned Marjorie. The edges are like saws, and they're scraping my knees. How do you like a real storm? queried Jean, steering Henrietta through a mighty drift. Not so well as I thought I should, admitted Henrietta. I miss my blizzard clothes. The streets, when the girls finally reached the top of the hill were deserted. Even the sides of the houses looked like solid walls of snow, for the wind had hurled the big flakes in gigantic handfuls against the buildings until they were all nicely coated with a thick frosting,

Starting point is 03:05:09 and so all the world was white. And by the time the five girls reached Jean's house, for they finally accomplished that difficult feat, they, too, were nicely plastered from head to heels with the clinging snow. They looked like animated snowmen as they piled thankfully into Mrs. Mapes's parlor. The girls themselves were warm and glowing from the unusual exercise, but their stockings and cotton skirts were frozen stiff. Enrietta will simply have to stay all night, said Mrs. Mapes, discovering the wet stockings.

Starting point is 03:05:46 I sent the coachman home half an hour ago for the sake of the horses. I'll telephone Mrs. Slater that you're safe. You other girls must go home at once and change your clothes before they thaw. And, Jean, you and Henrietta must get into bed at once. I'll bring you a hot supper inside of five minutes. That'll be fun, declared Jean, seizing Henrietta's hand and making for the stairs. Good night, girls. I guess, said Margie.

Starting point is 03:06:16 when the mapes's door had closed behind betty mabel and herself jean and henrietta are going to be great chums i'm afraid so sighed betty i like henrietta but dear me i don't want jean to like her better than she does me she won't comforted marjorie henrietta's all right for a little while out of time but you're always nice thanks to mrs mapes's instructions none of the girls caught close cold, but their mothers were so afraid that they might, that not one of them was permitted to poke her nose out of doors the next day. To Henrietta's delight, the drifts reached the fence tops, and until a huge plow, drawn by six horses arranged in pairs, had cleared the way, the roads were impassable. The wind, after raging furiously all night, had quieted down. But the snow continued to fall in big, soft, clinging flakes. Every tree and shrub was weighted down with a heavy burden, and all the world was white. To Henrietta, who had never before seen snow in such abundance,

Starting point is 03:07:28 it was a most pleasing spectacle. Betty, however, was sorely troubled. There was Jean shut in with attractive Henrietta and getting chummier with her every minute. There was Betty, a solitary person in a fuzzy red wrapper and bed slippers sighing for her beloved jean to be sure betty had brothers of assorted sizes and complexions but not one of them could feel jean's place in betty's troubled affections had betty but known it however jean was not having an entirely comfortable day it happened to be one of henrietta's frederica days the lively girl tormented bashions for Wallace by pretending that she herself was excessively shy, and as shyness was not one of her attributes, her victim was covered with confusion. She teased and bewildered Roger by chattering so rapidly in French that he couldn't understand a word she said, although he had studied the language for three years under Miss McGuinness and was proud of his progress. A number of times she became so witty at Jean's expense that Sally had to rush to the rescue with profuse apologies.

Starting point is 03:08:45 Also, she disturbed both Mr. and Mrs. Mapes by her extreme restlessness. My sakes, confided Mrs. Mapes, in the privacy of the kitchen. With her she had fled for the sake of quiet. I'm glad that girl doesn't belong to me. She isn't still a minute. Perhaps, said Roger, who had escaped on the pretext of of blacking his shoes. It's because she has traveled so much. Maybe she feels as if she had to keep going. Betty's certainly a great deal quieter, agreed Jean, who looked tired, and she doesn't talk

Starting point is 03:09:21 all night when a body wants to sleep. But Henrietta's more fun. You see, you never know what she's going to do next. But Betty's always just the same. At dinner time that day, Mrs. Mabes asked her husband if he knew whether the school board had accomplished anything at the meeting held the night previously. No, replied Mr. Mabes, a tall, thin man with a preoccupied air, and they never will as long as each one of them wants to put that schoolhouse in a different place. They can't come to any sort of an agreement. Indeed, the poor school board was having a perplexing time. The citizens that lived at the north end of the town wanted the new school built there. Other taxpayers declared that the southern portion of Lakeville,

Starting point is 03:10:12 being more densely populated, offered a more suitable site. Then, since the town stretched westward for a long distance, a third group of persons were clamoring for the building in their part of the town. Besides all these, there were persons who declared that the old site was the only place for a school building. as the board itself was divided as to opinion it began to look as if Lakeville would have to get along without a schoolhouse unless it could afford to build for and the taxpayer said it couldn't do that I wish said Mrs. Mapes that I could find a first-class girls school within a reasonable distance if they don't have a proper building in Lakeville by next September I'll send Jean away that Baptist cellar is damp and the I know it. Besides, I went to a boarding school myself, and I'd like Jean to have the experience. I'll never forget those days. Send her, suggested Henrietta, to the school I'm going to.

Starting point is 03:11:19 Which one is that? asked Mrs. Mabes. I don't know, but grandmother says it mustn't be too far away. She wants me within reach. I think, said Mrs. Mabes, reflectively, I'll send for some catalogs. the next morning the sun shone brightly on a glittering world henrietta went into ecstasies over it for even the tree trunk seemed encrusted with diamonds or at least rhinestones henrietta said the coachman arrived with the slater horses a little before nine o'clock and the two girls were carried off to school and state they waved their hands to betty as they passed her trudging in the snow and poor betty was suddenly conscious of a sharp twinge of jealousy now that henrietta had been properly called on and had returned the call she became a permanent part of all the cottager's plans thereafter there was hardly a day when one or another of the four girls did not see the fascinating maid of many names they always found her interesting attractive and entertaining yet there were days when she teased them almost the left of their endurance times when they could not quite approve her and moments when she fairly roused them to anger but in spite of her faults they could not help loving her because with all her impishness and her distressing lack of repose she was warm-hearted loyal and thoroughly true and although she possessed dozens of advantages that the other girls lacked although she was beautifully gowned

Starting point is 03:12:59 splendidly housed and bountifully supplied with spending money. Never did she show in any way the faintest scrap of false pride. She mentioned her life abroad in a simple, matter-of-fact way, as if it were a mere incident that might have happened to anybody, but never in any boasting spirit. Her prankishness, however, kept her from being too good or too lovable, for, as her grandmother said, she spared no one, sometimes even Jean, who was a model of patience, found it hard to forgive fun-loving Frederica, the disguise Duchess.

Starting point is 03:13:41 End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 of the adopting of Rosa Marie. This is a Labor Fox recording. All Libra Fox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraFox.combe. The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin, the statue from India. All the shops in Lakeville wore a holiday air for money was plentiful and trade was unusually brisk. The windows were gay with wreaths of holly and glittering strings of Christmas tree ornaments.

Starting point is 03:14:19 Clerks were busy and smiling. Customers alert for bargains crowded about the counters and parted cheerfully from their cash. Persons in the streets laden with parcels of everything. every shape, size, and color, pushed eagerly through the doors or hurried along. The busy thoroughfares all wore an air of eager expectancy. For two weeks of December were gone and Christmas was fairly scrambling into sight. The five girls had money to spend. Very little of it, to be sure, belonged to the cottagers, but Henrietta had a great deal, and, as they all went together on their shopping expeditions. It didn't matter very much. As far as enjoyment went, who did the purchasing?

Starting point is 03:15:06 Betty said that it was quite as much fun to help Henrietta pick out a $5 scarf pen for Simmons, the butler, as it was to choose 10-cent paper weights for Bob and Dick. Besides, no one was obliged to go home empty-handed, because it took all five to carry Henrietta's purchases. All five were making things besides. Sometimes they sewed at jeans, sometimes at Henrietta's, occasionally at Marjories, and once in a while at Mabel's. They liked, least of all, to go to Marjories because Auntie Jane, who was a wonderfully particular housekeeper, objected to their walking on her hardwood floors, and seemed equally averse to having them step on the rugs, as they couldn't very well use the ceiling or feel entirely comfortable under the battery of Auntie Jane's disapproving glances.

