She waved good-by to her Grandmother and Grandfather
as long as she could see them—which wasn’t
very long for the train pulled away so quickly from
the little station where the Merrills got on; and then
she turned to her mother and said, “now let’s
talk about something quick.”
“Very well,” said Mrs. Merrill, “I
was just wanting to do that. Let’s talk
about what you are going to do this winter.”
“Do this winter?” exclaimed Mary Jane
in surprise, “I’m going to do just like
I always do. I’m going to play with my
dolls and play with Doris and sometimes with Junior
and help you and everything like I do, Mother.”
“Think so, dear?” asked Mrs. Merrill,
“how old are you?”
“I’m five,” answered Mary Jane in
surprise.
“Five and a little more than a quarter,”
corrected Mrs. Merrill, “and seems to me that’s
big enough to be going to kindergarten. What
do you think?”
“Oh, is it, Mother?” exclaimed Mary Jane
happily, “am I really big enough?”
“I’m afraid my little girl is growing
up,” said Mrs. Merrill with half a sigh, “and
that she ought to go to school. What do you think,
Father?”
“I think she’ll like it and that she ought
to go,” said Mr. Merrill promptly; “suppose
we start her the first of October?”
So it was settled that Mary Jane was to go to kindergarten.
They made plans and talked till the porter came through
the car and called, “First call for luncheon!
First call for luncheon! Diner in the rear
of the train!” And then they all went through
the train to the diner and Mary Jane ate her first
meal on the train.
And if you want to know about what Mary Jane did after
she got home from her summer trip; and about all the
fun and good times she had after she started to kindergarten,
you must read—
