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Alcott. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; margin-bottom: .75em; text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + hr {text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both; + width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.short {width: 20%;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 11%;} + img {border: 1px solid black; padding: 0px;} + .plain img {border: none; padding: 0;} + .caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .hang1st, .poem span {padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + .trnote {background-color: #EEE; color: inherit; margin: 2em 5% 1em 5%; font-size: 80%; + padding: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 1em; border: dotted 1px gray;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 91%; font-size: 75%;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .ralign, .pagenum, span.pagenum {padding-left: 0; text-indent: 0; text-align: right;} /* ie does not like raligns with indents (and needs extra specification) */ + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .larger {font-size: large;} + .smaller {font-size: small;} + + .adheadline {font-size: xx-large;} + .adbook {font-weight: bold; font-size: large;} + p.adprice {font-size: smaller; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;} + .adheadline, .adbook, .adprice {text-align: center;} + + blockquote {display: block; margin: .75em 10% .75em 5%; + font-size: smaller; text-align: justify; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em;} + .TOC {position: relative; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; padding-right: 3em; + list-style-type: upper-roman; padding-left: 2em;} + li {margin-bottom: .2em;} + span.ralign {float: right; position: absolute; right: 0; top: auto;} + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {font-size: smaller; margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block;} + + /* all 75 percent of width */ + .poem span.i0 {margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {margin-left: 1.5em;} + .poem span.i4 {margin-left: 3em;} + +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag VI, by Louisa M. Alcott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag VI + An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving, Etc. + +Author: Louisa M. Alcott + +Release Date: December 19, 2008 [EBook #27567] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT JO'S SCRAP-BAG VI *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Katherine Ward and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="adheadline">AUNT JO'S SCRAP-BAG</p> + +<p class="center">Is now full, and contains</p> + +<ol class="TOC" style="margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 0;"> +<li><b>MY BOYS</b>, and other stories.</li> +<li><b>SHAWL-STRAPS.</b> Sketches of a European Trip.</li> +<li><b>CUPID AND CHOW-CHOW</b>, and other stories.</li> +<li><b>MY GIRLS</b>, and other stories.</li> +<li><b>JIMMY'S CRUISE IN THE PINAFORE</b>, and other stories.</li> +<li><b>AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING</b>, and other stories.</li> +</ol> + +<p class="adprice"><i>Six volumes neatly bound in cloth. Price, $6.00.</i></p> + +<p class="center">ROBERTS BROTHERS, <span class="smcap">Publishers, Boston</span>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i001.png" width="358" height="500" alt="Tilly hugs the bear." title="" /> +<p class="caption">AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING.<br /> +<br /> +"Suddenly Tilly threw down the axe, flung open the door, and ran +straight into the arms of the bear."—<span class="smcap"><a href="#Page_29">Page 29.</a></span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i002.png" width="354" height="500" alt="The two little girls see the gifts on the landing." title="" /> +<p class="caption">HOW IT ALL HAPPENED.<br /> +<br /> +Dolly opened the door, and started back with a cry of astonishment at the +lovely spectacle before her.—<span class="smcap"><a href="#Page_47">Page 47.</a></span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h1 class="smcap">Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag.</h1> + +<h2>AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING, +<span class="smcap">Etc.</span></h2> + +<div class="figcenter plain"> +<img src="images/i003.png" width="197" height="250" alt="Scrap-Bag Vol VI" title="" /> +</div> + +<h3 class="smcap">By LOUISA M. ALCOTT,</h3> + +<p class="center smaller">AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," +"HOSPITAL SKETCHES."</p> + +<p class="center">BOSTON:<br /> +ROBERTS BROTHERS.<br /> +1882.</p> + +<p class="center smaller"><i>Copyright, 1882,</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">By Louisa M. Alcott.</span></p> + +<p class="center smaller smcap">University Press:<br /> +John Wilson and Son, Cambridge.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<p class="TOC"> <span class="ralign smcap">Page.</span></p> +<ol class="TOC"> +<li><span class="smcap">An Old-fashioned Thanksgiving</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">How it all Happened</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Dolls' Journey from Minnesota to Maine</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Morning-Glories</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_78">78</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Shadow-Children</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Poppy's Pranks</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">What the Swallows did</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Little Gulliver</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_163">163</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Whale's Story</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_178">178</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">A Strange Island</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Fancy's Friend</span><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></span></li> +</ol> +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I.</h2> + +<h3>AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING.</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Sixty</span> years ago, up among the New Hampshire +hills, lived Farmer Bassett, with a house full of +sturdy sons and daughters growing up about him. +They were poor in money, but rich in land and love, +for the wide acres of wood, corn, and pasture land +fed, warmed, and clothed the flock, while mutual +patience, affection, and courage made the old farm-house +a very happy home.</p> + +<p>November had come; the crops were in, and barn, +buttery, and bin were overflowing with the harvest +that rewarded the summer's hard work. The big +kitchen was a jolly place just now, for in the great +fireplace roared a cheerful fire; on the walls hung +garlands of dried apples, onions, and corn; up aloft +from the beams shone crook-necked squashes, juicy +hams, and dried venison—for in those days deer +still haunted the deep forests, and hunters flourished. +Savory smells were in the air; on the crane hung<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +steaming kettles, and down among the red embers +copper sauce-pans simmered, all suggestive of some +approaching feast.</p> + +<p>A white-headed baby lay in the old blue cradle +that had rocked seven other babies, now and then +lifting his head to look out, like a round, full moon, +then subsided to kick and crow contentedly, and suck +the rosy apple he had no teeth to bite. Two small +boys sat on the wooden settle shelling corn for popping, +and picking out the biggest nuts from the goodly +store their own hands had gathered in October. Four +young girls stood at the long dresser, busily chopping +meat, pounding spice, and slicing apples; and the +tongues of Tilly, Prue, Roxy, and Rhody went as +fast as their hands. Farmer Bassett, and Eph, +the oldest boy, were "chorin' 'round" outside, for +Thanksgiving was at hand, and all must be in order +for that time-honored day.</p> + +<p>To and fro, from table to hearth, bustled buxom +Mrs. Bassett, flushed and floury, but busy and blithe +as the queen bee of this busy little hive should be.</p> + +<p>"I do like to begin seasonable and have things to +my mind. Thanksgivin' dinners can't be drove, and +it does take a sight of victuals to fill all these hungry +stomicks," said the good woman, as she gave a vigorous +stir to the great kettle of cider apple-sauce, +and cast a glance of housewifely pride at the fine +array of pies set forth on the buttery shelves.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +"Only one more day and then it will be time to +eat. I didn't take but one bowl of hasty pudding +this morning, so I shall have plenty of room when +the nice things come," confided Seth to Sol, as he +cracked a large hazel-nut as easily as a squirrel.</p> + +<p>"No need of my starvin' beforehand. <i>I always</i> +have room enough, and I'd like to have Thanksgiving +every day," answered Solomon, gloating like +a young ogre over the little pig that lay near by, +ready for roasting.</p> + +<p>"Sakes alive, I don't, boys! It's a marcy it don't +come but once a year. I should be worn to a thread-paper +with all this extra work atop of my winter +weavin' and spinnin'," laughed their mother, as she +plunged her plump arms into the long bread-trough +and began to knead the dough as if a famine was at +hand.</p> + +<p>Tilly, the oldest girl, a red-cheeked, black-eyed +lass of fourteen, was grinding briskly at the mortar, +for spices were costly, and not a grain must be +wasted. Prue kept time with the chopper, and the +twins sliced away at the apples till their little brown +arms ached, for all knew how to work, and did so +now with a will.</p> + +<p>"I think it's real fun to have Thanksgiving at +home. I'm sorry Gran'ma is sick, so we can't go +there as usual, but I like to mess 'round here, don't +you, girls?" asked Tilly, pausing to take a sniff at +the spicy pestle.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +"It will be kind of lonesome with only our own +folks." "I like to see all the cousins and aunts, +and have games, and sing," cried the twins, who +were regular little romps, and could run, swim, coast +and shout as well as their brothers.</p> + +<p>"I don't care a mite for all that. It will be so +nice to eat dinner together, warm and comfortable at +home," said quiet Prue, who loved her own cozy +nooks like a cat.</p> + +<p>"Come, girls, fly 'round and get your chores done, +so we can clear away for dinner jest as soon as I +clap my bread into the oven," called Mrs. Bassett +presently, as she rounded off the last loaf of brown +bread which was to feed the hungry mouths that +seldom tasted any other.</p> + +<p>"Here's a man comin' up the hill, lively!" +"Guess it's Gad Hopkins. Pa told him to bring a +dezzen oranges, if they warn't too high!" shouted +Sol and Seth, running to the door, while the girls +smacked their lips at the thought of this rare treat, +and Baby threw his apple overboard, as if getting +ready for a new cargo.</p> + +<p>But all were doomed to disappointment, for it was +not Gad, with the much-desired fruit. It was a +stranger, who threw himself off his horse and hurried +up to Mr. Bassett in the yard, with some brief +message that made the farmer drop his ax and look +so sober that his wife guessed at once some bad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +news had come; and crying, "Mother's wuss! I +know she is!" out ran the good woman, forgetful of +the flour on her arms and the oven waiting for its +most important batch.</p> + +<p>The man said old Mr. Chadwick, down to Keene, +stopped him as he passed, and told him to tell Mrs. +Bassett her mother was failin' fast, and she'd better +come to-day. He knew no more, and having delivered +his errand he rode away, saying it looked like +snow and he must be jogging, or he wouldn't get +home till night.</p> + +<p>"We must go right off, Eldad. Hitch up, and +I'll be ready in less'n no time," said Mrs. Bassett, +wasting not a minute in tears and lamentations, but +pulling off her apron as she went in, with her mind +in a sad jumble of bread, anxiety, turkey, sorrow, +haste, and cider apple-sauce.</p> + +<p>A few words told the story, and the children left +their work to help her get ready, mingling their grief +for "Gran'ma" with regrets for the lost dinner.</p> + +<p>"I'm dreadful sorry, dears, but it can't be helped. +I couldn't cook nor eat no way, now, and if that +blessed woman gets better sudden, as she has before, +we'll have cause for thanksgivin', and I'll give +you a dinner you won't forget in a hurry," said Mrs. +Bassett, as she tied on her brown silk pumpkin-hood, +with a sob for the good old mother who had made +it for her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +Not a child complained after that, but ran about +helpfully, bringing moccasins, heating the footstone, +and getting ready for a long drive, because Gran'ma +lived twenty miles away, and there were no railroads +in those parts to whisk people to and fro like magic. +By the time the old yellow sleigh was at the door, +the bread was in the oven, and Mrs. Bassett was +waiting, with her camlet cloak on, and the baby +done up like a small bale of blankets.</p> + +<p>"Now, Eph, you must look after the cattle like a +man, and keep up the fires, for there's a storm +brewin', and neither the children nor dumb critters +must suffer," said Mr. Bassett, as he turned up the +collar of his rough coat and put on his blue mittens, +while the old mare shook her bells as if she preferred +a trip to Keene to hauling wood all day.</p> + +<p>"Tilly, put extry comfortables on the beds to-night, +the wind is so searchin' up chamber. Have the +baked beans and Injun-puddin' for dinner, and whatever +you do, don't let the boys git at the mince-pies, +or you'll have them down sick. I shall come back +the minute I can leave Mother. Pa will come +to-morrer, anyway, so keep snug and be good. I +depend on you, my darter; use your jedgment, and +don't let nothin' happen while Mother's away."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, yes'm—good-bye, good-bye!" called the +children, as Mrs. Bassett was packed into the sleigh +and driven away, leaving a stream of directions +behind her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +Eph, the sixteen-year-old boy, immediately put on +his biggest boots, assumed a sober, responsible manner, +and surveyed his little responsibilities with a +paternal air, drolly like his father's. Tilly tied on +her mother's bunch of keys, rolled up the sleeves of +her homespun gown, and began to order about the +younger girls. They soon forgot poor Granny, and +found it great fun to keep house all alone, for Mother +seldom left home, but ruled her family in the good +old-fashioned way. There were no servants, for the +little daughters were Mrs. Bassett's only maids, and +the stout boys helped their father, all working happily +together with no wages but love; learning in +the best manner the use of the heads and hands +with which they were to make their own way in the +world.</p> + +<p>The few flakes that caused the farmer to predict +bad weather soon increased to a regular snow-storm, +with gusts of wind, for up among the hills winter +came early and lingered long. But the children +were busy, gay, and warm in-doors, and never minded +the rising gale nor the whirling white storm outside.</p> + +<p>Tilly got them a good dinner, and when it was +over the two elder girls went to their spinning, for +in the kitchen stood the big and little wheels, and +baskets of wool-rolls, ready to be twisted into yarn +for the winter's knitting, and each day brought its +stint of work to the daughters, who hoped to be as +thrifty as their mother.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +Eph kept up a glorious fire, and superintended +the small boys, who popped corn and whittled boats +on the hearth; while Roxy and Rhody dressed +corn-cob dolls in the settle corner, and Bose, the +brindled mastiff, lay on the braided mat, luxuriously +warming his old legs. Thus employed, they made +a pretty picture, these rosy boys and girls, in their +homespun suits, with the rustic toys or tasks which +most children nowadays would find very poor or +tiresome.</p> + +<p>Tilly and Prue sang, as they stepped to and fro, +drawing out the smoothly twisted threads to the +musical hum of the great spinning-wheels. The +little girls chattered like magpies over their dolls and +the new bed-spread they were planning to make, all +white dimity stars on a blue calico ground, as a +Christmas present to Ma. The boys roared at Eph's +jokes, and had rough and tumble games over Bose, +who didn't mind them in the least; and so the afternoon +wore pleasantly away.</p> + +<p>At sunset the boys went out to feed the cattle, +bring in heaps of wood, and lock up for the night, as +the lonely farm-house seldom had visitors after dark. +The girls got the simple supper of brown bread and +milk, baked apples, and a doughnut all 'round as a +treat. Then they sat before the fire, the sisters knitting, +the brothers with books or games, for Eph +loved reading, and Sol and Seth never failed to play<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +a few games of Morris with barley corns, on the +little board they had made themselves at one corner +of the dresser.</p> + +<p>"Read out a piece," said Tilly, from Mother's +chair, where she sat in state, finishing off the sixth +woolen sock she had knit that month.</p> + +<p>"It's the old history book, but here's a bit you +may like, since it's about our folks," answered +Eph, turning the yellow page to look at a picture +of two quaintly dressed children in some ancient +castle.</p> + +<p>"Yes, read that. I always like to hear about the +Lady Matildy I was named for, and Lord Bassett, +Pa's great-great-great-grandpa. He's only a farmer +now, but it's nice to know that we were somebody +two or three hundred years ago," said Tilly, bridling +and tossing her curly head as she fancied the Lady +Matilda might have done.</p> + +<p>"Don't read the queer words, 'cause we don't +understand 'em. Tell it," commanded Roxy, from +the cradle, where she was drowsily cuddled with +Rhody.</p> + +<p>"Well, a long time ago, when Charles the First +was in prison, Lord Bassett was a true friend to +him," began Eph, plunging into his story without +delay. "The lord had some papers that would have +hung a lot of people if the king's enemies got hold +of 'em, so when he heard one day, all of a sudden,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +that soldiers were at the castle-gate to carry him off, +he had just time to call his girl to him, and say: 'I +may be going to my death, but I won't betray my +master. There is no time to burn the papers, and I +can not take them with me; they are hidden in the +old leathern chair where I sit. No one knows this +but you, and you must guard them till I come or +send you a safe messenger to take them away. +Promise me to be brave and silent, and I can go +without fear.' You see, he wasn't afraid to die, but +he <i>was</i> to seem a traitor. Lady Matildy promised +solemnly, and the words were hardly out of her +mouth when the men came in, and her father was +carried away a prisoner and sent off to the Tower.</p> + +<p>"But she didn't cry; she just called her brother, +and sat down in that chair, with her head leaning +back on those papers, like a queen, and waited while +the soldiers hunted the house over for 'em: wasn't +that a smart girl?" cried Tilly, beaming with pride, +for she was named for this ancestress, and knew the +story by heart.</p> + +<p>"I reckon she was scared, though, when the men +came swearin' in and asked her if she knew anything +about it. The boy did his part then, for <i>he</i> didn't +know, and fired up and stood before his sister; and +he says, says he, as bold as a lion: 'If my lord had +told us where the papers be, we would die before we +would betray him. But we are children and know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +nothing, and it is cowardly of you to try to fright us +with oaths and drawn swords!'"</p> + +<p>As Eph quoted from the book, Seth planted himself +before Tilly, with the long poker in his hand, +saying, as he flourished it valiantly:</p> + +<p>"Why didn't the boy take his father's sword and +lay about him? I would, if any one was ha'sh to +Tilly."</p> + +<p>"You bantam! He was only a bit of a boy, and +couldn't do anything. Sit down and hear the rest of +it," commanded Tilly, with a pat on the yellow head, +and a private resolve that Seth should have the +largest piece of pie at dinner next day, as reward for +his chivalry.</p> + +<p>"Well, the men went off after turning the castle +out of window, but they said they should come again; +so faithful Matildy was full of trouble, and hardly +dared to leave the room where the chair stood. All +day she sat there, and at night her sleep was so full +of fear about it, that she often got up and went to +see that all was safe. The servants thought the +fright had hurt her wits, and let her be, but Rupert, +the boy, stood by her and never was afraid of her +queer ways. She was 'a pious maid,' the book says, +and often spent the long evenings reading the Bible, +with her brother by her, all alone in the great room, +with no one to help her bear her secret, and no good +news of her father. At last, word came that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +king was dead and his friends banished out of England. +Then the poor children were in a sad plight, +for they had no mother, and the servants all ran +away, leaving only one faithful old man to help +them."</p> + +<p>"But the father did come?" cried Roxy, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"You'll see," continued Eph, half telling, half +reading.</p> + +<p>"Matilda was sure he would, so she sat on in the +big chair, guarding the papers, and no one could get +her away, till one day a man came with her father's +ring and told her to give up the secret. She knew +the ring, but would not tell until she had asked many +questions, so as to be very sure, and while the man +answered all about her father and the king, she +looked at him sharply. Then she stood up and +said, in a tremble, for there was something strange +about the man: 'Sir, I doubt you in spite of the +ring, and I will not answer till you pull off the false +beard you wear, that I may see your face and know +if you are my father's friend or foe.' Off came the +disguise, and Matilda found it was my lord himself, +come to take them with him out of England. He +was very proud of that faithful girl, I guess, for the +old chair still stands in the castle, and the name +keeps in the family, Pa says, even over here, where +some of the Bassetts came along with the Pilgrims."</p> + +<p>"Our Tilly would have been as brave, I know, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +she looks like the old picter down to Grandma's, +don't she, Eph?" cried Prue, who admired her bold, +bright sister very much.</p> + +<p>"Well, I think you'd do the settin' part best, Prue, +you are so patient. Till would fight like a wild cat, +but she can't hold her tongue worth a cent," answered +Eph; whereat Tilly pulled his hair, and the story +ended with a general frolic.</p> + +<p>When the moon-faced clock behind the door +struck nine, Tilly tucked up the children under the +"extry comfortables," and having kissed them all +around, as Mother did, crept into her own nest, never +minding the little drifts of snow that sifted in upon +her coverlet between the shingles of the roof, nor the +storm that raged without.</p> + +<p>As if he felt the need of unusual vigilance, old +Bose lay down on the mat before the door, and pussy +had the warm hearth all to herself. If any late wanderer +had looked in at midnight, he would have seen +the fire blazing up again, and in the cheerful glow +the old cat blinking her yellow eyes, as she sat bolt +upright beside the spinning-wheel, like some sort of +household goblin, guarding the children while they +slept.</p> + +<p>When they woke, like early birds, it still snowed, +but up the little Bassetts jumped, broke the ice in +their pitchers, and went down with cheeks glowing +like winter apples, after a brisk scrub and scramble<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +into their clothes. Eph was off to the barn, and +Tilly soon had a great kettle of mush ready, which, +with milk warm from the cows, made a wholesome +breakfast for the seven hearty children.</p> + +<p>"Now about dinner," said the young housekeeper, +as the pewter spoons stopped clattering, and the +earthen bowls stood empty.</p> + +<p>"Ma said, have what we liked, but she didn't +expect us to have a real Thanksgiving dinner, +because she won't be here to cook it, and we don't +know how," began Prue, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"I can roast a turkey and make a pudding as well +as anybody, I guess. The pies are all ready, and if +we can't boil vegetables and so on, we don't deserve +any dinner," cried Tilly, burning to distinguish herself, +and bound to enjoy to the utmost her brief +authority.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" cried all the boys, "let's have a dinner +anyway; Ma won't care, and the good victuals +will spoil if they ain't eaten right up."</p> + +<p>"Pa is coming to-night, so we won't have dinner +till late; that will be real genteel and give us plenty +of time," added Tilly, suddenly realizing the novelty +of the task she had undertaken.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever roast a turkey?" asked Roxy, with +an air of deep interest.</p> + +<p>"Should you darst to try?" said Rhody, in an +awe-stricken tone.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +"You will see what I can do. Ma said I was to +use my jedgment about things, and I'm going to. +All you children have got to do is to keep out of the +way, and let Prue and me work. Eph, I wish you'd +put a fire in the best room, so the little ones can play +in there. We shall want the settin'-room for the +table, and I won't have 'em pickin' 'round when we +get things fixed," commanded Tilly, bound to make +her short reign a brilliant one.</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that. Ma didn't tell us to," +began cautious Eph, who felt that this invasion of +the sacred best parlor was a daring step.</p> + +<p>"Don't we always do it Sundays and Thanksgivings? +Wouldn't Ma wish the children kept safe +and warm anyhow? Can I get up a nice dinner with +four rascals under my feet all the time? Come, now, +if you want roast turkey and onions, plum-puddin' +and mince-pie, you'll have to do as I tell you, and be +lively about it."</p> + +<p>Tilly spoke with such spirit, and her last suggestion +was so irresistible, that Eph gave in, and, laughing +good-naturedly, tramped away to heat up the +best room, devoutly hoping that nothing serious +would happen to punish such audacity.</p> + +<p>The young folks delightedly trooped in to destroy +the order of that prim apartment with housekeeping +under the black horse-hair sofa, "horseback +riders" on the arms of the best rocking-chair, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +an Indian war-dance all over the well-waxed furniture. +Eph, finding the society of the peaceful sheep +and cows more to his mind than that of two excited +sisters, lingered over his chores in the barn as long +as possible, and left the girls in peace.</p> + +<p>Now Tilly and Prue were in their glory, and as +soon as the breakfast things were out of the way, +they prepared for a grand cooking-time. They were +handy girls, though they had never heard of a cooking-school, +never touched a piano, and knew nothing +of embroidery beyond the samplers which hung +framed in the parlor; one ornamented with a pink +mourner under a blue weeping-willow, the other with +this pleasing verse, each word being done in a different +color, which gave the effect of a distracted rainbow:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"This sampler neat was worked by me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"> In my twelfth year, Prudence B."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Both rolled up their sleeves, put on their largest +aprons, and got out all the spoons, dishes, pots, and +pans they could find, "so as to have everything +handy," as Prue said.</p> + +<p>"Now, sister, we'll have dinner at five; Pa will be +here by that time if he is coming to-night, and be so +surprised to find us all ready, for he won't have had +any very nice victuals if Gran'ma is so sick," said +Tilly importantly. "I shall give the children a piece +at noon" (Tilly meant luncheon); "doughnuts and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +cheese, with apple-pie and cider will please 'em. +There's beans for Eph; he likes cold pork, so we +won't stop to warm it up, for there's lots to do, and I +don't mind saying to you I'm dreadful dubersome +about the turkey."</p> + +<p>"It's all ready but the stuffing, and roasting is as +easy as can be. I can baste first rate. Ma always +likes to have me, I'm so patient and stiddy, she +says," answered Prue, for the responsibility of this +great undertaking did not rest upon her, so she took +a cheerful view of things.</p> + +<p>"I know, but it's the stuffin' that troubles me," +said Tilly, rubbing her round elbows as she eyed the +immense fowl laid out on a platter before her. "I +don't know how much I want, nor what sort of yarbs +to put in, and he's so awful big, I'm kind of afraid +of him."</p> + +<p>"I ain't! I fed him all summer, and he never +gobbled at <i>me</i>. I feel real mean to be thinking of +gobbling him, poor old chap," laughed Prue, patting +her departed pet with an air of mingled affection and +appetite.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll get the puddin' off my mind fust, for it +ought to bile all day. Put the big kettle on, and see +that the spit is clean, while I get ready."</p> + +<p>Prue obediently tugged away at the crane, with its +black hooks, from which hung the iron tea-kettle and +three-legged pot; then she settled the long spit in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +grooves made for it in the tall andirons, and put the +dripping-pan underneath, for in those days meat was +roasted as it should be, not baked in ovens.</p> + +<p>Meantime Tilly attacked the plum-pudding. She +felt pretty sure of coming out right, here, for she had +seen her mother do it so many times, it looked very +easy. So in went suet and fruit; all sorts of spice, +to be sure she got the right ones, and brandy instead +of wine. But she forgot both sugar and salt, and +tied it in the cloth so tightly that it had no room to +swell, so it would come out as heavy as lead and as +hard as a cannon-ball, if the bag did not burst and +spoil it all. Happily unconscious of these mistakes, +Tilly popped it into the pot, and proudly watched it +bobbing about before she put the cover on and left +it to its fate.</p> + +<p>"I can't remember what flavorin' Ma puts in," +she said, when she had got her bread well soaked +for the stuffing. "Sage and onions and apple-sauce +go with goose, but I can't feel sure of anything but +pepper and salt for a turkey."</p> + +<p>"Ma puts in some kind of mint, I know, but I +forget whether it is spearmint, peppermint, or penny-royal," +answered Prue, in a tone of doubt, but trying +to show her knowledge of "yarbs," or, at least, of +their names.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me it's sweet marjoram or summer +savory. I guess we'll put both in, and then we are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +sure to be right. The best is up garret; you run +and get some, while I mash the bread," commanded +Tilly, diving into the mess.</p> + +<p>Away trotted Prue, but in her haste she got catnip +and wormwood, for the garret was darkish, and +Prue's little nose was so full of the smell of the +onions she had been peeling, that everything smelt +of them. Eager to be of use, she pounded up the +herbs and scattered the mixture with a liberal hand +into the bowl.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't smell just right, but I suppose it will +when it is cooked," said Tilly, as she filled the empty +stomach, that seemed aching for food, and sewed it +up with the blue yarn, which happened to be handy. +She forgot to tie down his legs and wings, but she +set him by till his hour came, well satisfied with her +work.</p> + +<p>"Shall we roast the little pig, too? I think he'd +look nice with a necklace of sausages, as Ma fixed +one last Christmas," asked Prue, elated with their +success.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't do it. I loved that little pig, and +cried when he was killed. I should feel as if I was +roasting the baby," answered Tilly, glancing toward +the buttery where piggy hung, looking so pink and +pretty it certainly did seem cruel to eat him.</p> + +<p>It took a long time to get all the vegetables ready, +for, as the cellar was full, the girls thought they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +would have every sort. Eph helped, and by noon +all was ready for cooking, and the cranberry-sauce, +a good deal scorched, was cooling in the lean-to.</p> + +<p>Luncheon was a lively meal, and doughnuts and +cheese vanished in such quantities that Tilly feared +no one would have an appetite for her sumptuous +dinner. The boys assured her they would be starving +by five o'clock, and Sol mourned bitterly over +the little pig that was not to be served up.</p> + +<p>"Now you all go and coast, while Prue and I set +the table and get out the best chiny," said Tilly, +bent on having her dinner look well, no matter what +its other failings might be.</p> + +<p>Out came the rough sleds, on went the round +hoods, old hats, red cloaks, and moccasins, and away +trudged the four younger Bassetts, to disport themselves +in the snow, and try the ice down by the old +mill, where the great wheel turned and splashed so +merrily in the summer-time.</p> + +<p>Eph took his fiddle and scraped away to his +heart's content in the parlor, while the girls, after a +short rest, set the table and made all ready to dish +up the dinner when that exciting moment came. It +was not at all the sort of table we see now, but would +look very plain and countrified to us, with its green-handled +knives and two-pronged steel forks; its red-and-white +china, and pewter platters, scoured till +they shone, with mugs and spoons to match, and a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +brown jug for the cider. The cloth was coarse, but +white as snow, and the little maids had seen the +blue-eyed flax grow, out of which their mother wove +the linen they had watched and watered while it +bleached in the green meadow. They had no napkins +and little silver; but the best tankard and Ma's +few wedding spoons were set forth in state. Nuts +and apples at the corners gave an air, and the place +of honor was left in the middle for the oranges yet +to come.</p> + +<p>"Don't it look beautiful?" said Prue, when they +paused to admire the general effect.</p> + +<p>"Pretty nice, I think. I wish Ma could see how +well we can do it," began Tilly, when a loud howling +startled both girls, and sent them flying to the window. +The short afternoon had passed so quickly +that twilight had come before they knew it, and now, +as they looked out through the gathering dusk, they +saw four small black figures tearing up the road, to +come bursting in, all screaming at once: "The bear, +the bear! Eph, get the gun! He's coming, he's +coming!"</p> + +<p>Eph had dropped his fiddle, and got down his gun +before the girls could calm the children enough to +tell their story, which they did in a somewhat incoherent +manner. "Down in the holler, coastin', we +heard a growl," began Sol, with his eyes as big as +saucers. "I see him fust lookin' over the wall," +roared Seth, eager to get his share of honor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +"Awful big and shaggy," quavered Roxy, clinging +to Tilly, while Rhody hid in Prue's skirts, and piped +out: "His great paws kept clawing at us, and I was +so scared my legs would hardly go."</p> + +<p>"We ran away as fast as we could go, and he come +growling after us. He's awful hungry, and he'll eat +every one of us if he gets in," continued Sol, looking +about him for a safe retreat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Eph, don't let him eat us," cried both little +girls, flying up stairs to hide under their mother's +bed, as their surest shelter.</p> + +<p>"No danger of that, you little geese. I'll shoot +him as soon as he comes. Get out of the way, +boys," and Eph raised the window to get good aim.</p> + +<p>"There he is! Fire away, and don't miss!" cried +Seth, hastily following Sol, who had climbed to the +top of the dresser as a good perch from which to +view the approaching fray.</p> + +<p>Prue retired to the hearth as if bent on dying at +her post rather than desert the turkey, now "browning +beautiful," as she expressed it. But Tilly boldly +stood at the open window, ready to lend a hand if +the enemy proved too much for Eph.</p> + +<p>All had seen bears, but none had ever come so +near before, and even brave Eph felt that the big +brown beast slowly trotting up the door-yard was an +unusually formidable specimen. He was growling +horribly, and stopped now and then as if to rest +and shake himself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +"Get the ax, Tilly, and if I should miss, stand +ready to keep him off while I load again," said Eph, +anxious to kill his first bear in style and alone; a +girl's help didn't count.</p> + +<p>Tilly flew for the ax, and was at her brother's side +by the time the bear was near enough to be dangerous. +He stood on his hind legs, and seemed to +sniff with relish the savory odors that poured out of +the window.</p> + +<p>"Fire, Eph!" cried Tilly, firmly.</p> + +<p>"Wait till he rears again. I'll get a better shot, +then," answered the boy, while Prue covered her +ears to shut out the bang, and the small boys cheered +from their dusty refuge up among the pumpkins.</p> + +<p>But a very singular thing happened next, and all +who saw it stood amazed, for suddenly Tilly threw +down the ax, flung open the door, and ran straight +into the arms of the bear, who stood erect to receive +her, while his growlings changed to a loud "Haw, +haw!" that startled the children more than the +report of a gun.</p> + +<p>"It's Gad Hopkins, tryin' to fool us!" cried Eph, +much disgusted at the loss of his prey, for these +hardy boys loved to hunt, and prided themselves on +the number of wild animals and birds they could +shoot in a year.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Gad, how could you scare us so?" laughed +Tilly, still held fast in one shaggy arm of the bear,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +while the other drew a dozen oranges from some +deep pocket in the buffalo-skin coat, and fired them +into the kitchen with such good aim that Eph +ducked, Prue screamed, and Sol and Seth came +down much quicker than they went up.</p> + +<p>"Wal, you see I got upsot over yonder, and the +old horse went home while I was floundering in a +drift, so I tied on the buffalers to tote 'em easy, and +come along till I see the children playin' in the +holler. I jest meant to give 'em a little scare, but +they run like partridges, and I kep' up the joke to +see how Eph would like this sort of company," and +Gad haw-hawed again.</p> + +<p>"You'd have had a warm welcome if we hadn't +found you out. I'd have put a bullet through you in +a jiffy, old chap," said Eph, coming out to shake +hands with the young giant, who was only a year or +two older than himself.</p> + +<p>"Come in and set up to dinner with us. Prue +and I have done it all ourselves, and Pa will be along +soon, I reckon," cried Tilly, trying to escape.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't, no ways. My folks will think I'm +dead ef I don't get along home, sence the horse and +sleigh have gone ahead empty. I've done my arrant +and had my joke; now I want my pay, Tilly," and +Gad took a hearty kiss from the rosy cheeks of his +"little sweetheart," as he called her. His own +cheeks tingled with the smart slap she gave him as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +she ran away, calling out that she hated bears and +would bring her ax next time.</p> + +<p>"I ain't afeared; your sharp eyes found me out; +and ef you run into a bear's arms you must expect a +hug," answered Gad, as he pushed back the robe +and settled his fur cap more becomingly.</p> + +<p>"I should have known you in a minute if I hadn't +been asleep when the girls squalled. You did it +well, though, and I advise you not to try it again in +a hurry, or you'll get shot," said Eph, as they parted, +he rather crestfallen and Gad in high glee.</p> + +<p>"My sakes alive—the turkey is burnt one side, +and the kettles have biled over so the pies I put to +warm are all ashes!" scolded Tilly, as the flurry +subsided and she remembered her dinner.</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't help it. I couldn't think of +victuals when I expected to be eaten alive myself, +could I?" pleaded poor Prue, who had tumbled +into the cradle when the rain of oranges began.</p> + +<p>Tilly laughed, and all the rest joined in, so good +humor was restored, and the spirits of the younger +ones were revived by sucks from the one orange +which passed from hand to hand with great rapidity, +while the older girls dished up the dinner. They +were just struggling to get the pudding out of the +cloth when Roxy called out, "Here's Pa!"</p> + +<p>"There's folks with him," added Rhody.</p> + +<p>"Lots of 'em! I see two big sleighs chock full," +shouted Seth, peering through the dusk.