Starting point is 03:16:00 They liked to go where they were more warmly welcomed. Perhaps Henrietta's once dreaded home was the most popular place, though in that fascinating abode they could not accomplish a great deal in the sewing line because Henrietta invariably produced such a bewildering array of unusual belongings to show them that their eyes kept busier than their fingers. In another way, however, they accomplished a great deal. Henrietta, who was really very clever with her needle, had started at one time or another a great many different articles.

Starting point is 03:16:36 These, in their half-finished condition, the changeable girl was much better at beginning things than at completing them. She lavishly bestowed on her friends, lovely flowered ribbons, dainty bits of silk and lace, curious scraps of Japanese and Chinese embroidery, embossed leather and rich brocades. All these found their way into the cottager's workbags. Out of these fascinating odds and ends, they fashioned gifts for Mrs. Crane, Anne Holliday's mother. They're out-of-town relatives, their parents and their school teachers. They wanted, of course, to buy every toy that ever was made for Rosa Marie Little Anne Holiday.

Starting point is 03:17:20 Peter Tucker and the Marquotte twins. But Mr. Black, meeting them in the toy shop one day, implored them to leave just a few things in the shops for him to buy, particularly for Rosa Marie and little Peter Tucker, his namesake. And now Mabel was immensely pleased with Henrietta for one day, Rosa Marie, cured of her cold, had been dressed in her cunning little Indian costume for the new girl's benefit. Rosa Marie had looked so very much more attractive than when she had had a cold that Henrietta had been greatly taken with her, as the way to Mabel's affections was through approval of Rosa Marie. Henrietta quickly found it, so the threatened breach was healed. Oh, Mrs. Crane, Henrietta had cried,

Starting point is 03:18:12 unbeholding the little brown person in buckskin and feathers, do let me telephone for James to bring the carriage so I can take Rosa Marie to our house and show her to my grandmother. I'll take the very best care of her, and all four of the girls can come with her, so she won't be afraid. Oh, do, pleaded the others. Well, it's mild out today, returned Mrs. Crane, glancing out the window, and a little fresh air won't hurt her. I guess her coat will go on right over these fixings, and I can tie a veil over her head. You'll find a telephone in the life. You'll find a telephone in the library on Mr. Black's desk. Half an hour later, the six youngsters carefully tucked between splendid fur robes were on their way to Mrs. Slater's. I have a perfectly heavenly plan,

Starting point is 03:19:01 said Henrietta, her black eyes sparkling with impishness. Want to hear it? Of course we do, encourage the cottagers. You see, explained Henrietta. A large box came from Father this morning. It hasn't been opened yet. But Greta and Simmons don't know that. I'm going to make them think that Rosa Marie is what came in that box. It's time I cheered them up a little. For Simmons has lost some money he had in the bank and Greta is homesick for the old country. Will you help? Yes. promised Jean doubtfully. If you're not going to hurt anybody's feelings, shan't even scratch one, assured Henrietta. Now, when we reach the house, I'll slip around to the

Starting point is 03:19:48 basement door with Rosa Marie. The cook will let us in, and you must ring the front doorbell, because that will take Simmons out of the way while I get up the back stairs, ask for grandmother, and I'll come down and get you when I'm ready. So the girls asked for Mrs. Slater, every one of them now liked, the entertaining old lady very much indeed, and chatted with her merrily until Henrietta came running down the stairs. Granny, asked the lively girl, pressing her warm red cheek against Mrs. Slater's much paler one. Would you like to be amused? Would you like to be a black conspirator?

Starting point is 03:20:26 And humble your most haughty servitor to the dust? Then you must ascend to my haunted den and not say a single word for at least five minutes. Come on, girls. In Henrietta's oddly furnished room there were two large East Indian gods and one heathen goddess. Henrietta had managed to group these interesting, Oriental, figures in one corner of the spacious chamber, with appropriate drappings behind them. Near them she had placed an empty packing case, oblong in shape and plastered with curious foreign labels. It looked as if it were waiting to be carried away to the furnace room

Starting point is 03:21:05 or some such place, darkening her bedroom and her dressing room. She placed her obliging grandmother and her four friends behind the heavy portires. You can peek round the edges, said she, but you mustn't be seen or heard or even suspected. Then, fun-loving Henrietta brought Rosa Marie from another room, removed her wraps, concealed them from sight, and placed the stolid child in a sitting posture on a large tabaret near one of the richly colored statues. Next, she rang for Greta and ran downstairs in person to ask Simmons to come at once to remove the heavy packing case. Simmons obeyed immediately, and just as the pair reached Henrietta's door, Greta, who had been in her own room, joined them. All three entered together. Don't you want to see my lovely new statue? asked Henrietta, there, with the rest of my heathen friends. Ho, said Simmons, leaning closer to look, that's what came in that ebby box. Another eathen god from India. He is very pretty god lady.

Starting point is 03:22:16 Miss Henrietta, approved Greta. Looks most like real. Rosa Marie, awed by her strange surroundings, played her part most beautifully. For a long moment she set perfectly still, but, Justice Simmons leaned forward to take a better look at her, Rosa Marie, who had suddenly caught a whiff of pungent smoke from the jaw sticks that Henrietta had lighted to create a proper atmosphere for her gods and goddesses gave us sudden sneeze. The effect was all that could be desired. Simmons leaped backward and Greta, who was excitable, gave a piercing shriek. The hidden girls restrained their giggles,

Starting point is 03:22:59 but only with difficulty, and Betty said afterwards that she could feel Mrs. Slater shaking with helpless laughter. My, he, ye! exclaimed Simmons, what'll they be Mikean next? Look! Hits moving is Ed! Rosa Marie proceeded deliberately to move more than her head. Putting both hands on the tabaret. She managed somehow to lift herself clumsily to all fours, balancing uncertainly for several moments in that ungainly attitude. Then she rose to her feet, and stiffly, like some mechanical toy,

Starting point is 03:23:38 stretched out her arms toward Henrietta. Greta backed hastily through the doorway, but Simmons eyed the swaying youngster with enlightened eyes. Hits a real bibby from Hindia, said he, but think of hit come and haul that way in that their box. But them induce a lot of queer tricks, and, hi, suppose they drugged him, bid a blooming mummy of him, and sent directions for bringing of him too. Take the box downstairs, please, said Henrietta, succeeding in the difficult task of keeping her face straight. This is a little North Indian from Lakeville, Simmons, not an East Indian from India, and it was only some things that I'm not to look at till Christmas that came in the box. I thought Hitt was mighty string, returned Simmons, looking very much relieved and not at all resentful.

Starting point is 03:24:39 it seems sort of hawful, Miss Enrietta, to think as how human beings could take such chances with heaven their hone offspring. But just the same, Miss Enrietta, I've heard of them in news doing mighty queer things, and, hi, for one, don't trust them. End of Chapter 24. Chapter 25 of the Adopting of Rosa Marie. This is the Libra Fox recording. All LibraFox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 03:25:21 For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraFox.org. The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. Comparing Notes. It was 8 o'clock the morning of the 24th day of December, which is twice as exciting a day as the 25th and at least 10 times as interesting as the 26th, Betty, and as many of the little Tucker's, as had been able to find enough clothes for decency, were eating pancakes a great deal faster than Mrs. Tucker could bake them over the rectory stove. Marjorie, her young countenance somewhat puckered because of the tartness of her grapefruit was sitting sedately opposite her Auntie Jane. Jean had finished her breakfast and was tying mysterious tissue paper parcels with narrow scarlet ribbon and Mabel, having suddenly

Starting point is 03:26:14 remembered that this was the day that the postman brought interesting mail was hurrying with might and main to get into her sailor blouse in order to capture the letters of course she didn't expect to open any of her christmas mail but she did like to squeeze the packages henrietta was reading a long delightful letter from her father mrs slater too had christmas letters five blocks away Mr. Black and Mrs. Crane were finishing their breakfast. Their dining room was at the back of the house, where its three broad windows commanded a fine view of the lake, just at the top of the bluff, and well inside the Black Crane Yard stood a wonderfully handsome fir tree, a truly splendid tree. For in all Lakeville, there was no other evergreen to compare with it in size, shape, or color.

