E-text prepared by Al Haines
by
Author of Joan of Jupiter Inn, Joan's Jolly Vacation,Patricia, etc.
The Goldsmith Publishing Co.
Cleveland, Ohio
George W. Jacobs & Company
1912
Pauline dropped the napkin she was hemming and, leaning back in herchair, stared soberly down into the rain-swept garden.
Overhead, Patience was having a "clarin' up scrape" in her particularcorner of the big garret, to the tune of "There's a Good Time Coming."
Pauline drew a quick breath; probably, there was a good timecoming—any number of them—only they were not coming her way; theywould go right by on the main road, they always did.
"'There's a good time coming,'" Patience insisted shrilly, "'Help iton! Help it on!'"
Pauline drew another quick breath. She would help them on! If theywould none of them stop on their own account, they must be flagged.And—yes, she would do it—right now.
Getting up, she brought her writing-portfolio from the closet, clearinga place for it on the little table before the window. Then her eyeswent back to the dreary, rain-soaked garden. How did one begin aletter to an uncle one had never seen; and of whom one meant to ask agreat favor?
But at last, after more than one false start, the letter got itselfwritten, after a fashion.
Pauline read it over to herself, a little dissatisfied pucker betweenher brows:—
Mr. Paul Almy Shaw,
New York City, New York.
MY DEAR UNCLE PAUL: First, I should like you to understand thatneither father nor mother know that I am writing this letter to you;and that if they did, I think they would forbid it; and I should likeyou to believe, too, that if it were not for Hilary I should not dreamof writing it. You know so little about us, that perhaps you do notremember which of us Hilary is. She comes next to me, and is justthirteen. She hasn't been well for a long time, not since she had toleave school last winter, and the doctor says that what she needs is athorough change. Mother and I have talked it over and over, but wesimply can't manage it. I would try to earn some money, but I haven'ta single accomplishment; besides I don't see how I could leave home,and anyway it would take so long, and Hilary needs a change now. Andso I am writing to ask you to please help us out a little. I do hopeyou won't be angry at my asking; and I hope very, very much, that youwill answer favorably.
I remain,
Very respectfully,
PAULINE ALMY SHAW.
WINTON, VT., May Sixteenth.
Pauline laughed rather nervously as she slipped her letter into anenvelope and addressed it. It wasn't a very big flag, but perhaps itwould serve her purpose.
Tucking the letter into her blouse, Pauline ran down-stairs to thesitting-room, where her mother and Hilary were. "I'm going down to thepost-office, mother," she said; "any errands?"
"My dear, in t