I hope we shall live through this noise and get a little rest , but I give up the idea of ever seeing Portland , '' answered Dora , staring with all her blue eyes at the display of musical instruments about the room , and longing to stop her ears , for several of the children were playing on the violin , flute , horn or harp . They were street musicians , and even the baby seemed to be getting ready to take part in the concert , for he sat on the floor beside an immense bass horn taller than himself , with his rosy lips at the mouth piece and his cheeks puffed out in vain attempts to make a `` boom ! boom ! '' as brother Fritz did . Flora was delighted , and gave skips on her red boots in time to the lively tooting of the boys , while the girls gazed at the lovely dolls and jabbered away with their yellow braids quivering with excitement . The wrapper was laid aside till a neighbor who read English came in to translate it . Meantime they enjoyed the new toys immensely , and even despondent Dora was cheered up by the admiration she received ; while they in their turn were deeply interested in the pretty dolls ' furniture some of the children made . Beds , tables and chairs covered the long bench , and round it sat the neat-handed little maidens gluing , tacking and trimming , while they sang and chatted at their work as busy and happy as a hive of bees . All day the boys went about the streets playing , and in the evening trooped off to the beer gardens to play again , for they lived in Chicago , and the dolls had got so far on their way to Aunt Maria , as they soon discovered . For nearly two months they lived happily with Minna , Gretchen and Nanerl , then they set out on their travels again , and this was the way it happened . A little girl came to order a set of furniture for her new baby-house , and seeing two shabby dolls reposing in a fine bed she asked about them . Her mamma spoke German so Minna told how they were found , and showed the old wrapper , saying that they always meant to send the dolls on their way but grew so fond of them they kept putting it off . `` I am going as far as New York very soon and will take them along if you like , for I think little Miss Maria Plum must have been expecting her dolls all this time . Shall I ? '' asked the mamma , as she read the address and saw the dash under `` With care , '' as if the dollies were of great importance to some one . `` Ja , ja , '' answered Minna , glad to oblige a lady who bought two whole sets of their best furniture and paid for it at once . So again the dolls were put in their brown paper cover and sent away with farewell kisses . `` This now is genteel and just suits me , '' said Dora , as they drove along with little Clara to the handsome house where she was staying . `` I have a feeling that she is a spoilt child , and we shall not be as happy with her as with the dear Poppleheimers . We shall see , '' answered Flora , wisely , for Clara had soon tossed the dolls into a corner and was fretting because mamma would not buy her the big horn to blow on .
The party started for New York in a day or two , and to the delight of Flo and Do they were left out of the trunks for XXXXX to play with on the way , her own waxen Blanche Marie Annabel being too delicate to be used .
Chicago Clara Dora English Minna Plum Portland York baby-house day