Starting point is 03:27:06 Every now and again, Mr. Black would turn in his chair to gaze earnestly out the window at the tree for a long time, Mrs. Crane. Her nice dark eyes dancing with fun, watched her brother in silence. But when he began to consume the last quarter of his second piece of toast, she felt that it was time to speak. Peter, said she, you can't do it. Do what? asked Mr. Black, with a guilty start. cut down that tree. I know just as well as I know anything that you're just aching to make that splendid big evergreen into a Christmas tree for Rosa Maria and those four girls. How do you know it? queried Mr. Black, eyeing his sister with quick suspicion because I had the same thought myself. It would be fine for Christmas. It looks like a Christmas tree every day of the year.

Starting point is 03:28:02 and if you've been a sort of bottled-up Santa Claus all your life, you're apt to be pretty foolish when you're finally unbottled, and that tree. But queried Mr. Black, what would it be the day after? That, confessed Mrs. Crane, is what bothers me. It does seem a shame, said Mr. Black, rising and walking to the window, to cut down such a perfect specimen as that. And yet, in all my life I never met, a tree so evidently designed for the express purpose of serving as a Christmas tree. It's a real temptation. I know it, sighed Mrs. Green. It's been tempting me.

Starting point is 03:28:45 But I said, get thee behind me, Santa Claus, and send me the proper place for Christmas trees. And did you go to that place? It came to me. I engaged a twelve-foot tree from a man that was taking orders at the door. So did I, confess Mr. Blanche. i'm not sure that i didn't order two peter black you're spoiling those children i'm having plenty of help twinkled mr black shrewdly with so many trees to choose from it certainly seemed probable that the black crane household would have at least one respectable specimen to decorate but half an hour later when the tree ordered balsams arrived both mr black and mrs crane were greatly disappointed the trees had shrunk from twelve to six feet, and the uneven branches were thin and sparsely covered.

Starting point is 03:29:38 Why? exclaimed Mr. Black. All three of those trees together wouldn't make a whole tree. They look, said Mrs. Crane, as if they were shedding their feathers. Most of them, agreed Mr. Black, have already been shed. I said, Mr. Man, that I wanted good trees. My wagon broke down, explained the tree man so i couldn't bring anything that i couldn't haul in a big sled they weigh a lot those big fellows can't you make a special trip suggested mrs green and bring us a first-class tree just one it's too late i have to go too far before i'm allowed to cut any well said mr black i'll pay you for these and i'll give you fifty cents extra to haul them off the premises we don't want any such sorrowful specimens round here to count a gloom over our Christmas, do we, Sarah? Peter, announced Mrs. Crane, when the man had departed with his scraggly trees. I have an idea. The weather's likely to stay mild for another 24 hours, isn't it? I think so. And this is an honest town, as honest as they make them, and all those girls are accustomed to being outdoors. I see, cried Mr. Black, giving Mrs. Crane's plump shoulders

Starting point is 03:30:58 a sudden friendly whack i almost thought of that myself will certainly surprise him this time although it was getting late mr black still hung about the house as if he had not yet freed his mind of christmas matters i suppose said mr black breaking a long silence that you've thought of a few things to put on the tree for those girls yes admitted mrs crane guardedly i've gathered up some little fixings that i thought they'd fancy it's it might be a good idea said mr black rising to ring for martin for us to compare notes two heads are better than one you know and after what they did for us we owe those little folks a splendid christmas we certainly do agreed mrs crane wiping away the sudden moisture that sprung to her eyes at thought of the memorable dinner-party in dandelion cottage the dinner that had brought her estranged brother to the rescue i don't know where i don't know where i've I'd have been now, if it hadn't been for those blessed children, in the poor house, probably. Martin, said Mr. Black, huskily, you go to the storeroom in the basement, take a hatchet with you, and knock the top off that wooden box that is marked, with a big blue cross, and bring it up here to me. Presently Martin, who always blundered if there was the faintest excuse for blundering, returned, proudly bearing the cover of the large box.

Starting point is 03:32:27 Thank you, replied Mr. Black, turning twinkling eyes upon Mrs. Crane who twinkled back. Now bring up the box with all the things in it. I'll get my things, too, offered Mrs. Crane. They're right here in the library closet in a close hamper. Then when Martin had brought the box, the two middle-aged people began to sort their presence. They went about it rather awkwardly because neither had had much experience, but they were certainly enjoying their novel occupation.

Starting point is 03:32:58 This, said Mr. Black, clearing a space on the big library table, is Betty's pile, and heaven knows that I tried not to get it bigger than the other three. But everything I saw in the shop shouted, buy me for Betty, and I usually obeyed. This is Jean's pile, said Mrs. Crane, bearing another space, and I guess I feel about Jane the way you do about Betty. But I love Betty, too, and all of them. Maria's things will have to go on the floor. They're mostly bumpy and breakable. Mr. Black rummaged in his box. Mrs. Crane fished in her basket. Presently there was a rapidly growing, on tidy heap of large, lumpy bundles on the floor for Rosa Marie,

Starting point is 03:33:41 and four very neat stacks of squares, compact parcels for the cottagers. Let's open them all, suggested Mr. Black eagerly. We can tie them up again. So the elderly couple, as an interested as two children, opened their packages. At first, both were too busy renewing acquaintanceship with their own purchases to notice what the other was doing. But presently Mrs. Crane gave a start as her eye traveled over the table. Why, Peter Black? She exclaimed, Here are two watches in Betty's pile. I didn't buy but one of them, declared Mr. Black. Placing his finger on one of the dainty timepieces, that's mine. The others mine, confessed Mrs. Crane, and, Peter, did you go and buy dolls all around, two?

Starting point is 03:34:31 I did, owned Mr. Black, opening a long, narrow box. One always buys dolls for Christmas. Well, sighed Mrs. Crane, I guess they can stand two apiece, because ours are not a bit alike. You see, you got carried away by fine clothes, and I paid more attention to the dolls themselves. the bodies are first class and the faces are lovely i bought mine undressed and i've had four weeks pleasure dressing them i sort of hate to give them up the clothes are plain and substantial i couldn't make em fancy but the watches sarah well i guess we'll have to send half of those watches back yours are the nicest we'll keep yours i suspect said mr black reflectively pinching two large parcels in rosa marie's heap that we both bought teddy bears for Rosa Marie, and we've both supplied the girls with perfume, purses and writing paper,

Starting point is 03:35:30 but I don't see any books. We'll use the extra watch money for books, decided Mrs. Crane promptly. Suppose you attend to that. If we both do it, we'll have another double supply. I see we've both bought candy, too. But I need a box for the milk boy, and I'd like to send some little thing to Martin's small sister.

Starting point is 03:35:52 On the whole, said Mr. Black complacently. We've managed pretty well considering our inexperience, but next time we'll do better. End of Chapter 25. Chapter 26 of The Adopting of Rosa Marie. This is the Libra Fox recording. All Libra Fox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraFox.org.

