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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15111-8.txt b/15111-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d992024 --- /dev/null +++ b/15111-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5268 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Randy and Her Friends, by Amy Brooks + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Randy and Her Friends + +Author: Amy Brooks + +Release Date: February 19, 2005 [eBook #15111] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANDY AND HER FRIENDS*** + + +E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst, Emmy, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (www.pgdp.net). Four of the +illustration were generously made available by the Rare Books & Special +Collections of the Thomas Cooper Library, University of South Carolina. + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 15111-h.htm or 15111-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/1/15111/15111-h/15111-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/1/15111/15111-h.zip) + + + + + +RANDY AND HER FRIENDS + +by + +AMY BROOKS + +Author Of _Randy's Summer_, _Randy's Winter_, +_A Jolly Cat Tale_, _Dorothy Dainty_ + +With Illustrations by the Author + +Boston +Lee and Shepard + +1902 + + + + + + + +Norwood press +J.S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith +Norwood, Mass. U.S.A. + +Popular Stories + +BY AMY BROOKS. + +Each Beautifully Illustrated by the Author. + + +THE RANDY BOOKS. + +THREE VOLUMES READY. 12MO. CLOTH. STRIKING +COVER DESIGN BY THE AUTHOR. + +RANDY'S SUMMER. Price $1.00 +RANDY'S WINTER. Price 1.00 +RANDY AND HER FRIENDS. Price 80 cents, net + +For Younger Readers. + +A JOLLY CAT TALE. Large 12mo. Cloth. + Profusely Illustrated. Price $1.00 + +DOROTHY DAINTY. Large 12mo. Cloth. + Cover Design by the Author. Set in large + English type. Price 80 cents, net + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I +Through the Fields + +CHAPTER II +A Cheerful Giver + +CHAPTER III +Gossip + +CHAPTER IV +The District School + +CHAPTER V +Randy's Journey + +CHAPTER VI +New Friends + +CHAPTER VII +The Little Travelers + +CHAPTER VIII +Just a Rose + +CHAPTER IX +A Scotch Linnet + +CHAPTER X +The Party + +CHAPTER XI +Timotheus and His Neighbors + +CHAPTER XII +Home + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Randy and Snowfoot (Frontispiece) + +"I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy + +As she looked from the window and saw the flying landscape + +As the smoke flew backward the flaming torch revealed the + sleeping children + +Randy urges Polly to sing + +Randy and Prue sat under the shadow of the blossoming branches + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THROUGH THE FIELDS + + +The sunniest place upon the hillside was the little pasture in which the +old mare was grazing, moving slowly about and nipping at the short grass +as if that which lay directly under her nose could not be nearly as choice +as that which she could obtain by constant perambulation. + +A blithe voice awoke the echoes with a fragment of an old song. The mare +looked up and gave a welcoming whinny as Randy Weston, Squire Weston's +daughter, crossed the pasture, her pink sunbonnet hanging from her arm by +its strings. + +"Glad to see me, Snowfoot?" asked Randy as she laid a caressing hand upon +the mare's neck and looked into the soft eyes which seemed to express a +world of love for the girl who never allowed a friendly whinny to pass +unnoticed. + +"My! but this August sun is hot," said Randy, vigorously wielding her +sunbonnet for a fan. + +"And before we can turn 'round it will be September, and then there'll be +lessons to learn, yes, and plenty of work to be done if I mean to keep the +promise I made myself when I won the prize in June. + +"A five dollar gold piece for being the best scholar, Snowfoot, and to +think that I haven't yet decided what to do with it! + +"I've spent it, in my mind a dozen times already, and to-day I'm no nearer +to knowing _just_ what I'd rather do with it than on the day it was given +me. Did you ever know anything so silly?" + +The horse sneezed violently, as if in derision, and Randy laughed gaily at +having her plainly expressed opinion of herself so forcibly confirmed. + +Leaving Snowfoot to crop the grass and clover, Randy crossed the field +and followed a well trodden foot-path which led to a little grove and +there in the cool shade she paused to look off across the valley, and +again her thoughts reverted to the shining gold piece. Once more she +wondered what it could buy which would give lasting satisfaction. + +"If I were in the city," she mused, "I should probably see something which +I'd like to have in the first store I came to, and I could buy it at +once." + +A moment later she laughed softly as it occurred to her that in the large +city stores of which she had heard it would be more than probable that a +dozen pretty things would attract her, and her bewilderment would thus be +far greater than it had been at home with only a choice of imaginary +objects. + +"If old Sandy McLeod who gave the prize could know what a time I've had +deciding what to do with it, I believe he would laugh at me and say in +that deep voice of his, + +"'Hoot, lass! Since the gold piece troubles ye, I wonder if ye're glad ye +won it?'" + +Randy in her pink calico gown, her sunbonnet still hanging from her arm, +her cheeks flushed by the hot summer breeze, and the short ringlets +curling about her forehead, made a lovely picture as she stood at the +opening of the little grove and