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You're built to win it. Welcome to Snewscast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us on snuescast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by Mended Stockings. Tonight we'll read the next part to the Boxcar Children written by school teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner and published in 1924. The Boxcar Children tells the story of four orphan children, Henry, Jesse, Violet, and Benny. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned box car in the forest. In the last episode, encouraged by the doctor, Henry spontaneously joins a community running race at a nearby town's annual event. Little does Henry know that the race that he has won was sponsored by his own grandfather, James Henry Cordice. His grandfather didn't seem to realize this either, even though he was searching for his missing grandchildren. Also, Sister, Jessie and Violet resourcefully create printed

letters for little Benny to start to learn how to read. Let's get cozy.

Close your eyes.

Relax your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now take a few deep breaths. Jin-seng What Dr. McAllister ever did before Henry began to work for him would be hard to guess.

There were certainly, as many duties, always waiting for him as he had time to do, and it made no difference to the industrious boy what the job was. Nothing was too hard or too dirty for him to attempt. One day, the doctor set him at the task of clearing out his little laboratory. The boy washed bottles, pasted labels, and cleaned instruments for one whole morning, and more than one broken flask on its way to the rubbish sheep was carefully carried up the hill to the hidden family. While Henry was busy carefully lettering a sticky label, he noticed a young man in the outer office who was talking with the doctor. Can you tell me if this is a real jinxing? Henry heard him say, it certainly is, return Dr. McAllister. They'll give you two dollars a pound for the root at any of the drug stores. Henry ventured to steal a peep and found he could readily see the plant the man was holding. It was about a foot high, with branching leaves and a fine feathery white flower. Henry knew it was exactly the same white puff ball that he had noticed in Violet's face that very morning. And the young man had gone. Henry said, I know where I can find a whole lot of that plant. Is that so?" replied the doctor kindly. It's only the root, you know, that is valuable. But anyone who wants the bother of digging it up can sell any quantity of that. When Henry went home at noon, he related enough of this incident to set his sisters to work in good earnest. They started out with both knives and two strong iron spoons and the kettle. And with Benny to run about finding every white flower he could, the girl succeeded, with a great deal of hard digging, and finding enormous quantities of ginseng route. In fact, that first afternoon's work resulted in a kettle full, not counting a single leave for STEM. Henry was delighted when he saw the result of their work and took it next day to the largest drugstore where he received three dollars for the roots. Without any hesitation, Henry paid a visit to the dry goods store and came home with a pair of new brown stockings for Benny. That was a great day in the woods. Benny gave them no peace at all until they had admired his wonderful new stockings and felt of each rib. There had been one other thing that Benny had given them no peace about. On the night when the children had crept so quietly away from the baker's wife, Jess had forgotten to take Benny's bear. This bear was a poor looking creature, which had once been an expensive, Right-eyed teddy bear made of brown plush. But Penny had taken it to bed every single night for three years, and had loved it by day, so that it was not attractive to anyone but himself. Both eyes were gone, and its body was very limp, but Penny had certainly suffered a great deal trying to sleep in a strange bed without his beloved bear. Just, therefore, had plans on foot, the moment she saw Benny's new stockings. She washed the old brown stockings with their many neat dorns and hung them up to dry. And early in the afternoon, she and Violet sat with the work bag between them, each with a stocking. With Benny sitting by to watch proceedings, just mapped out a remarkable teddy bear.

One stalking, carefully trimmed, made the head and body, while the other furnished material for two arms, two legs and the stuffing. Just worked hard over the head, pushing the padding well into the blunt nose. embroider two beautiful eyes in black and white and a jet black nose tip. "'You must make a tail too, Jesse,' said Benny, watching her snip the brown rags. "'Bare's don't have tails, Benny,' argued Jess. Although she wasn't exactly sure if she was right. Your old bear didn't have any tail, you know? But this bear has a tail, though. Returned Benny, knowing that Jess would put on two tails if he insisted. And it was true. His bear finally did have a tail.

