Jims 's latest exploit was to paint the cushion of the big arm-chair in the sun parlour with molasses ; and before anybody found it out Mrs. Fred Clow came in on Red Cross business and sat down on it . Her new silk dress was ruined and nobody could blame her for being vexed . But she went into one of her tempers and said nasty things and gave me such slams about ` spoiling ' Jims that I nearly boiled over , too . But I kept the lid on till she had waddled away and then I exploded . '' ` The fat , clumsy , horrid old thing , ' I said -- and oh , what a satisfaction it was to say it . '' ` She has three sons at the front , ' mother said rebukingly . '' ' I suppose that covers all her shortcomings in manners , ' I retorted . But I was ashamed -- for it is true that all her boys have gone and she was very plucky and loyal about it too ; and she is a perfect tower of strength in the Red Cross . It 's a little hard to remember all the heroines . Just the same , it was her second new silk dress in one year and that when everybody is -- or should be -- trying to ` save and serve . ' `` I had to bring out my green velvet hat again lately and begin wearing it . I hung on to my blue straw sailor as long as I could . How I hate the green velvet hat ! It is so elaborate and conspicuous . I do n't see how I could ever have liked it . But I vowed to wear it and wear it I will . `` Shirley and I went down to the station this morning to take Little Dog Monday a bang-up Christmas dinner . Dog Monday waits and watches there still , with just as much hope and confidence as ever . Sometimes he hangs around the station house and talks to people and the rest of his time he sits at his little kennel door and watches the track unwinkingly . We never try to coax him home now : we know it is of no use .
When Jem comes back , Monday will come home XXXXX him ; and if Jem -- never comes back -- Monday will wait there for him as long as his dear dog heart goes on beating .
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