looked off across the valley to the +distant hills. + +She was thinking of the school session which would open so soon, when with +her classmates she would be eagerly working to gain knowledge; of her +longing for more than the "deestrict" school could give, of her father's +promise that she should have all the education she wished for, and the +light of enthusiasm shone in her merry gray eyes. + +"I shall work with all my heart this season," thought Randy, "and if I +could do two years' work in one, I should indeed be pleased. I believe +I'll ask the teacher to plan extra work for me, and if she will, I'll--" +but just at this point she heard a clear voice calling, + +"Randy! Randy!" + +Turning she saw Belinda Babson running along the little foot path, her +long yellow braids shining in the sun, and her round blue eyes showing her +pleasure at sight of her friend. + +"Why Belinda! Where did you come from?" cried Randy, "I'd no idea that +anyone was near me." + +"I've been sitting on the top rail at the further side of the pasture, and +just watching you, Randy Weston," said Belinda, laughing. + +"I was on the way up to your house when I met your little sister Prue, and +she said that you were out here, so I turned this way, and just as I +reached the bars I spied you a looking off at nothing and a thinking for +dear life." + +"I _was_ thinking," admitted Randy, "and I was just wondering if I could +do two years of school work in one, when you called me." + +"Well what an idea!" gasped Belinda, "you don't catch me doing more than +one year's work if I can help it, and I wouldn't do _that_ if pa didn't +set such a store by education. + +"Why, Randy," she resumed a moment later, "what makes you in such a drive +'bout your lessons, anyway?" + +"I'm sixteen this summer," Randy replied, "and I've no idea of waiting +forever to fit myself for something better than a district school." + +Belinda looked aghast, and her round face seemed longer than one could +have believed possible. + +"Randy Weston!" she ejaculated, "if you're planning to work like that the +whole duration time you won't have a single minute for fun, and how we'll +miss you!" + +"Oh, don't imagine that I shall lose all the winter's pleasures, Belinda," +Randy answered slipping her arm about her friend's waist. "I can study in +the long evenings and I think that I shall be able to join you all in the +'good times' which you plan and yet be able to do the extra work at +school." + +"Well, I wish you joy," said Belinda, "but I, for one, get all the school +work I want in a year as it is, and as to extra work, I guess I'll get it +fast enough this winter, although it won't be lessons I'll be attending to +in my spare time. + +"Ma got a letter last night when she rode over to the Centre, and Aunt +Drusilla writes that she's coming to make us a three months' visit, and +she's going to bring little Hi with her. And yesterday morning pa said +that Grandma Babson was a coming to make her home with us, so you might +guess, Randy, that Jemima and I'll have to step lively and help ma a bit." + +"You will indeed have to help," Randy answered, "but won't it be fun to +see little Hi again? + +"Do you remember, Belinda, when he was here last summer, he tried to +harness the hens and wondered why they didn't like it?" + +"I had forgotten that," said Belinda, "but Jemima reminded me this morning +of the day that pa lost his spectacles. Every one in the house hunted for +those glasses, and at last Jemima ran out into the door-yard, and there +was little Hi with the spectacles on his nose, a peering into the rain +water barrel and holding onto those specs to keep them from tumbling off +into the water. He said that pa said there were critters in any water, and +as he couldn't see 'em he ran off with the glasses to see if they would +help him. He tied our old Tom to the mouse trap because he said that he +wanted the cat to be on hand when the mice ran in. He carried a squash pie +out to the brindle cow because he thought she must be tired of eating +nothing but grass, and if he and Grandma Babson have got to spend three +months under the same roof, I b'lieve he'll drive her crazy, for she +hates boys and don't mind saying so, and he can think of more mischief in +one day than any other child could in a week." + +Both girls laughed as they thought of little Hi's pranks and Randy said, +with a bright twinkle in her eyes, + +"At least, you and Jemima will be amused this winter." + +"I guess we shall be in more ways than one," assented Belinda, "for I'm +pretty sure that Grandma Babson and that small boy will be enemies from +the start." + +Belinda's habitually jolly face wore such a comical look of anxiety that +Randy refrained from laughing, and to change the subject asked for a +schoolmate whom she had not recently seen. "Where is Molly Wilson?" she +questioned. + +"Oh, Molly is so hard at work now it's only once in a while that I see +her. Her baby sister is ill, and Molly has no time for anything but +helping around home. Her mother says that she intends to have her go back +to school if she can spare her, but whatever do you suppose Molly meant? + +"She said to me, 'Belinda, even if mother can spare me, I may not go to +school. You can't think how anxious I am to be at work at my lessons +again, but I'm afraid I shan't look fit and father's had such a hard +summer, the farm hasn't paid for working it, he says, that I couldn't ask +him for anything for myself if I never had it.' + +"And oh, I never thought, Randy, I promised Molly I would not tell what +she said. I didn't mean to. Whatever made me forget?" + +"Never