Starting point is 03:36:22 The Adopting of Rosa Marie, at Carol Watson, Rankin, Christmas Eve. In Lakeville, Christmas always began at exactly four o'clock, the afternoon of the 24th. For the young people of that little town, even the very old young people with gray hair and youthful eyes, always indulged in an unusual and extremely enjoyable custom. The moment that marked this real beginning of Christmas found each person with gifts for her neighbor, sallying forth with a great basket full of parcels on her arm. If one had a great many friends and neighbors it often took until ten o'clock at night to distribute all one's gifts, as each package was wrapped in white tissue paper, tied with ribbon and further adorned with sprigs of holly or gay

Starting point is 03:37:14 Christmas cards. These Christmas baskets were decidedly attractive, and the streets of Lakeville, from four to ten were certain to be full of gaiety and genuine Christmas cheer. On all other days of the year, the cottagers traveled together, but on this occasion each girl was an entirely separate person, Betty, wearing a fine air of importance, went alone to Mabel's, to jeans and to Marjories to leave her gifts for her three friends. Although, at all other times, it was her habit to run in, unceremoniously. Today she rang each doorbell and was formally admitted to each front hall,

Starting point is 03:37:56 where she selected the package designed for each house. Jean and the other two, likewise went forth by themselves to leave their mysterious little parcels. But when this rite was completed, all four ran to their own homes, added more parcels to their gay baskets, and then congregated in Mrs. Mabes' parlor. They had gifts for dear little Anne Holiday. the marquotte twins henrietta bedford rosa marie mr black mrs crane some distant cousins of jeans and for all their school-teachers that had not gone out of town for the holidays besides their parents had entrusted them with articles to be delivered to their friends and mabel had a gift for the dust chute janitor a silver match safe with the date of the fire engraved under his initials We'll go to Henrietta's first, decided Jean, because that's the farthest. And to the janitors next, said Mabel, because I want to get it over and forget about it.

Starting point is 03:39:01 To make things more exciting for Henrietta, the girls went in singly to present their offerings, the others crouching out of sight behind the stone balustrades that flanked the steps. Each time the bell rang, Henrietta was right at Simmons' heels when he opened the door. Then, after a brief wait outside, all four again presented themselves to invite Henrietta, who had gifts for Rosa Marie, to go with them to Mr. Blacks and all the other places. Henrietta was glad to go, because she herself was too new to Lakeville to have very many friends to favor with presents. The five had a very merry time with their baskets, but they were much too excited to stay a great while under any one roof. They shouted Merry Greetings to the rest of the basket-laden population, and paused more than once to obligingly pull a doorbell for some elderly acquaintance who found that she needed more hands than she had started out with.

Starting point is 03:40:01 How jolly everybody is, remarked Henrietta, I never saw a more Christmasy lot of people. It must be lovely to have a long, long list to give to. Father says this is an unusually nice town, offered Betty. The people seem actually glad to have folks sick and in trouble so they can send the flowers and things to eat. What a charitable place, laughed Henrietta, gaily. I hope nobody's longing for me to come down with anything. I'd rather stay well than eat flowers. They're too expensive just now.

Starting point is 03:40:36 My, exclaimed Mabel, after all the gifts had been distributed in the girls with their empty baskets turned over their heads, had started homeward. Won't tomorrow be a lively day? First, all our stockings. Very early in the morning at home. Next, all our Christmas packages to open. I have about ten already that I haven't even squeezed. That is, not very hard, except one that I know is a bottle. Then our dinners. Too bad we can't have all our dinners together, mourned Marjorie. But of course your mother, and my auntie jane and henrietta's grandmother would be too lonely if we did and all the families in a bunch would make too many to feed comfortably and then proceeded mabel a tree at mr blacks just as soon as it's dark enough to light the candles and supper and another tree at henrietta's in the evening and a ride home in the slater carriage afterwards because by that time we'll surely be too tired to walk and i've trimmed a tree for the boys at home, said Betty. There won't be anything on it for you, but you can all come to see it.

Starting point is 03:41:48 Auntie Jane says that Christmas trees shed their feathers and make too much litter, said Marjorie. But with three others to visit, I don't mind if I don't have one. You can have half of mine, offered Mabel, generously. I shan't have time to trim more than half of it anyway, so I'd like somebody to help, I suppose, said Marjorie, doubtfully, that we ought to do something. for the poor, but I don't know where to find any since our washwoman married the butcher. I'm glad you don't, laughed Henrietta. I've nine cents left and it's got to last, for I shan't have any more until I get my allowance the first of January, unless somebody sends me money for Christmas. I guess, giggled Jean, fishing an empty purse from her pocket. The rest of us couldn't

Starting point is 03:42:36 scare up nine cents between us, but I have an uncle who always sends me a paper dollar every year. I've spent it in at least 50 different ways already. I always have lovely times with that dollar before it comes, but it just sort of melts away into nothing afterwards. I wish, breathed Mabel fervently. I had an uncle like that. Yes, agreed Henrietta. A few uncles with the paper dollar habit wouldn't be bad things to have.

Starting point is 03:43:06 I caught a glimpse of your tree, Henrietta, confessed Marjorie. I stood on the ball of the ball of, outside and peeked in the window when Jean was inside, it's going to be perfectly grand. But of course I didn't mean to peek. I just got up there because I was too excited to stay on the ground. So did I, owned Betty. I wonder, said Mabel, where Mr. Black's tree is. We were in all the downstairs rooms and I didn't see a sign of it.

Starting point is 03:43:36 Probably, teased Henrietta. He's forgotten to order one, unless one forms. the habit very early in life. One is very apt to overlook little things like that. Mr. Black never forgets, assured Betty. Probably at some place in the yard, ventured Marjorie, not guessing how close she came to the truth. No, declared Mabel positively, I looked out the windows and there wasn't a single sign of a tree anywhere. I pretty nearly asked about it, but I wasn't sure that that would be polite. Don't worry, soothed Jean. They'll be one if Mr. Black has to plant a seed and grow it overnight. He and Mrs. Crane are more excited over Christmas than we are.

Starting point is 03:44:18 They can't think of anything else. End of Chapter 26. Chapter 27 of the adopting of Rosa Marie. This is a Labor Fox recording. All Labor Fox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit laborvox.org. The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. A Crowded Day. Mabel rose very early indeed on Christmas morning to explore her bulging stocking and to open her packages, but Mr. Black and Mrs. Crane were even earlier, and they were delighted to find that the weather had remained mild. Putting on their outside wraps and warm overshoes, the worthy couple went with good-natured Martin and Maggie, the nimble nursery made, to the garden as soon as it was light.

Starting point is 03:45:11 They strung the tall tree from top to bottom with tinsel and glittering Christmas tree, ornaments, the finest that money could buy. Martin and the maid perched on tall step-ladders, worked enthusiastically. Mr. Black and Mrs. Crane handed up the decorations. The cook, watching them from the basement window, grinned broadly at the site. Sure, said she, tis a lot of children they are, but twould do no harm if all the world was lochem. By church time, the towering tree was in readiness except for a few of the more precious gifts to be added later. I hope, said Mrs. Crane, with a lingering, backward glance, when there was no further excuse for remaining outdoors, that the air will be as quiet tonight as it is now.

Starting point is 03:46:01 It would be dreadful if we couldn't light the candles. We'll have to trust to luck, returned Mr. Black, but I'm quite sure that luck will be with us. Of course, the girls enjoyed their stockings at home. Their gifts that arrived by mail and express from our eyes. of town relatives and the bountiful dinners at the home tables but the black crane tree to which henrietta likewise had been invited was something entirely new and so proved particularly enjoyable if not indeed the crowning event of the day martin had cleared away the snow and had laid boards and even a carpet for them to stand on and there were chairs and extra wraps only the girls were too excited to use them but mrs crane and placid Rosa Marie said enveloped in steamer rugs, while the others capered about the brilliantly lighted tree, constantly discovering new beauties. I declare, sighed Mrs. Crane, happily, you're the youngest of the lot, Peter. Well, returned Mr. Black, why not? It's the first real Christmas I've had for 40 years, but let's have another Christmas dinner on New Year's Day.

Starting point is 03:47:13 I was disappointed when all these young folks said, No, thank you, to our invitation to dinner. Just remember, girls, we expect to see you all here the 1st of January. Or there'll be trouble. I'll see that it lasts all the year, too. Peter Black mourned Mrs. Crane, that step-ladders prancing on one leg. If you go over that bluff, you won't stop till you land in the lake. Let Martin do all the circus acts.