What kind of tail asked Jess helplessly at last? Bushy, long, and slim, or caught in tail? Long and slim decided Benny with great satisfaction, so I can pull it. cry Jess laughing in spite of herself. But she made a tale, long and slim, exactly as Benny ordered, and soated on very tightly, so that it might be pooled if desired. She fastened on the legs and arms with flat hinges so the bear might sit down easily and added at last a pair of cunning, flappy ears and a gay collar of braided red string from a bundle. What's his name, Jesse? Inquired Benny when the wonderful bear was finally handed over to him. His name repeated Jess. Well, you know he's a new bear. He isn't your old one. So I wouldn't call him Teddy. Oh no, said Benny shocked. This is not Teddy. This has a pretty tail. Of course. Agreed, Jess. Trying not to laugh. Well, you know we sold that ginseng to pay for your new stockings. And if you hadn't had your new ones, we couldn't have made this bear out of your old ones. You won his name to be stockings? Asked Benny politely? Stockings? No. Answered Jess. I was thinking of g-seng. Jin-seng? Echoed Benny. Thinking deeply. That's a nice name. Alright, I think Jin-seng will be a good bear if Watchy doesn't bark at him. from that moment, the bear's name was Jin-sing as long as he lived, and he lived to be a very old bear indeed. Trouble The days went merrily by for the freight car family. Hardly a day passed, however, without some exciting adventure. Mrs. McAllister, finding out in some way that Violet was a clever seamstress, sent home fine linen hanker chiefs for her to him. Each one had a tiny colored rose in the corner, and violet was delighted with the dainty work. She sat sowing daily by the swimming pool, while Benny sailed wonderful boats of chips, and waited around to his heart's content. The freight car pantry now held marvelous dishes rescued from the dump.

Such rare his heart's content. The freight car pantry now held marvelous dishes rescued from the dump, such rarities as a regular bread knife, a blue and gold soap dish, and half of a real cut glass bowl. Henry proudly deposited $31 in the savings bank under the name of Henry James and worked eagerly for his kind friend who never asked him any more embarrassing questions. Benny actually learned to read fairly well. The girls occupied their time making balsam pillows for the four beds and trying to devise wonderful meals out of very limited material. Violet kept a different bouquet daily in the little face. She had a perfect genius for arranging three purple irises to look like a picture, or a single wood lily with its leaves like a Japanese print. Each day the children enjoyed a cooked dinner, filling in the chinks with perfect satisfaction with bread and butter,

or bread and milk, or bread and cheese.

They named their queer house, Home for Tramps,

and printed this title in fancy lettering inside the car.

One day, just began to teach Benny a little arithmetic. He learned very readily that two and one make three. I knew that before. He said cheerfully, but it was a different matter when just proposed to him that two minus one left one. No, it does not left one said Benny indignantly. It left two. Why Benny? Cryed Jess in astonishment? Supposing you had two apples, and I took away one, wouldn't you have one left? You never would! Objected Benny with confidence? No, but... Supposing watch took one, suggested Jess. Watchy wouldn't take one neither," said Benny, would you doggie. Watch opened one eye, and wagged his tail. Just looked at Violet in despair. What shall I do with him? She asked.

Violet took out her chalk and printed clearly on the outside of the freight car the following example. 2 minus 1 equals. Now, Benny, don't you see, she began, that if you have two things and somebody takes one away, that you must have one left, I'll show you myself. Agreed Benny finally with resignation. Now see the two? He actually made a respectable figure two on the freight car. Now here's a nice one. Now suppose and I take away the one. Don't you see the two's left right on the car? He covered the figure one with his chubby hand and looked about at his audience, expectantly. Just rolled over against a tree trunk and laughed till she nearly cried. Violet laughed until she really did cry. And here we come to an incident in the story of the runaway children. Violet could not stop crying apparently and just soon made up her mind that she was really ill. She helped her carefully into the car and heaped all the pine needles around and under

her, making her the softest bed she could. Then she wet cloths in the cool water of the brook, and laid them across her little sister's hot forehead. How glad am I that it's time for Henry to come home.