mind," said Randy, an odd little smile showing the dimples at the +corners of her mouth. + +"I will not tell a single girl you may be very sure, but you and I who +know it will be extra kind to Molly." + +"Indeed we will," assented Belinda. "I'll go over this afternoon and see +if I can help her. The baby is a sweet little thing and she likes me, so +perhaps I shall be some help. Oh, there's Jemima calling at the bars, I +guess ma wants me. My! I wonder if some of our company has arrived? + +"Remember not to tell what I told you," cried Belinda to Randy, who stood +looking after her friend, as she ran across the pasture to join Jemima. + +They turned to wave their hands to Randy, who responded, then, as they +disappeared behind a clump of trees, she turned her eyes toward the sunny +valley and with her hands loosely clasped seemed to be watching the +shimmering sunlight on the winding river below. + +She had long been standing thus when a gentle whinny made her turn to +offer the caress for which old Snowfoot was hinting. + +The horse laid a shaggy head against Randy's shoulder and edged nearer as +the girl patted her nose, then walking over to a large rock she stood +close beside it and began to neigh, at the same time looking fixedly at +Randy. + +"Oh you cunning old thing," said Randy with a laugh. + +"You're inviting me to ride, just as you always do, by walking up to that +big flat rock so that I can mount. Well you old dear," she continued as +she stepped upon the rock and prepared to seat herself upon Snowfoot's +back, + +"I've found out what to do with that precious gold piece, and I'm going to +do it." + +Then without saddle or bridle, but with a firm grasp upon the shaggy mane +she chirped to her steed and the horse pricking up her ears at the sound, +bounded forward, and proud of her charge carried her across the pasture to +the bars where little Prue stood waiting to meet her. + +It was evident that the little sister had wonderful news to tell, for her +brown eyes were very wide open and she could hardly wait for Randy to slip +down from Snowfoot's back before beginning to tell what so excited her. + +"Oh, what do you think!" she began when with her hand in Randy's they +trudged along towards home. + +"My Tabby's caught a mouse, and father's just come back from the Centre +and he's brought the cloth for a new dress for you'n me, 'n I picked holes +in the bundles, an' one's blue an' one's red an' which do you s'pose is +mine? And Aunt Prudence is comin' to see us next week, an' there's goin' +to be a new spout to our rain water barrel, an' I guess that's all." + +"Well if all that happened while I've been out in the pasture," said +Randy, laughing, "I guess I'll have to stay in for a while and see what +happens next." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A CHEERFUL GIVER + + +It was a warm August evening when a farm hand passing the Weston house +paused a moment to look admiringly at the picture which the wide open door +presented. + +A rude frame of home manufacture, covered with netting, kept inquisitive +moths from entering, at the same time allowing a flood of light to make +its way out into the door-yard, where it lay upon the grass and added +glory to the marigolds which grew beside the path. + +"Happiest family I know on," muttered the man, drawing a rough hand across +his eyes. "Makes me think of the time when I was a little feller ter hum, +and had two sisters jest 'baout the size of Square Weston's girls." + +Then, with a sigh, the man went on up the road, but the memory of the +family group in the brightly lighted room remained in his mind for many a +day. + +At one side of the table with its bright cloth smoothly spread, sat Mr. +Weston perusing the county paper, at times reading aloud a bit of +especially interesting news to his wife who was busily at work upon an +apron for little Prue. In the centre of the table stood a large lamp, a +monument to the enterprise of Silas Barnes, the village storekeeper. + +"You folks don't want ter go pokin' raound with taller candles when ye kin +git er lamp that gives light like all fireation, do ye?" he had said. + +And those farmers who could afford the luxury invested in a lamp at once. +Others, whose purses were too lean for such expenditure, affected to +prefer candles, declaring the lamplight to be too glaring for their taste. + +Just where the light shone through the outline of her rippling hair sat +Randy, reading aloud to Prue, who stood beside her at the table, +insisting upon seeing each picture as Randy turned the page. + +As she finished reading the story, Randy turned, and slipping her arm +about Prue drew her closer, while the little sister, giving a contented +little sigh exclaimed, + +"That's the best story of all, Randy, read it again." + +"Why, Prue, you've just heard it twice," said Randy, "you don't want to +hear it again to-night!" + +"Oh, yes, I do!" cried Prue. "I'd like to hear it all over again from the +beginning, 'Once upon a time.' 