"I mean to the Cabbage Patch. They"re all going to be watching for me as we go through."
"Is that it?" said Mr. Redding. "Well, I will take the boys, and you can go out and stand on the platform and watch for your friends."
Lovey Mary hesitated. "Please, sir, can"t I take Tommy, too? If it hadn"t "a" been for him I never would have been here."
So Mr. Redding took them to the rear car, and attaching Lovey Mary firmly to the railing, and Tommy firmly to Mary, returned to his family.
"There"s Miss Viny"s!" cried Lovey Mary, excitedly, as the train whizzed past. "We"re getting there. Hold on to your hat, Tommy, and get your pocket-handkerchief ready to wave."
The bell began to ring, and the train slowed up at the great water- tank.
"There they are! All of "em. h.e.l.lo, Miss Hazy! And there"s Asia and Chris and ever"body!"
Mrs. Wiggs pushed through the little group and held an empty bottle toward Lovey Mary. "I want you to fill it fer me," she cried breathlessly. "Fill it full of Niag"ry water. I want to see how them falls look."
[Ill.u.s.tration: "Lovey Mary waved until she rounded a curve."]
The train began to move. Miss Hazy threw her ap.r.o.n over her head and wept. Mrs. Wiggs and Mrs. Eichorn waved their arms and smiled. The Cabbage Patch, with its crowd of friendly faces, became a blur to the girl on the platform. Suddenly a figure on a telegraph pole attracted her attention; it wore a red necktie and it was throwing kisses. Lovey Mary waved until the train rounded a curve, then she gave Tommy an impulsive hug.
"It ain"t hard to be good when folks love you," she said, with a little catch in her voice. "I"ll make "em all proud of me yet!"