Children's Book Classics - Kate Douglas Wiggin Edition: 11 Novels & 120+ Short Stories for Children. Kate Douglas Wiggin

after verse rang in splendid strength through the solemn aisles of the church, ending with the lines:—

      “O God, to us may strength be given

       To follow in His train!”

      Dr. George’s voice came to Polly as it sounded that gray October afternoon beside the sea; “When the sun of one’s happiness is set, one lights a candle called ‘Patience,’ and guides one’s footsteps by that.”

      She leaned her head on the pew in front of her, and breathed a prayer. The minister was praying for the rest of the people, but she needed to utter her own thought just then.

      “Father in heaven, I will try to follow; I have lighted my little candle, help me to keep it burning! I shall stumble often in the darkness, I know, for it was all so clear when I could walk by my darling mother’s light, which was like the sun, so bright, so pure, so strong! Help me to keep the little candle steady, so that it may throw its beams farther and farther into the pathway that now looks so dim.”

      Polly sank to sleep that night in her white bed in the Pilgrim Chamber; and the name of the chamber was Peace indeed, for she had a smile on her lips,—a smile that looked as if the little candle had in truth been lighted in her soul, and was shining through her face as though it were a window.

Chapter XVII.

       Polly Launches Her Ships

       Table of Contents

      There were great doings in the Birds Nest.

      A hundred dainty circulars, printed in black and scarlet on Irish linen paper, had been sent to those ladies on Mrs. Bird’s calling-list who had children between the ages of five and twelve, that being Polly’s chosen limit of age.

      These notes of invitation read as follows:—

      “Come, tell us a story!”

      THE CHILDREN’S HOUR.

      Mrs. Donald Bird requests the pleasure of your company from 4.30 to 5.30 o’clock on Mondays or Thursdays from November to March inclusive.

      FIRST GROUP: Mondays. Children from 5 to 8 years.

       SECOND GROUP: Thursdays. ” ” 8 ” 12 years.

      Each group limited in number to twenty-four.

      Miss Pauline Oliver will tell stories suitable to the ages of the children, adapted to their prevailing interests, and appropriate to the special months of the year.

      These stories will be chosen with the greatest care, and will embrace representative tales of all classes,—narrative, realistic, scientific, imaginative, and historical. They will be illustrated by songs and black-board sketches. Terms for the Series (Twenty Hours), Five Dollars.

      R.S.V.P.

      Polly felt an absolute sense of suffocation as she saw Mrs. Bird seal and address the last square envelope.

      “If anybody does come,” she said, somewhat sadly, “I am afraid it will be only that the story hour is at your lovely house.”

      “Don’t be so foolishly independent, my child. If I gather the groups, it is only you who will be able to hold them together. I am your manager, and it is my duty to make the accessories as perfect as possible. When the scenery and costumes and stage-settings are complete, you enter and do the real work, I retire, and the sole responsibility for success or failure rests upon your shoulders; I should think that would be enough to satisfy the most energetic young woman. I had decided on the library as the scene of action; an open fire is indispensable, and that room is delightfully large when the centre-table is lifted out: but I am afraid it is hardly secluded enough, and that people might trouble you by coming in; so what do you think of the music-room upstairs? You will have your fire, your piano, plenty of space, and a private entrance for the chicks, who can lay their wraps in the hall as they pass up. I will take the large Turkish rug from the red guest-chamber,—that will make the room look warmer,—and I have a dozen other charming devices which I will give you later as surprises.”

      “If I were half as sure of my part as I am of yours, dear Fairy Godmother, we should have nothing to fear. I have a general plan mapped out for the stories, but a great deal of the work will have to be done from week to week, as I go on. I shall use the same programme in the main for both groups, but I shall simplify everything and illustrate more freely for the little ones, telling the historical and scientific stories with much more detail to the older group. This is what Mr. Bird calls my ‘basic idea,’ which will be filled out from week to week according to inspiration. For November, I shall make autumn, the harvest, and Thanksgiving the starting-point. I am all ready with my historical story of ‘The First Thanksgiving,’ for I told it at the Children’s Hospital last year, and it went beautifully.

      “I have one doll dressed in Dutch costume, to show how the children looked that the little Pilgrims played with in Holland; and another dressed like a Puritan maiden, to show them the simple old New England gown. Then I have two fine pictures of Miles Standish and the Indian chief Massasoit.

      “For December and January I shall have Christmas and winter, and frost and ice and snow, with the contrasts of eastern and Californian climates.”

      “I can get the Immigration Bureau to give you a percentage on that story, Polly,” said Uncle Jack Bird, who had strolled in and taken a seat. “Just make your facts strong enough, and you can make a handsome thing out of that idea.”

      “Don’t interrupt us, Jack,” said Mrs. Bird; “and go directly out, if you please. You were not asked to this party.”

      “Where was I?” continued Polly. “Oh yes,—the contrast between Californian and eastern winters; and January will have a moral story or two, you know,—New Year’s resolutions, and all that. February will be full of sentiment and patriotism,—St. Valentine’s Day and Washington’s Birthday,—I can hardly wait for that, there are so many lovely things to do in that month. March will bring in the first hint of spring. The winds will serve for my science story; and as it chances to be a presidential year, we will celebrate Inauguration Day, and have some history, if a good many subscribers come in.”

      “Why do you say ‘if,’ Polly? Multitudes of names are coming in. I have told you so from the beginning.”

      “Very well, then; when a sufficient number of names are entered, I should like to spend ten dollars on a very large sand-table, which I can use with the younger group for illustrations. It is perfectly clean work, and I have helped Miss Denison and her children to do the loveliest things with it. She makes geography lessons,—plains, hills, mountains, valleys, rivers, and lakes; or the children make a picture of the story they have just heard. I saw them do ‘Over the River and through the Wood to Grandfather’s House we go,’ ‘Washington’s Winter Camp at Valley Forge,’ and ‘The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.’ I have ever so many songs chosen, and those for November and December are almost learned without my notes. I shall have to work very hard to be ready twice a week!”

      “Too hard, I fear,” said Mrs. Bird anxiously.

      “Oh, no; not a bit too hard! If the children are only interested, I shall not mind any amount of trouble. By the way, dear Mrs. Bird, you won’t let the nurses or mothers stand in the doorways? You will please see that I am left quite alone with the children, won’t you?”

      “Certainly; no mothers shall be admitted, if they make you nervous; it is the children’s hour. But after two or three months, when you have all become acquainted, and the children are accustomed to listening attentively, I almost hope you will allow a few nurses to come in and sit in the corners,—the ones who bring the youngest children, for example; it would be such a means of education to them. There ‘s another idea for you next year,—a nurses’ class in story-telling.”

      “It would be rather nice, would n’t it?—and I should be older then,