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +"It looks like a semintary. Guess Gramma's +dead and come up to be buried here," said Sol in a +solemn tone. This startling suggestion made Tilly, +Prue, and Eph hasten to look out, full of dismay at +such an ending of their festival.</p> + +<p>"If that is a funeral, the mourners are uncommon +jolly," said Eph, drily, as merry voices and loud +laughter broke the white silence without.</p> + +<p>"I see Aunt Cinthy, and Cousin Hetty—and +there's Mose and Amos. I do declare, Pa's bringin' +'em all home to have some fun here," cried Prue, as +she recognized one familiar face after another.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my patience! Ain't I glad I got dinner, +and don't I hope it will turn out good!" exclaimed +Tilly, while the twins pranced with delight, and the +small boys roared:</p> + +<p>"Hooray for Pa! Hooray for Thanksgivin'!"</p> + +<p>The cheer was answered heartily, and in came +Father, Mother, Baby, aunts and cousins, all in great +spirits, and all much surprised to find such a festive +welcome awaiting them.</p> + +<p>"Ain't Gran'ma dead at all?" asked Sol, in the +midst of the kissing and hand-shaking.</p> + +<p>"Bless your heart, no! It was all a mistake of +old Mr. Chadwick's. He's as deaf as an adder, and +when Mrs. Brooks told him Mother was mendin' +fast, and she wanted me to come down to-day, certain +sure, he got the message all wrong, and give it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +to the fust person passin' in such a way as to scare +me 'most to death, and send us down in a hurry. +Mother was sittin' up as chirk as you please, and +dreadful sorry you didn't all come."</p> + +<p>"So, to keep the house quiet for her, and give you +a taste of the fun, your Pa fetched us all up to spend +the evenin', and we are goin' to have a jolly time +on't, to jedge by the looks of things," said Aunt +Cinthy, briskly finishing the tale when Mrs. Bassett +paused for want of breath.</p> + +<p>"What in the world put it into your head we was +comin', and set you to gettin' up such a supper?" +asked Mr. Bassett, looking about him, well pleased +and much surprised at the plentiful table.</p> + +<p>Tilly modestly began to tell, but the others broke +in and sang her praises in a sort of chorus, in which +bears, pigs, pies, and oranges were oddly mixed. +Great satisfaction was expressed by all, and Tilly +and Prue were so elated by the commendation of +Ma and the aunts, that they set forth their dinner, +sure everything was perfect.</p> + +<p>But when the eating began, which it did the +moment wraps were off, then their pride got a fall; +for the first person who tasted the stuffing (it was +big Cousin Mose, and that made it harder to bear) +nearly choked over the bitter morsel.</p> + +<p>"Tilly Bassett, whatever made you put wormwood +and catnip in your stuffin'?" demanded Ma, trying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +not to be severe, for all the rest were laughing, and +Tilly looked ready to cry.</p> + +<p>"I did it," said Prue, nobly taking all the blame, +which caused Pa to kiss her on the spot, and declare +that it didn't do a might of harm, for the turkey was +all right.</p> + +<p>"I never see onions cooked better. All the vegetables +is well done, and the dinner a credit to you, +my dears," declared Aunt Cinthy, with her mouth full +of the fragrant vegetable she praised.</p> + +<p>The pudding was an utter failure, in spite of the +blazing brandy in which it lay—as hard and heavy +as one of the stone balls on Squire Dunkin's great +gate. It was speedily whisked out of sight, and all +fell upon the pies, which were perfect. But Tilly +and Prue were much depressed, and didn't recover +their spirits till the dinner was over and the evening +fun well under way.</p> + +<p>"Blind-man's buff," "Hunt the slipper," "Come, +Philander," and other lively games soon set every +one bubbling over with jollity, and when Eph struck +up "Money Musk" on his fiddle, old and young fell +into their places for a dance. All down the long +kitchen they stood, Mr. and Mrs. Bassett at the top, +the twins at the bottom, and then away they went, +heeling and toeing, cutting pigeon-wings, and taking +their steps in a way that would convulse modern +children with their new-fangled romps called dancing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +Mose and Tilly covered themselves with glory by the +vigor with which they kept it up, till fat Aunt Cinthy +fell into a chair, breathlessly declaring that a very +little of such exercise was enough for a woman of +her "heft."</p> + +<p>Apples and cider, chat and singing, finished the +evening, and after a grand kissing all round, the +guests drove away in the clear moonlight which +came just in time to cheer their long drive.</p> + +<p>When the jingle of the last bell had died away, +Mr. Bassett said soberly, as they stood together on +the hearth: "Children, we have special cause to be +thankful that the sorrow we expected was changed +into joy, so we'll read a chapter 'fore we go to bed, +and give thanks where thanks is due."</p> + +<p>Then Tilly set out the light-stand with the big +Bible on it, and a candle on each side, and all sat +quietly in the fire-light, smiling as they listened with +happy hearts to the sweet old words that fit all times +and seasons so beautifully.</p> + +<p>When the good-nights were over, and the children +in bed, Prue put her arm around Tilly and whispered +tenderly, for she felt her shake, and was sure she +was crying:</p> + +<p>"Don't mind about the old stuffin' and puddin', +deary—nobody cared, and Ma said we really did do +surprisin' well for such young girls."</p> + +<p>The laughter Tilly was trying to smother broke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +out then, and was so infectious, Prue could not help +joining her, even before she knew the cause of the +merriment.</p> + +<p>"I was mad about the mistakes, but don't care +enough to cry. I'm laughing to think how Gad +fooled Eph and I found him out. I thought Mose +and Amos would have died over it when I told them, +it was so funny," explained Tilly, when she got her +breath.</p> + +<p>"I was so scared that when the first orange hit +me, I thought it was a bullet, and scrabbled into the +cradle as fast as I could. It was real mean to +frighten the little ones so," laughed Prue, as Tilly +gave a growl.</p> + +<p>Here a smart rap on the wall of the next room +caused a sudden lull in the fun, and Mrs. Bassett's +voice was heard, saying warningly, "Girls, go to +sleep immediate, or you'll wake the baby."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," answered two meek voices, and after a +few irrepressible giggles, silence reigned, broken +only by an occasional snore from the boys, or the +soft scurry of mice in the buttery, taking their part +in this old-fashioned Thanksgiving.</p> +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II.</h2> + +<h3>HOW IT ALL HAPPENED.</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It</span> was a small room, with nothing in it but a bed, +two chairs, and a big chest. A few little gowns +hung on the wall, and the only picture was the wintry +sky, sparkling with stars, framed by the uncurtained +window. But the moon, pausing to peep, saw something +pretty and heard something pleasant. Two +heads in little round nightcaps lay on one pillow, +two pairs of wide-awake blue eyes stared up at the +light, and two tongues were going like mill clappers.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad we got our shirts done in time! It +seemed as if we never should, and I don't think six +cents is half enough for a great red flannel thing +with four button-holes—do you?" said one little +voice, rather wearily.</p> + +<p>"No; but then we each made four, and fifty cents +is a good deal of money. Are you sorry we didn't +keep our quarters for ourselves?" asked the other +voice, with an under-tone of regret in it.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am, till I think how pleased the children +will be with our tree, for they don't expect anything, +and will be so surprised. I wish we had more toys +to put on it, for it looks so small and mean with only +three or four things."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +"It won't hold any more, so I wouldn't worry +about it. The toys are very red and yellow, and I +guess the babies won't know how cheap they are, +but like them as much as if they cost heaps of +money."</p> + +<p>This was a cheery voice, and as it spoke the four +blue eyes turned toward the chest under the window, +and the kind moon did her best to light up the tiny +tree standing there. A very pitiful little tree it +was—only a branch of hemlock in an old flower-pot, +propped up with bits of coal, and hung with a few +penny toys earned by the patient fingers of the elder +sisters, that the little ones should not be disappointed.</p> + +<p>But in spite of the magical moonlight the broken +branch, with its scanty supply of fruit, looked pathetically +poor, and one pair of eyes filled slowly with +tears, while the other pair lost their happy look, as if +a cloud had come over the sunshine.</p> + +<p>"Are you crying, Dolly?"</p> + +<p>"Not much, Polly."</p> + +<p>"What makes you, dear?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know how poor we were till I saw the +tree, and then I couldn't help it," sobbed the elder +sister, for at twelve she already knew something of +the cares of poverty, and missed the happiness that +seemed to vanish out of all their lives when father +died.</p> + +<p>"It's dreadful! I never thought we'd have to earn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +our tree, and only be able to get a broken branch, +after all, with nothing on it but three sticks of candy, +two squeaking dogs, a red cow, and an ugly bird +with one feather in its tail;" and overcome by a +sudden sense of destitution, Polly sobbed even more +despairingly than Dolly.</p> + +<p>"Hush, dear; we must cry softly, or mother will +hear, and come up, and then we shall have to tell. +You know we said we wouldn't seem to mind not +having any Christmas, she felt so sorry about it."</p> + +<p>"I <i>must</i> cry, but I'll be quiet."</p> + +<p>So the two heads went under the pillow for a few +minutes, and not a sound betrayed them as the little +sisters cried softly in one another's arms, lest mother +should discover that they were no longer careless +children, but brave young creatures trying to bear +their share of the burden cheerfully.</p> + +<p>When the shower was over, the faces came out +shining like roses after rain, and the voices went on +again as before.</p> + +<p>"Don't you wish there really was a Santa Claus, +who knew what we wanted, and would come and put +two silver half-dollars in our stockings, so we could +go and see <i>Puss in Boots</i> at the Museum to-morrow +afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed; but we didn't hang up any stockings, +you know, because mother had nothing to put +in them. It does seem as if rich people might think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +of poor people now and then. Such little bits of +things would make us happy, and it couldn't be +much trouble to take two small girls to the play, and +give them candy now and then."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> shall when I'm rich, like Mr. Chrome and Miss +Kent. I shall go round every Christmas with a big +basket of goodies, and give <i>all</i> the poor children +some."</p> + +<p>"P'r'aps if we sew ever so many flannel shirts we +may be rich by-and-by. I should give mother a new +bonnet first of all, for I heard Miss Kent say no lady +would wear such a shabby one. Mrs. Smith said fine +bonnets didn't make real ladies. I like her best, but +I do want a locket like Miss Kent's."</p> + +<p>"I should give mother some new rubbers, and +then I should buy a white apron, with frills like Miss +Kent's, and bring home nice bunches of grapes and +good things to eat, as Mr. Chrome does. I often +smell them, but he never gives <i>me</i> any; he only says, +'Hullo, chick!' and I'd rather have oranges any +time."</p> + +<p>"It will take us a long while to get rich, I'm +afraid. It makes me tired to think of it. I guess +we'd better go to sleep now, dear."</p> + +<p>"Good-night, Dolly."</p> + +<p>"Good-night, Polly."</p> + +<p>Two soft kisses were heard, a nestling sound followed, +and presently the little sisters lay fast asleep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +cheek against cheek, on the pillow wet with their +tears, never dreaming what was going to happen to +them to-morrow.</p> + +<p>Now Miss Kent's room was next to theirs, and as +she sat sewing she could hear the children's talk, for +they soon forgot to whisper. At first she smiled, +then she looked sober, and when the prattle ceased +she said to herself, as she glanced about her pleasant +chamber:</p> + +<p>"Poor little things! they think I'm rich, and envy +me, when I'm only a milliner earning my living. I +ought to have taken more notice of them, for their +mother has a hard time, I fancy, but never complains. +I'm sorry they heard what I said, and if I +knew how to do it without offending her, I'd trim a +nice bonnet for a Christmas gift, for she <i>is</i> a lady, in +spite of her old clothes. I can give the children +some of the things they want anyhow, and I will. +The idea of those mites making a fortune out of +shirts at six cents apiece!"</p> + +<p>Miss Kent laughed at the innocent delusion, but +sympathized with her little neighbors, for she knew +all about hard times. She had good wages now, but +spent them on herself, and liked to be fine rather +than neat. Still, she was a good-hearted girl, and +what she had overheard set her to thinking soberly, +then to acting kindly, as we shall see.</p> + +<p>"If I hadn't spent all my money on my dress for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +the party to-morrow night, I'd give each of them a +half-dollar. As I can not, I'll hunt up the other +things they wanted, for it's a shame they shouldn't +have a bit of Christmas, when they tried so hard to +please the little ones."</p> + +<p>As she spoke she stirred about her room, and soon +had a white apron, an old carnelian heart on a fresh +blue ribbon, and two papers of bonbons ready. As +no stockings were hung up, she laid a clean towel on +the floor before the door, and spread forth the small +gifts to look their best.</p> + +<p>Miss Kent was so busy that she did not hear a +step come quietly up stairs, and Mr. Chrome, the +artist, peeped at her through the balusters, wondering +what she was about. He soon saw, and watched +her with pleasure, thinking that she never looked +prettier than now.</p> + +<p>Presently she caught him at it, and hastened to +explain, telling what she had heard, and how she was +trying to atone for her past neglect of these young +neighbors. Then she said good-night, and both +went into their rooms, she to sleep happily, and he +to smoke as usual.</p> + +<p>But his eye kept turning to some of the "nice +little bundles" that lay on his table, as if the story +he had heard suggested how he might follow Miss +Kent's example. I rather think he would not have +disturbed himself if he had not heard the story told<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +in such a soft voice, with a pair of bright eyes full of +pity looking into his, for little girls were not particularly +interesting to him, and he was usually too tired +to notice the industrious creatures toiling up and +down stairs on various errands, or sewing at the long +red seams.</p> + +<p>Now that he knew something of their small +troubles, he felt as if it would please Miss Kent, +and be a good joke, to do his share of the pretty +work she had begun.</p> + +<p>So presently he jumped up, and, opening his parcels, +took out two oranges and two bunches of +grapes, then he looked up two silver half-dollars, and +stealing into the hall, laid the fruit upon the towel, +and the money atop of the oranges. This addition +improved the display very much, and Mr. Chrome +was stealing back, well pleased, when his eye fell on +Miss Kent's door, and he said to himself, "She too +shall have a little surprise, for she is a dear, kind-hearted +soul."</p> + +<p>In his room was a prettily painted plate, and this +he filled with green and purple grapes, tucked a sentimental +note underneath, and leaving it on her +threshold, crept away as stealthily as a burglar.</p> + +<p>The house was very quiet when Mrs. Smith, the +landlady, came up to turn off the gas. "Well, upon +my word, here's fine doings, to be sure!" she said, +when she saw the state of the upper hall. "Now I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +wouldn't have thought it of Miss Kent, she is such +a giddy girl, nor of Mr. Chrome, he is so busy with +his own affairs. I meant to give those children each +a cake to-morrow, they are such good little things. +I'll run down and get them now, as my contribution +to this fine set out."</p> + +<p>Away trotted Mrs. Smith to her pantry, and picked +out a couple of tempting cakes, shaped like hearts +and full of plums. There was a goodly array of pies +on the shelves, and she took two of them, saying, as +she climbed the stairs again, "They remembered +the children, so I'll remember them, and have my +share of the fun."</p> + +<p>So up went the pies, for Mrs. Smith had not much +to give, and her spirit was generous, though her +pastry was not of the best. It looked very droll to +see pies sitting about on the thresholds of closed +doors, but the cakes were quite elegant, and filled +up the corners of the towel handsomely, for the +apron lay in the middle, with the oranges right and +left, like two sentinels in yellow uniforms.</p> + +<p>It was very late when the flicker of a candle came +up stairs, and a pale lady, with a sweet sad face, +appeared, bringing a pair of red and a pair of blue +mittens for her Dolly and Polly. Poor Mrs. Blake +did have a hard time, for she stood all day in a great +store that she might earn bread for the poor children +who staid at home and took care of one another.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +Her heart was very heavy that night, because it was +the first Christmas she had ever known without gifts +and festivity of some sort. But Petkin, the youngest +child, had been ill, times were very hard, the little +mouths gaped for food like the bills of hungry birds, +and there was no tender mate to help fill them.</p> + +<p>If any elves had been hovering about the dingy +hall just then, they would have seen the mother's +tired face brighten beautifully when she discovered +the gifts, and found that her little girls had been so +kindly remembered. Something more brilliant than +the mock diamonds in Miss Kent's best earrings fell +and glittered on the dusty floor as Mrs. Blake added +the mittens to the other things, and went to her +lonely room again, smiling as she thought how she +could thank them all in a sweet and simple way.</p> + +<p>Her windows were full of flowers, for the delicate +tastes of the poor lady found great comfort in their +beauty. "I have nothing else to give, and these will +show how grateful I am," she said, as she rejoiced +that the scarlet geraniums were so full of gay clusters, +the white chrysanthemum stars were all out, and +the pink roses at their loveliest.</p> + +<p>They slept now, dreaming of a sunny morrow as +they sat safely sheltered from the bitter cold. But +that night was their last, for a gentle hand cut them +all, and soon three pretty nosegays stood in a glass, +waiting for dawn, to be laid at three doors, with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +few grateful words which would surprise and delight +the receivers, for flowers were rare in those hard-working +lives, and kind deeds often come back to +the givers in fairer shapes than they go.</p> + +<p>Now one would think that there had been gifts +enough, and no more could possibly arrive, since all +had added his or her mite except Betsey, the maid, +who was off on a holiday, and the babies fast +asleep in their trundle-bed, with nothing to give but +love and kisses. Nobody dreamed that the old cat +would take it into her head that her kittens were in +danger, because Mrs. Smith had said she thought +they were nearly old enough to be given away. But +she must have understood, for when all was dark and +still, the anxious mother went patting up stairs to the +children's door, meaning to hide her babies under +their bed, sure they would save them from destruction. +Mrs. Blake had shut the door, however, so +poor Puss was disappointed; but finding a soft, +clean spot among a variety of curious articles, she +laid her kits there, and kept them warm all night, +with her head pillowed on the blue mittens.</p> + +<p>In the cold morning Dolly and Polly got up and +scrambled into their clothes, not with joyful haste to +see what their stockings held, for they had none, but +because they had the little ones to dress while mother +got the breakfast.</p> + +<p>Dolly opened the door, and started back with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +cry of astonishment at the lovely spectacle before +her. The other people had taken in their gifts, so +nothing destroyed the magnificent effect of the treasures +so curiously collected in the night. Puss had +left her kits asleep, and gone down to get her own +breakfast, and there, in the middle of the ruffled +apron, as if in a dainty cradle, lay the two Maltese +darlings, with white bibs and boots on, and white +tips to the tiny tails curled round their little noses in +the sweetest way.</p> + +<p>Polly and Dolly could only clasp their hands and +look in rapturous silence for a minute; then they +went down on their knees and revelled in the unexpected +richness before them.</p> + +<p>"I do believe there <i>is</i> a Santa Claus, and that he +heard us, for here is everything we wanted," said +Dolly, holding the carnelian heart in one hand and +the plummy one in the other.</p> + +<p>"It must have been some kind of a fairy, for we +didn't mention kittens, but we wanted one, and here +are two darlings," cried Polly, almost purring with +delight as the downy bunches unrolled and gaped +till their bits of pink tongues were visible.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Smith was one fairy, I guess, and Miss +Kent was another, for that is her apron. I shouldn't +wonder if Mr. Chrome gave us the oranges and the +money: men always have lots, and his name is on +this bit of paper," said Dolly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +"Oh, I'm <i>so</i> glad! Now we shall have a Christmas +like other people, and I'll never say again that +rich folks don't remember poor folks. Come and +show all our treasures to mother and the babies; +they must have some," answered Polly, feeling that +the world was all right, and life not half as hard as +she thought it last night.</p> + +<p>Shrieks of delight greeted the sisters, and all that +morning there was joy and feasting in Mrs. Blake's +room, and in the afternoon Dolly and Polly went to +the Museum, and actually saw <i>Puss in Boots</i>; for +their mother insisted on their going, having discovered +how the hard-earned quarters had been spent. +This was such unhoped-for bliss that they could +hardly believe it, and kept smiling at one another so +brightly that people wondered who the happy little +girls in shabby cloaks could be who clapped their +new mittens so heartily, and laughed till it was better +than music to hear them.</p> + +<p>This was a very remarkable Christmas-day, and +they long remembered it; for while they were absorbed +in the fortunes of the Marquis of Carabas +and the funny cat, who tucked his tail in his belt, +washed his face so awkwardly, and didn't know how +to purr, strange things were happening at home, and +more surprises were in store for our little friends. +You see, when people once begin to do kindnesses, +it is so easy and pleasant they find it hard to leave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +off; and sometimes it beautifies them so that they +find they love one another very much—as Mr. +Chrome and Miss Kent did, though we have nothing +to do with that except to tell how they made the +poor little tree grow and blossom.</p> + +<p>They were very jolly at dinner, and talked a good +deal about the Blakes, who ate in their own rooms. +Miss Kent told what the children said, and it +touched the soft spot in all their hearts to hear +about the red shirts, though they laughed at Polly's +lament over the bird with only one feather in its tail.</p> + +<p>"I'd give them a better tree if I had any place to +put it, and knew how to trim it up," said Mr. +Chrome, with a sudden burst of generosity, which +so pleased Miss Kent that her eyes shone like +Christmas candles.</p> + +<p>"Put it in the back parlor. All the Browns are +away for a week, and we'll help you trim it—won't +we, my dear?" cried Mrs. Smith, warmly; for she +saw that he was in a sociable mood, and thought it +a pity that the Blakes should not profit by it.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed; I should like it of all things, and +it needn't cost much, for I have some skill in trimmings, +as you know." And Miss Kent looked so gay +and pretty as she spoke that Mr. Chrome made up +his mind that millinery must be a delightful occupation.</p> + +<p>"Come on then, ladies, and we'll have a little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +frolic. I'm a lonely old bachelor, with nowhere to +go to-day, and I'd like some fun."</p> + +<p>They had it, I assure you; for they all fell to work +as busy as bees, flying and buzzing about with much +laughter as they worked their pleasant miracle. Mr. +Chrome acted more like the father of a large family +than a crusty bachelor, Miss Kent's skillful fingers +flew as they never did before, and Mrs. Smith trotted +up and down as briskly as if she were sixteen instead +of being a stout old woman of sixty.</p> + +<p>The children were so full of the play, and telling +all about it, that they forgot their tree till after supper; +but when they went to look for it they found it +gone, and in its place a great paper hand with one +finger pointing down stairs, and on it these mysterious +words in red ink:</p> + +<p>"Look in the Browns' back parlor!"</p> + +<p>At the door of that interesting apartment they +found their mother with Will and Petkin, for another +hand had suddenly appeared to them pointing up. +The door flew open quite as if it were a fairy play, +and they went in to find a pretty tree planted in a +red box on the centre table, lighted with candles, +hung with gilded nuts, red apples, gay bonbons, and +a gift for each.</p> + +<p>Mr. Chrome was hidden behind one folding-door, +and fat Mrs. Smith squeezed behind the other, and +they both thought it a great improvement upon the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +old-fashioned Santa Claus to have Miss Kent, in the +white dress she made for the party, with Mrs. Blake's +roses in her hair, step forward as the children gazed +in silent rapture, and with a few sweet words welcome +them to the little surprise their friends had +made.</p> + +<p>There were many Christmas trees in the city that +night, but none which gave such hearty pleasure as +the one which so magically took the place of the +broken branch and its few poor toys. They were all +there, however, and Dolly and Polly were immensely +pleased to see that of all her gifts Petkin chose the +forlorn bird to carry to bed with her, the one yellow +feather being just to her taste.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Blake put on her neat bonnet, and was so +gratified that Miss Kent thought it the most successful +one she ever trimmed. She was well paid for +it by the thanks of one neighbor and the admiration +of another; for when she went to her party +Mr. Chrome went with her, and said something on +the way which made her heart dance more lightly +than her feet that night.</p> + +<p>Good Mrs. Smith felt that her house had covered +itself with glory by this event, and Dolly and Polly +declared that it was the most perfect and delightful +surprise party ever seen.</p> + +<p>It was all over by nine o'clock, and with good-night +kisses for every one the little girls climbed up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +to bed laden with treasures and too happy for many +words. But as they tied their round caps Dolly +said, thoughtfully:</p> + +<p>"On the whole, I think it's rather nice to be poor +when people are kind to you."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'd <i>rather</i> be rich; but if I can't be, it is +very good fun to have Christmas trees like this one," +answered truthful Polly, never guessing that they +had planted the seed from which the little pine-tree +grew so quickly and beautifully.</p> + +<p>When the moon came to look in at the window on +her nightly round, two smiling faces lay on the pillow, +which was no longer wet with tears, but rather +knobby with the mine of riches hidden underneath,—first +fruits of the neighborly friendship which +flourished in that house until another and a merrier +Christmas came.</p> +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III.</h2> + +<h3>THE DOLLS' JOURNEY FROM MINNESOTA +TO MAINE.</h3> + +<p>Mr. Plum lived in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.</p> + +<p>There were six little Plums, all girls, varying +in ages from fourteen to seven, and named Kate, +Lucy, Susy, Lizzy, Marjory and Maggie. There was +no mamma, but Mrs. Gibbs, the housekeeper, was a +kind old soul, and papa did everything he could to +make the small daughters good and happy.</p> + +<p>One stormy Saturday afternoon the children were +all together in the school-room, and papa busy at his +desk in the library, with the door open because he +liked to hear the pleasant voices and catch glimpses +of the droll plays that went on there.</p> + +<p>Kate lay on the sofa reading "The Daisy Chain" +for the fourth time. Susy, Lucy and Lizzie were +having a select tea party in their own recess, the +entrance to which was barricaded with chairs to keep +out the "babies," as they called the little ones, who +were much offended at being excluded and sat up in +the cushioned window-seat pensively watching the +rain.</p> + +<p>"If it had only waited till to-morrow we should +have had time for our journey; now we can't go till<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +next Saturday. Flora is so disappointed she would +cry if I had not taught her to behave," said Maggie +with a sigh, as she surveyed the doll on her knee in +its new summer suit.</p> + +<p>"So is Dora. Just see how sweet she looks with +her hat and cape on and her travelling-bag all ready. +Couldn't we play travel in the house? It is such a +pity to wait when the children are in such a hurry to +go," answered Marjory, settling the tiny bag that +held Dora's nightcap and gown as well as the +morsels of cake that were to serve for her lunch.</p> + +<p>"No," said Maggie decidedly, "we can't do it, +because there is no room for carriages, and boats, +and railroads, and hotels, and accidents. It is a +long journey from Minnesota to Maine, and we +couldn't get it all into one room I'm sure."</p> + +<p>"I don't think papa would mind our coming into +the library, if we didn't ring the car bells very loud +or scream much when the accidents happen," said +Marjory, who hated to give up the plan they had +been cherishing all the week.</p> + +<p>"What is it, little ones? Come and tell me what +is the matter," called Mr. Plum, hearing his name +and the magic word "railroad," for he was the president +of one and had his hands full just then.</p> + +<p>Down jumped the little girls and ran to perch on +either arm of his chair, pouring out their small tribulations +as freely as if he had been the most sympathizing +of mothers.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +"We planned to take a long, long journey round +the garden with our dolls to-day, and play go to +Maine and see Aunt Maria. You know she asked +us, and we looked out the way on the map and +got all ready, and now it rains and we are dreadfully +disappointed," said Maggie, while Marjory sighed as +she looked at the red D. worked on the inch square +travelling-bag.</p> + +<p>"As you can't go, why not send the dolls to make +aunty a visit, and she will send them back when they +get homesick," proposed Mr. Plum, smiling, as if a +sudden idea had popped into his head.</p> + +<p>"Really?" cried Maggie.</p> + +<p>"How could we?" asked Marjory.</p> + +<p>"They could go and come by mail, and tell you all +about their adventures when they got back," said +papa.</p> + +<p>Both children were speechless for a moment, then +as the full splendor of this proposition dawned upon +them they clapped their hands, crying eagerly:</p> + +<p>"We will! we will! Let's do it at once."</p> + +<p>"What? where? who?" asked Susy, Lucy and +Lizzie, forgetting their tea party to run and see what +was going on.</p> + +<p>They were told, and in their turn exclaimed so +loudly that Kate came to join in the fun.</p> + +<p>After a great deal of talking and laughing, the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>dolls were prepared for the long journey. They +were common wooden-headed dollies, a hand long, +with stuffed bodies and stout legs ornamented with +very small feet in red and blue boots. Dora was a +blonde and Flora a brunette, otherwise they were +just alike and nearly new. Usually when people go +travelling they put on their hats and cloaks, but +these pilgrims, by papa's advice, left all encumbrances +behind them, for they were to travel in a +peculiar way, and blue gingham dresses were chosen +for the expedition.</p> + +<p>"It is possible that they may never come back. +Accidents will happen you know. Are you prepared +for that?" asked Mr. Plum, pausing with the brown +paper spread out before him.</p> + +<p>"I am," answered Maggie firmly, as she laid Flora +on the table, her black eyes staring as if rather +alarmed at this sudden start.</p> + +<p>Marjory hesitated a moment, clasping Dora to her +bosom with a face full of maternal anxiety. But +Susy, Lucy and Lizzie cried: "Let her go, do let +her go, and if she is lost papa will give you a new +doll."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, my darling dear. Have a splendid +time, and be sure you come back to me," whispered +Marjory, with a tender farewell kiss as she gave up +her child.</p> + +<p>All stood watching silently while papa tied the +dolls back to back with the ribbon Kate pulled from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +her neck, then folded them carefully in strong brown +paper, leaving their heads out that they might see +the world as they went along. Being carefully +fastened up with several turns of cord, Mr. Plum +directed the precious parcel to "Miss Maria Plum, +Portland, Maine. With care." Then it was weighed, +stamped, and pronounced ready for the post.</p> + +<p>"I shall write and tell aunty they are coming, +because she will want to be prepared for such distinguished +visitors," said papa, taking up his pen +with a glance at the six excited little faces round +him.</p> + +<p>Silence reigned while the letter was written, and +as he sealed it up Mr. Plum said solemnly, with his +hand on the parcel:</p> + +<p>"For the last time, shall they go?"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" answered the Spartan mothers with one +voice, while the other sisters danced round them, +and Kate patted the curly heads approvingly.</p> + +<p>"Going, going, gone!" answered papa as he +whisked on his coat and hat, and slammed the door +behind him.</p> + +<p>The children clustered at the window to see him +set out on this momentous errand, and he often +looked back waving his umbrella at them, till he +vanished round the corner, with a reassuring pat on +the pocket out of which dear Do and Flo popped +their heads for a last look at their sweet home.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +"Now let us take out poor old Lucinda and Rose +Augusta to play with. I know their feelings were +hurt at our leaving them for the new dolls," said +Maggie, rummaging in the baby-house, whither +Margery soon followed her to reinstate the old +darlings in the place of the departed new ones.</p> + +<p>"Safely off," reported Mr. Plum, when he came +into tea, "and we may expect to hear from them in +a week or two. Parcels go more slowly than letters, +and this is Aunty's busy season, so wait patiently +and see what will happen."</p> + +<p>"We will," said the little girls; and they did, but +week after week went by and nothing was heard of +the wanderers.</p> + +<p>We, however, can follow them and learn much +that their anxious mothers never knew.</p> + +<p>As soon as Flora and Dora recovered from the +bewilderment occasioned by the confusion of the +post office, they found themselves in one of the +many leathern mail bags rumbling Eastward. As it +was perfectly dark they could not see their companions, +so listened to the whispering and rustling +that went on about them. The newspapers all +talked politics, and some of them used such bad +language that the dolls would have covered their +ears, if their hands had not been tied down. The +letters were better behaved and more interesting, for +they told one another the news they carried, because<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +nothing is private in America, and even gummed +envelopes cannot keep gossip from leaking out.</p> + +<p>"It is very interesting, but I should enjoy it more +if I was not grinding my nose against the rough side +of this leather bag," whispered Dora, who lay undermost +just then.</p> + +<p>"So should I, if a heavy book was not pinching +my toes. I've tried to kick it away, but it won't +stir, and keeps droning on about reports and tariffs +and such dull things," answered Flora, with a groan.</p> + +<p>"Do you like travelling?" asked Dora, presently, +when the letters and papers fell asleep, lulled by the +motion of the cars.</p> + +<p>"Not yet, but I shall when I can look about me. +This bundle near by says the mails are often sorted +in the cars, and in that way we shall see something +of the world, I hope," answered Flora, cheering up, +for, like her mamma, she was of an enquiring turn.</p> + +<p>The dolls took a nap of some hours, and were +roused by a general tumbling out on a long shelf, +where many other parcels lay, and lively men sent +letters and papers flying here and there as if a whirlwind +was blowing. A long box lay beside the dolls +who stood nearly erect leaning against a pile of +papers. Several holes were cut in the lid, and out +of one of them was thrust a little black nose, as if +trying to get air.</p> + +<p>"Dear me! what can be in it?" said Flora, who +was nearest.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +"I'm a poor little alligator, going to a boy in +Chicago, if you please, and I want my mother," +sobbed a voice from the box, and there was a rap on +the lid as of an agitated tail.</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us! I hope we shall not have to travel +with the monster," whispered Dora, trying to see +over her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid. He can't be very dreadful, for +the box is not any longer than we are. Natural history +is very useful; I've heard mamma say so, and I +shall talk with him while we rest here," answered +Flo, nodding toward the eye which now took the +place of the nose.</p> + +<p>So the little alligator told her something of his +home on the banks of a great river, where he was +just learning to play happily with his brothers and +sisters, when he was caught and sent away to pine in +captivity.</p> + +<p>The dolls comforted him as well as they could, +and a pair of baby's shoes travelling in an envelope +sympathized with him, while a shabby bundle directed +to "Michael Dolan, at Mrs. Judy Quin's, next door +to Mr. Pat Murphy, Boston, North street," told them +to "Whisht and slape quite till they came forninst +the place."</p> + +<p>"Such low people!" whispered Do to Flo, and +both stood primly silent till they were tumbled into +another mail bag, and went rattling on again with a +new set of companions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +"I hope that poor baby will go safely and the boy +be good to him," said Flora, for the little alligator +went with the live stock in some other way.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness he didn't go with us! I shall +dream about that black nose and winking eye, I'm +sure. The dangers of travelling are great, but we +are safe and comfortable now, I think," and Dora +settled down in a cozy corner of the bag, wondering +when they should reach Chicago.</p> + +<p>"I like adventures and hope we shall have some," +answered Flora, briskly, little dreaming how soon +her wish was to be granted.</p> + +<p>A few hours later there come a bump, a crash, a +cry, and then all the mail bags rolled one over the +other with the car down an embankment into a +river.</p> + +<p>"Now we are dead!" shrieked the poor dolls, +clinging together as they heard the splash of water, +the shouting of men, the splintering of wood, and +the hiss of steam.</p> + +<p>"Don't be frightened, ladies, mail bags are always +looked after," said a large envelope with an official +seal and the name of a Senator on it.</p> + +<p>"Any bones broken, dear madam?" asked a +jaunty pink letter, with a scent of musk about it, +evidently a love-letter.</p> + +<p>"I think one foot is hurt, and my clothes are +dripping," sighed Dora, faintly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +"Water won't hurt calico," called out a magazine +full of fashion plates, adding dolefully, as its gay +colors began to run, "I shall be in a nice mess if I +ever get out of this. People will wear odd fashions +if they follow me this time."</p> + +<p>"Hope they will telegraph news of this accident +in time for the evening papers," said a dingy sheet +called the "Barahoo Thunderbolt," as it lay atop of +the heap in its yellow wrapper.