this morning the Blossoms were actually on their way. Norah's
sister had come to stay with her and Annabel Lee, so Mother
Blossom had been spared the work and trouble of closing the house.
Meg and Bobby had been promised that they could go into a higher
grade in the fall, because of their good records for the term.
Dot's new dresses were all finished; and Twaddles had wheedled his
father into allowing him to take along an empty bird-cage which
took up a great deal of room and was utterly useless. The Blossoms
had no bird, and, as Bobby pointed out to Twaddles, he would not
be able to catch a bird if he tried, and if he did catch one, said
Bobby, it would be against the law for him to keep it. He would
have to let it go as he had the robin. But Twaddles was firm in
his resolve to carry the empty cage.

"Miss Florence's canary bird died," he explained to Father
Blossom. "And it makes her cry to see the cage; so she gave it to
me. I think it is very nice and you never can tell when it will be
useful!"

It was over seventy miles to Apple Tree Island from Oak Hill,
quite too long a trip for the children to make without a break.
This was partly the reason Father Blossom planned to stop at
Brookside Farm. The real reason, of course, was Aunt Polly.

"When do we go on the boat?" asked Dot, soon after they had left
Oak Hill and were running smoothly along the State highway which
the interurban trolley line followed for some distance. Dot
remembered the trip on the boat to Aunt Polly's, and she had
reason to, as you will recall if you have read of that memorable
visit.