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diff --git a/old/mjrtg10.txt b/old/mjrtg10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4bc43d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mjrtg10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1331 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Marjorie's Three Gifts, by Louisa May Alcott +#13 in our series by Louisa May Alcott + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Marjorie's Three Gifts + +Author: Louisa May Alcott + +Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5352] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on July 6, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE'S THREE GIFTS *** + + + + +This eBook was created by Brandon Ryan (brandon_ryan_projgutenberg@yahoo.com) + + + + + +MARJORIE'S THREE GIFTS + +BY + +LOUISA M. ALCOTT + +Author of "Little Women," "Little Men," "An Old-Fashioned Girl," Etc. + +BOSTON + +1899 + + + + + + +MARJORIE'S THREE GIFTS + + + + + +Marjorie sat on the door-step, shelling peas, quite unconscious what +a pretty picture she made, with the roses peeping at her through the +lattice work of the porch, the wind playing hide-and-seek in her +curly hair, while the sunshine with its silent magic changed her +faded gingham to a golden gown, and shimmered on the bright tin pan +as if it were a silver shield. Old Rover lay at her feet, the white +kitten purred on her shoulder, and friendly robins hopped about her +in the grass, chirping "A happy birthday, Marjorie!" + +But the little maid neither saw nor heard, for her eyes were fixed +on the green pods, and her thoughts were far away. She was recalling +the fairy-tale granny told her last night, and wishing with all her +heart that such things happened nowadays. For in this story, as a +poor girl like herself sat spinning before the door, a Brownie came +by, and gave the child a good-luck penny; then a fairy passed, and +left a talisman which would keep her always happy; and last of all, +the prince rolled up in his chariot, and took her away to reign with +him over a lovely kingdom, as a reward for her many kindnesses to +others. + +When Marjorie imagined this part of the story, it was impossible to +help giving one little sigh, and for a minute she forgot her work, +so busy was she thinking what beautiful presents she would give to +all the poor children in her realm when THEY had birthdays. Five +impatient young peas took this opportunity to escape from the +half-open pod in her hand and skip down the steps, to be immediately +gobbled up by an audacious robin, who gave thanks in such a shrill +chirp that Marjorie woke up, laughed, and fell to work again. She +was just finishing, when a voice called out from the lane,-- + +"Hi, there! come here a minute, child!" and looking up, she saw a +little old man in a queer little carriage drawn by a fat little +pony. + +Running down to the gate, Marjorie dropped a curtsy, saying +pleasantly,-- + +"What did you wish, sir?" + +"Just undo that check-rein for me. I am lame, and Jack wants to +drink at your brook," answered the old man, nodding at her till his +spectacles danced on his nose. + +Marjorie was rather afraid of the fat pony, who tossed his head, +whisked his tail, and stamped his feet as if he was of a peppery +temper. But she liked to be useful, and just then felt as if there +were few things she could NOT do if she tried, because it was her +birthday. So she proudly let down the rein, and when Jack went +splashing into the brook, she stood on the bridge, waiting to check +him up again after he had drunk his fill of the clear, cool water. + +The old gentleman sat in his place, looking up at the little girl, +who was smiling to herself as she watched the blue dragon-flies +dance among the ferns, a blackbird tilt on the alderboughs, and +listened to the babble of the brook. + +"How old are you, child?" asked the old man, as if he rather envied +tihs rosy creature her youth and health. + +"Twelve to-day, sir;" and Marjorie stood up straight and tall, as if +mindful of her years. + +"Had any presents?" asked the old man, peering up with an odd smile. + +"One, sir,--here it is;" and she pulled out of her pocket a tin +savings-bank in the shape of a desirable family mansion, painted +red, with a green door and black chimney. Proudly displaying it on +the rude railing of the bridge, she added, with a happy face,-- + +"Granny gave it to me, and all the money in it is going to be mine." + +"How much have you got?" asked the old gentleman, who appeared to +like to sit there in the middle of the brook, while Jack bathed his +feet and leisurely gurgled and sneezed. + +"Not a penny yet, but I'm going to earn some," answered Marjorie, +patting the little bank with an air of resolution pretty to see. + +"How will you do it?" continued the inquisitive old man. + +"Oh, I'm going to pick berries and dig dandelions, and weed, and +drive cows, and do chores. It is vacation, and I can work all the +time, and earn ever so much." + +"But vacation is play-time,--how about that?" + +"Why, that sort of work IS play, and I get bits of fun all along. I +always have a good swing when I go for the cows, and pick flowers +with the dandelions. Weeding isn't so nice, but berrying is very +pleasant, and we have good times all together." + +"What shall you do with your money when you get it?" + +"Oh, lots of things! Buy books and clothes for school, and, if I get +a great deal, give some to granny. I'd love to do that, for she +takes care of me, and I'd be so proud to help her!" + +"Good little lass!" said the old gentleman, as he put his hand in +his pocket. "Would