FIVE HAPPY WEEKS.
BY
MARGARET E. SANGSTER.
American Tract Society,
150 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by
THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
FIVE HAPPY WEEKS.
CHAPTER I.
"GOOD-BY, MAMMA!"
"I don't see how I can do such a thing," said mamma, shading her eyeswith a hand so white and thin that you could almost see through it."I never, never can go away, for five weeks, and leave these children;I should not have a moment's peace."
"But, my darling," said papa, "the doctor says it is the only thing thatwill restore your health. The children will be nicely taken care of, and[pg 4] I am sure they will be as good and obedient as possible while you aregone."
"You are going too, William; you seem to forget that. And we have neverbeen away from them before. What if Edith or Mabel should be sick, orJohnnie should fall and break his arm, or—"
"Don't conjure up dreadful possibilities, Helen," said papa; "I'll tellyou how we will manage it. This house shall be shut, and we'll takegrandma and the children with us as far as Norfolk, and leave them therewith your Aunt Maria, while we make our trip. And we will stop for themon our way home. What do you think of that plan?"
"Well," said mamma, with a faint smile, "I think I'll leave it to you.It tires me to have to reason things out. Auntie would be kind to them,I know, and I should feel easier if this house were shut up altogether."
Mrs. Evans had been ailing all the long cold winter, and as Spring beganto approach, she drooped more and more, until her husband and herfriends feared she would die. Then Dr. Phelps advised a short journey toFlorida and Mexico. He said she needed sea-air, and change, and flowers.So it was settled that she should attempt it.
The children were having a frolic in the play-room while this talk hadbeen going on. Johnnie and Mabel[pg 6] had been arranging a little basket of fruit for their mother, oranges,apples and grapes, and now they were disputing as to which shouldpresent it to her.
"I ought to, I'm the oldest," said Johnnie. "I'm the big