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diff --git a/44123-h/44123-h.htm b/44123-h/44123-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2938e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/44123-h/44123-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6947 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Little Sunbeams, by Joanna H. Mathews. + </title> + + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/image1-coverpage.jpg" /> + + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; +} + +.title-page +{ + text-align: center; + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +h1 +{ + text-align: center; + font-size: x-large; + font-weight: normal; + line-height: 1.6; +} + +h1 small +{ + font-size: small; +} + +.center +{ + text-align: center; +} + +.spaced +{ + line-height: 1.5; +} + +.space-above + +{ + margin-top: 3em; +} + +.big +{ + font-size: large; +} + +img.border +{ + border: 1px solid; +} + +/* no @media - this is the default for all media */ +img.drop-cap + { + float: left; + margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; + } + +.dropletter + { + visibility: hidden; + display: none; + } + +@media handheld + +{ img.drop-cap + { + display: none; + } + + .dropletter + { + visibility: visible; + display: inline; + } +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%} +hr.full {width: 95%;} + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +table.centered { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +.poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 0.5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44123 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image1-coverpage.jpg" id="coverpage" width="600" height="831" alt="Cover" /> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 4em;"><em>LITTLE SUNBEAMS.</em></h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 28px;"> +<img src="images/image4.jpg" width="28" height="3" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<h2>IV.</h2> + +<h1 style="margin-bottom: 4em;">JESSIE'S PARROT.</h1> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>By the author of this Volume.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 28px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 1em;" src="images/image4.jpg" width="28" height="3" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em;"><big>I.</big></p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em;"><big>LITTLE SUNBEAMS.</big></p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em;"><big>By <span class="smcap">Joanna H. Mathews</span></big>, Author of the "Bessie Books."</p> + +<table class="centered" border="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%" summary="Books"> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">I.</td> <td><span class="smcap">Belle Powers' Locket.</span> 16mo</td> <td></td> <td style="text-align: right;">$1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">II.</td> <td><span class="smcap">Dora's Motto.</span> 16mo</td> <td></td> <td style="text-align: right;">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">III.</td> <td><span class="smcap">Lily Norris' Enemy</span></td> <td></td> <td style="text-align: right;">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">IV.</td> <td><span class="smcap">Jessie's Parrot</span></td> <td></td> <td style="text-align: right;">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td style="text-align: right;">V.</td> <td><span class="smcap">Mamie's Watchword</span></td> <td></td> <td style="text-align: right;">1.00</td></tr> +</table> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 28px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 2em;" src="images/image3.jpg" width="28" height="6" alt="fancy line" /> +</div> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em;"><big>II.</big></p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em;"><big>THE FLOWERETS.</big></p> + + +<table class="centered" border="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%" summary="Books"> +<tr><td>A series of Stories on the Commandments. 6 vols. In a box</td> <td></td> <td style="text-align: right;">$3.60</td></tr> +</table> + +<p style="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 1em;">"It is not easy to say too good a word for this admirable series. +Interesting, graphic, impressive, they teach with great distinctness the +cardinal lessons which they would have the youthful reader learn."—<em>S. S. Times.</em></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 28px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 2em;" src="images/image3.jpg" width="28" height="6" alt="fancy line" /> +</div> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em;"><big>III.</big></p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em;"><big>THE BESSIE BOOKS.</big></p> + +<table class="centered" border="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%" summary="Books"> +<tr><td>6 vols. In a box</td> <td style="text-align: right;">$7.50</td></tr> +</table> + +<p style="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 1em;">"Bessie is a very charming specimen of little girlhood. It is a lovely +story of home and nursery life among a family of bright, merry little +children."—<em>Presbyterian.</em></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 28px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 2em;" src="images/image4.jpg" width="28" height="3" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 1em;">ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,</p> +<p class="center"><em>New York</em>.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img class="border" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" src="images/image6.jpg" width="450" height="643" alt="Jessie's Parrot." /> +</div> + +<p style="margin-left: 25%;">Jessie's Parrot.</p> + +<p class="center">FRONTISPIECE.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="title-page" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"> +<h2>JESSIE'S PARROT.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 3em;"><big>"A HAUGHTY SPIRIT GOETH BEFORE A FALL."</big></p> + + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 3em;">"He that is down need fear no fall,<br /> +He that is low no pride,<br /> +He that is humble ever shall<br /> +Have God to be his guide."<br /></p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;">BY</p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 1em;">JOANNA H. MATHEWS,</p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 6em;">AUTHOR OF THE "BESSIE BOOKS" AND THE "FLOWERETS."</p> + + + + + +<p class="center">NEW YORK:</p> +<p class="center">ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,</p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">530 Broadway.</span></p> +<p class="center">1876.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 2em;">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by</p> +<p class="center">ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,</p> +<p class="center">In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.</p> + + + + + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 8em;">CAMBRIDGE:</p> +<p class="center">PRESS OF JOHN WILSON AND SON.</p> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 36px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 1em;" src="images/image5.jpg" width="36" height="4" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<table class="centered" border="0" cellpadding="10" width="60%" summary="CONTENTS."> + +<tr><th style="text-align: right;">CHAP.</th> <th></th> <th style="text-align: right;">PAGE</th></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#bird">I.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">The New Scholar</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">9</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#excursion">II.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">An Excursion</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">31</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#grandfather">III.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">Jessie and her Grandfather</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">52</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#parrot">IV.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">The Parrot</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">69</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#grandmamma">V.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">Grandmamma Howard</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">90</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#jealousy">VI.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">Jealousy</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">110</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#misfortune">VII.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">A Misfortune</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">129</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#spider">VIII.</a></td> <td>"<span class="smcap">The Spider and the Fly</span>"</td> <td style="text-align: right;">148</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#guilty">IX.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">A Guilty Conscience</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">168</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#game">X.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">A Game of Characters</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">189</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#confession">XI.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">Confession</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">205</td></tr> + +<tr><td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#fair">XII.</a></td> <td><span class="smcap">The Fair</span></td> <td style="text-align: right;">223</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 242px;"> +<a name="bird" id="bird"><img src="images/image7.jpg" width="242" height="125" alt="bird" /> +</a></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 28px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 2em;" src="images/image4.jpg" width="28" height="3" alt="line" /> +</div> + +<h2>JESSIE'S PARROT.</h2> + +<h2>I.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>THE NEW SCHOLAR.</em></big></p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-f.jpg" +width="49" height="50" alt="f" /> +</div><p><span class="dropletter">"F</span>ANNY LEROY is going away from +our school," said Carrie Ransom +one morning to Belle Powers and +two or three more of her young schoolmates.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! I'm sorry," said Belle.</p> + +<p>"So am I," said Dora Johnson. "Why is +she going?"</p> + +<p>"Has she finished her education, and is she +never going to school any more?" asked +Mabel Walton.</p> + +<p>"Why, no," said Belle; "she's nothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +but a little girl; and you don't finish your +education till you're quite grown up and have +long dresses."</p> + +<p>"Why is she going away?" asked Lily. +"I don't want her to go. I like Fanny."</p> + +<p>"So do I. She's real nice," said Carrie; +"but she is going, for all, 'cause her father +and mother and all her family are going to +Europe and she is going with them."</p> + +<p>"I wish she wouldn't," said Belle; and +one and another echoed their sorrow at the +loss of their schoolmate.</p> + +<p>Fanny had always been well liked in the +school; but now that they were about to lose +her the little girls found that they were even +more fond of her than they had supposed, and +many regrets were expressed when, a moment +later, she came in accompanied by Gracie +Howard.</p> + +<p>Fanny herself was very melancholy and +low, for this was to be the last day at school, +as she informed the other children; the journey +to Europe having been decided upon rather<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +suddenly, and the departure was to take place +within a few days. Nevertheless, although +she was sorry to part with her teacher and +classmates, and in mortal dread of the voyage, +she felt herself rather of a heroine, and entitled +to be made much of.</p> + +<p>"We'll have an empty place in our school +then," said Belle.</p> + +<p>"No," said Fanny, "for my cousin Hattie +is coming to take my place; it is all arranged, +and Miss Ashton says she can come."</p> + +<p>"Is she nice?" asked Lily.</p> + +<p>"Well—yes," answered Fanny, half doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"You don't seem to think she's so <em>very</em>," +said Belle.</p> + +<p>No, Fanny evidently had her own opinion +on this subject; but as she was not a child +who was ready to speak ill of the absent, she +would not say more than she could help. But +the interest and curiosity of her schoolmates +were aroused, and they could not be satisfied +without hearing more.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I know Hattie," said Gracie Howard, who +was more intimate with Fanny and her family +than any of the other children,—"I know +Hattie, and I like her. She thinks I am very +nice. She told me so."</p> + +<p>This was plainly the highest of recommendations +in Gracie's eyes. Any one who admired +her was sure of her favor; but this fact did +not have quite as much weight with her companions +as it did with herself, and they turned +once more to Fanny.</p> + +<p>"But tell us, Fanny," said Lily Norris, +"why don't you like her so very much?"</p> + +<p>Fanny looked, as she felt, uncomfortable +at this close question.</p> + +<p>"Why," she answered reluctantly, "I do +like her; she's my cousin, you know, so I have +to; but then—but then—I think I'll let you +wait till she comes to find out the kind of girl +she is. Maybe you'll like her very much. Gracie +does."</p> + +<p>Fanny had her own doubts whether Gracie +or any of the others would always continue to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +like Hattie as well as they might do upon a +first acquaintance; but she very properly and +generously resolved not to tell tales and prejudice +the minds of the other children against +the new comer. Better to give Hattie all the +chance she could and let it be her own fault +if she were not popular with her classmates.</p> + +<p>I cannot say that Fanny reasoned this out +in just such words; but the kind thought was +in her mind, and she resolved to hold her +peace and say nothing unkind about her +cousin. Would Hattie have done as much for +her or for any one else? You shall judge for +yourself by and by.</p> + +<p>The parting with Fanny was rather a sad +one, for the children were all fond of her, and +she took it so very hardly herself, declaring +that she never expected to see any one of them +again. For Fanny, though a very good and +amiable little girl, was one who was apt to +"borrow trouble," as the saying is; that is, +she was always worrying herself about misfortunes +which would, could, or might happen to +herself or her friends.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>Therefore she now expressed her expectation +of never seeing any of her young friends +again, and when Lily very naturally inquired +if the family meant to stay "for ever an' ever +an' ever," said, "No, but people were very +often drowned when they went to Europe in a +steamer, and very likely she would be."</p> + +<p>Nor was she to be persuaded to take a more +cheerful view of the future, even when Dora +Johnson suggested that many more people +crossed the ocean and returned in safety than +were lost upon it. She was determined to +dwell upon the possibilities, and even probabilities +of her being shipwrecked, and took +leave of her schoolmates with a view to such +a fate.</p> + +<p>"Fanny did not act as if she thought we'd +like her cousin Hattie very much, did she?" +questioned Nellie Ransom as she walked +homeward with Gracie Howard, Dora Johnson, +and Laura Middleton.</p> + +<p>"No, she did not," said Laura. "Fanny +don't tell tales or say unkind things about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +people, but it was quite plain she does +not think so very much of Hattie Leroy."</p> + +<p>"I know the reason why," said Gracie.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Laura.</p> + +<p>"Fanny said something very hateful about +me," answered Gracie, "and Hattie told me +of it; and just for that Fanny was mad at +Hattie."</p> + +<p>"Well, I should think Fanny might be +mad," said Laura. "Hattie had no right to +tell you if Fanny didn't mean her to, and +I don't believe she did."</p> + +<p>"No," said Gracie, "I don't suppose Fanny +did want me to know it; but then she had no +business to say it."</p> + +<p>"Hattie had no business to repeat it," said +Dora indignantly; "if she is that kind of a +girl I don't wonder Fanny don't like her, +and I wish she was not coming to our +school."</p> + +<p>"What did Fanny say?" asked Laura, who +had her full share of curiosity.</p> + +<p>"She said—she-er—she-er—I'm not going<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +to tell you what she said," answered Gracie, +who was really ashamed to confess what slight +cause for offence Fanny had given, and that it +was her own wounded self-love which made it +appear so "hateful."</p> + +<p>But although Gracie would not tell her +schoolmates, I shall tell you, for I know all +about it.</p> + +<p>The mighty trouble was just this.</p> + +<p>Hattie Leroy had but lately come to live in +the city, and just when her parents were looking +around for a good school to send her to, +Fanny's papa and mamma made up their +minds to take her abroad. This left her place +vacant in Miss Ashton's class, and, as you +have heard, it was at once secured for her +little cousin.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Gracie and Hattie, who had met +at Fanny's house, had struck up a violent +<em>intimate friendship</em> and were now much +together.</p> + +<p>As may be supposed, Hattie was very curious +respecting her future teacher and classmates,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +and asked both Fanny and Gracie many questions +about them.</p> + +<p>But, although the accounts given by the +two children agreed in most points, yet, in +some way, the story told by Gracie left a very +different impression from that of Fanny. The +latter thought her teacher and classmates very +nearly, if not quite, perfect, and bestowed her +praise freely and without stint. Well, and if you +had heard Gracie's report you might have said +that she did the same; but whenever Gracie +said one good word for another she said a +dozen for herself. One girl was a very bright +scholar, but she stood second to Gracie; +another was always punctual and steady, but +Gracie had still a higher number of marks for +these two virtues—or at least if she did not +<em>have</em> them, she <em>deserved</em> them, and it was the +fault of some one else that they had not fallen +to her share. Nellie Ransom wrote such fine +compositions; but then, they were by no means +to be compared to Gracie's own,—oh, dear, no! +So it was with each and every one; whatever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +merit any child in the class possessed, Gracie's +went beyond it.</p> + +<p>So at last Hattie quite naturally asked +Fanny if Gracie were really the best child, the +finest scholar, and the most admired and praised +of all her classmates.</p> + +<p>"Why, no," answered Fanny; "Gracie is a +very good scholar, and 'most always knows her +lessons perfectly; but Nellie is even better than +she is, and has kept the head of the spelling +and history classes ever so long. And she +generally writes the best compositions; but +Gracie don't think so, and always says Miss +Ashton is unjust if she gives Nellie the highest +marks. But Gracie <em>is</em> very smart, and can +learn quicker than any of the rest of us; and +she 'most always behaves well in school too."</p> + +<p>"Better than any one else?" asked Hattie.</p> + +<p>"No," said Fanny, rather indignantly; +"there's lots of the children that are just as +good as she is. She's not the best one in the +school at all. She's good enough, but not so +wonderful."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She thinks she is," said Hattie.</p> + +<p>"That's nothing," answered Fanny; "people's +thinking they are a thing don't make them +that thing, you know."</p> + +<p>"Then you think Gracie is conceited and +thinks a great deal of herself, do you?" asked +Hattie.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," answered Fanny, though half +reluctantly; "no one could help thinking that, +you know."</p> + +<p>Fanny expressed herself in this manner +more as a way of <em>excusing</em> her own opinion of +Gracie than as accusing her little playmate.</p> + +<p>"Who do you think <em>is</em> the best child in all +the school?" asked Hattie.</p> + +<p>"Well," answered Fanny, after a moment's +reflection, "I b'lieve Belle Powers is. At +least I think it is the best in her to be as good +as she is, for she has to try pretty hard sometimes."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked inquisitive Hattie again.</p> + +<p>"Because she has no mother, and she has +always been a good deal spoiled by her papa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +and her old nurse. But I never saw any child +who wanted to be good more than Belle, and +she tries very much; and we are all very fond +of her, and Miss Ashton excuses her things +sometimes because she is sorry for her."</p> + +<p>"Don't that make you mad?" said Hattie.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Fanny with much energy; +"we'd be real mean if we were mad when +Belle has no mother. No, indeed; no one +could bear to have Belle scolded; we all love +her too much."</p> + +<p>Now this was seemingly a most innocent +conversation; was it not? and one could hardly +have supposed that it would have made trouble +for poor Fanny as it did.</p> + +<p>Gracie and Fanny lived within a few doors +of one another, the latter a little nearer to +Miss Ashton's house than the former; and +Gracie was in the habit of stopping for Fanny +on her way to school that they might walk +there together.</p> + +<p>But one morning a day or two after this, +Fanny, standing by the window and watching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +for her young friend as usual, saw her go by +with her maid without so much as turning +her head or casting her eye up at the window +where she must know Fanny awaited her.</p> + +<p>"It is the queerest thing I ever knew," said +Fanny to her father as she walked along by his +side a few moments later; "it 'most seems as +if Gracie was offended with me to do so; but +then she can't be, for I have not done a thing +to her. I shall ask her right away, as soon as +I am at school."</p> + +<p>But Fanny was only just in time to take off +her hat and cloak and go to her seat before the +bell rang, and so had no opportunity before +school to inquire into the cause of Gracie's +strange behavior.</p> + +<p>There was no need of words, however, to +show that Gracie was indeed offended with her, +for averted looks and scornful tossings of the +head showed that plainly enough. Poor Fanny +was hurt and uncomfortable, and vainly tried to +imagine what she could have done that offended +Gracie so much.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>She ran to her as soon as recess gave her +liberty to speak.</p> + +<p>"Why, Gracie! what is the matter?" she +asked. "Why did you not stop for me this +morning?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause I did not choose to," answered +Gracie shortly.</p> + +<p>"Are you mad with me?" asked Fanny, +putting a very unnecessary question, for it was +quite plain to all beholders that this was +Gracie's state of mind.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am; and I have a good right to be +too," answered Gracie, her eyes flashing at +Fanny.</p> + +<p>"What <em>have</em> I done?" asked the innocent +Fanny.</p> + +<p>"You need not pretend you don't know, +Miss Hateful," replied Gracie, "nor pretend +you haven't a guilty conscience. I've found +you out! I'll never be friends with you +again."</p> + +<p>"You ought to tell Fanny what it is, and +let her make it up," said Belle.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She can't make it up. I've found her out +before it was too late. She is a false, treacherous +friend," said Gracie, waxing magnificent +and severe in her reproaches, as she imagined.</p> + +<p>Poor Fanny, a tender-hearted, sensitive +little thing, was overwhelmed by these upbraidings, +which she was not conscious of deserving; +but neither her entreaties nor those of the +other children could draw more than this from +Gracie, who turned away from them with an +air of great offence, and holding her head +very high with insulted dignity.</p> + +<p>"Augh!" said Lily Norris, who generally +took up the cudgels in defence of any one +whom she considered oppressed or injured, and +who generally contrived to be quite as cutting +and severe in her remarks as the offender had +been; "you had better take care, Gracie; +some day that nose of yours won't come down +again, it is growing so used to sticking itself +up at people. If when you're grown up +people call you 'stuck-up-nose Miss Howard,' +you won't feel very complimented; but you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +can just remember it is the consequence of +your being such a proudy when you was +young."</p> + +<p>Gracie made no reply, except by raising +both nose and head higher still, which +expressive motion Lily answered by saying,—</p> + +<p>"Oh, <em>don't</em> I feel like giving you a good +slap!" with which she walked away, fearing +perhaps that she might be too strongly +tempted to put her desire into execution.</p> + +<p>Fanny was a good deal distressed, and the +other children all felt much sympathy for her, +for, as you will doubtless do, they thought +Gracie's behavior not only unkind but also +unjust.</p> + +<p>For, although such scenes as this were +becoming quite too frequent in consequence +of Gracie's ever increasing vanity and conceit, +she generally was ready enough to proclaim +the cause of offence; but now she was not +only "hateful," as Lily called it, but "mysterious" +also, and would give Fanny no opportunity +of explaining the supposed grievance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>Fanny went home both unhappy and vexed,—Gracie +still carrying matters with a high +hand and refusing even to walk on the same +side of the street with her—and finding her +cousin there, as was quite natural, she told her +of the trouble with Gracie.</p> + +<p>Had Fanny not been too much disturbed to +pay much attention to Hattie's manner, she +might have seen that she looked uncomfortable +when she told her story, fidgeting and coloring +and having so little to say that Fanny +thought her wanting in sympathy. But it was +not until the next day that she discovered that +Hattie was really the cause of the difficulty +with Gracie. By that time she had heard +that she was to sail for Europe in a few days, +and this made her more unwilling than ever to +be on bad terms with her young friend.</p> + +<p>Meeting Gracie in the street, the poor little +grieved heart overflowed, and rushing up to +her, Fanny exclaimed, "Oh, Gracie! don't +be cross with me any more, for I'm going to +Europe, and I expect I'll be drowned in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +steamer, and then you'll be sorry you did not +make up with me."</p> + +<p>This affecting prospect somewhat mollified +Gracie's vexation; but still she answered in a +tone of strong resentment,—</p> + +<p>"Well, then; and why did you say hateful +things about me to Hattie?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't," said Fanny, who had so little intention +of making unkind remarks about +Gracie that she had really forgotten her conversation +with Hattie. "I didn't. I never +said a thing about you."</p> + +<p>"Hattie said you did," answered Gracie; +"she says you told her I thought myself very +wonderful, but I was not; and that 'most all +the girls were better scholars than me."</p> + +<p>"I didn't," said Fanny indignantly.</p> + +<p>"And she says," continued Gracie, "that +you said 'cause I thought myself good did not +make me good, and that Nellie wrote better +compositions than I did. And she says"—this +was plainly the first and worst count in +Gracie's eyes—"she says you said no one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +could help knowing I was conceited and stuck +up."</p> + +<p>This last speech suddenly recalled to Fanny's +mind what she <em>had</em> said, and she was dismayed; +nor could she see how she was to explain it to +Gracie.</p> + +<p>She was fond of Gracie, who, when her self-conceit +did not come in her way, was really a +pleasant and lovable child; and, oh! how she +did wish she had never allowed Hattie to lead +her into that conversation about her schoolmates.</p> + +<p>She colored violently and exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Well, I did say that, but I did not say it +in that way, Gracie. I don't quite know how +it was, but it did not seem so bad as that when +I said it. And Hattie asked me, so I couldn't +help saying what I thought; but it wasn't of +my own accord and—and—well, you know, +Gracie, most all of us do think you think +a good deal of yourself—but—oh, dear! it +was too mean for Hattie to go and tell you; +and somehow I suppose she's made you think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +it was worse than it was. 'Cause I didn't +mean to say any thing hateful about you; but +Hattie asked such a lot of questions, and I +never thought she'd go and tell; and I'm +going away, and I expect I'll never come back, +and, oh, dear, it's too mean!"</p> + +<p>All this Fanny poured forth in a very distressed +and excited manner, finishing by a +burst of tears.</p> + +<p>Yes, it was indeed "too mean," and Gracie +felt that Fanny had been shabbily treated. +She had listened to Hattie's tell-tale report +with a half-ashamed feeling, knowing that +Fanny could never have thought that her +words would be repeated; and, although anger +and mortification had taken a strong hold +upon her heart, she could not help seeing that +Fanny had more cause of complaint than +she had.</p> + +<p>So she put her arm about Fanny's neck, and, +with what she considered magnanimous forgiveness, +told her not to cry any more and she +would "stop being mad."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>And when they talked the matter over and +Fanny recalled what she <em>had</em> said, both of +Gracie and of the other children in the class, +it could not but be seen that Hattie had exaggerated +as well as "told tales," so making +mischief and bringing discord between the two +little friends. And had Fanny been revengeful, +or too proud to overlook Gracie's unkindness +and beg her to tell her what had come between +them the trouble might have been lasting, and +they have parted for a long time with bitterness +and resentment rankling in their breasts.</p> + +<p>But now there was peace between them once +more, though Gracie did still secretly feel +some vexation at Fanny for even allowing that +she could be wrong, and took great credit to +herself for being so forgiving and generous.</p> + +<p>And now you will not wonder that Fanny +did not feel disposed to think Hattie "so very +nice," although she, far more generous and +charitable than her cousin, would not tell tales +and prejudice the minds of her future schoolmates +against her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Gracie hardly thought the less of +Hattie for what she had learned of her; for +she always liked any one who admired her, +and this Hattie professed to do; perhaps she +really did so, for, as I have said, Gracie was +a pleasant child, and very clever in many +things.