As the day drew near, preparations went on more rapidly, and the affair took on larger proportions.

It was arranged that all the toys, dolls, and fancy things for sale should be displayed in Marjorie’s porch.  Carter had put up some long tables, which Grandma Sherwood had draped prettily with white and light green cheese-cloth.

The other parts of the big veranda were arranged with tables, where ices and cakes were to be served; and a pretty booth was devoted to the sale of home-made candies.

The verandas and grounds were made gay with flags and Chinese lanterns.  Uncle Steve superintended these decorations, which insured their being beautiful and appropriate.  A tent on the lawn sheltered some musicians; and in an arbor, lemonade was dispensed.

The day of the bazaar was clear and pleasant, and not too warm.  Early in the afternoon, Stella and Molly arrived, and the two, with Midge, all in their fresh white dresses, flitted about from one booth to another, to make sure that everything was in readiness.

Several other girls and boys, and some ladies and gentlemen too, had been invited to assist in selling the things and to wait on the guests, so that when the bazaar opened at four o’clock in the afternoon a merry lot of young people were scattered about the grounds.

Marjorie was in her element.  “Oh, Uncle Steve,” she cried; “isn’t it all perfectly lovely!  And I think we’ll make quite a lot of money, don’t you?”

“I do, indeed, Mopsy.  I’m only afraid, by the way the customers are flocking in, that we haven’t provided enough refreshment for them.”

And sure enough, though the hour was yet early, crowds of people were coming in at the gate.

The fame of the little fair had spread among the country people, and they all seemed determined to help along the good cause.  Molly and Marjorie found their stock of wares rapidly fading away, while Stella, who was selling lemonade, could scarcely keep enough on hand to supply her customers.

“You must put up your prices, Mopsy,” said her uncle; “that’s the way to do when your stock is getting low.”

So Marjorie doubled the price of everything she had left for sale, but even then the dolls and trinkets were willingly bought.

“What shall we do?” said Grandma, in despair.  “It isn’t seven o’clock, we haven’t lighted the lanterns yet for the evening, and the ice cream is all gone!  I never dreamed we’d have such a crowd.”

“We’ll light the lanterns, anyway,” declared Uncle Steve, “for if the ice cream is gone they’ll want to buy the lanterns next!”

And sure enough they did.  When the people came in the evening and learned that everything was sold out but the lanterns, they declared they would buy them for souvenirs.  So the merry guests walked about the grounds, carrying the lighted lanterns they had bought (at astonishing prices), and it lent a fantastic effect to the scene to see the lanterns bobbing about among the trees and shrubs on the lawn.