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Updated: June 11, 2025
"Ayleesabet" everybody adopted her own pronunciation was napping in Dicky's old perambulator on the porch of Dorothy's cottage one Saturday morning early in December. The Ethels, their coat collars turned up and rugs wrapping their knees, were keeping guard beside her. Both of them were alternately knitting and warming their fingers.
"She went out," replied Miss Merriam, somewhat nervously. "Dorothy has gone to Della's this afternoon to help her get ready for tonight," Ethel said. "She arrived before I left," admitted Edward a confession that drew a long look from Gertrude. "Where's Ayleesabet?"
"Since Ayleesabet is provided with such beauties we shan't have to fret about getting her anything else when she goes to her coming-out party, shall we?" "What are you saying, Grandfather!" exclaimed Helen. "Of course Ayleesabet's little string of beads can't be compared with a pearl necklace!" "There you are!" retorted Mr. Emerson; "Helen has explained it.
"Take hold of my collar," cried the aged war-horse. Ayleesabet fell forward, her arms went around his neck and her hands buried themselves in his whiskers. With a chirrup of delight she righted herself, a bridle-rein of hair in each hand. On went the charger, his speed increasing from a walk to an amble. Louder and louder laughed Elisabeth.
She did not go, offering as an excuse that Ayleesabet needed her. The April Fool party might have been named the Party of Surprises. There were no practical jokes; "a joke of the hand is a joke of the vulgar" had been trained into all of them from their earliest days; but there were countless surprises.
"You're very long-winded, Thomas," pronounced Roger, patting his friend on the shoulder, "but we get your idea. I second the motion, Madam President. We'll give ten cent presents to our relatives and friends and put all the rest of our stupendous fortunes into giving the orphans a good time and getting some duds for Ayleesabet or paying for what she has already."
Smith and Miss Merriam had both needed to go to New York, and the Misses Clark had seized the opportunity to have an unusually long call from Ayleesabet. They had sat on their veranda with her while she napped; but when she came in, fresh and wide awake, their older eyes were growing sleepy from the cold and they went upstairs for forty winks, leaving their nursling in charge of their brother.
The Ethels stood side by side so stricken with amazement and amusement that for an instant it seemed that apoplexy would overtake them. Thanks to their natural politeness they did not laugh, though they agreed later that it had been the hardest struggle of their lives not to do so. "We've come to take Ayleesabet home," they said. "It's awfully good of you to entertain her so long."
"I'm almost sure she will say 'yes'." "So am I. If Katharine comes we can save all our Christmas festivities for the time she's here so there'll be plenty to entertain her." "Ayleesabet is waking. Hullo, sweet lamb," and both girls leaned over the carriage, happy because their nursling condescended to smile on them when she opened her eyes.
Ayleesabet was goodness itself. She sat on the floor and rolled a ball to her elderly playmate, chuckling when it struck the edge of a rug and went out of its course so that he had to plunge after it. She walked around the edge of the same rug, evidently regarding it as an island to be explored, Crusoe fashion. Her explorations were thorough.
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