I mean to be a real Westerner , and just enjoy myself as I please , without caring what other folks do or think . Boston is no better than the rest of the world , I guess . '' Groans from every article in the bag greeted this disrespectful speech , and an avalanche of Boston papers fell upon the audacious doll . But Flo was undaunted , and shouted from underneath the pile : `` I do n't care ! Minnesota forever ! '' till her breath gave out . Dora was so mortified that she never said a word till they were let out in a room at the Parker House . Here she admired everything , and read all the evening in a volume of Emerson 's Poems from the bag , for Mr. Mt. Vernon Beacon was a Boston man , and never went anywhere without a wise book or two in his pocket . Flo turned up her nose at all she saw , and devoted herself to a long chat with the smart bag which came from New York and was full of gossip . The next afternoon they really got to Portland , and as soon as Mr. Beacon had made his toilet he set out to find little Miss Plum . When the parlor door opened to admit her he was much embarrassed , for , advancing with a paternal smile and the dolls extended to the expected child , he found himself face to face with a pretty young lady , who looked as if she thought him a little mad . A few words explained the errand , however , and when she read the note Aunt Maria 's bright eyes were full of tears as she said , hugging the dilapidated dolls : `` I 'll write the story of their travels , and send the dear old things back to the children as soon as possible . '' And so she did with Mr. Beacon 's help , for he decided to try the air of Portland , and spent his vacation there . The dolls were re-painted and re-dressed till they were more beautiful than ever , and their clothes fine enough to suit even Flo . They were a good while doing this , and when all was ready , Aunt Maria took it into her head to run out to St. Paul and surprise the children . By a singular coincidence Mr. Beacon had railroad business in that direction , so they set off together , with two splendid dolls done up in a gay box . All that was ever known about that journey was that these travellers stopped at the hospital in New York , and went on better friends than before after hearing from the good Doctor all the pathetic story of little Midge . The young Plums had long ago given up the hope of ever seeing Do and Flo again , for they started in June and it was early in September when Aunt Maria appeared before them without the least warning , accompanied by a pleasant gentleman from Boston . Six kisses had hardly resounded from Aunty 's blooming cheeks when a most attractive box was produced from the Russia leather bag , and the wandering dolls restored to the arms of their enraptured mammas . A small volume neatly written and adorned with a few pictures of the most exciting incidents of the trip also appeared .
`` Every one writes or prints a book in Boston , you know , so we did both , '' said Aunt XXXXX , laughing , as she handed over the remarkable history which she had composed and Mr. Beacon illustrated .
Aunty Boston Doctor Dora Groans Maria Minnesota Plums York evening