Dot and Tot of MerrylandBaum, L. Frank (Lyman Frank)
Science
Dot and Tot of Merryland
Baum, L. Frank (Lyman Frank)
Fantasy fiction
But, now that the flowers were blooming and the birds singing in the
new-leaved trees, she was going, in charge of her governess, to pass
the summer at Roselawn, a beautiful country home her father had
recently purchased.
"You must try not to be lonely, dear," said her father, as he held
her little hand in his big, strong one. "I have told Miss Bombien to
let you run and romp to your heart's content, so the roses may more
quickly return to your pale cheeks."
Dot's eyes brightened. To run and romp as she pleased would indeed be
a new experience to her, and she was happy even to think of such
delight.
"You will have no one but Miss Bombien for company," continued her
father; "but there are plenty of servants, and I am told the grounds
are in beautiful condition. In a few days, at most, Sweetheart, I
shall run down to see you, and then you can tell me how you like your
new home. In the meanwhile, Miss Bombien will simply look after your
comfort; there will be no lessons to bother you. All you must do is
eat and sleep and play, and to grow strong and rosy-cheeked again."
Dot listened to al this with much pleasure, and decided she was about
to have a fine holiday. Her real name, by the way, was Evangeline
Josephine Freeland; but mamma and papa had always called her "Dot"
from the day she was born, so sometimes she almost forgot she had
such a beautiful name as Evangeline Josephine.
Dot's mamma was an invalid, and had been taken by her father--Dot's
grandfather, you know--for a trip to Europe, in search of better
health, and so she had been forced to leave her little daughter to
the watchful care of Miss Bombien. Mr. Freeland, although he loved
Dot dearly, was a very busy man and could devote but little time to
his child. "So, Sweetheart," he told her, "you will be Queen of
Roselawn this summer, and I will come down once in a while to bow
before your Majesty's throne."
What he really feared was that Dot might grow up weak and delicate as
her mother was; but he did not tell the child this. He resolved,
however, that if fresh air and healthy surroundings could give his
little girl strength and health, they should be at her command, and
therefore he had purchased Roselawn almost entirely on Dot's account.
Before she realized it, Dot found herself at the railway station and
aboard a parlor car, where her father gave her a long and loving
farewell kiss. Then Mr. Freeland stood upon the platform and waved
his hand to his daughter, while the train slowly glided out from the
station and began its journey into the sweet, fresh country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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