'F I hear it this once more it'll seem +'bout true." + +"I should think 'twould seem threadbare," said her father, with ill +suppressed amusement. + +"No, no!" cried Prue, "'tain't freadbare, it's fine, the finest in the +book. Do read it, Randy, and then I'll be willing to go to bed." + +So Randy began once more the story which had so charmed the little sister, +and very patiently she read it, while Prue, who was really sleepy, made +heroic efforts to keep her eyes open. + +Often her lashes would lie for an instant upon her cheek, when immediately +she would open her eyes very wide, and look furtively about to see if her +drowsiness were detected. + +"And they lived happily ever after," read Randy. + +"And they lived--happily--ever--after," drawled Prue, as if in proof that +she were indeed awake. + +"Why Prue," cried Randy, "you're half asleep." + +"I'm not," Prue answered, "I heard what you read. You said 'and they lived +happy ever after.' Now I'm wide awake, else how did I hear?" + +After Prue was safely tucked in bed, Randy returned to the cheerful room +below and unfolded her plan for spending her prize money. + +Mrs. Weston put aside her sewing to listen, and Mr. Weston laying his +paper across his knees, watched Randy keenly as she said, + +"You see I've felt that I should like to do something with this prize +which it would always give me pleasure to remember, and I know that if you +both think best to let me do this, I shall always look back to it with +happy thoughts." + +There was a pause when Randy had finished speaking, then Mrs. Weston, +without a word, placed her hand upon Randy's, as it lay upon the table and +the Squire, taking off his glasses and affecting to see a bit of moisture +upon them, took out his handkerchief and slowly wiping the lenses he said, + +"As far as our _letting_ ye, Randy, the money's yer own ter do as ye +please with, but fer my own opinion, ye well know I've always said 'twas' +better ter give than receive.' This time ye have both. Ye've known the joy +of receiving the prize, and now ye plan ter use it ter make another happy. +I'm proud of yer choice, and I guess yer mother thinks as I do. I'm well +able now ter give ye all ye need, and if winning and giving yer prize +makes ye twice glad, why what more could we ask?" + +"I'm so glad you like my plan," said Randy, with sparkling eyes. "Molly is +such a nice girl, and the way I'm going to send the gift, she will never +guess where it came from, I waited until Prue was asleep to tell you about +it. + +"She never could keep the secret, and a secret it _must_ be, for Molly is +proud and shy and must only think that _some one_ has sent her a nice +gift." + +"That's right, Randy," said Mrs. Weston, "but do ye think it can be +managed so that Molly won't dream where it came from?" + +"Oh, yes," Randy answered, "I shall get Jotham to help me, and he will be +sure to do my errand just as I direct." + +"Wall, I guess that's sure enough," said Mr. Weston, with a chuckle, which +Randy heard on her way up the stairs to her little bed-room. + +The bright color flushed her cheeks as she thought of Jotham Potts who, +since they were both little children, had been her ardent admirer, +faithful and eager to do her slightest bidding. She admired his frank, +truthful character, appreciated his kindness and valued his friendship, +but she made no one friend a favorite, striving rather to be friendly and +cordial with all. + +In her dreams she sent her gift to Molly many times, and as many times +wondered if it pleased her, and when she awoke in the morning she could +hardly believe that it had not yet been purchased. + +"I'm glad it was just a dream," thought Randy, as she stood before the +tiny glass drawing the comb through the curling masses of her light brown +hair, "because I've yet the pleasure of choosing the gift and of buying +and sending it to her. + +"I believe I'll go down to Barnes' store to-day, for now I've made up my +mind what to do, I can hardly wait to do it." + +It seemed as if everything favored Randy's scheme. The first person whom +she saw as she ran out to the well and commenced to lower the bucket was +Jotham, whistling as he strode along, deftly cutting the tops from the +roadside weeds with a switch. + +"Hi, Randy! Let me help you," he said, vaulting lightly over the wall and +hastening toward her as she stood smiling in the sunlight. + +"You can help in another way to-day, if you will," said Randy. "Come and +sit upon the wall while I tell you about it." + +"Indeed I will," was the hearty rejoinder. "I've often told you, Randy, +that I'd do anything for you." + +"Well, this is for me, and for some one else too," said Randy, looking +earnestly up into his kind, dark eyes. + +"And Jotham," she continued eagerly, "you must not mind if I don't tell +you _all_ about it, 'tis truly a good reason why I can't." + +"I'll do whatever you wish, Randy," was the reply, "and I won't ask a +question." + +"Oh, here's Prue coming," said Randy, "and she mustn't hear about it. You +meet me at Barnes' store about four o'clock this afternoon and I'll tell +you then what I wish you to do." + +"All right," said Jotham, "I'll be there on time, you may be sure of +that." + +"O, Randy," cried little Prue, "what you tellin' Jotham? Tell me too." + +"See here, Prue," said Jotham with as serious an expression as he could +assume, "I was just telling Randy that I should be at Barnes' store at +four o'clock." + +"Oh, was that all?" said Prue, "I thought 'twas something great," and her +look of disgust at finding the conversation to be upon so ordinary a topic +made both Randy and Jotham laugh heartily. + +"Well I don't see why you laugh," said Prue, "'twon't be funny to be going +down to the store this hot afternoon. I'd rather stay at home with my +Tabby cat, and fan her to keep her cool." + +Immediately after dinner, little Johnny Buffum appeared in the door-yard +and announced that he had come to play with Prue. He wore a blue-checked +pinafore, below which could be seen his short snuff-colored trousers and +little bare feet. Upon his head jauntily sat a large straw hat with a torn +brim through which the sunlight sifted, where it lay, a stripe of gold +upon his little freckled nose. + +"I'm glad you've