So the days went by till the time came for the opening of the bazar. It was to be held in the little hall which served as a place of amusement for the community of summer visitors. Here concerts were given, dances took place, lecturers found a platform. On this occasion it was decorated with greens from the woods. Tea was served in a tent outside near a gypsy camp where pretended fortunes were told by a pretty girl with dark eyes, whose costume made one almost believe she really belonged to that wandering race. A of green in one corner of the hall sheltered the flower girls who offered all kinds of blooms, from a bunch of field flowers to a of American Beauty roses. Another table showed such an array of cakes and candies as made one's mouth water, while the articles of fancy work were so numerous that the children were afraid the half would not be sold. The dolls had a place of honor to themselves, the three donated by Mrs. Ramsey occupying the most place.  
Dorothy and Edna made their way to this table first of all, and Dorothy was prompt in exchanging a quarter for her little doll in blue. "I was so afraid 144it would be sold first thing," she explained to Edna, "and I still have seventy-five cents to spend on other things."
 
Edna was not so fortunate, for the doll of her choice was already sold, while the impossible one among Mrs. Ramsey's trio, was far beyond her pocket-book. "It is marked three dollars," she whispered to Dorothy. So she put this out of her mind, and that she would first buy something to take home to her mother and sister and then, if there were enough left, she might get one of the little dolls.
 
The room was beginning to be with people, although the children had arrived early, and it was noticed that sales were being made rapidly. Everyone was eager to buy, though the cheaper articles went first, and Edna had some difficulty in getting something very pretty for the amount she could afford. However, Miss Newman came to her rescue.
 
"Here is a little girl," she said to one of the ladies behind the table, "who has worked very hard for this bazar, and who wants something very nice to take home for her mother. What is the very prettiest thing you have for twenty-five cents?"
 
"Why, let me see," said the lady smiling down at Edna, and then casting her eye over the table, "there ought to be some of those nice little handkerchief cases. There were several on the table, but they went off like hot cakes. I will see if there are 145any more that haven't been put out." She around in the boxes at the back, and finally produced what she was looking for which pleased Edna greatly, and it was handed over to her. Next a pretty picture-frame was chosen for Celia and the most important purchases were made.
 
Dorothy and Jennie were wandering around together, the doll in blue sitting up very stiffly where Dorothy carried it on her hand. Jennie's father had given her two dollars to spend, and she had already parted with most of it. The caramels and panuchee were not to be resisted, and there were so many pretty things that one's money did not last long. "I wish papa would come," she remarked to her two friends. "I know he would buy something for me when he knows I can't buy it for myself."
 
"There he is now," cried Edna as a tall man was seen making his way toward them.
 
Jennie wedged her way between ranks of small boys who were consuming peanuts and pop-corn, and reached her father's side. "Oh, Papa," she cried, "I am so glad you have come. There is such a lovely sacque over here that I want you to buy for me to give to Miss Eloise."
 
"For you to give to Miss Eloise? Why shouldn't I be giving things to Miss Somebody-or-other?"
 
"Because I think it would be nicer for me to. You can buy things for mother and me, if you want to."
 
"And for no one else?"
 
"Oh, yes, you can get anything you choose for Edna and Dorothy."
 
"Thanks for your kind permission. I think I know exactly what those young ladies would like. Let's see about the worsted thingamabob first."
 
Jennie led the way to the fancy table where the pretty light sacque changed hands, and with it under her arm, Jennie followed her father across the room to where the array of dolls, in numbers, was displayed. Mr. Ramsey halted before the three which his wife had donated, and regarded them closely. "Are those what your mother contributed?" he asked Jennie.
 
"Yes," she told him, "and they are the very prettiest ones."
 
"So they are," put in the lady in attendance, "but because they are the highest priced they have not been sold yet. Don't you want one for your little girl, Mr. Ramsey?"
 
"I want three for three little girls," he said taking out a roll of bills. "Where are Edna and Dorothy, Jennie?"
 
"Oh, they are over there at the candy table."
 
"See if you can get them to come over here. I can't be seen carrying three dolls around with me."
 
