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

Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

There

are a hundred ways to do that."

"Mention a few," proposed the Major.

"I will when I get to Elmhurst and look over the ground," answered Uncle

John.

"You're going on, then?"

"Yes."

"I'll go with you," said Patsy promptly.

"So will I," said Beth. "Kenneth needs moral encouragement and support

as much as anything else, just now."

"He's imagining all sorts of horrors and making himself miserable," said

Louise. "Let's all go, Uncle, and try to cheer him up."

By this time Uncle John was smiling genially.

"Why, I was sure of you, my dears, from the first," he said. "The

Major's an old croaker, but he'd go, too, if it were not necessary for

him to stay in New York and attend to business. But we mustn't lose any

time, if we're going to direct the politics of the Eighth District

Election the eighth of November."

"I can go any time, and so can Beth," said Louise.

"All I need is the blue stockings," laughed Patsy.

"It won't be play. This means work," said Uncle John seriously.

"Well, I believe we're capable of a certain amount of work," replied

Beth. "Aren't we, girls?"

"We are!"

"All right," said Mr. Merrick. "I'll go and look up the next train. Go

home, Louise, and pack up. I'll telephone you."

"That bad man 'd better look out," chuckled the Major. "He doesn't

suspect that an army of invasion is coming."

"Daddy," cried Patsy, "you hush up. We mean business."

"If you win," said the Major, "I'll run for alderman on a petticoat

platform, and hire your services."

CHAPTER II

THE ARTIST

To most people the great rambling mansion at Elmhurst, with its ample

grounds and profusion of flowers and shrubbery, would afford endless

delight. But Kenneth Forbes, the youthful proprietor, was at times

dreadfully bored by the loneliness of it all, though no one could better

have appreciated the beauties of his fine estate.

The town, an insignificant village, was five miles distant, and

surrounding the mansion were many broad acres which rather isolated it

from its neighbors.

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