come, Johnny," said Prue. "Let's play school." + +"All right," agreed Johnny, "I'll be the teacher." + +"And I'll play I'm Randy, and Tabby can be me,--you 'member to call her +Prue when you speak to her,--and Johnny, this rag doll will be you," said +Prue. + +"That old doll's a girl," objected Johnny. "I won't let no girl doll be +me." + +But Prue argued that it would be enough better to be represented by the +despised rag doll, than not to be in the school at all, so half convinced, +the game began and the two children were so occupied when Randy started +for her walk to the Centre, that her little sister quite forgot to coax to +be allowed to "go too." + +As she trudged along the sunny, dusty road, Randy hummed a merry little +tune, her footsteps keeping time to its rhythm and her heart beating +faster as she thought of her delightful errand. + +Arrived at the store she asked Mr. Barnes to show her the piece of cloth +from which her father had bought on the night that he had driven to the +Centre. + +"Joel!" called Silas Barnes, "show Randy Weston that second piece of cloth +from the top, will ye? I've got ter finish opening this barrel o' sugar." + +Joel placed the cloth upon the counter, saying, + +"Is that the piece ye mean?" + +"Yes, that is it," said Randy. + +"Didn't yer pa git 'nough?" questioned Joel. + +"Oh yes," said Randy, "but I want this for something else. I'll take eight +yards." + +"Why that's 'nough for a whole gaown," said Joel, but a shade of annoyance +passed over Randy's sweet face and as she showed no disposition to +explain, the clerk cut off the number of yards with the injured air of one +whose kindly interest had been unappreciated. + +When the cloth had been made into a neat parcel, Joel looked up and +extended his hand for payment, when to his utter astonishment, Randy +informed him that she had yet another errand. + +"I'll look at some shoes now," she said with quite an air, for this was +her first shopping trip and a very happy one. + +"Fer yourself, Randy?" asked Joel. + +"I wish them to be _my size_, so I'll try them on," was the answer. + +"Well ef they're ter be your size, they're to be yourn, ain't they?" +queried Joel, determined if possible to know all about this wild +extravagance. + +Randy had changed her gold piece for a bill before she left home, well +knowing that the bill would attract less attention. + +Assuming not to have heard his question, Randy took her parcels, and gave +Joel her bill. Joel took the money, but he could not resist the temptation +to ask one more question. + +"Mebbe ye didn't know that yer pa bought a pair er shoes jest that size +t'other night, did ye?" + +No one person was ever known to have bought two pairs of shoes and two +dresses at Barnes' store within a week, and the clerk was wild with +curiosity, but just as he was about to repeat his question, Jotham entered +the store, and Joel turned to see what his errand might be. + +"Nothing to-day," said Jotham, "I saw Randy in here, and I thought I'd +offer to take her bundles." + +Together they left the store, and as they turned into the quiet, shady +road Randy said, + +"I think I never was more glad to see you, Jotham, than when I turned and +saw you in the doorway of the store." + +"Then I'm doubly glad I came," said Jotham. + +"Well, Joel Simpkins thought 'twas the funniest thing that I should be +buying something when father was not with me, and he asked just every +question that he could think of except one. He didn't ask me where I got +my money, and I do believe he would have asked me that if you hadn't come +in just when you did." + +"O Randy, it's a funny sight to see you provoked," said Jotham with a +hearty laugh. "I know that he is an inquisitive fellow. + +"You know I've been studying this summer with the young professor who has +been boarding at our house, and father has arranged it so that when he +returns to teach at the university I shall go back with him, not to the +college of course, but as his private pupil. I shall work very hard at my +studies and hope another year to enter college. + +"Well, father was speaking to Mr. Barnes of my aspirations, and his plans +for me, when Joel stepped over to where they stood talking, and said he, + +"'Ain't that goin' ter be pooty expensive, Mr. Potts, an' likely ter put +kind er high notions inter Jotham's head?' + +"Father turned and looked at him, then he said, + +"'I'm not likely to incur any bills which I am unable to meet, and as to +Jotham's head, I truly believe it is level.'" + +They both laughed to think of Joel's discomfiture, and under the shade of +overhanging branches they sat down upon a large rock at the side of the +road and Randy, turning toward Jotham said, + +"There, now I'll tell you what I could not tell this morning, because dear +little Prue cannot keep a secret, and you can, and will." + +[Illustration: "I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy.] + +"I will if you wish it, Randy," said Jotham. + +"Well then, these parcels are not for me, they are for someone else, and I +do not wish her to know where they came from, Jotham, are you willing to +go over to the Wilson farm to-night?" asked Randy. + +"I'd go to Joppa if you asked it," answered the boy with a laugh. + +"Then go to Molly's house after dark, and leave these bundles on the +doorstep. Knock loudly, and then run away just far enough so that you will +be able to see them taken in, and don't tell anyone about it. It's just a +nice little surprise and you and I will keep our secret." + +"It's a pleasure that you are planning, of that I am sure," said