Jennie wormed her way through the crowd with surprising and reached her two friends who had just bought five cents worth of panuchee apiece. "Come over here," she said breathlessly; "papa 147wants to speak to you." Tall as he was Mr. Ramsey was easily discovered and the three little girls were not long in reaching him.
 
"Here you are," he said. "Now, which one of you did I overhear expressing her for this giddy creature in a ball dress?"
 
"Oh, did you hear?" asked Edna. "I think it must have been I who liked it so much."
 
Mr. Ramsey lifted down the doll and placed it in Edna's arms. "O!" she breathed rapturously, "do you really mean she is mine? I don't know how to thank you."
 
"Then don't try," replied Mr. Ramsey laughing. "Now then, it seems to me I heard someone say that this one with the dark locks would be her choice. The voice sounded very much like Dorothy's if I am not mistaken. How is that, Dorothy?"
 
"Oh, I did say I liked that one best."
 
"Then yours she is." And Dorothy was made happy by receiving the dark-haired doll into her arms.
 
"Now, Miss Jane," continued Mr. Ramsey, "there is but one left for you. Do you think you would like this smiling creature with the wonderful hat?"
 
"Oh, Papa, of course I would. If I had had first choice I would have taken that one."
 
"Then here you are, my lady Jane." And the third doll was embraced by her new mamma.
 
"I think you are the loveliest father ever was," said Jennie. "Oh, girls, isn't it fine that we have all three? Do let's find mamma and tell her." Holding their dolls very carefully they made their way through the crowd to Mrs. Ramsey, who was serving as cashier at a little table near the door. "Oh, Mother," cried Jennie, "do see our dolls. Papa bought us each one."
 
"Why it seems to me I recognize them as old friends," said Mrs. Ramsey.
 
"Aren't you glad papa bought them?"
 
"I am very glad if you are, and I should judge by your looks that you are not ill-pleased."
 
"I would rather have mine than anything else in the whole room," said Edna . "I was so in love with this one in her party dress."
 
"And I did admire this dear child in her coat and bonnet," chimed in Dorothy.
 
"And I am satisfied with mine," said Jennie. "Mother, what shall we name them?"
 
"Suppose you wait till we get back home. Just now I am pretty busy, as you may see."
 
"And have you taken in much money?"
 
"Nearly two hundred dollars according to the last count."
 
"Oh, that is a great deal, isn't it?"
 
"Yes, it is really more than we hoped to get, and I am sure we shall have the full two hundred, if not 149more, though there is not much left except eatables."
 
The little girls walked away proudly carrying their dolls. "Have you spent all your money?" Dorothy asked Jennie.
 
"No, not quite. Have you?"
 
"Nearly all. I think I have only about ten cents. Have you any, Edna?"
 
"A little. What are you going to buy with yours, Jennie?"
 
"I haven't decided, but I suppose something to eat or some flowers, for nearly all the cheap things are gone except those. I don't want my fortune told, do you?"
 
"No, I would rather spend it at the fishpond."
 
"Then let's go there. I think that will be more fun than anything else."
 
The fishpond was out of doors and had been so greatly patronized that it was a very difficult matter to keep it stocked with fish of proper quality, and latterly there had been frequent raids upon the candy stand for such things as might serve for fish. The three little girls in a row waiting their turn noticed a small chap holding fast to his smaller sister's hand. Both were deeply interested at each draw from the pond, and watched eagerly as the small packages were opened. They were a little pair, for the boy's trousers were very long for his short legs and his shirt sleeves 150were correspondingly short for his arms. The little curly-headed girl wore a very stiffly , very short frock which stood out all around and showed her knees and bare legs. She kept her eyes with admiring upon the three dolls, and lost all interest in the fish-pond as soon as the three friends arrived upon the scene.
 
"What did you get from the pond?" asked Jennie who was standing nearest the boy.
 
"Didn't get nawthin'." he answered.
 
"Oh, didn't you? Why not?"
 
"Didn't have no money."
 
"Oh, that was too bad. Did you spend it all before you knew there was a fishpond?"
 
"Naw. Didn't have none to spend."
 
"Oh." Jennie looked at the pair and then she looked at her two friends. Edna interpreted ............