</p> + +<p>"Be calm, my friends, and wait with fortitude for +death or deliverance, as I do." With which philosophic +remark "The St. Louis Cosmos" folded the +pages which for the first time since the paper was +started, were not dry.</p> + +<p>Here the water rose over the topmost letter and a +moist silence prevailed till a sudden jerk fished up +the bag, and before the dolls could recover their +wits they were spread out on the floor of a mail car +to dry, while several busy men sorted and saved such +papers and letters as still held together.</p> + +<p>"Now we shall see something," said Flora, feeling +the warm air blow over her as they spun along, for a +slight accident like this did not delay the energetic +Westerners a moment longer than absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>"I can't see you, dear, but I hope you look better +than I do, for the yellow of my hair has washed into +my eyes and the red of my cheeks is quite gone, I'm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +sure," answered Dora, as her wet dress flopped in +the breeze and the broken foot sticking up showed +her that her blue boots were ruined.</p> + +<p>"I don't care a bit how I look. It's great fun +now we are safe. Pop up your head and see the +wide prairie flying past. I do hope that poor baby +got away and swam home to his mother. The upset +into the river was quite to his taste, I fancy," said +Flora, who was much excited by her adventure and +eager for more.</p> + +<p>Presently one of the men set the dolls up in the +corner of a window to dry, and there they stood +viewing the fine landscape with one eye while the +other watched the scene of devastation within. +Everything was in great confusion after the accident, +so it is not strange that the dolls were not missed +when they slowly slid lower and lower till a sudden +lurch of the car sent them out of the window to roll +into a green field where cows were feeding and children +picking strawberries.</p> + +<p>"This is the end of us! Here we shall lie and +mould forgotten by everybody," said Dora, who +always took a tragical view of things.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it! I see cows eating toward us and +they may give us a lift. I've heard of their tossing +people up, though I don't know just how it's done. +If they don't, we are in the path and some of those +children are sure to find us," answered Flora cheer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>fully, +though she stood on her head with a bunch of +burrs pricking her nose.</p> + +<p>She was right. A bright-eyed little German girl +presently came trotting along the path with a great +basket full of berries on her head arranged in pretty +pottles ready for the market. Seeing the red cow +sniffing at a brown paper parcel she drove her away, +picked it up and peeped in at the open end.</p> + +<p>The sight of two dolls in such a place made her +feel as if fairies had dropped them there for her. +She could not read the direction and hurried home +to show her treasure to her brothers and sisters of +whom there were eight.</p> + +<p>"What will become of us now!" exclaimed Dora, +as eager hands slipped them out of the wrapper and +smoothed their damp skirts in a room that seemed +swarming with boys and girls of all sizes.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, we shall get on nicely, I'm sure, +and learn German of these young persons. It is a +great relief to be able to stretch one's limbs and stand +up, isn't it?" answered Flora, undismayed by anything +that had happened as yet.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, I love you but I <i>am</i> tired of being tied +to you all day. I hope we shall live through this +noise and get a little rest, but I give up the idea of +ever seeing Portland," answered Dora, staring with +all her blue eyes at the display of musical instruments +about the room, and longing to stop her ears,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +for several of the children were playing on the violin, +flute, horn or harp. They were street musicians, and +even the baby seemed to be getting ready to take +part in the concert, for he sat on the floor beside an +immense bass horn taller than himself, with his rosy +lips at the mouth piece and his cheeks puffed out in +vain attempts to make a "boom! boom!" as brother +Fritz did.</p> + +<p>Flora was delighted, and gave skips on her red +boots in time to the lively tooting of the boys, while +the girls gazed at the lovely dolls and jabbered away +with their yellow braids quivering with excitement.</p> + +<p>The wrapper was laid aside till a neighbor who +read English came in to translate it. Meantime they +enjoyed the new toys immensely, and even despondent +Dora was cheered up by the admiration she +received; while they in their turn were deeply interested +in the pretty dolls' furniture some of the children +made.</p> + +<p>Beds, tables and chairs covered the long bench, and +round it sat the neat-handed little maidens gluing, +tacking and trimming, while they sang and chatted at +their work as busy and happy as a hive of bees.</p> + +<p>All day the boys went about the streets playing, +and in the evening trooped off to the beer gardens +to play again, for they lived in Chicago, and the +dolls had got so far on their way to Aunt Maria, as +they soon discovered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +For nearly two months they lived happily with +Minna, Gretchen and Nanerl, then they set out on +their travels again, and this was the way it happened. +A little girl came to order a set of furniture for her +new baby-house, and seeing two shabby dolls reposing +in a fine bed she asked about them. Her mamma +spoke German so Minna told how they were +found, and showed the old wrapper, saying that they +always meant to send the dolls on their way but +grew so fond of them they kept putting it off.</p> + +<p>"I am going as far as New York very soon and +will take them along if you like, for I think little +Miss Maria Plum must have been expecting her +dolls all this time. Shall I?" asked the mamma, as +she read the address and saw the dash under "With +care," as if the dollies were of great importance to +some one.</p> + +<p>"Ja, ja," answered Minna, glad to oblige a lady +who bought two whole sets of their best furniture +and paid for it at once.</p> + +<p>So again the dolls were put in their brown paper +cover and sent away with farewell kisses.</p> + +<p>"This now is genteel and just suits me," said +Dora, as they drove along with little Clara to the +handsome house where she was staying.</p> + +<p>"I have a feeling that she is a spoilt child, and we +shall not be as happy with her as with the dear +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>Poppleheimers. We shall see," answered Flora, +wisely, for Clara had soon tossed the dolls into a +corner and was fretting because mamma would not +buy her the big horn to blow on.</p> + +<p>The party started for New York in a day or two, +and to the delight of Flo and Do they were left out +of the trunks for Clara to play with on the way, her +own waxen Blanche Marie Annabel being too +delicate to be used.</p> + +<p>"Oh my patience, this is worse than tumbling +about in a mail-bag," groaned Dora, after hours of +great suffering, for Clara treated the poor dolls as if +they had no feeling.</p> + +<p>She amused herself with knocking their heads +together, shutting them in the window with their +poor legs hanging out, swinging them by one arm, +and drawing lines with a pencil all over their faces +till they looked as if tattooed by savages. Even +brave Flora was worn out and longed for rest, finding +her only comfort in saying, "I told you so," when +Clara banged them about, or dropped them on the +dusty floor to be trampled on by passing feet.</p> + +<p>There they were left, and would have been swept +away if a little dog had not found them as the +passengers were leaving the car and carried them +after his master, trotting soberly along with the +bundle in his mouth, for fortunately Clara had put +them into the paper before she left them, so they +were still together in the trials of the journey.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +"Hullo, Jip, what have you got?" asked the +young man as the little dog jumped up on the +carriage seat and laid his load on his master's knee, +panting and wagging his tail as if he had done +something to be praised for.</p> + +<p>"Dolls, I declare! What can a bachelor do with +the poor things? Wonder who Maria Plum is? +Midge will like a look at them before we send them +along;" and into the young man's pocket they went, +trembling with fear of the dog, but very grateful for +being rescued from destruction.</p> + +<p>Jip kept his eye on them, and gave an occasional +poke with his cold nose to be sure they were +there as they drove through the bustling streets of +New York to a great house with an inscription over +the door.</p> + +<p>"I do hope Midge will be a nicer girl than Clara. +Children ought to be taught to be kind to dumb +dolls as well as dumb animals," said Dora, as the +young man ran up the steps and hurried along a wide +hall.</p> + +<p>"I almost wish we were at home with our own kind +little mothers," began Flo, for even her spirits were +depressed by bad treatment, but just then a door +opened and she cried out in amazement, "Bless my +heart, this man has more children than even Mr. +Poppleheimer!"</p> + +<p>She might well think so, for all down both sides of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +the long room stood little white beds with a small +pale face on every pillow. All the eyes that were +open brightened when Jip and his master came in, +and several thin hands were outstretched to meet +them.</p> + +<p>"I've been good, Doctor, let me pat him first," +cried one childish voice.</p> + +<p>"Did you bring me a flower, please?" asked +another feeble one.</p> + +<p>"I know he's got something nice for us, I see a +bundle in his pocket," and a little fellow who sat up +among his pillows gave a joyful cough as he could +not shout.</p> + +<p>"Two dollies for Midge to play with. Jip found +them, but I think the little girl they are going to will +lend them for a few days. We shall not need them +longer I'm afraid," added the young man to a rosy +faced nurse who came along with a bottle in her +hand.</p> + +<p>"Dear no, the poor child is very low to-day. But +she will love to look at the babies if she isn't strong +enough to hold 'em," said the woman, leading the +way to a corner where the palest of all the pale faces +lay smiling on the pillow, and the thinnest of the +thin hands were feebly put up to greet the Doctor.</p> + +<p>"So nice!" she whispered when the dolls were +laid beside her, while Jip proudly beat his tail on +the floor to let her know that she owed the welcome +gift to him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +For an hour Flo and Do lay on the arm of poor +Midge who never moved except to touch them now +and then with a tender little finger, or to kiss them +softly, saying, "Dear babies, it is very nice not to be +all alone. Are you comfy, darlings?" till she fell +asleep still smiling.</p> + +<p>"Sister, do you think this can be the Heaven we +hear people talk about? It is so still and white, and +may be these children are angels," whispered Dora, +looking at the sweet face turned toward her with the +long lashes lying on the colorless cheek, and the +arms outstretched like wings.</p> + +<p>"No, dear, it is a hospital, I heard that man +say so, and those are sick children come to be cured. +It is a sweet place, I think, and this child much +nicer than that horrid Clara," answered Flo, who was +quicker to hear, see and understand what went on +than Dora.</p> + +<p>"I love to lie here safe and warm, but there +doesn't seem to be much breath to rock me," said Do, +who lay nearest the little bosom that very slowly rose +and fell with the feeble flutter of the heart below.</p> + +<p>"Hush, we may disturb her," and lively Flo controlled +her curiosity, contenting herself with looking +at the other children and listening to their quiet +voices, for pain seemed to have hushed them all.</p> + +<p>For a week the dolls lay in Midge's bed, and +though their breasts were full of saw-dust and their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +heads were only wood, the sweet patience of the little +creature seemed to waken something like a heart in +them, and set them thinking, for dolls don't live in +vain, I am firmly persuaded.</p> + +<p>All day she tended them till the small hands could +no longer hold them, and through the weary nights +she tried to murmur bits of lullabies lest the dollies +would not be able to sleep because of the crying or +the moans some of the poor babies could not repress. +She often sent one or the other to cheer up some +little neighbor, and in this way Do and Flo became +small sisters of charity, welcomed eagerly, reluctantly +returned, and loved by all, although they never +uttered a word and their dingy faces could not express +the emotion that stirred their saw-dust bosoms.</p> + +<p>When Saturday night came they were laid in their +usual place on Midge's arm. She was too weak to +kiss them now, and nurse laid their battered cheeks +against the lips that whispered faintly, "Be sure you +send 'em to the little girl, and tell her—tell her—all +about it." Then she turned her cheek to the pillow +with a little sigh and lay so still the dolls thought +she had gone to sleep.</p> + +<p>She had, but the sweet eyes did not open in the +morning, and there was no breath in the little +breast to rock the dolls any more.</p> + +<p>"I knew she was an angel, and now she has flown +away," said Dora softly, as they watched the white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +image carried out in the weeping nurse's arms, with +the early sunshine turning all the pretty hair to +gold.</p> + +<p>"I think that is what they call dying, sister. It is +a much lovelier way to end than as we do in the dust +bin or rag-bag. I wonder if there is a little Heaven +anywhere for good dolls?" answered Flora, with +what looked like a tear on her cheek; but it was +only a drop from the violets sent by the kind Doctor +last night.</p> + +<p>"I hope so, for I think the souls of little children +might miss us if they loved us as dear Midge did," +whispered Dora, trying to kiss the blue flower in her +hand, for the child had shared her last gift with these +friends.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you let her take them along, poor +motherless baby?" asked the doctor when he saw +the dolls lying as she had left them.</p> + +<p>"I promised her they should go to the girl they +were sent to, and please, I'd like to keep my word to +the little darling," answered Nurse with a sob.</p> + +<p>"You shall," said the Doctor, and put them in his +breast pocket with the faded violets, for everybody +loved the pauper child sent to die in a hospital, because +Christian charity makes every man and woman +father and mother to these little ones.</p> + +<p>All day the dolls went about in the busy Doctor's +pocket, and I think the violets did them good, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +the soft perfume clung to them long afterward like +the memory of a lovely life, as short and sweet as +that of the flowers.</p> + +<p>In the evening they were folded up in a fresh +paper and re-directed carefully. The Doctor wrote +a little note telling why he had kept them, and was +just about to put on some stamps when a friend came +in who was going to Boston in the morning.</p> + +<p>"Anything to take along, Fred?" asked the newcomer.</p> + +<p>"This parcel, if you will. I have a feeling that +I'd rather not have it knock about in a mail-bag," +and the Doctor told him why.</p> + +<p>It was pleasant to see how carefully the traveller +put away the parcel after that, and to hear him say +that he was going through Boston to the mountains +for his holiday, and would deliver it in Portland to +Miss Plum herself.</p> + +<p>"Now there is some chance of our getting there," +said Flora, as they set off next day in a new Russia +leather bag.</p> + +<p>On the way they overheard a long chat between +some New York and Boston ladies which impressed +them very much. Flora liked to hear the fashionable +gossip about clothes and people and art and +theatres, but Dora preferred the learned conversation +of the young Boston ladies, who seemed to know +a little of everything, or think they did.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +"I hope Mamma will give me an entirely new +wardrobe when I get home; and we will have dolls' +weddings and balls, and a play, and be as fine and +fashionable as those ladies down there," said Flora, +after listening a while.</p> + +<p>"You have got your head full of dressy ideas and +high life, sister. I don't care for such things, but +mean to cultivate my mind as fast as I can. That +girl says she is in college, and named over more +studies than I can count. I do wish we were to stop +and see a little of the refined society of Boston," +answered Dora, primly.</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" said Flo, "don't you try to be intellectual, +for you are only a wooden-headed doll. I mean +to be a real Westerner, and just enjoy myself as I +please, without caring what other folks do or think. +Boston is no better than the rest of the world, I +guess."</p> + +<p>Groans from every article in the bag greeted this +disrespectful speech, and an avalanche of Boston +papers fell upon the audacious doll. But Flo was +undaunted, and shouted from underneath the pile: +"I don't care! Minnesota forever!" till her breath +gave out.</p> + +<p>Dora was so mortified that she never said a word +till they were let out in a room at the Parker House. +Here she admired everything, and read all the evening +in a volume of Emerson's Poems from the bag,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +for Mr. Mt. Vernon Beacon was a Boston man, and +never went anywhere without a wise book or two in +his pocket.</p> + +<p>Flo turned up her nose at all she saw, and devoted +herself to a long chat with the smart bag which came +from New York and was full of gossip.</p> + +<p>The next afternoon they really got to Portland, +and as soon as Mr. Beacon had made his toilet he +set out to find little Miss Plum. When the parlor +door opened to admit her he was much embarrassed, +for, advancing with a paternal smile and the dolls +extended to the expected child, he found himself +face to face with a pretty young lady, who looked as +if she thought him a little mad.</p> + +<p>A few words explained the errand, however, and +when she read the note Aunt Maria's bright eyes +were full of tears as she said, hugging the dilapidated +dolls:</p> + +<p>"I'll write the story of their travels, and send the +dear old things back to the children as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p>And so she did with Mr. Beacon's help, for he +decided to try the air of Portland, and spent his +vacation there. The dolls were re-painted and re-dressed +till they were more beautiful than ever, and +their clothes fine enough to suit even Flo.</p> + +<p>They were a good while doing this, and when all +was ready, Aunt Maria took it into her head to run<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +out to St. Paul and surprise the children. By a singular +coincidence Mr. Beacon had railroad business +in that direction, so they set off together, with two +splendid dolls done up in a gay box.</p> + +<p>All that was ever known about that journey was +that these travellers stopped at the hospital in New +York, and went on better friends than before after +hearing from the good Doctor all the pathetic story +of little Midge.</p> + +<p>The young Plums had long ago given up the hope +of ever seeing Do and Flo again, for they started in +June and it was early in September when Aunt Maria +appeared before them without the least warning, +accompanied by a pleasant gentleman from Boston.</p> + +<p>Six kisses had hardly resounded from Aunty's +blooming cheeks when a most attractive box was +produced from the Russia leather bag, and the wandering +dolls restored to the arms of their enraptured +mammas.</p> + +<p>A small volume neatly written and adorned with a +few pictures of the most exciting incidents of the +trip also appeared.</p> + +<p>"Every one writes or prints a book in Boston, you +know, so we did both," said Aunt Maria, laughing, +as she handed over the remarkable history which she +had composed and Mr. Beacon illustrated.</p> + +<p>It was read with intense interest, and was as true +as most stories are nowadays.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +"Nothing more delightful can happen now!" exclaimed +the children, as they laid by the precious +work and enthroned the travelled dolls in the place +of honor on the roof of the baby-house.</p> + +<p>But something much more delightful did happen; +for at Thanksgiving time there was a wedding at the +Plums'. Not a doll's wedding, as Flo had planned, +but a real one, for the gentleman from Boston +actually married Aunt Maria.</p> + +<p>There were six bridesmaids, all in blue, and Flora +and Dora, in the loveliest of new pink gowns, were +set aloft among the roses on the wedding-cake, their +proper place as everyone said, for there never would +have been any marriage at all but for this Doll's +Journey From Minnesota to Maine.</p> +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV.</h2> + +<h3>MORNING-GLORIES.</h3> + +<p>"What's that?"—and Daisy sat up in her +little bed to listen; for she had never +heard a sound like it before.</p> + +<p>It was very early, and the house was still. The +sun was just rising, and the morning-glories at the +window were turning their blue and purple cups to +catch the welcome light. The sky was full of rosy +clouds; dew shone like diamonds on the waving +grass, and the birds were singing as they only sing +at dawn. But softer, sweeter than any bird-voice +was the delicate music which Daisy heard. So airy +and gay was the sound, it seemed impossible to lie +still with that fairy dancing-tune echoing through the +room. Out of bed scrambled Daisy, her sleepy eyes +opening wider and wider with surprise and pleasure +as she listened and wondered.</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" she said, popping her head out +of the window. The morning-glories only danced +lightly on their stems, the robins chirped shrilly in +the garden below, and the wind gave Daisy a kiss; +but none of them answered her, and still the lovely +music sounded close beside her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +"It's a new kind of bird, perhaps; or maybe it's +a fairy hidden somewhere. Oh, if it <i>is</i> how splendid +it will be!" cried Daisy; and she began to look +carefully in all the colored cups, under the leaves +of the woodbine, and in the wren's nest close by. +There was neither fairy nor bird to be seen; and +Daisy stood wondering, when a voice cried out from +below:</p> + +<p>"Why, little nightcap, what brings you out of your +bed so early?"</p> + +<p>"O Aunt Wee! do you hear it—that pretty music +playing somewhere near! I can't find it; but I +think it's a fairy, don't you?" said Daisy, looking +down at the young lady standing in the garden with +her hands full of roses.</p> + +<p>Aunt Wee listened, smiled, and shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Don't you remember you said last night that you +thought the world a very stupid, grown-up place, +because there were no giants and fairies in it now? +Well, perhaps there <i>are</i> fairies, and they are going to +show themselves to you, if you watch well."</p> + +<p>Daisy clapped her hands, and danced about on +her little bare feet; for, of all things in the world, +she most wanted to see a fairy.</p> + +<p>"What must I do to find them, Aunt Wee?" she +cried, popping out her head again with her cap half +off, and her curly hair blowing in the wind.</p> + +<p>"Why, you see, they frolic all night, and go to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +sleep at dawn; so we must get up very early, if we +want to catch the elves awake. They are such +delicate, fly-away little things, and we are so big and +clumsy, we shall have to look carefully, and perhaps +hunt a long time before we find even one," replied +Aunt Wee, very gravely.</p> + +<p>"Mamma says I'm quick at finding things; and +you know all about fairies, so I guess we'll catch +one. Can't we begin now? It's very early, and +this music has waked me up; so I don't want to +sleep any more. Will you begin to hunt now?"</p> + +<p>"But you don't like to get up early, or to walk in +the fields; and, if we mean to catch a fairy, we must +be up and out by sunrise every fair morning till we +get one. Can you do this, lazy Daisy?" And Aunt +Wee smiled to herself as if something pleased her +very much.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I will, truly, get up, and not fret a bit, if +you'll only help me look. Please come now to dress +me, and see if you can find what makes the music."</p> + +<p>Daisy was very much in earnest, and in such a +hurry to be off that she could hardly stand still to +have her hair brushed, and thought there were a +great many unnecessary buttons and strings on her +clothes that day. Usually she lay late, got up slowly +and fretted at every thing as little girls are apt to +do when they have had too much sleep. She wasn't +a rosy, stout Daisy; but had been ill, and had fallen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +into a way of thinking she couldn't do anything but +lie about, reading fairy-tales, and being petted by +every one. Mamma and papa had tried all sorts of +things to amuse and do her good; for she was their +only little daughter, and they loved her very dearly. +But nothing pleased her long; and she lounged +about, pale and fretful, till Aunt Laura came. Daisy +called her "Wee" when she was a baby, and couldn't +talk plainly; and she still used the name because it +suited the cheery little aunt so well.</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything, and the music has stopped. +I think some elf just came to wake you up, and then +flew away; so we won't waste any more time in +looking here," said Wee, as she finished dressing +Daisy, who flew about like a Will-o'-the-wisp all the +while.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it will come again to-morrow?" +asked Daisy anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I dare say you'll hear it, if you wake in time. +Now get your hat, and we will see what we can find +down by the brook. I saw a great many fireflies +there last night, and fancy there was a ball; so we +may find some drowsy elf among the buttercups and +clover."</p> + +<p>Away rushed Daisy for her hat, and soon was +walking gayly down the green lane, looking about +her as if she had never been there before; for every +thing seemed wonderfully fresh and lovely.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +"How pink the clouds are, and how the dew +twinkles in the grass! I never saw it so before," +she said.</p> + +<p>"Because by the time you are up the pretty pink +clouds are gone, and the thirsty grass has drank the +dew, or the sun has drawn it up to fall again at night +for the flowers' evening bath," replied Wee, watching +the soft color that began to touch Daisy's pale +cheeks.</p> + +<p>"I think we'd better look under that cobweb +spread like a tent over the white clovers. A fairy +would be very likely to creep in there and sleep."</p> + +<p>Daisy knelt down and peeped carefully; but all +she saw was a little brown spider, who looked very +much surprised to see visitors so early.</p> + +<p>"I don't like spiders," said Daisy, much disappointed.</p> + +<p>"There are things about spiders as interesting to +hear as fairy tales," said Wee. "This is Mrs. +Epeira Diadema; and she is a respectable, industrious +little neighbor. She spreads her tent, but sits +under a leaf near by, waiting for her breakfast. She +wraps her eggs in a soft silken bag, and hides them +in some safe chink, where they lie till spring. The +eggs are prettily carved and ornamented, and so +hard that the baby spiders have to force their way +out by biting the shell open and poking their little +heads through. The mother dies as soon as her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +eggs are safely placed, and the spiderlings have to +take care of themselves."</p> + +<p>"How do you know about it, Aunt Wee? You +talk as if Mrs. Eppyra—or whatever her name is—had +told you herself. Did she?" asked Daisy, +feeling more interested in the brown spider.</p> + +<p>"No; I read it in a book, and saw pictures of the +eggs, web, and family. I had a live one in a bottle; +and she spun silken ladders all up and down, and a +little room to sleep in. She ate worms and bugs, +and was very amiable and interesting till she fell ill +and died."</p> + +<p>"I should like to see the book; and have a spider-bottle, +so I could take care of the poor little orphans +when they are born. Good-by, ma'am. I shall call +again; for you are 'most as good as a fairy there in +your pretty tent, with a white clover for your bed."</p> + +<p>Daisy walked on a few steps, and then stopped to +say:</p> + +<p>"What does that bird mean by calling 'Hurry up, +hurry up?' He keeps flying before us, and looking +back as if he wanted to show me something."</p> + +<p>"Let me hear what he says. I may be able to +understand him, or the bob-o-link that swings on the +alder by the brook."</p> + +<p>Wee listened a moment, while the birds twittered +and chirped with all their hearts. Presently Wee +sang in a tone very like the bob-o-link's:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">"Daisy and Wee,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Come here, and see<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What a dainty feast is spread:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Down in the grass<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Where fairies pass,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here are berries ripe and red.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">"All wet with dew,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">They wait for you:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come hither, and eat your fill,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">While I gayly sing,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In my airy swing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the sun climbs up the hill."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Did he really say that?" cried Daisy, watching +the bob-o-link, who sat swaying up and down on the +green bough, and nodding his white-capped head at +her in the most friendly manner.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I didn't translate it rightly; for it is +very hard to put bird-notes into our language, +because we haven't words soft and sweet enough. +But I really think there are berries over there, and +we will see if what he says is true," said Wee.</p> + +<p>Over the wall they went, and there, on a sunny +bank, found a bed of the reddest, ripest berries ever +seen.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, thank you, for telling me to hurry +up, and showing me such a splendid feast," said +Daisy, with her mouth full, as she nodded back at +the birds. "These are so much sweeter than those +we buy. I'd carry some home to mamma, if I only +had a basket."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +"You can pick this great leaf full, while I make +you a basket," said Wee.</p> + +<p>Daisy soon filled the leaf, and then sat watching +her aunt plait a pretty basket of rushes. While she +waited she looked about, and kept finding something +curious or pleasant to interest and amuse her. First +she saw a tiny rainbow in a dewdrop that hung on a +blade of grass; then she watched a frisky calf come +down to drink on the other side of the brook, and +laughed to see him scamper away with his tail in the +air. Close by grew a pitcher-plant; and a yellow +butterfly sat on the edge, bathing its feet, Daisy said. +Presently she discovered a little ground bird sitting +on her nest, and peeping anxiously, as if undecided +whether to fly away or trust her.</p> + +<p>"I won't hurt you, little mother. Don't be +afraid," whispered the child; and, as if it understood, +the bird settled down on her nest with a +comfortable chirp, while its mate hopped up to give +her a nice plump worm for breakfast.</p> + +<p>"I love birds. Tell me something about them, +Aunt Wee. You must know many things; for they +like you, and come when you call."</p> + +<p>"Once upon a time," began Wee, while her fingers +flew and the pretty basket grew, "there was a great +snow-storm, and all the country was covered with a +thick white quilt. It froze a little, so one could +walk over it, and I went out for a run. Oh, so cold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +it was, with a sharp wind, and no sun or any thing +green to make it pleasant! I went far away over the +fields, and sat down to rest. While I sat there, a +little bird came by, and stopped to rest also.</p> + +<p>"'How do you do?' said I.</p> + +<p>"'Chick-a-dee-dee,' said he.</p> + +<p>"'A cold day,' said I.</p> + +<p>"'Chick-a-dee-dee,' said he.</p> + +<p>"'Aren't you afraid of starving, now the ground is +covered and the trees are bare?'</p> + +<p>"'Chick-a-dee-dee, ma'am, chick-a-dee-dee!'" answered +the bird in the same cheerful tone. And it +sounded as if he said, 'I shall be cared for. I'm +not afraid.'</p> + +<p>"'What will you eat? There's nothing here or for +miles round. I really think you'll starve, birdie,' +said I.</p> + +<p>"Then he laughed, and gave me a merry look as +he lit on a tall, dry weed near by. He shook it hard +with his little bill; when down fell a shower of seeds, +and there was dinner all ready on a snow-white cloth. +All the while he ate he kept looking up at me with +his quick, bright eyes; and, when he had done, he +said, as plainly as a bird could say it:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Cold winds may blow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And snows may fall,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"> But well we know<br /></span> +<span class="i2">God cares for all.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +"I like that little story, and shall always think of +it when I hear the chick-a-dee-dee." Daisy sat a +moment with a thoughtful look in her eyes; then she +said slowly, as if sorry for the words:</p> + +<p>"It isn't a stupid, grown-up world. It's a very +pleasant, young world; and I like it a great deal +better this morning than I did last night."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of that; and, even if we don't find our +fairy to-day, you will have found some sunshine, +Daisy, and that is almost as good. Now put in the +berries, and we'll go on."</p> + +<p>How they hunted! They climbed trees to peep +into squirrel-holes and birds'-nests; they chased bees +and butterflies to ask for news of the elves; they +waded in the brook, hoping to catch a water-sprite; +they ran after thistle-down, fancying a fairy might be +astride; they searched the flowers and ferns, questioned +sun and wind, listened to robin and thrush; +but no one could tell them any thing of the little +people, though all had gay and charming bits of +news about themselves. And Daisy thought the +world got younger and happier every minute.</p> + +<p>When they came in to breakfast, papa and mamma +looked at Daisy, and then nodded with a smile at +Aunt Wee; for, though Daisy's frock was soiled, her +boots wet, and her hair tumbled, her cheeks were +rosy, eyes bright, and voice so cheerful that they +thought it better music than any in the summer +world without.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +"Hunting fairies is a pleasant play, isn't it, +Daisy?" said papa, as he tasted the berries, and +admired the green basket.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! and we are going again to-morrow. +Aunt Wee says we must try seven days at least. I +like it, and mean to keep on till I really find my +fairy."</p> + +<p>"I think you will find something better than +'little vanishers,' dear," said mamma, filling up the +bowl of bread and milk which Daisy was fast emptying; +for she certainly <i>had</i> found an appetite.</p> + +<p>"There it is again!" cried Daisy, flying out of +bed the next morning still earlier than the day before. +Yes, there it was, the fairy music, as blithe and sweet +as ever; and the morning-glories rung their delicate +bells as if keeping time. Daisy felt rather sleepy, +but remembered her promise to Aunt Wee, and +splashed into her tub, singing the bob-o-link's song +as she bathed.</p> + +<p>"Where shall we go to-day?" she asked, as they +went out into the garden.</p> + +<p>"I think we'd better try a new place; so we'll go +to the farmyard; and, while we feed the hens, I'll +listen to their chat, and perhaps can learn something +from it," replied Wee soberly.</p> + +<p>"Do hens know about fairies? I thought they +were very dull things, and didn't care for any thing +but eating corn and laying eggs," said Daisy, +surprised.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +"Oh, dear, no! they are very sensible creatures, +and see a deal of the world in their daily walks. +Hunting for insects gives them an excellent chance +to see fairies, if there are any. Here is some corn +for the biddies; and, after we have fed them, we will +look for eggs, and so may find a brownie or two."</p> + +<p>Such a clatter as there was when they came to the +barnyard; for every thing was just awake, and in the +best spirits. Ducks were paddling off to the pond; +geese to the meadow; and meek gray guinea-hens +tripping away to hunt bugs in the garden. A splendid +cock stood on the wall, and crowed so loud and +clear that all the neighboring chanticleers replied. +The motherly hens clucked and scratched with their +busy broods about them, or sat and scolded in +the coops because the chicks would gad abroad. +Doves cooed on the sunny roof, and smoothed their +gleaming feathers. Daisy's donkey nibbled a thistle +by the wall, and a stately peacock marched before +the door with all his plumage spread. It made +Daisy laugh to see the airs the fowls put on as she +scattered corn, and threw meal and water to the +chicks. Some pushed and gobbled; some stood +meekly outside the crowd, and got what they could; +others seized a mouthful, and ran away to eat it in a +corner. The chicks got into the pan entirely, and +tumbled one over the other in their hurry to eat; but +the mammas saw that none went hungry. And the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +polite cock waited upon them in the most gentlemanly +manner, making queer little clucks and gurgles +as if he said:</p> + +<p>"Allow me, madam, to offer you this kernel;" or, +"Here, my dear, try that bit." And sometimes he +pecked a little, with a loud quaver, evidently saying, +"Come, come, children, behave yourselves, and +don't eat like pigs."</p> + +<p>"What is she saying?" asked Daisy, pointing to +an old gray hen in a black turban, who was walking +about alone, muttering to herself, as hens often do in +their promenades.</p> + +<p>"She says a cat has made a nest, and hatched +three kits up on the loft, near her own nest; and +she doesn't like it, because their mewing annoys +her," said Wee, after listening a minute.</p> + +<p>"How nice! let's go and find them. But do you +learn anything about the fairies from the hen's +chat?"</p> + +<p>"No: they have been so busy setting, they have +had no time for picnics yet. But they will let us +know, if they discover any."</p> + +<p>In the barn, the cows were being milked; and +Daisy had a mugful of it, warm and sweet, out of +the foaming pail.</p> + +<p>"We'll take some to Mrs. Purr; for, I dare say, +she doesn't like to leave the kits long, and will enjoy +a sip of something comfortable," said Wee, as Daisy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +climbed the ladder, and went rustling over the hay +to a corner, whence came a joyful "Mew!" What +a charming sight it was, to be sure! a snow-white +cat lying in a cosy nest, and, by her, three snow-white +kits, wagging three very small gray tails.</p> + +<p>"There never was any thing so lovely!" cried +Daisy, as she sat with the three downy balls in her +lap, while the mamma gratefully lapped the new milk +from Aunt Wee's cup.</p> + +<p>"Are they better than fairies?"</p> + +<p>"Almost: for I know about pussies, and can cuddle +them; but I couldn't a fairy, you know, and they +might be afraid of me. These dears are not afraid, +and I shall have such fun with them as they grow up. +What <i>shall</i> we name them, auntie?"</p> + +<p>"Snowball, Patpaw, and Wagtail would do, I +think," said Wee, stroking the cat, who rubbed +against her, purring very loud.</p> + +<p>"Yes: I like those names for my pets. But what +is Mrs. Purr saying, with her mouth up to your ear?" +asked Daisy, who firmly believed that Aunt Wee +knew every thing.</p> + +<p>"She tells me that when she went on a grasshopper +hunt the other day, as she ran through the +meadow, she saw some lovely creatures all in blue, +with gauze wings, flying about over the river, and +sitting in the water-lilies. She thinks they may be +fairies, and advises us to go and look."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +"So we will to-morrow," said Daisy. "Ask her, +please, if I may take the kits into the house, if I'll +be very careful and give them a nice big bed to +sleep in."</p> + +<p>"She says you may; but she must go too, else the +kits will cry," said Wee, after listening to Pussy's +purr a minute.