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 69px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image8.jpg" width="69" height="75" alt="flower" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 214px;"> +<a name="excursion" id="excursion"><img src="images/image9.jpg" width="214" height="125" alt="birds" /> +</a></div> + +<h2>II.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>AN EXCURSION.</em></big></p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-a.jpg" +width="53" height="50" alt="a" /> +</div><p><span class="dropletter">"A</span> LARGE omnibus stood before the door +of Miss Ashton's house, and had been +waiting there some minutes. This +was on a street where a line of omnibuses ran, +and every now and then some would-be passenger +made for the door of this one, when the +driver would turn and say something which +plainly disappointed him of his ride, at least +in this particular stage.</p> + +<p>If such an individual chanced to glance up +at the windows of Miss Ashton's house, he +saw there a row of little faces in each of the +parlor windows; and these same faces brimming +over with smiles and dimples at the sight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +of his discomfiture, and the consciousness that +this omnibus had been chartered for their +especial pleasure and convenience, and that no +mere passer-by had any right or title therein.</p> + +<p>Some people smiled in return to the happy +little group, and nodded good-naturedly, as if +to say,—</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! it is all right, and we are glad +you are going to enjoy yourselves, and hope +you will have a very pleasant time;" but one +or two looked cross, frowning and shaking their +heads or shoulders in a displeased manner, +and as if they had no sympathy with any simple +pleasure or frolic.</p> + +<p>Upon each and all of these did the little +observers pass remarks, according to what they +believed to be their deserts.</p> + +<p>"Look at that man," said Belle Powers, +"how very displeased he looks. Just as cross +as any thing, because the driver wouldn't let +him go in our stage."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he likes children," said +Bessie Bradford.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," said her sister Maggie, "I think he +cannot be one of the happy kind the Bible +speaks about, that have their 'quivers full of +them,' for which he is to be pitied, and we +need not be very severe with him."</p> + +<p>"But can't people like children and be glad +they are going to have a nice time, even if they +don't have any in their own homes?" asked +Carrie Ransom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course," said Maggie, always ready +to find excuses for others; "but then probably +that gentleman never had nice times himself +when he was a child, and so he does not +know how to appreciate them."</p> + +<p>Maggie's long words and elegant sentences +always settled any doubtful point, and the +"cross gentleman," who still stood upon the +sidewalk waiting for the next passing omnibus, +was now regarded with eyes of sympathy and +pity, which were quite lost upon him as he +scolded and grumbled at the "fuss that was +made nowadays about children's pleasures."</p> + +<p>"Chartered for a troop of youngsters," he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +growled forth to another gentleman, who coming +up also opened the door of the omnibus, +and would have jumped in.</p> + +<p>Upon which the new-comer drew back, +looked up smilingly at the windows of the +house, nodded and waved his hand, receiving +in return blushes and smiles for himself, with +an answering nod or two from some of the +least shy of the group.</p> + +<p>"He's glad," said Lily; "he is a nice gentleman, +and I expect he has lots of little children +who love him dearly, and that he tries to give +them a good time."</p> + +<p>"And so is made happy himself," said +Maggie. "There comes Patrick with the +shawls and wraps."</p> + +<p>And now came Miss Ashton and a couple of +lady friends, who had volunteered to go with +her and help take care of the little party, +bound for an excursion and ramble in the +Central Park; and the signal being given for +the merry group to take their places in the +stage, forth they all fluttered, like so many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +birds; and amid much laughing and chattering +stowed themselves away in the roomy conveyance.</p> + +<p>They were all seated, and Patrick, Mrs. +Bradford's man, who had been <em>lent</em> for the +occasion, was mounting to his seat beside the +driver, when another gentleman, coming up +with a quick step, pulled open the door of the +omnibus, and popped in. He was plainly +shortsighted, and did not see how matters stood +until he was fairly inside and looking about +for a seat.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, indeed, his hearing taught him +first, for he might almost have thought himself +in a nest of sparrows with all that chirping +and fluttering. A smothered laugh or two +also broke forth as he entered, and he speedily +saw that he had no right to a place there.</p> + +<p>"Ah! private, I see. Beg your pardon, +ladies," he said good-naturedly, and jumped +out again, turning with a bow, and "I wish +you a pleasant time." Then, as he caught +sight of a roguish face and a pair of dancing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +eyes watching him with a look of recognition, +he said,—</p> + +<p>"Why, Lily, my dear! Glad to see you. +Bound for a frolic? I hope you may enjoy +yourself; and your schoolmates as well. A +merry day to you, birdies." With which he +banged the door and watched them off.</p> + +<p>"Who's that gentleman, Lily?" asked more +than one voice.</p> + +<p>"He is Kitty Raymond's father. His name +is Mr. Raymond," answered Lily.</p> + +<p>"He is a nice, pleasant gentleman, is he +not?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, he is very pleasant," said Lily, +"but then he is an awful liar."</p> + +<p>"Oh-h-h! ah! ah!" broke from one and another +of the children at Lily's very plain speaking; +and Miss Ashton said reprovingly,—</p> + +<p>"Lily, my child! what a very improper expression +for you to use, and of one so much +older than yourself, too."</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Lily, "it is true, Miss +Ashton. I know he tells the most dreadful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +untrue stories, and that does make him a liar, +I know. If children say what is very untrue, +people say it is a lie; and when grown-ups +say what is not true to children I don't see +why they are not liars all the same. And Mr. +Raymond don't tell little stories what you +would call <em>fibs</em>, either, but real big, true <em>lies</em>, +what Tom calls whoppers. So, though he is +pleasant and good-natured, I don't think he is +so very nice; and I'm glad he is not my papa."</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton hardly knew what to say, for if +Lily's accusations were true,—and the child +was not apt to accuse any one wrongfully,—her +reasoning was quite just, and it was plainly +to be seen that in some way her sense of right +and truth had been grievously offended. But +still she did not wish to have her speak in such +an improper way, and she was about to say +so again, when Lily broke forth once more +with,—</p> + +<p>"Miss Ashton, I'll tell you, and you can +just judge for yourself. The other day I was +spending the afternoon with Kitty, and her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +little brother wanted to go down stairs with +us, and his papa did not want him to go; so he +told him that the big black man in the closet +in the hall would catch him and put him up the +chimney. And it <em>was a lie</em>! I say it was a +real, true lie," persisted Lily, who was apt to +be emphatic in her choice of words, "for Mr. +Raymond knew there was no black man there, +and he just made it up."</p> + +<p>"Was the little boy frightened?" asked +Belle.</p> + +<p>"Yes, as frightened as any thing, and he +really believes there is a black man in that +closet; and Willie Raymond, who is six years +old, will not go past that closet without some +big person. And I did feel not very brave +myself when I went past it," confessed Lily, +"for all I knew there was no black man there—and +if there was, he wouldn't hurt me, the +poor, old fellow—and knew it was just a—well, +if Miss Ashton says so, I'll call it a <em>fib</em>, +but I shall <em>think</em> it was a lie."</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton and the other ladies could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +hardly help smiling at Lily's tone; and the +former felt that the child was so far right that +she could scarcely reprove her again for her +indignant attack upon this too common form +of deceit.</p> + +<p>"And Mr. Raymond went and winked at me, +just as if he thought <em>I</em> thought it was funny," +pursued Lily; "but I thought it was only horrid, +and I didn't smile a bit, but looked back at him +very solemn. No, I don't like him, and I'm +not going to."</p> + +<p>"You don't like him because you can't respect +him," said Bessie with solemn gravity.</p> + +<p>"No, I just don't," answered Lily; "and +I'm not going to go and have a respect for a +person who tells—who says what is not +true, not if they are as big and as old as a +mountain."</p> + +<p>Lily's resolution was received with general +approval; but now, at her suggestion, the subject +was changed. There was enough to talk +about without taking any unpleasant thing; +and how those little tongues did go!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a mild, lovely day in the early spring, +uncommonly warm for the season,—just the +day for an excursion. Modest crocuses, lovely +hyacinths and gay tulips were in bloom; the +willows were just clothing themselves in their +first tender green, and every stream and spring +rippled and sparkled and sang as if it were +rejoicing in its new life and liberty.</p> + +<p>The park was fairly alive with children, who, +like our little party, seemed determined to enjoy +this bright, spring day to the utmost; but perhaps +none were so gleeful and merry as our +young friends.</p> + +<p>The windows of the omnibus were open, and +the little girls had all scrambled upon their +knees that they might the better see what was +without; and many a grave countenance was +won to smiles by the sight of the bright, joyous +faces as they rolled past, and the merry peals +of laughter which every now and then broke +forth from the cumbrous vehicle. And they +scattered not only smiles and bright looks +wherever they went, but other good things also.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mabel Walton, who considered it almost impossible +to enjoy oneself without a quantity of +candies and sugar-plums on hand, had been +furnished by her over-indulgent mother with a +large supply of these delicacies; nor were most +of the others without their share; so that Miss +Ashton looked with some dismay upon the +treasures which were displayed by one and +another, fearing that her little flock might surfeit +themselves with too many sweets before +the day was over.</p> + +<p>However, her mind was soon relieved, at +least in a measure. For Mabel having doled +out a handful of sugar-plums to each of her +companions, Bessie Bradford called out as the +carriage rolled slowly up a hilly part of the +road,—</p> + +<p>"Oh! see that little girl; what a nice face +she has. But she looks so pale and sorry. I +wish I had some pennies for her; but I will +give her some of my sugar-plums. Perhaps +she don't have many."</p> + +<p>Poor child! she looked as if she had not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +many loaves of bread, as she ran by the side +of the omnibus, holding up her thin hand. A +pale, sorrowful little face it was that looked up +into those, so rosy and happy, above it; pinched, +careworn, and old above its years, with that +look so often seen in the faces of the children +of the poor. Yet, in spite of her extreme +poverty, she was not very ragged or very +dirty; and as little Bessie had said, she +had "a nice face," an open, straightforward +look, a gentle expression, and a clear, honest +eye.</p> + +<p>As she saw Bessie's hand outstretched, her +face brightened, and as the little girl dropped +two or three sugar-plums, she stooped hastily to +pick them up; but when she raised her head +again, the old weary look had come back, deepened +now by disappointment.</p> + +<p>Just then the driver whipped up his horses +and the omnibus rolled on faster, leaving the +child looking sadly after it, and making no +attempt to pick up the sugar-plums now thrown +out freely by all the little girls.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why! she looks as if she didn't like +sugar-plums," said Belle.</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" said Maggie. "There never +could be a person so wanting in sense as not +to like sugar-plums."</p> + +<p>"Maybe that man who lived in a tub did +not," said Lily. "Maggie, I was very much +interested in that man when you wrote to me +about him, and I meant to ask you a little +more about him, but I did not think he could +be a <em>wise</em> man. What was his name?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Diogenes," said Maggie; "and the +reason they called the old cross-patch a wise +man was because wise men were very scarce +in those days. They only had seven in all +that country; but when you are as far as I am +in Parley's History you will learn all about +them."</p> + +<p>"I wonder what did make that little girl +look so sorry," said Bessie, unable to forget +the look of disappointment so plainly visible +on the child's face.</p> + +<p>"I think, darling," said Miss Ashton, "that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +she expected pennies when she saw you were +about to throw something out, and so was not +satisfied with the candies. There was something +interesting and sweet in her face."</p> + +<p>"Here are some more poor children," said +Bessie; "let's drop some sugar-plums to them +and see if they care about them."</p> + +<p>There could be no doubt as to the approbation +of these new recipients of the bounty of +our little friends. At first it was difficult to +tell whether the pleasure was most enjoyed by +those within the omnibus who scattered with +liberal hand, or by the outsiders who gathered +the harvest; but as the enthusiasm of these +last drew new claimants, and all waxed more +and more clamorous, it soon became an annoyance, +and Miss Ashton was obliged to put a +stop to the shower, which had already received +a check, as some of the younger children were +becoming frightened.</p> + +<p>But Patrick and the driver were forced to +threaten the obstreperous crowd, and even to +call for the aid of a policeman before they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +could be scattered, so that this diversion did +not end so agreeably.</p> + +<p>There was one thing gained, however, in +Miss Ashton's opinion; and this was that the +greater part of the sugar-plums had been disposed +of, without hurt to her young charge.</p> + +<p>Not that she objected to sugar-plums altogether. +Do not think, my little readers, that +she was, as Maggie would have said, so "wanting +in sense," as that; but she had been rather +appalled by the sight of the numerous tempting +looking parcels that were produced, to say +nothing of Mabel's over-abundant supply.</p> + +<p>Our gay party made the round of the park, +stopping for a while at any place of interest, +and now and then alighting if they were +so inclined. They hung for some time +about the paddock where the deer are kept, +putting their little hands through the palings +and trying to tempt the pretty, gentle creatures +to come nearer. But the deer were not to be +persuaded and although they watched the +children with their mild, soft eyes in a very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +amiable manner, they held aloof and would +not condescend to a closer acquaintance.</p> + +<p>The swans were less timid, and, as the children +flocked down to the border of the lake +with their hands full of crackers and bread, +came swimming up, arching their graceful +necks, and looking eagerly for the bits with +which they were speedily treated. It was +enchanting to see them so friendly, and to +have them feed from one's very hand.</p> + +<p>The old gray arsenal, with its collection of +wild animals, was not to be visited until after +they had taken their lunch. As they passed +the Casino on their way up through the park, +Patrick had been left there to make all ready +for them; and now they drove back and +alighted. Pleasant and mild though the day +was, the ground was still too cold and the air +too fresh to permit of lunching out of doors; +and, although the children entreated that they +might be permitted to do so, Miss Ashton was +too wise to yield.</p> + +<p>The lunch was not quite ready when they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +reached the Casino, and the children were +permitted to wander around and amuse themselves +as they pleased for a few moments, provided +they did not lose sight of the house, or +go beyond call.</p> + +<p>Bessie, Lily, and Belle had strolled a short +distance away together, and had disappeared +from the view of Maggie, Nellie, and Dora, who +stood at the head of a short flight of stone +steps leading up to the Casino. They had but +gone around the other side of the hedge, however, +and could not be far off.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Lily and Belle came flying back +with frightened faces, and rushed breathless +and panting to where the other children stood.</p> + +<p>Then Belle turned, and exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Where's Bessie? Didn't Bessie come?"</p> + +<p>No Bessie was to be seen, certainly; and +Maggie, noticing the startled faces of the other +children, took alarm at once for her little sister, +and started forward, crying,—</p> + +<p>"Where is she? What has happened? +Where's my Bessie?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before Belle or Lily could speak, Hattie +darted from behind the hedge, laughing and +mischievous; and, pointing her finger at the +crimson faces of the two little ones, cried +triumphantly,—</p> + +<p>"Oh! didn't I take you in? Didn't I give +you a fright, though?"</p> + +<p>"What is it? Where's Bessie?" said Maggie +again.</p> + +<p>Hattie sat down upon the lower step, and +doubling herself over and rocking back and +forth, said between paroxysms of laughter,—</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! Bessie is round there talking to +the old fellow. She's all right. Didn't I play +you two geese a nice trick, though? How you +did run! I didn't think you could be so taken +in. Oh, what fun!"</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Lily, indignation taking +the place of her alarm, "were you tricking +us? Didn't he try to take your hair? Hattie, +Hattie! you mean, mean girl! And you told +us a real wicked story, too. How dare you do +it?" And Lily stamped her foot at Hattie, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +a real passion at the trick which had been +played upon her.</p> + +<p>The effect was different upon Belle. She +was a sensitive little thing, easily overcome +by any undue excitement; and, throwing herself +upon Maggie, she burst into a violent fit +of sobbing and crying.</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton and her friends heard and came +to inquire into the trouble; and Hattie was +now rather frightened herself as she saw the +effect of her foolish deceit.</p> + +<p>Lily indignantly told the story, which +amounted to this. It was a well-known fact, +and had unfortunately come to the ears of our +little girls, that some man had lately attacked +several children, and suddenly severed the hair +from their heads, making off as fast as possible +after he had done so. He did this for the +sake of the hair, which he probably sold; but +he was, of course, a bad man and a thief, and +the children all felt much dread of him.</p> + +<p>So when Hattie had come flying up to Bessie, +Belle, and Lily, without any hat, and seemingly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +in a state of the wildest excitement, and +had told them, with every appearance of truth +and of being herself excessively frightened, +that "that old man there" had snatched off +her hat and tried to cut her hair, they had +readily believed her—as an old man was +really there—and had turned about and run +away in great alarm. They had been terrified +half out of their senses; and now here was +Hattie confessing—yes, glorying, till Miss +Ashton came—that she had "tricked" them, +that she was "only in fun," it was all "a +joke."</p> + +<p>But her triumph was speedily brought to an +end, when Miss Ashton saw Belle's state, and +heard how it had been brought about. She +sternly reprimanded Hattie, and bade her go +into the house, and remain there.</p> + +<p>But where was Bessie?</p> + +<p>The other children declared that "an old +man was really there;" and, in spite of Hattie's +confession that she had only been joking, +Maggie's mind was filled with visions of her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +little sister's sunny curls in the hands of a +ruffian; and away she flew in search of her, +quite regardless of any supposed risk to her +own wealth of dark, waving ringlets.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 83px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image10.jpg" width="83" height="75" alt="flower" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 223px;"> +<a name="grandfather" id="grandfather"><img src="images/image11.jpg" width="223" height="125" alt="sheep" /> +</a></div> + + +<h2>III.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>JESSIE AND HER GRANDFATHER.</em></big></p> + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-w.jpg" +width="51" height="50" alt="w" /></div> +<p><span class="dropletter">W</span>HERE was Bessie?</p> + +<p>When Lily and Belle turned to run +from the figure which Hattie pointed +out as that of the man who attacked her, she +started with them, quite as much alarmed as +the other two; and, if they thought about it +at all, they imagined she was close behind them. +But she had gone only a few steps when she +heard a voice, a weak voice, calling after herself +and her companions, and saying,—</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid, little girls; don't run away, +little ladies. Couldn't ye stop a minute to +help an old man?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>Something in the tones touched the tender +little heart of Bessie; and she checked her +steps, ready to start again, however, on the +shortest notice, and looked back at the old +man.</p> + +<p>A very old man he seemed, and a very +feeble old man, scarcely able, if he had the +will, to run after active little girls, or to do +them any harm. His hair was very white, +and his face pinched and thin; but he looked +kind and gentle, as Bessie saw, even from the +distance at which she stood; and her fears +died away as she looked at him.</p> + +<p>The old man sat upon a bank; and Bessie +stood hesitating and watching him, trying to +make up her mind to go and ask if he was in +trouble. She saw that he had dropped his +stick, which had rolled away, and lay on the +ground just beyond his reach.</p> + +<p>"Would you do an old man a kindness, and +give him his stick, little Miss?" he called to +her, pointing at the same time to the cane. +"Why did ye all run that way? I wouldn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +hurt a hair of your heads, more than I would +of my own Jessie's."</p> + +<p>This reference to the "hair on their heads" +was rather unfortunate, for it startled Bessie +again, and brought back the cause for alarm. +Was the old man really in trouble, and unable +to reach his stick? she thought, or was this +only a trap to catch her, and deprive her of +her curls?</p> + +<p>So she stood still, hesitating; and the old +man, as if in despair of receiving any help from +her, tried to raise himself a little, and stretched +out his trembling hand towards the stick. But +it was useless; it lay too far; he could not +rise without its aid, and he sank back again, +looking more helpless and feeble than before. +This was too much for Bessie. She could not +bear to see suffering and not try to relieve it; +and it seemed to her that it would be cruel and +wicked not to lend a helping hand to this poor +old creature.</p> + +<p>"Please, dear Father in heaven, not to let +him hurt me," she whispered softly to herself;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +and then walked slowly towards the old man, +her little heart beating painfully, it must be +confessed, in spite of her petition, and the +trust that it would be heard.</p> + +<p>Keeping at as great a distance as it would +allow, she stooped for the stick, and held it out +at arm's length to the owner.</p> + +<p>"Now may He that blesses the cup of cold +water given in His name reward you," said the +old man, as he took it from the timid little +hand; "but why are you frightened at me, +dear, and why did the other little ones run as +if they were scared half out of their lives? +When you passed all in the big stage, laughing +and so gay, it put a warmth into my heart +that hasn't been there for many a day, and I +b'lieve it was your own loving, little face that +smiled back at me as I waved my hat to +you for a blessing on your joy. Why, I +wouldn't hurt a living thing; least of all, little +girls that always mind me of my Jessie. +Though it's different enough that you are from +her, my poor lamb," he added in a lower tone,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +which Bessie could not have heard had she not +now drawn nearer to him.</p> + +<p>For with the first words of the old man's +speech, all fear had vanished from her mind. +He had called down a blessing on her in a +name which she knew and loved, and she +could not be afraid of him longer. Besides, +now that she looked at him more closely and +with unprejudiced eyes, she recognized him, +and remembered how, as he said, when the +stage had passed him with its merry load, he +had taken off his hat and feebly cheered and +waved to them as they went by.</p> + +<p>"Don't you try to cut off little girls' hair?" +she could not help asking, in spite of her +new confidence.</p> + +<p>"I?" answered the old man surprised; "and +why would I do that? Ah! I see. Did you +take me for <em>that</em> fellow? My little lady, they +have him fast in jail, as he deserves; but how did +you ever think I would do a thing like that?"</p> + +<p>"A little girl said you tried to cut hers," +answered the child.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then that little girl slandered an old man +who had never harmed her," he said gravely. +"I understand; she's frightened you for her +own fun, or whatever it may be. Well, I'm +up now,"—he had slowly and painfully raised +himself by the help of his cane,—"and I'd +better be moving away, or the sight of me +after that may spoil your pleasure. It was hard +in her to turn you against one who would never +have harmed you; but you're a sensible little +lady, and a kind, and you'll never be the worse +for doing a good turn to an old man."</p> + +<p>"Don't go away," said Bessie, "the other +children won't be afraid of you when I tell +them Hattie—was—was—mistaken." Bessie +feared that Hattie's tale was more than a +mistake, but she would not accuse her until +she was sure. "They won't want you to go +away, poor, lame man."</p> + +<p>"Jessie stays so long," he answered, looking +about him helplessly. "She sat me here +to rest a while, and I think she can't know +how long she's been gone."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before Bessie could speak again, around the +hedge came Maggie, who stopped short in +amazement at seeing her sister standing talking +sociably to the dreaded old man. And +with her curls all safe!</p> + +<p>Maggie could hardly believe her own eyes. +She went forward more slowly, till Bessie +called to her,—</p> + +<p>"O Maggie, dear! this old man wouldn't +hurt us, or cut our hair for any thing. He +likes little girls, and it made him feel badly +because we ran away from him, and he is going +away now 'cause he thinks we don't like him. +Come and tell him not to."</p> + +<p>Timid Maggie, feeling very doubtful, but +determined to share her sister's risk, whatever +that might be—she had almost forgotten that +Hattie had confessed she only wanted to trick +them all—drew still nearer, and taking +Bessie's hand, gazed up at the old man with +eyes in which pity and sympathy began to +struggle with her former fear. He looked so +poor and feeble and helpless, so little like +doing harm to any one.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>And now came Dora and Gracie, who had +followed Maggie in search of Bessie; and as +the little group gathered about the old man, +Bessie said,—</p> + +<p>"Where is your Jessie? Can we call her to +you?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell, little Miss," he answered. +"I've been sitting here more than an hour, I +take it. Jessie was so eager about her parrot +that she has maybe forgotten how long she's +been away. Ah! there she comes now."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, a child came running towards +them, but seeing the group about her grandfather, +paused in amazement at a short distance.</p> + +<p>It was the very same little girl to whom +they had thrown sugar-plums but an hour +since, and who had looked so disappointed. +The children recognized her immediately.</p> + +<p>"Why! that's the little girl who was not +pleased with our sugar-plums," said Bessie. +"Is that your Jessie?"</p> + +<p>The old man beckoned to her, and she came +forward.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This is my Jessie, Miss," he answered, +"and a good girl she is too. I don't know +what her old grandfather would do without +her. She's given up the dearest thing she had +for me, bless her!"</p> + +<p>Jessie was now standing beside her grandfather, +blushing and hanging her head at the +notice thus drawn upon her.</p> + +<p>"What was that?" asked Dora.</p> + +<p>"Her parrot, Miss. A splendid parrot that +her father, who's now dead and gone, brought +her from beyond the seas. You'd think he +was a human creature 'most, to hear him talk, +and she loved him next to her old grandfather; +but she parted with him for my sake."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you like him?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, Miss. I was 'most as fond of +the bird as she was herself; but it wasn't to be +helped. You see I was sick so long, and the +doctor bid me take a medicine that cost a +deal of money, to drive the pain out of my +bones; and how were we to get it when we'd +not enough to buy bread from day to day, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +to pay the rent that was due? So she sold her +bird, for I can't do a hand's turn of work just +yet."</p> + +<p>"That was good of her," said Gracie; "did +she get all the money she wanted for him?"</p> + +<p>"More than we expected, Miss, for the man +that keeps the house here," pointing to the +Casino, "gave her ten dollars for him. And +he lets her see him every day, and says when +the summer is over she may have him back +for eight dollars if she can raise it. For Poll +draws people to the refreshment place, you +see, with his funny ways, and his wonderful +talk, and the keeper thinks he'll get two dollars +worth out of him before the summer is +over. But, Jessie 'll never raise all that +money, though I have put by my pride, and let +her ask charity here of the folks in the Park."</p> + +<p>"And I don't feel that I ought to take it for +that, either," said Jessie, as soon as the talkative +old man paused for breath, and let her have +a chance to speak, "'cause grandfather needs so +many things, and the rent will be falling due<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +before long again, so I must save up for straws +and ribbon."