you now?" he added, apparently addressing himself +to a large frog who sat upon a stone, looking so wise and +grandfatherly that it really did seem quite proper to consult him. +At all events, he gave his opinion in the most decided manner, for, +with a loud croak, he turned an undignified somersault into the +brook, splashing up the water at a great rate. "Well, perhaps it +wouldn't be best on the whole. Industry is a good teacher, and money +cannot buy happiness, as I know to my sorrow." + +The old gentleman still seemed to be talking to the frog, and as he +spoke he took his hand out of his pocket with less in it than he had +at first intended. + +"What a very queer person!" thought Marjorie, for she had not heard +a word, and wondered what he was thinking about down there. + +Jack walked out of the brook just then, and she ran to check him up; +not an easy task for little hands, as he preferred to nibble the +grass on the bank. But she did it cleverly, smoothed the ruffled +mane, and, dropping another curtsy, stood aside to let the little +carriage pass. + +"Thank you, child--thank you. Here is something for your bank, and +good luck to it." + +As he spoke, the old man laid a bright gold dollar in her hand, +patted the rosy cheek, and vanished in a cloud of dust, leaving +Marjorie so astonished at the grandeur of the gift, that she stood +looking at it as if it had been a fortune. It was to her; and +visions of pink calico gowns, new grammars, and fresh hat-ribbons +danced through her head in delightful confusion, as her eyes rested +on the shining coin in her palm. + +Then, with a solemn air, she invested her first money by popping it +down the chimney of the scarlet mansion, and peeping in with one eye +to see if it landed safely on the ground-floor. This done, she took +a long breath, and looked over the railing, to be sure it was not +all a dream. No; the wheel marks were still there, the brown water +was not yet clear, and, if a witness was needed, there sat the big +frog again, looking so like the old gentleman, with his bottle-green +coat, speckled trousers, and twinkling eyes, that Marjorie burst out +laughing, and clapped her hands, saying aloud,-- + +"I'll play he was the Brownie, and this is the good-luck penny he +gave me. Oh, what fun!" and away she skipped, rattling the dear new +bank like a castanet. + +When she had told granny all about it, she got knife and basket, and +went out to dig dandelions; for the desire to increase her fortune +was so strong, she could not rest a minute. Up and down she went, so +busily peering and digging, that she never lifted up her eyes till +something like a great white bird skimmed by so low she could not +help seeing it. A pleasant laugh sounded behind her as she started +up, and, looking round, she nearly sat down again in sheer surprise, +for there close by was a slender little lady, comfortably +established under a big umbrella. + +"If there WERE any fairies, I'd be sure that was one," thought +Marjorie, staring with all her might, for her mind was still full of +the old story; and curious things do happen on birthdays, as every +one knows. + +It really did seem rather elfish to look up suddenly and see a +lovely lady all in white, with shining hair and a wand in her hand, +sitting under what looked very like a large yellow mushroom in the +middle of a meadow, where, till now, nothing but cows and +grasshoppers had been seen. Before Marjorie could decide the +question, the pleasant laugh came again, and the stranger said, +pointing to the white thing that was still fluttering over the grass +like a little cloud,-- + +"Would you kindly catch my hat for me, before it blows quite away?" + +Down went basket and knife, and away ran Marjorie, entirely +satisfied now that there was no magic about the new-comer; for if +she had been an elf, couldn't she have got her hat without any help +from a mortal child? Presently, however, it did begin to seem as if +that hat was bewitched, for it led the nimble-footed Marjorie such a +chase that the cows stopped feeding to look on in placid wonder; the +grasshoppers vainly tried to keep up, and every ox-eye daisy did its +best to catch the runaway, but failed entirely, for the wind liked a +game of romps, and had it that day. As she ran, Marjorie heard the +lady singing, like the princess in the story of the Goose-Girl,-- + + "Blow, breezes, blow! + Let Curdkin's hat go! + Blow, breezes, blow! + Let him after it go! + O'er hills, dales and rocks, + Away be it whirled, + Till the silvery locks + Are all combed and curled." + +This made her laugh so that she tumbled into a clover-bed, and lay +there a minute to get her breath. Just then, as if the playful wind +repented of its frolic, the long veil fastened to the hat caught in +a blackberry-vine near by, and held the truant fast till Marjorie +secured it. + +"Now come and see what I am doing," said the lady, when she had +thanked the child. + +Marjorie drew near confidingly, and looked down at the wide-spread +book before her. She gave a start, and laughed out with surprise and +delight; for there was a lovely picture of her own little home, and +her own little self on the door-step, all so delicate, and +beautiful, and true, it seemed as if done by magic. + +"Oh, how pretty! There is Rover, and Kitty and the robins, and me! +How could you ever do it, ma'am?" said Marjorie, with a wondering +glance at the long paint-brush, which had wrought what seemed a +miracle to her childish eyes. + +"I'll show you presently; but tell me, first, if it looks quite +right and natural to you. Children sometimes spy out faults that no +one else can see," answered