</p> + +<p>Much pleased with her new pets, Daisy took them +in her apron, and, followed by their confiding +mamma, marched to the house, and established +them in the old cradle which used to be hers. +Pussy got in also; and, when they were settled on a +soft cushion, Daisy rocked them gently to and fro. +At first Mrs. Purr opened her yellow eyes, and +looked rather anxious: but, as nothing uncomfortable +happened, she composed herself, and soon quite +liked the motion; for she fell asleep, and made a +pretty picture as she lay with her downy white babies +on her downy white breast.</p> + +<p>When the sun rose next morning, he saw Daisy +and Wee floating down the river in their boat. +"Bless me! here's company," said the sun, and +began at once to make them welcome in his most +charming manner. He set the waves to sparkling +with a sudden shimmer; he shot long rays of light +through the dark hemlocks, till they looked like +fairy trees; he touched Daisy's hair and it turned to +gold; he chased away the shadows that lurked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +among the hills; he drew up the misty curtain that +hovered over the river; and, with the warmth of his +kisses, waked the sleeping lilies.</p> + +<p>"Look, look, Aunt Wee! how they open, one by +one, as the light shines on them! We shan't have +to wait any longer; for they get up with the sun, as +you do." As she spoke, Daisy caught a half-open +lily, and drew it up, fragrant and dripping, fresh +from its sleep.</p> + +<p>"They look like a fleet of fairy ships, anchored in +this quiet harbor, with sails half furled, and crews +asleep. See the little sailors, in their yellow jackets, +lifting up their heads as the wind blows its whistle, +like a boatswain, to 'pipe all hands.'"</p> + +<p>Daisy laughed at Aunt Wee's fancy, and stirred up +the crew of the Water-sprite, as she called her flower, +till the white sails were all set, and it was ready for +a summer voyage.</p> + +<p>"It is time we saw the fairies in blue, unless old +Madam Purr deceived us. I hope we <i>shall</i> find one; +for, though I enjoy every thing we see, I do want my +elf too."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" cried Wee; and Daisy flew up so +quickly that the boat rocked like a cradle. A slender +creature, in a blue dress, with gauzy wings, darted +by, and vanished among the rushes that nodded by +the bank.</p> + +<p>"Go nearer,—softly! softly!—and maybe it will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +fly out again. I really think it was a fairy; for I +never saw any thing like it before," whispered Daisy, +much excited.</p> + +<p>Wee rowed in among the green rushes and purple +water-weeds, and out flew half-a-dozen of the blue-bodied +creatures. They didn't seem afraid, but +skimmed about the boat, as if curious to see what it +was; and Daisy sat, and stared with all her might. +Presently one of the lovely things lit on the lily in +her hand, and she held her breath to watch it. A +little shadow of disappointment passed over her face +as she looked; but it was gone at once, and her +voice was full of delight as she said softly:</p> + +<p>"It's not a fairy, Aunt Wee; but it is very beautiful, +with its slender blue body, its lacy wings, and +bright eyes. What name does it have?"</p> + +<p>"We call it a dragon-fly; and it could tell you a +pretty little story about itself, could you understand +it. In May the tiny eggs are dropped on the water, +and sink to the bottom, where little creatures are +born,—ugly, brown things, with six legs and no +wings. They feed on water-insects, and for a long +time swim about in this state. When ready, they +climb up the stem of some plant, and sit in the sun +till the ugly brown shells drop away, and the lovely +winged creatures appear. They grow in an hour to +be perfect dragon-flies, and float away to lead happy +lives in the sunshine by the river."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +As if only waiting till the story was done, the +dragon-fly flew off with a whirr, and darted to and +fro, hunting for its breakfast, glittering splendidly as +it flashed among the leaves or darted close above +the water. Daisy forgot her disappointment in a +minute, and went fishing for lilies; while the turtles +came up to sun themselves on the rocks, the merry +little tadpoles wiggled in the shallow places, and a +wild duck paddled by with a brood of ducklings +following in her wake.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! it rains; and we can't go fairy-hunting +at all," said Daisy next morning, as the patter on the +window-pane woke her up, and Aunt Wee came in +to dress her.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we can, dear; jump up, and see what a +funny place I'll take you to."</p> + +<p>Daisy thought the rain would be a capital excuse +for lying in bed; for she still liked to cuddle and +drowse in her cosey, warm nest. But she was curious +to know where the curious place was; so she got +up and followed.</p> + +<p>"Why, Aunt Wee, this is the garret; and there +isn't any thing nice or funny here," she said, as they +climbed the stairs, and came into the big attic, filled +with all manner of old things.</p> + +<p>"Isn't there? We'll soon see." And so they +did: for Aunt Wee began to play; and presently +Daisy was shouting with fun as she sat on an old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +saddle, with a hair-covered trunk for a horse, a big +old-fashioned bonnet on her head, and a red silk +petticoat for a habit. Then they went to sea in a +great chest, and got wrecked on a desert island, +where they built a fort with boxes and bags, hunted +bears with rusty guns, and had to eat dried berries, +herbs and nuts; for no other food could be found. +Aunt Wee got an old fiddle, and had a dancing-school, +where Daisy capered till she was tired. So +they rummaged out some dusty books, and looked at +pictures so quietly that a little mouse came out of a +drawer and peeped about, thinking no one was +there.</p> + +<p>"Let's find the nest, since we don't find any +fairy," said Wee; and, opening the drawer, she +turned over the things till she came to a pair of old +velvet shoes; and there in the toe of one, nicely +cuddled under a bit of flannel, lay four pink mites, +which woke up, and stretched their tiny legs, and +squeaked such small squeaks one could hardly hear +them.</p> + +<p>"How cunning they are! I wish they would let +me put them with the kits, and have a nursery full +of babies. Wouldn't it be nice to see them all grow +up?" said Daisy.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid they wouldn't grow up, if Mrs. Purr +lived with them," began Wee, but got no further; for +just then the cat bounced into the drawer, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +ate up the mouselings in four mouthfuls. Daisy +screamed; the mother-mouse gave a doleful squeak, +and ran into a hole; and Aunt Wee tried to save the +little ones. But it was too late: Purr had got her +breakfast, and sat washing her face after it, as if she +had enjoyed it.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Daisy: she would have caught them +by and by, and it's as well to have them taken care +of before they do any harm. There is the bell: +don't cry, but come and tell papa what a fine romp +we've had."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't rain, but it's dreadfully wet; so we'll +go to the dairy, and see if any sprites are hiding +there," said Wee next day; and to the dairy they +went.</p> + +<p>A pleasant place it was,—so clean and cool, and +as full of sweet odors as if the ghosts of buttercups +and clover still haunted the milk which they had +helped to make. Dolly was churning, and Polly was +making up butter in nice little pats. Both were very +kind, and let Daisy peep everywhere. All round on +white shelves stood the shining pans, full of milk; +the stone floor was wet; and a stream of water ran +along a narrow bed through the room, and in it stood +jars of butter, pots of cream, and cans of milk. The +window was open, and hop-vines shook their green +bells before it. The birds sang outside, and maids +sang inside, as the churn and the wooden spatters +kept time:</p> + +<div class="poem"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Brindle and Bess,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">White-star and Jess—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Come, butter, come!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Eat cowslips fine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Red columbine—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Come, butter, come!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Grasses green and tall,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Clover, best of all,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Come, butter, come!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And give every night<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Milk sweet and white—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Come, butter, come!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Make the churn go,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">See the lumps grow!—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Come, butter, come!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Daisy sang also, and turned the handle till she was +tired; then she helped Polly with the butter, and +made four little pats,—one stamped with a star for +papa, one with a rose for mamma, a strawberry for +Aunt Wee, and a cow for herself. She skimmed a +pitcher of cream with a shallow shell, and liked the +work so much she asked to have a little pan of milk +put by for her to take care of every day. Dolly +promised, and gave her a small shell and a low shelf +all to herself. When she went in, she carried her +pretty pats in one hand, the cream-pot in the other, +and entered the breakfast room looking as brisk and +rosy as a little milkmaid.</p> + +<p>It was a lovely morning when Daisy was next +roused by the fairy music, and the ponies were +standing at the door. "Are we going far?" she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +asked, as Wee put on her riding-skirt, and tied +back her hair.</p> + +<p>"Up to the mountain-top: it's only a mile; and +we shall have time, if we ride fast," answered Wee.</p> + +<p>Away they went, through the green lane, over the +bridge, and up the steep hillside where the sheep fed +and colts frisked as they passed by. Higher and +higher climbed Dandy and Prance, the ponies; and +gayer and gayer grew Daisy and Wee, as the fresh +air blew over them, and the morning-red glowed on +their faces. When they reached the top, they sat on +a tall stone, and looked down into the valley on +either side.</p> + +<p>"This seems like a place to find giants, not fairies, +it is so high and big and splendid up here," said +Daisy, as her eye roamed over river, forest, town, +and hill.</p> + +<p>"There are giants here; and I brought you up to +see them," answered Wee.</p> + +<p>"Mercy, me! where are they?" cried Daisy, +looking very curious and rather frightened.</p> + +<p>"There is one of them." And Wee pointed to +the waterfall that went dashing and foaming down +into the valley. "That giant turns the wheels of all +the mills you see. Some of them grind grain for our +bread, some help to spin cloth for our clothes, some +make paper, and others saw trees into boards. That +is a beautiful and busy giant, Daisy."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +"So it is, and some day we'll go and see it work. +Show me the others: I like your giants 'most as +well as those in the fairy-books."</p> + +<p>"On this side you'll see another, called Steam. +He is a very strong fellow; for, with the help of +gunpowder, he will break the granite mountain in +pieces, and carry it away. He works in the other +mills, and takes heavy loads of stone, cloth, paper, +and wood all over the country. Then, on the right +of us is a third giant, called Electricity. He runs +along those wires, and carries messages from one +end of the world to the other. He goes under the +sea and through the air; he brings news to every +one; runs day and night, yet never tires; and often +helps sick people with his lively magic."</p> + +<p>"I like him best, I think; for he is more like a +real, wonderful giant. Is there any on that side +of us?" asked Daisy, turning round to look behind +her.</p> + +<p>"Yes: the best and most powerful of all lives in +that big house with the bell on the roof," said Wee, +smiling.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's only the schoolhouse."</p> + +<p>"Education is a long word, dear; but you know +what it means, and, as you grow older, you will see +what wonders it can work. It is a noble giant; for +in this country rich and poor are helped by it, and +no one need suffer for it unless they choose. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +works more wonders than any other: it changes little +children into wise, good men and women, who rule +the world, and make happy homes everywhere; it +helps write books, sing songs, paint pictures, do +good deeds, and beautify the world. Love and +respect it, my little Daisy, and be glad that you +live now when such giants lend a hand to dwarfs +like us."</p> + +<p>Daisy sat still a long time, looking all about her +on the mountain-top; and, when she rode away, she +carried a new thought in her mind, which she never +forgot.</p> + +<p>"This is the last day of the seven, and no fairies +have been found. Do you think I <i>ever</i> shall see +one?" said Daisy, on the Sunday morning that +ended her week's hunt.</p> + +<p>"Not the kind you think of, for there are none +such, Daisy; but you have found two better and +more beautiful ones than any fanciful sprites," said +Wee.</p> + +<p>"Have I? Where are they? What are their +names?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Wee drew her to the glass, and said, as she +pointed to Daisy's face:</p> + +<p>"Here they are, and their names are Health and +Happiness. There are many ways of losing them, +and they are hard to catch when once lost. I +wanted you to keep both, and tried to show you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +how. A happy, healthful hour in the morning +sweetens and brightens the whole day; and there is +no fairy-book half so wonderful as the lovely world +all about us, if we only know how to read it."</p> + +<p>"Then all these mornings we were hunting after +health and happiness, instead of fairies, were we?"</p> + +<p>"Yes: haven't you enjoyed it, and don't you think +you have caught my fairies?"</p> + +<p>Daisy looked from a little picture of herself, which +Wee had drawn some time ago, to her image in the +glass. One was dull and sad, pale and cross; the +other, rosy, gay, and smiling,—the likeness of a +happy, hearty little girl, wide-awake and in good +tune. She understood the kind joke; and, turning, +kissed Aunt Wee, as she said, gratefully:</p> + +<p>"I think I have caught your elves, and I'll try to +keep them all my life. But tell me one thing: was +the music that woke me all a joke too?"</p> + +<p>"No, dear: here it is, and now it is your own; +for you have learned to wake and listen to it."</p> + +<p>Daisy looked, and saw Aunt Wee lean from the +window, and take out of a hollow nook, in the old +tree close by, a little box. She set it on the table, +touched a spring, and the airy music sounded more +beautiful than ever.</p> + +<p>"Is it mine, all mine?" cried Daisy.</p> + +<p>"Yes: I hid it while I tried my little plan, and +now you shall have it for your own. See, here is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +the best elf I can give you, and she will dance +whenever you call her."</p> + +<p>Wee pushed a golden pin, and up sprang a tiny +figure, all crimson and gold, with shining wings, and +a garland on its dainty head. Softly played the +hidden music, and airily danced the little sylph till +the silvery chime died away; then, folding her +delicate arms, she sank from sight, leaving Daisy +breathless with delight.</p> +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V.</h2> + +<h3>SHADOW-CHILDREN.</h3> + +<p>Ned, Polly, and Will sat on the steps one sun-shiny +morning, doing nothing, except wish +they had something pleasant to do.</p> + +<p>"Something new, something never heard of before,—wouldn't +that be jolly?" said Ned, with a +great yawn.</p> + +<p>"It must be an amusing play, and one that we +don't get tired of very soon," added Polly gravely.</p> + +<p>"And something that didn't be wrong, else +mamma wouldn't like it," said little Will, who was +very good for a small boy.</p> + +<p>As no one could suggest any thing to suit, they all +sat silent a few minutes. Suddenly Ned said, rather +crossly, "I wish my shadow wouldn't mock me. +Every time I stretch or gape it does the same, and I +don't like it."</p> + +<p>"Poor thing, it can't help that: it has to do just +what you do, and be your slave all day. I'm glad I +ain't a shadow," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"I try to run away from mine sometimes, but I +can't ever. It will come after me; and in the night +it scares me, if it gets big and black," said Will, +looking behind him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +"Wouldn't it be fun to see shadows going about +alone, and doing things like people?" asked Polly.</p> + +<p>"I just wish they would. I'd like to see ours cut +capers; that would be a jolly new game, wouldn't +it?" said Ned.</p> + +<p>No one had time to speak; for suddenly the three +little shadows on the sunny wall behind them stood +up straight, and began to bow.</p> + +<p>"Mercy, me!" cried Polly, staring at them.</p> + +<p>"By Jove, that's odd!" said Ned, looking queer.</p> + +<p>"Are they alive?" asked Will, a little frightened.</p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed: they won't hurt you," said a +soft voice. "To-day is midsummer-day, and whoever +wishes a wish can have it till midnight. You +want to see your shadows by themselves; and you +can, if you promise to follow them as they have +followed you so long. They will not get you into +harm; so you may safely try it, if you like. Do you +agree for the day to do as they do, and so have your +wish?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we promise," answered the children.</p> + +<p>"Tell no one till night, and be faithful shadows to +the shadows."</p> + +<p>The voice was silent, but with more funny little +bows the shadows began to move off in different +directions. The children knew their own: for +Ned's was the tallest, and had its hands in its pockets; +Polly's had a frock on, and two bows where its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +hair was tied up; while Will's was a plump little +shadow in a blouse, with a curly head and a pug +nose. Each child went after its shadow, laughing, +and enjoying the fun.</p> + +<p>Ned's master went straight to the shed, took down +a basket, and marched away to the garden, where it +began to move its hands as if busily picking peas. +Ned stopped laughing when he saw that, and looked +rather ashamed; for he remembered that his mother +had asked him to do that little job for her, and he +had answered,—</p> + +<p>"Oh, bother the old peas! I'm busy, and I +can't."</p> + +<p>"Who told you about this?" he asked, beginning +to work.</p> + +<p>The shadow shook its head, and pointed first to +Ned's new jacket, then to a set of nice garden tools +near by, and then seemed to blow a kiss from its +shadowy fingers towards mamma, who was just +passing the open gate.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you mean that she does lots for me; so I +ought to do what I can for her, and love her dearly," +said Ned, getting a pleasanter face every minute.</p> + +<p>The shadow nodded, and worked away as busily +as the bees, tumbling heels over head in the great +yellow squash blossoms, and getting as dusty as +little millers. Somehow Ned rather liked the work, +with such an odd comrade near by; for, though the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +shadow didn't really help a bit, it seemed to try, and +set an excellent example. When the basket was full, +the shadow took one handle, and Ned the other; +and they carried it in.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, dear. I was afraid we should have +to give up our peas to-day: I'm so busy, I can't +stop," said mamma, looking surprised and pleased.</p> + +<p>Ned couldn't stop to talk; for the shadow ran +away to the woodpile, and began to chop with all its +might.</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose I must; but I never saw such a +fellow for work as this shadow is. He isn't a bit like +me, though he's been with me so long," said Ned, +swinging the real hatchet in time with the shadowy +one.</p> + +<p>Polly's new mistress went to the dining-room, and +fell to washing up the breakfast cups. Polly hated +that work, and sulkily began to rattle the spoons and +knock the things about. But the shadow wouldn't +allow that; and Polly had to do just what it did, +though she grumbled all the while.</p> + +<p>"She doesn't splash a bit, or make any clatter; so +I guess she's a tidy creature," said Polly. "How +long she does rub each spoon and glass. We never +shall get done. What a fuss she makes with the +napkins, laying them all even in the drawer. And +now she's at the salt-cellars, doing them just as +mamma likes. I wish she'd live here, and do my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +work for me. Why, what's that?" And Polly +stopped fretting to listen; for she seemed to hear +the sound of singing,—so sweet, and yet so very +faint she could catch no words, and only make out +a cheerful little tune.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear any one singing, mamma?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>"No: I wish I did." And mamma sighed; for +baby was poorly, piles of sewing lay waiting for +her, Biddy was turning things topsy-turvy in the +kitchen for want of a word from the mistress, and +Polly was looking sullen.</p> + +<p>The little girl didn't say any more, but worked +quietly and watched the shadow, feeling sure the +faint song came from it. Presently she began to +hum the tune she caught by snatches; and, before +she knew it, she was singing away like a blackbird. +Baby stopped crying, and mamma said, smiling:</p> + +<p>"Now I hear somebody singing, and it's the +music I like best in the world."</p> + +<p>That pleased Polly; but, a minute after, she +stopped smiling, for the shadow went and took +baby, or seemed to, and Polly really did. Now, +baby was heavy, and cross with its teeth; and Polly +didn't feel like tending it one bit. Mamma hurried +away to the kitchen; and Polly walked up and down +the room with poor baby hanging over her arm, crying +dismally, with a pin in its back, a wet bib under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +its chin, and nothing cold and hard to bite with its +hot, aching gums, where the little teeth were trying +to come through.</p> + +<p>"Do stop, you naughty, fretty baby. I'm tired of +your screaming, and it's high time you went to sleep. +Bless me! what's Miss Shadow doing with <i>her</i> +baby?" said Polly.</p> + +<p>Miss Shadow took out the big pin and laid it +away, put on a dry bib, and gave <i>her</i> baby a nice +ivory ring to bite; then began to dance up and down +the room, till the shadowy baby clapped its hands +and kicked delightedly. Polly laughed, and did the +same, feeling sorry she had been so pettish. Presently +both babies grew quiet, went to sleep, and +were laid in the cradle.</p> + +<p>"Now, I hope we shall rest a little," said Polly, +stretching her arms.</p> + +<p>But, no: down sat the shadow, and began to sew, +making her needle fly like a real little seamstress.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" groaned Polly. "I promised to hem +those handkerchiefs for Ned, and so I must; but I +do think handkerchiefs are the most pokey things in +the world to sew. I dare say you think you can sew +faster than I can. Just wait a bit, and see what I +can do, miss," she said to the shadow.</p> + +<p>It took some time to find her thimble and needles +and spools, for Polly wasn't a very neat little girl; +but she got settled at last, and stitched away as if +bent on beating her dumb friend.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +Little Will's shadow went up to the nursery, and +stopped before a basin of water. "Oh! ah! ain't +this drefful?" cried Will, with a shiver; for he knew +he'd got to have his face washed, because he +wouldn't have it done properly when he got up, but +ran away. Now, Will was a good child; but this +one thing was his great trouble, and sometimes he +couldn't bear it. Jane was so rough. She let soap +get in his eyes, and water run down his neck, and +she pinched his nose when she wiped him, and +brushed his hair so hard that really it <i>was</i> dreadful; +and even a bigger boy would have found it hard to +bear. He shivered and sighed: but Jane came in; +and, when he saw that the shadow stood still and +took the scrubbing like a little hero, he tried to do +the same, and succeeded so well that Jane actually +patted his head and called him "a deary;" which +was something new, for old Nurse Jane was always +very busy and rather cross.</p> + +<p>Feeling that nothing worse could possibly happen +to him, Will ran after his shadow, as it flitted away +into the barn, and began to feed the chickens.</p> + +<p>"There, now! I forgetted all about my chickeys, +and the shadow 'membered 'em; and I'm glad of it," +said Will, scattering dabs of meal and water to the +chirping, downy little creatures who pecked and +fluttered at his feet. Little shadow hunted for eggs, +drove the turkeys out of the garden, and picked a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +basket of chips: then it went to play with Sammy, a +neighbor's child; for, being a small shadow, it hadn't +many jobs to do, and plenty of active play was good +for it.</p> + +<p>Sammy was a rough little boy and rather selfish: +so, when they played ball, he wanted to throw all the +time; and, when Will objected, he grew angry and +struck him. The blow didn't hurt Will's cheek +much, but it did his little feelings; and he lifted his +hand to strike back, when he saw his shadow go and +kiss Sammy's shadow. All his anger was gone in a +minute, and he just put his arm round Sammy's neck +and kissed him. This kiss for a blow made him so +ashamed that he began to cry, and couldn't be comforted +till he had given Will his best marble and a +ride on his pony.</p> + +<p>About an hour before dinner, the three shadows +and the children met in the garden, and had a grand +game of play, after they had told each other what +they had been doing since they parted. Now, the +shadows didn't forget baby even then, but got out +the wagon, and Miss Baby, all fresh from her nap, +sat among her pillows like a queen, while Ned was +horse, Polly footman, and Will driver; and in this +way she travelled all round the garden and barn, up +the lane and down to the brook, where she was much +delighted with the water sparkling along and the fine +splash of the stones they threw in.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +When the dinner-bell rang, mamma saw four clean, +rosy faces and four smooth heads at the table; for +the shadow-children made themselves neat, without +being told. Every one was merry and hungry and +good-natured. Even poor baby forgot her teeth, and +played a regular rub-a-dub with her spoon on her +mug, and tried to tell about the fine things she saw +on her drive. The children said nothing about the +new play, and no one observed the queer actions of +their shadows but themselves. They saw that there +was no gobbling, or stretching over, or spilling of +things, among the shadows; but that they waited to +be helped, served others first, and ate tidily, which +was a great improvement upon the usual state of +things.</p> + +<p>It was Saturday afternoon: the day was fine, and +mamma told them they could go for a holiday frolic +in the woods. "Don't go to the pond, and be home +early," she said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, mamma; we'll remember," they answered, +as they scampered away to get ready.</p> + +<p>"We shall go through the village, and Mary King +will be looking out; so I shall wear my best hat. +Mamma won't see me, if I slip down the back way; +and I do so want Mary to know that my hat is +prettier than hers," said Polly, up in her little room.</p> + +<p>Now Polly was rather vain, and liked to prink; so +she got out the new hat, and spent some time in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +smoothing her braids and putting on her blue +ribbons. But when all was ready, and the boys +getting impatient, she found her shadow, with a sun-bonnet +on, standing by the door, as if to prevent +her going out.</p> + +<p>"You tiresome thing! do you mean that I mustn't +wear my hat, but that old bonnet?" asked Polly.</p> + +<p>The shadow nodded and beckoned, and patted its +head, as if it was all right.</p> + +<p>"I wish I hadn't promised to do as you do; then +I could do as I like, and not make a fright of +myself," said Polly, rather sulkily, as she put away +the hat, and tied on the old bonnet with a jerk.</p> + +<p>Once out in the lovely sunshine, she soon forgot +the little disappointment; and, as they didn't go +through the village, but by a green lane, where she +found some big blackberries, she was quite contented. +Polly had a basket to hold fruit or flowers, +Ned his jackknife, and Will a long stick on which he +rode, fancying that this sort of horse would help his +short legs along; so they picked, whittled, and +trotted their way to the wood, finding all manner of +interesting things on the road.</p> + +<p>The wood was full of pleasant sights and sounds; +for wild roses bloomed all along the path, ferns and +scarlet berries filled the little dells, squirrels chattered, +birds sang, and pines whispered musically +overhead.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +"I'm going to stop here and rest, and make a +wreath of these pretty wild roses for baby: it's her +birthday, and it will please mamma," said Polly, +sitting down on a mound of moss, with a lapful of +flowers.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to cut a fishing-pole, and will be back +in a minute." And Ned went crashing into the +thickest part of the wood.</p> + +<p>"I shall see where that rabbit went to, and +maybe I'll find some berries," said Will, trotting +down the path the wild rabbit had gone.</p> + +<p>The sound of the boys' steps died away, and +Polly was wondering how it would seem to live all +alone in the wood, when a little girl came trudging +by, with a great pail of berries on her arm. She was +a poor child: her feet were bare, her gown was +ragged, she wore an old shawl over her head, and +walked as if lame. Polly sat behind the ferns, and +the child did not see her till Polly called out. The +sudden sound startled her; and she dropped her +pail, spilling the berries all over the path. The little +girl began to cry, and Polly to laugh, saying, in a +scornful tone:</p> + +<p>"How silly to cry for a few berries!"</p> + +<p>"I've been all day picking 'em," said the girl; +"and I'm so tired and hungry; 'cause I didn't dare +to go home till my pail was full,—mother scolds if I +do,—and now they're all spoilt. Oh, dear! dear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +me!" And she cried so hard that great tears fell on +the moss.</p> + +<p>Polly was sorry now, and sat looking at her till she +saw her shadow down on its knees, picking up the +berries; then it seemed to fold its little handkerchief +round the girl's bruised foot, and give her +something from its pocket. Polly jumped up and +imitated the kind shadow, even to giving the great +piece of gingerbread she had brought for fear she +should be hungry.</p> + +<p>"Take this," she said gently. "I'm sorry I +frightened you. Here are the berries all picked up, +and none the worse for falling in the grass. If you'll +take them to the white house on the hill, my mamma +will buy them, and then your mother won't scold +you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you, miss! It's ever so good. I'll +take the berries to your mother, and bring her more +whenever she likes," said the child gratefully, as she +walked away munching the gingerbread, and smiling +till there were little rainbows in her tears.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Ned had poked about in the bushes, +looking for a good pole. Presently he saw a willow +down by the pond, and thought that would give him +a nice, smooth pole. He forgot his promise, and +down he went to the pond; where he cut his stick, +and was whittling the end, when he saw a boat by +the shore. It was untied, and oars lay in it, as if +waiting for some one to come and row out.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +"I'll just take a little pull across, and get those +cardinal-flowers for Polly," he said; and went to the +boat.</p> + +<p>He got in, and was about to push off, when he saw +his shadow standing on the shore.</p> + +<p>"Don't be a fool; get in, and come along," he +said to it, remembering his promise now, but deciding +to break it, and ask pardon afterwards.</p> + +<p>But the shadow shook its head; pointed to the +swift stream that ran between the banks, the rocks +and mud on the opposite side, and the leaky boat +itself.</p> + +<p>"I ain't afraid: mamma won't mind, if I tell her +I'm sorry; and it will be such fun to row alone. Be +a good fellow, and let me go," said Ned, beckoning.</p> + +<p>But the shadow would not stir, and Ned was +obliged to mind. He did so very reluctantly, and +scolded the shadow well as he went back to Polly; +though all the time he felt he was doing right, and +knew he should be glad afterwards.</p> + +<p>Will trotted after the rabbit, but didn't find it; he +found a bird's-nest instead with four little birds in it. +He had an empty cage at home, and longed for +something to put in it; for kittens didn't like it, and +caterpillars and beetlebugs got away. He chose the +biggest bird, and, holding him carefully, walked +away to find Polly. The poor mother-bird chirped +and fluttered in great distress; but Will kept on till<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +his little shadow came before him, and tried to make +him turn back.</p> + +<p>"No, no, I want him," said Will. "I won't hurt +him, and his mother has three left: she won't mind +if I take one."</p> + +<p>Here the mother-bird chirped so loud it was +impossible to help seeing that she <i>did</i> care very +much; and the shadow stamped its foot and waved +its hand, as if ordering the young robber to carry +back the baby-bird. Will stood still, and thought a +minute; but his little heart was a very kind one, and +he soon turned about, saying pleasantly:</p> + +<p>"Yes, it <i>is</i> naughty, and I won't do it. I'll ask +mamma to get me a canary, and will let this birdie +stay with his brothers."</p> + +<p>The shadow patted him on the shoulder, and +seemed to be delighted as Will put the bird in the +nest and walked on, feeling much happier than if he +had kept it. A bush of purple berries grew by the +path, and Will stopped to pick some. He didn't +know what they were, and mamma had often told +him never to eat strange things. But they smelt so +good, and looked so nice, he couldn't resist, and +lifted one to his mouth, when little shadow motioned +for him to stop.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! you don't let me do any thing I want +to," sighed Will. "I shall ask Polly if I tarn't eat +these; and, if she says I may, I shall, so now."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +He ran off to ask Polly; but she said they were +poisonous, and begged him to throw them away.</p> + +<p>"Good little shadow, to keep me safe!" cried +Will. "I like you; and I'll mind better next time, +'cause you are always right."</p> + +<p>The shadow seemed to like this, and bobbed +about so comically it made Will laugh till his eyes +were full of tears. Ned came back, and they went +on, having grand times in the wood. They found +plenty of berries to fill the basket; they swung +down on slender birches, and got rolls of white bark +for canoes; they saw all sorts of wild-wood insects +and birds; and frolicked till they were tired. As +they crossed a field, a cow suddenly put down her +head and ran at them, as if she was afraid they +meant to hurt her calf. All turned, and ran as fast +as they could toward the wall; but poor Will in his +fright tumbled down, and lay screaming. Ned and +Polly had reached the wall, and, looking back, saw +that their shadows had not followed. Ned's stood +before Will, brandishing his pole; and Polly's was +flapping a shadowy sun-bonnet with all its might. +As soon as they saw that, back they went,—Ned to +threaten till he broke his pole, and Polly to flap till +the strings came off. As if anxious to do its part, +the bonnet flew up in the air, and coming down lit +on the cross cow's head; which so astonished her +that she ran away as hard as she could pelt.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +"Wasn't that funny?" said Will, when they had +tumbled over the wall, and lay laughing in the grass +on the safe side.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad I wore the old bonnet; for I suppose +my best hat would have gone just the same," said +Polly thankfully.</p> + +<p>"The calf doesn't know its own mother with that +thing on," laughed Ned.</p> + +<p>"How brave and kind you were to come back and +save me! I'd have been deaded if you hadn't," said +Will, looking at his brother and sister with his little +face full of grateful admiration.</p> + +<p>They turned towards home after this flurry, feeling +quite like heroes. When they came to the corner +where two roads met, Ned proposed they should +take the river-road; for, though the longest, it was +much the pleasantest.</p> + +<p>"We shan't be home at supper-time," said Polly. +"You won't be able to do your jobs, Ned, nor I +mine, and Will's chickens will have to go to bed +hungry."</p> + +<p>"Never mind: it's a holiday, so let's enjoy it, and +not bother," answered Ned.</p> + +<p>"We promised mamma we'd come home early," +said Will.</p> + +<p>They stood looking at the two roads,—one sandy, +hot, and hilly; the other green and cool and level, +along the river-side. They all chose the pleasant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +path, and walked on till Ned cried out, "Why, +where are our shadows?"</p> + +<p>They looked behind, before, and on either side; +but nowhere could they see them.</p> + +<p>"They were with us at the corner," said Will.</p> + +<p>"Let's run back, and try to find them," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"No, let 'em go: I'm tired of minding mine, and +don't care if I never see it again," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Don't say so; for I remember hearing about a +man who sold his shadow, and then got into lots of +trouble because he had none. We promised to +follow them, and we must," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"I wish," began Ned in a pet; but Polly clapped +her hand over his mouth, saying:</p> + +<p>"Pray, don't wish now; for it may come to pass +as the man's wish in the fairy tale did, and the black +pudding flew up and stuck tight to his wife's nose."</p> + +<p>This made Ned laugh, and they all turned back to +the corner. Looking up the hilly road, they saw the +three shadows trudging along, as if bent on getting +home in good time. Without saying a word, the +children followed; and, when they got to the garden +gate, they all said at once:</p> + +<p>"Aren't you glad you came?"</p> + +<p>Under the elm-tree stood a pretty tea-table, covered +with bread and butter, custards, and berries, and in +the middle a fine cake with sugar-roses on the top; +and mamma and baby, all nicely dressed, were wait<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>ing +to welcome them to the birthday feast. Polly +crowned the little queen, Ned gave her a willow +whistle he had made, and Will some pretty, bright +pebbles he had found; and Miss Baby was as happy +as a bird, with her treasures.</p> + +<p>A pleasant supper-time; then the small duties for +each one; and then the go-to-bed frolic. The +nursery was a big room, and in the evening a bright +wood fire always burned there for baby. Mamma +sat before it, softly rubbing baby's little rosy limbs +before she went to bed, singing and telling stories +meanwhile to the three children who pranced about +in their long nightgowns. This evening they had a +gay time; for the shadows amused them by all sorts +of antics, and kept them laughing till they were +tired. As they sat resting on the big sofa, they +heard a soft, sweet voice singing. It wasn't mamma; +for she was only talking to baby, and this voice sang +a real song. Presently they saw mamma's shadow +on the wall, and found it was the shadow-mother +singing to the shadow-children. They listened +intently, and this is what they heard:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Little shadows, little shadows,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dancing on the chamber wall,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While I sit beside the hearthstone<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where the red flames rise and fall.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Caps and nightgowns, caps and nightgowns,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My three antic shadows wear;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And no sound they make in playing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For the six small feet are bare.