And so," continued Mother Bab softly, "my bundle ended with that dress.
Since I dress plain I don't wear colors, just gray and black. But I
always thought if I had a girl I'd start a dress bundle for her, for
it's so much satisfaction to get it out sometimes and look over the
pieces and remember the dresses and some of the happy times you had when
you wore them. But the girl never came."

"But you have David!"

"Yes, to be sure, he's been so much to me, but I couldn't make him a
dress bundle. He wouldn't have liked it when he grew older--boys are
different. And I wouldn't want him to be a sissy, either."

"He isn't, Mother Bab. He's fine!"

"I think so, Phoebe. He has worked so hard since he's through school and
he's so good to me and takes such care of the farm, though the crops
don't always turn out as we want. But you haven't told me what you are
going to do, now that you're through school."

"I don't know. I want to do something."

"Teach?"

"No. What I would like best of all is study music."

"In Greenwald? You mean to learn to play?"

"No, to learn to sing. I have often dreamed of studying music in a great
city, like Philadelphia."

"What would you do then?"

"Sing, sing! I feel that my voice is my one talent and I don't want to
bury it."

"Well, don't Miss Lee live in Philadelphia? Perhaps she could help you
to get a good teacher and find a place to board."

"Mother Bab!" Phoebe sprang to her feet and wrapped her arms about the
slender little woman. "That's just it!" she cried. "I never thought of
that! David said you'd help me. I'll write to Miss Lee to-day!"

"Phoebe," the woman said, smiling at the girl's wild enthusiasm.

"I'm not crazy, just inspired," said Phoebe. "You helped me, I knew you
would! I want to go to Philadelphia to study music but I know daddy and
Aunt Maria would never listen to any proposals about going to a big city
and living among strangers. But if I write to Miss Lee and she says
she'll help me the folks at home may consider the plan. I'll have a hard
time, though"--a reactionary doubt touched her--"I'll have a dreadful
time persuading Aunt Maria that I'm safe and sane if I mention music and
Philadelphia and Phoebe in the same breath." Then she smiled
determinedly. "At least I'm going to make a brave effort to get what I
want. I'm not going to settle down on the farm and get brown and fat and
wear gingham dresses all my life, and sunbonnets in the bargain! I never
coul