Tabithas Vacation | Page 7

secure for its two weeks of solitude, they tramped
merrily up the steep path to the Eagles' Nest, and entered upon their
summer vacation as housekeepers for a family of six, as Susie
expressed it.
Everything was topsy-turvy in the excitement of getting the injured
father, and weary, distracted mother started on their brief journey; but
finally they were off, and a row of sober-faced children stood on the
bluff overlooking the flats below, watching the train puff its way
slowly out of sight behind the mountains.
With the last glimpse of the departing cars, the sense of responsibility
in her new charge descended upon the shoulders of the volunteer
housekeeper, and Tabitha was for a brief moment appalled at the task
which she had so rashly undertaken.
"Six children to look after for two whole weeks!" she gasped in dismay.
Then her courage returned with a rush. "Why, Tabitha Catt, you coward!
I am ashamed of you! If you can't take care of six children for two short
weeks, particularly with Gloriana to help, you are not good for much!"
Resolutely she turned toward the house, saying briskly, to hide her own
wavering spirits, "Well, folkses, let's have chocolate pie for supper!"

"Oh, goody!" cried Inez, whirling about to follow her leader; and at
mention of these words, the faces of the whole group brightened
wonderfully.
"Can't we have some cake, too? Mamma said we might if you knew
how to make it."
"Knew how to make it?" boasted Tabitha scornfully. "Well, I should
say we do! What kind will you have?"
"Nut loaf," quickly responded Mercedes, who knew from experience
how delicious Tabitha's nut loaves were.
"Angel cake," wheedled Susie, with her most engaging smile.
"Frosted with chocolate," added Inez.
"Devil's food," suggested Irene.
"Cookies," pleaded Rosslyn, who had a boy's fondness for that
particular delicacy.
"Dingerbread," lisped the baby.
And Tabitha laughed. "That's quite a collection, my dears."
"I should say so!" gasped Gloriana. "We can't make them all to-night.
In fact, it is nearly four o'clock now. There isn't time for both pie and
cake."
"Unless we do make gingerbread, as Janie suggested," said Tabitha
slowly, seeing the look of disappointment clouding the row of round,
serious faces watching them so expectantly.
"Wiv raisins," coaxed Rosslyn. "Lots of 'em!"
Instantly the faces brightened again. "Oh, yes, that's the way we like it
best," chorused the four older members.

"And let us seed them," pleaded Inez. "Mamma often lets us."
"She won't let us eat more'n twelve," added Irene hopefully, "and we
can work real fast."
"Well, you will have to if we have gingerbread for supper," said
Gloriana. "I supposed the raisins were already seeded. Will we have
time, Tabitha?"
"Yes, if everyone hustles, I reckon. Mercy, you know where things are
in the pantry. Supposing you get out the spices, sugar, flour, and things.
Susie and the twins stone the raisins; and, Rosslyn, you might bring in
some small wood for the stove. We'll use the range to-night, because I
have baked in that oven before and know how it works, but won't know
until I experiment with it, how the gasolene oven bakes."
While she was issuing orders, Tabitha flaxed blithely about the little
kitchen, lighting the fire, hunting up cooking utensils, and beginning
the process of making chocolate pie, leaving Gloriana to wrestle with
the mysteries of a raisin gingerbread.
Anxious for the coming treat, the children obediently flew to their
various tasks; and soon voices buzzed busily, while the little hands
tried their best to hurry.
"There!" breathed Tabitha at last, lifting a red, perspiring face from an
inspection of two beautifully frosted pies in the oven, "they are done.
Don't they look fine? Now you can put in your gingerbread whenever
you are ready, Glory. I'll set these on the wash bench outside to cool,
while I hustle up the rest of the supper."
"Mamma always puts her pies in the pantry window," volunteered Irene,
not wishing to have the tempting delicacy removed from her sight.
"But they will cool quicker in the open air," explained Tabitha. "And
supper will be ready so soon that they won't be cool enough to eat if we
set them in the window. Now, Mercy----"

"Oh, Kitty," came a sudden wail of alarm from the dooryard where
Rosslyn was still busy with his basket of chips, "Janie is gone! I can't
find her anywhere!"
Tabitha dropped her platter of cold potatoes which she was preparing to
warm over; Mercedes hastily left her dishpan where she was piling up
the soiled kitchen utensils which the youthful cooks had used with
extravagant hand; Susie and the twins abruptly deserted the raisin jar;
and all bolted for the door.
Only Gloriana remained at her post. She had arrived at the most