Starting point is 03:47:43 "'I've got it now,' said Mr. Black, coming down safely with the small parcel that had dangled so long just above his reach. Here's something for Henrietta Bedford, with the trees' compliments. "'How nice of you to remember me!' cried Henrietta, opening the parcel. "'And what a dear little pin, just what I needed. Thank you very much, indeed. Of all their gifts, however, the cottagers liked their lovely little watches the best. They had expected no such magnificent gifts from Mr. Black, and their own people had, of course, considered them much too young to be trusted with watches. Dear me, said Mabel, strutting about with her timepiece pinned to her blouse, I feel too grown-upity for words.

Starting point is 03:48:30 I never expected this moment to come. I have always wanted to watch, breathed Jean, but I certainly supposed I'd have to wait until I'd graduated from high school. folks almost always get them then. And I, Beam Marjorie, never expected a pretty, really truly girls' watch, because, worst luck, I'm to get Auntie Jane's awful watch when she dies. Of course, I don't want her to die a minute before her time, but getting even that watch seems sort of hopeless because all Auntie Jane's ancestors that weren't killed by accident live to enjoy their 90s.

Starting point is 03:49:10 But that doesn't prevent Auntie Jane's promising me that clumsy old turnip whenever she's particularly pleased with me. Betty was too delighted for speech, but her big brown eyes spoke eloquently for her. Rosa Marie accepted the unusual tree, all her teddy bears, her dolls and other gifts, very much as a matter of course. Nothing it appeared was ever sufficiently surprising

Starting point is 03:49:33 to astonish calm little Rosa Marie. perhaps offered betty she's awfully surprised inside i know i am laughed mabel inside and out too then just as mrs crane had decided that rosa marie had been outdoors long enough the slater carriage arrived for the girls mr black beaming at the success of his christmas party packed them with all their belongings into the vehicle and they rolled happily away they stopped at their own homes just long enough to drop most of the gifts they had garnered from the black crane tree and then henrietta whisked her friends to the slater home where mrs slater entertained them for two hours over a delightful genuinely english christmas supper henrietta's tree too was a very handsome one a realistic santa claus who seemed as english as the supper since he dropped the letter h just as simmons always did distributed the gifts when the cottagers opened awed foreign-looking parcels and found that henriette's had given each girl a set of three beautiful oriental boxes with jeweled tops. Their delight knew no bounds. They had expected nothing so fine. You see, explained Henrietta, I told Father, months ago,

Starting point is 03:50:50 to send me a lot of little things to give away for Christmas, and of course he bought boxes. I believe he buys every one he sees. Their darlings, declared Jean dreamily. They take you away to far off places where things smell old and, and magnificent. It's the grown-upness of my presence that I like, explained 11-year-old Mabel, with a big sigh of satisfaction. It's lovely to have people treat you as if you were somebody. You see, laughed Marjorie. It's only two years ago that an absent-minded aunt of Mr. Bennet's

Starting point is 03:51:25 sent Mabel a rattle, and the poor child can't forget it. Miss Inmietta, inquired Santa Claus, anxiously when the slater tree too had been stripped of all but its decorations might i be excused now i am due at a christmas ball and i am hawfully afried these togs is melted me a collar yes laughed henrietta you've done nobly and i hope you'll have a lovely time at the party it was half-past ten before the cottagers got to bed that night a long day because of the they had risen so early, but breathed Betty happily. When days are as nice as this, I like them long. It's nice to have friends, said Jean. I wish, sighed Mabel. They'd make some kind of a watch that had to be wound every hour. It seems awfully hard to wait until morning.

Starting point is 03:52:20 When Mrs. Bennett looked in that night to see if Mabel had remembered to take off her best hair ribbon, she found a doll on each side of the blissful slumberer. a watch pinned to her nightdress, a jeweled box clasped loosely in each relaxed hand, and at least half a bushel of other treasures under the uncomfortable pillow. As Mrs. Bennett gently removed all these articles and straightened the bedclothes, Mabel murmured in her sleep, Merry Christmas, Girls. End of Chapter 27. Chapter 28 of the Adopting of Rosa Marie.

Starting point is 03:53:04 This is a Leapher Fox recording. All LibraFox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraFox.org. The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin, a Bettyless plan. The first thing that happened after Christmas was the announcement of the school board's decision to wait a full year before beginning to build a new schoolhouse. Even if we could decide on a site, said they, it would be hard on the taxpayers to furnish money for such a building all at one assessment. By spreading it over two years tax rolls, it will come easier. The fathers, for the most part, were pleased with the arrangement,

Starting point is 03:53:47 but many of the mothers disliked it very much indeed. We must do something about it, said Auntie Jane, who had called at Mrs. Bennetts to talk the matter over. I'm in favor of sending Marjorie away to some good girls' school, because she has some money that is to be used solely for, for educational purposes. There is enough for college and for at least one year at a boarding school, besides something for extras. My conscience will feel easier when that money begins to go toward its proper purpose. The doctor thinks of going to Germany next fall for a special course of study that he thinks he needs, returned Mrs. Bennett. If we could place Mabel in a safe, comfortable school, I could go with him. We've been talking of it for a long time. I

Starting point is 03:54:35 certainly am not satisfied, admitted Mrs. Mabes, when Auntie Jane put the matter to her. There are too many pupils crowded into that Baptist basement, and it's so damp that I've had to put some cold compresses on Jean's throat four times since the fire. If you can find a good school to fit a modest pocketbook, we'd be glad to send Jean for the one year. Then Auntie Jane unfolded her plans to the tuckers. It's a beautiful idea. So, said pleasant Dr. Tucker, as far as the rest of you are concerned. But you will have to leave Betty entirely out of the scheme. We simply can't afford it.

Starting point is 03:55:15 We have always hoped to be able to do something for Dick. He wants to be a physician. But even that is hopelessly beyond us at present. No, added Mrs. Tucker, shifting the heavy baby in her other arm and hoping that Auntie Jane would not notice the dust on the battered table. We couldn't even think of sending Betty. but Mrs. Slater intends letting Henrietta go someplace next fall. Why don't you talk it over with her?

Starting point is 03:55:42 I mean to, assured Auntie Jane. You see, it will need a great deal of talking over because it may prove hard to find exactly the right kind of school. The eastern seminaries are too far away. It must be someplace south of Lakeville, within a day's journey, within reach of all our pocketbooks, and in a healthful location. It mustn't be too big, too stylish, or too old-fashioned. I'm sending out postal cards every day and getting catalogs by every mail. But so far, I haven't come to any decision except that Marjorie is to go some place.

Starting point is 03:56:19 At first, the older people said little about school matters to the four girls, but as winter wore on, it became an understood thing that not only fortunate Henrietta but Jean, Marjorie and Mabel were to go away to school. the following September. Won't it be simply glorious, said Henrietta, who is entertaining the cottagers in her den, if all four of us land in the same school, and we must, I shall stand out for that, and you and I, Jean, shall room together and be chums. Then Marjorie and I, announced Mabel, shall room together, too, and fight just the way we always do if Jean isn't on hand to stop us. Won't it be perfectly fine? breathed Marjorie, I've always loved boarding school, stories, and now we'll be living right in one.

Starting point is 03:57:08 Betty kept silent, but her eyes were big and troubled. With the girls gone, she knew that her world would be sadly changed. Her close companionship with the other cottagers. She was only three when she first began to play with Jean, had prevented her forming other friendships. Without doubt, Auntie Jane would be lonely. The Bennets, in Germany, might miss noisy, affectionate, may have Mrs. Mapes might long for helpful Jean and Mrs. Slater would certainly find her big, beautiful home doll with no sparkling Henrietta, but it was Betty. Poor little impecunious, uncomplaining Betty, who would be the very loneliest of all. The other girls would lose only one apiece. Betty's loss would be four-fold. Lovely Jean, Sprightly Marjorie, jolly Mabel, and attractive Henrietta. How could she spare them all at once?

