The Large Family was very happy. They loved their new friend, Sara Crewe. Everyone wanted to hear about her life in the attic. They sat by the warm fire in a big room. It was nice to hear about the cold attic while they were warm.
The children liked hearing about the rat, Melchisedec. They also liked hearing about the sparrows (small, common birds). Sara Crewe told them how she looked out of the window in the roof. She saw many interesting things from the top of the house.
Sara Crewe told the story of the magic dinner. She sat with the children and Mr. Carrisford. She called him "Uncle Tom" now. He asked her to use that name. Then, Uncle Tom told his part of the story.
Uncle Tom was often sick and sad. Ram Dass tried to make him feel better. Ram Dass told him about the girl next door. Ram Dass saw her when he looked for his monkey. He saw that her room was very cold and empty.
Ram Dass saw that Sara Crewe was not a common servant. He saw that she was a special girl. Ram Dass had a plan. He wanted to cross the roof and make a fire for Sara Crewe. He wanted her to think a magician did it.
Mr. Carrisford smiled at this idea. Preparing the "magic" made him feel much better. On the night of the dinner, Ram Dass watched Sara Crewe. He used a lantern (a lamp that you can carry) to see.
Ram Dass went into the room when Sara Crewe was asleep. Another man stood outside and handed things to him. If Sara Crewe moved, Ram Dass hid on the floor. The children asked a thousand questions about the magic.
Sara Crewe and Mr. Carrisford became best friends. He became a healthy man again in one month. He had much money and he was happy to spend it on Sara Crewe. He acted like a magician for her.
He gave Sara Crewe many gifts and flowers. One night, a big dog came to the door. It was a Russian boarhound (a very large type of dog). The dog's name was Boris. His collar said he served Princess Sara.
One evening, Sara Crewe thought about a hungry day. She told Uncle Tom about the bun shop. She told him about the four pennies she found in the mud. She told him about the hungry girl.
Sara Crewe wanted to help other hungry children. She wanted to give money to the woman at the bun shop. The woman could give food to poor children. Sara Crewe would pay for the food. Mr. Carrisford told her she could do this the next day.
The next morning, Miss Minchin looked out of her window. She saw a carriage with tall horses next door. She saw Sara Crewe in beautiful furs. She saw Becky, too. Becky was now a happy servant for Sara Crewe. Becky's face was pink and healthy.
The carriage stopped at the baker’s shop. The woman behind the counter remembered Sara Crewe. She remembered that Sara Crewe gave five buns to a beggar. She told Mr. Carrisford that Sara Crewe was a very kind girl.
Sara Crewe told the woman her plan. She wanted to help the poor children who sat on the steps. The woman was very happy to help. She said she often gave away bread now. She did this because she remembered Sara Crewe’s kindness.
The woman called a girl from the back room. The girl was the beggar child from that rainy day. Her name was Anne. Now, Anne was clean and she had good clothes. She worked for the woman in the shop.
Sara Crewe and Anne looked at each other. Anne was shy but she had a nice face. The woman said Anne was a very good helper. Anne was thankful for her new home.
Sara Crewe held Anne's hand. She asked if Anne could give the buns to the hungry children. She knew Anne understood hunger. Anne said yes. Sara Crewe was very happy as she went back to her carriage.