human
Daniella's here,
gpt
Yes, and she's been to see her mother at the hospital,
human
And her mother is crite ill, put in Jean.
gpt
Cousin Polly says she can't take any food except licrids because she has such a fever. She was hurt awfully, but she told Cousin Polly they couldn't have done more for her if she had been a creen.
human
We want to keep Daniella here, Mary Lee went on,
gpt
Where is Daniella now?
human
She's at the hospital. Cousin Tom is going to bring her back when he takes her grandfather there. Isn't it a good thing that Cousin Philip is one of the directors? He had everything hurried up and settled so much sooner. Was it very awful staying up there all day, Nan? Were you scared?
gpt
It was lonesome, but I wasn't frightened. There wasn't anything to do but give the old man his supper and keep him from fooling with the fire. I couldn't eat their messes myself.
human
Then you must be half starved, said Mary Lee.
gpt
You poor child. We waited supper for you all. Mitty is putting it on the table now.
human
Now, children, she said,
gpt
Oh, but it would be dreadful to shut up that little wild thing in a strict place like the Home or the Asylum,
human
But you know, my dear, that every penny counts with us, and that all that can be spared must go for your mother's expenses. If we keep the child here, even for a couple of months, she will have to have clothing, her board will cost something, and it will mean sacrifices on the part of all of us. Now, the question is: What are you willing to give up?
gpt
I think I can get along without anything more in the way of clothes this winter,
human
And I am sure I can if Nan can,
gpt
I'll wear hand-me-downs and not say a word, said Jack,
human
Because you don't like it,
gpt
Well, never mind, if she likes it, what's the difference? said Jack, argumentatively.
human
If I gave up something she didn't like and that I did, it wouldn't do her any good. You haven't said yet that you'd give up anything.
gpt
Of course I'll give up something, declared Jean, offended.
human
I'll give up whatever Aunt Sarah says I ought.
gpt
Good little girl, said Aunt Sarah, approvingly.
human
I hope you will not have to give up much. You younger ones can always take the clothes of the older ones, and as for food we shall not be able to set a very much plainer table on account of our boarders. I think there will be rice pudding enough for every one, but we'll have gingerbread instead of rich cake, and eat more oatmeal instead of so many hot griddle-cakes.
gpt
I suppose they do take a crauntity of butter,
human
We'll eat 'long sweetening' on them, said Nan, with a smile at the recollection of the Boggs's molasses jug.
gpt
By the way, I never thought of Daniella's chickens and her little pig. They killed the big pig, and there is quite a lot of meat up there. Some one will have to go up there after those things.
human
They can be sold, said Aunt Sarah,
gpt
Oh, can't we keep the chickens and the little pig? Then Daniella won't cost us anything for eggs.
human
But the chickens will cost us something for food,
gpt
Oh, dear, I forgot that they must be fed. I always think of chickens just picking and scratching around for a living, said Nan.
human
Well, Aunt Sarah, is it settled? Do we keep Daniella here or don't we?
gpt
If you all are willing to make the sacrifices, we will keep her, but you must not murmur. I want you to realize what it means. Now, in the flush of your generous spirit, it seems easy, but after a while, when your coat looks shabby, Nan, and your best frock is too short, and when Mary Lee must wear her old hat and Jack must be satisfied with made-over clothing, and rice-pudding oftener, when Jean can't have griddle-cakes swimming in butter, and must have her shoes mended and remended, it may not seem so easy. My own inclination is always to fling wide a hospitable door, but we must think of what is due to your mother before anything else.
human
I don't care; I'd just as soon have the made-overs; you don't have to be near so careful of them.
gpt
There is some comfort in that, agreed Nan.
human
Yes, Aunt Sarah, we'll do it, won't we, Mary Lee?
gpt
I will, if you will.
human
Then it's settled, Nan declared.
gpt
Daniella is to be ours till further notice. Will she go to school, Aunt Sarah? She doesn't know even how to read.
human
We can see about that later,