It seemed to Mary Jane that some magic must have been
at work to change the world during the night she slept
on the train. All the country she knew had hills
and valleys and many creeks and woods of pine trees.
But when she waked up in the morning and peeped out
of the window of her berth, she saw great wide fields
and woods that seemed always far away. And the
occasional creek that the train rumbled over was small
and could be seen a long way off, coming across the
fields toward the railroad. And the roads!
How funny they were! They came straight and
white toward the train, each just exactly as smooth
and as regular as the one before.
To be sure the country was pretty; yellow buttercups
and bright blue flowers bloomed along the track and
the fields looked fresh and green in the morning sun.
“I think I’m going to like it anyway,
even if the hills are all smoothed out,” said
Mary Jane as she looked at it thoughtfully, “and
maybe I’d better put on my shoes and stockings.”
She rummaged in the funny little hammock that hung
over her window, found the shoes and stockings and
put them on, and was just wondering if it was time
to dress when she heard Dr. Smith’s voice outside.
“Yes, Sambo, I’m awake,” he was
saying, “and you may call the young lady.”
Before Mary Jane had had time to wonder who the “young
lady” might be, there was a great shaking of
her curtain and the voice of the porter said, “Thirty
minutes to Glenville!”
Quick as a flash Mary Jane stuck her head out between
the curtains and replied, “That’s where
my great grandmother lives and I’m going to see
her!”
The porter was vastly surprised ("I guess he thought
I was going to sleep all day!” thought Mary
Jane scornfully), but before he had a chance to reply
anything, Dr. Smith called across, “Good morning,
Mary Jane! How did you sleep?”
“All the night, just like I do at home,”
answered Mary Jane, “except one time when they
bumped something into my bed—what was it,
do you ’spose?”
“Most like they put on a new engine,”
said Dr. Smith. “Now, how long will it
take you to dress, my dear?”
“Just a tinny while,” said Mary Jane,
“because I’ve got my shoes and stockings
on now. And when may I wash my face and you put
on my hair ribbon?”
Dr. Smith stepped out from his berth and looked at
Mary Jane in dismay.
“You may wash your face any time you like, my
dear,” he said, “but I can’t tie
your hair ribbon. I don’t know how!”
Mary Jane laughed at the funny face he made and then
she smiled in her most motherly fashion. “Then
it’s a good thing I forgot and left it on last
night,” she said, “and don’t you
worry, I can perk it up and make it look real tidy.”
“You’re a good little traveler,”
complimented Dr. Smith. “I’ll take
you along again. Now let’s see who’s
ready first.”
