The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm Read Online Free

when we’re happy,” said Henry. “That makes you laugh.”
    “Clowns,” said Violet.
    “When have you ever seen a clown?” asked Jessie.
    “Cows,” repeated Benny, making them all laugh.
    “I have heard of clowns,” said Violet.
    “Well,” said William, looking pleased with himself, “I remember something that made you happy, Meg.”
    He leaned over and whispered in her ear.
    “Oh!” Meg’s eyes widened. “Yes!”
    “What?” asked Henry and Jessie at the same time.
    “I’ll tell you later! A secret!” said Meg. “But it will make you happy. It will make you laugh.”
    It was evening and William had just finished reading Little Red Riding Hood to Benny. A picture fell out of the book.
    “Who’s that?” asked Jessie.
    “Our grandfather,” said William. “When we go to our new home, we’ll live with him.”
    Violet picked up the picture.
    “He looks nice,” she said.
    “He is,” said Meg. “Do you have a grandfather?”
    Jessie and Henry quickly looked at each other.
    “We do,” said Henry.
    “But we don’t see him,” said Jessie.
    “He doesn’t like us,” said Benny.
    Behind them, Mama made a sound. She stood in the doorway.
    “But that’s not true, Benny,” she said.
    “He doesn’t,” said Benny stubbornly.
    “Why doesn’t he see us?” asked Violet.
    Mama sat down next to Benny.
    “Well, he and your papa had some differences,” she said.
    “What kind of differences?” asked Henry.
    “What are ‘differences’?” asked Benny.
    Mama didn’t speak for a moment.
    “Well, your grandfather wanted us to live with him in his big house. We wanted to live here. On my family’s farm.”

    She sighed.
    “He was disappointed.”
    “So he doesn’t want to see us?” asked Violet.
    “He’s stubborn,” said Mama.
    “He hates us,” said Benny.
    “That’s not true, Benny. If … when he sees you, he’ll love you. Believe me when I say that.”
    She stood up.
    “Do you believe me?” she asked.
    Jessie, Henry, and Violet nodded.
    “Yes,” said Benny.
    “Lights out, now,” Mama said.
    The lights went out. It was quiet for a time. Joe came to curl up next to Benny. Benny put his arm around Joe.
    “We won’t see him,” said Benny in the darkness.

Chapter 6
A Small Dot in a Big World
    On the last day of school, Papa brought home a treasure. At least it was a treasure to Henry.
    It was a globe of the world that turned on a wooden stand.
    “I found it by the road, next to a house that people had left.”
    The globe showed the different countries and the oceans and rivers. Henry showed Violet where they lived.
    “Right there!” he said, pointing.
    “The world sure is big,” said Violet. “We live in a small dot in a big world.”
    “Where did you live, William?” asked Henry.
    William slowly turned the globe.
    “There.” He pointed.
    “Your city is a big dot in the world,” said Violet.
    Every so often, Violet reached over to touch the dot that was the town where they lived.
    Meg and Jessie whispered excitedly.
    “What are you whispering about?” asked Henry.
    “A secret for now,” said Jessie. “We’ll tell you later.”
    And that night, in their bedroom, with the blanket hung between them and the lights out, the globe sitting on Henry’s desk, the secret was out. They whispered and laughed until Mama and Papa came in, Sarah and Jake behind them.
    “What’s going on in here?” Mama asked. “You have chores in the morning.”
    “We’re planning something exciting,” said Meg.
    “Something to make us all happy,” said Violet.
    “What?” asked Papa.
    “A circus!” said Violet, grinning. “We’ll have animals and clowns and costumes and juggling …”
    “I can juggle,” said Henry.
    “I can sew costumes,” said Violet.
    “And what about animals?” asked Jake.
    “There’s Joe!” said Benny.
    “And Betty,” said Meg. “I will get Betty ready for the circus.”
    “Ready?” said Sarah. “What do you mean,