the lady, evidently pleased with the +artless praise her work received. + +"It looks just like our house, only more beautiful. Perhaps that is +because I know how shabby it really is. That moss looks lovely on +the shingles, but the roof leaks. The porch is broken, only the +roses hide the place; and my gown is all faded, though it once was +as bright as you have made it. I wish the house and everything would +stay pretty forever, as they will in the picture." + +While Marjorie spoke, the lady had been adding more color to the +sketch, and when she looked up, something warmer and brighter than +sunshine shone in her face, as she said, so cheerily, it was like a +bird's song to hear her,-- + +"It can't be summer always, dear, but we can make fair weather for +ourselves if we try. The moss, the roses, and soft shadows show the +little house and the little girl at their best, and that is what we +all should do; for it is amazing how lovely common things become, if +one only knows how to look at them." + +"I wish _I_ did," said Marjorie, half to herself, remembering how +often she was discontented, and how hard it was to get on, +sometimes. + +"So do I," said the lady, in her happy voice. "Just believe that +there is a sunny side to everything, and try to find it, and you +will be surprised to see how bright the world will seem, and how +cheerful you will be able to keep your little self." + +"I guess granny has found that out, for she never frets. I do, but +I'm going to stop it, because I'm twelve to-day, and that is too old +for such things," said Marjorie, recollecting the good resolutions +she had made that morning when she woke. + +"I am twice twelve, and not entirely cured yet; but I try, and don't +mean to wear blue spectacles if I can help it," answered the lady, +laughing so blithely that Marjorie was sure she would not have to +try much longer. "Birthdays were made for presents, and I should +like to give you one. Would it please you to have this little +picture?" she added, lifting it out of the book. + +"Truly my own? Oh, yes, indeed!" cried Marjorie, coloring with +pleasure, for she had never owned so beautiful a thing before. + +"Then you shall have it, dear. Hang it where you can see it often, +and when you look, remember that it is the sunny side of home, and +help to keep it so." + +Marjorie had nothing but a kiss to offer by way of thanks, as the +lovely sketch was put into her hand; but the giver seemed quite +satisfied, for it was a very grateful little kiss. Then the child +took up her basket and went away, not dancing and singing now, but +slowly and silently; for this gift made her thoughtful as well as +glad. As she climbed the wall, she looked back to nod good-by to the +pretty lady; but the meadow was empty, and all she saw was the grass +blowing in the wind. + +"Now, deary, run out and play, for birthdays come but once a year, +and we must make them as merry as we can," said granny, as she +settled herself for her afternoon nap, when the Saturday cleaning +was all done, and the little house as neat as wax. + +So Marjorie put on a white apron in honor of the occasion, and, +taking Kitty in her arms, went out to enjoy herself. Three swings on +the gate seemed to be a good way of beginning the festivities; but +she only got two, for when the gate creaked back the second time, it +stayed shut, and Marjorie hung over the pickets, arrested by the +sound of music. + +"It's soldiers," she said, as the fife and drum drew nearer, and +flags were seen waving over the barberry-bushes at the corner. + +"No; it's a picnic," she added in a moment; for she saw hats with +wreaths about them bobbing up and down, as a gayly-trimmed hay-cart +full of children came rumbling down the lane. + +"What a nice time they are going to have!" thought Marjorie, sadly +contrasting that merry-making with the quiet party she was having +all by herself. + +Suddenly her face shone, and Kitty was waved over her head like a +banner, as she flew out of the gate, crying, rapturously,-- + +"It's Billy! and I know he's come for me!" + +It certainly WAS Billy, proudly driving the old horse, and beaming +at his little friend from the bower of flags and chestnut-boughs, +where he sat in state, with a crown of daisies on his sailor-hat and +a spray of blooming sweetbrier in his hand. Waving his rustic +sceptre, he led off the shout of "Happy birthday, Marjorie!" which +was set up as the wagon stopped at the gate, and the green boughs +suddenly blossomed with familiar faces, all smiling on the little +damsel, who stood in the lane quite overpowered with delight. + +"It's a s'prise party!" cried one small lad, tumbling out behind. + +"We are going up the mountain to have fun!" added a chorus of +voices, as a dozen hands beckoned wildly. + +"We got it up on purpose for you, so tie your hat and come away," +said a pretty girl, leaning down to kiss Marjorie, who had dropped +Kitty, and stood ready for any splendid enterprise. + +A word to granny, and away went the happy child, sitting up beside +Billy, under the flags that waved over a happier load than any royal +chariot ever bore. + +It would be vain to try and tell all the plays and pleasures of +happy children on a Saturday afternoon, but we may briefly say that +Marjorie found a mossy stone all ready for her throne, and Billy +crowned her with a garland like his own. That a fine banquet was +spread, and eaten with a relish many a Lord Mayor's feast has +lacked. Then how the whole court danced and played together +afterward! The lords climbed trees and turned somersaults, the +ladies gathered flowers and told secrets under the sweetfern-bushes, +the