</p> + +<p>"For what?" asked Bessie, while at the +same moment Dora said,—</p> + +<p>"Why don't you find some work and earn +money that way?"</p> + +<p>"For straws and ribbon, Miss," said Jessie, +answering Bessie's question first; then turning +to Dora, she added,—</p> + +<p>"I would work, Miss, and I do, when I have +the things. I make little baskets and catchalls, +and allumette holders of ribbon and straw +and beads, and I sell them wherever I can; +but the stock was all gone long ago, and I've +no more to begin on."</p> + +<p>"But," said Dora, "if people give you +money, why don't you take that to buy your +materials?"</p> + +<p>Jessie shook her head sadly.</p> + +<p>"It has taken every cent that's been given +to me to buy just bread enough for me and +grandfather to eat, Miss," she said; "there +was nothing to spare for any thing else, and any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +way it is an uncertain thing, the selling of the +baskets, till the weather is pleasant and warm, +and people like to stop. Now, you see, is the +time for me to be making them ready; but +there's no use in thinking about it, and as for +Poll,"—</p> + +<p>Jessie's sigh and filling eyes told of the +despair with which she thought of the recovery +of her pet.</p> + +<p>"I have some money in my charity-box at +home," said Maggie eagerly; "I'll give you +some to buy straws and ribbon. I have no +money with me, but Miss Ashton will lend me +some for such a good purpose, I know, and I'll +pay her as soon as we go home. I'll run and +ask her."</p> + +<p>But there was no need, for there was +Miss Ashton come in search of her stray lambs, +and in two minutes she had heard the story.</p> + +<p>Heard it, but scarcely understood it, for that +was difficult with one and another putting in a +word, patching it out in various bits; to say +nothing of the circumstance that our little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +girls themselves scarcely understood what they +were talking about.</p> + +<p>Jessie and her grandfather—who had nothing +to say now that the lady had come, and who +stood close to one another, the old man holding +his hat in his hand and leaning on his stick—were +somewhat confused themselves by the chatter +and flutter of the eager little talkers; and +when Miss Ashton turned to the latter and +began to inquire into his story, his usual flow +of words seemed to have failed him.</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton spoke to Jessie.</p> + +<p>"Grandfather was just telling the little +ladies about my Polly, ma'am," she said +modestly. "If they'd like to see him he's in +the house there. And if you'd like to have +him show off he'll talk better for me than for +any one else, and I'll go and coax him."</p> + +<p>"Oh! can we go and see him?" said Bessie; +and Jessie once more saying, yes, and that she +would go with them, the little girls ran off, +while Miss Ashton remained to hear the old +man's story.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a sad, but by no means an uncommon +one. Jessie's mother had died when she was +a baby. Her father, who was mate on a sailing-vessel, +had been drowned at sea about two +years ago. Until his death, his wages, +together with what the old man made at stone-cutting, +had supported them all in comfort. +And even after that, the grandfather and the +child had continued to keep along on what the +former earned. Jessie, who was twelve years +old, had been to school pretty steadily till a +year ago, could "read and write and do up +sums," and had also learned to sew.</p> + +<p>But about that time the grandfather had +taken a heavy cold, from being thoroughly wet +with rain while at his work; and, neglecting to +change his clothes, it had settled in all his +joints, and a long and painful rheumatic illness +followed. All the last summer he had lain +bound hand and foot, the pretty trifles which +Jessie had learned to make the sole support +of the two. But with the winter the sale of her +little wares had fallen off, poverty and suffering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +had increased upon them, and they had gone +from bad to worse, till, as he had told the little +girls, Jessie had been forced to sell her beloved +parrot to keep a roof above their heads, and +to buy the medicine so much needed for her +grandfather. They had some help from the +church at which they attended, but that was +little. And now that it was warmer weather, +and Jessie could begin to sell her wares, she +had no money to buy materials, and he had +consented that she should ask charity of +passers-by, and so gain a few shillings to begin +her trade.</p> + +<p>They lived over there in a sad, tumble-down +place, the old man said, "and he never thought +to bring his Jessie to that; but the Lord had +His own ways, and when He saw fit, He could +take them out of this trouble."</p> + +<p>The story was told with a straightforward +simplicity, and a natural pathos which went +far to convince Miss Ashton that it must be +true; but she took down the name and address +of the clergyman of whom the old man spoke.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +This gentleman lived in one of the streets +bordering on the Park, and Miss Ashton resolved +to see him and hear his report before +she left for home. If these poor people were +really in such need, and deserving of help, she +could not let them suffer longer than was necessary.</p> + +<p>She told old Malcolm—for that he said was +his name—that he did not do well to rest +upon the bank. The ground, she said, was not +yet warm enough for his aching bones.</p> + +<p>But he answered that it was far better than +the damp, cold shanty where he and Jessie had +lived for the last two months, for here on a +bright day he had the sunshine, and the fresh, +clear air, and little of either of these ever +found their way into the miserable cabin.</p> + +<p>Malcolm's language and manner, as well as +those of his grand-daughter, showed that he +had indeed been used to "better days;" and +he seemed so patient and uncomplaining that +Miss Ashton felt much interested in him, +and anxious to do something for his relief.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>She bade him come farther on, and find a +seat upon a pleasant, sunny bench, where she +would furnish him and Jessie with some food; +but when she said this, he told her some of the +little ones of her party were afraid of him, +and he did not wish to trouble them.</p> + +<p>He looked troubled himself when he said +this; and Miss Ashton had to tell him that +one of her young scholars had been so foolish +and wrong as to tell a falsehood—she could +call it nothing less—to frighten the others; +but that they all knew the truth now, and would +be afraid of him no longer.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 158px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image12.jpg" width="158" height="50" alt="flower" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 225px;"> +<a name="parrot" id="parrot"><img src="images/image13.jpg" width="225" height="125" alt="Bird nest and birds" /> +</a></div> + +<h2>IV.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>THE PARROT.</em></big></p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-m.jpg" +width="49" height="50" alt="m" /></div> +<p><span class="dropletter">M</span>EANWHILE the children were amusing +themselves with the parrot. The +whole flock had followed Jessie to +make his acquaintance, Maggie having called +the others to join them; and even the still sobbing +Belle forgot her troubles in this new +object of interest.</p> + +<p>The bird proved to be in a most amiable +and sociable humor; and, to the great delight +of his former little mistress, exhibited himself +in a most gratifying manner.</p> + +<p>His cage was placed before a little stand +just outside of a window opening upon the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +verandah; and when the children first saw +him he was swinging head downwards from +one of the bars, hanging by one claw, and appearing +to take no notice of any thing until +Jessie called to him.</p> + +<p>Then he put out the other claw, and swung +himself upright; immediately commencing a +kind of dance upon his perch, as if in an +ecstacy, and calling out,—</p> + +<p>"Jessie! Jessie! pretty Jessie, good Jessie."</p> + +<p>"Good Polly," said Jessie, while the children +gathered around in great delight. "How +are you, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"Polly pretty well; Polly all right," answered +the bird.</p> + +<p>The little girls were astonished, as indeed +were the ladies who had accompanied them. +Not one among the group but had often seen +parrots who would repeat certain set phrases, +but this bird actually answered questions, and +as if he understood them too.</p> + +<p>"What does Polly want?" asked Jessie, delighted +at the sensation her pet was producing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Polly want a bit of sugar," answered the +bird.</p> + +<p>Jessie put her hand into her pocket, and +produced one of the sugar-plums the children +had thrown to her, and held it up before the +parrot's greedy eyes.</p> + +<p>"Dance a jig then, and sing a song, Polly," +she said.</p> + +<p>Polly forthwith commenced a kind of seesaw +on his perch, swaying his body back and +forth, balancing himself first on one foot, then +on the other, in a measured sort of way which +he probably supposed to be dancing. At any +rate, his audience were contented to accept it +as such, and he met with continued applause, +until suddenly bringing his gyrations to +a close he screamed in a loud, discordant +voice,—</p> + +<p>"Sugar!"</p> + +<p>"Sing then," said Jessie.</p> + +<p>In a sharp, cracked, but very distinct voice, +and with some resemblance to a tune, the parrot +began,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Mary had a little lamb,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Its fleece was white as snow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And everywhere that"—<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Here he came to an abrupt close, eying the +sugar-plum wistfully.</p> + +<p>"Sing it," said Jessie; and he began again.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Mary had a little lamb,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Its fleece was white as snow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And everywhere that Mary went,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The lamb—sugar—sugar—sugar,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>screamed the creature, amid peals of laughter +from the children, who now begged that he +might have the coveted reward, which Jessie +accordingly gave him.</p> + +<p>"He knows it all," she said; "but I can +hardly ever make him sing it through."</p> + +<p>Poll took the sugar-plum gingerly in one +claw, and sat nibbling at it till it was all gone, +while the children crowded around him, admiring +his gay, bright-colored feathers, and +expressing their wonder at his accomplishments +and sense.</p> + +<p>"Now you must show off some more," +said Jessie, when the bird had disposed of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +his feast. "Polly, where is the naughty +child?"</p> + +<p>To the intense delight of the children, Poll +began to scream and cry exactly like a passionate +child, after which he laughed and chuckled +with satisfaction at his own performances, +then crowed like a rooster, baa-ed like a nanny-goat, +barked like a dog, and mewed like a cat. +After all this he took up intelligent conversation +again.</p> + +<p>"Polly's a pr-r-r-etty bird; Polly's a good +bird; Polly's a wise bird," he screamed, in all +of which his little hearers entirely agreed.</p> + +<p>"Who do you love, Polly?" asked Jessie.</p> + +<p>"Polly love Jessie; Jessie a good girl," was +the answer.</p> + +<p>"Where's your master, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"Bob Malcolm gone to sea. Good-bye, +good-bye, good-bye," screamed the parrot.</p> + +<p>"Sing a song of"—began Jessie, and the +parrot took up the strain.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Sing a song of sixpence,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">A pocket full of rye"—<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> +<p>Here he came to a stop, nor could he be +coaxed to finish the couplet, though Jessie +assured the audience that he could, if he chose, +sing the first four lines of the old song all +through.</p> + +<p>However, he condescended to repeat some +of his former performances. But it would +take too long to tell all the feats of this remarkable +bird; and you must not think that these +I have related are quite impossible, for I have +seen a parrot who could do all that is here +described, and more too. The children were +so interested and amused that they could +scarcely be persuaded to leave him when +Patrick announced that their lunch was ready; +and Jessie, who was bidden by Miss Ashton to +join her grandfather and share the meal provided +for him, was begged to keep within call, +so that they might return to the entertainment +when they had finished their lunch.</p> + +<p>While this was going on, Miss Ashton told +the story she had heard from old Malcolm, and +said that she was so much interested in him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +and his grandchild, that she would go after +lunch and see the clergyman, while the little +girls amused themselves for a while under the +care of the other ladies. She carried out this +purpose, and went on her kind errand, followed +by many a hope that she would find the story +all correct.</p> + +<p>But when the children went back to the +parrot they were disappointed, for he proved +cross or tired or in a less sociable mood than +he had been before, and he very rudely turned +his back upon them, and would utter no words +save,—</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue! Hold your tongue!" +every time any one spoke to him. So, finding +this neither polite nor amusing, the company +left him and scattered themselves in search of +other entertainment.</p> + +<p>"How sober you look, Maggie; what are +you thinking about?" asked Hattie Leroy, +coming up to where Maggie Bradford stood +leaning upon a stone railing.</p> + +<p>Maggie looked thoughtful, it may be, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +hardly sober, for her thoughts seemed pleasant +ones, to judge by the light in her eye, and the +half smile upon her lip.</p> + +<p>"I have an idea," said Maggie, "and I +think it's a nice one, at least if we are allowed +to do it."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Hattie.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Maggie, "I don't care to have +it talked about very much till we know if we +can do it; but I was thinking it would be so +nice if we could have a little fair, just +ourselves, you know, the school-children and +Bessie and me. I know some children who +had a fair in their own house, and they made +money enough to pay for a bed in St. Luke's +Hospital for a poor, lame child; and I thought +perhaps we could make enough to buy back +Jessie's parrot for her; and to make a more +comfortable home for them. We could make +things for the fair, and ask our friends to help +us. Mamma would make some for us, I know, +and so will Aunt Annie, and, I think, Aunt +Bessie and Aunt May."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where could we have it?" asked Hattie, +who seemed much interested.</p> + +<p>"In one of our own houses," said Maggie, "or,—that +was another thought I had,—perhaps +Miss Ashton would be so very good as to let us +have it at her house. The piazza would be +lovely for it; and she generally lets us have +some party-ish kind of a thing when school +breaks up. Last year we had a giving of +prizes; and at Christmas we had a Christmas +festival, and a queen both times."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Hattie, "and Gracie said it was +shameful that you were queen both times. +She thinks it was very selfish in you."</p> + +<p>Maggie colored violently.</p> + +<p>"The queen was chosen," she said, "and the +girls chose me. I did not make myself queen."</p> + +<p>"Well, Gracie did not like it one bit," said +Hattie, "and she thinks you had no right to be +queen when you did not go to the school the +last time."</p> + +<p>Maggie was silent, but the gladness was +gone from her face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be too cold to have the fair on +the piazza?" asked Hattie.</p> + +<p>"Not by the time we are ready," said Maggie. +"You know it will take a good while to +make enough things, and Miss Ashton does +not close the school till the first of June. I +heard her tell mamma so the other day. And +by that time it will be quite warm and pleasant, +and there will be plenty of flowers. I +was thinking we could dress the piazza with +wreaths and festoons and flags; and we could +make some kind of a throne and canopy at one +end. And there we could have the flower-table +and the queen behind it, with some maids of +honor to sell flowers."</p> + +<p>If Maggie imagined that Hattie would +express any admiration or approval of her +plan, she was mistaken. Hattie seemed interested, +and asked a great many questions, as to +how Maggie would arrange such and such +matters, but she did not act as if she thought +the "idea" very fine after all, and this was +rather different from the way in which Maggie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +was accustomed to have her plans received. +But she did not care for that; she was not a +vain child, constantly seeking for admiration, +and she was too full of her subject to pay much +heed to Hattie's cool way of hearing this +one.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to say much about it till I +see if mamma approves," she said. "Then +I'll ask Miss Ashton and tell all the children +about it. There are Bessie and Lily beckoning +to me; let us go and see what they want."</p> + +<p>And away she ran, intending to tell her +sister and Belle and Lily of her plan on the +first convenient opportunity; but not willing, +as she had said, to make it public till she +learned if it could be carried out. She did +not yet feel as if she knew Hattie very well, +and she was rather astonished at herself for +having talked so freely to her; but the truth +was, that Hattie had come upon her rather unawares, +and asked her what she was thinking +of, at the moment when she was turning her +"idea" over in her mind, and she had told her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +almost without reflection. Still she did not +exactly regret having done so, and, after what +she had said, never supposed that Hattie would +mention what she had told her.</p> + +<p>Upright, honorable Maggie judged others by +herself, and was entirely unsuspicious of evil.</p> + +<p>It would take too much space in this little +book, and you would not care to have a +particular description of all the various points +of interest visited by our party throughout +the day,—the Arsenal with its collection of +wild beasts and monkeys; the great reservoir +with its blue water, looking like a lake within +walls, as indeed it is; the lovely Ramble +through which they wandered for a long time, +and many another pleasant spot. They are all +familiar to many of you, and those to whom +they are not, may make acquaintance with +them some day.</p> + +<p>You may be sure that Miss Ashton did not +leave old Malcolm and his grand-daughter +without some remembrance of this day, for she +was not only very sorry for them and felt that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +they were really in need of assistance, but she +also knew that Jessie and her wonderful bird +had added much to the entertainment of her +little flock. She gave Jessie money enough to +furnish herself with materials to begin her little +trade again, and, leaving her address with her, +bade her bring some of her pretty toys to her +house when they should be made.</p> + +<p>They were all in the omnibus once more, +and had started on their homeward way, all +rather tired and quiet with the day's ramble, +when what was Maggie's astonishment to hear +Hattie say,—</p> + +<p>"Miss Ashton, Maggie and I have such a +very nice plan. We thought we might have a +fair, just us children, and ask our friends to +help us; and then we could sell the things we +made, or that were given to us, and so earn a +good deal of money to help Jessie and her +grandfather, and to buy back the parrot for +her. And we might have it when the weather +is warm and pleasant, just before school closes, +so that we could have it out of doors; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +perhaps, Miss Ashton, you would not mind +letting us hold it on your piazza and in the +garden. And Jessie might make some of her +pretty baskets and things for it, and we could +sell them for her. We thought we could raise +a good deal of money that way, for almost all +our friends would be glad to come."</p> + +<p>It would be hard to tell whether indignation +or surprise was uppermost in Maggie's mind, +as she sat utterly speechless and confounded, +while Hattie ran on thus, disclosing in this +public manner the plans which she had said +were to be kept secret until her own mamma +and Miss Ashton had heard and approved of +them.</p> + +<p>Yes, here was Hattie not only doing this, +but speaking as if she had been the inventor +of the cherished "idea," and as if Maggie had +only fallen in with it, perhaps helped it out a +little.</p> + +<p>Maggie was too shy to speak out as many +children would have done, and to say,—</p> + +<p>"That was my plan, Miss Ashton. I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +the first one to think of that;" and she +sat with her color changing, and her eyes fixed +wonderingly and reproachfully on Hattie as +she spoke, feeling somehow as if she had been +wronged, and yet not exactly seeing the way +to right herself.</p> + +<p>"Oh! that would be delightful," said Gracie. +"Miss Ashton, do you think you could let us +do it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I might," said Miss Ashton. "That +is not a bad idea, Hattie. I will talk to my +mother about it and see what she thinks, and +you may all tell your friends at home, and +learn if they approve."</p> + +<p>"If we could have the fair on your piazza," +continued Hattie eagerly, "we could dress it +up very prettily with wreaths and flowers, and +we could make a kind of a bower at one end, and +choose one of the girls for a queen, and let it +be her throne-room, and there we could have +the flower-table. Some of the children told +me you always let them have a festival before +vacation, Miss Ashton; and we might put it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +off till a little later, so that it would be warm +and pleasant, and we should have plenty of +flowers."</p> + +<p>There was not one of the children who did +not raise her voice in favor of the new plan +except Nellie Ransom, who sat opposite to +Maggie, and who watched her changing face, +and looked from her to Hattie with inquiring +and rather suspicious looks.</p> + +<p>Lily clapped her hands, and almost sprang +from her seat.</p> + +<p>"I'll begin to work for the fair this very +evening!" she said. "No more of your putting +off for me. I'll bring down mamma's +ribbon-box and worsted-box, if she'll let me, +and ask her what I can have, and to-morrow +I'll ask her to let me make something."</p> + +<p>"And we'll ask mamma and Aunt Annie, +won't we, Maggie?" said Bessie; "and +Belle, we'll ask them for some things for you +too."</p> + +<p>Bessie received no answer from Maggie, who, +feeling as if the whole matter had been taken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +out of her hands, poor child, and as if she had +been robbed of her property, dared not speak, +lest she should burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"I have a whole lot of money saved up," +said Lily, "and I'll take some of it to buy +what I want to make pretty things, and keep +the rest to spend at the fair."</p> + +<p>"Haven't you to pay your missionary money +to our box yet?" asked Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Well, I haven't paid it yet," said Lily, "but +I don't know if I will give a dollar this year. +I've supported the heathen for two years now, +and I think I'd like a little change of charity. +Wouldn't you, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>Maggie only nodded assent, scarce knowing +what question she was replying to.</p> + +<p>"Maggie," said Belle, "you don't seem +very interested; why don't you talk about +the fair and give us new ideas, as you 'most +always do?"</p> + +<p>"Does something provoke you or trouble +you, Maggie, dear?" asked Bessie, looking +into her sister's perplexed face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hattie," said Nellie suddenly, fixing her +eyes searchingly on the little girl she addressed, +"what put that idea of the fair into your +head?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" answered Hattie in some confusion, +"I—that is, we, Maggie and I, just thought +it would be nice, and so we talked about it a +little, and made up our minds to ask Miss +Ashton about it."</p> + +<p>Quick-witted Lily caught Nellie's suspicion, +and so did Bessie; and the former, who had +worn an air of displeasure with Hattie ever since +the affair of the morning, asked promptly,—</p> + +<p>"Who was the <em>first</em> to make up that idea,—the +fair and the queen in the flower bower, +and dressing the piazza and all? Who was it, +I say?"</p> + +<p>"Well," answered Hattie reluctantly, +"Maggie was the first to think about it, and +we talked it over together and arranged it +all."</p> + +<p>"I knew it!" cried Lily triumphantly; "I just +knew it was Maggie. It sounds just like her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +making up. Hattie," she added reproachfully, +"you tried to make us think it was yours."</p> + +<p>"I didn't," said Hattie. "I never said so."</p> + +<p>"You didn't just <em>say</em> so," said Bessie +solemnly, "but you tried to give that <em>depression</em>."</p> + +<p>"I didn't," pouted Hattie again; "and we +did talk about it together, didn't we, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>Maggie only gave a faint smile by way of +answer, for she felt that she could not honestly +allow that Hattie had suggested one single +idea; and still she was too generous to wish +to blame her more than she could avoid.</p> + +<p>And for the second time that day was Hattie +made to feel that her want of strict truthfulness +had lowered her in the eyes of her young +companions.</p> + +<p>"Umph!" said Lily severely; "appears to +me, Miss Hattie"—</p> + +<p>But she was not allowed to finish the intended +reproach, for Miss Ashton, seeing symptoms +of a quarrel, hastened to avert it, and +gently bade Lily be quiet.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lily obeyed; but her eye still rested sternly +upon Hattie, and the latter was forced to bear +more than one disapproving gaze during the +remainder of the drive home.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid," said Miss Ashton to her +mother that evening, "that Hattie Leroy is by +no means a truthful child;" and she told of +the occurrences of the day, adding that it was +not the first time she had noticed a want of +openness and uprightness, little acted deceits, +a keeping back of the whole truth, and even, +now and then a deliberate falsehood; and +more than all, a manner of repeating a thing +which gave it a very different meaning from +what the speaker intended, so often making +mischief and discomfort.</p> + +<p>"That is bad, very bad," said Mrs. Ashton; +"it may affect the other children."</p> + +<p>"I would rather hope that they may have a +good influence on her," answered her daughter. +"The standard of truth is so high in our +school, thanks, I believe, to dear little Bessie +Bradford, Maggie, Belle, and one or two others,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +that any departure from it is considered a very +serious offence. Lily, with all her thoughtlessness +and love of mischief, is strictly truthful; +so are Dora and Nellie. Gracie is the only one +for whom I fear, for, although I think she would +be shocked at the idea of telling a deliberate +untruth, her conceit and wish to be first are so +great that they often lead her to exaggerate +and give a false coloring to what she says of +herself as compared with others."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 98px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image14.jpg" width="98" height="75" alt="flower" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 217px;"> +<a name="grandmamma" id="grandmamma"><img src="images/image15.jpg" width="217" height="125" alt="Bird in nest" /> +</a></div> + +<h2>V.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>GRANDMAMMA HOWARD.</em></big></p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-t.jpg" +width="50" height="50" alt="t" /></div> +<p><span class="dropletter">T</span>HE proposal for the fair met with a +pretty general approval from the +parents and friends of the little girls, +and they received many promises of help.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Annie" undertook to show Maggie, +Bessie, and Belle how to make any pretty +articles they might wish to undertake. Lily's +mamma did the same for her, and none of the +children were left entirely without assistance.</p> + +<p>When Jessie came to Miss Ashton with her +pretty little wares, she was told what was proposed, +and bidden to have as large a supply as +possible, so that they might be offered for sale +with the other articles; and the lady and some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +of her friends kindly bought so many of those +already on hand that Jessie was furnished with +the means of procuring her materials at once.</p> + +<p>The older class in Mrs. Ashton's room also +entered with spirit into the affair, promising all +the assistance that they could give, so that +there was good prospect it would be a success. +The time fixed was the first day of June, if +the weather should be pleasant; if not, the +first fair day after that.</p> + +<p>One morning Gracie Howard came to school +in a state of great excitement.</p> + +<p>"My grandmamma," she said to the other +children, "takes the greatest interest in our +fair, and she is going to give us ever so many +things for it. She told me to invite you all to +come to her house this afternoon, and she has +a whole lot of pieces of silk and ribbons, and +worsteds and beads, and ever so many lovely +things to divide among us. And what is better +still, she says she would like each child to +make some article expressly for her, and she +will buy it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, delightful!" "How kind! how nice!" +"What a great help!" came from one and +another of her little hearers.</p> + +<p>"And," continued Gracie, warming with +her subject, "she wants some particular +things. Two toilet sets of lace and muslin, +one lined and trimmed with blue, the other +with pink; and two mats for flower vases, to be +exactly alike. I am going to do one of the +mats, and grandmamma says she thinks the +other one and both the toilet sets had better +be made by some of us older children, because +she thinks the little ones can scarcely do them. +And she will give ten dollars for the mat that +is worked the most nicely and evenly, and +nine for the other; eight for the best toilet set, +and seven for the second; and she will give +us all the materials. Just think of that! +Why, whoever has the best mat will earn more +than the price of Jessie's parrot! I wanted +grandmamma to say that one might have the +buying of the parrot for her own part; but +she said that would not be just to the rest who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +had a share in the fair; and that she had no +right to say so, either. I don't see why, and +I think she might have let me."