The Bobbsey Twins at School | Page 4

another set of them. I say
"set" for the Bobbsey children came "in sets."
There were two pairs of twins, Bert and Nan, nearly nine years of age,
and Flossie and Freddie, almost five. And, whereas the two older
children were rather tall and slim, with dark brown hair and eyes, the
littler twins were short and fat, and had light hair and blue eyes. The
two pairs of twins were quite a contrast, and many persons stopped to
look at them as they passed along the street together.
"No, sir," went on Bert musingly, "school's no fun, and it starts about a
week after we get home. No chance to have a good time!"
"We've had fun all summer," replied his sister. "I rather like school."
"Mamma, are we going to school this year?" asked Flossie, as she
looked back with a quick turning of her head that set her yellow curls to
dancing.

"If we are, I'm going to sit with Flossie - can't I?" asked Freddie,
kneeling in the seat so that he could face back to his father and mother.
Indeed his request was not strange, since the two younger twins were
always together even more so than their brother and sister.
"Yes, I think you and Freddie will start school regularly this term," said
Mrs. Bobbsey, "and, if it can be arranged, you may sit together. We'll
see about that. Be careful, Freddie, don't put your head out of the
window," she cautioned quickly, for the little chap had turned in his
seat again, and was leaning forward to see a horse galloping about a
field, kicking up its heels at the sound of the puffing engine.
"It's my turn to sit by the window, anyhow," said Flossie.
"It is not! We haven't passed a station yet," disputed Freddie.
"Oh, we have so!" cried his little sister. "Freddie Bobbsey!" and she
pointed her finger at him.
"Children - children," said Mrs. Bobbsey, reprovingly.
"Are you two taking turns?" asked Bert, smiling with an older brother's
superior wisdom.
"Yes," answered Flossie, "he was to have the seat next to the window
until we came to a station, and then it's to be my turn until we pass
another station, and we have passed one, but he won't change over."
"Well, it was only a little station, anyhow," asserted Freddie, "and it
came awful quick after the last one. It isn't fair!"
"There's a seat up ahead for you, Bert," suggested Mr. Bobbsey, as a
gentleman got up, when the train approached a station." You can sit
there, and let Flossie or Freddie take your place."
"All right," answered Bert goodnaturedly, as he got up.
The train rolled on, the two younger twins each having a window now,

and Nan occupying the seat with her little brother. For a time there was
quietness, until Mrs. Bobbsey said to her husband:
"Hadn't you better get some of the satchels together, Richard, and tell
Dinah what she is to carry?"
"I think I will," he answered, as he went up the car aisle a little way to
where a very fat colored woman sat. She was Dinah, the Bobbsey cook,
and they took her with them always when going away for the summer.
Now they were on their way to their city house, and of course Dinah
came back, too.
"Mamma, I'm thirsty," said Flossie, after a bit. "Please may I get a
drink?"
"I want one, too," said Freddie quicky. "Come on, Flossie, we'll both go
down to the end of the car where the water cooler is."
"There's no cup," Nan said. "I went a little while ago, but a lady let me
take her glass."
"And if there was a cup, I would rather they didn't use it," said Mrs.
Bobbsey. "One never knows who has last handled a public cup."
"But I want a drink," insisted Flossie, a bit fretfully, for she was tired
from the long journey.
"I know it, dear," said her mamma gently, "and I'm getting out the
silver cup for you. Only you must be very careful of it, and not drop it,
for it is solid silver and will dent, or mar, easily." She was searching in
her bag, and presently took out a very valuable drinking cup, gold lined
and with much engraving on it. The cup had been presented to Flossie
and Freddie on their first birthday, and bore each of their names. They
were very proud of it.
"Now be careful," warned Mrs. Bobbsey, as she held out the cup. "Hold
on to the seats as you walk along."

"I'll carry the cup," said Freddie. "I'm the biggest."
"You are not!" declared his sister quickly. "I'm just as big."
"Well, anyhow, I'm a boy," went on Freddie, and Flossie could