MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKENS

CONTENTS

I. MOTHER CAREY HERSELF
II. THE CHICKENS
III. THE COMMON DENOMINATOR
IV. THE BROKEN CIRCLE
V. HOW ABOUT JULIA?
VI. NANCY'S IDEA
VII. "OLD BEASTS INTO NEW"
VIII. THE KNIGHT OF BEULAH CASTLE
IX. GILBERT'S EMBASSY
X. THE CAREYS' FLITTING
XI. THE SERVICE ON THE THRESHOLD
XII. COUSIN ANN
XIII. THE PINK OF PERFECTION
XIV. WAYS AND MEANS
XV. BELONGING TO BEULAH
XVI. THE POST-BAG
XVII. JACK OF ALL TRADES
XVIII. THE HOUSE OF LORDS
XIX. OLD AND NEW
XX. THE PAINTED CHAMBER
XXI. A FAMILY RHOMBOID
XXII. CRADLE GIFTS
XXIII. NEARING SHINY WALL
XXIV. A LETTER FROM GERMANY
XXV. "FOLLOWING THE GLEAM"
XXVI. A ZOOLOGICAL FATHER
XXVII. THE CAREY HOUSEWARMING
XXVIII. "TIBI SPLENDET FOCUS"
XXIX. "TH' ACTION FINE"
XXX. THE INGLENOOK
XXXI. GROOVES OF CHANGE
XXXII. DOORS OF DARING
XXXIII. MOTHER HAMILTON'S BIRTHDAY.
XXXIV. NANCY COMES OUT
XXXV. THE CRIMSON RAMBLER






I

MOTHER CAREY HERSELF


"By and by there came along a flock of petrels, who are Mother Carey's
own chickens.... They flitted along like a flock of swallows, hopping
and skipping from wave to wave, lifting their little feet behind them so
daintily that Tom fell in love with them at once."

Nancy stopped reading and laid down the copy of "Water Babies" on the
sitting-room table. "No more just now, Peter-bird," she said; "I hear
mother coming."

It was a cold, dreary day in late October, with an east wind and a chill
of early winter in the air. The cab stood in front of Captain Carey's
house, with a trunk beside the driver and a general air of expectancy on
the part of neighbors at the opposite windows.

Mrs. Carey came down the front stairway followed by Gilbert and
Kathleen; Gilbert with his mother's small bag and travelling cloak,
Kathleen with her umbrella; while little Peter flew to the foot of the
stairs with a small box of sandwiches pressed to his bosom.

Mrs. Carey did not wear her usual look of sweet serenity, but nothing
could wholly mar the gracious dignity of her face and presence. As she
came down the stairs with her quick, firm tread, her flock following
her, she looked the ideal mother. Her fine height, her splendid
carriage, her deep chest, her bright eye and fresh color all bespoke the
happy, contented, active woman, though something in the way of transient
anxiety lurked in the eyes and lips.

"The carriage is too early," she said; "let us come into the sitting
room for five minutes. I have said my good-byes and kissed you all a
dozen times, but I shall never be done until I am out of your sight."

"O mother, mother, how can we let you go!" wailed Kathleen.

"Kitty! how can you!" exclaimed Nancy. "What does it matter about us
when mother has the long journey and father is so ill?"

"It will not be for very long,--it can't be," said Mrs. Carey wistfully.
"The telegram only said 'symptoms of typhoid'; but these low fevers
sometimes last a good while and are very weakening, so I may not be able
to bring father back for two or three weeks; I ought to be in Fortress
Monroe day after to-morrow; you must take turns in writing to me,
children!"

"Every single day, mother!"

"Every single thing that happens."

"A fat letter every morning," they promised in chorus.

"If there is any real trouble remember to telegraph your Uncle
Allan--did you write down his address, 11 Broad Street, New York? Don't
bother him about little things, for he is not well, you know."

Gilbert displayed a note-book filled with memoranda and addresses.

"And in any small difficulty send for Cousin Ann," Mrs. Carey went on.

"The mere thought of her coming will make me toe the mark, I can tell
you that!" was Gilbert's rejoinder.

"Better than any ogre or bug-a-boo, Cousin Ann is, even for Peter!" said
Nancy.

"And will my Peter-bird be good and make Nancy no trouble?" said his
mother, lifting him to her lap for one last hug.

"I'll be an angel boy pretty near all the time," he asserted between
mouthfuls of apple, "or most pretty near," he added prudently, as if
unwilling to promise anything superhuman in the way of behavior. As a
matter of fact it required only a tolerable show of virtue for Peter to
win encomiums at any time.