Mary Jane - Her Visit | Page 3

are pretty straight
but you'll like that when you get used to it, because then you can't get
lost. There's a road every mile and each road goes just the way it by
rights ought to go because there aren't any hills to get in the way." And
all the while Grandfather was talking, he was driving the car along the
straight road just as fast as could be.
"And aren't there any hills before we get to your house?" asked Mary
Jane after a while.
'"Well," said Grandfather smilingly, as he slowed the car down, "what
do you think about that yourself?"

Mary Jane looked before her, the way she could see Grandfather
wanted her to look, and, right there close, she saw a big, old-fashioned
white house. It had a flower bed, a great big round flower bed, in the
yard in front of it and a curving driveway along the side. And it had a
wide porch all across the front, a porch that had seats and a swing and
everything a little girl would like to see on a porch. A lot of windows
with green shutters were scattered over the house, and through the
windows Mary Jane could see ruffled white curtains at every window.
And on the porch of this house stood a pretty, white-haired
grandmother, just the sort of a grandmother that belongs to every white
house in the country.
"I think there aren't any hills because here we are!" exclaimed Mary
Jane happily as Grandfather stopped the car by the side steps.
Quick as a minute Dr. Smith jumped her out of the car and
Grandmother Hodges, for it really was she, just as Mary Jane had
guessed, gave her a hug and a dozen kisses and Mary Jane felt at home
from that minute.
"Now don't bother about that trunk," said Grandmother briskly. "It can
wait! I don't know what Dr. Smith promised we'd have for breakfast
this morning, but griddle cakes and honey are what I have ready. Come
right on in, Dr. Smith."
She took off Mary Jane's coat and hat and laid them on the couch in the
living-room, and then they all went in to what Mary Jane thought was
the best breakfast she had ever eaten in all her five years. There were
bananas and cream, oh, such good cream; and eggs and bacon and
griddle cakes and honey. Mary Jane had never eaten honey on griddle
cakes before, and she liked it so well that they quite lost count of the
number she ate!
"If you go on as you're beginning," laughed Dr. Smith, "you'll be so big
and fat by the time you go home that I'll have to go along with you and
tell them you're Mary Jane Merrill, that's what I will!"
"I'll risk their knowing," said Grandmother; "that child was almost
starved! If you're in a hurry, don't wait for her. And Father" (she turned
to Grandfather Hodges), "you be sure to take Mary Jane's trunk up to
her room before you go to the barn. She'll want to open it right away to
get out her play dress."
By the time Mary Jane was through her breakfast the trunk had been

carried upstairs and Grandfather Hodges was off to the barn.
"You come out to see me whenever you're ready," he said as he left.
"And I'll be running along too," said Dr. Smith, "though I must admit
I'd rather stay and help show Mary Jane the farm than to call on sick
folks this morning. I'll be by to see you this evening, little girl, to hear
what you think of all the new sights." And he started down the road
toward his home--it was such a little way that he preferred to walk.
"Now, Mary Jane," said Grandmother briskly, "what would you like to
play while I do the dishes?"
"I'd like to do them too," said Mary Jane promptly.
"A little girl five years old do dishes?" exclaimed Grandmother.
"'Deed, yes, Grandmother," said Mary Jane, much pleased to think
Grandmother was so impressed. "I'm a little past five, you know, and I
can work a lot!"
"Just think of that," exclaimed Grandmother approvingly. "Then we'll
be through in no time. I'll wash and you wipe, and I'll put away. Let me
tie this apron over your pretty traveling dress."
While they did the work, Mary Jane answered all the questions about
Mother and Alice and Father that Grandmother could ask and then, as
soon as the last dish was put away the two went upstairs and unpacked
the trunk. Such fun as it was to put all her own ribbons and
handkerchiefs into the funny little bureau that stood in Mary Jane's
room! And to hang up her dresses,