Starting point is 03:58:02 and the glorious times the absent four would have together, how could Betty miss all that? It seemed to the little, overwhelmed girl, too big a trouble to talk about. For a long, long time the more fortunate girls were too taken up with their own prospects to think very seriously of Betty's. But one day, Jean was suddenly astonished

Starting point is 03:58:25 at the depth of misery that she surprised in Betty's wistful, tell-tale eyes. After that, the girl, girls openly expressed their pity for betty who would have to stay in lakeville this proved even harder to bear than their light-hearted chatter for it made betty pity herself to an even greater extent of course it would be several months before the hated school betty by this time was quite certain that she hated it would swallow up her dearest four friends at one sudden hideous gulp but remote as the date was the interested girls could talk of very little else no matter what topic they might begin with. It always worked around at last to when I go away next fall. I can't have any clothes this spring, said Jean, when the girls in a body were escorting Henrietta home from her dressmakers. Mother's letting my old things down and piecing everything till I feel

Starting point is 03:59:23 like a walking bed quilt. You see, I'm to have new things to go away with. Same here, asserted Mabel. only my mother's having a worse time than yours to make my things meet. My waist measure is 29 inches, and my skirt bands are only 27. Only 27, groaned shapely, Henrietta. If you see a second Auntie Jane, said Marjorie, skipping ahead to imitate the elder Miss Vales' prim, peculiar walk, running round Lakeville all summer. You'll know who it is. she's cutting down two of her thousand-year-old gowns to take me over the season. One came out of the ark, and she purchased the other at a little shop on Mount Ere Rat.

Starting point is 04:00:10 Grandmother's making lists, laughed Henrietta, of all the things mentioned in all the catalogs, when she gets done, probably she'll add them all up and divide the result by me, and that will give a respectable outfit for one girl. Poor Betty, said sympathetic Jean, squeezing Betty's son. slim hand. You're out of it all, aren't you? But this was too much for Betty. She turned hastily and fled. The girls looked after her pityingly. Poor Betty, murmured Jean, it's awfully hard on her to hear all this talk about school. She's always had us, you know, and she thinks there won't be a scrap of Lakeville left when we're gone. In February, Rosa Marie created a little excitement by coming down

Starting point is 04:00:54 with measles. Maggie, the maid, had broken out with this unlovely affliction, and no one had suspected that the trouble was until she had peeled in the actual presence of Rosa Marie. Of course Rosa Marie came down with measles too, but there was an unusual feature about this illness. Although it was Maggie and Rosa Marie who were supposed to be the sufferers, it was really Mrs. Crane who did all the suffering. You see, this inexperienced lady read all the literature that she could find that touched on the subject of measles and its after effects. And long after Rosa Marie had entirely recovered, conscientious Mrs. Crane remained awake nights, waiting for the dreaded after effects to develop. We'll bury Mrs. Crane with whooping cough, sputtered Dr. Bennett, writing a soothing prescription for the good lady.

Starting point is 04:01:49 if Rosa Marie ever catches it. She's a hen bringing up a solitary duckling, and she's certainly overdoing it. She ought not to have the responsibility of that child. She's not fitted for responsibilities, yet she's the sort that takes them. I'll adopt Rosa Marie myself, declared Henrietta Bedford, hearing of this opinion and waylaying Dr. Bennett in Mrs. Slater's Hall to make her light-hearted offer. She'd go beautifully with the other picturesque. objects in my din, and I'm very sure that the responsibility won't weigh me down. So am I, laughed Dr. Bennett. So sure of it that I shan't allow you to afflict your grandmother with any carelessly adopted

Starting point is 04:02:33 babies. But that child is on my conscience, since Mabel was the principal culprit in the matter. We'll try to get Mrs. Crane to send her to an asylum. Only that, dear lady's conscience will have to be bombarded from all sides before it will letter consent to any such sensible plan. Perhaps you can get the girls, particularly Mabel, to look at the matter from that point of view. We must rescue Mrs. Crane. I'll try to, promised Henrietta. End of Chapter 28. Chapter 29 of the adopting of Rosa Marie. This is a Libra Fox recording. All Libra Fox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libra Fox

Starting point is 04:03:22 The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin. Anxious Days For the next few weeks, the cottagers led as quiet a life as almost daily association with Henrietta would permit. Jean grew a trifle taller. Marjorie discovered new ways of doing her hair, and Mabel remained as round and ruddy as ever, but everybody was worried about Betty. She seemed listless and indifferent in school. She fell asleep over her books when she attempted to study at night.

Starting point is 04:03:52 She grew averse to getting up mornings, and day by day she grew thinner and paler, until even heedless Mabel observed that she was all eyes. What's the trouble? asked Jean. When Betty said that she didn't feel like going to the public library corner to view the Uncle Tom's cabin parade, a walk would do you good, and it's only four blocks. I'm tired, returned Betty. My head would like to go, but my feet would rather not. and my hands don't want to do anything, or even my tongue.

Starting point is 04:04:26 You can tell me about the parade. That'll be easier than looking at it. Now, this was a new Betty. The old one, while not exactly a noisy person, had been so active physically that the others had sometimes found it difficult to follow her dancing footsteps. She had ever been quick to wait on the other members of her large family or to do errands in the most obliging fashion for any of her friends.

Starting point is 04:04:51 This new Betty eyed the Tucker cat sympathetically when it mewed for milk, but she relegated the task of feeding pussy to one of her much more unwilling small brothers. She needs a tonic, said Mrs. Tucker, giving Betty dark brown doses from a large bottle. It's the spring, I guess. Two days after the parade, there was great excitement among Betty's friends. She had not appeared at school. That in itself was not an unusual occurrence. for Betty often stayed at home to help her overburdened mother through particularly trying days. But when Jean stopped in to consult her little friend about homemade Valentine's,

Starting point is 04:05:32 Mrs. Tucker met her with the news that Betty was sick in bed. Can't I see her? asked Jean. I'm afraid not. Replied Mrs. Tucker, who looked, worried. She's asleep just now and she has a temperature. When Mabel heard this latter fact, she at once consulted Dr. Bennett. she queried, do folks ever die of temperature? Why, yes, returned the doctor. If the temperature is below zero, they sometimes freeze. Why? Mrs. Tucker says that's what Betty's got. Temperature. It isn't a disease, child. It's a condition of heat or cold. But it's too soon to say anything about Betty. Go play with

Starting point is 04:06:12 your dolls. Henrietta and the remaining cottagers immediately thought of lovely things to do for Betty. So, too, did Mr. Black. Impulsive Henrietta purchased a large box of most attractive candy. Jean made her a lovely sponge cake that sat down rather sadly in the middle, but rose nobly at both ends. Mabel begged half a lemon pie from the cook. Marjorie concocted a wonderful bowl of orange jelly with candy cherries on top. Mrs. Crane made a steaming pitcher full of chicken soup, and Mr. Black sent in a great basket of the finest fruit that the Lakefoot market afforded. But when all these excessive and well-meaning visitors presented themselves and their unstinted offerings at the rectory door, Dr. Tucker received them sadly. Betty is down with a fever, said he, she can't eat anything. The days that followed were the most dreadful that the cottagers

Starting point is 04:07:07 had ever known. They lived in suspense. Day after day when they asked for nudes of Betty, the response was usually just about the same. Occasionally, however, however, Dr. Bennett shook his head dubiously and said, Not quite so well today. For weeks, for years, it seemed, to the disheartened children. These were the only tidings that reached them from the sick room. There was a trained nurse whose white cap sometimes gleamed in an upper window. The grave-faced, uncommunicative doctor visited the house twice a day.

