Its a good ways, and Ive heard it costs a lot of money, but I dont know exactly how much. Why?
Oh, nothing much I just wanted to know, thats all, returned Julie, as she took up the jug to carry it back to Betty.
We want to figure out how much more money well have to earn, Maysy, before we can start for that camp. Thats why Jule asked, explained Betty, conscientious even in little things like this.
Hoh! why you girls will have to weed Vernons lawn all summer before you can raise money enough to pay carfare to the Adirondacks! laughed John, who now scuffled into the kitchen to see if he could find anything good to eat before dinner was served.
We didnt ask your opinion! Youre only a child, so how would you know about carfares, retorted Julie, condescendingly.
Oh, really! Is that so! Well, let me tell you, I know a heap more about it than you dream of, cause Im planning to go to Chimney Point Camp myself this summer so! exclaimed John, feeling highly gratified when he saw the looks of consternation on his sisters faces. But he forgot to reckon with Eliza.
Eliza was a trifle more than six feet in height, and buxom as well. She had powerful hands and feet and when she snapped her mouth shut as a signal of disapproval, the children knew better than to argue.
Now Eliza plunked the soup-pot down upon the range and wheeled to face John. Her broad hands went to their habitual rest upon her ample hips, and she inquired in a high falsetto voice:
John Lee! Does your father know what youse just said?
Not yet, but he will tnight, Liza; the Y. M. C. A. director of our gym is coming to see him about it, replied John, without the bravado he had expressed towards his sisters.
Then lemme tell you this much, sonny! Ef your father asks me fer an opinion and I spose he will, seein how I has brung you all up Ill come out an tell him it aint fair fer him t let you take money to go to camp this summer, an make th girls set to work to earn theirn. An thats onny fair to all!
Oh, I am not going to spend money, Liza Im goin to help wash dishes in camp to pay for my board, hastily added John.
Wash dishes! Huh! snorted Eliza disdainfully. Id hate t hev to eat from them dishes! Then as an afterthought struck her humorously, she added: But men-folks dont know th diffrunce they eat whats set before them, whether dishes are clean or dirty!
May laughed appreciatively and said: Which goes to show how much Liza appraises Johns ability to wash dishes.
Er anything
else, that I knows of, murmured Eliza, winking at May. Dont we have t look after his neck and ears every day afore he goes to school?
Julie joined May in the laugh at Johns expense, and he rushed out of the kitchen, slamming the door behind him. But Betty turned to Eliza and said:
Liza, Johns getting to be too big a boy for us to tease like that. I think we hurt his feelings just now.
Betsy, if Johns too big for teasin then hes big enough to tend to his own wardrobe and appearance. Now I wonder what he would look like in ten days ef I diden keep after him all the time?
Betty said no more but she had finished mashing the potatoes and so she ran out, planning how she could please John in order to compensate him for the teasing from Eliza.
Julie had been hanging about, thinking she could scrape the bowl clean when her sister had finished whipping the cream for the Snow Pudding. But May had other plans. When the cream had stiffened into a peak of snow-like froth, the bowl was carried to the refrigerator and there placed upon the ice.
With a regretful sigh, Julie watched, then ran out after Betty. John and Betty were in the sitting-room asking Mr. Lee about railroad fares and camp-life. So Julie was just in time to hear his reply.
Having figured roughly on a scrap of paper, Mr. Lee told his questioners about how much it would cost to reach the Adirondacks. John whistled in surprise, and Betty looked at Julie in chagrin.
My goodness, Betty! It will take us all summer to earn that much money.
I guess well have to find some mountains nearer home, then, ventured Betty, wistfully.
I wonder what Ruth will do when she hears we cant earn enough money for fares, added Julie.
The following day after school, the four girls met again on Vernons lawn and exchanged items of news with each other. But the most discouraging of all was the telling of the cost of carfare to the Adirondacks.
They stood with baskets hanging from their arms, and weeding tools idle, while faces expressed the disappointment at hearing Bettys story. Finally Ruth said:
Then theres no use breaking our backs over this old lawn. Ill not dig dandelions if it isnt going to get us anywhere.
Oh, I didnt mean to make you feel that way, when I told you about the fares, expostulated Betty. I only wanted you to know wed have to find some other camp-place to go to, nearer home.
Anyway, girls, dont lets quit work just now, because we found out about the cost of traveling. Lets keep right on and who knows! we may wind up in the Alps this summer carfares, steamers for ocean voyages, and everything included paid for and presented to us by an unknown uncle from a far country! laughed Joan.