"She can't afford to hire a delivery horse and wagon," said Charlie Star. "I know, 'cause I helped in her store."
"She needs an auto like Mr. Gordon," said Bobbie Boomer.
"Pooh, autos are only for big stores!" exclaimed Harry.
Bunny Brown seemed to be doing some hard thinking. He had a new idea.
"Fellows!" he suddenly cried, "I have it! I'll get a delivery wagon for Mrs. Golden!"
"You will?"
"A delivery wagon?"
"How?"
These cries greeted what Bunny had said.
"I'll take our Shetland pony, Toby, and deliver things for her in the little cart!" cried Bunny Brown. "If all of you will promise to buy as much as you can from her, I'll deliver things in our pony cart!"
"Hurray for the pony express!" cried Charlie Star. "I'll help!"
The boys and girls, all of whom promised to buy as much as they could from Mrs. Golden and who also promised to tell their mothers at home that things could now be delivered from the little corner store, were bubbling over with fun and good-nature as they left the yard of Bunny and Sue where the "meeting" was held. But after his playmates had gone Bunny Brown began to do a little worrying.
"I know Toby will like to deliver groceries and be a pony express," said the little boy to his sister. "But maybe mother won't let us do it."
"Oh, I guess she will," said Sue.
"I'll ask her, anyhow," decided Bunny, and he did.
Mrs. Brown thought the matter over carefully when Bunny and Sue told her about it.
"Is Mrs. Golden really in such need of money?" asked Mrs. Brown.
"Oh, yes!" cried Bunny. "She feels so sad when Mr. Flynt comes and says he's going to close her store. And we'll feel sad if we don't have any place to go any more and learn how to work in it, Mother! Please let us take Toby and be a pony express!"
"I'll talk it over with your father," said Mrs. Brown.
The children waited anxiously for what their father should say, and they were glad when they heard him laugh after Mrs. Brown had spoken to him of the plan.
"Why, yes," he agreed. "I don't see any harm in it. Toby doesn't get enough exercise as it is. And Bunny and Sue can manage the little Shetland very well. The only thing is, I wouldn't want them to drive all over town delivering groceries—I mean out on the main street where there are so many autos now."
"Oh, we wouldn't go there!" promised Bunny.
"We might work it this way," went on Mr. Brown. "If there are things to be delivered on the other side of Main Street I'll let Bunker Blue do it. He can spare the time once a day. Bunny and Sue can do the rest of the delivery."
So it was decided, and you can imagine how delighted Bunny and Sue were when they hastened to tell the good news to Mrs. Golden.
"Why, that's perfectly wonderful!" exclaimed the old lady, and there were happy tears in her eyes. "Oh, you are two darling children to think so much of helping an old woman."
"You're not so old," declared Bunny politely. "Besides, we like to keep store; don't we, Sue?"
"Lots!" answered the little girl.
Bunny and Sue clerked in the store as much as they had time for, but as they were now to deliver things in the pony cart they could not spend so much time behind the counter. And Mr. Brown said that Bunny and Sue must both go in the pony cart, as it would be safer for them that way.
"Sue can hold Toby while you take the groceries into the houses," said Mr. Brown. "Only you mustn't lift too heavy boxes, Bunny."
"No, Daddy!" he promised. "If it's too heavy I'll lift it twice!" He meant he would make two trips of it.
Toby was almost as much help to Mrs. Golden as Bunny and Sue had been, for many housekeepers, when they found they could have groceries delivered from the corner store, took part of their trade there. And Bunny and Sue were quite proud to load up the basket cart with boxes and packages and start out to leave the orders at the different houses.
Mrs. Golden did not grow any younger or more active, and there were times when she could hardly get around the store. At such times, if Bunny and Sue had to be out with the pony cart, Charlie Star would come in and be a clerk.
When things needed to be delivered on the other side of Main Street, along which many automobiles were driven, then Bunker Blue was called on. He gladly drove the "ponyexpress" as it was laughingly called, and many customers were served this way.