Jotham. + +"I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy, "Molly Wilson is a nice +girl and she will be sixteen to-morrow." + +"Oh ho! A birthday gift! Well, I don't wonder you wish it to get there +to-night, but if I leave it and run, how will they know that the bundles +are for Molly?" + +"Oh, I must put her name on the parcels now," said Randy. + +Jotham produced a pencil and thinking that Molly might recognize her +writing, Randy printed in large letters this legend: + +"For Mollie Wilson, from one who loves her." + +After viewing her work with satisfaction, Randy said, + +"There, now they are all ready, but Jotham," she added a moment later, +"what will you do with them between now and twilight?" + +"I'll take the packages home, and as you wish no one to know about them, +I'll hide them in a safe place in our woodshed. When I start for Molly's +house I have to go in the same direction that I would if I were intending +to stop at Reuben Jenks' door, so I'll leave the presents at the Wilson's, +and stop at Reuben's on the way home; then if I'm known to have been at +Reuben's no one will guess that I was running about delivering presents." + +So at a bend of the road they parted, Jotham happy in the thought that he +had a part in one of Randy's plans, and at the same time doing her +bidding, and Randy wondering if Molly's delight when she looked at her +gifts would be as great as that which she had herself experienced in +sending them. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +GOSSIP + + +The sun shone down upon the dusty little "square," and the foliage of the +big willow tree near Barnes' store looked as if frosted, such a thick +coating of dust lay upon the leaves. + +At the trough beneath the tree an old gray horse stood alternately taking +a long draught of the clear water, and looking off across the square, as +if lost in meditation. + +A dragon-fly with steely wings lit upon the trough and, skilled little +acrobat, balanced upon the extreme edge as if thus to take in the full +beauty of old Dobbin's reflection. + +Exhaling a long breath as he lifted his shaggy head, the old horse sent a +shower of bright drops upon the dragon-fly who, considering the act to be +a great breach of etiquette, took zigzag flight across the sunny square, +and up the winding road toward the mill. + +It looked as if Dobbin might drink the trough dry if he chose, for an +animated conversation was in progress at Barnes' store, and his master was +one of the leaders in every discussion, whether the topic chanced to be +political, or simply a tale of village gossip. + +A chubby urchin made little hills of dust, using a well worn slipper for a +trowel, and Dobbin kicked and stamped impatiently, occasionally taking +another drink, and still the discussion went on. + +"Naow I argy, that a leetle deestrict school wus good 'nough fer me, an' +look at me! + +"Own my farm free an' clear, got a good lot er stock an' tools on the +place, an' I'm wuth two thousand dollars in cash!" + +The speaker was old Josiah Boyden, one of the "_see_lectmen," and a member +of the school committee. His greatest pride lay in the fact that he was a +self-made man, and truly he looked as if constructed upon a home made +pattern. + +The group of farmers, obedient to his command, turned and looked at the +speaker, while from behind the stove which, hot weather or cold, held the +place of honor in the centre of the store, a shrill voice ventured to +question the pompous owner of so great a property. + +"Be ye goin' ter say, Josiah, that every feller what's edicated at a +deestrict school can git ter own sech a fort'n as yourn?" + +"Huh! Wal, no, not exactly," was the admission, for while this good +committee-man was fighting a suggestion which had been made relative to +securing better quarters for the school which promised to be larger than +on any previous year, he did not wish to diminish his own glory by +inferring that any one, however bright, or ambitious, could possibly +arrive at his eminence. + +"I think, friends," said Parson Spooner in his soft, pleasant voice, "that +our scholars should be given every comfort and advantage which our +village can possibly afford to grant." + +"That's it, that's it," assented Josiah Boyden, "but the thing is, she +can't afford to offer nothin' extry beyond just what's set aside fer +schools." + +Again the squeaky voice from behind the stove made itself heard. "That's +the time, Josiah, when the taown can't afford it that cap'talists, such as +you say you be, oughter step right inter the gap an' help aout." + +"I've got a arrant daown ter the mill," remarked the offended +"_see_lectman," "an' I'm goin' right along ter 'tend to it, but I'll say +in leavin', thet I won't waste my breath a talkin' to a person with a mind +so narrer as ter s'pose fer a moment that private puss-strings hangs aout +fer every person who feels like it ter pull. I'm public sperited, every +one knows that, but I don't help support no institootion er larnin when I +got the hull er my edication at a deestrict school," and in intense +disgust he left the store followed by an irritating chuckle which, +although it came from behind the rusty old stove, reached the ears of +Boyden as he stamped down the rickety steps of the store and stalked +majestically across the square and up the road. + +He was sure of a sympathetic listener at the mill, for it was a well worn +saying in the village that the miller "agreed with everyone." + +The river which kept his mill running, wound its way through the next +village, where another grist mill was humming, and Martin Meers was far +too shrewd to permit himself to