"Yes, and when there's a fire," answered Freddie, "I can fill the cans
with water and dump it on the fire like they do in Meadow Brook, too."
Freddie always insisted on being a fireman and had a great idea of
putting fires out and climbing ladders.

There was still an hour to spare before dinner, and Nan proposed that
they take a walk down to the beach. Nellie went along, of course, but
when they got to the great stretch of white sand, near the waves, the
girls noticed Nellie was about to cry.

"Maybe she is too tired," Nan whispered to Dorothy, as they made some
excuse to go back home again. All along the way Nellie was very
quiet, almost in tears, and the other girls were disappointed, for
they had expected her to enjoy the ocean so much. As soon as they
reached home Nellie went to her room, and Nan and Dorothy told
Mrs. Minturn about their friend's sudden sadness. Mrs. Minturn of
course, went up to see if she could do anything for Nellie.

There she found the little stranger crying as if her heart would
break.

"Oh, I can't help it, Mrs. Minturn!" she sobbed. "It was the ocean.
Father must be somewhere in that big, wild sea!" and again she cried
almost hysterically.

"Tell me about it, dear," said Mrs. Minturn, with her arm around the
child. "Was your father drowned at sea?"

"Oh no; that is, we hope he wasn't." said Nellie, through her tears,