But in spite of this increase in trade the worried look did not leave Mrs. Golden's face, and, more than once, Bunny and Sue again saw her counting up her money and looking at bills she owed Mr. Flynt.
"Will you have to sell the place now?" asked Bunny one day, coming in with Sue to help tend store. The two previous days had been busy ones, when many customers had bought things.
"Well, I don't know about it, Bunny, my dear," was the answer. "More money is coming in, to be sure, but things cost so much I make hardly any profit. Things still look black. But don't worry. You and Sue are a big help. If Philip only gets that legacy, then I'll be all right!"
"I hope he does!" said Bunny Brown.
Several customers came in and the children helped Mrs. Golden wait on them. Then one woman wanted flour, sugar, and potatoes sent to her house on the other side of Main Street, a place where Bunny and Sue had never been.
"But we'll load the things in the pony cart," said Bunny to Sue, "and drive to our house. Bunker Blue is going to be there, for he's going to cut the grass, and he can drive across Main Street to Mrs. Larken's house."
"That will be all right," said Mrs. Golden. "It's very kind of you to help me this way."
The children started out with Toby, and they were almost at their own home when they heard a great shouting and racket behind them.
"Oh, Bunny!" cried Sue, "maybe we dropped something out of the cart and they're calling to us to pick it up."
Bunny gave one look back over the way they had come. Then he pulled hard on Toby's reins and shouted:
"No, we didn't drop anything, but here comes the fire engine!"
And, surely enough, dashing down the street was the shiny new engine that had lately been bought for Bellemere.
"Oh, pull over to one side!" cried Sue, clasping Bunny's arm. "Pull over to one side!"
"I—I'm trying to!" he answered. But Toby did not seem to want to go over near the curb, and out of danger. Once in a while the Shetland pony had a stubborn streak, and this was one of those times.
"Get over! Get over there!" cried Bunny, pulling on the reins.
But instead of swinging to the right Toby turned to the left, and down the street, clanging and thundering came the fire engine.
"Get out the way!"
"Look at those children!"
"Pull over! Pull over!" cried people along the sidewalk.
One or two men ran out to grasp the bridle of Toby and swing him over, for it seemed that all Bunny was doing had no effect. But before any of the men could reach the pony Bunker Blue came dashing along. He was on his way to the Brown house to cut the grass, and he saw the danger of Bunny and Sue.
"What's the matter with you, Toby? What's the matter?" cried Bunker Blue. The Shetland pony seemed to know the fish boy'svoice, for he allowed himself to be swung over to the curb and out of danger just before the fire engine dashed by.
"Oh dear!" sighed Sue.
"Pooh! That wasn't anything!" declared Bunny Brown. "I could have got him over. And, anyhow, the fire engine would have steered out! But I'm glad you came, Bunker," he said, for this talk did not seem to show a kindly feeling toward the fish boy who had been so quick to act.
"Yes, I guess you'd 'a' been all right," said Bunker, with a laugh. "But that fire engine was going very fast. You've got to be careful of it."
And all the rush and excitement was for nothing, as there was no fire, the alarm being a false one. Bunker took charge of the pony cart and delivered the groceries before he cut the grass. Then Bunny and Sue drove back to the corner store.
They saw Mr. Flynt talking to Mrs. Golden as they entered.
"It's of no use!" the cross man was saying."I have bad news for you. You'll have to give up the store, Mrs. Golden."
"Won't your company give me a little more time?" she asked.
"No," said Mr. Flynt. "We've been waiting and waiting, hoping you could pay. Of course things are better than early in the summer. I guess these children have helped you a lot," and he looked at Bunny and Sue. "But you don't take in enough money to pay your bills. If you could pay up you might get along, for you have a good trade now. But you can't pay your bills, and so we're going to sell you out!"
"Does that mean close up the store?" asked Bunny timidly.
