I hope I know what I'm doing, Adam thought when they drove up to the Carson City Orphanage and stopped outside of the institution's front steps.
Many of the children were in the yard to the side of the building playing on the rather dilapidated swings, seesaws, and other playground equipment. Out of the several nuns who were scattered about supervising, one of them noticed the surrey drive up and went to greet the visitor who was disembarking.
"Why, Mr. Cartwright, what a pleasant surprise!" the elderly nun called out as she approached the carriage. "What brings you by today? Is everything alright with Margaret Jane and Jacob? I hope they are behaving themselves."
"Maisy and Jake are doing just fine, Mother Lioba, thank you for enquiring. I have brought some clothes, blankets and preserves for the children. My youngest daughter, Mary, also has some toys to donate to the orphanage and I felt it best for her to do so in person," Adam informed the nun after shaking her hand.
Mother Lioba peered over at the carriage to see a pout-faced little girl, leaning back in the seat with her arms folded defiantly across her chest. "I see, Mr. Cartwright, and is this donation a willing one or a reluctant one?" she asked Adam in a low voice.
"Perhaps I should explain the matter to you in private, Mother, if you don't mind," he smiled uncomfortably, embarrassed by his child's behaviour.
"Yes, Mr. Cartwright, I think that would be best," she grinned.
"Mary, come over here and bring the crate with you," Adam ordered.
Mary slowly descended the surrey, picked up the small wooden crate filled with her treasures, and plodded over to the adults.
"Mother Lioba, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Mary," he introduced.
"It's very nice to meet you, Mary."
"It's nice to meet you too, ma'am," Mary answered quietly.
"Mary, you are to wait here while Mother Lioba and I go inside to speak. When I get back we will distribute the items you have so kindly donated to those less fortunate then yourself," Adam informed her, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Yes, sir," Mary sighed then sat on the front steps of the orphanage. After her father and the nun entered the building, Mary went through her box wishing she could grab the crate and run, but knew better. She was already in enough trouble and just wanted this nightmare of a day over with.
"Hi," a sweet voice said. Mary looked up to see a girl standing before her smiling. She wore a raggedy brown calico dress that was dirty and her blond hair was tied back in a messy braid with wisps going across her face. Next to Mary's clean ensemble and black, ringlet hair, the girl was petite and a little undernourished, but they appeared to be the same age.
"Hi," Mary replied.
"Are you a new orphan here?" she asked.
"No, just sorta visiting."
"I didn't think so. Your clothes are too nice to be an orphan," she commented, scanning Mary's appearance. "Was that man with Mother Lioba your pa?"
"Yeah, we came to give some things to the orphanage."
"You must feel pretty lucky to have a pa. Do you have a ma too?"
"Yeah, she's at home with my brothers and sisters."
"Do you have lots of brothers and sisters?"
"I have two sisters and four brothers, so I guess that's lots. My sister Maisy and my brother Jake used to live here til we adopted them," Mary explained.
"You must be one of the Cartwheels then."
"It's Cartwright, not Cartwheel," Mary giggled. "I'm Mary Cartwright; what's your name?"
"Birdie," the girl answered.
"Birdie? That's a different name."
"It's not my real name. My real name is Bertha, but I never liked it. I came to live with the nuns when I was a baby and they gave it to me. It's the name of a saint, but I'm not sure for what."
"How'd ya end up with the name Birdie then?" Mary enquired.
"Could never say Bertha when I was little, it always came out as Birdie, so that's what everyone called me, 'cept for Mother Lioba, she's the only one that still calls me Bertha."
Feeling a connection to Birdie, Mary invited her to sit beside her on the steps. The two girls sat in silence for a few moments before Birdie became curious about the crate full of treasures. "Can I look in the box you brung, Mary?"
"Sure, why not," she shrugged. "The stuff won't be mine for long."
After getting the go-ahead, Birdie happily rummaged through the crate. "You're not givin' this stuff away, are you?"
"There ain't nothing wrong with my stuff," Mary said defensively.