</p> + +<p>"Why, you don't know that you will have +the nicest mat," said Lily.</p> + +<p>"See if I don't then," said Gracie. "I can +work much better than any of you, I know."</p> + +<p>"If I didn't live in such a very glass house +myself, I'd say <em>petticoat</em> to you," said Lily, +who had lately shown a fancy for the use of +proverbs, after the manner of Maggie Bradford.</p> + +<p>Gracie tossed her head, and put on the expression +which children call, "turning up their +noses."</p> + +<p>She knew very well what Lily meant, how +not long since she had boasted of herself, and +been so very sure that she would outdo all +others, and how she had miserably failed in +the end.</p> + +<p>But, in spite of this consciousness, she was +not at all taken down by Lily's reminder, for +she felt herself a person of more than usual +consideration and importance that morning;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +not without more than ordinary reason, was +thought by most of her companions, for it was +really a fine thing to have such a munificent +grandmamma, who was ready to do so much +for the grand object at present in the minds +of each and every one.</p> + +<p>It was true also, and well known in the +school that Gracie did worsted work remarkably +well and evenly for a little girl, and that +there was more reason than common for her +belief that she should outshine all the others. +Still her constant boasting was never agreeable, +and Lily always would set herself to combat it +with all her might.</p> + +<p>"Are not Maggie and Bessie to try with us +too?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course," answered Gracie; "they are +just as much in the fair as we are; and Maggie +works so nicely."</p> + +<p>"Should think she did," said Lily; "better +than <em>a-ny—child—in—the—whole—world</em>."</p> + +<p>The extreme deliberation with which this +was said, made it very forcible, and gave the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +remark all the point which was intended. +Woe to the person who, in Lily's hearing, ventured +to deny that her particular friends, Maggie +and Bessie Bradford, were not all that was +wisest, best, and prettiest.</p> + +<p>"Besides," said Belle, "Bessie was the first +to find out Jessie and her grandfather, so it +seems as if it was very much her charity and +Maggie's. Good-morning, dear Miss Ashton;" +and little Belle flew to meet her teacher, whom +she dearly loved, and began to tell her of +this new and delightful arrangement.</p> + +<p>But she had hardly commenced when she +checked herself, and saying,—</p> + +<p>"But it is Gracie's to tell about, and I expect +she would like to," turned to her schoolmate, +and allowed her, nothing loath, to take +up the tale.</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton approved, and readily consented +to what was proposed; but she was sorry +to see that, as usual, Gracie took the chief credit, +and claimed the first place for herself in +the new plan; seeming, as before, not to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +the slightest doubt that her work would be the +best, and bring the highest premium. However, +she would say nothing now to damp the +general pleasure and enthusiasm, but called +her young flock to the business of the day +without reproof or remonstrance.</p> + +<p>On the way home from school, Gracie +called to invite Maggie and Bessie to her +grandmamma's house that afternoon; and at +the appointed hour the whole "committee," as +Maggie called it, were assembled in the +drawing-room of the kind old lady.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mrs. Howard, "we will settle +first who among you are to take these pieces +of work. Gracie seemed to think that all who +were able to work nicely would prefer worsted +work, so I have here two pairs of mats, as well +as the toilet sets; and you may decide for +yourselves which you will take. As for the +younger ones, I will leave it to them to choose +the things they will make for me, as each one +knows what she is best able to do."</p> + +<p>Gracie looked dismayed and displeased at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +the first part of her grandmother's speech; +and, not daring to object aloud, she whispered +to Hattie, who stood next her,—</p> + +<p>"It's too bad! There grandmamma goes +and gives three chances against me."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, you'll have the first," +answered Hattie; "you know you work better +than any of the others."</p> + +<p>"How many of you," continued the old +lady, "are able to do worsted work nicely?"</p> + +<p>"I can, grandmamma, <em>very</em> nicely," said +Gracie promptly, while the others, more modest +and shy, looked from one to another.</p> + +<p>"Maggie Bradford works very nicely, +ma'am," said Nellie Ransom.</p> + +<p>"And so do you too, my dear, if I'm not +mistaken," said Mrs. Howard. "Would you +like to do one of the mats?"</p> + +<p>"If you please, ma'am," said Nellie, and +stepping up, Mrs. Howard gave her her choice +among the mats.</p> + +<p>"Ah! you have made the same choice as +Gracie," said the old lady. "Well, we shall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +see who will do the best. Gracie, take the +mat, my dear. Now for the other pair. +Maggie, will you have one?"</p> + +<p>But Maggie held back a little; and at length, +with many blushes said, that she would prefer +to take one of the toilet sets, because Bessie +was anxious to help her, and she could do +some of the easy sewing on the ruffles, but +she could not do worsted work evenly enough +to go with her own.</p> + +<p>Dora took one of the second pair of mats; +and Hattie, who was next in age, and who +knew very little about embroidering, chose the +other toilet set, as she believed she could do +that better than the mat.</p> + +<p>Maggie looked wishfully at this, and Mrs. +Howard saw the look.</p> + +<p>"Would you like to take this also, Maggie, +dear?" she said. "You deserve some reward +for being so unselfish, and if it is not too much +for you to undertake, you are quite welcome to +try it."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, ma'am!" said Maggie with brightening<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +eyes; "we have nearly seven weeks, you +know, and with Bessie's help, and Aunt Annie +to arrange all the work for me, I think I could +do both. But I don't care for a reward, Mrs. +Howard, for you know if Jessie and her grandfather +have the money, it does not make much +difference who does the most."</p> + +<p>"No, truly," said Mrs. Howard; "and it is +not that you may strive to outdo one another +that I make these offers, but only that you +may all try your best to have the work well +done. I am an old-fashioned woman, my +dears, and I like to see every little girl brought +up to use her needle properly, and to keep her +things in order; so I say that it is not so +much the beauty of the work, as the care +and neatness with which it is done that I shall +look at. Keep it from spot or stain, or from +being frayed or rubbed; this you can all do +with proper care."</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Howard repeated how much she +would give for each article, promising also +once more to buy some pretty trifle from each<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +of the younger children; and they all felt as +if a large sum was already secure for Jessie +and her grandfather.</p> + +<p>After this, the treasures of lace, muslin, +ribbons, flowers, beads, and worsteds of all +colors were displayed to their delighted eyes, +and divided with as much fairness as was +possible. Not a child but carried home with +her a most precious package, already in the +eyes of the little ones transformed into many +an article of use and beauty for the benefit of +old Malcolm and his grandchild. The fair was +now the all-absorbing subject of thought and +conversation among Miss Ashton's young +scholars and their little friends, Maggie and +Bessie Bradford; and a fit of uncommon +industry had seized upon each and every one.</p> + +<p>But, one morning, only two days after the +meeting of the young people at her house, +Mrs. Howard was surprised to hear that +Maggie Bradford wanted to see her; and +ordering her to be shown in, the little girl +entered, followed by her sister and nurse.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img class="border" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" src="images/image16.jpg" width="450" height="646" alt="Maggie Bradford visits Mrs. Howard with her sister and nurse." /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>Maggie looked flushed and uncomfortable, +and held a small parcel in her hand; but, after +she had said good-morning to Mrs. Howard +a fit of shyness came over her, and she could +not tell her errand.</p> + +<p>So Bessie spoke for her.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Howard," said the little girl, who was +herself rather confused, but who felt bound +to help Maggie out of her trouble, "Maggie +has come to bring you back the mat. She +thinks it is rather better for her not to do it."</p> + +<p>"Did you find you had undertaken too +much, Maggie, my dear?" asked the old lady +encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"N-n-no, ma'am," whispered Maggie, plucking +up a few crumbs of courage as she heard +the kind tone, "no, it was not that; but we +thought I'd better bring it back to you."</p> + +<p>"But you must have some reason," said +Mrs. Howard. "Can you not tell me what it +is? Has Gracie been saying any thing unkind +to you?"</p> + +<p>"Gracie has not said any thing to me about +it, ma'am," said Maggie rather evasively.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Please don't ask us, Mrs. Howard," said +Bessie gravely. "Maggie and I overturned our +minds about it, and thought we'd better bring +back the mat; but we do not want to tell +tales."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall not ask," said Mrs. Howard; +but from the very fact that Bessie had innocently +begged that they might not be pressed +to "tell tales," she felt that her suspicions +were tolerably correct. Gracie's desire to be +<em>first</em>, and the fear that others should excel, or +even equal her, were becoming so great that +they often blinded her to what was just and +kind.</p> + +<p>"There are plenty of pretty things that we +can make, Mrs. Howard," said Maggie, "and +I would rather not do any thing that any one +might think was not my share."</p> + +<p>"Very well, dear, as you please," answered +the old lady; "but since you do not choose to +make this I shall not give it to any one else."</p> + +<p>When Maggie and Bessie had gone, the old +lady put on her bonnet and went around to her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +son's house, where she found her little +grand-daughter at home.</p> + +<p>"Gracie," she said, after a little talk, +"Maggie Bradford came to see me just now, +bringing back the mat which she was to have +worked for the fair. Do you know any reason +why she should have done so?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, grandmamma!" answered Gracie, +turning her eyes upon her grandmother in unfeigned +and unmistakable surprise, which left +no doubt of the perfect truth of her answer.</p> + +<p>"Think," said the old lady, believing that +she might have forgotten. "You know you +were not pleased that I should give Maggie +the two things to make for me; have you said +any thing that could hurt her feelings, and show +her that you were displeased?"</p> + +<p>"I never said one word to Maggie about +the mat, grandmamma," said Gracie, "and I +can't see how"—she paused, as if struck by +some sudden thought, and coloring, added +uneasily—"I did talk to Hattie about it, +and I was rather provoked, because I did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +not see why Maggie should have a better +chance than the rest to make so much for the +fair. And—and—perhaps Hattie went and +told Maggie; but it was real mean of her if +she did; and besides there was nothing for +Maggie to be so mad at, and make such a fuss +about."</p> + +<p>"Maggie was not 'mad,' as you call it, +Gracie; so far from it that she would say +nothing to throw blame upon you or any one +else," said her grandmother; "but it was plain +that she had been vexed and hurt."</p> + +<p>"Gracie," said her mother who sat by, "it +would be a sad thing if <em>you</em> should show yourself +so wanting in feeling and gratitude as +to say unkind things of Maggie, or to injure +her in any way, especially in such a matter as +this."</p> + +<p>"Well, mamma, and I'm sure I wouldn't," +said Gracie, with a little pout. "I am very +fond of Maggie, and I wouldn't do a thing to +her; but I did feel rather provoked about the +mat, only I did not mean her to know it. I'm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +just going to ask Hattie if she told her what +I said."</p> + +<p>Gracie was really uncomfortable. She +remembered that she had in a moment of +pettishness, made one or two remarks to Hattie +which she would not have cared to make in +Maggie's hearing; but she would not willingly +have offended the latter. She knew very well +to what her mother referred when she spoke +of Maggie. How a year ago when a prize had +been offered for composition by Miss Ashton's +uncle, she and Maggie had been believed to +stand far ahead of the rest; how her own +composition, all ready for presentation, had been +lost, and that through her own inordinate vanity; +how Maggie and Bessie had found it, and +like the honorable little girls they were, had +brought it at once to her, although they believed +that by so doing Maggie was deprived of all +chance of the much wished-for prize. It was +true that neither she nor Maggie had gained it, +for it had fallen to Nellie Ransom; but that +did not lessen, or should not have lessened,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +Gracie's gratitude to her little friend; and as +her mother said, it ill became her to nurse any +feeling of jealousy towards Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Gracie," said her mother, "can you remember +exactly what you said about Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"No, mamma," answered the child, looking +thoughtful and a little troubled; "but it was +not much, I think."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid," said Mrs. Howard, "that a +very little sometimes becomes much in Hattie's +keeping. I do not know that she really wishes +to make mischief, but her love of talking and her +want of strict truthfulness lead her to exaggerate, +and also, I fear, to repeat many a thing +with a very different meaning from that which +the speaker intended. The more I see of her, +the plainer does this become to me; and I fear, +Gracie, that she is not a safe friend for you."</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said Gracie, in a tone of some +offence, "you'd never think that Hattie could +make <em>me</em> learn to tell stories, do you? Why, +I never told a falsehood in my life, and I'm +sure I'd never think of doing such a thing."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am sure I hope not, my child," said her +mother, "but I fear temptation for you, Gracie; +and I think Hattie encourages you in your +great fault, your self-conceit and desire for +admiration. And, although I do not think that +you ever mean to be untruthful, my daughter, +your idea of your own merits often leads you +into exaggeration of these, and makes you +unwilling to see them in others."</p> + +<p>Gracie pouted, and put on the expression she +always wore if she were found fault with.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," she said, "I think that is a very +horrid character to give any one; and I am sure +you need not think I ever could tell a falsehood +or do any thing mean to any one."</p> + +<p>"I do not say you would, Gracie. I only +want you to beware of temptation."</p> + +<p>"I shan't fall into temptation, no fear of +that," said Gracie almost scornfully; not scorn +of her mother, but of the idea that she was not +quite able to take care of herself, and that she +could be led into wrong-doing.</p> + +<p>"And I shall be obliged to say," continued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +Mrs. Howard, "that I do not think it best for +you to be so much with Hattie. She is doing +you no good. I cannot keep you apart +altogether, but you must not ask me to let +you have her here so often, nor can I allow +you to go to her house as much as you have +done. When I see you have a more gentle +and humble spirit, Gracie, and learning to +stand by another strength than your own, I +may not so much fear evil companionship for +you; but this very belief that you cannot fall +makes you all the more ready to do so."</p> + +<p>Gracie flounced out of the room in high +displeasure, muttering to herself as she went +upstairs that her mother always thought "every +one better than me," and "it was very unjust," +and "just as if I could fall into the temptation +of telling a story."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Howard sighed, and looked troubled, +as she well might; and so did grandmamma, as +they talked together on this subject, and +considered what was best to be done with Gracie. +Her overwhelming desire for admiration; her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +wish to be first in every thing; her self-conceit +and impatience of reproof were day by day +growing stronger and stronger, and overrunning +all that was fair and lovely in her character. +It was, as the mother had said, difficult to +break off all intercourse between her and +Hattie, although it was certain that the latter +was exercising no good influence on Gracie; +for the two families were intimate, and it was +impossible, without giving offence, to keep the +two children entirely apart. Moreover, they +were schoolmates, and had grown really fond +of one another, although Gracie was losing +confidence in Hattie, as she could not but +perceive that she had by no means a strict regard +for truth.</p> + +<p>But little did Gracie dream that Hattie's +influence or example could ever lead her astray +in this way.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 115px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image17.jpg" width="115" height="50" alt="" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 230px;"> +<a name="jealousy" id="jealousy"><img src="images/image18.jpg" width="230" height="125" alt="owl" /> +</a></div> + +<h2>VI.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>JEALOUSY.</em></big></p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-d.jpg" +width="50" height="50" alt="d" /></div> +<p><span class="dropletter">D</span>AYS went by, and all was progressing +famously for the fair; at least so +thought the little workers. New offers +of help came in; new articles were promised, +and some even sent, early as it was, and these +were committed to Miss Ashton's keeping until +the appointed day—the first of June—should +arrive. Mrs. Bradford promised all the ice-cream +that should be needed for the refreshment +table; Mrs. Howard the strawberries; +another mamma offered jelly; two or three +cake; Mr. Powers promised a quantity of +French bonbons; and from all sides came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +offers of flowers. Mr. Stanton, the little +Bradfords' "Uncle Ruthven," said he would +furnish flags and banners enough to deck the +piazza; and mammas, grandmammas, aunts, +and cousins were coaxed and wheedled out of so +many bright ribbons for the same purpose, that +it might have been supposed that they were +expected to go in grave colors for the remainder +of their days.</p> + +<p>And if you had seen the doll that Miss +Annie Stanton and her sister-in-law were +dressing as a baby!</p> + +<p>If you had but seen that doll!</p> + +<p>With a face so sweet, and so like a "real +live baby" that it almost startled one to come +upon it unawares in some place where the real +live baby could not have been found! such +hands and feet! and oh, such a fitting out! +Day by day the progress of that doll's wardrobe +was watched with eager, delighted eyes +by Maggie, Bessie, Belle, and Lily, who had +more opportunities for this than the rest of the +children. These last were, however, invited<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +in every now and then, to see the wonder as it +grew; and that doll became the great object +of interest, in comparison with which the +remainder of the fair arrangements were as +nothing. Every thing that was dainty and +pretty and cunning was furnished for the baby +doll; not only clothes without number, but also +a tasteful cradle lined and trimmed with blue +silk, white muslin, and lace; and a baby basket, +furnished completely with all that the most +exacting infant could require. In short, this was +plainly to be the grand attraction of the fair, +at least in the eyes of the younger portion of +its patrons, for the fame of the doll spread far +and wide, and great was the curiosity of those +who had never had the opportunity of witnessing +its beauties.</p> + +<p>And the question arose and was eagerly +discussed, who was to be the munificent +purchaser? who, oh! who, the fortunate +possessor? Papas and mammas were besieged +with petitions and coaxings, but wisely declined +making positive promises till the price of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +wonderful prize should be fixed, and the doll +herself put up for sale. Money-jugs were +broken, and "savings banks" emptied, that the +contents might be counted over and over to +ascertain if there was any possibility that they +might reach the sum which would probably be +required; allowances were saved up in the +same hope.</p> + +<p>The only trouble about it was, that as Maggie +Bradford said, "only one could have the doll, +and so all the rest were doomed to disappointment, +which made it a case in which it would +be well if one man's meat were every other +man's poison."</p> + +<p>Jessie and her grandfather were cared for in +the meanwhile. Miss Ashton had interested +several of her friends in them; the children +had done the same with their parents; and Mr. +Bradford, Mr. Norris, and one or two other +gentlemen had been to see old Malcolm, and +finding that there was little or no probability +of his cure while he remained in the cold, +damp shanty, where he had been living for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +last few months, had furnished him with more +comfortable lodging.</p> + +<p>Jessie's wares were also finding a good +market, and every week she came down into +the city with a number. Some of these she +sold to such purchasers as came in her way, +and whatever were left over she carried to +Miss Ashton, and put in her hands for the +fair.</p> + +<p>She was also making some particularly choice +articles which she kept back for exhibition and +sale on that occasion; and among them were +half a dozen boxes of straw and bright-colored +ribbons, with an initial letter woven in beads +upon the top of each. There had been but +four of them at first, bearing respectively an +M, a B, a G, and a D, standing for Maggie, +Bessie, Gracie, and Dora; for Jessie looked +upon these as her first friends, because they had +first become interested in her story. But Bessie +having mentioned that Belle and Lily were +"just like ourselves, and my sister and I would +be pleased to buy boxes for them at the fair,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +Jessie completed two more with an L for Lily, +and a B for Belle. There was a delightful +amount of mystery respecting these boxes, for +each one of the six knew what had been done +for the other five; Jessie telling her in +confidence, and leaving her with the suspicion that +the same pleasure was in store for her. Not +on any account would any one of them have +spoken of this suspicion; oh dear, no! but was +quite prepared to be very much surprised if a +box bearing her initial should turn up at the +fair.</p> + +<p>Maggie and Bessie owned a pretty little pony, +the gift of their Uncle Ruthven; at least Fred +said it was "Uncle Ruthven's present," but +Mr. Stanton said it was Fred's. For, having +offered Fred the choice of a present for himself +as a reward for the pains he had taken to break +himself of some troublesome faults, the generous +brother asked for a pony for his little sisters. +He and his brother Harry each owned +one, and he wished Maggie and Bessie to enjoy +the same pleasure. So Uncle Ruthven had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +bought the pony and equipped him, but he declared +it was Fred's gift to the little girls, and +I think he was about right.</p> + +<p>However that was, the pony had given no +small amount of pleasure, and this was still +farther increased when Belle's papa gave her +one.</p> + +<p>It was a pretty sight to see two of the little +girls on these ponies, escorted by Harry and +Fred, and the whole party under the care of +one of the papas, or Uncle Ruthven, or sometimes +of old James, the coachman. Belle and +Bessie rode as yet with a leading string to the +pony's rein, but Maggie had grown to be a fearless +little rider, and had no idea of being led. +Lily would have been welcome to a ride now +and then if she had chosen, but "the one +thing in the world" which Lily feared was a +horse, and she declined the most pressing offers +of this nature.</p> + +<p>Now that the days were becoming so mild +and pleasant, these rides took place quite +frequently, and they were hardly looked forward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +to more eagerly by the children than they were +by old Malcolm and Jessie, who delighted to +see the little girls on horseback, and were +always on the watch to meet them and receive +a kind word.</p> + +<p>"I know who I think will have the best piece +of work," said Lily, one day after school, when +the little girls were discussing the arrangements +for the fair as they prepared to go home.</p> + +<p>"Who?" asked Gracie quickly. "Maggie, +I s'pose. You always think Maggie and Bessie +do every thing better than anybody else."</p> + +<p>"Well, and so they do," answered Lily, unwilling +to allow that her favorite playmates +could be outdone in any thing by another,—"so +they do; but it's not Maggie this time."</p> + +<p>"Who then?" asked Dora.</p> + +<p>"Nellie Ransom," said Lily. "Have you +seen her mat?"</p> + +<p>No: none of the others had seen Nellie's +mat; but now curiosity was all on tiptoe, and a +general desire to see her work took possession +of the class.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Bring all your works to-morrow, and let's +see which is the best," said Lily.</p> + +<p>"Gracie's is, I know," said Hattie.</p> + +<p>"If you have not seen the others you <em>don't</em> +know," said Lily.</p> + +<p>Hattie whispered something to Gracie and +laughed; but Gracie still wore the displeased +look she had put on when Lily declared Nellie's +work must be the best.</p> + +<p>For, during the whole of the last year, Gracie +had been nourishing an intense and bitter jealousy +of Nellie Ransom. As has been said +before, Nellie was by no means as quick and +brilliant a child as Gracie, but she was more +persevering and industrious, and so made up +for the lack of natural talent. She was the +only child in the school who could keep up with +Gracie in several studies, such as composition +and arithmetic; and in all they learned these +two generally stood in advance of the rest.</p> + +<p>And to outstrip Nellie, to be always the +<em>first</em>, the <em>very first</em> was Gracie's great ambition. +She believed herself to be by far the wiser and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +cleverer of the two, but she was anxious that +every one else should acknowledge it also.</p> + +<p>A year ago, when Miss Ashton's uncle had +offered a prize for the best composition,—the +occasion to which Mrs. Howard had referred +when warning her little daughter against jealousy +of Maggie Bradford,—the chances had +seemed to lie between Maggie and herself; but +to the astonishment of every one, Nellie's +composition had proved the most deserving, and +taken the much-coveted prize.</p> + +<p>Since that time Gracie's wish to excel Nellie +in all things had known no bounds, and it is +really to be feared that she was rejoiced at +heart when her painstaking and industrious +little schoolmate missed in her lessons, or +failed in any work she undertook.</p> + +<p>So now the fear that Nellie's mat should +prove to be more neatly worked than her own +took complete possession of her, for it was +not only the desire to be first, but the desire to +outstrip Nellie especially, that filled her heart +and made her envious and jealous.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was agreed that Nellie, Gracie, and Dora +should each bring her mat to school the next +morning, so as to compare their work and see +which was likely to bring the highest price.</p> + +<p>Accordingly this was done, and the children +all gathered early, anxious to decide on the +respective merits of the three pieces of +embroidery.</p> + +<p>All were well done, neatly and evenly +worked; but there could be no doubt of it, +even to Gracie's unwilling eyes,—Nellie Ransom's +was somewhat the best. It was really +astonishing for a child of her age. She was +naturally handy with her needle, and had +taken so much pains with this mat that it +would have done credit to a much older person. +The simple pattern was straight and even, and +the stitches of the filling in lay in neat, regular +rows, the worsted smooth and unfrayed, +and not a speck or spot of any description to +be seen upon the whole piece.</p> + +<p>Gracie's was very nearly a match for it; +indeed, had the two pieces been looked at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +separately it might have seemed that there was +nothing to choose between them; but laid side +by side and closely compared, Nellie's would +certainly bear off the palm.</p> + +<p>"Why, Nellie," said Dora, whose own work +was by no means despicable, "how beautifully +you have done it. I don't believe a grown-up +lady could have worked it better. I know +Mrs. Howard will say it's the best."</p> + +<p>Quiet Nellie colored and dimpled with pleasure. +Praise was pleasant to her, as it is to +all; but, although she would have been glad to +have her work pronounced the best, it was +with no overwhelming desire to outdo her companions. +Nellie did her very best, but when +another did better, she could be content with +the feeling that it was not her own fault +that she was excelled, and was ready to +sympathize with her more fortunate classmate.</p> + +<p>"That will be priced ten dollars for certain +and positive," said Lily, holding up the mat +and regarding it with admiration. "It is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +lovely, Nellie. They are all very nice, 'specially +Gracie's, but yours is the best."</p> + +<p>"It's not a bit better than Gracie's," said +Hattie.</p> + +<p>"Don't you encourage Gracie more than she +deserves," said Lily admonishingly. "She's +pretty nice, but don't you puff her up too much."</p> + +<p>"I know something about you," said Hattie +teasingly.</p> + +<p>"Well, know away," answered Lily scornfully. +"You're always knowing something +about somebody; and you want me to ask you +what you know about me; but I don't want +to know, and I'm not going to have you +say some of the girls said hateful things of me. +Besides—oh! I forgot; I b'lieve I was rather +<em>anti-politing</em>;" and Lily, who was about to say +that Hattie always made things seem worse +than they were, put a check upon her saucy +little tongue and turned once more to Nellie.</p> + +<p>One might have thought that Lily had +worked the mat herself to see her pride and +satisfaction in it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dora has done more on hers than Nellie +and Gracie," said Belle. "Their two are +pretty nearly the same. Let's see; Gracie +has only two more rows done than Nellie; no, +Nellie has two more done than Gracie—oh!