Starting point is 04:07:43 A boy with parcels from the drugstore could frequently be seen entering the rectory gate, and that was about all that the terribly interested friends could learn concerning their beloved Betty. They spent most of their time hovering quietly and forlornly about Mrs. Mabes's doorstep. For that particular spot furnished the best view of the afflicted rectory. They wanted poor little souls to keep as close to Betty as possible. If the sun shone during this time, they did not know it, for all the days seemed dark, and miserable. If we could only help a little, Morn Jean, who looked pale and anxious, it wouldn't be so bad.

Starting point is 04:08:26 I teased her, sighed Henrietta, repentantly. Only two days before she was taken sick, I do wish I hadn't. I gave her the smaller half of my orange, lamented Mabel, the very last time I saw her. If, if I don't ever see her, see her again. Oh, well, comforted Marjorie, hastily. She might have been just that much sicker if she'd eaten the larger piece, but I wish I hadn't talked so much about boarding school. It always worried her,

Starting point is 04:08:58 and sometimes I tried. Marjorie blushed guiltily at the remembrance to make her just a little envious. I'm afraid, confessed Jean. I sometimes neglected her just a little for Henrietta, but I mean to make up for it if I have a chance. That's it. breathed Marjorie softly, if we only have a chance. Then, because the march wind wailed forlornly, because the waiting had been so long, and because it seemed to the discouraged children, as if the chance, after all, were extremely slight,

Starting point is 04:09:36 as slight and frail a thing as poor little Betty herself, the four friends sat very quietly for many minutes on the rail, of the MAPES's broad porch, with big tears flowing, down their cheeks. Presently Mabel fell to sobbing outright. Mr. Black, on his way home from his office, found them there. He had meant to salute them in his usual friendly fashion, but at sight of their disconsolate faces, he merely glanced at them inquiringly. She's just about the same, sobbed Jean, Mr. Black, without a word, proceeded on his way, but all the sparkle had vanished from his

Starting point is 04:10:16 dark eyes and his countenance seemed older. He, too, was unhappy on Betty's account, and he lived in hourly dread of unfavorable news. The very next morning, however, there was a more hopeful air about Dr. Bennett when he left the rectory. Mabel, waiting at home, questioned him mutely with her eyes. A very slight change for the better, said he, but it is too soon for us to be sure of anything. We're not out of the woods yet. next came the tidings that Betty was really improving, though not at all rapidly, yet it was something to know that she was started on the road to recovery. Perhaps the tedious days that followed were the most trying days of all. However, for the impatient children, because the road to recovery in Betty's case seemed such a tremendously long road that her little friends began to fear that Betty would never come into sight at the end of it, but she did at last. And such a forlorned, Betty as she was. She had certainly been very ill. They had shaved her poor little head. Her eyes seemed almost twice their usual size, and the girls had not believed that any living person could come

Starting point is 04:11:28 so pitiably thin, but the wasting fever was gone, and what was left of Betty was still alive. Long before the invalid was able to sit up, the girls had been admitted one by one and at different times to take a look at her. Betty had smiled at them. She had even made a feeble little joke about being able to count every one of her two hundred bones. After a time, Betty could sit up in bed. A few days later, rolled in a gaily flowered quilt presented by the women of the parish. She occupied a big, pillowed chair near the window, and all four of the girls were able to throw kisses to her from Jean's porch, and now she could eat a few spoonfuls of Mrs. Crean's savory broth, a very little of Marjorie's orange jelly, and one or two of Mr. Black's imported grapes.

Starting point is 04:12:19 But, for a long, long time, Betty progressed no further than the chair. I don't know what ails that child, confessed, puzzled Dr. Bennett. She's like a piece of elastic with all the stretch gone from the rubber. she seems to lack something, not exactly vitality, animation, perhaps, or ambition. Yes, she certainly lacks ambition. She ought to be outdoors by now. Hurry and get well, urged Jean, who had been instructed to try to rouse her too slowly improving friend. The weather's warmer every day and it won't be long before we can open Dandelion Cottage. And we've sworn a tremendous vow not to show Henrietta. She's crazy. to see it a single inch of that house until you're able to trot over with us here's the key you're to keep it until you're ready to unlock that door yourself drop it into that face directed betty it seems a hundred miles to that cottage and i'll never have legs enough to walk so far two are enough encouraged jean both of mine mourned betty displaying a wrinkled stocking wouldn't make a whole one mrs slater wants to take you to drive every day, just as soon as you are able to wear clothes. She told me to tell you, it seems a fearfully long way to the stepping stone, sighed Betty. Go home, please. It makes me tired to think of driving.

Starting point is 04:13:49 There's certainly something amiss with Betty, said Dr. Bennett. When told of this interview, some little spring in her seems broken. We must find it and mend it or we won't have any Betty. End of Chapter 29 Chapter 30 of the Adopting of Rosa Marie This is a Labor Fox recording All Libra Fox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit LibraFox.org

Starting point is 04:14:21 The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin and April Harvest Spring is an unknown season in Lakeville But if one waits sufficiently long There comes at last a period known as the breaking of winter since, owing to the heavy snows of January, February and March, there is always a great deal of winter to break. The process is an extended end to the overshoot young, a decidedly trying one. But even in Northerly Lakeville, there finally came an afternoon when the girls decided that the day was much too fine to be spent indoors, and that the hour had arrived when it would be safe to leave off rubbers. The snow had disappeared except in very shaded spots.

Starting point is 04:15:05 and the bay was free of ice except for a line of white that showed far out beyond the intense blue the sidewalks were comparatively dry but streams of icy water gurgled merrily in the deep gutters that ran down all the sloping streets although this abundant moisture was only the result of melting snow in the hills back of lakeville and possessed no beauty in itself these impetuous streams gave forth pleasant spring-like sounds and made one think sentimentally of babbling brooks, fresh clover, and blossoms by the wayside. Yet one needed to draw pretty heavily on one's imagination to see either flowers or grass at that early date, but the feel of them, as Jean said, was certainly in the air. Let's walk down by Mrs. Maloney's, suggested Mabel. She doesn't milk at this time of day, does she? queried Henrietta cautiously.

Starting point is 04:16:00 We needn't go in, assured Mabel. We'll just run down one hill and up the other. but it's always lovely to walk along the shore road there's a sort of a sidewalk if folks aren't too particular wouldn't it be beautiful sighed jean if betty could only come too this air would do anybody good yes warned marjorie nothing seems quite right without betty the girls a trifle saddened went slowly down the hill we must certainly steer clear of mrs maloney warned henrietta as the egg woman's house became visible another dose of her hot milk would drive me from lakeville there she is now exclaimed mabel i recognize her by her cow she's driving at home perhaps it ran away to look for summer offered marjorie the lady seems displeased with her pet and how are the darlin childer cried mrs maloney greeting her friends while yet a long way off tis a sight for a quaint to see so many purty lasses but where's me little black oid biddy there's the sway to twilled for gis sure i heard she was like to die when while back bether is't thoughts good thoughts good and wad yes be la'n miss mabel tis fatter than i've yes are i see i had yes in me moined all this this a day why asked mabel rather coldly well twas like this darlin explained mrs

Starting point is 04:17:33 Maloney, dropping her voice to a more confidential tone and nodding significantly toward a distant chimney. Twas seven o'clock the morning when I seen smoke rising from the shanty beyond. All day I've been moindin'n to be going across the pint, and looking in at thought windy to see if twas thought big-eyed finch won come back with the spring. You don't mean Rosa Marie's mother, gasped Mabel. Thoughtsane, proceeded Mrs. Maloney calmly. But what would Maloney whitewashin' me kitchen,

Starting point is 04:18:14 and me pesky hens walking in me parlour, and me cow breaking down me fintz. Sure, we've had no time to be traipsin about. Couldn't you go now? Query Jane eagerly, if it is that woman, we ought to know it. wait till oi toy up me cow consented mrs maloney the four friends with mrs maloney in tow picked their way over the badly kept path that led to the shanty the door's been mended announced observant marjorie it doesn't seem quite proper said gentle manner to jean to peek into people's windows couldn't we knock and ask in a perfectly proper way to see the lady of the house sure we could not replied mrs maloney do hurry urged Mabel, breathlessly, there was no response to Jean's rather nervous knock.