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Dancing gayly, dancing gayly,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To and fro all together,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like a family of daisies<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Blown about in windy weather;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nimble fairies, nimble fairies,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Playing pranks in the warm glow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While I sing the nursery ditties<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Childish phantoms love and know.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Now what happens, now what happens?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One small shadow's tumbled down:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I can see it on the carpet,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Softly rubbing its hurt crown.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No one whimpers, no one whimpers;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A brave-hearted sprite is this:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">See! the others offer comfort<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In a silent, shadowy kiss.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Hush! they're creeping; hush! they're creeping,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Up about my rocking-chair:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I can feel their loving fingers<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Clasp my neck and touch my hair.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Little shadows, little shadows,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Take me captive, hold me tight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As they climb and cling and whisper,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Mother dear, good night! good night!'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>As the song ended, the real children, as well as the +shadows, lovingly kissed mamma, and said "Good-night;" +then went away into their rooms, said their +prayers, and nestled down into their beds. Ned +slept alone in the room next that which Polly and +Will had; and, after lying quiet a little while, he +called out softly:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +"I say, Polly, are you asleep?"</p> + +<p>"No: I'm thinking what a queer day we've had," +answered Polly.</p> + +<p>"It's been a good day, and I'm glad we tried our +wish; for the shadows showed us, as well as they +could, what we ought to do and be. I shan't forget +it, shall you?" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"No: I'm much obliged for the lesson."</p> + +<p>"So is I," called out Will, in a very earnest, but +rather a sleepy, little voice.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what mamma will say, when we tell her +about it," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"And I wonder if our shadows will come back to +us at midnight, and follow us as they used to do," +added Polly.</p> + +<p>"I shall be very careful where I lead my shadow; +'cause he's a good little one, and set me a righter +zarmple than ever I did him," said Will, and then +dropped asleep.</p> + +<p>The others agreed with him, and resolved that +their shadows should not be ashamed of them. All +were fast asleep; and no one but the moon saw the +shadows come stealing back at midnight, and, having +danced about the little beds, vanish as the clock +struck twelve.</p> +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI.</h2> + +<h3>POPPY'S PRANKS.</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">She</span> wasn't a wilfully naughty child, this harum-scarum +Poppy, but very thoughtless and very +curious. She wanted to see every thing, do every +thing, and go every where: she feared nothing, and +so was continually getting into scrapes.</p> + +<p>Her pranks began early; for, when she was about +four, her mamma one day gave her a pair of green +shoes with bright buttons. Poppy thought there +never was any thing so splendid, and immediately +wanted to go to walk. But mamma was busy, and +Poppy couldn't go alone any farther than the garden. +She showed her shoes to the servants, the cat, the +doves, and the flowers; and then opened the gate +that the people in the street might see the trim little +feet she was so proud of. Now Poppy had been +forbidden to go out; but, when she saw Kitty Allen, +her neighbor, playing ball down the street, she forgot +every thing but the desire to show her new shoes; +and away she went marching primly along as vain +as a little peacock, as she watched the bright buttons +twinkle, and heard the charming creak. Kitty saw +her coming; and, being an ill-natured little girl, took +no notice, but called out to her brother Jack:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +"Ain't some folks grand? If I couldn't have red +shoes for my best, I wouldn't have any, would you?"</p> + +<p>They both laughed, and this hurt Poppy's feelings +dreadfully. She tossed her head, and tried to turn +up her nose; but, it was so very small, it couldn't be +very scornful. She said nothing, but walked gravely +by, as if she was going on an errand, and hadn't +heard a word. Round the corner she went, thinking +she would wait till Kitty was gone; as she didn't like +to pass again, fearing Jack might say something +equally trying. An organ-man with a monkey was +playing near by; and Poppy was soon so busy listening +to the music, and watching the sad-looking +monkey, that she forgot home, shoes, and Kitty +altogether.</p> + +<p>She followed the man a long way; and, when she +turned to go back, she took the wrong street, and +found herself by the park. Being fond of dandelions, +Poppy went in, and gathered her hands full, +enjoying herself immensely; for Betsy, the maid, +never let her play in the pond, or roll down the hill, +or make dirt-pies, and now she did all these things, +besides playing with strange children and talking +with any one she pleased. If she had not had her +luncheon just before she started, she would have +been very hungry; for dinner-time came, without her +knowing it.</p> + +<p>By three o'clock, she began to think it was time to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +go home, and boldly started off to find it. But poor +little Poppy didn't know the way, and went all +wrong. She was very tired now, and hot and +hungry, and wanted to see mamma, and wondered +why she didn't come to the brown house with the +white garden-gate. On and on she went, up streets +and down, amusing herself with looking in the shop-windows, +and sitting to rest on doorsteps. Once she +asked a pleasant-faced little girl to show her the +way home; but, as she didn't know in what street it +was, and said her father's name was "papa," the girl +couldn't help her: so she gave her a bun and went +away. Poppy ate her bun, and began to wonder +what would become of her; for night was coming +on, and there didn't seem to be any prospect of +finding mamma or home or bed. Her courage was +all gone now; and, coming to a quiet place, she sat +down on some high steps, and cried till her little +"hankchif," as she called it, was all wet.</p> + +<p>Nobody minded her: and she felt very forlorn till +a big black dog came by, and seemed to understand +the matter entirely; for he smelt of her face, licked +her hands, and then lay down by her with such a +friendly look in his brown eyes that Poppy was quite +comforted. She told him her story, patted his big +head; and then, being fairly tired out, laid her wet +cheek on his soft back, and fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>It was quite dark when she woke; but a lamp was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +lighted near by, and standing under it was a man +ringing a great bell. Poppy sat up, and wondered if +anybody's supper was ready. The man had a paper; +and, when people stopped at the sound of the bell, +he read in a loud voice:</p> + +<p>"Lost! a little girl, four years old; curly brown +hair, blue eyes; had on a white frock and green +shoes; calls herself Poppy."</p> + +<p>He got no farther; for a little voice cried out of +the dark, in a tone of surprise:</p> + +<p>"Why, dats me!"</p> + +<p>The people all turned to look; and the big man +put his bell in his pocket, took her up very kindly, +and said he'd carry her home.</p> + +<p>"Is it far away?" asked Poppy, with a little sob.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear; but I am going to give you some +supper fust, along of my little girl. I live close by; +and, when we've had a bite, we'll go find your ma."</p> + +<p>Poppy was so tired and hungry, she was glad to +find herself taken care of, and let the man do as he +liked. He took her to a funny little house, and his +wife gave her bread and molasses on a new tin plate +with letters all round the edge. Poppy thought it +very fine, and enjoyed her supper, though the man's +little girl stared at her all the time with eyes as blue +as her mug.</p> + +<p>While she ate, the man sent word to her father +that she was found; and, when both papa and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +mamma came hurrying in all out of breath with joy, +there sat Miss Poppy talking merrily, with her face +well daubed with molasses, her gown torn, her hands +very dirty, and her shoes—ah, the pretty new shoes!—all +spoiled with mud and dust, scratched, and half +worn out, the buttons dull, and the color quite gone. +No one cared for it that night; for little runaway was +kissed and petted, and taken home to her own cosey +bed as tenderly as if she had done nothing naughty, +and never frightened her parents out of their wits in +her life.</p> + +<p>But the next day,—dear me! what a sad time it +was, to be sure! When Poppy woke up, there hung +the spoilt shoes over the mantle-piece; and, as +soon as she was dressed, papa came in with a long +cord, one end of which he tied round Poppy's waist, +and the other to the arm of the sofa.</p> + +<p>"I'm very sorry to have to tie you up, like a little +dog; but I must, or you will forget, and run away +again, and make mamma ill."</p> + +<p>Then he went away without his morning kiss, and +Poppy was so very unhappy she could hardly eat her +breakfast. She felt better by and by, and tried to +play; but the cord kept pulling her back. She +couldn't get to the window; and, when she heard +mamma passing the door, she tried to run and meet +her, but had to stop halfway, for the cord jerked her +over. Cousin Fanny came up, but Poppy was so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +ashamed to be tied that she crept under the sofa and +hid. All day she was a prisoner, and was a very +miserable little girl; but at night she was untied, +and, when mamma took her in her lap for the first +time that day, Poppy held her fast, and sobbed very +penitently—</p> + +<p>"O mamma! I drefful sorry I runned away. +Fordive me one time more, and I never will adain;" +and she never did.</p> + +<p>Two or three years after this, Poppy went to live +in the country, and tried some new pranks. One +day she went with her sister Nelly to see a man +plough, for that sort of thing was new to her. While +the man worked, she saw him take out a piece of +something brown, and bite off a bit.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Poppy.</p> + +<p>"Tobaccer," said the man.</p> + +<p>"Is it nice?" asked Poppy.</p> + +<p>"Prime," said the man.</p> + +<p>"Could you let me taste it?" asked curious +Poppy.</p> + +<p>"It will make you sick," said the man, laughing.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't make <i>you</i> sick. I'd like to try," said +Poppy, nothing daunted.</p> + +<p>He gave her a piece; and Poppy ate it, though it +didn't taste good at all. She did it because Cy, her +favorite playfellow, told her she'd die if she did, and +tried to frighten her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +"You darsn't eat any more," he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I dare. See if I don't." And Poppy took +another piece, just to show how brave she was. +Silly little Poppy!</p> + +<p>"I ain't sick, and I shan't die, so now."</p> + +<p>And Poppy pranced about as briskly as ever. +But the man shook his head, Nelly watched her +anxiously, and Cy kept saying:</p> + +<p>"Ain't you sick yet, say?"</p> + +<p>For a little while Poppy felt all right; but presently +she grew rather pale, and began to look rather +pensive. She stopped running, and walked slower +and slower, while her eyes got dizzy, and her hands +and feet very cold.</p> + +<p>"Ain't you sick now, say?" repeated Cy; and +Poppy tried to answer, "Oh, dear! no;" but a +dreadful feeling came over her, and she could only +shake her head, and hold on to Nelly.</p> + +<p>"Better lay down a spell," said the man, looking +a little troubled.</p> + +<p>"I don't wish to dirty my clean frock," said +Poppy faintly, as she glanced over the wide-ploughed +field, and longed for a bit of grass to drop on. She +kept on bravely for another turn; but suddenly +stopped, and, quite regardless of the clean pink +gown, dropped down in a furrow, looking so white +and queer that Nelly began to cry. Poppy lay a +minute, then turned to Cy, and said very solemnly:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +"Cy, run home, and tell my mother I'm dying."</p> + +<p>Away rushed Cy in a great fright, and burst upon +Poppy's mamma, exclaiming breathlessly:</p> + +<p>"O ma'am! Poppy's been and ate a lot of +tobacco; and she's sick, layin' in the field; and she +says 'Come quick, 'cause she's dyin.'"</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us! what will happen to that child +next?" cried poor mamma, who was used to Poppy's +mishaps. Papa was away, and there was no carriage +to bring Poppy home in; so mamma took the little +wheelbarrow, and trundled away to get the suffering +Poppy.</p> + +<p>She couldn't speak when they got to her; and, +only stopping to give the man a lecture, mamma +picked up her silly little girl, and the procession +moved off. First came Cy, as grave as a sexton; +then the wheelbarrow with Poppy, white and limp +and speechless, all in a bunch; then mamma, looking +amused, anxious and angry; then Nelly, weeping +as if her tender heart was entirely broken; while the +man watched them, with a grin, saying to himself:</p> + +<p>"Twarn't my fault. The child was a reg'lar fool +to swaller it."</p> + +<p>Poppy was dreadfully sick all night, but next day +was ready for more adventures and experiments. +She swung on the garret stairs, and tumbled down, +nearly breaking her neck. She rubbed her eyes with +red peppers, to see if it <i>really</i> would make them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +smart, as Cy said; and was led home quite blind +and roaring with pain. She got into the pigsty to +catch a young piggy, and was taken out in a sad state +of dirt. She slipped into the brook, and was half +drowned; broke a window and her own head, swinging +a little flat-iron on a string; dropped baby in the +coal-hod; buried her doll, and spoilt her; cut off a +bit of her finger, chopping wood; and broke a tooth, +trying to turn heels over head on a haycock. These +are only a few of her pranks, but one was nearly her +last.</p> + +<p>She wanted to go bare-footed, as the little country +boys and girls did; but mamma wasn't willing, and +Poppy was much afflicted.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't hurt Cy, and it won't hurt me, just for a +little while," she said.</p> + +<p>"Say no more, Poppy. I never wish to see you +barefooted," replied mamma.</p> + +<p>"Well, you needn't: I'll go and do it in the barn," +muttered Poppy, as she walked away.</p> + +<p>Into the barn she went, and played country girl to +her heart's content, in spite of Nelly's warnings. +Nelly never got into scrapes, being a highly virtuous +young lady; but she enjoyed Poppy's pranks, and +wept over her misfortunes with sisterly fidelity.</p> + +<p>"Now I'll be a bear, and jump at you as you go +by," said Poppy, when they were tired of playing +steam-engine with the old winnowing machine. So<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +she got up on a beam; and Nelly, with a peck measure +on her head for a hat, and a stick for a gun, went +bear-hunting, and banged away at the swallows, the +barrels, and the hencoops, till the bear was ready to +eat her. Presently, with a loud roar, the bear +leaped; but Nelly wasn't eaten that time, for Poppy +cried out with pain:</p> + +<p>"Oh! I jumped on a pitchfork, and it's in my +foot! Take it out! take it out!"</p> + +<p>Poor little foot! There was a deep purple hole in +the sole, and the blood came, and Poppy fainted +away, and Nelly screamed, and mamma ran, and the +neighbors rushed in, and there was <i>such</i> a flurry. +Poppy was soon herself again, and lay on the sofa, +with Nelly and Cy to amuse her.</p> + +<p>"What did the doctor say to mamma in the other +room about me?" whispered Poppy, feeling very +important at having such a bustle made on her +account. Nelly sniffed, but said nothing; Cy, however, +spoke up briskly:</p> + +<p>"He says you might have lockjaw."</p> + +<p>"Is that bad?" asked Poppy gravely.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ain't it, though! Your mouth shuts up, and +you can't open it; and you have fits and die."</p> + +<p>"Always?" said Poppy, looking scared, and feeling +of her mouth.</p> + +<p>"'Most always, I guess. That's why your ma +cried, and Nelly keeps kissin' you."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +Cy felt sorry, but rather enjoyed the excitement, +and was sure, that, if any one ever <i>could</i> escape +dying, it would be Poppy, for she always "came +alive" again after her worst mishaps. She looked +very solemn for a few minutes, and kept opening and +shutting her mouth to see if it wasn't stiff. Presently +she said, in a serious tone and with a pensive air:</p> + +<p>"Nelly, I'll give you my bead-ring: I shan't want +it any more. And Cy may have the little horse: he +lost his tail; but I put on the lamb's tail, and he is +as good as ever. I wish to give away my things +'fore I die; and, Nelly, won't you bring me the +scissors?"</p> + +<p>"What for?" said Nelly, sniffing more than ever.</p> + +<p>"To cut off my hair for mamma. She'll want it, +and I like to cut things."</p> + +<p>Nelly got the scissors; and Poppy cut away all she +could reach, giving directions about her property +while she snipped.</p> + +<p>"I wish papa to have my pictures and my piece of +poetry I made. Give baby my dolly and the quacking +duck. Tell Billy, if he wants my collection of +bright buttons, he can have 'em; and give Hattie the +yellow plaster dog, with my love."</p> + +<p>Here mamma came in with a poultice, and couldn't +help laughing, though tears stood in her eyes, as she +saw Poppy's cropped head and heard her last wishes.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I shall lose my little girl yet, so we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +won't talk of it. But Poppy must keep quiet, and +let Nelly wait on her for a few days."</p> + +<p>"Are fits bad, mamma? and does it hurt much to +die?" asked Poppy thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"If people are good while they live, it is not hard +to die, dear," said mamma, with a kiss; and Poppy +hugged her, saying softly:</p> + +<p>"Then I'll be very good; so I won't mind, if the +jawlock does come."</p> + +<p>And Poppy <i>was</i> good,—oh, dreadfully good! for a +week. Quite an angel was Poppy; so meek and +gentle, so generous and obedient, you really wouldn't +have known her. She loved everybody, forgave her +playmates all their sins against her, let Nelly take +such of her precious treasures as she liked, and +pensively hoped baby would remember her when she +was gone. She hopped about with a crutch, and felt +as if she was an object of public interest; for all the +old ladies sent to know how she was, the children +looked at her with respectful awe as one set apart +and doomed to fits, and Cy continually begged to +know if her mouth was stiff.</p> + +<p>Poppy didn't die, though she got all ready for it; +and felt rather disappointed when the foot healed, +the jaws remained as active as ever, and the fits +didn't come. I think it did her good; for she never +forgot that week, and, though she was near dying +several times after, she never was so fit to go as she +was then.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +"Burney's making jelly: let's go and get our +scrapings," said Poppy to Nellie once, when mamma +was away.</p> + +<p>But Burney was busy and cross, and cooks are not +as patient as mothers; so when the children appeared, +each armed with a spoon, and demanded +their usual feast, she wouldn't hear of it, and ordered +them off.</p> + +<p>"But we only want the scrapings of the pan, +Burney: mamma always lets us have them, when we +help her make jelly; don't she, Nelly?" said Poppy, +trying to explain the case.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and makes us our little potful too," added +Nelly, persuasively.</p> + +<p>"I don't want your help; so be off. Your ma can +fuss with your pot, if she chooses. I've no time."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> think Burney's the crossest woman in the +world. It's mean to eat all the scrapings herself; +isn't it Nelly?" said Poppy, very loud, as the cook +shut the door in their faces. "Never mind: I know +how to pay her," she added, in a whisper, as they sat +on the stairs bewailing their wrongs. "She'll put +her old jelly in the big closet, and lock the door; but +we can climb the plum tree, and get in at the window, +when she takes her nap."</p> + +<p>"Should we dare to eat any?" asked Nelly, timid, +but longing for the forbidden fruit.</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> should; just as much as ever I like. It's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +mamma's jelly, and she won't mind. I don't care +for old cross Burney," said Poppy, sliding down the +banisters by way of soothing her ruffled spirit.</p> + +<p>So when Burney went to her room after dinner, +the two rogues climbed in at the window; and, each +taking a jar, sat on the shelf, dipping in their fingers +and revelling rapturously. But Burney wasn't asleep, +and, hearing a noise below, crept down to see what +mischief was going on. Pausing in the entry to +listen, she heard whispering, clattering of glasses, +and smacking of lips in the big closet; and in a +moment knew that her jelly was lost. She tried the +door with her key; but sly Poppy had bolted it on +the inside, and, feeling quite safe, defied Burney +from among the jelly-pots, entirely reckless of consequences. +Short-sighted Poppy! she forgot Cy; but +Burney didn't, and sent him to climb in at the +window, and undo the door. Feeling hurt that the +young ladies hadn't asked him to the feast, Cy +hardened his heart against them, and delivered +them up to the enemy, regardless of Poppy's threats +and Nelly's prayers.</p> + +<p>"Poppy proposed it, she broke the jar, and +I didn't eat <i>much</i>. O Burney! don't hurt her, +please, but let me 'splain it to mamma when she +comes," sobbed Nelly, as Burney seized Poppy, and +gave her a good shaking.</p> + +<p>"You go wash your face, Miss Nelly, and leave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +this naughty, naughty child to me," said Burney; +and took Poppy, kicking and screaming, into the +little library, where she—oh, dreadful to relate!—gave +her a good spanking, and locked her up.</p> + +<p>Mamma never whipped, and Poppy was in a great +rage at such an indignity. The minute she was left +alone, she looked about to see how she could be +revenged. A solar lamp stood on the table; and +Poppy coolly tipped it over, with a fine smash, calling +out to Burney that she'd have to pay for it, that +mamma would be very angry, and that she, Poppy, +was going to spoil every thing in the room. But +Burney was gone, and no one came near her. She +kicked the paint off the door, rattled the latch, called +Burney a "pig," and Cy "a badder boy than the man +who smothered the little princes in the Tower." +Poppy was very fond of that story, and often played +it with Nelly and the dolls. Having relieved her +feelings in this way, Poppy rested, and then set +about amusing herself. Observing that the spilt oil +made the table shine, she took her handkerchief and +polished up the furniture, as she had seen the maids +do.</p> + +<p>"Now, that looks nice; and I know mamma will +be pleased 'cause I'm so tidy," she said, surveying +her work with pride, when she had thoroughly +greased every table, chair, picture-frame, book-back, +and ornament in the room. Plenty of oil still re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>mained; +and Poppy finished off by oiling her hair, +till it shone finely, and smelt—dear me, how it did +smell! If she had been a young whale, it couldn't +have been worse. Poppy wasn't particular about +smells; but she got some in her mouth, and didn't +like the taste. There was no water to wash in; and +her hands, face, and pinafore were in a high state of +grease. She was rather lonely too; for, though +mamma had got home, she didn't come to let Poppy +out: so the young rebel thought it was about time to +surrender. She could write pretty well, and was +fond of sending penitent notes to mamma, after +being naughty: for mamma always answered them so +kindly, and was so forgiving, that Poppy's naughtiest +mood was conquered by them sooner than by any +punishment; and Poppy kept the notes carefully in +a little cover, even after she was grown up. There +was pen, ink, and paper in the room; so, after +various trials, Poppy wrote her note:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"dear Mamma.</p> + +<p style="margin-bottom: 0;">"i am sorry i Took bernys gelli. i have braked +The lamP. The oyl maks A bad smel. i tHink i +wil Bee sik iF i stay HeRe anny More. i LoVe +yoU—your Trying To Bee GooD</p> + +<p class="ralign" style="margin-top: 0;">popy."</p></blockquote> + +<p>When she had finished, she lowered her note by a +string, and bobbed it up and down before the parlor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +window till Nelly saw and took it in. Every one +laughed over it; for, besides the bad spelling and +the funny periods, it was covered with oil-spots, +blots, and tear marks; for Poppy got tender-hearted +toward the end, and cried a few very repentant tears +when she said, "I love you; your trying-to-be-good +Poppy."</p> + +<p>Mamma went up at once, and ordered no further +punishment, but a thorough scrubbing; which Poppy +underwent very meekly, though Betsey put soap in +her eyes, pulled her hair, and scolded all the time. +They were not allowed any jelly for a long while; +and Cy teased Poppy about her hair-oil till the joke +was quite worn out, and even cross Burney was satisfied +with the atonement.</p> + +<p>When Poppy was eight, she got so very wild that +no one could manage her but mamma, and she was +ill; so Poppy was sent away to grandpa's for a visit. +Now, grandpa was a very stately old gentleman, and +every one treated him with great respect; but Poppy +wasn't at all afraid, and asked all manner of impolite +questions.</p> + +<p>"Grandpa, why don't you have any hair on the top +of your head?"—"O grandpa! you <i>do</i> snore <i>so</i> loud +when you take naps!"—"What makes you turn out +your feet so, when you walk?" and such things.</p> + +<p>If grandpa hadn't been the best-natured old +gentleman in the world, he wouldn't have liked this:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +but he only laughed at Poppy, especially when she +spoke of his legs; for he was rather proud of them, +and always wore long black silk stockings, and told +every one that the legs were so handsome an artist +put them in a picture of General Washington; which +was quite true, as any one may see when they look +at the famous picture in Boston.</p> + +<p>Well, Poppy behaved herself respectably for a day +or two; but the house was rather dull, she missed +Nelly, wanted to run in the street, and longed to see +mamma. She amused herself as well as she could +with picture-books, patchwork, and the old cat; but, +not being a quiet, proper, little Rosamond sort of a +child, she got tired of hemming neat pocket-handkerchiefs, +and putting her needle carefully away +when she had done. She wanted to romp and shout, +and slide down the banisters, and riot about; so, +when she couldn't be quiet another minute, she went +up into a great empty room at the top of the house, +and cut up all sorts of capers. Her great delight +was to lean out of the window as far as she could, +and look at the people in the street, with her head +upside down. It was very dangerous, for a fall +would have killed her; but the danger was the fun, +and Poppy hung out till her hands touched the +ledge below, and her face was as red as any real +poppy's.</p> + +<p>She was enjoying herself in this way one day,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +when an old gentleman, who lived near, came home +to dinner, and saw her.</p> + +<p>"What in the world is that hanging out of the +colonel's upper window?" said he, putting on his +spectacles. "Bless my soul! that child will kill +herself. Hallo, there! little girl; get in this minute!" +he called to Poppy, flourishing his hat to make +her see him.</p> + +<p>"What for?" answered Poppy, staring at him +without moving an inch.</p> + +<p>"You'll fall, and break your neck!" screamed the +old gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I shan't!" returned Poppy, much flattered +by his interest, and hanging out still further.</p> + +<p>"Stop that, instantly, or I'll go in and inform the +colonel!" roared the old gentleman, getting angry.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," shouted Poppy; and she didn't, +for she knew grandpa wasn't at home.</p> + +<p>"Little gipsy! I'll settle her," muttered the old +man, bustling up to the steps, and ringing the bell, +as if the house was on fire.</p> + +<p>No one was in but the servants; and, when he'd +told old Emily what the matter was, she went up to +"settle" Poppy. But Poppy was already settled, +demurely playing with her doll, and looking quite +innocent. Emily scolded; and Poppy promised +never to do it again, if she might stay and play in +the big room. Being busy about dinner, Emily was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +glad to be rid of her, and left her, to go and tell the +old gentleman it was all right.</p> + +<p>"Ain't they crosspatches?" said Poppy to her +doll. "Never mind, dear: <i>you</i> shall hang out, if I +can't. I guess the old man won't order you in, any +way."</p> + +<p>Full of this idea, Poppy took her long-suffering +dolly, and, tying a string to her neck, danced her out +of the window. Now this dolly had been through a +great deal. Her head had been cut off (and put on +again); she had been washed, buried, burnt, torn, +soiled, and banged about till she was a mournful +object. Poppy loved her very much; for she was +two feet tall, and had once been very handsome: so +her trials only endeared her to her little mamma. +Away she went, skipping and prancing like mad,—a +funny sight, for Poppy had taken off her clothes, and +she hadn't a hair on her head.</p> + +<p>Poppy went to another window of the room for +this performance, because in the opposite house lived +five or six children, and she thought they would +enjoy the fun.</p> + +<p>So they did, and so did the other people; for it +was a boarding-house, and all the people were at +home for dinner. They came to the windows, and +looked and laughed at dolly's capers, and Poppy was +in high feather at the success of her entertainment.</p> + +<p>All of a sudden she saw grandpa coming down the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +street, hands behind his back, feet turned out, gold-headed +cane under his arm, and the handsome legs +in the black silk stockings marching along in the +most stately manner. Poppy whisked dolly in before +grandpa saw her, and dodged down as he went by. +This made the people laugh again, and grandpa +wondered what the joke was. The minute he went +in out flew dolly, dancing more frantically than ever; +and the children shouted so loud that grandpa went +to see what the matter was. The street was empty; +yet there stood the people, staring out and laughing. +Yes; they were actually looking and laughing at <i>his</i> +house; and he didn't see what there was to laugh at +in that highly respectable mansion.</p> + +<p>He didn't like it; and, clapping on his hat, he +went out to learn what the matter was. He looked +over at the house, up at the sky, down at the ground, +and through the street; but nothing funny appeared, +for Poppy and dolly were hidden again, and the old +gentleman was puzzled. He went in and sat down +to watch, feeling rather disturbed. Presently the fun +began again: the children clapped their hands, the +people laughed, and every one looked over at the +house, in what he thought a very impertinent way. +This made him angry; and out he rushed a second +time, saying, as he marched across the street:</p> + +<p>"If those saucy young fellows are making game +of me, I'll soon stop it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +Up to the door he went, gave a great pull at the +bell, and, when the servant came, he demanded why +every one was laughing at his house. One of the +young men came and told him, and asked him to +come in and see the fun. Poppy didn't see grandpa +go in, for she hid, and when she looked out he was +gone: so she boldly began the dancing; but, in the +midst of a lively caper, dolly went bounce into the +garden below, for the string fell from Poppy's hand +when she suddenly saw grandpa at the window opposite, +laughing as heartily as any one at her prank.</p> + +<p>She stared at him in a great fright, and looked so +amazed that every one enjoyed that joke better than +the other; and poor Poppy didn't hear the last of it +for a long time.</p> + +<p>Her next performance was to fall into the pond on +the Common. She was driving hoop down the hill, +and went so fast she couldn't stop herself; so +splashed into the water, hoop and all. How dreadful +it was to feel the cold waves go over her head, +shutting out the sun and air! The ground was +gone, and she could find no place for her feet, and +could only struggle and choke, and go down, down, +with a loud roaring sound in her ears. That would +have been the end of Poppy, if a little black boy +hadn't jumped in and pulled her out. She was sick +and dizzy, and looked like a drowned kitten; but a +kind lady took her home in a carriage. After that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +mishap grandpa thought he wouldn't keep her any +longer, for fear she should come to some worse harm. +So Miss Poppy was sent home, much to her delight +and much to mamma's also; for no matter where +she went, or how naughty she was, mamma was +always glad to see the little wanderer back, and to +forgive and forget all Poppy's pranks.</p> +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII.</h2> + +<h3>WHAT THE SWALLOWS DID.</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">A man</span> lay on a pile of new-made hay, in a great +barn, looking up at the swallows who darted +and twittered above him. He envied the cheerful +little creatures; for he wasn't a happy man, though +he had many friends, much money, and the beautiful +gift of writing songs that everybody loved to sing. +He had lost his wife and little child, and would not +be comforted; but lived alone, and went about with +such a gloomy face that no one liked to speak to +him. He took no notice of friends and neighbors; +neither used his money for himself nor others; found +no beauty in the world, no happiness anywhere; and +wrote such sad songs it made one's heart ache to +sing them.</p> + +<p>As he lay alone on the sweet-smelling hay, with +the afternoon sunshine streaming in, and the busy +birds chirping overhead, he said sadly to himself:</p> + +<p>"Happy swallows, I wish I were one of you; for +you have no pains nor sorrows, and your cares are +very light. All summer you live gayly together; +and, when winter comes, you fly away to the lovely +South, unseparated still."</p> + +<p>"Neighbors, do you hear what that lazy creature<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +down there is saying?" cried a swallow, peeping +over the edge of her nest, and addressing several +others who sat on a beam near by.</p> + +<p>"We hear, Mrs. Skim; and quite agree with you +that he knows very little about us and our affairs," +answered one of the swallows with a shrill chirp, +like a scornful laugh. "We work harder than he +does any day. Did he build his own house, I should +like to know? Does he get his daily bread for himself? +How many of his neighbors does he help? +How much of the world does he see, and who is the +happier for his being alive?"</p> + +<p>"Cares indeed!" cried another; "I wish he'd +undertake to feed and teach my brood. Much he +knows about the anxieties of a parent." And the +little mother bustled away to get supper for the +young ones, whose bills were always gaping wide.</p> + +<p>"Sorrows we have, too," softly said the fourth +swallow. "He would not envy <i>me</i>, if he knew how +my nest fell, and all my children were killed; how +my dear husband was shot, and my old mother died +of fatigue on our spring journey from the South."</p> + +<p>"Dear neighbor Dart, he <i>would</i> envy you, if he +knew how patiently you bear your troubles; how +tenderly you help us with our little ones; how cheerfully +you serve your friends; how faithfully you love +your lost mate; and how trustfully you wait to meet +him again in a lovelier country than the South."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +As Skim spoke, she leaned down from her nest to +kiss her neighbor; and, as the little beaks met, the +other birds gave a grateful and approving murmur, +for Neighbor Dart was much beloved by all the +inhabitants of Twittertown.</p> + +<p>"I, for my part, don't envy <i>him</i>," said Gossip +Wing, who was fond of speaking her mind. "Men +and women call themselves superior beings; but, +upon my word, I think they are vastly inferior to us. +Now, look at that man, and see how he wastes his +life. There never was any one with a better chance +for doing good, and being happy; and yet he mopes +and dawdles his time away most shamefully."</p> + +<p>"Ah! he has had a great sorrow, and it is hard to +be gay with a heavy heart, an empty home; so don't +be too severe, Sister Wing." And the white tie of +the little widow's cap was stirred by a long sigh as +Mrs. Dart glanced up at the nook where her nest +once stood.</p> + +<p>"No, my dear, I won't; but really I do get out of +patience when I see so much real misery which that +man might help, if he'd only forget himself a little. +It's my opinion he'd be much happier than he now +is, wandering about with a dismal face and a sour +temper."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with you; and I dare say he'd +thank any one for telling him how he may find comfort. +Poor soul! I wish he could understand me;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +for I sympathize with him, and would gladly help +him if I could."</p> + +<p>And, as she spoke, kind-hearted Widow Dart +skimmed by him with a friendly chirp, which did +comfort him; for, being a poet, he <i>could</i> understand +them, and lay listening, well pleased while the little +gossips chattered on together.</p> + +<p>"I am so tied at home just now, that I know +nothing of what is going on, except the bits of news +Skim brings me; so I enjoy your chat immensely. +I'm interested in your views on this subject, and beg +you'll tell me what you'd have that man do to better +himself," said Mrs. Skim, settling herself on her eggs +with an attentive air.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, I'll tell you; for I've seen a deal +of the world, and any one is welcome to my experience," +replied Mrs. Wing, in an important manner; +for she was proud of her "views," and very fond of +talking. "In my daily flights about the place, I see +a great deal of poverty and trouble, and often wish +I could lend a hand. Now, this man has plenty of +money and time; and he might do more good than +I can tell, if he'd only set about it. Because he is +what they call a poet is no reason he should go +moaning up and down, as if he had nothing to do +but make songs. We sing, but we work also; and +are wise enough to see the necessity of both, thank +goodness!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +"Yes, indeed, we do," cried all the birds in a +chorus; for several more had stopped to hear what +was going on.</p> + +<p>"Now, what I say is this," continued Mrs. Wing +impressively. "If I were that man, I'd make myself +useful at once. There is poor little Will getting +more and more lame every day, because his mother +can't send him where he can be cured. A trifle of +that man's money would do it, and he ought to give +it. Old Father Winter is half starved, alone there +in his miserable hovel; and no one thinks of the +good old man. Why don't that lazy creature take +him home, and care for him, the little while he has +to live? Pretty Nell is working day and night, to +support her father, and is too proud to ask help, +though her health and courage are going fast. The +man might make hers the gayest heart alive, by a +little help. There in a lonely garret lives a young +man studying his life away, longing for books and a +teacher. The man has a library full, and might keep +the poor boy from despair by a little help and a +friendly word. He mourns for his own lost baby: I +advise him to adopt the orphan whom nobody will +own, and who lies wailing all day untended on the +poor-house floor. Yes: if he wants to forget sorrow +and find peace, let him fill his empty heart and home +with such as these, and life won't seem dark to him +any more."