—why—this +is Gracie's, isn't it? I can hardly +tell them apart, they are both so very nice."</p> + +<p>For, handing the mats about from one to +another, the same mistake occurred more than +once, Gracie's being taken for Nellie's or Nellie's +for Gracie's, and they had to be held side +by side before they could be distinguished. +The children laughed and thought this rather +funny; and it gave Gracie some hope that hers +might be judged to be the best, after all. She +would take more pains than ever.</p> + +<p>The thought of the mats and of outdoing +Nellie was so busy with her that she did not +give her usual attention to her lessons that +morning; and, as the consequence, lost her +place in the spelling-class, and was in a peevish +humor for the rest of the day.</p> + +<p>Fresh cause of displeasure befell her at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +close of school, when Miss Ashton said she +thought it as well that the May Queen should +be chosen soon.</p> + +<p>"Oh! we want Maggie, of course," said +Lily.</p> + +<p>"Maggie again?" said Miss Ashton, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," said Belle. "Maggie is used to it, +and she makes the prettiest queen, so we'd +rather have her; wouldn't we, girls?"</p> + +<p>There was a general murmur of assent, save +from two voices.</p> + +<p>"Why don't we make some one else May +Queen this year?" asked Hattie. "We might +have Gracie."</p> + +<p>"Hattie," said Lily, endeavoring to make her +voice of reproof one of extreme mildness, "as +you have not been so very long in the school, it +would be better if you let the old inhabitants +be the judges."</p> + +<p>"Well, anyhow, I don't see why Maggie +always has to be May Queen, and when she don't +go to the school either," said Gracie pouting,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +and leaning back against her desk with a +discontented air, till, catching Miss Ashton's eye +fixed sadly and reproachfully upon her, she +hung her head and looked ashamed.</p> + +<p>"Be-cause," said Lily with emphasis, "she's +the prettiest child of our acquaintance. Not +all the prettiness of all the rest of us make +up one-half Maggie's prettiness, and she's not +one bit vain or stuck-up about it either; and if +she and Bessie don't just belong to the school, +they belong to us, and so it's just the same. +Whoever wants Maggie, hold up their hand."</p> + +<p>Up went every hand at once, save those of +Gracie and Hattie, and presently Gracie's followed +the example of the others, though half +unwillingly.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Lily triumphantly, "that's +voted, and for ever after let him hold his peace."</p> + +<p>The last allusion was perhaps not exactly +clear either to Lily or her hearers; but it was +thought extremely fine, and as having clinched +the matter without farther argument. Miss +Ashton laughed, and asked if Lily and Belle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +would undertake to let Maggie know that she +was elected May Queen, which they readily +promised to do.</p> + +<p>But the next morning these two little friends +returned to school, and told their astonished +and disappointed classmates that Maggie +positively refused to be May Queen. Why they +could not say, but all their persuasions had +proved of no avail. Maggie was not to be +"coaxed," and would give no reason for her +refusal, though she had "seemed to feel awfully +about it," Lily said, and had "cried about it" +before they left. Bessie had been as much +mystified as they were, and even Maggie's +mamma, when appealed to, said that she knew +of no reason why Maggie should decline the +offered honor. Maggie, however, had said she +would "tell mamma and Bessie," but she could +tell no one else.</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton, when informed of Maggie's refusal, +said that she would call on her and see +what could be done, and until then the matter +might rest.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hattie," said Gracie, drawing her "intimate +friend" into a corner during recess, "did +you tell Maggie Bradford what I said about her +being Queen twice?"</p> + +<p>"Well—no," said Hattie, hesitating at first, +but then uttering her denial boldly as she saw +the frown gathering upon Gracie's brow.</p> + +<p>Gracie looked at her as if she only half believed +her, for she was learning to doubt Hattie's +word, and although she was greedy of +her flattery, she could not help feeling that her +chosen friend was not sincere.</p> + +<p>"You know you've told a good many things +I did not mean you to," said Gracie, "and I +wouldn't like not to be friends with Maggie, or +to let her think I'm hateful."</p> + +<p>And Hattie declared over and over again +that she had never said one word to Maggie on +the subject.</p> + +<p>"I do feel badly about it," said Gracie +remorsefully. "I wish I had never said I thought +Maggie ought not to be May Queen. Maggie's +been my friend this ever so long, since I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +quite little; and I believe I had rather the girls +chose her. I've a good mind to write her a +note, and tell her I wish she would be Queen."</p> + +<p>All the other children had left the school-room +to go down and play on the piazza, and +Gracie and Hattie were alone together.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't," said Hattie; "you are the one +who ought to be May Queen, 'cause you are the +smartest child in the school."</p> + +<p>Gracie believed this, and thought Hattie gave +her no more than her due; still, although she +liked to hear Hattie say it, the compliment did +not turn her from her purpose.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 176px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image19.jpg" width="176" height="50" alt="leaves" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 225px;"> +<a name="misfortune" id="misfortune"><img src="images/image20.jpg" width="225" height="125" alt="Sheep" /> +</a></div> + +<h2>VII.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>A MISFORTUNE.</em></big></p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-a.jpg" +width="53" height="50" alt="a" /></div> +<p><span class="dropletter">A</span>S the two children talked, Gracie had +been putting a few stitches in her +mat.</p> + +<p>"I b'lieve I'll do it," she said. "I'll tell +Maggie we <em>all</em> want her to be May Queen."</p> + +<p>"Then she'll know you've said something +about it," said Hattie anxiously, feeling that +this proceeding was likely to bring her into +trouble.</p> + +<p>"No, she needn't," said Gracie; "perhaps +she does think I don't want her to be, 'cause +at Christmas she knew I was mad about it."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to beg her pardon?" asked +Hattie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," said Gracie, with one of her scornful +tosses of her head. "I think I see myself doing +such a thing! But I can write her a little note, +and tell her we are all sorry because she won't +be May Queen, and beg her to change her mind. +I might do as much as that for Maggie," she +added to herself.</p> + +<p>Hattie tried to dissuade her no longer, and +Gracie laid the mat down upon her desk, +opened the lid, and took out a slip of paper and +a pen. She dipped the pen in the ink, wrote, +"My dear Maggie," at the top of the sheet, +and then paused, biting the top of her pen.</p> + +<p>"I can't think what to say, or how to begin +it," she said. "My dear Maggie, I am very +sorry—no. I had better say <em>we</em>—we are +very sorry that you—that you—oh, pshaw! +I've a great mind not to do it"—here she +dipped her pen in the ink again, and so +carelessly that it came forth quite too full. "Oh, +bother!" she exclaimed with increasing ill-humor; +"look at this hateful pen;" and, forgetting +the precious piece of work which lay so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +near at hand, she gave a careless fillip to the +pen which spattered forth the ink.</p> + +<p>Gracie gave another impatient exclamation, +and pushed away the paper, saying,—</p> + +<p>"I shan't do it; if Maggie likes to be so +foolish about nothing, she just can;" but she +did not see the extent of the mischief she had +done till Hattie said in a tone of great dismay,—</p> + +<p>"O Gracie! just see what you've done!"</p> + +<p>And there upon her beautiful mat was a +great spot of ink.</p> + +<p>Gracie gave a horrified little cry, and, snatching +up the mat, thoughtlessly sopped up the +spot with her handkerchief, thereby spreading +and smearing it till it grew to the size of a +two-cent piece, and left an ugly blotch on the +bright blue worsted.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do? oh! what shall I do? +It's spoiled; it's quite spoiled!" she said despairingly.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it is; maybe it can be taken +out," said Hattie, though she was almost as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +much startled as her little companion. "I'll +bring some water, and we'll try to take it +out."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Gracie; "I wish I had not +touched it at all. We'll only make it worse; +and I'll ask mamma to try as soon as I go +home. Oh, dear, dear, dear! what shall I do? +Grandmamma will surely say Nellie's is the +best now. That hateful girl!"</p> + +<p>"It's a great shame if she does," said Hattie. +"Nellie is always trying to get ahead of +you; and she don't deserve it, and I don't +think your grandmamma is fair to you. She +ought to think her own grandchild's work is +the best."</p> + +<p>"I suppose Nellie will just be glad when she +sees what has happened to me," said Gracie, +whose jealous eyes could now see nothing that +was good or fair in Nellie's conduct.</p> + +<p>Innocent, kind-hearted Nellie, who would not +willingly harbor an unkind or unjust thought +of another!</p> + +<p>"I shan't let her see it," she continued,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +hastily rolling up the mat and putting it into +her desk, as she heard the other children coming. +"Don't say a word about it, Hattie, not to +any one."</p> + +<p>Hattie promised, really grieving herself for +Gracie's misfortune, for she truly loved her, +and was anxious that she should be the first.</p> + +<p>This was to be a black day for Gracie; but +all through her own jealousy and pride.</p> + +<p>Her mind was so taken up with the remembrance +of the defaced mat that she could not +keep her thoughts upon her lessons; and, +although she had known her history very well, +her attention wandered so much that she +answered incorrectly more than once.</p> + +<p>Seeing, however, that something had disturbed +her, Miss Ashton made allowances, and +gave her one or two opportunities to correct +herself and bring her thoughts back to the +task before her.</p> + +<p>But it was all in vain; Gracie had already lost +her place in the spelling-class, and gone down +below Dora Johnson and Laura Middleton;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +and now the fear of a fresh mortification, and of +giving Nellie her place at the head of the history +class added to her confusion, and she +floundered more and more hopelessly. Nellie +begged too that she might have still another +chance, when at last Miss Ashton passed the +question to her; but again Gracie failed and +was obliged to yield her place.</p> + +<p>Angry, mortified, and jealous, Gracie showed +such determined ill-temper towards her generous +little classmate, that Miss Ashton was +obliged to reprove her, but without effect.</p> + +<p>Again she called Gracie to order, and this +time more severely.</p> + +<p>The angry and wilful child hesitated for +one moment, then pride and passion burst all +bounds, and she answered Miss Ashton with +such insolence, such ungoverned and unjustifiable +impertinence that the whole class stood +aghast.</p> + +<p>There was a moment's perfect stillness. +Miss Ashton turned very pale, and laying her +book down upon the table, covered her face<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +with her hand, while the children looked from +her to Gracie and back again, in utter dismay +and astonishment.</p> + +<p>Then the stillness was broken by a piteous, +"Oh, dear!" from poor little Belle, who finished +with a burst of tears, and her example +was followed by more than one of the others.</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton raised her head.</p> + +<p>"Go into the cloak-room, Grace," she said +quietly.</p> + +<p>Gracie was herself frightened at what she had +done; but her pride and temper were still farther +roused by the shocked and disapproving +looks of her schoolmates, and she stood for an +instant with determined stubbornness, while +the words, "I won't," formed themselves upon +her lips.</p> + +<p>But they were not uttered, for there was +something in Miss Ashton's face which checked +her; something which not one of the little flock +had ever seen before; and when the lady +repeated her words in the same calm tone,—</p> + +<p>"Go into the cloak-room," Gracie turned +away and obeyed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was with head held high, and scornful +look, however, that she passed out, although +bitter shame and regret were burning in the +poor, foolish little heart. But she called up all +her pride and jealousy to stifle the better feeling +which urged her to run to her teacher, and, in +the face of the whole school, confess her fault, +and beg Miss Ashton's pardon for the insulting +words she had spoken.</p> + +<p>"What will she do, I wonder," she said to +herself; "will she tell mamma? What will +mamma say, and papa too?" and, as the +recollection of her parents' oft-repeated warnings +against the pride and vanity which were her +besetting sins came back to her mind, she could +not but feel that this was the consequence of +allowing them to gain such a hold upon her.</p> + +<p>She <em>felt</em> it, for conscience would make itself +heard; but she would not acknowledge it even +to herself, and drowned the reproving whisper +with such thoughts as,—</p> + +<p>"Well, then, why is Miss Ashton so unjust? +She is always trying to make me miss and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +lose my place. She is always glad when any +one goes above me. She never praises me as +much as I deserve;" and such unjust and untrue +accusations.</p> + +<p>It might be that Miss Ashton did not always +bestow upon Gracie all the praise she would have +given to another for a perfect lesson or good +composition, for she did not think much praise +good for her, as it only seemed to minister to +Gracie's over-weening vanity. But only eyes +that were wilfully blind and suspicious could +find the slightest injustice or unkindness in her +treatment of any one of her little scholars, and +her gentleness and patience might have won +gratitude from the most stubborn young heart.</p> + +<p>But Gracie would not listen to the promptings +of her better spirit; and the recollection +of the dismayed and averted looks of her +schoolmates added fuel to the flame of her +angry pride. Even the ever admiring Hattie +had looked shocked at her outburst.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," she said again to herself. +"It's only 'cause they know I am so much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +cleverer than any of them, and they are jealous +of me. That hateful Nellie! She was so +proud to go above me."</p> + +<p>Wretched and unhappy, she spent the time +in her solitude till the close of school, when +the other children came into the cloak-room +for their hats.</p> + +<p>No one said a word to her, for they had been +forbidden to do so; and if they had occasion to +speak to one another they did so in whispers, +as if something terrible had happened, and a +great awe had fallen upon them. She sat in a +corner, sullen and defiant, trying to put on an +appearance of the utmost indifference, but +succeeding very poorly. She even tried to hum +a tune, but something rose in her throat and +choked her. She scarcely knew what to do; +whether or no to rise, and take her hat, and go +down as usual to find the nurse, who was probably +waiting for her below; and while she sat +hesitating, one and another of her young +companions passed out, as if glad to hurry from +her presence, and she was left once more alone.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>She had just taken down her hat, when Miss +Ashton came in, and, handing her a note, said +gravely,—</p> + +<p>"Give this to your mother, Gracie," and +left her again.</p> + +<p>Ashamed and alarmed at the thought of +what might follow when she should reach +home, but with her pride and anger not one +whit abated, Gracie went slowly on, giving +short and snappish answers to the inquiries of +her nurse, who plainly saw that something was +wrong.</p> + +<p>But she dared not face her mother when she +should hear of her misconduct; and when they +entered the house, she thrust the note into the +hand of the maid, bidding her give it to Mrs. +Howard, and ran quickly up to her own little +room.</p> + +<p>There she stayed, wondering and waiting. +Five, ten, fifteen, twenty minutes, half an hour +passed away, and still her mamma did not +come.</p> + +<p>Was it possible? could she really hope that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +the note had not been one of complaint of her +conduct?</p> + +<p>No, that could never be; there was the bell +for the children's early dinner. Well, she +would go down and act as if nothing had +happened. But could she with this uncertainty +of how much or how little mamma knew?</p> + +<p>But there was mamma's step, and now Mrs. +Howard entered the room. One half glance +at her face and Gracie's eyes fell. It was +enough to show her that her mother knew all.</p> + +<p>"Mean old thing!" she said to herself, +meaning Miss Ashton. "She's gone and told, +and now I s'pose I'll be punished."</p> + +<p>"Gracie," said her mother, "I suppose you +scarcely need to be told what is in this note +which Miss Ashton has sent me."</p> + +<p>Gracie stood with head erect, pouting lip, +and defiant eyes, idly tossing back and forth +the tassel of the window curtain with as much +indifference as she could assume.</p> + +<p>"Has it come to this, my child," continued +Mrs. Howard sorrowfully, "that you have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +allowed conceit and self-will to gain such a +hold upon you, that you could wilfully and +deliberately insult your teacher? I have been +sure that you would fall into trouble, Gracie, +for I knew that such foolish pride must sooner +or later have a fall, but I could not have +believed that you would be guilty of this. +What did you say to Miss Ashton?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Gracie passionately, +without directly answering her mother's question. +"It was all true, every word of it. She's +as hateful as she can be, and unjust and +mean;" and Gracie went on, pouring forth a +torrent of invective and reproach against Miss +Ashton and Nellie Ransom, without paying the +slightest heed to her mother's commands to be +silent. It was the long pent-up feeling of +jealousy and ill-will and pride, that she had +been nourishing for months past, and which +now burst all bounds and swept every thing +before it.</p> + +<p>Respect, and even obedience towards her +mother, reason, justice, and truth itself were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +totally lost sight of, as she poured forth +accusation after accusation against the offenders, +and upheld her own conduct in all she had done +and said.</p> + +<p>"And you have said all this to Miss Ashton, +perhaps?" said her mother sternly, when the +angry child at last came to a pause.</p> + +<p>"It is true enough if I did," muttered Gracie +again, though her passion was by this time +beginning to cool down in a measure. "I'm +sure I wish I never went to her hateful old +school."</p> + +<p>"It is more than probable that Miss Ashton +wishes so now; but I shall leave you to +think over what you have said to me and to +Miss Ashton, and to find out how much of it +is true. One thing Miss Ashton desires,—that +you do not return to her school till you are +ready to acknowledge your fault, and to +apologize for your impertinence. And until this +is the case, you must remain in your room. +Your meals will be sent to you, and I shall not +allow your brothers and sisters to have any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +intercourse with you till you are ready to make +such amends as you can. You may send for +me when you have any thing to say to me. Oh, +Gracie, Gracie!"</p> + +<p>With which words, spoken in a sad, despondent +tone, Mrs. Howard went away, closing +the door upon her stubborn, rebellious little +daughter.</p> + +<p>Gracie stood where her mother had left her, +not one whit softened or humbled; for now her +angry pride began to accuse her mother also of +injustice and partiality and unkindness.</p> + +<p>"Everybody in the world takes part against +me," she said to herself; "but I don't care. +Indeed, I won't beg Miss Ashton's pardon, not +if I stay here a year. Mamma makes such a +fuss about her being so kind and patient and +all that. She's paid for teaching me, so it's +nothing so wonderfully good. I hope I never +will go back to the school where that hateful +Nellie is."</p> + +<p>Soon the door opened, and the nurse appeared, +bearing a tray on which was Gracie's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +dinner. She set it upon a table, placed a chair, +and went away without a word to her.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Gracie once more, "no +one need talk to me if they don't want to. +I'm just as good as they are, and I'd just as +lief stay here by myself."</p> + +<p>She sat down before the dinner-tray, trying +to believe that she would "just as lief eat +her dinner alone;" but she found it was not so +agreeable after all. She wondered what they +were doing downstairs; if the children were +chattering as merrily as usual, or if her absence +made any difference in the family enjoyment. +She had little appetite, as may be supposed, +and left the nicely served meal scarcely +touched.</p> + +<p>But it must not be thought that she had any +idea of yielding or acknowledging herself in +the wrong. By and by she heard her brothers +and sisters coming upstairs, then their voices +in the nursery as they prattled to one another; +and she knew that they were being made ready +for their afternoon airing. Then tiny feet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +pattered along the hall, and little May's voice +sounded through her closed door,—</p> + +<p>"Am oo dood now, Dacie? We'm doin out, +Dacie; am oo most dood? Pease don't be +naughty dirl, Dacie," and the soft little hand +tapped upon the panel as the baby voice pleaded.</p> + +<p>"Come away, darling. Gracie may come +out when she is good and says she is sorry," +said mamma's voice; and Gracie knew that her +mother had led the little pet away.</p> + +<p>But all this only seemed to harden her. +May was such a darling, the sweetest and +dearest of all her brothers and sisters, Gracie +thought; and, although the sweet, coaxing voice +had touched her, she only found in her mother's +interference fresh cause of offence.</p> + +<p>"Mamma tries to set even May against me, +and I s'pose she's been telling all the children +what I did," she thought; "but I don't care. I +believe they'll grow tired of having me away +before I am tired of staying here. There's +plenty for me to do. I can read, and I'll work +on my mat."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>But here it suddenly flashed upon her that +she had not brought her mat home with her. +Being sent away in disgrace and not returning +to the school-room before leaving, she had quite +forgotten it, and it still lay there in her desk. +And that stain upon it, too, which she had +intended to ask her mother to take out if +possible. Mamma would not feel like doing it for +her now, and she could ask no favors from her. +Not unless she repented and—and—apologized +to Miss Ashton. And this last she +would not do; no, never, never.</p> + +<p>She heard the children going downstairs, +stood at the window and watched them get into +the carriage and drive away with mamma, and +began to wish that she were there too. And +such a lovely afternoon, it was too bad to be +shut up here. But still she never blamed +herself for her imprisonment; no, mamma, Miss +Ashton, Nellie, any one was in the wrong, but +not her own wilful, stubborn little self. What +was to be the end of this she did not know, +but Gracie had no thought of yielding.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>She whiled away the afternoon as she best +could; but every thing seemed to have lost its +zest. Her prettiest story-books had no interest; +her dolls were "stupid" and poor company; +even her stock of pretty materials for +articles for the fair seemed less attractive +than usual as she turned them over, and her +work "would not go."</p> + +<p>This was the first time in her life that Gracie +had ever been punished in such a manner; and +apart from the disgrace, which she was +determined not to feel, she was a child who was +fond of society and did not know how to bear +being deprived of it.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 99px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image21.jpg" width="99" height="75" alt="flowers" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 224px;"> +<a name="spider" id="spider"><img src="images/image22.jpg" width="224" height="125" alt="Bird nest with birds" /> +</a></div> + +<h2>VIII.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;">"<big><em>THE SPIDER AND THE FLY.</em></big>"</p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-i.jpg" +width="51" height="50" alt="i" /></div> +<p><span class="dropletter">I</span>F Mrs. Howard had perhaps hoped +that little May's pleading would +have any softening effect on Gracie, +she was mistaken. The message she had +expected to receive on reaching home did not +come to her. Nor did she hear a word from +Gracie through the evening until the little +girl's bed-time came. Then she sent word +that the hour had come, still hoping and +believing that the stubborn heart must relent, +and that Gracie would feel that she could not +go to rest unforgiven and without her mother's +good-night kiss. But she was mistaken. +Gracie received the message in sullen silence,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +but obeyed and went to bed without one word +of sorrow or repentance.</p> + +<p>It was the same in the morning. Gracie +rose and was dressed; her breakfast was +brought and eaten in solitude, as her dinner +and supper had been yesterday; and still the +nurse who waited upon her passed in and out, +as it was necessary, and brought no word to +comfort the sorrowing heart of her mother.</p> + +<p>School-time came, and Gracie knew that +the children in her class would believe that +her absence was caused by her misconduct of +the previous day, as was indeed too true; but +this only made her feel more and more proud +and obstinate.</p> + +<p>The long, weary morning wore away, the +solitary dinner was once more over, and again +the house seemed so still and lonely, for mamma +and the children had gone out again, +and the servants were all downstairs.</p> + +<p>By and by Gracie heard a light, quick foot +running up the stairs and coming towards her +own door. The latch was turned and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +door softly opened,—Mrs. Howard had not +locked her in, for she believed that she could +trust Gracie and that she would not disobey +so far as to leave the room she had been bidden +to keep,—and Hattie's face peeped in.</p> + +<p>Gracie started, partly in astonishment, +partly in dismay; for what must she do now? +Mamma would not have allowed her to see +Hattie, she knew, if she had been at home; +and must she send her away? She was so +glad to see some one, to be able to speak to +some one.</p> + +<p>Hattie came in, closed the door behind her, +and, running to Gracie, put her arm about her +neck and kissed her, saying with much energy,—</p> + +<p>"It's too mean, Gracie! it's the meanest +thing I ever knew! It's a great shame!"</p> + +<p>There could be no doubt of her sympathy, +of her belief that Gracie was in the right, or +at least that she was not so very much to +blame, and was undeservedly punished. For +Hattie was really and truly very fond of +Gracie, admired her and considered her very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +clever; and, although even she had been dismayed +by Gracie's outburst yesterday, she was +now disposed to treat it lightly, and to say that +Gracie had been provoked. There was another +reason, too, which induced Hattie to take part +against Nellie Ransom, and to wish to put her +in the wrong.</p> + +<p>"O Hattie!" said Gracie, "how did you +come up here? Mamma wouldn't allow it, I +know."</p> + +<p>Hattie laughed triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"I knew that," she said, "for I came to the +door a little while ago and the servant said +you were up in your room, but he thought you +could not see any one to-day, and he said every +one else was out. But I said I had a message +from school for you, and that you must have it +this afternoon. So of course he thought it +was from Miss Ashton, as I meant he should, +and he let me come up."</p> + +<p>"Mamma will be displeased," said Gracie; +"you ought not, Hattie. I'm very glad to see +you, but I must not let you stay."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll only stay a few minutes," said Hattie, +taking the seat which Gracie had not ventured +to offer her. "I've something perfectly +splendid to tell you."</p> + +<p>"Was everybody saying ugly things about +me to-day, and talking as if I was as wicked +as a murderer?" asked Gracie, more interested +in the opinion others might hold of her than +in Hattie's promised news.</p> + +<p>There had really been very little said on the +matter; the offence was too serious and too +shocking to Gracie's young companions to +make it an agreeable subject of conversation; +and, although there had been some wondering as +to whether Gracie would ever be allowed to +return to the school, but few unkind remarks +had been made, and these were more in sorrow +than in censure.</p> + +<p>And Hattie was too full of her errand and +of the fear of being found on forbidden +ground to make as good a story of that little as +she might have chosen to do at another time.</p> + +<p>"Well, no, not much," she answered. "I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +suppose that old Nellie, hateful thing, was glad +enough."</p> + +<p>"Did she say so?" questioned Gracie.</p> + +<p>"No," said Hattie; "she did not speak about +it. Gracie, did Miss Ashton send word to +your mother and ask her to punish you?"</p> + +<p>"She wrote to her about it, and I suppose +mamma punished me of her own accord," +answered Gracie.</p> + +<p>"How long is she going to keep you up +here?" asked Hattie.</p> + +<p>"Till—till—I beg Miss Ashton's pardon," +said Gracie, her angry pride rising again at +the thought; "and I <em>never</em> will do it, no, <em>never</em>, +not if I stay here a year!"</p> + +<p>"But the fair," said Hattie; "you know the +fair is in two weeks, and if you don't come out +before that you'll miss all the fun."</p> + +<p>Now, apart from the interest which all the +little girls took in the fair, Gracie had a strong +desire, as usual, to play some very prominent +part therein. As we know, she had wished to +be Queen, and had been vexed because Maggie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +Bradford had been chosen again; but, although +she could not have this coveted honor, she still +hoped and intended to make herself very conspicuous +there.