"I know, that's why I can't believe you're gonna give it to us," Birdie to her.
"What do you mean?" Mary questioned.
"The stuff folks donate to us is usually broken; things they don't want no more. I ain't complaining, though, cuz that's how I got Daisy."
"Who's Daisy?"
Birdie reached into her pocket and pulled out a small rag doll. At the top of its muslin made body was straggly hair made of faded red yarn. A tiny green sheath dress covered the doll's arms - one of which was hanging on to the rest of the body by a few strands of thread – and a crudely painted face provided Daisy's happy expression. "She's my very bestest friend," said Birdie as she handed the doll to Mary.
Mary took the doll and examined it closer. This was her prized possession? It was nothing but a worn out of wad of fabric and yarn that someone had thrown away, how could she love it so much. Birdie and the other children surely had better things to play with than this. Why would people only give things that weren't wanted to children that weren't wanted? For the first time since the whole comb fiasco, Mary's attitude towards materialistic things changed. If Birdie was this elated over a worn out rag doll, imagine how she would feel if she had something much nicer. Mary arose from her spot on the steps and hurried back to the surrey. When she was asked by her father to bring the crate over to the building, Mary "accidentally" forgot one item in the carriage. Returning to the front steps, Mary handed something wrapped in a woollen throw to Birdie. "I was wondering if you could do me a favour, Birdie. I need someone special to take care of my bestest friend; her name is Penelope."
Birdie removed the blanket and was instantly in awe of the expensive and fragile looking doll. "She's so pretty! I can't take care of something like this, Mary; it's much too fancy for the likes of me."
"No it's not. Besides, Penelope looks just like you. See, she has blond hair and blue eyes too. Won't you take care of her for me? She needs someone that will love her like I do."
Birdie thought for a moment. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her life and she would love to call Penelope her own, but in a way Birdie felt as though she was betraying her Daisy. After all, Daisy had been the one thing that was constant in her life. "I'd love to help you, Mary, but I'm not sure how Daisy's gonna fit in if I do," she said in a disappointed tone.
"What if we traded?" Mary suggested. "I could take care of Daisy for you and you could take care of Penelope for me."
"That's a great idea, Mary!" she said excitedly. "I can't wait to show the others. Penelope! Do you want to come and meet some of the other kids?"
"I'd like that; maybe they want to have what I have in my crate, here. Will you help me hand it out?"
"Sure, come on," she said, grabbing one end of the crate. Mary took hold of the other end and the two girls strolled over into the front yard.
A few minutes later, Adam and Mother Lioba exited the orphanage to find Mary and the crate gone. "What has got into that child?!" Adam said with irritation in his voice. "I told her specifically to wait on the steps. When I get a hold of that girl…"
"Mr. Cartwright, I think you should have a look over yonder before jumping to conclusions," Mother Lioba interrupted with a smile.
Adam glanced over to see his daughter smiling and playing with the other children. A sense of relief wafted over him. Adam hoped this meant that Mary was beginning to understand the lesson he and Evelyn wanted her to. "Mary!" he called then waved for her to come to the steps.
Mary quickly heeded his call and rushed to the front of the building, with Birdie following behind. "Sorry, Pa," she apologized, catching her breath, "I know I was suppose to stay but Birdie was helping me donate my things to the other orphans. She knows the kids better than I do."
"Please don't be mad at her, sir, I wanted to show the others my new doll, Penelope."
Adam grinned when he saw the blond-haired doll in the girl's arms. "I'm not mad, child; I am very pleased that Mary was able to meet so many new people, especially a girl such as yourself, Birdie…is it?"
"This is Bertha, Mr. Cartwright, the children call her Birdie," Mother Lioba explained in a rather agitated tone. The nun perceived nicknames to be crude and always referred the orphans – and adults – by their given names.
Sensing Mother Lioba's annoyance, Adam continued carefully. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Bertha. Thank you for keeping Mary's company while I spoke to the Reverend Mother."
"You're welcome," Birdie blushed.