queen lost her shoe jumping over the waterfall, and the king +paddled into the pool below and rescued it. A happy little kingdom, +full of summer sunshine, innocent delights, and loyal hearts; for +love ruled, and the only war that disturbed the peaceful land was +waged by the mosquitoes as night came on. + +Marjorie stood on her throne watching the sunset while her maids of +honor packed up the remains of the banquet, and her knights prepared +the chariot. All the sky was gold and purple, all the world bathed +in a soft, red light, and the little girl was very happy as she +looked down at the subjects who had served her so faithfully that +day. + +"Have you had a good time, Marjy?" asked King William; who stood +below, with his royal nose on a level with her majesty's two dusty +little shoes. + +"Oh, Billy, it has been just splendid! But I don't see why you +should all be so kind to me," answered Marjorie, with such a look of +innocent wonder, that Billy laughed to see it. + +"Because you are so sweet and good, we can't help loving +you,--that's why," he said, as if this simple fact was reason +enough. + +"I'm going to be the best girl that ever was, and love everybody in +the world," cried the child, stretching out her arms as if ready, in +the fulness of her happy heart, to embrace all creation. + +"Don't turn into an angel and fly away just yet, but come home, or +granny will never lend you to us any more." + +With that, Billy jumped her down, and away they ran, to ride gayly +back through the twilight, singing like a flock of nightingales. + +As she went to bed that night, Marjorie looked at the red bank, the +pretty picture, and the daisy crown, saying to herself,-- + +"It has been a VERY nice birthday, and I am something like the girl +in the story, after all, for the old man gave me a good-luck penny, +the kind lady told me how to keep happy, and Billy came for me like +the prince. The girl didn't go back to the poor house again, but I'm +glad _I_ did, for MY granny isn't a cross one, and my little home is +the dearest in the world." + +Then she tied her night-cap, said her prayers, and fell asleep; but +the moon, looking in to kiss the blooming face upon the pillow, knew +that three good spirits had come to help little Marjorie from that +day forth, and their names were Industry, Cheerfulness, and Love. + + + + + +ROSES AND FORGET-ME-NOTS + +I + +ROSES + + + + +It was a cold November storm, and everything looked forlorn. Even +the pert sparrows were draggle-tailed and too much out of spirits to +fight for crumbs with the fat pigeons who tripped through the mud +with their little red boots as if in haste to get back to their cosy +home in the dove-cot. + +But the most forlorn creature out that day was a small errand girl, +with a bonnet-box on each arm, and both hands struggling to hold a +big broken umbrella. A pair of worn-out boots let in the wet upon +her tired feet; a thin cotton dress and an old shawl poorly +protected her from the storm; and a faded hood covered her head. + +The face that looked out from this hood was too pale and anxious for +one so young; and when a sudden gust turned the old umbrella inside +out with a crash, despair fell upon poor Lizzie, and she was so +miserable she could have sat down in the rain and cried. + +But there was no time for tears; so, dragging the dilapidated +umbrella along, she spread her shawl over the bonnet-boxes and +hurried down the broad street, eager to hide her misfortunes from a +pretty young girl who stood at a window laughing at her. + +She could not find the number of the house where one of the fine +hats was to be left; and after hunting all down one side of the +street, she crossed over, and came at last to the very house where +the pretty girl lived. She was no longer to be seen; and, with a +sigh of relief, Lizzie rang the bell, and was told to wait in the +hall while Miss Belle tried the hat on. + +Glad to rest, she warmed her feet, righted her umbrella, and then +sat looking about her with eyes quick to see the beauty and the +comfort that made the place so homelike and delightful. A small +waiting-room opened from the hall, and in it stood many blooming +plants, whose fragrance attracted Lizzie as irresistibly as if she +had been a butterfly or bee. + +Slipping in, she stood enjoying the lovely colors, sweet odors, and +delicate shapes of these household spirits; for Lizzie loved flowers +passionately; and just then they possessed a peculiar charm for her. + +One particularly captivating little rose won her heart, and made her +long for it with a longing that became a temptation too strong to +resist. It was so perfect; so like a rosy face smiling out from the +green leaves, that Lizzie could NOT keep her hands off it, and +having smelt, touched, and kissed it, she suddenly broke the stem +and hid it in her pocket. Then, frightened at what she had done, she +crept back to her place in the hall, and sat there, burdened with +remorse. + +A servant came just then to lead her upstairs; for Miss Belle wished +the hat altered, and must give directions. With her heart in a +flutter, and pinker roses in her cheeks than the one in her pocket, +Lizzie followed to a handsome room, where a pretty girl stood before +a long mirror with the hat in her hand. + +"Tell Madame Tifany that I don't like it at all, for she hasn't put +in the blue plume mamma ordered; and I won't have rose-buds, they +are so common," said the young lady, in a dissatisfied tone, as she +twirled the hat about. + +"Yes, miss," was all Lizzie could say; for SHE considered that hat +the loveliest thing a girl could possibly own. + +"You had