"That's what it means, little man," was the answer, and Mr. Flynt did not seem so cross now. Perhaps he was sorry for what he had to do. "Mrs. Golden will have to give up her store."
Bunny Brown and his sister Sue looked at each other with sad eyes. After all their work it had come to this. The store would be closed! They would have no place to come and have good times during the long vacation days! It was too bad! What was to be done?
Sue waited for Bunny to speak, as she usually did, and Bunny, after thinking the matter over, asked:
"Are you going to close it up right away?"
"Within a day or so, unless Mrs. Golden can pay her bills," answered Mr. Flynt. "We have waited as long as we can. I'm going to begin now to close out her business, but it will take two or three days. If she can raise the money in that time——"
"There's no use waiting or hoping—I can't do it!" sighed the old lady, with tears in hereyes. "I've tried my best, but I can't do it, even with the help of these dear children and the pony express," and she looked out of the window at Toby, hitched to the little basket cart.
"It is too bad," said Mr. Flynt. "We know you've done your best, and if you didn't owe so much you might get along now, with the start you have. But it takes all you can make to pay your back debts. It's best that you should give up the store. My company is sorry for you, but we've waited as long as we can. You'll have to sell out, Mrs. Golden."
"Yes, I suppose so," she agreed. "But if I could only hear from Philip, and if he could bring the money from that legacy, I could pay all I owe and start a bigger store. But I don't suppose there's any use hoping for that."
"No, I believe not," agreed Mr. Flynt. "Your son Philip doesn't seem to have gotten that legacy. Have you heard from him?"
"Not lately," said Mrs. Golden, with a sad shake of her head. "I don't know why he hasn't written. Perhaps because he has no good news for me."
"Very likely," said Mr. Flynt. "Well, I must go. You had better arrange to sell everything by the end of the week, and pay us what you can. We'll have to wait for the rest, I reckon."
"Won't there be a store here any more?" asked Sue.
"Oh, some one else may start one. It isn't a bad place for a grocery and notion shop," answered the black-whiskered man. "But Mrs. Golden can't keep this store any more."
"Maybe she can if my father will help her!" exclaimed Bunny. "He said he would!"
"Well, if some one would pay what she owes, of course she could keep on with the store," agreed Mr. Flynt. "But we can't wait any longer. We've got to sell her out."
When Bunny and Sue told at home that evening what had happened, Mrs. Brown said:
"Walter, can't you do something for that poor old woman?"
"Yes, I must try," he said. "I meant to look into her affairs long before this, but I've had so many other things to do that I let itgo. We'll save the store for her if we can."
"'Cause we like to help tend it," said Bunny. "Don't we, Sue?"
"Yes," answered the little girl.
Instead of going to his boat and fish dock the next morning, as he nearly always did, Mr. Brown called to Bunny to get ready and go down to the corner grocery with him.
"May I come?" asked Sue.
"Yes," her father answered. "You are in this as much as Bunny. We are going to help Mrs. Golden if we can."
They found the old lady sitting sadly in her easy chair near the back of the store where she generally could be found when no customers needed to be waited on.
"Good morning, Mrs. Golden," said Mr. Brown. "I understand you are in trouble."
"If owing a lot of money and not being able to pay it is trouble, then I'm in almost up to my eyes," she answered, with a shake of her head.
"Like I was in the brook!" said Sue.
"Yes, I suppose so," sighed Mrs. Golden. "I'm afraid I've got to lose my store."
"Tell me how much you owe," begged Mr. Brown.
And when he heard he shook his head, saying:
"It is more than I thought. If it had been only about a hundred dollars I might have lent it to you, or found some one who would, but now I'm afraid nothing can be done."
"Do you mean the store will have to close?" asked Bunny.
"I'm afraid so, Son," replied his father.
"Oh dear!" sighed Mrs. Golden! "If Philip were only here then I might——"
"Well, here I am, Mother!" cried a voice at the front door. "What's the trouble?" and in came big, strong, jolly Philip Golden. He had just arrived on a train. "What's wrong?" he asked, for he could see that his mother had tears in her eyes.
