e upon the great object of her
visit.
"I hear you are going to Wilbraham," said she, "but I want you to go
to Mount Holyoke. We are going, a whole lot of us, that is, if we can
pass examination. Rose isn't pleased with the idea, but I am. I think
'twill be fun to wash potatoes and scour knives. I don't believe that
mother would ever have sent us there if it were not that Ida Selden is
going. Her father and her aunt Martha used to be schoolmates with Miss
Lyon, and they have always intended that Ida should graduate at Mount
Holyoke. Now, why can't you go, too?"
Instantly Mary thought of Mr. Stuart, and his suggestion. "I wish I
could," said she, "but I can't. I haven't money enough, and there is
no one to give it to me."
"It wouldn't hurt Mrs. Campbell to help you a little," returned Jenny.
"Why, last term Ella spent almost enough for candies, and gutta-percha
toys, to pay the expense of half a year's schooling, at Mount Holyoke.
It's too bad that she should have every thing, and you nothing."
Here Jenny's remarks were interrupted by the loud rattling of wheels,
and the halloo of many voices. Going to the door she and Mary saw
coming down the road at a furious rate, the old hay cart, laden with
the young people from Chicopee, who had been berrying in Sturbridge,
and were now returning home in high glee. The horses were
fantastically trimmed with ferns and evergreens, while several of the
girls were ornamented in the same way. Conspicuous among the noisy
group, was Ella Campbell. Henry Lincoln's broad-brimmed hat was
resting on her long curls, while her white sun-bonnet was tied under
Henry's chin.
The moment Jenny appeared, the whole party set up a shout so
deafening, that the Widow Perkins came out in a trice, to see "if the
old Harry was to pay, or what." No sooner did Henry Lincoln get sight
of Mary, than springing to his feet, and swinging his arm around his
head, he screamed out, "Three cheers for the school ma'am and her
handsome lover, Billy! Hurrah!"
In the third and last hurrah, the whole company joined, and when that
was finished, Henry struck up on a high key,
"Oh, where have you been, Billy boy, Billy boy,
Oh, where have you been charming Billy?"
but only one voice joined in with his, and that was Ella's! Mary
reddened at what she knew was intended as an insult, and when she
heard her sister's voice chiming in with Henry, she could not keep
back her tears.
"Wasn't that smart?
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