</p> + +<p>It was true that the thought of the fair and +all that concerned it had been much in her +mind, even during her imprisonment; but it had +not occurred to her that her resolution of never, +never apologizing to Miss Ashton, "even if she +stayed shut up for a whole year," would scarcely +agree with her appearance at the festival.</p> + +<p>She sat as if confounded at Hattie's words.</p> + +<p>"I'd do it if I were you," continued the +latter, seeing the effect she had produced. +"It's a great shame that you have to, but then +you <em>will</em> have to, you know; and I'd do it and +have it over. If you're going to fret and fuss +here about it, you'll feel a great deal worse at +last when you come to do it."</p> + +<p>Hattie's advice on this subject was certainly +good in itself, though she did not put +it before Gracie in a right light.</p> + +<p>"Miss Ashton is so unjust and so awfully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +partial to Nellie," pouted Gracie, although her +resolution was beginning to waver a little for +the first time.</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Hattie; "but she can't +make other people think Nellie is the smartest +child. Every one knows you are, Gracie, even +if they won't say so."</p> + +<p>"I can learn three lessons while Nellie +learns one; but Miss Ashton is always praising +her and never praises me," was Gracie's +answer.</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Hattie again. "Nellie—oh, +I can't bear that girl!—sets up to be +so wonderfully good, and Miss Ashton always +believes whatever she says, and makes such +a fuss about her; but you can just <em>say</em> you +beg Miss Ashton's pardon, and have it over. +The rest of the class will have every thing +their own way if you don't come out pretty +soon and have your word about the fair; and +there's your mat, too, you know, Gracie."</p> + +<p>"I forgot my mat yesterday when I came +away," said Gracie. "I wish you had known<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +it and then you could have brought it to +me."</p> + +<p>Again Hattie gave a triumphant little laugh, +and putting her hand into her pocket drew +out the mat,—that is, <em>a</em> mat.</p> + +<p>Gracie seized it eagerly, gave Hattie a kiss, +saying, "Oh, you dear thing! I'm so glad."</p> + +<p>Then she looked for the stain, but there was +no stain to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Where's that ink-spot? Oh, Hattie, did +you take it out? There's not a sign of it."</p> + +<p>"No," said Hattie, "I did not take it out."</p> + +<p>"Why!" exclaimed Gracie, turning the +mat over. "Why, it is—it is—it's not mine. +It's Nellie's mat!"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to tell you," said Hattie. "This +morning Miss Ashton handed me your history, +which I believe you left in the cloak-room +yesterday, and told me to put it in your desk. So +when I opened the desk, the first thing I saw +was the mat, and I knew you must have +forgotten it. Nellie, the mean thing, she had +brought her mat to school to-day again, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +said she was going to work on it in recess; +but when recess came the other children +coaxed her to go out in the garden 'cause it +was so pleasant, and she went. So while they +were all down there, I saw the way to play +Miss Nellie a good trick and to help you, dear; +and I ran up to the school-room, changed Nellie's +mat for yours, put hers back just as +she had left it, and she'll never know the +difference and think that somehow that ink-spot +has come on her mat. And do you know, +Gracie, it was the most fortunate thing that +Nellie had just worked those two rows more +that made her work even with yours; so she +never can know. You remember yesterday we +could scarcely tell them apart, and now they +look almost exactly alike."</p> + +<p>"But what then?" said Gracie, almost +frightened at the thought of Hattie's probable +meaning.</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you see?" said Hattie, who +told her story as if she thought she had done +something very clever and praiseworthy; "you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +can just finish this mat as if it was your own, +and need not bother yourself about the ink-stain."</p> + +<p>"But—but—Hattie—this one is Nellie's," +said Gracie in a shocked voice.</p> + +<p>"What of that? we'll keep the secret, and +no one will ever know but us two," said Hattie. +"Nellie has the other one, and that's good +enough for her. She has no right to expect +the most money from your grandmamma. +Take a great deal of pains with this, Gracie, +and make the work look just like Nellie's."</p> + +<p>"But, I can't, I can't," said Gracie. "It +seems to me almost like—stealing."</p> + +<p>"Stealing!" repeated Hattie. "I'd like to +know who has been stealing! I only changed +the mats, and you have the best right to the +nicest one. I was not going to have Nellie get +every thing away from you. She just thinks +she's going to make herself the head of the +school and beat you in every thing."</p> + +<p>Now as I have said, and as you will readily +believe, there was more at the bottom of Hattie's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +desire to thwart Nellie than her wish to +see Gracie stand first, although she was really +very fond of the latter, and it was this.</p> + +<p>It had so happened that Nellie's rather +blunt truthfulness and clear-sighted honesty +had more than once detected Hattie's want of +straightforwardness, and even defeated some +object she had in view, and for this Hattie bore +her a grudge. She was particularly displeased +with her at the present time because of a +reprimand from Miss Ashton which she chose to +consider she owed to Nellie.</p> + +<p>Coming to school rather early one morning, +a day or two since, Nellie found Belle Powers +and Hattie there before her.</p> + +<p>Belle sat upon the lower step of the upper +flight of stairs, in a state of utter woe, with the +saddest of little faces, and wiping the tears +from her eyes. Hattie, grasping the banister +with one hand, was swinging herself back and +forth, saying, "I wouldn't care if I were you. +'Tis nothing to cry about;" but she looked +ashamed and rather caught when she saw +Nellie coming up the stairs.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Belle?" asked Nellie, +sitting down beside the school pet and darling, +and putting her arm around her neck.</p> + +<p>"Fanny Leroy said things about me," sobbed +Belle.</p> + +<p>"What things?" questioned Nellie with a +searching look at Hattie.</p> + +<p>"She said I was so bad and spoiled I could +hardly ever be good, even when I wanted to," +answered Belle piteously; "and she said Miss +Ashton had to be excusing me all the time for +the naughty things I did in school. And I +loved Fanny, and I wouldn't have said such bad +things about her; and, oh, dear! I thought she +loved me too. She came to Aunt Margaret's +when I was there the day before she went away, +to say good-bye to Maggie and Bessie and me; +and she gave us each a nutmeg to remember +her by and to keep for ever an' ever an' ever +for a keepsake, and she kissed me ever so +many times. And all the time she had been +saying bad things about me, and so I'm going +to throw away the nutmeg, 'cause I don't want<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +a keepsake of a girl who made b'lieve she +liked me when she didn't."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it," said Nellie with far +more energy than was usual with her, and still +regarding Hattie with searching looks.</p> + +<p>"But Hattie says she did," repeated Belle.</p> + +<p>Hattie's <em>saying</em> a thing made it by no means +sure in Nellie's eyes, and although she was not +apt to interfere or meddle where she had no +right to do so, she would not let this pass +without further questioning. She was fond of +the absent Fanny and loved Belle dearly; and +believing that both were now wronged, she set +herself to right them if possible.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it," she said again.</p> + +<p>"Well, you just can believe it," said Hattie +resentfully. "Don't I know what Fanny +said to me? It's nothing to make such a fuss +about, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Belle has very easily hurt feelings," said +Nellie; "and besides, it <em>is</em> something to make a +fuss about. And Fanny hardly ever would say +unkind things of other people; the girls used<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +to think she was 'most too particular about it. +And, Hattie Leroy, I don't believe she ever +said such things about Belle; anyhow, not in +that way."</p> + +<p>"She did, too, I tell you," persisted Hattie, +secure in Fanny's absence, and determined not +to acknowledge that she had misrepresented +her innocent words, from the mere love of +talking and exaggeration, too; for she had not +intended to hurt Belle so much, and was now +really sorry to see her so grieved. "She did, +too, I tell you. How do you know what Fanny +said to me?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what she did say, but I am +sure she never said that," repeated Nellie.</p> + +<p>Both little girls had raised their voices +as they contradicted one another, and as +the tones of neither were very amicable by +this time, they drew the attention of Miss +Ashton.</p> + +<p>"What is this, my little girls; what is the +trouble?" she asked, coming up the stairs to +them; then, seeing Belle's still distressed and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +tear-stained face she inquired, "Belle, darling, +what is wrong?"</p> + +<p>Nellie and Hattie were both rather abashed, +especially the latter, who knew herself to be in +the wrong; but Belle answered, "Hattie +thinks Fanny Leroy said something, and Nellie +thinks she didn't. I don't know," she added +with a mournful shake of her head, "but +somehow somebody must be rather 'deceitful +and <em>despicably</em> wicked.'" Desperately, Belle +meant, and she quoted her words in no spirit +of irreverence, but because she thought them +suited to the, to her, solemnity of the occasion.</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton, too, feared that there was +some deceitfulness, or at least exaggeration; +and seeing that little Belle was in real trouble +she questioned further, and Nellie told her +what Hattie had said.</p> + +<p>This was not the first time, by any means, +that Miss Ashton had known mischief to arise +from Hattie's thoughtless way, to call it by no +worse name, of repeating things; and she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +reproved her pretty sharply, telling her that such +speeches were not at all like her gentle, amiable +cousin Fanny, and she could not believe +her guilty of them; and even had she said +them she, Hattie, had no right to repeat them +and make needless sorrow and trouble for +Belle. Then she soothed Belle and encouraged +her to think that Fanny had not so wronged +her; and after school she kept Hattie for a few +moments, and spoke to her very seriously but +kindly on her idle, foolish habit of telling tales +with exaggeration and untruthfulness.</p> + +<p>But Hattie, in repeating this, had said that +"Miss Ashton kept her in and gave her an +awful scolding just because she had said +something that cry-baby Belle did not like, and +Nellie went and told her and so put her in a +scrape;" nor did she see that it had been her +own blame in the first instance. And ever +since she had been vexed with Nellie, and this +added strength to her wish to have Gracie +outstrip Nellie. It was not altogether this, let us +do her justice, for she really loved Gracie better<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +than any other child in the school, and was +anxious to have her win for her own sake.</p> + +<p>But we must go back to these two little girls +as they sat together in Gracie's room.</p> + +<p>"Yes, so she does," echoed Gracie; "and I +suppose now Miss Ashton will take away my +conduct marks, and being away to-day, I'll lose +my place in all the classes too. Not that I +could not get ahead of her again easily enough," +she added contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"But she can't have the best mat now," +said Hattie.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how I <em>could</em> do that," said +Gracie. "It is her's, you know, Hattie, and I +can't, really I can't."</p> + +<p>"But you'll have to now," said Hattie. +"You know Nellie has found the ink-spot on +the other mat by this time, and there's no way +to give her this one back."</p> + +<p>Yes, there was one way, but that did not +enter Hattie's thoughts.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't," said Gracie again, shrinking +at the idea of doing what she knew to be so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +dishonest and deceitful. "I must have my +own mat, Hattie; but I do wish this was mine +and the other Nellie's."</p> + +<p>"But we can't put it back now, and I took +it for you," said Hattie complainingly. "Gracie, +you must keep it now. I shall get into an +awful scrape if you don't; and it's real mean +of you."</p> + +<p>It would take too long to tell you of all the +arguments and persuasions Hattie used. How +she pleaded and reproached; how she insisted +that there was no way of undoing what she +had done; how she excited and increased +Gracie's jealous pride and desire to outdo +Nellie; and this last she found by far the most +effectual argument.</p> + +<p>And—Gracie yielded. Persuading herself +that she had the best right to receive the +highest premium because her own grandmamma +had offered it; putting from her the thought +of the only way in which justice could now be +done to Nellie, on the plea that Hattie would +be disgraced, and she would be "too mean" to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +bring this upon her; rousing up all her own +naughty and envious feelings against innocent +Nellie, she gave way at last and fell before +temptation. Fell into the very sin, or even +worse, from which she felt herself so very +secure,—deceit and theft, for it was no less.</p> + +<p>"Now I'll go, dear," said Hattie, jumping +up as soon as Gracie had yielded, perhaps +afraid that she might repent and insist that she +could not keep the mat, "and no one but us +two will ever know the secret. And, Gracie, +make up your mind to ask Miss Ashton's pardon, +so you won't lose all the fun."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 86px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image23.jpg" width="86" height="75" alt="flower" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 220px;"> +<a name="guilty" id="guilty"><img src="images/image24.jpg" width="220" height="125" alt="birds" /> +</a></div> + +<h2>IX.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>A GUILTY CONSCIENCE.</em></big></p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-i.jpg" +width="51" height="50" alt="i" /></div> +<p><span class="dropletter">I</span>F Gracie had been an unhappy and +miserable child before, what was she +now with all this load upon her conscience? +For even pride and self-conceit could +not attempt to justify such a deed. Jealousy +had a good deal to say; and she tried to listen +to that, and to believe also that she was not +really to blame: she had been forced into it; +she could not betray Hattie, who had done this +from love to her. But she was more wretched +than it would be easy to tell; and she was +beginning to feel such a contempt for her chosen +friend that this also was a sore spot in her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +heart. Day by day she was learning that there +was nothing true or honorable or upright about +Hattie. She hardly even seemed to think it +much harm to tell a falsehood, or appeared +ashamed when she was found out; and for +some days she had had a growing feeling that +it was not pleasant to have a friend with the +character of a "story-teller," which Hattie +now bore among her school-fellows. And +Gracie; was she not just as bad, perhaps even +worse? For Gracie had been taught all the +value and beauty of truth, and had never till +now wilfully fallen away from it; but she knew +that the worth of that jewel was not much +considered in Hattie's home, and so it had lost its +preciousness in her eyes.</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton, too, knew this; and so she was +less severe with Hattie than she might have +been with another child who had a better +example and more encouragement to do right +in this particular.</p> + +<p>Lily, in her plain speaking, would probably +have called Mr. and Mrs. Leroy by the same<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +uncomplimentary name she had given to Mr. +Raymond; for the same foolish system of management +was carried on in their family. Probably +they would have been much shocked to +hear it said that they taught the lesson of deceit; +but was it to be expected that Hattie +could have much regard for the truth when she +heard herself and her brothers and sisters +threatened with punishments, which were not, +perhaps could not be carried out; when promises +were made to them which were not kept; +when they were frightened by tales of bears, +wolves, and old black men, and such things +which had no existence?</p> + +<p>"Willie, your mamma said she would send +you to bed if you went there," was said to little +Willie Leroy one day.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not afraid," answered Willie, +contemptuously. "Mamma never does what she +says;" and off he ran to the forbidden spot, his +words proving quite true, although his mamma +heard that he had disobeyed her so deliberately.</p> + +<p>"Is your mother going to make you something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +for the fair?" Hattie was asked by one of her +schoolmates.</p> + +<p>"She says so; but I don't know if she will," +was the answer.</p> + +<p>Hattie's was not the simple faith of "Mamma +says so," so sweet in little children. +Mamma might or might not do as she had said +she would, according to the convenience of +the moment.</p> + +<p>So it was no marvel that Hattie thought it +no great harm to escape punishment or gain +some fancied good by stretching the truth, or +even telling a deliberate falsehood; or that, +having a great love of talking, a story should +outgrow its true dimensions in her hands; or +that she did not see what was honest and upright +as well as some children.</p> + +<p>But with Gracie Howard it was very different.</p> + +<p>Truth, and truth before all things, was the +motto in her home, the lesson which from her +babyhood had been taught to her by precept +and by example; and the conscience which, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +Hattie, was so easily put to sleep, would not let +her rest. In vain did jealousy and ambition +try to reconcile her to the act of dishonesty +and meanness into which she had allowed herself +to be drawn; in vain did she argue with +herself that "it was all Hattie's fault;" she +could not betray Hattie when she had done +this just for her; or "there was no way of +putting the mat back now; she could not help +herself." Gracie sinned with her eyes open, +and her conscience all alive to the wickedness +of which she was guilty.</p> + +<p>But her stubborn pride was beginning to +give way in one point; for she had no mind to +"lose the fun of the fair," as Hattie said,—though +even the fair had lost some of its +attraction with this weight upon her conscience,—and +she resolved to send for her mother, and +tell her she would ask Miss Ashton's pardon.</p> + +<p>So when the long, weary afternoon had +worn away, and Mrs. Howard came home, +Gracie rang the bell, and sent a message +begging her mother to come to her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mamma came thankfully; but one look at +her little daughter's face was enough to +convince her that she was in no softened mood, +in no gentle and humbled spirit. It was with +a sullen and still half-defiant manner that +Gracie offered to do what was required of her; +and her mother saw that it was fear of farther +punishment, and not real sorrow and repentance, +which moved her.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I ought not to have spoken so, +mamma," she answered, when her mother +asked her if she did not see how very naughty +she had been; "but Miss Ashton is so unjust, +and Nellie provokes me so."</p> + +<p>"How is Miss Ashton unjust?" asked Mrs. +Howard.</p> + +<p>Gracie fidgeted and pouted, knowing that +her mother would not be willing to accept the +charges she was ready to bring.</p> + +<p>"She's always praising Nellie for every thing +she does, mamma; and in these days she never +gives me one word of praise, even when every +one has to see that I do the best. And—and—I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +b'lieve she tries to make me miss, so Nellie +can go above me in the classes."</p> + +<p>"Gracie," said her mother, "you know that +that last accusation is untrue. As for the first, +if Miss Ashton is sparing of her praise, my +daughter, it is because she knows it is hurtful +to you. Nellie is a timid child, trying to do +her best, but with little confidence in her own +powers; and praise, while it encourages and +helps her to persevere, does not make her vain +or conceited. But Miss Ashton sees that that +which is needful for Nellie is hurtful to you; +for it only increases your foolish vanity and +self-esteem, and it is for your own good that +she gives you a smaller share. You have, +unhappily, so good an opinion of yourself, +Gracie, that praise not only makes you +disagreeable, but disposes you to take less trouble +to improve yourself. Let me hear no more of +Miss Ashton's injustice. When you deserve it, +or it does not hurt you, Miss Ashton is as ready +to give praise to you as she is to another. You +say you are willing to ask her pardon for your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +impertinence; but I fear that you do not really +see your fault."</p> + +<p>"Are you not going to let me come out, then, +mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, since you promise to do as I say; but +I fear you are in no proper spirit, Gracie, and +that you will fall into further trouble unless +you become more submissive and modest."</p> + +<p>"Hattie was here this afternoon, mamma," +said Gracie, as she followed her mother from +the room.</p> + +<p>"So I understood," said Mrs. Howard, who +had been waiting for the confession, having been +informed of the circumstance by the servant.</p> + +<p>"I left my mat in school yesterday," said +Gracie, "and she thought I would want it, and +came to bring it back."</p> + +<p>She spoke in a low tone and with downcast +eyes; for Gracie was so unused to deceit that +she could not carry it out boldly, as a more +practised child might have done.</p> + +<p>Something in her manner struck her mother, +who turned and looked at her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did Hattie bring you any message from +Miss Ashton?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, mamma: she only came about the mat; +and she begged me to ask Miss Ashton's pardon," +answered Gracie with the same hesitation.</p> + +<p>But her mother only thought that the averted +face and drooping look were due to the +shame which she felt at meeting the rest of the +family after her late punishment and disgrace.</p> + +<p>"I told Hattie you would not wish her to +stay with me, mamma; but she would not go +right away, but I would not let her stay very +long."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you were so honest, dear," said +Mrs Howard.</p> + +<p>Honest! Gracie knew how little she deserved +such a character, and her mother's praise made +her feel more guilty than ever.</p> + +<p>She was received with open arms by the +other children; for Gracie was the eldest of the +flock, and, in spite of her self-conceit, she was +a kind little sister, and the younger ones quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +shared her own opinion, thinking no child so +good and wise as their Gracie. And they had +missed her very much; so now they all treated +her as if she had been ill or absent, and made +much of her.</p> + +<p>But for once Gracie could not enjoy this, +and it only seemed to make her feel more +ashamed and guilty. What would mamma +say, what would all say if they only knew?</p> + +<p>Mrs. Howard had told Gracie that she might +either go to school early in the morning and +make her apology to Miss Ashton before the +other scholars came, or she might write to +her this evening, and send the note to her +teacher.</p> + +<p>Gracie had chosen to do the last; but when +the younger children had gone to bed, and she +tried to write the note, she found she could +not bring her mind to it. Her conscience was +so troubled, and her thoughts so full of her guilty +secret, that the words she needed would not +come to her; and as her mother saw her sitting +with her elbows upon the table, biting the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +end of her pencil or scrawling idly over her +blotter and seeming to make no progress at all, +she believed, and with reason, that Gracie was +not truly repentant for what she had done, and +had only promised to beg Miss Ashton's pardon +in order that she might be released from +the imprisonment of which she had tired. +Gracie was not usually at a loss for ideas or +words where she had any thing to write.</p> + +<p>"I can't do it," she said pettishly at last, +pushing paper and pencil from her. "I s'pose +I'll have to go to Miss Ashton in the morning, +and I b'lieve I'll go to bed now. Good-night, +mamma."</p> + +<p>And Gracie went to her room, wishing to +escape from her own thoughts, and bring +this miserable day to a close as soon as +possible.</p> + +<p>But the next morning it was no better; and +now it seemed harder to go to Miss Ashton +and speak than it would be to write. But it +was too late now: she had no time to compose +a note, "make it up" as she would have said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +and to copy it before school, and she must +abide by her choice of the previous night.</p> + +<p>She started early for school, according to +her mother's desire, with many charges from +her to remember how grievously she had +offended Miss Ashton, and to put away pride +and self-conceit and make her apology in a +proper spirit.</p> + +<p>Had there not been that guilty secret fretting +at Gracie's heart, she might have been induced +to be more submissive; but, as it was, +she felt so unhappy that it only increased her +reluctance to make amends to Miss Ashton and +acknowledge how wrong she had been.</p> + +<p>She asked for her teacher at once when she +reached the house, anxious to "have it over;" +and, when the young lady appeared, blurted out, +"I beg your pardon, Miss Ashton."</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton sat down, and, taking Gracie's +half-reluctant hand, drew her kindly towards +her.</p> + +<p>"It is freely granted, my dear," she said. +"And are you truly sorry, Gracie?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gracie fidgeted and wriggled uneasily; but +we who know what she had done can readily +believe that it was more pride than a strict +love of the truth which led her to say to herself +that she was "not sorry," and "she +could not tell a story by saying so."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, ma'am, and I won't do +so again," she repeated, seeing that Miss Ashton +waited for her answer.</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton did not wish to force her to say +that which she did not feel, and she saw that +it was of no use to argue with her in her +present stubborn mood; but she talked quietly +and kindly to her, setting before her the folly +and the wrong of the self-love and vanity +which were ruling her conduct, and day by day +spoiling all that was good and fair in her +character.</p> + +<p>"See what trouble they have brought you into +now, Gracie," she said; "and unless you +check them in time, my child, they will lead +you deeper into sin. I scarcely know you for +the same little girl who first came to me, so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +much have these faults grown upon you; and +they are fast destroying all the affection and +confidence of your school-fellows. Why, +Gracie, I have heard one little girl say that +'Gracie thought so much of herself that it +sometimes made her forget to be very true.'"</p> + +<p>Gracie started. Was this the character her +self-love was earning for her? she who +desired to stand so high in all points with the +world.</p> + +<p>Ah! but it was for the praise of man, and +not for the honor and glory of God that Gracie +strove to outshine all others; and she walked +by her own strength, and the poor, weak prop +must fail her and would lay her low.</p> + +<p>"Forget to be very true!"</p> + +<p>How far she had done this, even Miss Ashton +did not dream; but it seemed to Gracie +that she had chosen her words to give her +the deepest thrust, and she bowed her head in +shame and fear.</p> + +<p>But Miss Ashton, knowing nothing of what +was passing in that guilty young heart, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +glad to see this, and believed that her words +were at last making some impression on +Gracie, and that she was taking her counsel and +reproof in a different spirit from that in which +she generally received them.</p> + +<p>Strange to say, in all the miserable and +remorseful thoughts which had made her +wretched since yesterday afternoon, it had not +once entered her mind how she was to face +Nellie when the poor child should make known +the misfortune which had befallen her.</p> + +<p>One by one the children came in, and how +awkward Gracie felt in meeting them may +readily be imagined by any one who has suffered +from some similar and well-merited disgrace. +Still she tried, as she whispered to +Hattie she should do, to "behave as if nothing +had happened;" and when little Belle, after +looking at her wistfully for a moment as if +undecided how to act, came up and kissed her, +saying, "I'm glad to see you, Gracie," she +answered rather ungraciously, "I'm sure it's +not so very long since you saw me," and sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +the dear little girl away feeling very much +rebuffed.</p> + +<p>And yet she really felt Belle's innocent +friendliness, and her sweet attempt to make +her welcome and at her ease; but pride would +not let her show it.</p> + +<p>Nellie was one of the last to arrive, and her +troubled and woe-begone face startled Gracie +and smote her to the heart.</p> + +<p>"Such a dreadful thing has happened to me," +said Nellie, when she was questioned by the +other children; and the tears started to her +eyes afresh as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"What is it? What is it?" asked a number +of eager voices.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how it can have happened," +said Nellie, hardly able to speak for the sobs +she vainly tried to keep back. "I have been +so, so careful; but there is an ugly spot like ink +or something on my mat. I can't think how +it ever came there, for I put it in my desk very +carefully when school began yesterday, and did +not take it out till I got home, and I did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +know there was any ink near it. But when I +unrolled it last evening the stain was there, +and mamma thinks it is ink, and she cannot +get it out. And I've taken such pains to keep +the mat clean and nice."</p> + +<p>And here poor Nellie's voice broke down entirely, +while Gracie, feeling as if her self-command, +too, must give way, opened her desk and +put her head therein, with a horrible choking +feeling in her throat.</p> + +<p>"We'll all tell Mrs. Howard it came somehow +through not any fault of yours," said Lily. +"Never mind, Nellie, yours is the best mat, +anyhow: we all know it;" and Lily cast a defiant +and provoking glance at Gracie, which +was quite lost upon the latter.