Free The Boxcar Children Mysteries: Books One through Twelve by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

laughed.
    “We will go in the car as far as the ocean,” he said. “Then Captain Daniel will take us in the motorboat across to the island. We might stop and get Dr. Moore and his mother to come along and enjoy the fun. It’s the doctor’s day off.”
    The children were delighted, for Dr. Moore and his mother were their best friends.
    Dr. Moore did not look at all surprised when they came. He helped his mother into the big car, and off they all went toward the ocean. On the way Jessie and Violet began to plan their housekeeping.
    “We have to buy bread and bottles of milk,” said Jessie. “Then we could live, even if we didn’t have anything else to eat.”
    “Here’s a little book and a pen,” said Mr. Alden, taking a small blue book from his pocket.

    “Write down the dishes we need,” said Violet.
    Before they reached the ocean, Jessie had put down all the things they could think of. There were spoons, cups, bowls, plates, a sharp knife, a dishpan, and a big kettle.
    Then they saw the ocean and the Alden motorboat tied up at the small dock. Captain Daniel, the old fisherman, was waiting for them on the dock.
    “How are you, Captain?” said Mr. Alden, as they shook hands. “Just take us across to the island. If the children don’t like it, you can bring us right back again.”
    The children shouted at this. “We’ll like it all right,” they said.
    They climbed into the boat and were off.
    “There’s our island!” cried Henry. “Our very own island!”
    Benny began to wave.
    “There’s nobody there, Benny. Why are you waving?” asked Grandfather. In spite of this, all the children began to wave at the island.
    “And there’s our little house!” shouted Benny. “But is it big enough for all of us?”
    “Oh, no,” said Captain Daniel. “That little hut is my house.” He laughed and looked at Mr. Alden.
    They landed at the little dock, and walked a short way before they saw a small yellow house.
    “Are we going to live in that yellow house?” cried Jessie.
    “Oh, no!” answered Mr. Alden. “You children are going to live in the barn!”
    “In the barn!” shouted the children, as they ran over to it.
    “This is the best idea I have ever heard!” cried Henry. He opened the big door and looked in. A new floor had been laid but the children did not notice it. All of them were looking at the four box stalls along the back of the room.
    “Bedrooms!” cried Benny, pointing to the box stalls.
    “That’s what they are!” said Henry, opening one of the swinging doors to look in. Each stall had a large window and nothing else at all.
    “Let’s bring down some straw for beds,” said Henry, looking up the stairs. “We can cover the straw with blankets.” He pointed to a pile of clean, light brown blankets.
    Jessie ran over to look at the little stove. It was new, and there was an oven on top. Then Henry walked over to look at some barrels.
    “Here are two empty barrels,” he shouted. “We can use them for table legs, and lay this long board across them for a table.”
    “Wonderful!” said Jessie.
    The older people stood in the doorway, watching the excited children.
    “I’m glad the workmen left these old boxes here,” said Henry. “I can make dozens of things out of that wood—maybe a little cupboard for the dishes.”
    “Oh, Henry, do you think you could?” cried Violet. “We wouldn’t need doors.”
    “Of course he could,” said Benny. “He could make doors, too. Henry can make anything.”
    “There is a little spring over there,” said Mr. Alden, taking the children to the window to look. “That spring never runs dry. It is always as cold as ice, even on very hot days, and it is safe to drink, too.”
    “Isn’t this perfect, Henry?” said Jessie. “The most important things are settled already. Oh, I wish we could stay here tonight!”
    “How about dishes?” asked Violet.
    Jessie said, “We can get spoons and things at the five and ten. Are there any