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +"Dear me! how well you express yourself, Mrs. +Wing; it's quite a pleasure to hear you; and I +heartily wish some persons could hear you, it would +do 'em a deal of good," said Mrs. Skim; while her +husband gave an approving nod as he dived off the +beam, and vanished through the open doors.</p> + +<p>"I know it would comfort that man to do these +things; for I have tried the same cure in my small +way, and found great satisfaction in it," began little +Madame Dart, in her soft voice; but Mrs. Wing +broke in, saying with a pious expression of countenance:</p> + +<p>"I flew into church one day, and sat on the +organ enjoying the music; for every one was singing, +and I joined in, though I didn't know the air. Opposite +me were two great tablets with golden letters on +them. I can read a little, thanks to my friend, the +learned raven; and so I spelt out some of the words. +One was, 'Love thy neighbor;' and as I sat there, +looking down on the people, I wondered how they +could see those words week after week, and yet pay +so little heed to them. Goodness knows, <i>I</i> don't +consider myself a perfect bird; far from it; for I +know I am a poor, erring fowl; but I believe I may +say I <i>do</i> love my neighbor, though I <i>am</i> 'an inferior +creature.'" And Mrs. Wing bridled up, as if she +resented the phrase immensely.</p> + +<p>"Indeed you do, gossip," cried Dart and Skim;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +for Wing was an excellent bird, in spite of the good +opinion she had of herself.</p> + +<p>"Thank you: well, then, such being the known +fact, I may give advice on the subject as one having +authority; and, if it were possible, I'd give that man +a bit of my mind."</p> + +<p>"You have, madam, you have; and I shall not +forget it. Thank you, neighbors, and good night," +said the man, as he left the barn, with the first smile +on his face which it had worn for many days.</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us! I do believe the creature heard +every thing we said," cried Mrs. Wing, nearly +tumbling off the beam, in her surprise.</p> + +<p>"He certainly did; so I'm glad I was guarded in +my remarks," replied Mrs. Skim, laughing at her +neighbor's dismay.</p> + +<p>"Dear me! dear me! what did I say?" cried +Mrs. Wing, in a great twitter.</p> + +<p>"You spoke with more than your usual bluntness, +and some of your expressions were rather strong, I +must confess; but I don't think any harm will come +of it. We are of too little consequence for our criticisms +or opinions to annoy him," said Mrs. Dart +consolingly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that, ma'am," returned Mrs. Wing, +sharply: for she was much ruffled and out of temper. +"A cat may look at a king; and a bird may teach a +man, if the bird is the wisest. He may destroy my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +nest, and take my life; but I feel that I have done +my duty, and shall meet affliction with a firmness +which will be an example to that indolent, ungrateful +man."</p> + +<p>In spite of her boasted firmness, Mrs. Wing +dropped her voice, and peeped over the beam, to +be sure the man was gone before she called him +names; and then flew away, to discover what he +meant to do about it.</p> + +<p>For several days, there was much excitement in +Twittertown; for news of what had happened flew +from nest to nest, and every bird was anxious to +know what revenge the man would take for the +impertinent remarks which had been made about +him.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wing was in a dreadful state of mind, expecting +an assault, and the destruction of her entire +family. Every one blamed her. Her husband +lectured; the young birds chirped, "Chatterbox, +chatterbox," as she passed; and her best friends +were a little cool. All this made her very meek for +a time; and she scarcely opened her bill, except to +eat.</p> + +<p>A guard was set day and night, to see if any +danger approached; and a row of swallows might +be seen on the ridgepole at all hours. If any one +entered the barn, dozens of little black heads peeped +cautiously over the edges of the nests, and there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +much flying to and fro with reports and rumors; for +all the birds in the town soon knew that something +had happened.</p> + +<p>The day after the imprudent conversation, a chimney-swallow +came to call on Mrs. Wing; and, the +moment she was seated on the beam, she began:</p> + +<p>"My dear creature, I feel for you in your trying +position,—indeed I do, and came over at once to +warn you of your danger."</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us! what is coming?" cried Mrs. +Wing, covering her brood with trembling wings, and +looking quite wild with alarm.</p> + +<p>"Be calm, my friend, and bear with firmness the +consequences of your folly," replied Mrs. Sooty-back, +who didn't like Mrs. Wing, because she prided +herself on her family, and rather looked down on +chimney-swallows. "You know, ma'am, I live at +the great house, and am in the way of seeing and +hearing all that goes on there. No fire is lighted in +the study now; but my landlord still sits on the +hearth, and I can overhear every word he says. Last +evening, after my darlings were asleep, and my husband +gone out, I went down and sat on the andiron, +as I often do; for the fireplace is full of oak boughs, +and I can peep out unseen. My landlord sat there, +looking a trifle more cheerful than usual, and I +heard him say, in a very decided tone:</p> + +<p>"'I'll catch them, one and all, and keep them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +here; that is better than pulling the place down, as +I planned at first. Those swallows little know what +they have done; but I'll show them I don't forget.'"</p> + +<p>On hearing this a general wail arose, and Mrs. +Wing fainted entirely away. Madam Sooty-back +was quite satisfied with the effect she had produced, +and departed, saying loftily:</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry for you, Mrs. Wing, and forgive your +rude speech about my being related to chimney-sweeps. +One can't expect good manners from +persons brought up in mud houses, and entirely +shut out from good society. If I hear any thing +more, I'll let you know."</p> + +<p>Away she flew; and poor Mrs. Wing would have +had another fit, if they hadn't tickled her with a +feather, and fanned her so violently that she was +nearly blown off her nest by the breeze they raised.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, but wait. I dare say, Mrs. Sooty-back +is mistaken; at any rate, we can't get away without +leaving our children, for they can't fly yet. Let us +wait, and see what happens. If the worst comes, +we shall have done our duty, and will all die +together."</p> + +<p>As no one could suggest any thing better, Mrs. +Dart's advice was taken, and they waited. On the +afternoon of the same day, Dr. Banks, a sand-swallow, +who lived in a subterranean village over by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +great sand-bank, looked in to see Mrs. Wing, and +cheered her by the following bit of news:</p> + +<p>"The man was down at the poor-house to-day, and +took away little Nan, the orphan baby. I saw him +carry her to Will's mother, and heard him ask her to +take care of it for a time. He paid her well, and +she seemed glad to do it; for Will needs help, and +now he can have it. An excellent arrangement, I +think. Bless me, ma'am! what's the matter? Your +pulse is altogether too fast, and you look feverish."</p> + +<p>No wonder the doctor looked surprised; for Mrs. +Wing suddenly gave a skip, and flapped her wings, +with a shrill chirp, exclaiming, as she looked about +her triumphantly:</p> + +<p>"Now, who was right? Who has done good, not +harm, by what you call 'gossip'? Who has been a +martyr, and patiently borne all kinds of blame, +injustice, and disrespect? Yes, indeed! the man +saw the sense of my words; he took my advice; he +will show his gratitude by some good turn yet; and, +if half a dozen poor souls are helped, it will be my +doing, and mine alone."</p> + +<p>Here she had to stop for breath; and her neighbors +all looked at one another, feeling undecided +whether to own they were wrong, or to put Mrs. +Wing down. Every one twittered and chirped, and +made a great noise; but no one would give up, and +all went to roost in a great state of uncertainty. But,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +the next day, it became evident that Mrs. Wing was +right; for Major Bumble-bee came buzzing in to tell +them that old Daddy Winter's hut was empty, and +his white head had been seen in the sunny porch of +the great house.</p> + +<p>After this the swallows gave in; and, as no harm +came to them, they had a jubilee in honor of the +occasion. Mrs. Wing was president, and received a +vote of thanks for the good she had done, and the +credit she had bestowed upon the town by her +wisdom and courage. She was much elated by all +this; but her fright had been of service, and she +bore her honors more meekly than one would have +supposed. To be sure, she cut Mrs. Sooty-back +when they met; assumed an injured air, when some +of her neighbors passed her; and said, "I told you +so," a dozen times a day to her husband, who got so +many curtain lectures that he took to sleeping on the +highest rafter, pretending that the children's noise +disturbed him.</p> + +<p>All sorts of charming things happened after that, +and such a fine summer never was known before; for +not only did the birds rejoice, but people also. A +good spirit seemed to haunt the town, leaving help +and happiness wherever it passed. Some unseen +hand scattered crumbs over the barn floor, and left +food at many doors. No dog or boy or gun marred +the tranquillity of the birds, insects, and flowers who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +lived on the great estate. No want, care, or suffering, +that love or money could prevent, befell the +poor folk whose cottages stood near the old house. +Sunshine and peace seemed to reign there; for its +gloomy master was a changed man now, and the +happiness he earned for himself, by giving it to +others, flowed out in beautiful, blithe songs, and went +singing away into the world, making him friends, and +bringing him honor in high places as well as low.</p> + +<p>He did not forget the wife and little child whom +he had loved so well; but he mourned no longer, for +cheerful daisies grew above their graves, and he +knew that he should meet them in the lovely land +where death can never come. So, while he waited +for that happy time to come, he made his life a +cheery song,—as every one may do, if they will; +and went about dropping kind words and deeds as +silently and sweetly as the sky drops sunshine and +dew. Every one was his friend, but his favorites +were the swallows. Every day he went to see them, +carrying grain and crumbs, hearing their chat, sharing +their joys and sorrows, and never tiring of their +small friendship; for to them, he thought, he owed +all the content now his.</p> + +<p>When autumn leaves were red, and autumn winds +blew cold, the inhabitants of Twittertown prepared +for their journey to the South. They lingered longer +than usual this year, feeling sorry to leave their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +friend. But the fields were bare, the frosts began to +pinch, and the young ones longed to see the world; +so they must go. The day they started, the whole +flock flew to the great house, to say good-by. Some +dived and darted round and round it, some hopped +to and fro on the sere lawn, some perched on the +chimney-tops, and some clung to the window ledges; +all twittering a loving farewell.</p> + +<p>Chirp, Dart, and Wing peeped everywhere, and +everywhere found something to rejoice over. In a +cosey room, by a bright fire, sat Daddy Winter and +Nell's old father, telling stories of their youth, and +basking in the comfortable warmth. In the study, +surrounded by the books he loved, was the poor +young man, happy as a king now, and learning many +things which no book could teach him; for he had +found a friend. Then, down below was Will's +mother, working like a bee; for she was housekeeper, +and enjoyed her tasks as much as any +mother-bird enjoys filling the little mouths of her +brood. Close by was pretty Nell, prettier than ever +now; for her heavy care was gone, and she sung as +she sewed, thinking of the old father, whom nothing +could trouble any more.</p> + +<p>But the pleasantest sight the three gossips saw +was the man with Baby Nan on his arm and Will at +his side, playing in the once dreary nursery. How +they laughed and danced! for Will was up from his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +bed at last, and hopped nimbly on his crutches, +knowing that soon even they would be unneeded. +Little Nan was as plump and rosy as a baby should +be, and babbled like a brook, as the man went to +and fro, cradling her in his strong arms, feeling as if +his own little daughter had come back when he +heard the baby voice call him father.</p> + +<p>"Ah, how sweet it is!" cried Mrs. Dart, glad to +see that he had found comfort for his grief.</p> + +<p>"Yes; indeed: it does one's heart good to see +such a happy family," added Mrs. Skim, who was a +very motherly bird.</p> + +<p>"I don't wish to boast; but I <i>will</i> say that I am +satisfied with my summer's work, and go South feeling +that I leave an enviable reputation behind me." +And Mrs. Wing plumed herself with an air of immense +importance, as she nodded and bridled from +her perch on the window-sill.</p> + +<p>The man saw the three, and hastened to feed +them for the last time, knowing that they were about +to go. Gratefully they ate, and chirped their thanks; +and then, as they flew away, the little gossips heard +their friend singing his good-by:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Swallow, swallow, neighbor swallow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Starting on your autumn flight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pause a moment at my window,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Twitter softly your good-night;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the summer days are over,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All your duties are well done,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the happy homes you builded<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Have grown empty, one by one.<br /></span> +</div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Swallow, swallow, neighbor swallow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Are you ready for your flight?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are all the feather cloaks completed?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Are the little caps all right?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are the young wings strong and steady<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For the journey through the sky?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come again in early spring-time;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And till then, good-by, good-by!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII.</h2> + +<h3>LITTLE GULLIVER.</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Up</span> in the light-house tower lived Davy, with Old +Dan the keeper. Most little boys would have +found it very lonely; but Davy had three friends, +and was as happy as the day was long. One of +Davy's friends was the great lamp, which was lighted +at sunset, and burnt all night, to guide the ships +into the harbor. To Dan it was only a lamp; but to +the boy it seemed a living thing, and he loved and +tended it faithfully. Every day he helped Dan clear +the big wick, polish the brass work, and wash the +glass lantern which protected the flame. Every +evening he went up to see it lighted, and always fell +asleep, thinking, "No matter how dark or wild the +night, my good Shine will save the ships that pass, +and burn till morning."</p> + +<p>Davy's second friend was Nep, the Newfoundland, +who was washed ashore from a wreck, and had +never left the island since. Nep was rough and big, +but had such a loyal and loving heart that no one +could look in his soft brown eyes and not trust him. +He followed Davy's steps all day, slept at his feet all +night, and more than once had saved his life when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +Davy fell among the rocks, or got caught by the +rising tide.</p> + +<p>But the dearest friend of all was a sea-gull. Davy +found him, with a broken wing, and nursed him carefully +till he was well; then let him go, though he was +very fond of "Little Gulliver," as he called him in +fun. But the bird never forgot the boy, and came +daily to talk with him, telling all manner of wild +stories about his wanderings by land and sea, and +whiling away many an hour that otherwise would +have been very lonely.</p> + +<p>Old Dan was Davy's uncle,—a grim, gray man, +who said little, did his work faithfully, and was both +father and mother to Davy, who had no parents, and +no friends beyond the island. That was his world; +and he led a quiet life among his playfellows,—the +winds and waves. He seldom went to the main +land, three miles away; for he was happier at home. +He watched the sea-anemones open below the water, +looking like fairy-plants, brilliant and strange. He +found curious and pretty shells, and sometimes more +valuable treasures, washed up from some wreck. He +saw little yellow crabs, ugly lobsters, and queer +horse-shoes with their stiff tails. Sometimes a whale +or a shark swam by, and often sleek black seals +came up to bask on the warm rocks. He gathered +lovely sea-weeds of all kinds, from tiny red cobwebs +to great scalloped leaves of kelp, longer than him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>self. +He heard the waves dash and roar unceasingly; +the winds howl or sigh over the island; and +the gulls scream shrilly as they dipped and dived, or +sailed away to follow the ships that came and went +from all parts of the world.</p> + +<p>With Nep and Gulliver he roamed about his small +kingdom, never tired of its wonders; or, if storms +raged, he sat up in the tower, safe and dry, watching +the tumult of sea and sky. Often in long winter +nights he lay awake, listening to the wind and rain, +that made the tower rock with their violence; but he +never was afraid, for Nep nestled at his feet, Dan sat +close by, and overhead the great lamp shone far out +into the night, to cheer and guide all wanderers on +the sea.</p> + +<p>Close by the tower hung the fog-bell, which, being +wound up, would ring all night, warningly. One day +Dan found that something among the chains was +broken; and, having vainly tried to mend it, he +decided to go to the town, and get what was needed. +He went once a week, usually, and left Davy behind; +for in the daytime there was nothing to do, and the +boy was not afraid to stay.</p> + +<p>"A heavy fog is blowing up: we shall want the +bell to-night, and I must be off at once. I shall be +back before dark, of course; so take care of yourself, +boy," said Dan.</p> + +<p>Away went the little boat; and the fog shut down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +over it, as if a misty wall had parted Davy from his +uncle. As it was dull weather, he sat and read for +an hour or two; then fell asleep, and forgot everything +till Nep's cold nose on his hand waked him up. +It was nearly dark; and, hoping to find Dan had +come, he ran down to the landing-place. But no +boat was there, and the fog was thicker than ever.</p> + +<p>Dan never had been gone so long before, and +Davy was afraid something had happened to him. +For a few minutes he was in great trouble; then he +cheered up, and took courage.</p> + +<p>"It is sunset by the clock; so I'll light the lamp, +and, if Dan is lost in the fog, it will guide him +home," said Davy.</p> + +<p>Up he went, and soon the great star shone out +above the black-topped light-house, glimmering +through the fog, as if eager to be seen. Davy +had his supper, but no Dan came. He waited hour +after hour, and waited all in vain. The fog thickened, +till the lamp was hardly seen; and no bell +rung to warn the ships of the dangerous rocks. +Poor Davy could not sleep, but all night long +wandered from the tower to the door, watching, +calling, and wondering; but Dan did not come.</p> + +<p>At sunrise he put out the light, and, having +trimmed it for the next night, ate a little breakfast, +and roved about the island hoping to see some sign +of Dan. The sun drew up the fog at last; and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +could see the blue bay, the distant town, and a few +fishing-boats going out to sea. But nowhere was the +island-boat with gray Old Dan in it; and Davy's +heart grew heavier and heavier, as the day passed, +and still no one came. In the afternoon Gulliver +appeared: to him Davy told his trouble, and the +three friends took counsel together.</p> + +<p>"There is no other boat; and I couldn't row so +far, if there was: so I can't go to find Dan," said +David sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"I'd gladly swim to town, if I could; but it's +impossible to do it, with wind and tide against me. +I've howled all day, hoping some one would hear me; +but no one does, and I'm discouraged," said Nep, +with an anxious expression.</p> + +<p>"I can do something for you; and I will, with all +my heart. I'll fly to town, if I don't see him in the +bay, and try to learn what has become of Dan. +Then I'll come and tell you, and we will see what is +to be done next. Cheer up, Davy dear: I'll bring +you tidings, if any can be had." With these cheerful +words, away sailed Gulliver, leaving Nep and his +master to watch and wait again.</p> + +<p>The wind blew hard, and the broken wing was not +quite well yet, else Gulliver would have been able to +steer clear of a boat that came swiftly by. A sudden +gust drove the gull so violently against the sail that +he dropped breathless into the boat; and a little +girl caught him, before he could recover himself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +"Oh, what a lovely bird! See his black cap, his +white breast, dove-colored wings, red legs and bill, +and soft, bright eyes. I wanted a gull; and I'll +keep this one, for I don't think he is much hurt."</p> + +<p>Poor Gulliver struggled, pecked and screamed; +but little Dora held him fast, and shut him in a +basket till they reached the shore. Then she put +him in a lobster pot,—a large wooden thing, something +like a cage,—and left him on the lawn, where +he could catch glimpses of the sea, and watch the +light-house tower, as he sat alone in this dreadful +prison. If Dora had known the truth, she would +have let him go, and done her best to help him; but +she could not understand his speech, as Davy did, +for very few people have the power of talking with +birds, beasts, insects, and plants. To her, his prayers +and cries were only harsh screams; and, when he +sat silent, with drooping head and ruffled feathers, +she thought he was sleepy: but he was mourning for +Davy, and wondering what his little friend would do.</p> + +<p>For three long days and nights he was a prisoner, +and suffered much. The house was full of happy +people, but no one took pity upon him. Ladies and +gentlemen talked learnedly about him; boys poked +and pulled him; little girls admired him, and begged +his wings for their hats, if he died. Cats prowled +about his cage; dogs barked at him; hens cackled +over him; and a shrill canary jeered at him from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +pretty pagoda in which it hung, high above danger. +In the evening there was music; and the poor bird's +heart ached as the sweet sounds came to him, reminding +him of the airier melodies he loved. +Through the stillness of the night, he heard the +waves break on the shore; the wind came singing +up from the sea; the moon shone kindly on him, and +he saw the water-fairies dancing on the sand. But +for three days no one spoke a friendly word to him, +and he pined away with a broken heart.</p> + +<p>On the fourth night, when all was quiet, little +Gulliver saw a black shadow steal across the lawn, +and heard a soft voice say to him:</p> + +<p>"Poor bird, you'll die, if yer stays here; so I'se +gwine to let yer go. Specs little missy'll scold +dreffle; but Moppet'll take de scoldin for yer. Hi, +dere! you is peart nuff now, kase you's in a hurry to +go; but jes wait till I gits de knots out of de string +dat ties de door, and den away you flies."</p> + +<p>"But, dear, kind Moppet, won't you be hurt for +doing this? Why do you care so much for me? I +can only thank you, and fly away."</p> + +<p>As Gulliver spoke, he looked up at the little black +face bent over him, and saw tears in the child's sad +eyes; but she smiled at him, and shook her fuzzy +head, as she whispered kindly:</p> + +<p>"I don't want no tanks, birdie: I loves to let you +go, kase you's a slave, like I was once; and it's a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +dreffle hard ting, I knows. I got away, and I means +you shall. I'se watched you, deary, all dese days; +and I tried to come 'fore, but dey didn't give me no +chance."</p> + +<p>"Do you live here? I never see you playing with +the other children," said the gull, as Moppet's nimble +fingers picked away at the knots.</p> + +<p>"Yes: I lives here, and helps de cook. You +didn't see me, kase I never plays; de chilen don't +like me."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Gulliver, wondering.</p> + +<p>"I'se black," said Moppet, with a sob.</p> + +<p>"But that's silly in them," cried the bird, who had +never heard of such a thing. "Color makes no +difference; the peeps are gray, the seals black, and +the crabs yellow; but we don't care, and are all +friends. It is very unkind to treat you so. Haven't +you any friends to love you, dear?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody in de world keres fer me. Dey sold me +way from my mammy when I was a baby, and I'se +knocked roun eber since. De oder chilen has folks +to lub an kere fer em, but Moppet's got no friends;" +and here the black eyes grew so dim with tears that +the poor child couldn't see that the last knot was +out.</p> + +<p>Gulliver saw it, and, pushing up the door, flew +from his prison with a glad cry; and, hopping into +Moppet's hand, looked into the little dark face with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +such grateful confidence that it cleared at once, and +the brightest smile it had worn for months broke +over it as the bird nestled its soft head against her +cheek, saying gently:</p> + +<p>"I'm your friend, dear; I love you, and I never +shall forget what you have done for me to-night. +How can I thank you before I go?"</p> + +<p>For a minute, Moppet could only hug the bird, +and cry; for these were the first kind words she had +heard for a long time, and they went straight to her +lonely little heart.</p> + +<p>"O my deary! I'se paid by dem words, and I +don't want no tanks. Jes lub me, and come sometimes +to see me ef you can, it's so hard livin' in dis +yere place. I don't tink I'll bar it long. I wish I +was a bird to fly away, or a oyster safe in de mud, +and free to do as I's a mind."</p> + +<p>"I wish you could go and live with Davy on the +island; he is so kind, so happy, and as free as the +wind. Can't you get away, Moppet?" whispered +Gulliver, longing to help this poor, friendless little +soul. He told her all his story; and they agreed +that he should fly at once to the island, and see if +Dan was there; if not, he was to come back, and +Moppet would try to get some one to help find him. +When this was done, Davy and Dan were to take +Moppet, if they could, and make her happy on the +island. Full of hope and joy, Gulliver said good-by,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +and spread his wings; but, alas for the poor bird! +he was too weak to fly. For three days he had hardly +eaten any thing, had found no salt water to bathe in, +and had sat moping in the cage till his strength was +all gone.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do? what shall I do?" he cried, +fluttering his feeble wings, and running to and fro in +despair.</p> + +<p>"Hush, birdie, I'll take kere ob you till you's fit to +fly. I knows a nice, quiet little cove down yonder, +where no one goes; and dare you kin stay till you's +better. I'll come and feed you, and you kin paddle, +and rest, and try your wings, safe and free, honey."</p> + +<p>As Moppet spoke, she took Gulliver in her arms, +and stole away in the dim light, over the hill, down +to the lonely spot where nothing went but the winds +and waves, the gulls, and little Moppet, when hard +words and blows made heart and body ache. Here +she left the bird, and, with a loving "Good-night," +crept home to her bed in the garret, feeling as rich +as a queen, and much happier; for she had done a +kind thing, and made a friend.</p> + +<p>Next day, a great storm came: the wind blew a +hurricane, the rain poured, and the sea thundered on +the coast. If he had been well, Gulliver wouldn't +have minded at all; but, being sick and sad, he spent +an anxious day, sitting in a cranny of the rock, thinking +of Davy and Moppet. It was so rough, even in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +the cove, that he could neither swim nor fly, so feeble +was he; and could find no food but such trifles as he +could pick up among the rocks. At nightfall the +storm raged fiercer than ever, and he gave up seeing +Moppet; for he was sure she wouldn't come through +the pelting rain just to feed him. So he put his +head under his wing, and tried to sleep; but he was +so wet and weak, so hungry and anxious, no sleep +came.</p> + +<p>"What has happened to Davy alone on the island +all this while? He will fall ill with loneliness and +trouble; the lamp won't be lighted, the ships will be +wrecked, and many people will suffer. O Dan, Dan, +if we could only find you, how happy we should be!"</p> + +<p>As Gulliver spoke, a voice cried through the darkness:</p> + +<p>"Is you dere, honey?" and Moppet came climbing +over the rocks, with a basket full of such bits as she +could get. "Poor birdie, is you starvin'? Here, jes +go at dis, and joy yourself. Dere's fish and tings I +tink you'd like. How is you now, dear?"</p> + +<p>"Better, Moppet; but, it's so stormy, I can't get +to Davy; and I worry about him," began Gulliver, +pecking away at his supper: but he stopped suddenly, +for a faint sound came up from below, as if +some one called, "Help, help!"</p> + +<p>"Hi! what's dat?" said Moppet, listening.</p> + +<p>"Davy, Davy!" called the voice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +"It's Dan. Hurrah, we've found him!" and +Gulliver dived off the rock so reckless that he went +splash into the water. But that didn't matter to +him; and he paddled away, like a little steamer with +all the engines in full blast. Down by the sea-side, +between two stones, lay Dan, so bruised and hurt he +couldn't move, and so faint with hunger and pain he +could hardly speak. As soon as Gulliver called, +Moppet scrambled down, and fed the poor man with +her scraps, brought him rain-water from a crevice +near by, and bound up his wounded head with her +little apron. Then Dan told them how his boat had +been run down by a ship in the fog; how he was +hurt, and cast ashore in the lonely cove; how he had +lain there half dead, for no one heard his shouts, and +he couldn't move; how the storm brought him back +to life, when he was almost gone, and the sound of +Moppet's voice told him help was near.</p> + +<p>How glad they all were then! Moppet danced for +joy; Gulliver screamed and flapped his wings; and +Dan smiled, in spite of pain, to think he should see +Davy again. He couldn't understand Gulliver; but +Moppet told him all the story, and, when he heard +it, he was more troubled for the boy than for himself.</p> + +<p>"What will he do? He may get killed or scared, +or try to come ashore. Is the lamp alight?" he +cried, trying to move, and falling back with a moan +of pain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +Gulliver flew up to the highest rock, and looked +out across the dark sea. Yes, there it was,—the +steady star shining through the storm, and saying +plainly, "All is well."</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven! if the lamp is burning, Davy is +alive. Now, how shall I get to him?" said Dan.</p> + +<p>"Never you fret, massa: Moppet'll see to dat. +You jes lay still till I comes. Dere's folks in de +house as'll tend to you, ef I tells em who and where +you is."</p> + +<p>Off she ran, and soon came back with help. Dan +was taken to the house, and carefully tended; Moppet +wasn't scolded for being out so late; and, in the +flurry, no one thought of the gull. Next morning, +the cage was found blown over, and every one +fancied the bird had flown away. Dora was already +tired of him; so he was soon forgotten by all but +Moppet.</p> + +<p>In the morning it was clear; and Gulliver flew +gladly to the tower where Davy still watched and +waited, with a pale face and heavy heart, for the +three days had been very hard to bear, and, but for +Nep and Shine, he would have lost his courage +entirely. Gulliver flew straight into his bosom, and, +sitting there, told his adventures; while Davy +laughed and cried, and Nep stood by, wagging his +tail for joy, while his eyes were full of sympathy. +The three had a very happy hour together, and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +came a boat to carry Davy ashore, while another +keeper took charge of the light till Dan was well.</p> + +<p>Nobody ever knew the best part of the story but +Moppet, Davy, and Gulliver. Other people didn't +dream that the boy's pet gull had any thing to do +with the finding of the man, or the good fortune that +came to Moppet. While Dan lay sick, she tended +him, like a loving little daughter; and, when he was +well, he took her for his own. He did not mind the +black skin: he only saw the loneliness of the child, +the tender heart, the innocent, white soul; and he +was as glad to be a friend to her as if she had been +as blithe and pretty as Dora.</p> + +<p>It was a happy day when Dan and Davy, Moppet, +Gulliver, and Nep sailed away to the island; for +that was still to be their home, with stout young Ben +to help.</p> + +<p>The sun was setting; and they floated through +waves as rosy as the rosy sky. A fresh wind filled +the sail, and ruffled Gulliver's white breast as he sat +on the mast-head crooning a cheery song to himself. +Dan held the tiller, and Davy lay at his feet, with +Nep bolt upright beside him; but the happiest face +of all was Moppet's. Kneeling at the bow, she +leaned forward, with her lips apart, her fuzzy hair +blown back, and her eyes fixed on the island which +was to be her home. Like a little black figure-head +of Hope, she leaned and looked, as the boat flew on, +bearing her away from the old life into the new.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +As the sun sunk, out shone the lamp with sudden +brightness, as if the island bade them welcome. +Dan furled the sail; and, drifting with the tide, they +floated in, till the waves broke softly on the shore, +and left them safe at home.</p> +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE WHALE'S STORY.</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Freddy</span> sat thinking on the seat under the +trees. It was a wide, white seat, about four +feet long, sloping from the sides to the middle, something +like a swing; and was not only comfortable +but curious, for it was made of a whale's bone. +Freddy often sat there, and thought about it for he +was very much interested in it, and nobody could +tell him any thing of it, except that it had been +there a long time.</p> + +<p>"Poor old whale, I wonder how you got here, +where you came from, and if you were a good and +happy creature while you lived," said Freddy, patting +the old bone with his little hand.</p> + +<p>It gave a great creak; and a sudden gust of air +stirred the trees, as if some monster groaned and +sighed. Then Freddy heard a strange voice, very +loud, yet cracked and queer, as if some one tried to +talk with a broken jaw.</p> + +<p>"Freddy ahoy!" called the big voice. "I'll tell +you all about it; for you are the only person who +ever pitied me, or cared to know any thing about +me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +"Why, can you talk?" asked Freddy, very much +astonished and a little frightened.</p> + +<p>"Of course I can, for this is a part of my jaw-bone. +I should talk better if my whole mouth was +here; but I'm afraid my voice would then be so loud +you wouldn't be able to hear it. I don't think any +one but you would understand me, any way. It isn't +every one that can, you know; but you are a thoughtful +little chap, with a lively fancy as well as a kind +heart, so you shall hear my story."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, I should like it very much, if you +would please to speak a little lower, and not sigh; +for your voice almost stuns me, and your breath +nearly blows me away," said Freddy.</p> + +<p>"I'll try: but it's hard to suit my tone to such a +mite, or to help groaning when I think of my sad +fate; though I deserve it, perhaps," said the bone, +more gently.</p> + +<p>"Were you a naughty whale?" asked Freddy.</p> + +<p>"I was proud, very proud, and foolish; and so I +suffered for it. I dare say you know a good deal +about us. I see you reading often, and you seem a +sensible child."</p> + +<p>"No: I haven't read about you yet, and I only +know that you are the biggest fish there is," replied +Freddy.</p> + +<p>The bone creaked and shook, as if it was laughing, +and said in a tone that showed it hadn't got +over its pride yet:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +"You're wrong there, my dear; we are not fishes +at all, though stupid mortals have called us so for a +long time. We can't live without air; we have warm, +red blood; and we don't lay eggs,—so we are <i>not</i> +fishes. We certainly <i>are</i> the biggest creatures in the +sea and out of it. Why, bless you! some of us are +nearly a hundred feet long; our tails alone are +fifteen or twenty feet wide; the biggest of us weigh +five hundred thousand pounds, and have in them the +fat, bone, and muscle of a thousand cattle. The +lower jaw of one of my family made an arch large +enough for a man on horseback to ride under easily, +and my cousins of the sperm-family usually yield +eighty barrels of oil."</p> + +<p>"Gracious me, what monsters you are!" cried +Freddy, taking a long breath, while his eyes got +bigger and bigger as he listened.</p> + +<p>"Ah! you may well say so; we are a very wonderful +and interesting family. All our branches are +famous in one way or another. Fin-backs, sperms, +and rights are the largest; then come the norwhals, +the dolphins, and porpoises,—which last, I dare say, +you've seen."</p> + +<p>"Yes: but tell me about the big ones, please. +Which were you?" cried Freddy.</p> + +<p>"I was a Right whale, from Greenland. The +Sperms live in warm places; but to us the torrid zone +is like a sea of fire, and we don't pass it. Our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +cousins do; and go to the East Indies by way of the +North Pole, which is more than your famous Parrys +and Franklins could do."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that; but I'd like to hear +what you eat, and how you live, and why you came +here," said Freddy, who thought the whale rather +inclined to boast.</p> + +<p>"Well, we haven't got any teeth,—our branch of +the family; and we live on creatures so small, that +you could only see them with a microscope. Yes, +you may stare; but it's true, my dear. The roofs of +our mouths are made of whalebone, in broad pieces +from six to eight feet long, arranged one against the +other; so they make an immense sieve. The tongue, +which makes about five barrels of oil, lies below, +like a cushion of white satin. When we want to +feed, we rush through the water, which is full of the +little things we eat, and catch them in our sieve, +spurting the water through two holes in our heads. +Then we collect the food with our tongue, and +swallow it; for, though we are so big, our throats +are small. We roam about in the ocean, leaping and +floating, feeding and spouting, flying from our enemies, +or fighting bravely to defend our young ones."</p> + +<p>"Have you got any enemies? I shouldn't think +you could have, you are so large," said Freddy.</p> + +<p>"But we have, and many too,—three who attack +us in the water, and several more that men use<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +against us. The killer, the sword-fish, and the +thrasher trouble us at home. The killer fastens to +us, and won't be shaken off till he has worried us to +death; the sword-fish stabs us with his sword; and +the thrasher whips us to death with his own slender, +but strong and heavy body. Then, men harpoon +us, shoot or entrap us; and make us into oil and +candles and seats, and stiffening for gowns and +umbrellas," said the bone, in a tone of scorn.</p> + +<p>Freddy laughed at the idea, and asked, "How +about candles? I know about oil and seats and +umbrellas; but I thought candles were made of +wax."</p> + +<p>"I can't say much on that point: I only know +that, when a sperm whale is killed, they make oil out +of the fat part as they do of ours; but the Sperms +have a sort of cistern in their heads, full of stuff like +cream, and rose-colored. They cut a hole in the +skull, and dip it out; and sometimes get sixteen or +twenty barrels. This is made into what you call +spermaceti candles. <i>We</i> don't have any such nonsense +about us; but the Sperms always were a light-headed +set."</p> + +<p>Here the bone laughed, in a cracked sort of roar, +which sent Freddy flying off the seat on to the grass, +where he stayed, laughing also, though he didn't see +any joke.