Music Welcome to snoozecast, the podcast designed, to help you fall asleep. Find us on snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by Benny's Pink Cup. Tonight, we'll read the final part to the box card children read in by school teacher, Gertrude Chandler Warner, and originally published in 1924. We're reading this original full version and in it the children's last name is Cordice. Later in 1942 the stories were revised shorter and the children's last name was changed to Alden. As Warner wrote the story, she read it to her first great class and re-wrote it many times so the words were easy to understand. Some of her pupils spoke other languages at home so the book gave them a fun story that was easy to read. Warner once wrote that the original book raised a storm of protest from librarians who thought the children were having too good a time without any parental control, and that is exactly why children like it. In the last episode, the children and their grandfather are reunited.

He is not only overjoyed to invite them to live with him rather than out in an old box car in the woods, but he happens to live in a mansion with plenty of extra room. We will pick up on the tail end of their grand tour of their new home.

Let's get cozy. Close your eyes.

Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now take a few deep breaths. A united family. Mr. Cordeais had been planning this day for more than a week. He had sent his most trusted foreman to his own beautiful home to super-in-ten matters there. The house was being remodeled entirely after Mr. Cordaisce's own plans, and everywhere were carpenters, painters, and decorators. On the very day that Mr. Cordyce received word that it was finished, he suggested the drive. Do you live all alone grandfather? Ask Benny. All alone answered Mr. Cordyce. No company at all. At first Benny did not consider this the exact truth. He considered a cook company and also a butler and a housekeeper. And when he saw the array of maids he kept perfectly quiet. The house was enormous, certainly. It was at least a quarter of a mile from its own front gate, and everywhere were gardens. Do you live here?" said Henry, thunder struck, as they rolled quietly along the beautiful drive. You do too, if you like it, observed his grandfather, watching his face. The inside of the house was more wonderful than even the older children had ever dreamed. The velvet rugs were so thick and soft that no footfall could be heard. Everywhere were flowers. The great stairway with steps of marble rows from the center of the big hallway. But it was upstairs that the children felt most at home. Here, the rooms were not quite so large. They were sunny and home like. This is Violet's room, cried Benny. It was unmistakable. There were Violets on the wallpaper. The bed was snow white with a thick quilt of Violet silk. On the little table were English violets pouring their fragrance into the room. What a beautiful room, side violet sinking down into one of the soft, cushioned chairs. But all the children shouted when they saw Benny's room. The wallpaper was blue, covered with large figures of cats and dogs, the three bears, and Peter Rabbit. There was a swinging rocking horse, nearly as large as a real horse, a blackboard, a tool chest, and low tables and chairs exactly the right size for Benny. There was an electric train with cars nearly as large as the little boy himself. Can I run the cars all day?" asked Benny.

No, no. Replied Henry quickly. You're going to school as soon as it begins. This was the first that his grandfather had heard about school, but he agreed with Henry and chuckled to himself the finest schools in the country.

He said, this came true for all the children finally went to the public schools, and are they not the finest schools in the country? In Jess's room, Benny discovered a bed for watch. It was in fact a regular dog's straw hamper, but it was lined with heavy quilted silk and padded with wool. Watch got in at once, sniffed in every corner, turned around three times and lay down. Just then, a distant doorbell rang. It had such a low musical chime that the children listened delightedly, never once giving a thought as to who it might be. But almost at once a soft-footed servant appeared, saying that a man wanted to see Mr. Courtais about the dog. The moment just heard that word dog she was frightened. She had never thought, watch a common runaway dog, and it always made her uncomfortable to see passers-by gaze curiously at him as he ran by her side. They won't take watch away, she whispered to Henry. Her breath almost gone.

Indeed, they will not, declared Henry, will never, never give him up. However, Henry followed his grandfather and Jess with great anxiety. It was indeed about watch that the man wanted to talk, and Jess's heart sank again when she saw the dog jumped delightedly upon the man, and returned his caresses with short barks. He's a runaway, sir, from my kennels out in Townsend. The man explained to Mr. Courtice, I have 200 airdails out there, and this one was sold the day before he ran away. So you see, I have to turn him over to the lady I sold him to. Oh, no, you don't. Return Mr. Courtice quickly. I'll give you three times what the dog is worth.

