`` We will ! '' they said with one voice , and they did , to Rose 's great surprise and secret contentment ; though Archie had all the care of her , for the other two were leaping fences , running races , and having wrestling matches all the way down . They composed themselves on reaching the door , however ; shook hands cordially all round , made their best bows , and retired with great elegance and dignity , leaving Rose to say to herself , with girlish satisfaction , as she went in , `` Now , that is the way I like to be treated . '' Chapter 13 -- Cosey Corner Vacation was over , the boys went back to school , and poor Mac was left lamenting . He was out of the darkened room now , and promoted to blue goggles , through which he took a gloomy view of life , as might have been expected ; for there was nothing he could do but wander about , and try to amuse himself without using his eyes . Anyone who has ever been condemned to that sort of idleness knows how irksome it is , and can understand the state of mind which caused Mac to say to Rose in a desperate tone one day , `` Look here , if you do n't invent some new employment or amusement for me , I shall knock myself on the head as sure as you live . '' Rose flew to Uncle Alec for advice , and he ordered both patient and nurse to the mountains for a month , with Aunt Jessie and Jamie as escort . Pokey and her mother joined the party , and one bright September morning six very happy-looking people were aboard the express train for Portland two smiling mammas , laden with luncheon baskets and wraps ; a pretty young girl with a bag of books on her arm ; a tall thin lad with his hat over his eyes ; and two small children , who sat with their short legs straight out before them , and their chubby faces beaming with the first speechless delight of `` truly travelling . '' An especially splendid sunset seemed to have been prepared to welcome them when , after a long day 's journey , they drove into a wide , green door-yard , where a white colt , a red cow , two cats , four kittens , many hens , and a dozen people , old and young , were gaily disporting themselves . Everyone nodded and smiled in the friendliest manner , and a lively old lady kissed the new-comers all round , as she said heartily , `` Well , now , I 'm proper glad to see you ! Come right in and rest , and we 'll have tea in less than no time , for you must be tired . Lizzie , you show the folks upstairs ; Kitty , you fly round and help father in with the trunks ; and Jenny and I will have the table all ready by the time you come down . Bless the dears , they want to go see the pussies , and so they shall ! '' The three pretty daughters did `` fly round , '' and everyone felt at home at once , all were so hospitable and kind . Aunt Jessie had raptures over the home-made carpets , quilts and quaint furniture ; Rose could not keep away from the windows , for each framed a lovely picture ; and the little folks made friends at once with the other children , who filled their arms with chickens and kittens , and did the honours handsomely . The toot of a horn called all to supper , and a goodly party , including six children besides the Camp-bells , assembled in the long dining-room , armed with mountain appetites and the gayest spirits . It was impossible for anyone to be shy or sober , for such gales of merriment arose they blew the starch out of the stiffest , and made the saddest jolly . Mother Atkinson , as all called their hostess , was the merriest there , and the busiest ; for she kept flying up to wait on the children , to bring out some new dish , or to banish the live stock , who were of such a social turn that the colt came into the entry and demanded sugar ; the cats sat about in people 's laps , winking suggestively at the food ; and speckled hens cleared the kitchen floor of crumbs , as they joined in the chat with a cheerful clucking . Everybody turned out after tea to watch the sunset till all the lovely red was gone , and mosquitoes wound their shrill horns to sound the retreat . The music of an organ surprised the new-comers , and in the parlor they found Father Atkinson playing sweetly on the little instrument made by himself .
All the children gathered about him , and , led by the tuneful sisters , sang prettily till Pokey fell asleep behind the door , and Jamie gaped audibly XXXXX in the middle of his favourite , `` Coo , '' said the little doves : `` Coo , '' said she , `` All in the top of the old pine-tree . ''
Pokey Portland Rose Vacation dears door-yard honours month morning right