</p> + +<p>Lily had suggested on the day before, that +when Gracie came back to school they should +"all behave just as if nothing had happened," +just what Gracie intended to do; but generous +Lily had said it in quite a different spirit from +that in which Gracie proposed it to herself.</p> + +<p>But Gracie's rebuff to Belle, and the seeming +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>indifference with which she treated Nellie's +misfortune, roused Lily's indignation once +more; for she thought, as did many of the other +children, that Gracie did not feel sorry for Nellie's +trouble, since it gave her the greater chance +of having her own work pronounced the best.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img class="border" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" src="images/image25.jpg" width="450" height="649" alt="A discussion about the best mat" /> +</div> + +<p>"Yes, we will tell Mrs. Howard," said Dora +Johnson: "yours was really the best mat of +all, though Gracie's was almost as nice; and +we will tell her something happened to it that +you could not help, and perhaps she will not +mind it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps a vase standing on it would cover +the spot," said Laura Middleton.</p> + +<p>Nellie shook her head.</p> + +<p>"No," she said, "that would not make it +any better. Mrs. Howard said that the best +and neatest mat must take the highest +premium, and mine is not the neatest now. I +wouldn't feel comfortable to do any thing that +was not quite fair, even if you all said I +might."</p> + +<p>"That was not quite fair!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<p>More and more ashamed, and feeling how +far behind Nellie left her in honesty and +fairness, Gracie still sat fumbling in her desk, +looking for nothing.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Dora, "we'll speak to Mrs. +Howard about it, and see what she says: won't +we, Gracie?"</p> + +<p>Gracie muttered something which might +mean either yes or no.</p> + +<p>"Augh!" said Lily, "what do you talk to +that proudy about it for? She don't care a +bit. I b'lieve she's just glad and wouldn't help +Nellie if she could."</p> + +<p>Gracie made no answer: she was too miserable +for words or to think of answering Lily's +taunts, and she would have given up all thought +of having any thing to do with the fair to have +had Nellie's mat safely in her possession once +more. Oh, if she had never yielded to temptation +or to Hattie's persuasions!</p> + +<p>"How you do act!" whispered Hattie to +Gracie. "If you don't take care they will suspect +something."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can't help it," returned Gracie in the +same tone: "it is such an awful story that we +have told."</p> + +<p>"It is not a story," said Hattie; "we've +neither of us said one word about the mat."</p> + +<p>This was a new view of the matter; but it +brought no comfort to Gracie's conscience +She knew that the acted deceit was as bad as +the spoken one, perhaps in this case even worse.</p> + +<p>She felt as if she could not bear this any +longer, as if she must tell, must confess what +she had done; and yet—how? How could +she lower herself so in the eyes of her +schoolmates? she who had always held herself so +high, been so scornful over the least meanness, +equivocation, or approach to falsehood!</p> + +<p>A more wretched little girl than Gracie was +that morning it would have been hard to find; +but her teacher and schoolmates thought her +want of spirit arose from the recollection of +her late naughtiness and the feeling of shame, +and took as little notice of it as possible.</p> + +<p>And Lily, repenting of her resentment when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +she saw how dull and miserable Gracie seemed, +threw her arms about her neck as they were +leaving school, and said, "Please forgive me +my provokingness this morning, Gracie. I +ought to be ashamed, and I am."</p> + +<p>But Gracie could not return, scarcely suffer, +the caress, and dared not trust herself to speak, +as she thought how furious Lily's indignation +would be if she but knew the truth.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 157px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image26.jpg" width="157" height="50" alt="flower" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 234px;"> +<a name="game" id="game"><img src="images/image27.jpg" width="234" height="125" alt="bird" /> +</a></div> + +<h2>X.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>A GAME OF CHARACTERS.</em></big></p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-a.jpg" +width="51" height="50" alt="a" /></div> +<p><span class="dropletter">A</span>T home or at school, studying, working +or playing—for the latter she had +little heart now—Gracie could not +shake off the weight that was upon her mind +and spirits. Even her work for the fair had +lost its interest; and as for the mat, Nellie's +mat, she could not bear the sight of it. She +went to sleep at night thinking of it, and trying +to contrive some way out of her difficulty, +though she would not listen to the voice of her +conscience which whispered that there was but +one way; and she woke in the morning with +the feeling that something dreadful had +happened. Appetite and spirits failed; she grew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +fretful and irritable, and her mother imagined +that she must be ill, though Gracie resolutely +persisted that there was nothing the matter +with her, and that she felt quite well.</p> + +<p>"Gracie," said Mrs. Howard one morning +after three or four days had passed, "it appears +to me that you are not doing much on your +mat. How is that?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care," answered Gracie, fretfully. +"I don't believe I'll finish it. I'm tired of the +old thing."</p> + +<p>"That will not do, my child," said her +mother. "You have undertaken to do this for +your grandmamma and for the fair, and I cannot +have you stop it now without some good +reason. Bring the mat to me."</p> + +<p>Gracie went for the mat very unwillingly, +though she dared not refuse nor even show her +reluctance.</p> + +<p>"It really does you credit," said Mrs. +Howard, taking it from her hands: "it is so +smooth and even, and you have kept it so +neat. But you must be more industrious, dear,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +if you are to have it finished in time. And +see, Gracie," she continued, looking at it more +closely, "these last few lines look not <em>quite</em> +as nicely as the rest. There is a difference in +the work, and you will have to take more pains +than you have done here. It looks almost as +if another person had worked it. You have +not let any one help you with it, have you?"</p> + +<p>"No, mamma," replied Gracie in a low tone +and with a frightened feeling. Was there +really such a difference between her work and +Nellie's that it was so easily detected?</p> + +<p>It had not occurred either to her or to +Hattie, perhaps they did not know, that the +work of two different hands seldom or never +matches well upon embroidery in worsted, +and that it is almost sure to be perceived. +She was dismayed at the thought that her +mother had noticed this, and now every stitch +that she took seemed to make the difference +more plain, take what pains she might.</p> + +<p>She began to feel angry and indignant at +Hattie for leading her into this sin, shutting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +her eyes to the fact that, if she had not +allowed proud and jealous thoughts to creep +into her heart, temptation would not have had +so much influence over her.</p> + +<p>She no longer took any pleasure in the +society of her little friend, and shrank from +her in a way that Hattie perceived, and by +which she was hurt; for she was disposed in +her own mind to throw all the blame upon +Hattie, forgetting that she was really the most +to blame, since she had been better taught, and +saw more clearly the difference between right +and wrong.</p> + +<p>As for Nellie, poor, innocent, injured Nellie, +Gracie felt as if she could not bear the sight +of her; and when she saw in what a gentle, +patient spirit she took her great misfortune,—for +so all the children considered it,—she +grew more and more ashamed and lowered in +her own sight. Pride and self-esteem could +not now blind her to the fact that Nellie +was better, far better, than herself.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the change in Gracie was exciting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +the wonder of all, the pity of some, of her +young friends and schoolmates. Only Hattie +held the clew to it; and she was surprised that +such "a trifle," as she considered it, should +have such an effect upon Gracie and make her +so unhappy.</p> + +<p>But Gracie was not a really bad or deceitful +child, although she had suffered herself to +be led so far astray. She was not naturally +more unkind or selfish than most of us who +have not the love and fear of God before us; +indeed she was what children call "generous" +in giving or sharing what she had, and she +was always glad to do a helpful or obliging +act for another. But she had always trusted +to her own strength, and believed she could +not fall, and now she was learning that her +high thoughts of herself, and her carelessness +of what she considered little faults, had made +her an easy prey to temptation and the +indulgence of a foolish pride and jealousy had +led her into this great sin into which she had +not imagined she could fall. But although<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +she saw this now, she was not truly repentant; +for she would not take the only right +and true way to make amends; and spent her +time wishing vain wishes, and trying to contrive +some way out of her difficulty without +bringing disgrace upon herself or losing her +character for honor and truthfulness among +her young companions. It troubled Gracie far +less to think how she already stood in the eyes +of God, than it did to imagine how she might +appear in the sight of her earthly friends if +this thing were known.</p> + +<p>There was a small children's party at Mrs. +Bradford's. Gracie did not care to go; indeed +she would much rather not have done so: but +her mother had accepted for her, and she had +no good excuse for staying away.</p> + +<p>She was more restless and miserable than +usual that afternoon: she set up her opinion +against that of all the rest, found fault with +her playmates in every game that was begun, +was more than usually sure that she knew +every thing and could do better than any one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +else, and, not having her wits and thoughts +about her, miserably failed in all the plays in +which she meant to shine.</p> + +<p>"What shall we play now?" asked Bessie +at length, when they had all tired of some +romping game.</p> + +<p>"Let's take a little rest, and play 'Characters,'" +said Gracie, who was very good in this, +having no match among her present playmates +save Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Maggie, willing to please her +if possible, although she saw some objections +to the game just now; "we'll play it; but it +is rather hard for the younger ones, so we +must take easy characters. Who'll go out?"</p> + +<p>"I will," said Lily; "but mind you do take +an easy one. Somebody we know very well, not +any history or jography character. I don't +want to bother my head about lesson people +when I'm playing."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Maggie; and Lily went +out, singing loudly in the hall that she might +"be sure and not hear."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let's take Cromwell," said Gracie, always +anxious, no matter what her frame of mind, to +display her knowledge.</p> + +<p>"No," said Maggie, "that's too hard for +Lily; and she wants us to take some one we +know."</p> + +<p>"I should think any goose might know about +Cromwell," said Gracie.</p> + +<p>"We did not know about him till a few +weeks ago," said Dora Johnson. "We've +only just had him in our history, and I don't +b'lieve Lily knows much about him."</p> + +<p>"Then take Lafayette," said Gracie.</p> + +<p>"Lily means some of the people we have in +our own lives," said Bessie. "Make haste: +she'll be tired."</p> + +<p>This was seconded by Lily's voice calling +from without, "Why don't you make haste? +I should think you were choosing a hundred +people."</p> + +<p>"Let's take Flossey," said Belle, looking at +the dog, who had jumped upon a chair beside +Maggie, where he sat with a wise and sedate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +air as if he were listening to all that passed, +and ready to take his share in the game.</p> + +<p>This was agreed upon by all but Gracie, who +declared that it was "ridiculous to choose a +dog," and she had "a great mind not to play +the game in such an absurd way."</p> + +<p>Lily was called in and proceeded to ask her +questions.</p> + +<p>"Male or female?" was the first, beginning +at Dora.</p> + +<p>"Male," answered Dora.</p> + +<p>"Black or white?" asked Lily.</p> + +<p>"Neither," said Belle, who was next in turn, +"least he's not black at all; but he's some +white."</p> + +<p>Lily looked rather puzzled at this.</p> + +<p>"And what color besides is he?"</p> + +<p>"Brown," answered Bessie.</p> + +<p>"A brown and white man," said Lily. "Oh! +I know. It's old black Peter."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no," echoed around the circle.</p> + +<p>"Not one scrap of Peter is white," said +Mamie Stone. "He's the blackest old man I +ever saw."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Part of his eyes are white and his teeth +too," said Lily, who was generally pretty sure +of her ground when she stated a fact. "Where +does he live?"</p> + +<p>"In this country," said Nellie.</p> + +<p>"In this city?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Is he good or bad?"</p> + +<p>"Good, most generally," answered Mabel; +"only sometimes pretty mischievous."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Lily, light beginning to break +upon her. "Can he talk?"</p> + +<p>"He tan't talt, but he tan bart pretty well," +said Frankie, to whom the question fell.</p> + +<p>"Oh! oh! that's too plain," cried one and +another laughing; and Maggie, thinking Frankie +did not understand the game well enough to be +allowed to go out, gave a hint to Lily, but not +wishing to hurt her little brother's feelings took +refuge in the French language, and said:—</p> + +<p>"Ne <em>guessez</em> pas a lui."</p> + +<p>Frankie, however, was too sharp for her; +there was not much that escaped him, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +exclaimed in a very aggrieved tone that it was +"not fair," and that Lily should guess at him.</p> + +<p>So Lily said "Flossey" was the character; +and, amid much laughter, the young gentleman +betook himself to the hall with a pompous air, +telling the little girls to make haste.</p> + +<p>"Let's take himself," said Bessie, which +being agreed upon, Frankie was called back +almost before he was well out of the room.</p> + +<p>"Is he blat or white?" he asked, following +Lily's example, and beginning as she had done +at Dora.</p> + +<p>"He's white," said Dora laughing; and, in +obedience to a suggestion from Maggie to help +him out, she added,—"white, with brown eyes +and red cheeks and brown hair."</p> + +<p>"Flossey," cried Frankie triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"No, no; not Flossey again," said the children.</p> + +<p>"Does he have four feets?" asked the little +boy.</p> + +<p>"No, only two," said Belle.</p> + +<p>"Does he live in the stable?" asked Frankie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, he lives in this house," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Blackie," said Frankie, who was unable to +give up the idea that since it was not Flossey +it must be the little pony owned by his sisters.</p> + +<p>"Does he eat hay?" was his next question.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Nellie, "he eats fruit and +meat and bread and milk, and, oh! how he +does love sugar and candy!"</p> + +<p>"Me," cried Frankie, feeling that this description +exactly suited himself.</p> + +<p>The character having been guessed at Nellie +she now went out, and Maggie, willing to +put Gracie in a good humor if possible, asked +her who they should take this time.</p> + +<p>"Mary, Queen of Scots," answered Gracie +promptly.</p> + +<p>It was not altogether probable that the +younger children knew much of this unfortunate +lady, but Gracie's choice was acceded +to and Nellie called.</p> + +<p>"Male or female?" was of course the first +question.</p> + +<p>"Female," answered Dora.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Old or young?"</p> + +<p>"Um—m—m, pretty old," said Belle; +"at least she was grown up."</p> + +<p>"Is she alive now?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Where did she live?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Lily, "she lived in a good +many places. But not in this country. Generally +in France or Scotland."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Nellie to whom this answer gave +an inkling of the truth; but she passed on to +the next.</p> + +<p>"Was she good or bad, Maggie?"</p> + +<p>"Some think her quite celestial and some +think her quite infernal," answered Maggie +with grand emphasis; "but on the whole I +think she was not either, only rather middling +like the most of us."</p> + +<p>Nellie felt more confident than ever; but +not caring to risk one of her three guesses as +yet, she passed on. The questions she put to +Mabel and Frankie were simple and very easily +answered; then came Gracie's turn.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What was she celebrated for?"</p> + +<p>"For cruelty and persecuting people," +answered Gracie confidently; and Nellie's +idea was at once put to flight by the reply.</p> + +<p>"That's a mistake," said Dora. "You are +thinking of another character, Gracie."</p> + +<p>"I'm not, either," said Gracie. "Don't I +know history better than any of you?"</p> + +<p>"You don't know <em>that</em>, anyway," said Maggie. +"Gracie, you <em>are</em> wrong. <em>She</em> was not +the character you are thinking of, and was not +celebrated for that."</p> + +<p>"But she <em>was</em>," persisted Gracie.</p> + +<p>"Nellie," said Maggie, "you need not +guess by what Gracie has told you, for she is +not right."</p> + +<p>"I'll put my question another way," said +Nellie. "Can I ask Gracie once again?"</p> + +<p>All agreed and Nellie asked,—</p> + +<p>"Was she celebrated for her beauty and +her misfortunes?"</p> + +<p>"I shan't tell you," said Gracie snappishly. +"If I do, I shan't be believed, but they'll all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +go and contradict me. I suppose I know what +I know; and any of you might be proud if you +knew as much history as I do and had kept the +head of the class so long."</p> + +<p>Gracie had for a moment forgotten how +disgracefully she had lost her place at the head +of the history class, but the silence that followed +her ill-tempered speech brought it back +to her and increased her vexation.</p> + +<p>"You all think you know so much," she +said, throwing herself back sullenly in her +chair.</p> + +<p>Bessie had begged Lily to bear with Gracie +and not to aggravate her as she seemed so +miserable and out of spirits, and Lily had +been very forbearing; at least, so she thought. +But now her small stock of patience was quite +exhausted and she exclaimed vehemently:—</p> + +<p>"Gracie, we try to stand you; we do try +with all our might and main; but you use up +every bit of standing there is in me!"</p> + +<p>This did not mend matters in Gracie's present +state of mind, but led to a pretty severe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +quarrel between her and Lily which the others +vainly tried to heal, Lily being rather provoking, +and Gracie obstinately sullen and ill-tempered.</p> + +<p>It ended in a violent burst of tears from the +latter, and a declaration that she would go +home at once. But this was impossible, since +it was now evening; and the children's +supper-time being near at hand, Mrs. Bradford +could not just then spare a servant to go home +with Gracie.</p> + +<p>No soothing or coaxing proved of any avail, +nor did Lily's repentance; for she was sorry +now that she had been provoking, and would +readily have kissed and made up if Gracie +could have been persuaded to do so.</p> + +<p>Gracie said that she would not stay where +Lily was, and went sulkily upstairs to the +room where Maggie and Bessie slept.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 117px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image28.jpg" width="117" height="50" alt="owl" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 226px;"> +<a name="confession" id="confession"><img src="images/image29.jpg" width="226" height="125" alt="sheep" /> +</a></div> + +<h2>XI.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>CONFESSION.</em></big></p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-g.jpg" +width="49" height="50" alt="g" /></div> +<p><span class="dropletter">G</span>RACIE expected and wished to be +left to herself till it was time to go +home; at least she thought she did, +and she had quite made up her mind that if +any one came and begged her to go down to +supper she would steadily refuse.</p> + +<p>She stood there with all manner of unhappy +and wretched feelings, wishing vain and fruitless +wishes, as she had so often done since she +had fallen into this sin,—that she had never +allowed Hattie to tempt her into doing what +she knew to be wrong; that grandmamma had +never made this plan or offered to put a price +on the different pieces of work; that she had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +never gone to the school, or that Nellie had +never belonged to it; but still she did not think +of wishing that she had not thought so much +of herself or been so very anxious above all +things to be first.</p> + +<p>Poor Gracie! Only those can tell how unhappy +she was who have themselves so fallen +and so suffered. There was no way out of her +trouble but by confessing all the truth, and she +could not bring herself to that.</p> + +<p>She had not closed the door when she came +in, and presently she heard a gentle foot-fall, +then Bessie's soft voice, saying, "Are you in +here, Gracie?"</p> + +<p>There was no light in the room save the +faint glimmer of moonlight which came +through the window, and as Gracie stood in +the shade, Bessie did not at first see her.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm here, but I don't want any +supper, and I'm not coming down till I go +home," answered Gracie, not as ungraciously +as she had intended to speak, for somehow +she could not be disagreeable to dear Bessie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Supper is not quite ready yet, and you +shall have some up here if you had very much +rather not come down," said Bessie with a +coaxing tone in her voice; "but you'd better +come down, Gracie. They're all very sorry +for you and don't think you meant to be cross, +'cause Nellie said she was sure something +troubled you for a good many days, or you +did not feel well, and that often made people +impatient, so we ought not to be mad at you."</p> + +<p>Gracie made no answer, but presently Bessie +heard a low sob.</p> + +<p>"Gracie, dear," she said, coming closer to +her little friend and putting her arms about +her neck, "something does trouble you, +doesn't it? Couldn't you tell me what it is, +and let me see if I could comfort you? Sometimes +it makes people feel better to tell their +troubles and have some one feel sorry for +them."</p> + +<p>The caressing touch, the tender manner, +the earnest, pleading voice were too much for +Gracie, and, throwing herself down on a chair,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +she buried her face in her arms and sobbed +bitterly.</p> + +<p>Bessie let her cry for a moment, for the +wise little woman knew that tears often do +one good for a while, and contented herself +with giving soft touches to Gracie's hair and +neck to let her know she was still beside her +and ready to give her her sympathy.</p> + +<p>At last Gracie raised her head and said +brokenly, "Oh, Bessie, I am so bad! I am so +wicked!"</p> + +<p>"I don't think being rather—rather—well, +rather cross, is so very <em>wicked</em>," said +Bessie, hesitating to give a hard name to +Gracie's ill-temper, "and if you are sorry now +and will come downstairs, we'll all be very +glad to see you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't that," sobbed Gracie. "Bessie, +if you knew what I've done, you'd hate me. +I know you would."</p> + +<p>"No, I wouldn't," said Bessie. "I'd never +hate you, Gracie. I'd only be sorry for you +and try to help you."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You can't help me. No one can help +me," said Gracie, in a fresh paroxysm of +distress.</p> + +<p>"Can't your mamma? Mammas generally +can," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"No, not even mamma," answered Gracie. +"Oh, Bessie, I do feel as if it would be a kind +of relief to tell you; but you'd hate me, you +couldn't help it; and so would every one +else."</p> + +<p>"Every one else need not know it because +you tell me," said Bessie. "Tell Jesus, and +ask Him to help you, Gracie."</p> + +<p>"Even He can't," said Gracie; "at least—at +least—not unless I tell other people who +ought to know it."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean He would want you to tell +it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I s'pose so," almost whispered Gracie.</p> + +<p>Bessie considered a moment. That Gracie +was full of a vain, foolish pride and self-conceit, +she knew; also that she was not the Gracie +of a year or two since; but that she would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +wrong any one she never dreamed, and she +could not imagine any cause for this great +distress.</p> + +<p>"Gracie," she said, "I think by what +you say that you must have done something to +me. I can't think what it can be; but I promise +not to be angry. I will be friends with +you all the same."</p> + +<p>"It was not you; no, it was not you; but, +Bessie, it was such a dreadful thing and so +mean that you never can bear me after you +know it. You are so very true yourself."</p> + +<p>"Have you told a story?" asked Bessie in +a troubled voice.</p> + +<p>"Not told a story, but I acted one," sobbed +Gracie. "O Bessie! sit down here and let +me tell you. I can't keep it in any longer. +Maybe you'll tell me what to do; but I know +what you'll say, and I can't do that."</p> + +<p>Bessie did as she was requested, and, in as +few whispered words as possible, Gracie poured +her wretched story into her ears.</p> + +<p>Bessie sprang to her feet, and her arms<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +which she had clasped about Gracie's neck +fell away from it. It was as the latter had +feared; this was so much worse than any thing +Bessie had expected, she was herself so truthful +and upright, that her whole soul was filled +with horror and dismay. No wonder that +Gracie was distressed. This was indeed +dreadful.</p> + +<p>"I knew it, I knew it," said Gracie, burying +her face again. "I knew you never could +bear me again. It seemed as if I couldn't +help telling you, Bessie; but you never, never +will speak to me again. I wish—I wish—oh, +I almost wish I was an orphan and had no +one to care for me, so I could wish I was dead, +only I'm too bad to go to God."</p> + +<p>Sympathy and pity were regaining their +place in Bessie's heart in spite of her horror +and indignation at what Gracie had done, and +once more she sat down beside her and tried to +soothe and comfort.</p> + +<p>She succeeded in part at least. Gracie's sobs +grew less violent, and she let Bessie persuade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +her to raise her head. Then they sat side by +side, Bessie holding her hand.</p> + +<p>"What would you do, Bessie?" asked Gracie. +"I know I ought to tell, but I don't see how I +can. It will be such a disgrace, and all the +girls will have to know, and I've made such a +fuss about myself, and always thought I never +could do any thing that was very bad. And +now this."</p> + +<p>And now this!</p> + +<p>Yes, after all her boasting, after all her +self-confidence, her belief that she could not +and would not fall into greater sin through her +own conceit and vanity.</p> + +<p>Bessie knew all this; knew how confident +Gracie had been in her own strength; knew +what a bitter shame and mortification it must +be to have this known; knew that it must be long +before she could regain the trust and respect of +her schoolmates after this thing should once be +told. During the last few months Gracie had +lost much of the liking and affection of her +little friends; but not one among them would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +have believed her capable of deliberate deceit +or of that which was not strictly honest.</p> + +<p>Ah! it was a great and terrible fall. Bessie +felt this as well as Gracie.</p> + +<p>But she knew also that there was but one +thing for Gracie to do; but one way in which +she could have any peace or comfort once +more.</p> + +<p>Bessie was not the child for Gracie to put +confidence in, if she expected advice that was +not plain and straightforward.</p> + +<p>"What <em>shall</em> I do, Bessie?" she repeated.</p> + +<p>"I think you'll have to tell, dear," said the +pitying little voice beside her.</p> + +<p>Gracie actually shrank in a kind of terror +at the thought; and yet she had known that +this was what Bessie would say.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I can't, I can't; I never can," she +moaned.</p> + +<p>"But, Gracie, dear," said the little monitress, +"I don't think you will ever feel happy and +comfortable again till you do; and Jesus is +displeased with you all the time till you do it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +If you told about it and tried to make it up to +Nellie, then He would be pleased with you +again. And then you could have comfort in +that even if people were rather cross to you +about it. And, Gracie, Maggie and I will not +be offended with you. I know Maggie will +not; and we'll coax the other girls not to tease +you or be unkind to you about it."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think it was so very wicked in +me then?" asked Gracie. "O Bessie! you +are such a good child, I don't believe you ever +have wicked thoughts. You don't know how +hard it is sometimes not to do wrong when +you want to do it very much,—when a +very, very great temptation comes, like this."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bessie, "I think I do, Gracie. +And you are very much mistaken when you +say I never have naughty thoughts. I have +them very often, and the only way I can make +them go is, to ask Jesus to help me, and to +keep asking Him till they do go, and the temptation +too. Perhaps, when you had the temptation +to do this you did not remember to ask."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, I did not," said Gracie. "But, Bessie, +it never seemed to me that I <em>could</em> do a +thing that was not quite true and honest. And +I suppose it has come because I thought too +much of myself and wanted too much to have +my work the best. It was not that I cared +about the money, for you know that was for +Jessie and her grandfather; but I wanted +every one to say mine was the best; and it +made me so mad that any one should say +Nellie's was better than mine. If I had not +cared so very much, Hattie would not have +persuaded me, for I <em>did</em> know it was horribly +mean. You never had a temptation like this, +Bessie."