The man glanced around uneasily. I couldn't do that, sir. He explained, you see, it isn't a question of money. It's a question of my promise word to the lady. Mr. Cordice failed to see. She can find another dog, among 200 airdails, I guess. He returned. And besides, you don't know positively that this is the right dog. Excuse me. Reply the man. Very much embarrassed. He is the right dog, you right? He knows me. As you see, his name is rough number three. He has a black spot inside his ear. It was too true. Indeed, at the mere mention of his name, the dog cocked in ear and wagged his tail. But he had seated himself as close to Jess as possible, and licked her hand when she padded him. But it appeared that Henry could understand the man's position, even if Mr. Courtice could not? He now put in a timid word of his own. If the lady would agree to let the dog go, would you be willing? Sure, said the man, shooting a glance at Henry. I almost know anyone would let us keep watch, grandfather," said Henry earnestly. If they knew how much he had done for us, I'm sure of it, my boy. Return Mr. Cordyce kindly. The fact that Henry had been the first to make headway with the dog fancier had not escaped him. But it was clear that Jess would not be able to sleep until the matter had been settled. So the moment that man had gone, the children set out from their beautiful new home to the address of the lady who had bought watch. The big car perred along from Greenfield to Townsend in no time. And the whole family, including watch himself, trooped up the veranda steps to interview the lady who held it in her power to break their hearts, or to make them very happy. She was not terrible to look at. In fact, she was quite young, quite lively, and very, very pretty. She asked them all to sit down, which they did gravely, for even Benny was worried about losing Wachi, his favorite pillow. He could not wait for his grandfather to begin. He struggled down from his chair and dashed over to the young lady, saying, in one breath, You'll let us keep watchy, please, won't you? Because we want him so bad, and just didn't know he was your dog. By degrees, the lady understood just what dog it was. We have had him so long, explained Henry eagerly, it would be almost like letting Benny go away. Watch never leaves us even for a minute. Ever since Jess took the briar out of his foot. "'So you are the children who lived in the freight car!' observed the lively young woman. "'I've heard all about that. How did you like it?"

All right.

Replied Henry with an effort. But we never could have done it without watch. He stayed and looked after the girls while I was away, and he just thinks everything of Jess. Well, said the young lady, laughing, I can see you're worrying terribly about that dog.

Now... Jess. Well, said the young lady, laughing, I can see you're worrying terribly about that dog. Now listen, I wouldn't take that dog away from you any more than I'd take Benny. In fact, not so much. I think maybe I'd like to keep Benny instead. Benny was apparently quite willing that she should. He climbed into her lap before anyone could stop him and gave her one of his best bare hugs. And from that moment they were firm friends. But the children always spoke of her as the lady who owns watch. Although Mr. Cordyce paid for the dog in less time than you can imagine. It made no difference to the children that watch was a very valuable dog. They had loved him when he had not been worth a cent, and now they loved him more, simply because they had so nearly lost him. It was a happy and reunited family which gathered around the Cordice dinner table that evening. The maid smiled in the kitchen to hear the children laugh. the children laughed because watch actually sat up at the table in the seat of honor

beside... the children laugh. And the children laughed because watch actually sat up at the table in the seat of honor beside Jess and was waited upon by a butler. Safe. Would you ever dream that four children could be homesick in such a beautiful house as Mr. Cordyces. Jess was the first one to long for the old freight car. Oh, grandfather, she said one morning. I wish I could cook something once more in the old kettle.

Go out in the kitchen, said her grandfather, and mess around all you like.

The maids will help you.

Jess brightened up at once, and flew out into the kitchen,

where three or four maids brought her everything she wanted to cook with. And Benny was the last one to wish for his old home. Grandfather, he said one day, I wish I could drink this milk out of my own pink cup. This set Mr. Cordyce to thinking. He had plenty of pink cups, that is true. But none of them were as dear to Benny as his own. I think I shall have to surprise you children," said Mr. Cordyce at last. But before the surprise comes, perhaps you'd like to see Benny's pony. Then he led the way to the stables. He owned several beautiful horses already, and nearly a dozen wonderful cars. But nothing was half so interesting as the pony. He was very small and very fat and black. His wavy tail was so long that it nearly touched the ground. And his name was Cracker because his birthday fell on the 4th of July when firecrackers were popping. Benny took a short ride around the stable being held on by a groom. But the second time around, he said, cracker doesn't need you to hold on to him. I shouldn't wonder, and trotted around with great delight without help. All the others sat down on the fragrant hay to watch him ride. What am I going to do when I grow up grandfather? Asked Henry. You are going to take my place, Henry, as President of the Steel Mills replied, Mr. the court ice, You will do it better than I ever have. And one day this came true, just as most of Mr. Cordice's prophecies did. And what am I going to do? Ask Jess curiously. All your children must go to school and then to college. Then you may do whatever you choose for a living. Replied Mr. Cordys. This also came true. Of course I have more than enough money to support us all. Went on, Mr. Courtais.

But if you have something to do, you will be happier.

This not only came true,

but it is always and forever true all over the world.

Am I going to college tomorrow?

Aspenny, stopping his little pony in front of the group. Not tomorrow, Benny, said his grandfather, laughing, but I'm glad you reminded me. All you children must go over to Dr. McAllister's tomorrow and stay while the surprise comes. Is the surprise very nice? Aspenny. No, not very. Replied Mr. Cordice with a twinkle. Did it cost a great deal? As Jess. It didn't cost me anything. Answered her grandfather, the only thing I shall have to pay will be express. He didn't tell them that the express cost him several hundred dollars. However, next day the children rode gladly over to see the kind doctor. They stayed until Mr. Cordice telephoned to them that the surprise was ready. And then Mrs. McGalister and her son rode back with them in the big car. Mr. Cordice was as happy as a boy. He led the merry little procession out through his

many gardens, past the rose garden, through the banks of purple asters. Then they came to

...