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, child. It isn't often that I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +laugh; for I've a heavy heart somewhere, and have +known trouble enough to make me as sad as the sea +is sometimes."</p> + +<p>"Tell me about your troubles; I pity you very +much, and like to hear you talk," said Freddy, +kindly.</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately we are very easily killed, in spite +of our size; and have various afflictions besides +death. We grow blind; our jaws are deformed +sometimes; our tails, with which we swim, get hurt; +and we have dyspepsia."</p> + +<p>Freddy shouted at that; for he knew what dyspepsia +was, because at the sea-side there were many +sickly people who were always groaning about that +disease.</p> + +<p>"It's no laughing matter, I assure you," said the +whale's bone. "We suffer a great deal, and get thin +and weak and miserable. I've sometimes thought +that's the reason we are blue."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, as you have no teeth, you don't chew +your food enough, and so have dyspepsia, like an old +gentleman I know," said Freddy.</p> + +<p>"That's not the reason; my cousins, the Sperms, +have teeth, and dyspepsia also."</p> + +<p>"Are they blue?"</p> + +<p>"No, black and white. But I was going to tell +you my troubles. My father was harpooned when +I was very young, and I remember how bravely he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +died. The Rights usually run away when they see +a whaler coming; not from cowardice,—oh, dear, +no!—but discretion. The Sperms stay and fight, +and are killed off very fast; for they are a very +headstrong family. We fight when we can't help it; +and my father died like a hero. They chased him +five hours before they stuck him; he tried to get +away, and dragged three or four boats and sixteen +hundred fathoms of line from eight in the morning +till four at night. Then they got out another line, +and he towed the ship itself for more than an hour. +There were fifteen harpoons in him: he chewed up +a boat, pitched several men overboard, and damaged +the vessel, before they killed him. Ah! he was a +father to be proud of."</p> + +<p>Freddy sat respectfully silent for a few minutes, +as the old bone seemed to feel a great deal on the +subject. Presently he went on again:</p> + +<p>"The Sperms live in herds; but the Rights go in +pairs, and are very fond of one another. My wife +was a charming creature, and we were very happy, +till one sad day, when she was playing with our +child,—a sweet little whaleling only twelve feet long, +and weighing but a ton,—my son was harpooned. +His mamma, instead of flying, wrapped her fins +round him, and dived as far as the line allowed. +Then she came up, and dashed at the boats in great +rage and anguish, entirely regardless of the danger<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +she was in. The men struck my son, in order to get +her, and they soon succeeded; but even then, in +spite of her suffering, she did not try to escape, but +clung to little Spouter till both were killed. Alas! +alas!"</p> + +<p>Here the poor bone creaked so dismally, Freddy +feared it would tumble to pieces, and bring the story +to an end too soon.</p> + +<p>"Don't think of those sorrowful things," he said; +"tell me how you came to be here. Were you +harpooned?"</p> + +<p>"Not I; for I've been very careful all my life to +keep out of the way of danger: I'm not like one of +my relations, who attacked a ship, gave it such a +dreadful blow that he made a great hole, the water +rushed in, and the vessel was wrecked. But he +paid dearly for that prank; for a few months afterward +another ship harpooned him very easily, finding +two spears still in him, and a wound in his head. I +forgot to mention, that the Sperms have fine ivory +teeth, and make ambergris,—a sort of stuff that +smells very nice, and costs a great deal. I give you +these little facts about my family, as you seem interested, +and it's always well to improve the minds of +young people."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind; but will you be good enough +to tell about yourself?" said Freddy again; for the +bone seemed to avoid that part of the story, as if he +didn't want to tell it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +"Well, if I must, I must; but I'm sorry to confess +what a fool I've been. You know what coral is, +don't you?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Freddy, wondering why it asked.</p> + +<p>"Then I must tell you, I suppose. There is a bit +in the house there,—that rough, white, stony stuff on +the table in the parlor. It's full of little holes, you +know. Well, those holes are the front doors of +hundreds of little polypes, or coral worms, who +build the great branches of coral, and live there. +They are of various shapes and colors,—some like +stars; some fine as a thread, and blue or yellow; +others like snails and tiny lobsters. Some people +say the real coral-makers are shaped like little +oblong bags of jelly, closed at one end, the other +open, with six or eight little feelers, like a star, all +around it. The other creatures are boarders or +visitors: these are the real workers, and, when they +sit in their cells and put out their feelers, they make +all manner of lovely colors under the water,—crimson, +green, orange, and violet. But if they are taken +up or touched, the coral people go in doors, and the +beautiful hues disappear. They say there are many +coral reefs and islands built by these industrious +people, in the South Seas; but I can't go there to +see, and I am contented with those I find in the +northern latitudes. I knew such a community of +coral builders, and used to watch them long ago,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +when they began to work. It was a charming spot, +down under the sea; for all manner of lovely plants +grew there; splendid fishes sailed to and fro; wonderful +shells lay about; crimson and yellow prawns, +long, gliding green worms, and purple sea-urchins, +were there. When I asked the polypes what they +were doing, and they answered, 'Building an island,' +I laughed at them; for the idea that these tiny, soft +atoms could make any thing was ridiculous. 'You +may roar; but you'll see that we are right, if you +live long enough,' said they. 'Our family have built +thousands of islands and long reefs, that the sea +can't get over, strong as it is.' That amused me +immensely; but I wouldn't believe it, and laughed +more than ever."</p> + +<p>"It does seem very strange," said Freddy, looking +at the branch of coral which he had brought out to +examine.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't it? and isn't it hard to believe? I used +to go, now and then, to see how the little fellows got +on, and always found them hard at it. For a long +while there was only a little plant without leaves, +growing slowly taller and taller; for they always +build upward toward the light. By and by, the +small shrub was a tree: flying-fish roosted in its +branches; sea-cows lay under its shadow; and thousands +of jolly little polypes lived and worked in its +white chambers. I was glad to see them getting on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +so well; but still I didn't believe in the island story, +and used to joke them about their ambition. They +were very good-natured, and only answered me, +'Wait a little longer, Friend Right.' I had my own +affairs to attend to; so, for years at a time, I forgot +the coral-workers, and spent most of my life up +Greenland way, for warm climates don't agree with +my constitution. When I came back, after a long +absence, I was astonished to see the tree grown into +a large umbrella-shaped thing, rising above the +water. Sea-weed had washed up and clung there; +sea-birds had made nests there; land-birds and the +winds had carried seeds there, which had sprung up; +trunks of trees had been cast there by the sea; +lizards, insects, and little animals came with the +trees, and were the first inhabitants; and, behold! it +<i>was</i> an island."</p> + +<p>"What did you say then?" asked Freddy.</p> + +<p>"I was angry, and didn't want to own that I was +wrong; so I insisted that it wasn't a real island, +without people on it. 'Wait a little longer,' answered +the polypes; and went on, building broader +and broader foundations. I flounced away in a +rage, and didn't go back for a great while. I hoped +something would happen to the coral builders and +their island; but I was so curious that I couldn't +keep away, and, on going back there, I found a +settlement of fishermen, and the beginning of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +thriving town. Now I should have been in a towering +passion at this, if in my travels I hadn't discovered +a race of little creatures as much smaller +than polypes as a mouse is smaller than an elephant. +I heard two learned men talking about diatoms, as +they sailed to Labrador; and I listened. They said +these people lived in both salt and fresh water, and +were found in all parts of the world. They were a +glassy shell, holding a soft, golden-yellow substance, +and that they were so countless that banks were +made of them, and that a town here in these United +States was founded on them. They were the food of +many little sea-animals, who, in turn, fed us big +creatures, and were very interesting and wonderful. +I saved up this story; and, when the polypes asked +if they hadn't done what they intended, I told them +I didn't think it so very remarkable, for the tiny +diatoms made cities, and were far more astonishing +animals than they. I thought that would silence +them; but they just turned round, and informed me +that my diatoms were plants, not animals,—so my +story was all humbug. Then I <i>was</i> mad; and +couldn't get over the fact that these little rascals had +done what we, the kings of the sea, couldn't do. I +wasn't content with being the biggest creature there: +I wanted to be the most skilful also. I didn't +remember that every thing has its own place and +use, and should be happy in doing the work for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +which it was made. I fretted over the matter a long +while, and at last decided to make an island myself."</p> + +<p>"How could you?" asked Freddy.</p> + +<p>"I had my plans; and thought them very wise ones. +I was so bent on outdoing the polypes that I didn't +much care what happened; and so I went to work +in my clumsy way. I couldn't pile up stones, or +build millions of cells; so I just made an island of +myself. I swam up into the harbor yonder one +night; covered my back with sea-weed; and lay still +on the top of the water. In the morning the gulls +came to see what it was, and pecked away at the +weeds, telling me very soon that they knew what I +was after, and that I couldn't gull them. All the +people on shore turned out to see the wonder also; +for a fisherman had carried the tidings, and every +one was wild to behold the new island. After staring +and chattering a long while, boats came off to +examine the mystery. Loads of scientific gentlemen +worked away at me with microscopes, hammers, +acids, and all sorts of tests, to decide what I was; +and kept up such a fire of long words that I was +'most dead. They couldn't make up their minds; +and meanwhile news of the strange thing spread, and +every sort of person came to see me. The gulls kept +telling them the joke; but they didn't understand, +and I got on capitally. Every night I dined and fed +and frolicked till dawn; then put on my sea-weeds,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +and lay still to be stared at. I wanted some one to +come and live on me; then I should be equal to the +island of the polypes. But no one came, and I was +beginning to be tired of fooling people, when I was +fooled myself. An old sailor came to visit me: he +had been a whaler, and he soon guessed the secret. +But he said nothing till he was safely out of danger; +then he got all ready, and one day, as I lay placidly +in the sun, a horrible harpoon came flying through +the air, and sunk deep into my back. I forgot every +thing but the pain, and dived for my life. Alas! the +tide was low; the harbor-bar couldn't be passed; and +I found hundreds of boats chasing me, till I was +driven ashore down there on the flats. Big and +strong as we are, once out of water, and we are +perfectly helpless. I was soon despatched; and my +bones left to whiten on the sand. This was long +ago; and, one by one, all my relics have been +carried off or washed away. My jaw-bone has been +used as a seat here, till it's worn out; but I couldn't +crumble away till I'd told some one my story. Remember, +child, pride goeth before a fall."</p> + +<p>Then, with a great creak, the bone tumbled to +pieces; and found a peaceful grave in the long green +grass.</p> +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X.</h2> + +<h3>A STRANGE ISLAND.</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">One</span> day I lay rocking in my boat, reading a +very famous book, which all children know +and love; and the name of which I'll tell you by and +by. So busily was I reading, that I never minded +the tide; and presently discovered that I was floating +out to sea, with neither sail nor oar. At first I +was very much frightened; for there was no one in +sight on land or sea, and I didn't know where I +might drift to. But the water was calm, the sky +clear, and the wind blew balmily; so I waited for +what should happen.</p> + +<p>Presently I saw a speck on the sea, and eagerly +watched it; for it drew rapidly near, and seemed to +be going my way. When it came closer, I was much +amazed; for, of all the queer boats I ever saw, this +was the queerest. It was a great wooden bowl, +very cracked and old; and in it sat three gray-headed +little gentlemen with spectacles, all reading +busily, and letting the boat go where it pleased. +Now, right in their way was a rock; and I called +out, "Sir, sir, take care."</p> + +<p>But my call came too late: crash went the bowl, +out came the bottom, and down plumped all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +little gentlemen into the sea. I tried not to laugh, +as the books, wigs, and spectacles flew about; and, +urging my boat nearer, I managed to fish them up, +dripping and sneezing, and looking like drowned +kittens. When the flurry was over, and they had got +their breath, I asked who they were, and where they +were going.</p> + +<p>"We are from Gotham, ma'am," said the fattest +one, wiping a very wet face on a very wet handkerchief. +"We were going to that island yonder. We +have often tried, but never got there: it's always so, +and I begin to think the thing can't be done."</p> + +<p>I looked where he pointed; and, sure enough, +there was an island where I had never seen one +before. I rubbed my eyes, and looked again. +Yes: there it was,—a little island, with trees and +people on it; for I saw smoke coming out of the +chimney of a queerly-shaped house on the shore.</p> + +<p>"What is the name of it?" I asked.</p> + +<p>The little old gentleman put his finger on his lips, +and said, with a mysterious nod:</p> + +<p>"I couldn't tell you, ma'am. It's a secret; but, if +you manage to land there, you will soon know."</p> + +<p>The other old men nodded at the same time; and +then all went to reading again, with the water still +dropping off the ends of their noses. This made me +very curious; and, as the tide drifted us nearer and +nearer, I looked well about me, and saw several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +things that filled me with a strong desire to land on +the island. The odd house, I found, was built like +a high-heeled shoe; and at every window I saw +children's heads. Some were eating broth; some +were crying; and some had nightcaps on. I caught +sight of a distracted old lady flying about, with a +ladle in one hand, and a rod in the other; but the +house was so full of children (even up to the skylight,—out +of which they popped their heads, and +nodded at me) that I couldn't see much of the +mamma of this large family: one seldom can, you +know.</p> + +<p>I had hardly got over my surprise at this queer +sight, when I saw a cow fly up through the air, over +the new moon that hung there, and come down and +disappear in the woods. I really didn't know what +to make of this, but had no time to ask the old men +what it meant; for a cat, playing a fiddle, was seen +on the shore. A little dog stood by, listening and +laughing; while a dish and a spoon ran away over +the beach with all their might. If the boat had not +floated up to the land, I think I should have swam +there,—I was so anxious to see what was going on; +for there was a great racket on the island, and such +a remarkable collection of creatures, it was impossible +to help staring.</p> + +<p>As soon as we landed, three other gentlemen came +to welcome the ones I had saved, and seemed very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +glad to see them. They appeared to have just +landed from a tub in which was a drum, rub-a-dub-dubbing +all by itself. One of the new men had a +white frock on, and carried a large knife; the second +had dough on his hands, flour on his coat, and a hot-looking +face; the third was very greasy, had a +bundle of candles under his arm, and a ball of wicking +half out of his pocket. The six shook hands, +and walked away together, talking about a fair; and +left me to take care of myself.</p> + +<p>I walked on through a pleasant meadow, where a +pretty little girl was looking sadly up at a row of +sheep's tails hung on a tree. I also saw a little boy +in blue, asleep by a haycock; and another boy +taking aim at a cock-sparrow, who clapped his wings +and flew away. Presently I saw two more little +girls: one sat by a fire warming her toes; and, when +I asked what her name was, she said pleasantly:</p> + +<p>"Polly Flinders, ma'am."</p> + +<p>The other one sat on a tuft of grass, eating something +that looked very nice; but, all of a sudden, +she dropped her bowl, and ran away, looking very +much frightened.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with her?" I asked of a gay +young frog who came tripping along with his hat +under his arm.</p> + +<p>"Miss Muffit is a fashionable lady, and afraid of +spiders, madam; also of frogs." And he puffed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +himself angrily up, till his eyes quite goggled in his +head.</p> + +<p>"And, pray, who are you, sir?" I asked, staring at +his white vest, green coat, and fine cravat.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, if I don't give my name, ma'am. +My false friend, the rat, got me into a sad scrape +once; and Rowley insists upon it that a duck destroyed +me, which is all gammon, ma'am,—all +gammon."</p> + +<p>With that, the frog skipped away; and I turned +into a narrow lane, which seemed to lead toward +some music. I had not gone far, when I heard the +rumbling of a wheelbarrow, and saw a little man +wheeling a little woman along. The little man +looked very hot and tired; but the little woman +looked very nice, in a smart bonnet and shawl, and +kept looking at a new gold ring on her finger, as she +rode along under her little umbrella. I was wondering +who they were, when down went the wheelbarrow; +and the little lady screamed so dismally +that I ran away, lest I should get into trouble,—being +a stranger.</p> + +<p>Turning a corner, I came upon a very charming +scene, and slipped into a quiet nook to see what was +going on. It was evidently a wedding; and I was +just in time to see it, for the procession was passing +at that moment. First came a splendid cock-a-doodle, +all in black and gold, like a herald, blowing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +his trumpet, and marching with a very dignified step. +Then came a rook, in black, like a minister, with +spectacles and white cravat. A lark and bullfinch +followed,—friends, I suppose; and then the bride +and bridegroom. Miss Wren was evidently a Quakeress; +for she wore a sober dress, and a little white +veil, through which her bright eyes shone. The +bridegroom was a military man, in his scarlet uniform,—a +plump, bold-looking bird, very happy and +proud just then. A goldfinch gave away the bride, +and a linnet was bridesmaid. The ceremony was +very fine; and, as soon as it was over, the blackbird, +thrush and nightingale burst out in a lovely song.</p> + +<p>A splendid dinner followed, at which was nearly +every bird that flies; so you may imagine the music +there was. They had currant-pie in abundance; and +cherry-wine, which excited a cuckoo so much, that +he became quite rude, and so far forgot himself as to +pull the bride about. This made the groom so angry +that he begged his friend, the sparrow, to bring his +bow and arrow, and punish the ruffian. But, alas! +Sparrow had also taken a drop too much: he aimed +wrong, and, with a dreadful cry, Mr. Robin sank +dying into the arms of his wife, little Jane.</p> + +<p>It was too much for me; and, taking advantage of +the confusion that followed, I left the tragical scene +as fast as possible.</p> + +<p>A little farther on, I was shocked to see a goose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +dragging an old man down some steps that led to a +little house.</p> + +<p>"Dear me! what's the matter here?" I cried.</p> + +<p>"He won't say his prayers," screamed the goose.</p> + +<p>"But perhaps he was never taught," said I.</p> + +<p>"It's never too late to learn: he's had his chance; +he won't be pious and good, so away with him. +Don't interfere, whatever you do: hold your tongue, +and go about your business," scolded the goose, who +certainly had a dreadful temper.</p> + +<p>I dared say no more; and, when the poor old man +had been driven away by this foul proceeding, I +went up the steps and peeped in; for I heard some +one crying, and thought the cross bird, perhaps, had +hurt some one else. A little old woman stood there, +wringing her hands in great distress; while a small +dog was barking at her with all his might.</p> + +<p>"Bless me! the fashions have got even here," +thought I; for the old woman was dressed in the +latest style,—or, rather, she had overdone it sadly; +for her gown was nearly up to her knees, and she +was nearly as ridiculous an object as some of the +young ladies I had seen at home. She had a respectable +bonnet on, however, instead of a straw +saucer; and her hair was neatly put under a cap,—not +made into a knob on the top of her head.</p> + +<p>"My dear soul, what's the trouble?" said I, quite +touched by her tears.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +"Lud a mercy, ma'am! I've been to market with +my butter and eggs,—for the price of both is so high, +one can soon get rich nowadays,—and, being tired, +I stopped to rest a bit, but fell asleep by the road. +Somebody—I think it's a rogue of a peddler who +sold me wooden nutmegs, and a clock that wouldn't +go, and some pans that came to bits the first time I +used them—somebody cut my new gown and petticoat +off all round, in the shameful way you see. I +thought I never should get home; for I was such a +fright, I actually didn't know myself. But, thinks I, +my doggy will know me; and then I shall be sure +I'm I, and not some boldfaced creature in short +skirts. But, oh, ma'am! doggy <i>don't</i> know me; and +I ain't myself, and I don't know what to do."</p> + +<p>"He's a foolish little beast; so don't mind him, +but have a cup of tea, and go to bed. You can +make your gown decent to-morrow; and, if I see the +tricksy peddler, I'll give him a scolding."</p> + +<p>This seemed to comfort the old woman; though +doggy still barked.</p> + +<p>"My next neighbor has a dog who never behaves +in this way," she said, as she put her teapot on the +coals. "He's a remarkable beast; and you'd better +stop to see him as you pass, ma'am. He's always +up to some funny prank or other."</p> + +<p>I said I would; and, as I went by the next house, +I took a look in at the window. The closet was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +empty, I observed; but the dog sat smoking a pipe, +looking as grave as a judge.</p> + +<p>"Where is your mistress?" asked I.</p> + +<p>"Gone for some tripe," answered the dog, politely +taking the pipe out of his mouth, and adding, "I +hope the smoke doesn't annoy you."</p> + +<p>"I don't approve of smoking," said I.</p> + +<p>"Sorry to hear it," said the dog, coolly.</p> + +<p>I was going to lecture him on this bad habit; but +I saw his mistress coming with a dish in her hand, +and, fearing she might think me rude to peep in at +her windows, I walked on, wondering what we were +coming to when even four-legged puppies smoked.</p> + +<p>At the door of the next little house, I saw a market-wagon +loaded with vegetables, and a smart young +pig just driving it away. I had heard of this interesting +family, and took a look as I passed by. A +second tidy pig sat blowing the fire; and a third was +eating roast-beef, as if he had just come in from his +work. The fourth, I was grieved to see, looked very +sulky; for it was evident he had been naughty, and +so lost his dinner. The little pig was at the door, +crying to get in; and it was sweet to see how kindly +the others let him in, wiped his tears, tied on his bib, +and brought him his bread and milk. I was very +glad to see these young orphans doing so well, and +I knew my friends at home would enjoy hearing +from them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +A loud scream made me jump; and the sudden +splash of water made me run along, without stopping +to pick up a boy and girl who came tumbling down +the hill, with an empty pail, bumping their heads as +they rolled. Smelling something nice, and feeling +hungry, I stepped into a large room near by,—a sort +of eating-house, I fancy; for various parties seemed +to be enjoying themselves in their different ways. A +small boy sat near the door, eating a large pie; and +he gave me a fine plum which he had just pulled out. +At one table was a fat gentleman cutting another +pie, which had a dark crust, through which appeared +the heads of a flock of birds, all singing gayly.</p> + +<p>"There's no end to the improvements in cooking, +and no accounting for tastes," I added, looking at a +handsomely-dressed lady, who sat near, eating bread +and honey.</p> + +<p>As I passed this party, I saw behind the lady's +chair a maid, with a clothes-pin in her hand, and no +nose. She sobbingly told me a bird had nipped it +off; and I gave her a bit of court-plaster, which I +fortunately had in my pocket.</p> + +<p>Another couple were dividing their meat in a +queer way; for one took all the fat, and the other +all the lean. The next people were odder still; +for the man looked rather guilty, and seemed +to be hiding a three-peck measure under his chair, +while he waited for his wife to bring on some cold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +barley-pudding, which, to my surprise, she was frying +herself. I also saw a queer moonstruck-looking man +inquiring the way to Norridge; and another man +making wry faces over some plum-pudding, with +which he had burnt his mouth, because his friend +came down too soon.</p> + +<p>I ordered pease-porridge hot, and they brought it +cold; but I didn't wait for any thing else, being in a +hurry to see all there was to be seen on this strange +island. Feeling refreshed, I strolled on, passing a +jolly old gentleman smoking and drinking, while +three fiddlers played before him. As I turned into +a road that led toward a hill, a little boy, riding a +dapple-gray pony, and an old lady on a white horse, +with bells ringing somewhere, trotted by me, followed +by a little girl, who wished to know where she could +buy a penny bun. I told her the best were at Newmarch's, +in Bedford Street, and she ran on, much +pleased; but I'm afraid she never found that best of +bake-shops. I was going quietly along, when the +sound of another horse coming made me look +round; and there I saw a dreadful sight,—a wild +horse, tearing over the ground, with fiery eyes and +streaming tail. On his back sat a crazy man, beating +him with a broom; a crazy woman was behind +him, with her bonnet on wrong side before, holding +one crazy child in her lap, while another stood on +the horse; a third was hanging on by one foot, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +all were howling at the top of their voices as they +rushed by. I scrambled over the wall to get out of +the way, and there I saw more curious sights. Two +blind men were sitting on the grass, trying to see two +lame men who were hobbling along as hard as they +could; and, near by, a bull was fighting a bee in the +most violent manner. This rather alarmed me; and +I scrambled back into the road again, just as a very +fine lady jumped over a barberry-bush near by, and +a gentleman went flying after, with a ring in one +hand and a stick in the other.</p> + +<p>"What very odd people they have here!" I +thought. Close by was a tidy little house under the +hill, and in it a tidy little woman who sold things to +eat. Being rather hungry, in spite of my porridge, +I bought a baked apple and a cranberry-pie; for she +said they were good, and I found she told the truth. +As I sat eating my pie, some dogs began to bark; +and by came a troop of beggars, some in rags, and +some in old velvet gowns. A drunken grenadier was +with them, who wanted a pot of beer; but as he +had no money, the old woman sent him about his +business.</p> + +<p>On my way up the hill, I saw a little boy crying +over a dead pig, and his sister, who seemed to be +dead also. I asked his name, and he sobbed out, +"Johnny Pringle, ma'am;" and went on crying so +hard I could do nothing to comfort him. While I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +stood talking to him, a sudden gust of wind blew up +the road, and down came the bough of a tree; and, +to my surprise, a cradle with a baby in it also. The +baby screamed dreadfully, and I didn't know how to +quiet it; so I ran back to the old woman, and left it +with her, asking if that was the way babies were +taken care of there.</p> + +<p>"Bless you, my dear! its ma is making patty-cakes; +and put it up there to be out of the way of +Tom Tinker's dog. I'll soon hush it up," said the +old woman; and, trotting it on her knee, she began +to sing:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Hey! my kitten, my kitten,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"> Hey! my kitten, my deary."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Feeling that the child was in good hands, I hurried +away, for I saw something was going on upon the +hill-top. When I got to the hill-top, I was shocked +to find some people tossing an old woman in a +blanket. I begged them to stop; but one of the +men, who, I found, was a Welchman, by the name of +Taffy, told me the old lady liked it.</p> + +<p>"But why does she like it?" I asked in great +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Tom, the piper's son, will tell you: it's my turn +to toss now," said the man.</p> + +<p>"Why, you see, ma'am," said Tom, "she is one of +those dreadfully nice old women, who are always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +fussing and scrubbing, and worrying people to death, +with everlastingly cleaning house. Now and then +we get so tired out with her that we propose to her +to clean the sky itself. She likes that; and, as this +is the only way we can get her up, we toss till she +sticks somewhere, and then leave her to sweep +cobwebs till she is ready to come back and behave +herself."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is the oddest thing I ever heard. I +know just such an old lady, and when I go home I'll +try your plan. It seems to me that you have a great +many queer old ladies on this island," I said to +another man, whom they called Peter, and who stood +eating pumpkin all the time.</p> + +<p>"Well, we do have rather a nice collection; but +you haven't seen the best of all. We expect her +every minute; and Margery Daw is to let us know +the minute she lights on the island," replied Peter, +with his mouth full.</p> + +<p>"Lights?" said I, "you speak as if she flew."</p> + +<p>"She rides on a bird. Hurrah! the old sweeper +has lit. Now the cobwebs will fly. Don't hurry +back," shouted the man; and a faint, far-off voice +answered, "I shall be back again by and by."</p> + +<p>The people folded up the blanket, looking much +relieved; and I was examining a very odd house +which was built by an ancient king called Boggen, +when Margery Daw, a dirty little girl, came up the +hill, screaming, at the top of her voice:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +"She's come! she's come!"</p> + +<p>Every one looked up; and I saw a large white bird +slowly flying over the island. On its back sat the +nicest old woman that ever was seen: all the others +were nothing compared to her. She had a pointed +hat on over her cap, a red cloak, high-heeled shoes, +and a crutch in her hand. She smiled and nodded +as the bird approached; and every one ran and nodded, +and screamed, "Welcome! welcome, mother!"</p> + +<p>As soon as she touched the ground, she was so +surrounded that I could only see the top of her hat; +for hundreds and hundreds of little children suddenly +appeared, like a great flock of birds,—rosy, happy, +pretty children; but all looked unreal, and among +them I saw some who looked like little people I +had known long ago.</p> + +<p>"Who are they?" I asked of a bonny lass, who +was sitting on a cushion, eating strawberries and +cream.</p> + +<p>"They are the phantoms of all the little people +who ever read and loved our mother's songs," said +the maid.</p> + +<p>"What did she write?" I asked, feeling very +queer, and as if I was going to remember something.</p> + +<p>"Songs that are immortal; and you have them in +your hand," replied the bonny maid, smiling at my +stupidity.</p> + +<p>I looked; and there, on the cover of the book I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +had been reading so busily when the tide carried me +away, I saw the words "Mother Goose's Melodies." +I was so delighted that I had seen her I gave a +shout, and tried to get near enough to hug and kiss +the dear old soul, as the swarm of children were +doing; but my cry woke me, and I was <i>so</i> sorry to +find it all a dream!</p> +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI.</h2> + +<h3>FANCY'S FRIEND.</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It</span> was a wagon, shaped like a great square basket, +on low wheels, and drawn by a stout donkey. +There was one seat, on which Miss Fairbairn the +governess sat; and all round her, leaning over the +edge of the basket, were children, with little wooden +shovels and baskets in their hands, going down to +play on the beach. Away they went, over the common, +through the stony lane, out upon the wide, +smooth sands. All the children but one immediately +fell to digging holes, and making ponds, castles, or +forts. They did this every day, and were never tired +of it; but little Fancy made new games for herself, +and seldom dug in the sand. She had a garden of +sea-weed, which the waves watered every day: she +had a palace of pretty shells, where she kept all sorts +of little water-creatures as fairy tenants; she had +friends and playmates among the gulls and peeps, +and learned curious things by watching crabs, horse-shoes, +and jelly-fishes; and every day she looked for +a mermaid.</p> + +<p>It was of no use to tell her that there were no +mermaids: Fancy firmly believed in them, and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +sure she would see one some day. The other children +called the seals mermaids; and were contented +with the queer, shiny creatures who played in the +water, lay on the rocks, and peeped at them with +soft, bright eyes as they sailed by. Fancy was not +satisfied with seals,—they were not pretty and graceful +enough for her,—and she waited and watched for +a real mermaid. On this day she took a breezy run +with the beach-birds along the shore; she planted a +pretty red weed in her garden; and let out the water-beetles +and snails who had passed the night in her +palace. Then she went to a rock that stood near +the quiet nook where she played alone, and sat there +looking for a mermaid as the tide came in; for it +brought her many curious things, and it might perhaps +bring a mermaid.</p> + +<p>As she looked across the waves that came tumbling +one over the other, she saw something that was +neither boat nor buoy nor seal. It was a queer-looking +thing, with a wild head, a long waving tail, and +something like arms that seemed to paddle it along. +The waves tumbled it about, so Fancy could not see +very well: but, the longer she looked, the surer she +was that this curious thing was a mermaid; and she +waited eagerly for it to reach the shore. Nearer and +nearer it came, till a great wave threw it upon the +sand; and Fancy saw that it was only a long piece +of kelp, torn up by the roots. She was very much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +disappointed; but, all of a sudden, her face cleared +up, she clapped her hands, and began to dance round +the kelp, saying:</p> + +<p>"I'll make a mermaid myself, since none will come +to me."</p> + +<p>Away she ran, higher up the beach, and, after +thinking a minute, began her work. Choosing a +smooth, hard place, she drew with a stick the outline +of her mermaid; then she made the hair of the +brown marsh-grass growing near by, arranging it in +long locks on either side the face, which was made +of her prettiest pink and white shells,—for she pulled +down her palace to get them. The eyes were two +gray pebbles; the neck and arms of larger, white +shells; and the dress of sea-weed,—red, green, purple, +and yellow; very splendid, for Fancy emptied +her garden to dress her mermaid.</p> + +<p>"People say that mermaids always have tails; and +I might make one out of this great leaf of kelp. But +it isn't pretty, and I don't like it; for I want mine to +be beautiful: so I won't have any tail," said Fancy, +and put two slender white shells for feet, at the lower +edge of the fringed skirt. She laid a wreath of little +star-fish across the brown hair, a belt of small orange-crabs +round the waist, buttoned the dress with violet +snail-shells, and hung a tiny white pebble, like a +pearl, in either ear.</p> + +<p>"Now she must have a glass and a comb in her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +hand, as the song says, and then she will be done," +said Fancy, looking about her, well pleased.</p> + +<p>Presently she found the skeleton of a little fish, +and his backbone made an excellent comb; while a +transparent jelly-fish served for a glass, with a frame +of cockle-shells round it. Placing these in the hands +of her mermaid, and some red coral bracelets on her +wrists, Fancy pronounced her done; and danced +about her, singing:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"My pretty little mermaid,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Oh! come, and play with me:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll love you, I'll welcome you;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And happy we shall be."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Now, while she had been working, the tide had +crept higher and higher; and, as she sung, one wave +ran up and wet her feet.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a pity I didn't put her farther up!" +cried Fancy; "the tide will wash her all away; and +I meant to keep her fresh, and show her to Aunt +Fiction. My poor mermaid!—I shall lose her; but +perhaps she will be happier in the sea: so I will let +her go."</p> + +<p>Mounting her rock, Fancy waited to see her work +destroyed. But the sea seemed to pity her; and +wave after wave came up, without doing any harm. +At last one broke quite over the mermaid, and Fancy +thought that would be the end of her. But, no: +instead of scattering shells, stones, and weeds, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +waves lifted the whole figure, without displacing any +thing, and gently bore it back into the sea.</p> + +<p>"Good by! good by!" cried Fancy, as the little +figure floated away; then, as it disappeared, she put +her hands before her face,—for she loved her mermaid, +and had given all her treasures to adorn her; +and now to lose her so soon seemed hard,—and +Fancy's eyes were full of tears. Another great wave +came rolling in; but she did not look up to see it +break, and, a minute after, she heard steps tripping +toward her over the sand. Still she did not stir; +for, just then, none of her playmates could take the +place of her new friend, and she didn't want to see +them.</p> + +<p>"Fancy! Fancy!" called a breezy voice, sweeter +than any she had ever heard. But she did not raise +her head, nor care to know who called. The steps +came quite close; and the touch of a cold, wet hand +fell on her own. Then she looked up, and saw a +strange little girl standing by her, who smiled, +showing teeth like little pearls, and said, in the +breezy voice:</p> + +<p>"You wanted me to play with you, so I came."</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked Fancy, wondering where +she had seen the child before.</p> + +<p>"I'm your mermaid," said the child.</p> + +<p>"But the water carried her away," cried Fancy.</p> + +<p>"The waves only carried me out for the sea to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +give me life, and then brought me back to you," +answered the newcomer.</p> + +<p>"But are you really a mermaid?" asked Fancy, +beginning to smile and believe.</p> + +<p>"I am really the one you made: look, and see if +I'm not;" and the little creature turned slowly +round, that Fancy might be sure it was her own +work.