Ethel Mortons Holidays | Page 9

proved that he was not, for he passed the Smith cottage and went on
until he came to the house in which lived the Misses Clark. Roger was
taking care of their furnace, together with his mother's and his Aunt
Louise's, in order to earn money for the expenses of the Club, and he
had discovered that these old ladies were not very happy in spite of
living in a comfortable house and apparently having everything they
needed.
"These Misses Clark are lonely," he whispered as they gathered before
the door. "They think nobody cares for them--and nobody does much,
to tell the honest truth. So here's where we sing two songs for them,"
and without waiting for any possible objections he broke into "The
Christmas Ship" which they all knew, and followed it with "Sister
Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers."
"Not very appropriate, but they'll do," whispered Roger to Dr. Watkins,
whose clear tenor supported him. Dorothy's sweet voice soared high,
Tom's croak made a heavy background, and the more or less tuneful
voices of the others added a hearty body of sound. There was no
response from the house except that a corner of an upstairs curtain was
drawn aside for an instant.
"They probably think they won't find anything left on their front porch
when they come down in the morning. They've had Hallowe'en visits
before, poor ladies," said Gregory as they tramped away.
The next visit was to a different part of the town. Here the girls left two
of their bundles which proved to contain apples and cookies.
"I don't believe these people ever have a cent they can afford to spend
on foolishness like this," Helen explained to Dr. Watkins, "but they
aren't the sort of people you can give things to openly, so we thought
we'd take this opportunity," and she smiled happily and went on behind
Roger's leadership.
This time the visit was to the Atwoods, the old couple down by the

bridge. Roger had been interested in them for a long time. They were
not suffering, for a son supported them, but both were almost crippled
with rheumatism and sometimes the old man found the little daily
chores about the house hard to do, and often the old woman longed for
a little amusement of which she was deprived because she could not go
to visit her friends. It was here that Roger's kit came into play. He took
from it several hatchets and distributed them to the boys.
"We're going to chop the gentleman's kindling and stack up the wood
that's lying round here while the girls sing to the old people," he
announced.
So the plan was carried out. The girls gathered about the doorstep, and,
led by Dorothy, sang cradle songs and folk songs and a hymn or two,
while the boys toiled away behind the house. Again there was no
response.
"Probably they've gone to bed," guessed Ethel Brown.
"I imagine they're lying awake, though," said Ethel Blue softly.
It is an old adage that "many hands make light work," and it is equally
true that they turn off a lot of it, so at the end of half an hour the old
peoples' wood pile was in apple pie order and the yard was in a spick
and span condition.
There were two more calls before the procession turned home and at
both houses bundles of goodies were left for children who would not be
apt to have them. On the way back to the house the U. S. C.'s came
across the trail of a Hallowe'en party of the usual kind, and they pleased
themselves mightily by hanging two gates which they found unhung,
and by restoring to their proper places several signs which some village
wit--"or witling," suggested Dr. Watkins--had misplaced.
The evening ended with the cutting of a cake in which was baked a
ring.
"The one who gets the ring in his slice will be married first,"

announced Mrs. Morton, who had prepared the cake as a surprise for
those who had been surprising others.
They cut it with the greatest care and slowly, one after the other. To the
delight of all Dr. Watkins's slice proved to contain the ring.
"I rather imagine that's the most suitable arrangement the ring could
have made," laughed Mrs. Smith.
"If one of these youngsters had found it, it would have meant that I'd
have to wait a long time for my turn," he laughed back. "Wish me
luck."
CHAPTER III
MISS MERRIAM
The first fortnight of November rushed by with the final preparations
for the sailing of the Christmas Ship filling every moment of the time
of the members of the United Service Club. When at last their three
packing cases of gifts were expressed to