Read on line
Listen on line
Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work"

Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

"We've come for a visit, Ken!" cried Palsy, laughing at his eager

delight. "Are you glad to see us, boy? And do you suppose old Martha has

our rooms aired?"

"And it's a long visit, too," added Uncle John, "as you'll believe when

you see the pile of baggage. You'd think these minxes were prepared for

a tour of the world. Each one of 'em brought a carload of clothes."

But they couldn't phase Kenneth in that way. His sensitive face had not

beamed with so much animation for months.

The guests were helped into the tall drag and merrily they drove the

five miles to Elmhurst, not a word of politics being spoken on the way.

The girls had not been to the house since Aunt Jane's death, two years

ago, and after a hasty luncheon they began an inspection of every room,

as well as the garden, grounds and stables. The horses, cows, pig and

chickens were alike inspected, the roses and dahlias visited and

admired, and after all this they returned to their rooms with old

Martha, the housekeeper, and proceeded to unpack their trunks and get

settled. Kenneth had been their guide and companion in these various

explorations, but when the girls went to their rooms he wandered into

the library where Uncle John and Mr. Watson had been having a quiet talk

over their pipes of tobacco. They welcomed the young man, but adroitly

turned the topic of conversation, and again the subject of was rejoined.

It was a merry dinner party that graced the table during dinner that

evening, and the boy forgot his troubles and was as jolly and sociable

as he had ever been in his life.

But when they were all assembled in the long living room where they

grouped themselves around the fireplace, a sudden change took place in

the demeanor of the young ladies. Patsy, the delegated leader, looked

gravely at the boy and asked:

"How goes the campaign, Ken?"

"Wh--what campaign?" he stammered, to gain time.

"Why, this election business. Tell us about it," said Patsy.

"Some other time, girls," answered the boy, red and distressed.

Also read
Read
The Guest
Category: Native American folktales
Read times: 11
Read
Read