Dorothy's Tour Part 26

The United States Life Saving Station is near the lake sh.o.r.e and was one of the interesting government exhibitions, and has ever since been maintained as a regular life saving station.

La Rabida, at the south end of the park on the lake sh.o.r.e is an exact reproduction of an ancient Spanish convent, where Columbus was at one time sheltered and befriended, in the days before he was able to secure aid from the Spanish court.

"And an interesting reminder of Columbus can be seen in those three small caravels," said Mr. Ludlow. "Do you know their names? They are reproductions of the small craft that brought Columbus and his followers on their first voyage to the New World."

Dorothy, who had remembered reading an article on Columbus in a recent magazine, exclaimed joyfully, "I know, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria."

"Right," laughed Mr. Ludlow.

"Oh, I am hungry," said Alfy, suddenly, "I am most starved. What time is it, I wonder? I feel as if it were way past dinner time."

Mr. Ludlow consulted his watch and said, "It is just six forty-five."

"I guess we had better start back to the hotel, now," broke in Mrs.

Calvert. "I am rather tired and hungry, too."

"We have seen quite a lot of the city and we can go into the shopping district and see that in the morning. There are some few things I would like to purchase," remarked Dorothy.

"I would like to visit Marshall Field's. I have always heard so much about it and I would like to see if these Chicagoans really know what a good store is."

"You will find that Marshall Field's is indeed a very wonderful store.

Just like our New York stores, though, but a trifle better, anyway,"

said Mrs. Calvert. "Yes, I think you will all agree with me, when you visit that wonderful store in the morning."

They hurried back to the hotel and prepared for dinner, after which Mr. Ludlow took Ruth, Dorothy and Alfaretta to church. Aunt Betty stayed home, being too tired to go out.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE ACCIDENT.

On Monday morning the company divided into little parties and went shopping, each to secure their own special needs.

Dorothy, Ruth, Alfaretta and Mrs. Calvert made one party. They went direct to Marshall Field's and were admittedly amazed by what they saw, so stupendous is the place. They were surprised to find the store's capacity so large and everything so fine, of such good quality, reasonably priced and conveniently arranged.

Mrs. Calvert bought a belt and a pair of gloves, and met such courteous attention and carefulness among the shop-girls as to be very much impressed. She said to Dorothy:

"Dear, I never before found shopping so pleasant. I wish I could always get everything I wished at Chicago, and especially here in this store, for it is directed wonderfully well."

"I would like to send some souvenir postcards," broke in Alfy. "Do you suppose I can get them here?"

"Yes, indeed," answered Dorothy. "I saw them, a large counter full of all kinds of views in and around the city; they were near the door which we entered."

"You can write them right here, and send them off from the store,"

added Aunt Betty.

"Come along then," directed Ruth. "All this way who want post cards."

They made their way to the counter where the cards were displayed and immediately were engaged in selecting views of the things and places they had seen in the city.

"Here is a very pretty card," said Ruth. "It has the La Rabida on it.

You remember the convent we saw in Jackson Park yesterday, where they had all of those Columbus relics?"

"Yes, and did you see this one?" asked Dorothy, holding up a card to view. "It's the little j.a.panese Garden on the Wooded Island in the same park."

"Look!" exclaimed Alfy, showing them all another card, "here is one of the Art Inst.i.tute!"

Mrs. Calvert, who had been searching through the various cards, said, "I think these three are very interesting, this of the store, this one of our hotel, and this other of the Life Saving Station in the park."

"Well, have you all selected those you wish?" said Dorothy. "Because, if you have, we can all go over there to the writing room and send them all right off."

"What a beautifully appointed room," said Mrs. Calvert, as they entered the s.p.a.cious, well lighted writing room, with the mahogany desks and generous supply of good quality writing paper, pens, ink-wells, etc. There was also in the corner a stamp machine, in which one deposits the right change and secures the desired number of stamps in return.

"I want to send cards to Ma and Pa Babc.o.c.k. Ma always likes me to, so she can show them down at Liza Jane's," said Alfy.

"I would like to send one to Gerald Banks and his sister, and, of course, to Jim," said Dorothy.

"I think there are just two I wish to send. I want to send one to Mrs.

Quarren," rejoined Ruth, "and if you do not mind, I think I should like to send one to Jim, also."

"Of course I don't object," laughed Dorothy. "Jim would be pleased to think you had remembered him. But let me see which one you are going to send him so I may send him a different one."

"Very well," answered Ruth. "I will send the one of the hotel."

"And I," responded Dorothy, "will send the one of the lake and Wooded Island in Jackson Park."

"I think I shall send Jim a card also," said Mrs. Calvert. "But I shall send him the one of the store. My list is just a little longer than all you girls' lists. I shall send cards to Frau and Herr Deichenberg, little Lemuel and old Ephraim, and Jim, whom I mentioned before."

"Shall I get the stamps?" said Ruth.

"Can I go with you?" asked Alfy. "I want to see how the machine works."

"Certainly, come on," added Ruth. "How many shall we need?"

"You had better get fifteen," answered Mrs. Calvert.

"You see," remarked Ruth to Alfaretta, "that one can only deposit nickels and dimes in the slot."

"What are you going to put in?" questioned Alfy.

"I am going to deposit first a dime and then a nickel in the slot that's marked for one cent stamps," replied Ruth, suiting her actions to her words and picking up the stamps which the machine dropped into the receiving tray.

"That's real fun," said Alfaretta. "I'd always buy stamps here, but Ma Babc.o.c.k would not like it."

"Why not?" asked Ruth.