Adam smiled then went to the surrey and unloaded the remaining donation items. After carrying the supplies inside her turned to Mary. "Well, young lady we best be going if we're going to make it home in time for supper."
"Can we visit again, Pa? Maybe Benny, Luke and the others have some toys they want to donate too. I didn't have any boy things in my crate and I'm sure they want something to play with too."
"Yes, I'm sure they do, Mary," Adam agreed. "If Mother Lioba has no objections, we can plan another visit in a couple of weeks."
"We would love to have you visit any time. Perhaps the rest of the Cartwright family would like to come as well."
"I don't think Maisy would like to, Mother," Birdie giggled. "Y'all had a hard time keepin' her here when she was an orphan."
Adam and Mary couldn't help but chuckle at the truth of Birdie's remark. Mother Lioba, however, was less than amused. "Bertha, there is no need for such comments. Say good-bye to the Cartwrights then be off with you."
"Yes, ma'am. Good-bye Mr. Cartwright, good-bye Mary and don't worry I'll take good care of Penelope."
"I know you will," Mary said, giving Birdie a hug, "and I'll take good care of Daisy."
Adam and Mary ascended the carriage, waved good-bye and started back to the Ponderosa. As they drove away, Adam turned his head towards his daughter. "Mary, who is Daisy?"
"My new doll," she answered nonchalantly. "I traded with Birdie; I got Daisy and she got Penelope."
Adam brought the surrey to a halt. "Mary Cordelia Cartwright, are you telling me that instead of donating the toys, as you were told, you made that poor child give you something in return?!"
"No, Pa, it wasn't like that. I had to make a trade or Birdie wouldn't have taken Penelope, and she had to keep her cuz she was the only one I trusted to take good care of Penelope."
"That is absurd; we're going back to the orphanage so you can give the doll back to Birdie. I've never been so disappointed in you Mary. I really thought you were beginning to think of someone other than yourself, but I see now that I was wrong. And rest assured, young lady, that there will be serious consequences for your behaviour today. Now hand over this 'Daisy' doll."
With her head hung low and tears in her eyes, Mary reached into her pocket and pulled out Daisy then placed her in Adam's hand.
"What is this?" Adam questioned, puzzled by the doll's state.
"That's Daisy," Mary replied softly as tears streamed down her face. "Birdie really liked Penelope, but she didn't have anyone to take care of Daisy, so I said I would. They only get broken toys donated to the orphanage, Pa, and I wanted to make sure Birdie got something that wasn't broken and Penelope was the best thing I had. I'm sorry I disappointed you, Pa, I thought it was a good idea."
Adam had really fouled up this time, but he usually did when his temper got the better of him. Placing the doll on the seat beside him, he turned towards Mary. "No, Mary, I'm the one who is sorry. What you did was very kind and thoughtful and I apologize for not hearing you out. Will you forgive me?"
Mary leapt out of her seat and wrapped her arms around Adam's neck. "Of course I forgive you, Pa!"
"Thank you."
"Does this mean I get to keep Daisy? Aunt Rebecca sews real good and can help me fix her up," she asked, releasing her embrace.
"Yes, sweetheart, you may keep Daisy."
"So, I'm not gonna have consequences when I get home?"
"No, there will be no consequences when we get home," he smiled then picked up the reins and clicked the team into motion.
"Good," she sighed, relieved to be going home without the thought of impending doom weighing on her mind. "Do you think the others will have things they want to donate, you know, stuff that isn't broken?"
"I think that when you tell your brothers and sisters about how happy the children were to have new toys to play with, they will be more than willing to donate some things they no longer use."
"More willing than I was, huh, Pa?" Mary coyly commented.
"Let's hope so, Mary, I don't know if I can deal with any more drama," he chuckled then leaned over and kissed Mary on the head.
"I know what you mean, Pa, that Maisy sure can be a handful," she quipped, giving her father a little wink.
Adam burst out laughing. "I didn't know you could be so witty, Mary."
"That makes two of us, Pa," Mary giggled as they drove towards home.