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once in a while, and they need a doctor just like everyone else,” he said. “Remember the last time these people visited, when you hurt your foot in that trap and had to have a doctor?”
    Tsa’ni silently turned on his heel and walked away toward Uncle Ned’s wagon.
    â€œIf he need doctor, he be glad hospital here,” Uncle Wirt said.
    Joe looked longingly at the workmen. “Could I stay here all day and help the men work?” he asked John Shaw.
    â€œI would like to help, too,” said Dimar.
    Uncle John looked thoughtful for a moment. “No, that’s impossible,” he said. “You don’t have anything with you to eat, and you wouldn’t have any way to get back to Uncle Ned’s. Let’s go back now, and after we have our noon meal, you and Dimar can ride two of the horses back out here. How’s that?”
    â€œThanks, Mr. Shaw,” Joe said, smiling.
    â€œThank you, sir,” Dimar added.
    â€œBefore we go, Uncle John,” Mandie began, “tell me something about the hospital, please.”
    â€œWhat do you want to know, Amanda?” Uncle John asked. Mandie turned, walked up the steps, and paced the floor of the building. Sallie followed.
    â€œHow is it to be arranged?” Mandie asked. “You know, how many beds will it hold and how many rooms, and all that?”
    Uncle John joined them. “You see all those posts standing up around here?” he said. “They are called studs. They will be covered with boards to make the interior walls and divide the hospital into rooms. The studs will be four feet apart around each room, and then you have to allow four feet for the doors. So if you’ll just walk around and look at the studs you can figure out how many rooms there will be and how big each one will be.”
    The two girls walked about and counted the posts.
    â€œHere’s one big room,” Mandie said, pointing to one section. “There’s another smaller room, and another, and another, and then here’s a long narrow room, too narrow for beds, I think. What is this room for?”
    â€œThat is the office,” he told her. “The records will be kept there. Dr. Woodard will use it, and when you come to visit, Amanda, that will be your office.”
    â€œMe? An office? What for, Uncle John?” Mandie asked in surprise.
    â€œYou told your mother and me that you would like to know what’s going on with the money since you are responsible for it, so we thought we’d just make you a little office right here,” he teased.
    â€œOh, I don’t need an office. I depend on you to keep up with things, especially while I’m away at school,” Mandie told him. “That will have to be your office and Dr. Woodard’s.”
    â€œAnyway, we need an office for records,” he told her.
    Mandie looked across the other side of the building. “That big room looks like it would hold about ten single beds,” she calculated. “How many windows will it have?”
    â€œOne on each end and two on the side, I believe,” Uncle John replied. “Why? Are you planning on making the curtains for it?”
    â€œThat’s a good idea!” Mandie exclaimed. “Sallie, could you make some of them and I’ll make some?”
    Elizabeth called to her, “Amanda, don’t forget you’ll be away at school. You won’t have time to make curtains.”
    â€œI suppose not,” she decided. “I’ll just have to get Aunt Lou to make them. She can make anything, Sallie. You’ll have to come to visit us in Franklin again.”
    â€œI hope to someday,” Sallie assured her. “I would like to get up there.”
    â€œOh, yes, you’ve got to,” Mandie agreed.
    â€œRight now, girls, I think we’d better see Morning Star. She probably has a good hot meal waiting,” Uncle John reminded them.
    â€œYeh, let’s hurry so