Betsy and the Boys by Carolyn Haywood Read Free Book Online

departed, Billy said, "Oh, boy! Just one more dog and we can quit."
    "Yeh!" said Rudy. "But we haven't any football." And when he said this the team looked very sad.
    "Oh, well! Maybe we can wash more dogs next week and buy a football," said Billy.
    Just then Betsy appeared. "Hello!" she said. "What are you doing?"
    "We're in business," said Rudy. "We wash dogs. Only twenty-five cents."
    "Yes," said Billy. "Just one more dog and we have enough money to pay my daddy for the soap."
    "But we have to wash more next Saturday,"
sighed Rudy, "to earn money to buy a football."
    "Oh!" said Betsy. "That's too bad." And she trotted off.
    The boys sat down to rest.
    Just as the Wilson twins were about to set off to find the last dog, Betsy appeared. She had Thumpy on a leash. "Here you are," she said. "It smells awful but you can wash him."
    The boys just stared, but not at Thumpy. They were staring at the object under Betsy's arm. They couldn't believe their eyes. For under Betsy's arm was a football! She held it out to them. "Would you like to play with my football?" she said.
    "Oh, Betsy!" cried Billy. "Do you mean it? Is it a real football?"
    "Sure," said Betsy.
    "Wheee!" cried the team.
    "What a pal! What a pal!" cried Rudy, patting Betsy on the back. "You're on the team, Betsy. You're on the team."
    Then he turned to the boys. "Come on, fellas," he said, "give her a cheer."
    And they all cried, "Rah! Betsy! Rah! Rah! Rah! Betsy!"
    And Billy rubbed Surething Flea Soap on Thumpy.

7. Just-for-Instance Presents

    The football team had a wonderful time playing with Betsy's football. Little Eddie turned out to be one of the best players. Betsy wasn't so very good, but the boys were patient and encouraging. After all, it was her ball. Then one day she tore a big three-cornered tear in one of her best school dresses and skinned the toes of her new shoes. When she returned home, Mother decided that Betsy had played enough football.
    The following night Father came home with a package under his arm. Betsy ran to meet him. "What's in the package, Father?" said Betsy, full of curiosity.
    "It's a present," said Father.
    "For me?" said Betsy.
    Father nodded.
    "A just-for-instance present?" said Betsy, dancing up and down.
    "Righto," said Father.
    "Oh, Father!" cried Betsy. "I think just-for-instance presents are the nicest presents of all, because they are the surprisiest surprises. When it's my birthday or Christmas, I know that I'm going to get a present, so the only surprise is what the present is. But a just-for-instance present is two surprises. The present is a surprise and getting it is a surprise."
    Mother, who had been listening, said, "Oh, Betsy, I know just what you mean, darling." And Father threw back his head and laughed.
    Betsy untied the package. She wondered why knots were always tighter on surprises. Things you didn't care about always fell open. At last the string was off. Betsy felt the weight of the package as she removed the wrapping paper. When she lifted the lid of the box, there, to her delight, was a pair of shiny ice skates fastened to beautiful snow-white boots.
    "Oh, Father!" cried Betsy. "Skates! Am I going to learn to skate at the rink?"
    "That's right," said Father.
    "How wonderful!" exclaimed Betsy, as she pulled off her oxfords and tried on her boots. "When may I go skating?"
    "Mother has arranged for you to have a lesson tomorrow afternoon, at four o'clock," said Father.
    "Well-l-l-l," said Betsy, "that's just the time for our football game with the Screech Owls. The Screech Owls are another team in our school. Of course, I suppose they could put someone in my place."

    "No doubt," said Father.
    Betsy took off her skates and put her oxfords on again. She looked at the clock. "I'll just have time to run over to Billy's house before dinner. I want to tell him that I won't be able to play football tomorrow because I'm going to have a skating lesson."
    Betsy opened the front door. Then she closed it again. She