Starting point is 04:19:05 But when Mrs. Maloney applied her stout knuckles to the door, there were results. The door was opened cautiously, just a tiny crack at first. Then to its full extent, a dark-eyed woman with two thick braids falling over her shapely shoulders confronted them, she swept a mildly curious glance over Mrs. Maloney, over Jean, over Marjorie, over Henrietta. Then her splendid eyes fell upon Mabel. They changed instantaneously. In a twinkling the woman had brushed past the others to see startled Mabel by both shoulders and to gaze piercingly into Mabel's frightened eyes. The woman tried to speak, but for a long moment her voice would not come. You, you, she gasped, clutching Mabel still more tightly, as if she feared that the youngster might escape. Is eat you for sure. But we're, we're, no further words would come. The poor creature, as evident emotion was pitiful to see.

Starting point is 04:20:02 And the girls were too overwhelmed to do more than stare with all their might. Rosa Marie's all right, gulped Mabel, coming to the rescue with exactly the right words. She's safe and happy. Ma Bobby, Ma Bobby, moaned the woman. Her long, lashed eyes beaming with wonderful tenderness and expressive of intense longing, bring me to him quick. Ah, so quick as ever you can. Ma baby.

Starting point is 04:20:30 what im weak then without stopping for outer garments or even to close her door and still holding fast to the abductor of rosamoree the woman hurriedly led the way from the clearing mrs maloney would have remained with the party if she had not encountered her frolicsome cow a section of fence rail dangling from her neck strolling off toward town on the way up the long hill the woman who still possessed all the beauty and the mother looks that mabel had described talked volume of in French, in Chippewa Indian, and in broken English. As Henrietta was able to understand some of the French and part of the English, the girls were able to make out almost two-thirds of what she was saying. On the day of Mabel's first visit, the young mother had departed with her new husband, who, not wanting to be burdened with a stepchild, had persuaded her to abandon Rosa Marie, for whom she had subsequently mourned without ceasing. As might have been expected, the man had proved on kind. He had beaten her, half-starred her, and finally deserted her. She had worked all winter

Starting point is 04:21:35 for sufficient money to carry her to Lakeville and had waited impatiently, all that time without news of her baby. For mild weather and ordered that the shanty, the only home that she knew, might become habitable. The hill was steep and long, but all five hastened toward the top. Marjorie ran ahead to bring the black-grain doorbell. Mabel piloted the trembling mother straight to the nursery, Jean, learning from Martin, where to look for Mrs. Crane, ran to fetch her. Rosa Marie, in her little chair, and placidly stringing beads, looked up as unconcernedly as as if it were an ordinary occasion. The woman uttering broken, incoherent sounds sped across the big room, dropped to her knees and flung her arms about Rosa Marie. Then, for many

Starting point is 04:22:23 moments, her face buried in Rosa Marie's neck. The only half-civilized mother sobbed unrestrainedly. The child, however, gazed stolidly over her mother's shoulder at the other visitors, all of whom were much more moved than she. Mrs. Crane, indeed, was shedding tears and even Mr. Black seemed touched. As for Mabel, that sympathetic young person was weeping both visibly and audibly without exactly knowing why. Since the repentant mother, who refused to let her baby out of her arms for a single moment, begged to be allowed to take Rosa Marie to the shanty that very night. Mrs. Crane, aided by the willing girls and Mr. Black, did what they could toward making the place comfortable. After Martin and Mr. Black had carried a whole

Starting point is 04:23:11 molder carful of bedding, food, and fuel to the shanty, the now radiant mother, Rosa Marie, her toys, her clothes, and all her belongings were likewise transported to the humble lake. side-dwelling. Everybody was so busy, and the whole affair was over so quickly that no one had time for regrets. I declare, said Mrs. Crane, wonderingly, ah, to feel as if I'd lost something. Instead, I'm all of a whirl. I said, Maple triumphed, that she'd come back. Jean was commissioned to go the next morning to break the news to Betty. It seemed to Dr. Bennett, and to the hopeful cottagers that this important happening would surely rouse the listless little maid if anything could. Mr. Black, who arrived with a great bunch of violets while Jean was telling the wonderful tale,

Starting point is 04:24:01 as graphically as she could, expectantly watched Betty's pale countenance. Her wistful, weary eyes brightened for a moment and a faint, tender smile flickered across her lips. I'm glad, said she. Now Mrs. Crane won't have to have whooping cough and all the other things. Mrs. Crane is going to find work for Rosa Marie's mother, announced Jean, and the shanty is to be mended. That's nice, returned Betty, who, however, no longer seemed interested in Rosa Marie's mother, but my ears are tired now. Don't tell me any more. After this failure, Mr. Black followed

Starting point is 04:24:37 Cresswell and Jean downstairs. He drew her into the shabby rectory parlor. Now, Jean, demanded he, sternly. Is there a solitary thing in this whole world that Betty wants? Is there anything that could possibly happen that would wake her up and bring her back? I'm dreadfully afraid she's slipping away from us, Jean, and she's far too precious to lose. Now think. Think hard, little girl. Has she ever wanted anything? Why, responded Jean, slowly, as if some outside force were dragging the words from her. Right after Christmas there was something. I think a big, impossible something that nobody could possibly help. She didn't talk about it, and yet, and yet, perhaps she did worry.

Starting point is 04:25:24 Go on, insisted Mr. Black, I want it all. She seemed to get used to the idea, so uncomplainingly. Still, she may have cared more than anybody suspected. She's like that. Never cries when she's hurt. What idea? demanded Mr. Black. Cared for what? make it clear child. You see, explained Jean, all of us, Henrietta, Marjorie, Mabel, and I have been talking a great deal about going away to boarding school. We're all going. But Betty, Betty, of course, knew that she couldn't go. There was no money and her father said,

Starting point is 04:26:01 And Ryan Thunder, shouted Mr. Black, forgetting the invalid and striding up and down the room with his fists lynched. Didn't somebody say so? What do folks think the good Lord gave us money? Why didn't? Come upstairs. We'll settle this thing right now. Impulsive Mr. Black, with days Jean at his heels, opened Betty's door and walked in. Betty lifted her tired eyes and very mild astonishment. Bad pennies, she smiled, always come back. What's all the noise about? Betty, demanded Mr. Black, do you want to go away to school with those other girls next September? Betty opened her eyes wide. Gene said afterwards that she pricked up her ears, too. Because continued Mr. Black, keeping a sharp watch on Betty's awakening countenance, you're going. And if I say you're going, you surely are. Now, don't worry about it, the thing settled. You're going with the others. Open the windows, pleaded Betty, her face alike with some of the old-time eagerness. I want to see how it smells outdoors. I believe we've done it, breathed Jean. She looks a lot brighter. And they had. No one had realized how tender, uncomplaining Betty, had dreaded losing her friends,

Starting point is 04:27:15 and in her weakened state, both before and after the fever, the trouble had seemed very big. The load had almost crushed sick little Betty. Now that it was lifted, and it was, for Mr. Black swept everything before him, there was nothing to keep the little girl from getting well with truly gratifying speed. Betty, asked Dr. Bennett, the next evening, are you sure this is your own pulse if it is it's behaving properly at last she ate every bit of her supper said mrs tucker happily and she asked this afternoon if she owned any shoes she's really getting well i'm hurrying laughed happy betty to make up for lost time do give me things to make me fat as fat as mabel she's certainly better said the satisfied doctor by tomorrow we'll have to tie her down to keep her from your dancing. She's our own Betty at last. End of Chapter 30. End of the adopting of Rosa Marie by Carol Watson Rankin.

Classic Audiobook Collection - The Adopting of Rosa Marie by Carroll Watson Rankin ~ Full Audiobook [family]

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.