She said to herself, holding Violet's slender brown hands in her cool ones. Henry came promptly at the usual time. He thought she had a cold, he said. seemed likely for Violet began to cough gently while the rest ate a hasty supper. "'We don't want to let her go to the hospital if we can possibly help it,' said Henry. "'More trouble than he cared to show. If she goes there, we'll have to give her name, and then grandfather will surely find us. Jess agreed, and together the two older children kept changing the cool cloths on Violet's head. But about ten o'clock that night Violet had a chill. She shivered and shook, and her teeth chattered so that Jess could plainly hear them. Apparently nothing could warm the little girl, although she was completely packed in hay and pine needles. I'm going down to Dr. McAllister's, said Henry Quietly. I'm afraidet is ill. Very ill. Nobody ever knew how fast he ran down the hill. Even in his famous race, Henry hardly touched his present speed. He was so thoroughly concerned that he never stopped to notice how quickly the doctor seemed to understand what was wanted. He did not even notice that he did not have to tell the doctor which way to drive his car in order to reach the hill. When the car reached the road at the base of the hill, Dr. McAllister said shortly, stay here in the car and disappeared up the hill alone. When the doctor returned, he was carrying violet in his arms. Jess and Benny and Watch were following closely. Nobody spoke during the drive to the Macallister house as they flew through the darkness. When they stopped at last, the doctor said three words to his mother who opened the door anxiously. The three words were pneumonia, I'm afraid. They all heard it. Irish Mary appeared from the kitchen with hot water bottles and warm blankets, and Mrs. McAllister flew around, opening beds and bringing pillows. A train nurse in a white dress appeared like magic from nowhere in particular. They all worked as best they could to get the sick child warmed up. Soon, the hot blankets, hot water, and steaming drinks began to take effect and the shivering stopped. Mrs. McAllister left the room then to attend to the other children. Henry and Benny were left in a large spare room with a double bed. Jess was put in a little dressing room just out of Mrs. McAllister's own room. Upon receiving assurances that Violet was warm again, they went to sleep. But Violet soon grew as hot as she had been cold, and the doctor never left her side until ten o'clock the next morning. Violet, although very ill, did not have pneumonia. At about nine o'clock the doctor had a visitor. It was a man who said he would wait. He did wait in the cool front parlor for over half an hour. Then Benny drifted in. Where's the doctor? Asked the man sharply of Benny. He snubbed stairs, answered Benny readily. This means a lot of money to him if he only knew it," said the visitor, impatiently. Oh, that wouldn't make any difference. Benny replied with great assurance as he started to go out again. But the man caught him. What do you mean by that, sunny? He asked curiously, what's he doing? He's taking care of my sister Violet. She's sick. And you mean he wouldn't leave her even if I gave him a lot of money? Yes, that's it." said Benny, politely. That's what I mean. The visitor seemed to restrain his impatience with a great effort. You see, I've lost a little boy somewhere. He said, the doctor knows where he is, I think. He would be about as old as you are. Well, if you don't find him, you can have me. I shouldn't wonder. Observed Benny, comfortingly. I like you. You do? Said the man in surprise. That's because you have such a nice, soft suit on. Benny stroking the man in surprise? That's because you have such a nice soft suit on.

Explained Benny, stroking the man's knee gently. The gentleman laughed heartily. No, I guess it's because you have such a nice soft laugh. Said Benny, changing his mind. The fact was that Benny himself did not know why he liked this stranger who was so gruff at times and so pleasant at others. He finally accepted the man's invitation and climbed into his lap to see his dog's picture in his watch, feeling of the nice soft suit on the way. The doctor found him here when he came down at 10 o'clock. Better go and find watch, Benny, suggested the doctor. Perhaps someday I'll come again, observe Benny to his new friend. I like your dog, and I'm sorry he's dead. With that, he scampered off to find watch who was very much alive. I expected you, Mr. Cordice, said the doctor smiling, only not quite so soon. I came the moment I heard your name hinted at. Said James Cordice. My chauffeur heard two workmen say that you knew where my four grandchildren were. That's all I waited to hear. Is it true? And where are they? That was one of them. Said the doctor quietly. That was one of them. That beautiful little boy? Yes, he is beautiful. Ascented Dr. McAllister. They all are. The only trouble is, they're all frightened to death to think of your finding them. How do you know that?" said Mr. Cordice, sharply. They've changed their name. At least the older boy did, and in public too. What did he change it to? Dr. McAllister watched his visitors face closely while he pronounced the name clearly. Henry James. A flood of recollections passed over the man's face, and he flushed deeply. That boy, he exclaimed, that wonderful running boy. Then, events began to move along rapidly. They never will go with you in this world, declared Mrs. McAllister, finally to the distracted grandfather, unless you give us time to break the news gradually and above all, when violet is so ill. Couldn't I see them beg the man, almost like a boy? I could pretend I was a friend of yours, visiting you who liked children. I would promise not to tell them until you consented. "'That might do,' said Dr. McAllister. "'If they grew to like you before they knew who you were, it would make things easier, certainly. So James Henry Cordyce's chauffeur was sent for a gold monogram suitcase and his young man to wait upon him. And Irish Mary held up her hands in despair when she learned for whom she must cook. Don't you worry, Mary Bridget Flynn said Dr. McAllister with emphasis? You could cook for the King of England. Just make one of your peach shortcakes for lunch and broil a chicken, and I'll answer for him. When lunchtime came, J. H. Cordyce saw all his grandchildren, except violet. He smiled with delight when he saw Jess coming down the stairs in her womanly fashion. and reshook hands with him before he sat down, but he kept glancing at the stranger all through the mail. Where have I seen that man before, he thought? Mrs. McAllister had given the children's names clearly when she introduced them.

Jazz. Mrs. McAllister had given the children's names clearly when she introduced them. Jess, Benny, and Henry. Henry James, she had added. But she had not added the man's name. She forgot, thought Jess, because she knows him so well, she thinks we do. But, although nameless, the stranger caught their attention. He told them wonderful stories about a steel rail which held up an entire bridge until the people had time to get off about his collie dog, about a cucumber in his garden growing inside of a glass bottle. Henry was interested.

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