</p> + +<p>She certainly was very like the figure that once lay +on the sand,—only she was not now made of stones +and shells. There was the long brown hair blowing +about her face, with a wreath of starry shells in it. +Her eyes were gray, her cheeks and lips rosy, her +neck and arms white; and from under her striped +dress peeped little bare feet. She had pearls in her +ears, coral bracelets, a golden belt, and a glass and +comb in her hands.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Fancy, drawing near, "you <i>are</i> my +little mermaid; but how does it happen that you +come to me at last?"</p> + +<p>"Dear friend," answered the water-child, "you +believed in me, watched and waited long for me, +shaped the image of the thing you wanted out of +your dearest treasures, and promised to love and +welcome me. I could not help coming; and the sea, +that is as fond of you as you are of it, helped me to +grant your wish."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm glad, I'm glad! Dear little mermaid,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +what is your name?" cried Fancy, kissing the cool +cheek of her new friend, and putting her arms about +her neck.</p> + +<p>"Call me by my German cousin's pretty name,—Lorelei," +answered the mermaid, kissing back as +warmly as she could.</p> + +<p>"Will you come home and live with me, dear +Lorelei?" asked Fancy, still holding her fast.</p> + +<p>"If you will promise to tell no one who and what +I am, I will stay with you as long as you love and +believe in me. As soon as you betray me, or lose +your faith and fondness, I shall vanish, never to +come back again," answered Lorelei.</p> + +<p>"I promise: but won't people wonder who you +are? and, if they ask me, what shall I say?" said +Fancy.</p> + +<p>"Tell them you found me on the shore; and leave +the rest to me. But you must not expect other people +to like and believe in me as you do. They will +say hard things of me; will blame you for loving +me; and try to part us. Can you bear this, and +keep your promise faithfully?"</p> + +<p>"I think I can. But why won't they like you?" +said Fancy, looking troubled.</p> + +<p>"Because they are not like you, dear," answered +the mermaid, with salt tears in her soft eyes. "They +have not your power of seeing beauty in all things, +of enjoying invisible delights, and living in a world<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +of your own. Your Aunt Fiction will like me; but +your Uncle Fact won't. He will want to know all +about me; will think I'm a little vagabond; and +want me to be sent away somewhere, to be made +like other children. I shall keep out of his way as +much as I can; for I'm afraid of him."</p> + +<p>"I'll take care of you, Lorelei dear; and no one +shall trouble you. I hear Miss Fairbairn calling; +so I must go. Give me your hand, and don't be +afraid."</p> + +<p>Hand in hand the two went toward the other +children, who stopped digging, and stared at the +new child. Miss Fairbairn, who was very wise and +good, but rather prim, stared too, and said, with +surprise:</p> + +<p>"Why, my dear, where did you find that queer +child?"</p> + +<p>"Down on the beach. Isn't she pretty?" answered +Fancy, feeling very proud of her new friend.</p> + +<p>"She hasn't got any shoes on; so she's a beggar, +and we mustn't play with her," said one boy, who +had been taught that to be poor was a very dreadful +thing.</p> + +<p>"What pretty earrings and bracelets she's got!" +said a little girl, who thought a great deal of her +dress.</p> + +<p>"She doesn't look as if she knew much," said another +child, who was kept studying so hard that she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +never had time to dig and run, and make dirt-pies, +till she fell ill, and had to be sent to the sea-side.</p> + +<p>"What's your name? and who are your parents?" +asked Miss Fairbairn.</p> + +<p>"I've got no parents; and my name is Lorelei," +answered the mermaiden.</p> + +<p>"You mean Luly; mind your pronunciation, +child," said Miss Fairbairn, who corrected every +one she met in something or other. "Where do you +live?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't got any home now," said Lorelei, smiling +at the lady's tone.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have: my home is yours; and you are +going to stay with me always," cried Fancy, heartily. +"She is my little sister, Miss Fairbairn: I found +her; and I'm going to keep her, and make her +happy."</p> + +<p>"Your uncle won't like it, my dear." And Miss +Fairbairn shook her head gravely.</p> + +<p>"Aunt will; and Uncle won't mind, if I learn my +lessons well, and remember the multiplication table +all right. He was going to give me some money, so +I might learn to keep accounts; but I'll tell him to +keep the money, and let me have Lorelei instead."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how silly!" cried the boy who didn't like +bare feet.</p> + +<p>"No, she isn't; for, if she's kind to the girl, +maybe she'll get some of her pretty things," said the +vain little girl.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +"Keeping accounts is a very useful and important +thing. I keep mine; and mamma says I have great +arth-met-i-cal talent," added the pale child, who +studied too much.</p> + +<p>"Come, children; it's time for dinner. Fancy, +you can take the girl to the house; and your uncle +will do what he thinks best about letting you keep +her," said Miss Fairbairn, piling them into the +basket-wagon.</p> + +<p>Fancy kept Lorelei close beside her; and as soon +as they reached the great hotel, where they all were +staying with mothers and fathers, uncles or aunts, +she took her to kind Aunt Fiction, who was interested +at once in the friendless child so mysteriously +found. She was satisfied with the little she could +discover, and promised to keep her,—for a time, at +least.</p> + +<p>"We can imagine all kinds of romantic things +about her; and, by and by, some interesting story +may be found out concerning her. I can make her +useful in many ways; and she shall stay."</p> + +<p>As Aunt Fiction laid her hand on the mermaid's +head, as if claiming her for her own, Uncle Fact +came stalking in, with his note-book in his hand, and +his spectacles on his nose. Now, though they were +married, these two persons were very unlike. Aunt +Fiction was a graceful, picturesque woman; who told +stories charmingly, wrote poetry and novels, was very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +much beloved by young folks, and was the friend of +some of the most famous people in the world. Uncle +Fact was a grim, grave, decided man; whom it was +impossible to bend or change. He was very useful +to every one; knew an immense deal; and was +always taking notes of things he saw and heard, to +be put in a great encyclopĉdia he was making. He +didn't like romance, loved the truth, and wanted to +get to the bottom of every thing. He was always +trying to make little Fancy more sober, well-behaved, +and learned; for she was a freakish, dreamy, yet very +lovable and charming child. Aunt Fiction petted +her to her heart's content, and might have done her +harm, if Uncle Fact had not had a hand in her education; +for the lessons of both were necessary to +her, as to all of us.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, well! who is this?" he said briskly, +as he turned his keen eyes and powerful glasses on +the newcomer.</p> + +<p>Aunt Fiction told him all the children had said; +but he answered impatiently:</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut! my dear: I want the facts of the case. +You are apt to exaggerate; and Fancy is not to +be relied on. If the child isn't a fool, she must +know more about herself than she pretends. Now, +answer truly, Luly, where did you come from?"</p> + +<p>But the little mermaid only shook her head, and +answered as before, "Fancy found me on the beach,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +and wants me to stay with her. I'll do her no harm: +please, let me stay."</p> + +<p>"She has evidently been washed ashore from some +wreck, and has forgotten all about herself. Her +wonderful beauty, her accent, and these ornaments +show that she is some foreign child," said Aunt +Fiction, pointing to the earrings.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! my dear: those are white pebbles, +not pearls; and, if you examine them, you will find +that those bracelets are the ones you gave Fancy as a +reward for so well remembering the facts I told her +about coral," said the uncle, who had turned Lorelei +round and round, pinched her cheek, felt her hair, +and examined her frock through the glasses which +nothing escaped.</p> + +<p>"She may stay, and be my little playmate, mayn't +she? I'll take care of her; and we shall be very +happy together," cried Fancy eagerly.</p> + +<p>"One can't be sure of that till one has tried. You +say you will take care of her: have you got any +money to pay her board, and buy her clothes?" asked +her uncle.</p> + +<p>"No; but I thought you'd help me," answered +Fancy wistfully.</p> + +<p>"Never say you'll do a thing till you are sure you +can," said Uncle Fact, as he took notes of the affair, +thinking they might be useful by and by. "I've no +objection to your keeping the girl, if, after making<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +inquiries about her, she proves to be a clever child. +She can stay awhile; and, when we go back to town, +I'll put her in one of our charity schools, where she +can be taught to earn her living. Can you read, +Luly?"</p> + +<p>"No," said the mermaid, opening her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Can you write and cipher?"</p> + +<p>"What is that?" asked Lorelei innocently.</p> + +<p>"Dear me! what ignorance!" cried Uncle Fact.</p> + +<p>"Can you sew, or tend babies?" asked Aunt +Fiction gently.</p> + +<p>"I can do nothing but play and sing, and comb +my hair."</p> + +<p>"I see! I see!—some hand-organ man's girl. +Well, I'm glad you keep your hair smooth,—that's +more than Fancy does," said Uncle Fact.</p> + +<p>"Let us hear you sing," whispered his little niece; +and, in a voice as musical as the sound of ripples +breaking on the shore, Lorelei sung a little song +that made Fancy dance with delight, charmed Aunt +Fiction, and softened Uncle Fact's hard face in spite +of himself.</p> + +<p>"Very well, very well, indeed: you have a good +voice. I'll see that you have proper teaching; and, +by and by, you can get your living by giving singing-lessons," +he said, turning over the leaves of his +book, to look for the name of a skilful teacher; for +he had lists of every useful person, place, and thing +under the sun.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +Lorelei laughed at the idea; and Fancy thought +singing for gold, not love, a hard way to get one's +living.</p> + +<p>Inquiries were made; but nothing more was discovered, +and neither of the children would speak: so +the strange child lived with Fancy, and made her +very happy. The other children didn't care much +about her; for with them she was shy and cold, +because she knew, if the truth was told, they would +not believe in her. Fancy had always played a good +deal by herself, because she never found a mate to +suit her; now she had one, and they enjoyed each +other very much. Lorelei taught her many things +besides new games; and Aunt Fiction was charmed +with the pretty stories Fancy repeated to her, while +Uncle Fact was astonished at the knowledge of +marine plants and animals which she gained without +any books. Lorelei taught her to swim, like a fish; +and the two played such wonderful pranks in the +water that people used to come down to the beach +when they bathed. In return, Fancy tried to teach +her friend to read and write and sew; but Lorelei +couldn't learn much, though she loved her little +teacher dearly, and every evening sung her to sleep +with beautiful lullabies.</p> + +<p>There was a great deal of talk about the curious +stranger; for her ways were odd, and no one knew +what to make of her. She would eat nothing but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +fruit and shell-fish, and drink nothing but salt water. +She didn't like tight clothes; but would have run +about in a loose, green robe, with bare feet and +flying hair, if Uncle Fact would have allowed it. +Morning, noon, and night, she plunged into the +sea,—no matter what the weather might be; and she +would sleep on no bed but one stuffed with dried +sea-weed. She made lovely chains of shells; found +splendid bits of coral; and dived where no one else +dared, to bring up wonderful plants and mosses. +People offered money for these things; but she gave +them all to Fancy and Aunt Fiction, of whom she +was very fond. It was curious to see the sort of +people who liked both Fancy and her friend,—poets, +artists; delicate, thoughtful children; and a few old +people, who had kept their hearts young in spite of +care and time and trouble. Dashing young gentlemen, +fine young ladies, worldly-minded and money-loving +men and women, and artificial, unchildlike +children, the two friends avoided carefully; and +these persons either made fun of them, neglected +them entirely, or seemed to be unconscious that they +were alive. The others they knew at a glance; for +their faces warmed and brightened when the children +came, they listened to their songs and stories, joined +in their plays, and found rest and refreshment in +their sweet society.</p> + +<p>"This will do for a time; as Fancy is getting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +strong, and not entirely wasting her days, thanks to +me! But our holiday is nearly over; and, as soon +as I get back to town, I'll take that child to the +Ragged Refuge, and see what they can make of her," +said Uncle Fact, who was never quite satisfied about +Lorelei; because he could find out so little concerning +her. He was walking over the beach as he said +this, after a hard day's work on his encyclopĉdia. +He sat down on a rock in a quiet place; and, instead +of enjoying the lovely sunset, he fell to studying the +course of the clouds, the state of the tide, and the +temperature of the air, till the sound of voices made +him peep over the rock. Fancy and her friend were +playing there, and the old gentleman waited to see +what they were about. Both were sitting with their +little bare feet in the water; Lorelei was stringing +pearls, and Fancy plaiting a crown of pretty green +rushes.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could go home, and get you a string of +finer pearls than these," said Lorelei; "but it is too +far away, and I cannot swim now as I used to do."</p> + +<p>"I must look into this. The girl evidently knows +all about herself, and can tell, if she chooses," muttered +Uncle Fact, getting rather excited over this +discovery.</p> + +<p>"Never mind the pearls: I'd rather have you, +dear," said Fancy lovingly. "Tell me a story while +we work, or sing me a song; and I'll give you my +crown."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +"I'll sing you a little song that has got what your +uncle calls a moral to it," said Lorelei, laughing +mischievously. Then, in her breezy little voice, she +sang the story of—</p> + +<p>THE ROCK AND THE BUBBLE.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Oh! a bare, brown rock<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Stood up in the sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The waves at its feet<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dancing merrily.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A little bubble<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Came sailing by,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And thus to the rock<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Did it gayly cry,—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ho! clumsy brown stone,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Quick, make way for me:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'm the fairest thing<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That floats on the sea.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"See my rainbow-robe,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">See my crown of light,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My glittering form,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So airy and bright.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"O'er the waters blue,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I'm floating away,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To dance by the shore<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With the foam and spray.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Now, make way, make way;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For the waves are strong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And their rippling feet<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bear me fast along."<br /></span> +</div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But the great rock stood<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Straight up in the sea:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It looked gravely down,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And said pleasantly,—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Little friend, you must<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Go some other way;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For I have not stirred<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This many a long day.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Great billows have dashed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And angry winds blown;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But my sturdy form<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Is not overthrown.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Nothing can stir me<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In the air or sea;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then, how can I move,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Little friend, for thee?"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then the waves all laughed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In their voices sweet;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the sea-birds looked,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From their rocky seat,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">At the bubble gay,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who angrily cried,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While its round cheek glowed<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With a foolish pride,—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"You <i>shall</i> move for me;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And you shall not mock<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At the words I say,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You ugly, rough rock!<br /></span> +</div><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Be silent, wild birds!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Why stare you so?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stop laughing, rude waves,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And help me to go!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"For I am the queen<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of the ocean here,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And this cruel stone<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Cannot make me fear."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Dashing fiercely up,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With a scornful word,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Foolish bubble broke;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But rock never stirred.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then said the sea-birds,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sitting in their nests,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the little ones<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Leaning on their breasts,—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Be not like Bubble,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Headstrong, rude, and vain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Seeking by violence<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Your object to gain;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"But be like the rock,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Steadfast, true, and strong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet cheerful and kind,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And firm against wrong.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Heed, little birdlings,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And wiser you'll be<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the lesson learned<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To-day by the sea."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Well, to be sure the song <i>has</i> got a moral, if that +silly Fancy only sees it," said Uncle Fact, popping +up his bald head again as the song ended.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +"I thank you: that's a good little song for me. +But, Lorelei, are you sorry you came to be my +friend?" cried Fancy; for, as she bent to lay the +crown on the other's head, she saw that she was +looking wistfully down into the water that kissed +her feet.</p> + +<p>"Not yet: while you love me, I am happy, and +never regret that I ceased to be a mermaid for your +sake," answered Lorelei, laying her soft cheek +against her friend's.</p> + +<p>"How happy I was the day my play-mermaid +changed to a real one!" said Fancy. "I often want +to tell people all about that wonderful thing, and let +them know who you really are: then they'd love you +as I do, instead of calling you a little vagabond."</p> + +<p>"Few would believe our story; and those that did +would wonder at me,—not love me as you do. They +would put me in a cage, and make a show of me; +and I should be so miserable I should die. So don't +tell who I am, will you?" said Lorelei earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Never," cried Fancy, clinging to her. +"But, my deary, what will you do when uncle +sends you away from me, as he means to do as soon +as we go home? I can see you sometimes; but we +cannot be always together, and there is no ocean for +you to enjoy in the city."</p> + +<p>"I shall bear it, if I can, for your sake; if I cannot, +I shall come back here, and wait till you come +again next year."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +"No, no! I will not be parted from you; and, if +uncle takes you away, I'll come here, and be a mermaid +with you," cried Fancy.</p> + +<p>The little friends threw their arms about each +other, and were so full of their own feelings that they +never saw Uncle Fact's tall shadow flit across them, +as he stole away over the soft sand. Poor old +gentleman! he was in a sad state of mind, and +didn't know what to do; for in all his long life he +had never been so puzzled before.</p> + +<p>"A mermaid indeed!" he muttered. "I always +thought that child was a fool, and now I'm sure of it. +She thinks she is a mermaid, and has made Fancy +believe it. I've told my wife a dozen times that she +let Fancy read too many fairy tales and wonder-books. +Her head is full of nonsense, and she is just +ready to believe any ridiculous story that is told her. +Now, what on earth shall I do? If I put Luly in an +asylum, Fancy will break her heart, and very likely +they will both run away. If I leave them together, +Luly will soon make Fancy as crazy as she is herself, +and I shall be mortified by having a niece who insists +that her playmate is a mermaid. Bless my soul! how +absurd it all is!"</p> + +<p>Aunt Fiction had gone to town to see her publishers +about a novel she had written, and he didn't like +to tell the queer story to any one else; so Uncle Fact +thought it over, and decided to settle the matter at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +once. When the children came in, he sent Fancy to +wait for him in the library, while he talked alone +with Lorelei. He did his best; but he could do +nothing with her,—she danced and laughed, and told +the same tale as before, till the old gentleman confessed +that he had heard their talk on the rocks: +then she grew very sad, and owned that she <i>was</i> a +mermaid. This made him angry, and he wouldn't +believe it for an instant; but told her it was impossible, +and she must say something else.</p> + +<p>Lorelei could say nothing else, and wept bitterly +when he would not listen; so he locked her up and +went to Fancy, who felt as if something dreadful was +going to happen when she saw his face. He told her +all he knew, and insisted that Lorelei was foolish or +naughty to persist in such a ridiculous story.</p> + +<p>"But, uncle, I really did make a mermaid; and +she really did come alive, for I saw the figure float +away, and then Lorelei appeared," said Fancy, very +earnestly.</p> + +<p>"It's very likely you made a figure, and called it a +mermaid: it would be just the sort of thing you'd +do," said her uncle. "But it is impossible that any +coming alive took place, and I won't hear any such +nonsense. You didn't see this girl come out of the +water; for she says you never looked up, till she +touched you. She was a real child, who came over +the beach from somewhere; and you fancied she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +looked like your figure, and believed the silly tale +she told you. It is my belief that she is a sly, bad +child; and the sooner she is sent away the better for +you."</p> + +<p>Uncle Fact was so angry and talked so loud, that +Fancy felt frightened and bewildered; and began to +think he might be right about the mermaid part, +though she hated to give up the little romance.</p> + +<p>"If I agree that she <i>is</i> a real child, won't you let +her stay, uncle?" she said, forgetting that, if she lost +her faith, her friend was lost also.</p> + +<p>"Ah! then you have begun to come to your +senses, have you? and are ready to own that you +don't believe in mermaids and such rubbish?" cried +Uncle Fact, stopping in his tramp up and down the +room.</p> + +<p>"Why, if you say there never were and never can +be any, I suppose I <i>must</i> give up my fancy; but I'm +sorry," sighed the child.</p> + +<p>"That's my sensible girl! Now, think a minute, +my dear, and you will also own that it is best to give +up the child as well as the mermaid," said her uncle +briskly.</p> + +<p>"Oh! no: we love one another; and she is good, +and I can't give her up," cried Fancy.</p> + +<p>"Answer me a few questions; and I'll prove that +she isn't good, that you don't love her, and that you +<i>can</i> give her up," said Uncle Fact, and numbered off +the questions on his fingers as he spoke.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +"Didn't Luly want you to deceive us, and every +one else, about who she was?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Don't you like to be with her better than with +your aunt or myself?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Hadn't you rather hear her songs and stories +than learn your lessons?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it wrong to deceive people, to love strangers +more than those who are a father and mother +to you, and to like silly tales better than useful +lessons?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Very well. Then, don't you see, that, if Luly +makes you do these wrong and ungrateful things, +she is not a good child, nor a fit playmate for you?"</p> + +<p>Fancy didn't answer; for she couldn't feel that +it was so, though he made it seem so. When Uncle +Fact talked in that way, she always got confused and +gave up; for she didn't know how to argue. He was +right in a certain way; but she felt as if she was +right also in another way, though she could not prove +it: so she hung her head, and let her tears drop on +the carpet one by one.</p> + +<p>Uncle Fact didn't mean to be unkind, but he did +mean to have his own way; and, when he saw the +little girl's sad face, he took her on his knee, and +said, more mildly:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +"Do you remember the story about the German +Lorelei, who sung so sweetly, and lured people to +death in the Rhine?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, uncle; and I like it," answered Fancy, +looking up.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, your Lorelei will lead you into +trouble, if you follow her. Suppose she is what you +think her,—a mermaid: it is her delight to draw +people into the water, where, of course, they drown. +If she is what I think her,—a sly, bad child, who +sees that you are very simple, and who means to get +taken care of without doing any thing useful,—she +will spoil you in a worse way than if you followed +her into the sea. I've got no little daughter of my +own, and I want to keep you as safe and happy as +if you were mine. I don't like this girl, and I want +you to give her up for my sake. Will you, Fancy?"</p> + +<p>While her uncle said these things, all the beauty +seemed to fall away from her friend, all the sweetness +from their love, and all her faith in the little +dream which had made her so happy. Mermaids +became treacherous, unlovely, unreal creatures; and +Lorelei seemed like a naughty, selfish child, who +deceived her, and made her do wrong things. Her +uncle had been very kind to her all her life; and she +loved him, was grateful, and wanted to show that she +was, by pleasing him. But her heart clung to the +friend she had made, trusted, and loved; and it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +seemed impossible to give up the shadow, even +though the substance was gone. She put her hands +before her face for a moment; then laid her arms +about the old man's neck, and whispered, with a +little sob:</p> + +<p>"I'll give her up; but you'll be kind to her, +because I was fond of her once."</p> + +<p>As the last word left Fancy's lips, a long, sad cry +sounded through the room; Lorelei sprung in, gave +her one kiss, and was seen to run swiftly toward the +beach, wringing her hands. Fancy flew after; but, +when she reached the shore, there was nothing to be +seen but the scattered pebbles, shells, and weeds +that made the mock mermaid, floating away on a +receding wave.</p> + +<p>"Do you believe now?" cried Fancy, weeping +bitterly, as she pointed to the wreck of her friend, +and turned reproachfully toward Uncle Fact, who +had followed in great astonishment.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman looked well about him; then +shook his head, and answered decidedly:</p> + +<p>"No, my dear, I <i>don't</i>. It's an odd affair; but, +I've no doubt, it will be cleared up in a natural way +sometime or other."</p> + +<p>But there he was mistaken; for this mystery never +<i>was</i> cleared up. Other people soon forgot it, and +Fancy never spoke of it; yet she made very few +friends, and, though she learned to love and value<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +Uncle Fact as well as Aunt Fiction, she could not +forget her dearest playmate. Year after year she +came back to the sea-side; and the first thing she +always did was to visit the place where she used to +play, and stretch her arms toward the sea, crying +tenderly:</p> + +<p>"O my little friend! come back to me!"</p> + +<p>But Lorelei never came again.</p> + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="adbook">LOUISA M. ALCOTT'S FAMOUS BOOKS</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i004.png" width="295" height="400" alt="He strums a harp while the little girl sings." title="" /> +<p class="caption">"Sing, Tessa; sing!" cried Tommo, twanging away with all his might.—Page 47.</p> +</div> + +<p class="hang1st">AUNT JO'S SCRAP-BAG: Containing "My Boys," +"Shawl-Straps," "Cupid and Chow-Chow," "My Girls," "Jimmy's +Cruise in the Pinafore," "An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving." 6 vols. +Price of each, $1.00.</p> + +<p class="center">ROBERTS BROTHERS, <span class="smcap">Publishers</span>, +<i>Boston</i>.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="adbook">LOUISE CHANDLER MOULTON'S STORIES.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" > +<img src="images/i005.png" width="363" height="400" alt="The rich girl gives the ragged girl a doll." title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="larger"> +BED-TIME STORIES.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">MORE BED-TIME STORIES.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">NEW BED-TIME STORIES.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY ADDIE LEDYARD.</p> +<p class="adprice">Three volumes in a box. Price, $3.75.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>ROBERTS BROTHERS, Publishers</i>, +BOSTON.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="adheadline smcap">Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag.</p> + +<p class="center larger">CUPID AND CHOW-CHOW, Etc.</p> + +<div class="figcenter plain"> +<img src="images/i006.png" width="193" height="250" alt="Scrap-Bag Vol III." title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center larger smcap">By LOUISA M. ALCOTT,</p> + +<p class="center smaller">AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN," +"HOSPITAL SKETCHES."</p> + +<p class="center">BOSTON:<br /> +ROBERTS BROTHERS.<br /> +1881.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="adbook">Jean Ingelow's Prose Story Books.</p> + +<p class="adprice"><b>In 5 vols. 16mo, uniformly bound.</b></p> + +<p>STUDIES FOR STORIES FROM GIRLS' LIVES. Illustrated, +Price, $1.25.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"A rare source of delight for all who can find pleasure in really good works of +prose fiction.... They are prose poems, carefully meditated, and exquisitely +couched in by a teacher ready to sympathize with every joy and sorrow."—<i>Athenĉum.</i></p></blockquote> + +<p>STORIES TOLD TO A CHILD. Illustrated. Price, $1.25.</p> + +<p>STORIES TOLD TO A CHILD. Second Series. Illustrated. +Price, $1.25.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"This is one of the most charming juvenile books ever laid on our table. +Jean Ingelow, the noble English poet, second only to Mrs. Browning, bends easily +and gracefully from the heights of thought and fine imagination to commune +with the minds and hearts of children; to sympathize with their little joys and +sorrows; to feel for their temptations. She is a safe guide for the little pilgrims; +for her paths, though 'paths of pleasantness,' lead straight upward."—<i>Grace +Greenwood in "The Little Pilgrim."</i></p></blockquote> + +<p>A SISTER'S BYE-HOURS. Illustrated. Price, $1.25.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Seven short stories of domestic life by one of the most popular of the young +authors of the day,—an author who has her heart in what she writes,—Jean +Ingelow. And there is heart in these stories, and healthy moral lessons, too. +They are written in the author's most graceful and affecting style, will be read +with real pleasure, and, when read, will leave more than momentary impressions."—<i>Brooklyn +Union.</i></p></blockquote> + +<p>MOPSA THE FAIRY. A Story. With Eight Illustrations. +Price, $1.25.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Miss Ingelow is, to our mind, the most charming of all living writers for +children, and 'Mopsa' alone ought to give her a kind of pre-emptive right to the +love and gratitude of our young folks. It requires genius to conceive a purely +imaginary work which must of necessity deal with the supernatural, without +running into a mere riot of fantastic absurdity; but genius Miss Ingelow has, +and the story of Jack is as careless and joyous, but as delicate, as a picture of +childhood.</p> + +<p>"The young people should be grateful to Jean Ingelow and those other noble +writers, who, in our day, have taken upon themselves the task of supplying them +with literature, if for no other reason, that these writers have saved them from +the ineffable didacticism which, till within the last few years, was considered the +only food fit for the youthful mind."—<i>Eclectic.</i></p></blockquote> + +<p class="adprice"><i>Sold everywhere. Mailed, postpaid, by the Publishers.</i></p> + +<p class="ralign">ROBERTS BROTHERS, <span class="smcap">Boston</span>.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="center"><i>Messrs. Roberts Brothers' Publications.</i></p> + +<p class="adheadline">CASTLE BLAIR:</p> + +<p class="adheadline">A STORY OF YOUTHFUL DAYS.</p> + +<p class="center smcap larger">By FLORA L. SHAW.</p> + +<p class="adprice">16mo. Cloth. Price $1.00</p> + +<blockquote><p>"There is quite a lovely little book just come out about children,—'Castle +Blair!' ... The book is good, and lovely, and true, having the +best description of a noble child in it (Winnie) that I ever read; and nearly +the best description of the next best thing,—a noble dog," says John +Ruskin, the distinguished art critic.</p> + +<p>"'Castle Blair,' a story of youthful days, by Flora L. Shaw, is an Irish +story. A charming young girl—half French, half English—comes from +France, at the age of eighteen, to live with her bachelor uncle at Castle +Blair, which is in possession of five children of an absent brother of this +uncle. The children are in a somewhat wild and undisciplined condition, +but they are as interesting children as can be imagined, and some of them +winning to an extraordinary degree. They are natural children, in manner +and in talk; but the book differs from some American books about children, +in that it is pervaded by an air of refinement and good-breeding. The story is +altogether delightful, quite worthy, from an American point of view, of all +Mr. Ruskin says of it; and if circulation were determined by merit, it +would speedily outstrip a good many now popular children's books which +have a vein of commonness, if not of vulgarity."—<i>Hartford Courant.</i></p> + +<p>"It is not too much to say that nothing more interesting or more wholesome +is offered this year for older boys and girls. It is a charming story, +in which the author has delineated character as carefully, and with as keen +an artistic sense, as if she had been writing a novel. Her book is a novel, +indeed, with children and the lives of children, instead of men and women +and their lives, for its theme."—<i>New York Evening Post.</i></p></blockquote> + +<p><i>Our publications are to be had of all Booksellers. When +not to be found, send directly to</i></p> + +<p class="center">ROBERTS BROTHERS, <span class="smcap">Publishers</span>, +<b>BOSTON.</b></p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="center"><i>Messrs. Roberts Brothers' Publications.</i></p> + +<p class="adheadline smcap">Nelly's Silver Mine.</p> + +<p class="center larger smcap">By H. H.</p> + +<p class="adprice">With Illustrations. 16mo, cloth. Price $1.50.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"The sketches of life, especially of its odd and out-of-the-way aspects, by H. H. +always possess so vivid a reality that they appear more like the actual scenes than +any copy by pencil or photograph. They form a series of living pictures, radiant +with sunlight and fresh as morning dew. In this new story the fruits of her fine +genius are of Colorado growth, and though without the antique flavor of her recollections +of Rome and Venice, are as delicious to the taste as they are tempting to +the eye, and afford a natural feast of exquisite quality."—<i>N.Y. Tribune.</i></p> + +<p>"This charming little book, written for children's entertainment and instruction, +is equally delightful to the fathers and mothers. It is life in New England, +and the racy history of a long railway journey to the wilds of Colorado. The +children are neither imps nor angels, but just such children as are found in every +happy home. The pictures are so graphically drawn that we feel well acquainted +with Rob and Nelly, have travelled with them and climbed mountains and found +silver mines, and know all about the rude life made beautiful by a happy family, +and can say of Nelly, with their German neighbor, Mr. Kleesman, 'Ach well, she +haf better than any silver mine in her own self.'"—<i>Chicago Inter-Ocean.</i></p> + +<p>"In 'Nelly's Silver Mine' Mrs. Helen Hunt Jackson has given us a true +classic for the nursery and the school-room, but its readers will not be confined to +any locality. Its vivid portraiture of Colorado life and its truth to child-nature +give it a charm which the most experienced cannot fail to feel. It will stand by +the side of Miss Edgeworth and Mrs. Barbauld in all the years to come."—<i>Mrs. +Caroline H. Dall.</i></p> + +<p>"We heartily commend the book for its healthy spirit, its lively narrative, and +its freedom from most of the faults of books for children."—<i>Atlantic Monthly.</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<p><i>Our publications are to be had of all Booksellers. When +not to be found, send directly to</i></p> + +<p class="center">ROBERTS BROTHERS, <span class="smcap">Boston</span>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<div class="trnote"> +<a id="transnote" name="transnote"></a> +<p><b>Transcriber's Note</b></p> + +<p>Hyphenation and spelling standardized. + Otherwise, archaic and variable spelling was preserved.</p> +<p>Missing quotation marks were added to standardize usage. Otherwise, + the editor's punctuation style was preserved.</p> +<p>Table of Contents' page numbers were updated. +</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag VI, by Louisa M. 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