express a difference of opinion from that +held by a good customer, who in his wrath might take his grist to the +rival mill to be ground. + +Pondering over the "narrer minds" of those with whom he had been +conversing, Josiah Boyden tramped along the dusty road, becoming more +incensed with every step, as he thought of the individual who had presumed +to suggest that he might contribute toward the school fund, and still the +gossip at the store progressed, unhindered by the departure of the +"_see_lectman." + +"My Reuben," remarked Mr. Jenks, "made more progress in his studies last +season than he ever made before in two winters' work, and I feel that the +teacher deserves a deal of thanks fer stirring up such an interest. I +don't have the sort er feelin' that Boyden has. I stand ready and willin' +ter put my hand in my pocket ter help aout expenses, ef some others will +'gree ter chip in." + +"But there's a 'scuse fer Boyden," chuckled Nate Burnham, the old fellow +behind the stove, as he relighted his pipe, and puffed a few times to +determine if it intended to burn. "There's a sort er 'scuse fer Boyden," +he repeated, "fer his children have growd up, so he ain't got no use fer +schools, and fellers like him don't pay fer things they ain't a usin'." + +"Wal, I think we ought ter have a village improvement sarsiety fer the +benefit of us as is out'n school," remarked Joel Simpkins, thrusting his +hands deep into his pockets and tossing his head to shake back a +refractory lock of hay-colored hair. + +He was the "head clerk" at Barnes' store. To be sure he was, as a general +thing, the _only_ clerk, but Joel considered himself quite a personage, +and never referred to himself as other than head clerk. + +"Kinder had an idee that ye couldn't be improved, Joel," remarked a young +farmer who had thus far taken no part in the conversation. + +Joel looked sharply at the man, and vaguely wondered if possibly the +remark was sarcastic, but the face into which he peered was so genuinely +good natured that Joel was reassured, and he at once decided that only a +very fine compliment was intended. + +"I think we could fix up this 'ere square," said Joel, "ter begin with. +Take that old horse trough. That could be fixed up 'n' painted, 'n' that +willer tree; 'twouldn't hurt it ter give it a good preunin'. Growin' as it +does daown in the ditch, or puddle beside this store, it flourishes, an' +lops its limbs nigh onto across the square; an' the rickety fence beside +it ought ter be straightened up 'fore some of the fellers that are +perpetually leanin' 'gainst it pitch with it backward inter the ditch." + +"Wal, Joel, while yer 'baout it," remarked Silas Barnes, "why don't yer +suggest a brick block er two, an' pavin' stones in the square an' a few +other things such as I told ye I seen in Boston. 'Tain't wuth while ter +stop after ye git started ter make suggestions." + +"Speakin' of the teacher," remarked Mr. Potts, "I'm one that speaks in +favor of Miss Gilman every time, and Jotham seconds everything I say." + +"Lemme tell ye what my Timotheus is a doin' these days. I set him ter +hoeing fer me, and I tell ye ye'd like ter watch him a spell," said old +Mr. Simpkins, his face beaming with pride in his youngest son. + +"Fust he'd work the hoe with them long arms er his'n 'til the weeds an' +dirt flew like Hail Columby, and ye'd think he'd got goin' an' couldn't +halt, when all to onct he'd stop as ef somethin'd bit him, an' he'd drop +the hoe and begin ter gesticerlate and spaout like a preacher. + +"Pooty soon he'd make a grab fer the hoe, and agin the dirt would fly like +all fury. Next thing ye knew, daown'd go the hoe agin, and up would go his +arms, a sawin' the air like a windmill, an' there he'd be a spaoutin' an' +a elocutin' fit ter kill. Who but Timotheus would ever think of combinin' +hoein' an' elocutin'? I tell ye, he's the most possessed of 'rig'nal'ty of +any pusson I ever seen." + +"I wonder someone don't think he's a reg'lar loony, a carryin' on like +that," muttered Joel, filled with jealousy and disgust. + +Old Mr. Simpkins was deaf, and Joel's muttered remark passed unnoticed. + +"He ain't one er them fellers that can't do but one thing to a time. +T'other day I axed him ter bring two pail er water inter the barn, and +away he went ter git 'em. Anybody'd think a pail er water in each hand +oughter held him daown, but no sir, that feller came across the door-yard, +both pails full, an' his head in the air, his maouth wide open, and the +elocutin' a goin' on continoous." + +"Ef I thought fer a moment that edication would make any er my children +act like that, I vaow I'd keep 'em outer school fer one while," said a +farmer who had recently arrived in the village, and roars of laughter +followed this remark. + +As he was deaf, old Mr. Simpkins failed to catch the meaning of the +hilarity, so he construed it as it pleased him to, and when the laughter +had subsided, said, + +"I don't wonder ye laugh, ye didn't see him er doin' it, so ye don't know +haow he looked, but I tell ye 'twas a grand sight ter see a young feller +so eloquent that nothin' on airth could stop him." + +"Must 'a been a 'stonishing sight," agreed Mr. Jenks, "but naow, friends, +we've talked fer quite a spell on one thing or another, an we ain't much +nigher ter settlin' the question of a bigger schoolroom than when we +started. + +"Naow instead er hagglin' 'baout it, I b'lieve we'd better have a +committee meetin' called, and a reg'lar vote taken, an' I say right here +and naow, that I shall vote fer better quarters fer the school an' I'll +'gree, as I said, ter put my hand