better ask your mamma about it, Miss Belle, before you give +any orders. She will be up in a few moments, and the girl can wait," +put in a maid, who was sewing in the ante-room. + +"I suppose I must; but I WON'T have roses," answered Belle, crossly. +Then she glanced at Lizzie, and said more gently, "You look very +cold; come and sit by the fire while you wait." + +"I'm afraid I'll wet the pretty rug, miss; my feet are sopping," +said Lizzie, gratefully, but timidly. + +"So they are! Why didn't you wear rubber boots?" + +"I haven't got any." + +"I'll give you mine, then, for I hate them; and as I never go out in +wet weather, they are of no earthly use to me. Marie, bring them +here; I shall be glad to get rid of them, and I'm sure they'll be +useful to you." + +"Oh, thank you, miss! I'd like 'em ever so much, for I'm out in the +rain half the time, and get bad colds because my boots are old," +said Lizzie, smiling brightly at the thought of the welcome gift. + +"I should think your mother would get you warmer things," began +Belle, who found something rather interesting in the shabby girl, +with shy bright eyes, and curly hair bursting out of the old hood. + +"I haven't got any mother," said Lizzie, with a pathetic glance at +her poor clothes. + +"I'm so sorry! Have you brothers and sisters?" asked Belle, hoping +to find something pleasant to talk about; for she was a kind little +soul. + +"No, miss; I've got no folks at all." + +"Oh, dear; how sad! Why, who takes care of you?" cried Belle, +looking quite distressed. + +"No one; I take care of myself. I work for Madame, and she pays me a +dollar a week. I stay with Mrs. Brown, and chore round to pay for my +keep. My dollar don't get many clothes, so I can't be as neat as I'd +like." And the forlorn look came back to poor Lizzie's face. + +Belle said nothing, but sat among the sofa cushions, where she had +thrown herself, looking soberly at this other girl, no older than +she was, who took care of herself and was all alone in the world. It +was a new idea to Belle, who was loved and petted as an only child +is apt to be. She often saw beggars and pitied them, but knew very +little about their wants and lives; so it was like turning a new +page in her happy life to be brought so near to poverty as this +chance meeting with the milliner's girl. + +"Aren't you afraid and lonely and unhappy?" she said, slowly, +trying to understand and put herself in Lizzie's place. + +"Yes; but it's no use. I can't help it, and may be things will get +better by and by, and I'll have my wish," answered Lizzie, more +hopefully, because Belle's pity warmed her heart and made her +troubles seem lighter. + +"What is your wish?" asked Belle, hoping mamma wouldn't come just +yet, for she was getting interested in the stranger. + +"To have a nice little room, and make flowers, like a French girl I +know. It's such pretty work, and she gets lots of money, for every +one likes her flowers. She shows me how, sometimes, and I can do +leaves first-rate; but--" + +There Lizzie stopped suddenly, and the color rushed up to her +forehead; for she remembered the little rose in her pocket and it +weighed upon her conscience like a stone. + +Before Belle could ask what was the matter, Marie came in with a +tray of cake and fruit, saying: + +"Here's your lunch, Miss Belle." + +"Put it down, please; I'm not ready for it yet." + +And Belle shook her head as she glanced at Lizzie, who was staring +hard at the fire with such a troubled face that Belle could not bear +to see it. + +Jumping out of her nest of cushions, she heaped a plate with good +things, and going to Lizzie, offered it, saying, with a gentle +courtesy that made the act doubly sweet: + +"Please have some; you must be tired of waiting." + +But Lizzie could not take it; she could only cover her face and cry; +for this kindness rent her heart and made the stolen flower a burden +too heavy to be borne. + +"Oh, don't cry so! Are you sick? Have I been rude? Tell me all about +it; and if I can't do anything, mamma can," said Belle, surprised +and troubled. + +"No; I'm not sick; I'm bad, and I can't bear it when you are so good +to me," sobbed Lizzie, quite overcome with penitence; and taking out +the crumpled rose, she confessed her fault with many tears. + +"Don't feel so much about such a little thing as that," began Belle, +warmly; then checked herself, and added, more soberly, "It WAS wrong +to take it without leave; but it's all right now, and I'll give you +as many roses as you want, for I know you are a good girl." + +"Thank you. I didn't want it only because it was pretty, but I +wanted to copy it. I can't get any for myself, and so I can't do my +make-believe ones well. Madame won't even lend me the old ones in +the store, and Estelle has none to spare for me, because I can't pay +her for teaching me. She gives me bits of muslin and wire and +things, and shows me now and then. But I know if I had a real flower +I could copy it; so she'd see I did know something, for I try real +hard. I'm SO tired of slopping round the streets, I'd do anything to +earn my living some other way." + +Lizzie had poured out her trouble rapidly; and the little story was +quite affecting when one saw the tears on her cheeks, the poor +clothes, and the thin hands that held the stolen rose. Belle was +much touched, and, in her impetuous way, set about mending matters +as fast as possible. + +"Put on those boots and that pair of dry stockings right away. Then +tuck as much cake and fruit into your pocket as it will hold. I'm +going to get you some flowers, and see if mamma is too busy to +attend to me." + +With a nod and a