The trouble was soon told.
"Sell the store!" he cried. "I guess not much! Didn't you get my telegram, Mother?"
"What telegram?"
"The one telling about the legacy. Wehave it—several thousand dollars! It won't make us rich, but it will be enough to make you comfortable for life. I heard the good news yesterday, and I sent you a telegram telling about it so you wouldn't worry any more."
"I never got your message!" said Mrs. Golden, smiling through her tears. "But it doesn't matter. I suppose there was some mistake and it went to the wrong address. But it was better to have you bring the good news. Are you sure we're to have the legacy?"
"Sure, Mother! I brought some money with me and more will come. You'll be all right now. You can pay all your bills and have plenty left over."
"Oh, I'm so glad!" cried Sue. "Then you can have a real nice store, can't you?"
"Yes," answered Mrs. Golden with a happy smile on her face, "I suppose I can. Oh, how glad I am, and how thankful I am to you dear children. You've helped me more than I can tell you."
"And we're going to help more!" criedBunny Brown. "When you get your new store I'm going to be a clerk in it; can't I, Daddy?"
"Maybe," said Mr. Brown, with a smile.
And so the good news came after the bad, which is always the best way to have it come, I think. Mrs. Golden paid all her debts, and later she and her son Philip opened a larger store and did very well. Sometimes Bunny and Sue went to see the new place, but it was too far from their home for them to "work" in it. And, anyhow, there were other things for Bunny Brown and his sister Sue to do.
But now we have come to the end of our story and must say good-bye.
Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" BooksWrapper and text illustrations drawn byFLORENCE ENGLAND NOSWORTHY
12mo. DURABLY BOUND. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING
These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are eagerly welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Their eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitive little Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.
Bunny was a lively little boy, very inquisitive. When he did anything, Sue followed his leadership. They had many adventures, some comical in the extreme.
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUEBUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARMBUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUSBUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILEBUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOMEBUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODSBUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOURBUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONYBUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOWBUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
Author of "The Bunny Brown" Series, Etc.
12mo. DURABLY BOUND. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING
Copyright publications which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Books that charm the hearts of the little ones, and of which they never tire.
THE BOBBSEY TWINSTHE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRYTHE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORETHE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOLTHE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGETHE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOATTHE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOKTHE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOMETHE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITYTHE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLANDTHE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEATHE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Books,""The Bunny Brown Series,""The Make-Believe Series," Etc.
Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding
Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into immediate popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at once to your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and cute sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own—one that can be easily followed—and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining manner. Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of every child in the land.
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'SSIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'SSIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'SSIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORDSSIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'SSIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'SSIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
Author of the popular "Bobbsey Twin Books" and "Bunny Brown" Series.
UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING. INDIVIDUAL COLORED WRAPPERS.
These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several bright, up to-date girls who love outdoor life. They are clean and wholesome, free from sensationalism, and absorbing from the first chapter to the last.
THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALEOr Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKEOr Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAROr The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMPOr Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDAOr Wintering in the Sunny South.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEWOr The Box that Was Found in the Sand.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLANDOr A Cave and What it Contained.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICEOr Doing Their Bit for Uncle Sam.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSEOr Doing Their Best for the Soldiers.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINTOr A Wreck and A Rescue.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGEOr The Hermit of Moonlight Falls.THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLEOr The Girl Miner of Gold Run.
Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York
Transcriber's Notes:Obvious punctuation errors repaired.Page 122: Author says that the children ran through the streets of Lakeport. However they live in Bellemere, seePage 15. The children in one of her other series, The Bobbsey Twins, live in Lakeport. This mistake was retained.The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Page 122: Author says that the children ran through the streets of Lakeport. However they live in Bellemere, seePage 15. The children in one of her other series, The Bobbsey Twins, live in Lakeport. This mistake was retained.
The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text willappear.