TABITHA'S VACATION
Volume III in the Ivy Hall Series
by
RUTH ALBERTA BROWN
Author of "Tabitha at Ivy Hall," "Tabitha's Glory," "At the Little Brown House," Etc.
[Frontispiece: "I hope," panted Tabitha, trotting along at the rear of the procession, "that you don't have your fun in such a hurry."]
The Saalfield Publishing Company Chicago, ---- Akron, Ohio ---- New York Made in U. S. A. Copyright, MCMXIII By the Saalfield Publishing Company
CONTENTS
I. The McKittricks' Misfortune II. Tabitha and Gloriana, Housekeepers III. Unwelcome Guests IV. Mischief Makers V. Irene's Song VI. Gloriana's Burglars VII. Toady and the Castor Beans VIII. Billiard Runs Away IX. Billiard Surrenders X. Susanne Entertains a Caller XI. In the Canyon XII. The Bank of Silver Bow is Robbed XIII. The Robbers and the Haunted House XIV. The Unexpected Happens XV. Myra's Climax
ILLUSTRATIONS
"I hope," panted Tabitha, trotting along at the rear of the procession, "that you don't have your fun in such a hurry." . . . _Frontispiece_
TABITHA'S VACATION
CHAPTER I
THE MCKITTRICKS' MISFORTUNE
"'Ho, ho, vacation days are here, We welcome them with right good cheer; In wisdom's halls we love to be, But yet 'tis pleasant to be free,'"
warbled Tabitha Catt, pausing on the doorstep of her little desert home as she vigorously shook a dingy dusting cloth, and hungrily sniffed the fresh, sweet morning air, for, although the first week of June was already gone, the fierce heat of the summer had not yet descended upon Silver Bow, nestling in its cup-like hollow among the Nevada mountains.
"'Ho, ho, the hours will quickly fly, And soon vacation time be by; Ah, then we'll all in glad refrain, Sing welcome to our school again.'"
piped up a sweet voice in muffled accents from the depths of the closet where the singer was rummaging to find hooks for her wardrobe, which lay scattered rather promiscuously about Tabitha's tiny bedroom.
"Why, Gloriana Holliday, where did you learn that?" demanded the girl on the threshold, abruptly ceasing her song. "It's as old as the hills. Mrs. Carson used to sing it when she went to school."
"So did my mother. I've got her old music book with the words in it," responded her companion, emerging from the dark closet, flushed but triumphant. "There! I've hung up the last dud I could find room for. The rest must go back in the trunk, I guess. My, but it does seem nice to have a few weeks of vacation, doesn't it?"
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Tabitha's Vacation by Ruth Alberta Brown
- 2: McKittrick always called it the Eagles' Nest
- 3: With roguish Janie and chubby Rosslyn in tow
- 4: 'Twas in his mine that McKittrick was hurt
- 5: McKittrick was working there when Rosslyn was born
- 6: McKittrick can look after her packing unmolested
- 7: McKittrick would leave the I don't know
- 8: Chapter iitabitha and gloriana
- 9: Exclaimed Gloriana with such an air of relief that Mr
- 10: Let's have chocolate pie for supper
- 11: Only Gloriana remained at her post
- 12: She clasped tightly in one chubby fist
- 13: Down the mountainside sped Tabitha to the big boulder
- 14: Gloriana rescued the frying pan
- 15: Mercedes turned helplessly toward Tabitha
- 16: Tabitha acknowledged with a gusty sigh
- 17: Williard and Theodore McKittrick
- 18: McKittrick that they have come
- 19: As Tabitha resumed her shaking
- 20: Dutiful Toady craned his neck around a boulder
- 21: Toady pointed toward a basin on a nearby rock
- 22: Tabitha had heard many stories of the selfish
- 23: Until even Tabitha grew alarmed
- 24: So Gloriana received a double share of tormenting
- 25: McKittrick say if she could have seen me a few minutes ago
- 26: And exit Tabitha Catt and Gloriana Holliday
- 27: Gloriana stepped to the door and yodelled shrilly
- 28: Gloriana remained discreetly silent
- 29: McKittrick would have died without her
- 30: Gave me a pummy stew Which near forgot can be
- 31: Who was never tired of hearing Tabitha recite
- 32: Tabitha merely laughed and shook her head
- 33: So Gloriana crept wearily away to her room
- 34: Please let us out before Tabitha gets back
- 35: But Tabitha will be back directly
- 36: Gloriana lay flushed and feverish upon her pillow
- 37: Toady stopped stock still in the roadway
- 38: Screamed the exasperated Toady
- 39: Billiard answered indifferently
- 40: And Toady obediently munched it
- 41: Shrieked Tabitha in wild alarm
- 42: Where late that afternoon Tabitha found him
- 43: Puzzled Toady lapsed into silence
- 44: Wrested his slingshot from his grasp
- 45: So after a brief survey of the pathless landscape
- 46: How Tabitha would regret her unwarranted harshness
- 47: And even Gloriana seemed indifferent to his plight
- 48: Billiard resolved to display no interest in them
- 49: Mercedes hastened to inform him
- 50: Proposed Mercedes magnanimously
- 51: Spluttered the indignant Billiard
- 52: Only Rosslyn and Janie hung back
- 53: And preparing to descend as Toady had done
- 54: Haven't I watched mamma and Tabitha hundreds of times
- 55: Meanwhile the bubbling syrup had been forgotten
- 56: How did you know her name was Catt
- 57: Inez again hastily interrupted
- 58: Unpainted house on the edge of town
- 59: Tabitha would never trust us again
- 60: If only Rosslyn and Janie were older
- 61: For Tabitha had seized the half dressed
- 62: Tethering her burro to a yucca
- 63: Didn't you choose your pup for Tabitha
- 64: Whispered Tabitha sympathetically
- 65: What else can we do without clues
- 66: And Janie began to wail dismally
- 67: Mercy has gone for the assayer
- 68: I happened to turn them in the direction of the pesthouse
- 69: Could Tabitha have gone suddenly crazy
- 70: Supplemented Gloriana bitterly
- 71: It's nice to have a Niece Gloriana
- 72: Toady looked positively shocked
- 73: The terrified boys clasped hands
- 74: Cried Toady with convincing earnestness
- 75: Who chanced to overhear his question
- 76: They think Silver Bow is beyond the bounds of civilization
- 77: Myra paused long enough to pant
- 78: McKittrick can hear all about everything when you get back
- 79: Made a hurried visit to the Catt cottage
- 80: And Myra was devoting her attention to quiet Gloriana
- 81: Cried Gloriana compassionately
- 82: This was the audience which Tabitha addressed
- 83: Here's one of the autos already
- 84: This arrangement just suited Myra
- 85: Carson's auto is stuck in the mud
- 86: Myra glanced hastily behind her
- 87: The hamper full of stuffed squabs was gone
- 88: Sober faced Mercedes McKittrick