smile, Belle flew about the room a minute; then +vanished, leaving Lizzie to her comfortable task, feeling as if +fairies still haunted the world as in the good old times. + +When Belle came back with a handful of roses, she found Lizzie +absorbed in admiring contemplation of her new boots, as she ate +sponge-cake in a blissful sort of waking-dream. + +"Mamma can't come; but I don't care about the hat. It will do very +well, and isn't worth fussing about. There, will those be of any use +to you?" And she offered the nosegay with a much happier face than +the one Lizzie first saw. + +"Oh, miss, they're just lovely! I'll copy that pink rose as soon as +ever I can, and when I've learned how to do 'em tip-top, I'd like to +bring you some, if you don't mind," answered Lizzie, smiling all +over her face as she buried her nose luxuriously in the fragrant +mass. + +"I'd like it very much, for I should think you'd have to be very +clever to make such pretty things. I really quite fancy those +rosebuds in my hat, now I know that you're going to learn how to +make them. Put an orange in your pocket, and the flowers in water as +soon as you can, so they'll be fresh when you want them. Good-by. +Bring home our hats every time and tell me how you get on." + +With kind words like these, Belle dismissed Lizzie, who ran +downstairs, feeling as rich as if she had found a fortune. Away to +the next place she hurried, anxious to get her errands done and the +precious posy safely into fresh water. But Mrs. Turretviile was not +at home, and the bonnet could not be left till paid for. So Lizzie +turned to go down the high steps, glad that she need not wait. She +stopped one instant to take a delicious sniff at her flowers, and +that was the last happy moment that poor Lizzie knew for many weary +months. + +The new boots were large for her, the steps slippery with sleet, and +down went the little errand girl, from top to bottom, till she +landed in the gutter directly upon Mrs. Turretville's costly bonnet. + +"I've saved my posies, anyway," sighed Lizzie, as she picked herself +up, bruised, wet, and faint with pain; "but, oh, my heart! won't +Madame scold when she sees that band-box smashed flat," groaned the +poor child, sitting on the curbstone to get her breath and view the +disaster. + +The rain poured, the wind blew, the sparrows on the park railing +chirped derisively, and no one came along to help Lizzie out of her +troubles. Slowly she gathered up her burdens; painfully she limped +away in the big boots; and the last the naughty sparrows saw of her +was a shabby little figure going round the corner, with a pale, +tearful face held lovingly over the bright bouquet that was her one +treasure and her only comfort in the moment which brought to her the +great misfortune of her life. + + + + + +II + +FORGET-ME-NOTS + + + + +"Oh, mamma, I am so relieved that the box has come at last! If it +had not, I do believe I should have died of disappointment," cried +pretty Belle, five years later, on the morning before her eighteenth +birthday. + +"It would have been a serious disappointment, darling; for I had sot +my heart on your wearing my gift to-morrow night, and when the +steamers kept coming in without my trunk from Paris, I was very +anxious. I hope you will like it." + +"Dear mamma, I know I shall like it; your taste is so good and you +know what suits me so well. Make haste, Marie; I'm dying to see it," +said Belle, dancing about the great trunk, as the maid carefully +unfolded tissue papers and muslin wrappers. + +A young girl's first ball-dress is a grand affair,--in her eyes, at +least; and Belle soon stopped dancing, to stand with clasped hands, +eager eyes and parted lips before the snowy pile of illusion that +was at last daintily lifted out upon the bed. Then, as Marie +displayed its loveliness, little cries of delight were heard, and +when the whole delicate dress was arranged to the best effect she +threw herself upon her mother's neck and actually cried with +pleasure. + +"Mamma, it is too lovely I and you are very kind to do so much for +me. How shall I ever thank you?" + +"By putting it right on to see if it fits; and when you wear it look +your happiest, that I may be proud of my pretty daughter." + +Mamma got no further, for Marie uttered a French shriek, wrung her +hands, and then began to burrow wildly in the trunk and among the +papers, crying distractedly: + +"Great Heavens, madame! the wreath has been forgotten! What an +affliction! Mademoiselle's enchanting toilette is destroyed without +the wreath, and nowhere do I find it." + +In vain they searched; in vain Marie wailed and Belle declared it +must be somewhere; no wreath appeared. It was duly set down in the +bill, and a fine sum charged for a head-dress to match the dainty +forget-me-nots that looped the fleecy skirts and ornamented the +bosom of the dress. It had evidently been forgotten; and mamma +despatched Marie at once to try and match the flowers, for Belle +would not hear of any other decoration for her beautiful blonde +hair. + +The dress fitted to a charm, and was pronounced by all beholders the +loveliest thing ever seen. Nothing was wanted but the wreath to make +it quite perfect, and when Marie returned, after a long search, with +no forget-me-nots, Belle was in despair. + +"Wear natural ones," suggested a sympathizing friend. + +But another hunt among greenhouses was as fruitless as that among +the milliners' rooms. No forget-me-nots could be found, and Marie +fell exhausted into a chair, desolated at what she felt to be an +awful calamity. + +"Let me have the carriage, and I'll ransack the city till I find +some," cried Belle, growing more resolute with each failure. + +Marnma was deep in preparations for the ball, and could not help her +afflicted daughter, though she was much disappointed at the mishap. +So Belle drove off, resolved to have her flowers whether there were +any or not. + +Any one who has ever tried to match a ribbon, find a certain fabric, +or get anything done in a hurry, knows what a wearisome task it +sometimes is, and can imagine Belle's state of mind after repeated +disappointments. She was about to give up in despair, when some one +suggested that perhaps the Frenchwoman, Estelle Valnor, might make +the desired wreath, if there was time. + +Away drove Belle, and, on entering the room, gave a sigh of +satisfaction, for a whole boxful of the loveliest forget-me-nots +stood upon the table. As fast as possible, she told her tale and +demanded the flowers, no matter what the price might be. Imagine her +feelings when the Frenchwoman, with a shrug, announced that it was +impossible to give mademoiselle a single spray. All were engaged to +trim a bridesmaid's dress, and must be sent away at once. + +It really was too bad! and Belle lost her temper entirely, for no +persuasion or bribes would win a spray from Estelle. The provoking +part of it was that the wedding would not come off for several days, +and there was time enough to make more flowers for that dress, since +Belle only wanted a few for her hair. Neither would Estelle make her +any, as her hands were full, and so small an order was not worth +deranging one's self for; but observing Belle's sorrowful face, she +said, affably: + +"Mademoiselle may, perhaps, find the flowers she desires at Miss +Berton's. She has been helping me with these garlands, and may have +some left. Here is her address." + +Belle took the card with thanks, and hurried away with a last hope +faintly stirring in her girlish heart, for Belle had an unusually +ardent wish to look her best at this party, since Somebody was to be +there, and Somebody considered forget-me-nots the sweetest flowers +in the world. Mamma knew this, and the kiss Belle gave her when the +dress came had a more tender meaning than gratified vanity or +daughterly love. + +Up many stairs she climbed, and came at last to a little room, very +poor but very neat, where, at the one window, sat a young girl, with +crutches by her side and her lap full of flower-leaves and petals. +She rose slowly as Belle came in, and then stood looking at her, +with such a wistful expression in her shy, bright eyes, that Belle's +anxious face cleared involuntarily, and her voice lost its impatient +tone. + +As she spoke, she glanced about the room, hoping to see some blue +blossoms awaiting her. But none appeared; and she was about to +despond again, when the girl said, gently: + +"I have none by me now, but I may be able to find you some." + +"Thank you very much; but I have been everywhere in vain. Still, if +you do get any, please send them to me as soon as possible. Here is +my card." + +Miss Berton glanced at it, then cast a quick look at the sweet, +anxious face before her, and smiled so brightly that Belle smiled +also, and asked, wonderingly: + +"What is it? What do you see?" + +"I see the dear young lady who was so kind to me long ago. You don't +remember me, and never knew my name; but I never have forgotten you +all these years. I always hoped I could do something to show how +grateful I was, and now I can, for you shall have your flowers if I +sit up all night to make them." + +But Belle still shook her head and watched the smiling face before +her with wondering eyes, till the girl added, with sudden color in +her cheeks: + +"Ah, you've done so many kind things in your life, you don't +remember the little errand girl from Madame Tifany's who stole a +rose in your hall, and how you gave her rubber boots and cake and +flowers, and were so good to her she couldn't forget it if she lived +to be a hundred." + +"But you are so changed," began Belle, who did faintly recollect +that little incident in her happy life. + +"Yes, I had a fall and hurt myself so that I shall always be lame." + +And Lizzie went on to tell how Madame had dismissed her in a rage; +how she lay ill till Mrs. Brown sent her to the hospital; and how +for a year she had suffered much alone, in that great house of pain, +before one of the kind visitors had befriended her. + +While hearing the story of the five years, that had been so full of +pleasure, ease and love for herself, Belle forgot her errand, and, +sitting beside Lizzie, listened with pitying eyes to all she told of +her endeavors to support herself by the delicate handiwork she +loved. + +"I'm very happy now," ended Lizzie, looking about the little bare +room with a face full of the sweetest content. "I get nearly work +enough to pay my way, and Estelle sends me some when she has more +than she can do. I've learned to do it nicely, and it is so pleasant +to sit here and make flowers instead of trudging about in the wet +with other people's hats. Though I do sometimes wish I was able to +trudge, one gets on so slowly with crutches." + +A little sigh followed the words, and Belle put her own plump hand +on the delicate one that held the crutch, saying, in her cordial +young voice: + +"I'll come and take you to drive sometimes, for you are too pale, +and you'll get ill sitting here at work day after day. Please let +me; I'd love to; for I feel so idle and wicked when I see busy +people like you that I reproach myself for neglecting my duty and +having more than my share of happiness." + +Lizzie thanked her with a look, and then said, in a tone of interest +that was delightful to hear: + +"Tell about the wreath you want; I should so love to do it for you, +if I can." + +Belle had forgotten all about it in listening to this sad little +story of a girl's life. Now she felt half ashamed to talk of so +frivolous a matter till she remembered that it would help Lizzie; +and, resolving to pay for it as never garland was paid for before, +she entered upon the subject with renewed interest. + +"You shall have the flowers in time for your ball to-morrow night. I +will engage to make a wreath that will please you, only it may take +longer than I think. Don't be troubled if I don't send it till +evening; it will surely come in time. I can work fast, and this will +be the happiest job I ever did," said Lizzie, beginning to lay out +mysterious little tools and bend delicate wires. + +"You are altogether too grateful for the little I have done. It +makes me feel ashamed to think I did not find you out before and do +something better worth thanks." + +"Ah, it wasn't the boots or the cake or the roses, dear Miss Belle. +It was the kind looks, the gentle words, the way it was done, that +went right to my heart, and did me more good than a million of +money. I never stole a pin after that day, for the little rose +wouldn't let me forget how you forgave me so sweetly. I sometimes +think it kept me from greater temptations, for I was a poor, forlorn +child, with no one to keep me good." + +Pretty Belle looked prettier than ever as she listened, and a bright +tear stood in either eye like a drop of dew on a blue flower. It +touched her very much to learn that her little act of childish +charity had been so sweet and helpful to this lonely girl, and now +lived so freshly in her grateful memory. It showed her, suddenly, +how precious little deeds of love and sympathy are; how strong to +bless, how easy to perform, how comfortable to recall. Her heart was +very full and tender just then, and the lesson sunk deep into it +never to be forgotten. + +She sat a long time watching flowers bud and blossom under Lizzie's +skilful fingers, and then hurried home to tell all her glad news to +mamma. + +If the next day had not been full of most delightfully exciting +events, Belle might have felt some anxiety about her wreath, for +hour after hour went by and nothing arrived from Lizzie. + +Evening came, and all was ready. Belle was dressed, and looked so +lovely that mamma declared she needed nothing more. But Marie +insisted that the grand effect would be ruined without the garland +among the sunshiny hair. Belle had time now to be anxious, and +waited with growing impatience for the finishing touch to her +charming toilette. + +"I must be downstairs to receive, and can't wait another moment; so +put in the blue pompon and let me go," she said at last, with a sigh +of disappointment, for the desire to look beautiful that night in +Somebody's eyes had increased four-fold. + +With a tragic gesture, Marie was about to adjust the pompon when the +quick tap of a crutch came down the hall, and Lizzie hurried in, +flushed and breathless, but smiling happily as she uncovered the box +she carried with a look of proud satisfaction. + +A general "Ah!" of admiration arose as Belle, mamma, and Marie +surveyed the lovely wreath that lay before them; and when it was +carefully arranged on the bright head that was to wear it, Belle +blushed with pleasure. Mamma said: "It is more beautiful than any +Paris could have sent us;" and Marie clasped her hands theatrically, +sighing, with her head on one side: + +"Truly, yes; mademoiselle is now adorable!" + +"I am so glad you like it. I did my very best and worked all night, +but I had to beg one spray from Estelle, or, with all my haste, I +could not have finished in time," said Lizzie, refreshing her weary +eyes with a long, affectionate gaze at the pretty figure before her. + +A fold of the airy skirt was caught on one of the blue clusters, and +Lizzie knelt down to arrange it as she spoke. Belle leaned toward +her and said softly: "Money alone can't pay you for this kindness; +so tell me how I can best serve you. This is the happiest night of +my life, and I want to make every one feel glad also." + +"Then don't talk of paying me, but promise that I may make the +flowers you wear on your wedding-day," whispered Lizzie, kissing the +kind hand held out to help her rise, for on it she saw a brilliant +ring, and in the blooming, blushing face bent over her she read the +tender little story that Somebody had told Belle that day. + +"So you shall! and I'll keep this wreath all my life for your sake, +dear," answered Belle, as her full heart bubbled over with pitying +affection for the poor girl who would never make a bridal garland +for herself. + +Belle kept her word, even when she was in a happy home of her own; +for out of the dead roses bloomed a friendship that brightened +Lizzie's life; and long after the blue garland was faded Belle +remembered the helpful little lesson that taught her to read the +faces poverty touches with a pathetic eloquence, which says to those +who look, "Forget-me-not." + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Marjorie's Three Gifts, by Louisa May Alcott + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE'S THREE GIFTS *** + +This file should be named mjrtg10.txt or mjrtg10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, mjrtg11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, mjrtg10a.txt + +This eBook was created by Brandon Ryan (brandon_ryan_projgutenberg@yahoo.com) + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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