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Bessie slowly. "I +think I once had one something like it. Don't +you remember, Gracie, that time you lost your +prize composition and we found it in the +drawer of the hall-table?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Gracie, "and how cross +I was about it, and how hateful to you and +Maggie."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," said Bessie, "I had a very hard +temptation that time. I found the composition +first, and I wanted to leave it there and +not tell any one, 'cause I wanted Maggie to +have the prize so much; and at first it did not +seem so very wrong to me, and I tried to think +I <em>ought</em> not to tell, because then my own +Maggie could have the prize; but I did not +feel sure about it, so I asked Jesus to let me +see what I ought to do, and then I saw it +quite plain, and knew I must take the composition +to you. But it was a dreadful temptation, +Gracie."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Gracie with a sigh, feeling +deeply the difference between herself and her +dear little playmate who had so bravely +resisted temptation. For she knew how very +anxious Bessie had been that Maggie should +gain the prize.</p> + +<p>"But you did not <em>do</em> the thing you were +tempted to do," she said. "What would you +do if you had, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"I should go right away and tell my mamma;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +and perhaps she could find some way to +help me out of it," said Bessie. "Anyway, +she ought to know, and she will tell you what +you ought to do."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it will make mamma feel dreadfully," +said Gracie. "She was always telling me I +would fall into trouble some day because I +thought too much of myself; but, oh, dear! +she never could have believed I would do this. +Wouldn't you feel awfully, Bessie, if you had +done it?"</p> + +<p>Yes, indeed. Bessie felt that she should; +it almost seemed to her that she should die if +she had such a weight on her mind and +conscience, and she felt for Gracie most +deeply.</p> + +<p>But still she knew that Gracie would never +feel right again till she had made confession, +and she once more urged it upon her; confession +to God and man; and at last Gracie +promised.</p> + +<p>Promised with many tears and sobs; but +that promise once given, she became in haste<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +to have it over and to go home to her mamma +at once.</p> + +<p>"Ask your mamma to let me go home as +soon as she can, Bessie," she pleaded. "Tell +her I do not feel well, for I do not really. +My head aches and I feel all shaky, as if I +could not hold still; and I don't want to see +any one down stairs again or to have any +supper."</p> + +<p>Bessie was about to leave her to do as she +was asked, when Mrs. Bradford came in.</p> + +<p>"Gracie and Bessie," she said, "are you +here? You were so long in coming that I +feared something was wrong. Will you not +come down and have some supper, Gracie?"</p> + +<p>Gracie did not speak, but held fast to +Bessie's hand.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said the little girl, "Gracie does +not feel well, and she would like to go home as +soon as you could send her. She's quite +trembling, mamma. I feel her."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bradford took Gracie's hand in hers +and found that it was indeed cold and trembling,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +while her temples were hot and throbbing; +for over-excitement and worry had made +her really ill, and the lady saw that she was +more fit for bed than for the supper-room.</p> + +<p>She told Gracie she should go home immediately, +and putting on her hat led her down +stairs, and calling Mr. Bradford, begged him +to take the poor little girl home and explain +matters to her mamma.</p> + +<p>Gracie clung to Bessie for a good-night kiss, +whispering, "I will do it, Bessie; no matter +what comes after, I will do it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Bradford took her home,—it was not +far from his house,—talking cheerfully by the +way and trying to keep her amused; but, +though Gracie felt he was kind, she hardly +knew what he was saying, her mind was so +taken up with the thought of the dreadful +secret she had to confess.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Howard was startled, as was only +natural, to see her little girl coming home so +much before she had expected her; and Mr. +Bradford's assurance that he did not think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +there was much wrong with Gracie, and that +she would be well after a good night's sleep, +did not quiet her fears, especially when she +looked in Gracie's face.</p> + +<p>She quickly undressed her and put her to +bed; but, longing as Gracie was to have her +confession over, she could not tell it while the +nurse was in the room; and it was not until +she was safely in bed, and the woman sent to +prepare some medicine, that she gave vent to +the tears she had managed to keep back before +her.</p> + +<p>"There, there, my darling," said her mother +soothingly. "You will be better soon. Do +not be frightened; this is only a little +nervousness."</p> + +<p>"O mamma, mamma!" cried poor Gracie; +"you ought not to be so kind to me. You +don't know how bad, how very bad I am."</p> + +<p>"Is there any thing especially wrong just +now, Gracie?" asked her mother gently.</p> + +<p>"Yes, mamma; oh, yes. I have—I have—put +your head closer, mamma, and let me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +whisper;" and then, with her face hidden +against her mother's shoulder, came the +confession, made with many bitter tears and +sobs.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Howard was greatly shocked; she +could hardly speak when she heard all.</p> + +<p>"Shall you ever be able to forgive me, +mamma?" sobbed Gracie. "I know, I know +you think me perfectly dreadful, but if you +could try me just this once, and see if I ever +do such a thing again. Indeed, I don't think +I could. I know I am not too good to do it, +as I thought I was before; but I have felt so +dreadfully ever since I did it, I don't think I +could ever punish myself so again."</p> + +<p>"I can believe that you have been very +unhappy, my child," said her mother; "indeed +I have seen it, though I did not know the +cause. But you have need to ask a higher +forgiveness than mine."</p> + +<p>"I will, mamma," said Gracie; "but—but—I +suppose Nellie and the other children +must be told?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I fear so, Gracie," said her mother. +"Nellie must be righted and have her own +mat again, and I do not see how we are to +avoid having the rest of the children hear this +terrible thing also. I must see Miss Ashton +in the morning and talk it over with her, and +we will arrange what is best to be done. But +now you must try to be quiet and go to sleep. +You are over-excited and will be really ill, so +I can allow you to talk no more. But before +you sleep, my child, make your peace with your +Father in heaven, and ask Him to help you +to bear the punishment you have brought upon +yourself by your naughty pride and ambition."</p> + +<p>Gracie obeyed her mother as well as she +was able; and, truly repentant, we may hope, +at last fell into a troubled sleep.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 175px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image30.jpg" width="175" height="50" alt="leaves" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 218px;"> +<a name="fair" id="fair"><img src="images/image31.jpg" width="218" height="125" alt="Bird on nest" /> +</a></div> + + + + +<h2>XII.</h2> + +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom: 2em;"><big><em>THE FAIR.</em></big></p> + + +<div><img class="drop-cap" src="images/dropcap-t.jpg" +width="50" height="50" alt="t" /></div> +<p><span class="dropletter">T</span>HE next day was Saturday, when there +was no school, so that Mrs. Howard +was able to see Miss Ashton and tell +her the sad story, quite early in the morning.</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton was much grieved and surprised; +for, as she told Mrs. Howard, although +she had known that Gracie's high thoughts of +herself and belief that she was wiser and +better than any of her companions often led +her into exaggeration, yet she could not have +believed her capable of any thing that was +really mean and dishonorable.</p> + +<p>She was distressed, too, at the thought of the +exposure and mortification which must follow;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +for it seemed necessary, for Nellie's sake, that +not only Grandmamma Howard, but the whole +school should know the truth. She and Mrs. +Howard talked it all over for some time, but +neither of the two ladies saw any way to avoid +this disgrace for Gracie. They would willingly +have spared her the punishment, if possible, +for she had already suffered severely, and she +seemed so truly humble and repentant that her +mother did not believe there was much fear +she would again fall into this sin.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Howard had thought last night that +perhaps she ought to deprive Gracie of any +share in the fair; but that must make her +disgrace very well known, and now she hoped +that there was no need of further punishment +to make her see and feel her great fault.</p> + +<p>And now Grandmamma Howard must be +seen and told the sad story. Mrs. Howard +knew that she would be much distressed that +her kind plan should turn out so badly. +Neither Gracie's mamma nor Miss Ashton had +quite approved of that plan; especially on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +Gracie's account, but they could not well say +so and cross the good old lady.</p> + +<p>It was as they had feared. Grandmamma +was very much grieved and disturbed to know +that what she had intended to be a help and a +kindness, had only proved a source of trouble, +and an encouragement to Gracie's besetting +sin.</p> + +<p>There yet remained to Mrs. Howard the +still more painful task of telling Nellie how +she had been wronged. She would have +thought it right to make Gracie do this herself, +had it not been that the child was really +ill that morning, and in no state for further +excitement; and it was not just to Nellie to +put off the confession any longer.</p> + +<p>Nellie was filled with amazement. Much as +she had wondered over the unfortunate spot +upon the mat she supposed to be hers, she had +never dreamed of a thing like this, nor had +she the least suspicion of the truth. Indeed, +how should she?</p> + +<p>She was a quiet child, with a more wise and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +thoughtful little head than those who did not +know her well would have given her credit +for; but words did not come to her very +readily, and, after the first surprise was over, +she only said to Mrs. Howard, with the tears +in her eyes,—</p> + +<p>"Please tell Gracie I am not angry with +her, and hope she will be friends with me +once more. Let's try not to think about it +any more than we can help; will you, Mrs. +Howard?"</p> + +<p>Generous, forgiving Nellie! How ashamed +Gracie felt when her mother told her this, and +she contrasted Nellie's conduct with her own.</p> + +<p>She lay upon her little bed that afternoon, +feeling wretched both in mind and body, +though it was a relief to remember that she +had confessed all to mamma, and that she had +set her face toward the right way once more, +when Mrs. Howard came in bringing Nellie +with her.</p> + +<p>Poor Gracie gave a low sob, and covered her +face with her hands in utter shame and distress,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +feeling as if she could not bear to have +Nellie look at her.</p> + +<p>But in a moment Nellie was beside her, +saying,—</p> + +<p>"Don't, Gracie; please don't. You needn't +feel so very badly about it now. I don't care +much, and we'll make it all up."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Nellie, Nellie! I don't deserve you to +be so kind to me," sobbed Gracie. "I was +so hateful to you and so jealous, and it seemed +as if I could not bear to have you go before +me in any thing. I know I've been just too +hateful to you."</p> + +<p>"Well, never mind now," said Nellie.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Howard had gone out and left the two +children together.</p> + +<p>"I can't help minding," said Gracie; "and, +only think, Nellie, all the other girls in the +school will have to know, and it will shame +me almost to death. I hope, I hope mamma +will never make me go back to school, and I +mean to stay away from the fair, any way."</p> + +<p>"That is what I came to see you about,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +said Nellie. "The girls need not know, +Gracie. You see my—your—the mat with +the ink-spot on it is nearly finished now, so I +have done about as much work on one as on the +other. And I don't care so very much about +having mine called the best, for the money +will do Jessie and her grandfather just as +much good, no matter who earns it. So if +each of us finishes the one she has now, it +will be all the same, and the rest of the +children need never know it. I am sure, +Gracie, I should feel just as you do, and never +want to come back to school again or see any +of our class if I had done this, and I know +just how badly you must feel. So I thought +about it, and it seemed to me it would come +right again if we just went on with the work +as if this had not been found out; I mean if +you had not told. I'd rather no one would +know it but just those who know now. Don't +you think we could arrange it so, Gracie? +Your mother gave me leave to tell you this, +and says she would be very glad for you if it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +can be done, and she thinks Miss Ashton will +be willing."</p> + +<p>To hear the earnest, wistful voice one might +have supposed that generous, great-hearted +Nellie was pleading for some great boon for +herself.</p> + +<p>But she could not tell all that Gracie felt. +No, indeed; she did not know what coals of +fire she was heaping on her head; how perfectly +humbled and remorseful she felt as she +remembered all the hard thoughts she had +cherished toward her; the unkind words and +unjust actions of which she had been guilty; +all forgotten now, it seemed, by Nellie, who +was only anxious to make the path of repentance +as easy as possible to her, and to avoid +all unnecessary shame and exposure to the one +who had so greatly injured her.</p> + +<p>With many sobs and broken words she told +Nellie all that was in her heart, beseeching +her forgiveness, and thanking her over and +over for her consideration and sweet thoughtfulness; +not that she put it in just such words,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +but in those that were very simple and very +touching to Nellie.</p> + +<p>So peace was made between them,—a peace +that was sure to be lasting and true where +there was such sincere repentance on one side, +such good will and hearty forgiveness on the +other.</p> + +<p>Grandmamma Howard was only too glad +on Gracie's account to accept Nellie's generous +proposal.</p> + +<p>Miss Ashton also agreed that the matter +should go no further, and so it was arranged, +and further disgrace to Gracie avoided, although +the weight of shame and remorse was +not readily lifted from her heart, and she felt +as if her schoolmates must know her secret +and that she dared scarcely look them in the +face.</p> + +<p>They all wondered at the new humility and +modesty which she now began to show; but +the change was an agreeable one, and drew +forth no unkind remarks.</p> + +<p>A prettier sight than Miss Ashton's garden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +and piazza on that lovely June afternoon when +the long-talked-of fair took place, would have +been hard to find. Kind friends had decked +the spot tastefully; flowers were everywhere +in abundance; the tables conveniently and +becomingly arranged; and the display of articles +upon them was not only tempting, but +such as had been manufactured by the children +did them wonderful credit. Flags, ribbons, +wreaths, and festoons, all joined to make the +scene gay; and in and out, among and below +them flitted the white-robed "little sunbeams," +who lent the fairest life and brightness to the +scene.</p> + +<p>"Sunbeams" they all were that day, indeed. +No cloud appeared to darken their happiness, +no ill-temper, jealousy, or desire to outvie one +another was heard or seen. Even Gracie and +Hattie, who were each rather oppressed with +the sense of past naughtiness, and the feeling +of what the others would say and think if they +knew all, could not but be bright and gay +amid this pleasant companionship.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gracie had told Hattie that she had confessed +her sin to her mother, and the latter +knew that some share of blame must have +fallen to her; so, although she did not look +upon it in as serious a light as Gracie did, she +had an uncomfortable and conscious feeling. +Miss Ashton had talked to her more seriously +than she had ever done before, and had also +informed her parents of what had taken place, +telling them that she did not wish to disgrace +Hattie, and so, as it was near the close of +school, she would not ask them to remove her +now; but that she could not take her back in +the fall. Hattie's utter disregard of truth had +already brought too much trouble into her +little flock for her to risk any further mischief +from that source.</p> + +<p>Hattie's parents had been much mortified +and displeased, and the child herself had been +severely punished; but I doubt if the punishment +had been altogether just; for how was +the child who saw equivocation and deceit used +at home as a means of family government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +when convenience demanded it, to learn the +value of the jewel thus sullied, or to judge of +the line where it was believed that falsehood +must stop and truth and uprightness begin?</p> + +<p>As for generous Nellie, she seemed to have +no recollection of what had passed, unless it +was in the new and caressing tenderness of +her manner toward Gracie; not a patronizing +manner, but one full of encouragement and +helpfulness.</p> + +<p>The other children wondered not only at +Gracie's new gentleness and modesty, but also +at the sudden intimacy which seemed to have +sprung up between these two.</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Lily privately, "it is because +Gracie is learning to think better of herself"—which +was just the opposite from what +Lily meant—"and Nellie's trying to help her."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Maggie; "perhaps Gracie is +learning it is 'never too late to mend,' which +would make her much more agreeable, and +other people would think more of her. I do +think she is improved."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<p>Maggie had yielded not alone to the persuasions +of Miss Ashton, but also to an earnest +appeal from Gracie, and accepted once more +the title of Queen. And very well she became +it, standing in front of her throne—which +she could not be persuaded to occupy—within +the pretty bower into which one end of the +piazza had been turned, according to her ideas. +Bessie, Belle, and Lily were her "maids of +honor," and helped her to sell the bouquets +and baskets of flowers with which she was +bountifully supplied; and they drove a thriving +trade; for so many sweet smiles, bright looks, +and winning words went with the flowers that +the stock within the "Queen's Bower" was +much in demand. She had her band of music +too, for half a dozen canary-birds hung within +and around the bower, and, excited by the +laughter and chatter about them, seemed to try +which could sing the loudest and sweetest.</p> + +<p>Jessie's parrot was on exhibition, lent by +his present owner for the occasion, down in +the old summer-house at the end of the garden,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +where Jessie herself took the ten cents +admission fee, and made him display all his +accomplishments.</p> + +<p>And the Doll! She must have a capital +letter to do justice to her perfections. Of all +the dolls that ever were seen or heard or +thought of, that doll surely took the lead. It +would be of no use for me to describe her or +her toilet, for if you should ever see her, +you would surely tell me that I had not told +one half.</p> + +<p>It was nearly the hour at which the fair was +"to begin," and the children were all gathered +about the table on which she was displayed, +when there came a ring at the front door-bell.</p> + +<p>Away fluttered every little saleswoman to +her appointed stand, hoping that this might be +the first customer.</p> + +<p>And so it proved; for it was no less a person +than old Mrs. Howard, who had purposely +timed her arrival so that she might be there +before any other person.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dears," she said, looking round<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +upon the smiling young faces about her, "this +is a pretty sight. And, industrious as I know +you have been, and kind as your friends have +been, I should hardly have thought it possible +that you should have made such a fine show +on your tables. But you know I have some +especial business with you, and I have come +early that we may have it over before the rush +begins."</p> + +<p>This was very encouraging. Mrs. Howard +thought it probable they would have "a rush" +of customers, and who should know better +than she?</p> + +<p>"You remember I offered six prizes for +different articles to be worked for me," continued +the old lady, "but there are only four +finished, as you know. My little grand-daughter, +Gracie, felt that she had not +displayed a proper spirit about them, and +she decided not to finish hers for the fair, +but to leave it and complete it for me afterwards."</p> + +<p>This had been Gracie's own proposal to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +her mother and grandmother, and they had +allowed her to have her own way, thinking +that this willingness to put herself behind the +others, and to give up even the show of strife +with Nellie, told of a spirit of true repentance, +as indeed it did. When the other children +had asked with much surprise where her mat +was, she had answered quietly that she could +not finish it. This had not proved any loss +to the fair, because the time she would have +devoted to the mat had been given to other +articles.</p> + +<p>"Here, then," continued Mrs. Howard, "are +two toilet sets and two mats for me to judge +between. Of the latter, the one Nellie Ransom +brings is certainly the best in point of +work; but it has unfortunately received a bad +ink-stain. Now those of us who know Nellie +are very sure that this has not come through +any neglect or carelessness of her own, and +since she did not do it herself it seems hard +that she should suffer for it. I should be quite +willing to overlook it, for this is really the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +best piece of work among the four; but I +cannot do so unless the others are willing. +Those among you who think Nellie ought not +to be a loser by this misfortune, raise your +hands."</p> + +<p>Instantly every little hand was raised, and +if one were before another it was Gracie's.</p> + +<p>"Very well; that is satisfactory," said Mrs. +Howard. "Nellie, my dear, here are ten dollars +for your mat, the first money taken in for +your fair. The second sum, I think, must go +to Maggie's toilet set—ah! yes, Maggie's and +Bessie's, I should have said," as she saw the +look which Maggie turned upon her sister, +as if wishing that she should have her full +share of credit—"the third to Dora's mat, +and the fourth to Hattie's toilet set. You +are all satisfied, I trust, with this arrangement."</p> + +<p>There was a murmur of assent, and this +part of the business was settled.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Mrs. Howard, "I want to +say that I think I made a mistake in offering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +these rates of prices, and so exciting you to +outvie one another. I meant to give you a +motive for trying to improve yourselves, but I +believe it was not a good principle to set you +thus one against the other, and I know that it +has led to some hard feeling and unkindness. +But that, I trust, is now all healed, and I shall +take care not to put such temptation in your +way again."</p> + +<p>The children all thought they knew what +Mrs. Howard meant, and with true courteousness +they all avoided looking at Gracie.</p> + +<p>But this was as much as was ever known by +any of them, save the two or three who had +been in the secret, of Gracie's temptation and +fall. That she had been jealous and unkind +to Nellie, they had all seen; that she had gone +further and been led into deceit and meanness, +they never heard. Hattie, for her own sake, +held her peace for once; and penitent Gracie +had not to face the scorn and wonder of all +her schoolmates.</p> + +<p>After this Mrs. Howard went about from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +table to table, purchasing not only one article, +but generally two or three, from each little +saleswoman; but she said she would not +remove them till the fair was over, so that +they might still add to the appearance of their +tables. They were all marked SOLD in +enormous, staring letters, that there might be +no possibility of mistake.</p> + +<p>And now, customer after customer began to +flock in, and among the earlier arrivals came +Mr. Powers, who was immediately seized upon +by Belle, and led to the table where the baby +doll lay in her glory.</p> + +<p>Now it had been announced that whoever +offered the highest price for this famous infant +was to have her, and it was not to be told till +the close of the fair who had done this. The +names of would-be purchasers, with the amount +each offered, were written down by Miss Annie +Stanton, who still held the doll in charge, +lest too eager little hands should mar her +beauties.</p> + +<p>"Please offer a whole lot, papa; I do want<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +her so," said Belle. "Isn't she lovely? Did +you ever see such a doll?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Powers expressed all the admiration he +thought needful, which did not nearly satisfy +Belle, who was only half consoled by what she +thought a want of proper interest by Maggie's +whispered assurance that men "never did +appreciate dolls, and it was quite useless to +expect it of them. It did not seem to be born +in them."</p> + +<p>However, Mr. Powers put down his name +and the sum he would give, which last remained +for the present a secret between him +and Miss Annie Stanton.</p> + +<p>Mamie Stone was as eager about the doll +as Belle, and her mamma was called upon also +to offer a high price for the treasure.</p> + +<p>But my "Sunbeam" would lengthen itself +far beyond its sister rays if I should tell you +all that took place at the fair. Enough to say +that it was a great success, and that a sum +was taken in that was more than sufficient to +purchase Jessie's parrot back and to provide<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +a comfortable home for herself and her +grandfather for at least a year to come. +That is, with what the little girl might hope +to make herself by the further sale of her +wares.</p> + +<p>Evening came, bringing with it the great +interest of the day, the announcement of the +munificent purchaser of the doll, and every +little heart beat high with hope that it might +be some friend of her own, who would bestow +the coveted prize upon her.</p> + +<p>It proved to be Grandmamma Howard.</p> + +<p>Belle stood in an agony of expectation, +squeezing her father's hand and scarcely +breathing in the hush that came before the +name was spoken; and when she heard "Mrs. +Howard," a rush of color dyed her face, and +a look of blank disappointment overspread it. +She looked up and caught her father's gaze +fixed anxiously upon her. She dashed her +little hand across her eyes to scatter the tears +that would well up, and, forcing a smile, said +with a trembling lip, "Never mind, papa,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +you meant me to have it, so it was just as +good of you."</p> + +<p>Her father stooped and kissed her, rejoicing +in her sweetness and determined good temper. +A little more than a year since, a tempest of +tears and sobs would have broken from his +over-indulged child; but now she had learned +to control herself and to be contented and +pleasant even when things did not go quite her +own way. She was all smiles and brightness +again in a few minutes, nearly consoled for +her disappointment by her papa's caress and +his few whispered words of blessing.</p> + +<p>All believed that Gracie or one of her little +sisters would be presented with the doll by +her grandmother; and great, therefore, was +the amazement of the circle of young friends +when the next day it was rumored, then made +certain, that Mrs. Howard had sent it to Nellie +Ransom.</p> + +<p>Every child wondered "why," and so did +more than one grown person; for the Howards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +and the Ransoms were not, as Maggie said, +"very intimate, and it was rather surprising +Mrs. Howard should think of giving such a +present to Nellie. But she seems to have +taken a great fancy to her, and Nellie quite +deserves it," she added.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if she gave it to her because of +the mat," said Mamie Stone.</p> + +<p>"I think it was because she is such a +serious child," said Lily. "I find old people +like <em>seriosity</em>, and Nellie has a great deal of +it."</p> + +<p>So they judged, these little ones. Nellie, +gentle, unobtrusive "little sunbeam" that she +was, went on her quiet way, shedding light +and warmth in many an unsuspected nook and +corner, and bringing now and then some +hidden seed to blossom in beauty and fragrance.</p> + +<p>Only one of her schoolmates ever suspected +that it was her thoughtful care for Gracie's +character and feelings, her sweet forgiving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +spirit which led her to forget past injuries, +which had won for her the gift of the much +coveted doll, and given her a high place in the +love and admiration of the few who knew all +the story.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 68px;"> +<img style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;" src="images/image32.jpg" width="68" height="75" alt="flower" /> +</div> + + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;">Cambridge: Press of John Wilson and Son.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + + + + +<div class="transnote"> + +<big>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:</big> + +<p>Obvious printer errors have been corrected. +Otherwise, the author's original spelling, +punctuation and hyphenation have been left +intact.</p> +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44123 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/44123-h/images/dropcap-a.jpg b/44123-h/images/dropcap-a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5a7ab2 --- /dev/null +++ b/44123-h/images/dropcap-a.jpg diff --git a/44123-h/images/dropcap-d.jpg b/44123-h/images/dropcap-d.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d7818d --- /dev/null +++ b/44123-h/images/dropcap-d.jpg diff --git a/44123-h/images/dropcap-f.jpg b/44123-h/images/dropcap-f.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c549a9b --- /dev/null +++ b/44123-h/images/dropcap-f.jpg diff --git a/44123-h/images/dropcap-g.jpg b/44123-h/images/dropcap-g.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5ea511 --- /dev/null +++ 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