right in my pocket an' give the thing a +start. + +"Nathan Lawton gave the use of his best room fer a schoolroom last year, +an' 'twas kind an' generous fer him ter do it, but the village has been +growin' just amazin', an' this year shows a bigger list of inhabitants, +an' it 'pears as if most of the new comers had a family er children, so +something's got ter be done 'baout that school buildin'." + +"Good fer ye," squeaked old Nate Burnham, "an' I wish ye luck at the +meetin'." + +The village gossip was not monopolized by the frequenters of Barnes' +store. Indeed it seemed as if the place had taken on new life and +ambition, and if at any corner or turn of the road one chose to listen, he +could often hear a few stray bits of conversation in regard to the +interests which lay nearest to the hearts of the various newsmongers. + +Of all the tale-bearers, and there were many, none were as harmless, and +at the same time as busy as Mrs. Hodgkins. + +Walking down a shady lane one might espy her endeavoring to hold a +friendly confab with some busy farmer's wife who, while hanging out her +washing, endeavored to hold a clothespin in her mouth, and at the same +time answer Mrs. Hodgkins' frequent questions, such as, + +"Naow did ye ever hear anything ter beat that? + +"Ain't ye amazed at the idee?" + +Mrs. Hodgkins would on such occasions, lean against the rail fence and +bombard the busy woman alternately with bits of news, and pointed +questions until, the last piece of linen in place upon the line, the empty +basket would be a signal for adieus. + +Then Sophrony Hodgkins would meander down the lane, and if fortune favored +her, would find at the next farm-house its mistress possibly at the well +or sunning her milk pans in a corner of the door-yard. + +Immediately she would hail her with joy and proceed to repeat her own +stock of news with the addition of a few particulars gleaned from the +first friend. + +"Sophrony Hodgkins' stories," remarked old Nate Burnham, "remind me of the +snowballs we used ter roll and roll 'til from a leetle ball we finally by +rollin' an' trav'lin' got one bigger'n all creation. + +"She starts in with what _she's_ heard. Then she adds on what somebody +else has heard, and after that, what this one an' that one and t'other one +has heard, 'til the size of the yarn must astonish her." + +"I'll say one thing 'bout her, though," remarked Silas Barnes, "with all +her talkin' an' tellin' she never tells anything that's detrimental to +somebody's character. She's full er tellin' ordinary news, but when it +comes ter news that would stir up strife, Sophrony's got nothin' ter say; +so let her talk, I say, ef she enjoys it; she 'muses herself an' don't +hurt no one else." + +On the sunny morning when Barnes' store had been the scene of the gossip +and discussion in regard to the new quarters for the school, Sophrony +Hodgkins had made an early start on a "c'lection tour," as old Nate +Burnham would have called it. She had met Janie Clifton at the Pour +Corners, and had stopped for a chat with her, had waylaid Molly Wilson in +the middle of the road, in order to inquire for her mother and baby +sister, had stopped for a moment at Mrs. Jenks' door just to ask if she +had heard the wonderful news about Dot Marvin's old uncle Jehiel, had +paused to look over the wall at the new Jersey cow which old Mr. Simpkins +had recently purchased, and to casually inquire if Timotheus was intending +to again be a pupil at the deestrict school, bein's he'd growed so durin' +the summer'n seemed more like a man than a boy, and had asked little +Johnny Buffum what on airth his sister Hitty had her head tied up in hot +weather for, when beet juice dropped in her ear would cure her earache in +two minutes, and had been informed that, + +"Hitty hadn't got no earache, 'twas a bee sting on her cheek;" all this +and much more had filled Mrs. Hodgkins' mind so completely that she was +amazed to find that eleven o'clock had arrived, and that she must turn +about and hasten home if she wished to have dinner ready when the kitchen +clock struck twelve. + +"I'll git something on the table when Joel gits in from the field, though +land knows what it'll be with only an hour ter git it in," she muttered +between short, puffing breaths, for Mrs. Hodgkins was stout, and she had +already taken a long walk. + +The dinner was indeed an odd one, made up from what were termed by Mrs. +Hodgkins "odds and ends," but Joel Hodgkins was a patient man, and his +appetite was one which never needed tempting, so he partook of the viands +which his wife offered him with an apparent relish, and was soon at work +again in the field. + +Then Mrs. Hodgkins donned a fresh apron preparatory to going out, +remarking as she tied her sunbonnet strings with a twitch, + +"I reely must go over to Almiry's, it's only a step er two, and what's the +use of havin' a niece in the neighborhood ef not ter tell news ter, an' +what's the use er hearin' news an' keepin' it ter yourself? + +"I'll git home in time ter bake a batch er gingerbread fer tea," she +continued, "Joel's paowerful fond er gingerbread an' it'll sort er pay +him fer eatin' such a dinner with such endurin' patience." + +Almira Meeks lay back in the big old fashioned rocker, too tired, she +declared, to care "whether school kept or not." + +Meek in name and in nature, there was not a day that she did not overwork, +and when the forenoon's tasks were completed, she would lie back exhausted +in the big old chair, only to be reprimanded if her husband chanced to +come in, for "havin' so little energy." It was with delight that she +welcomed Aunt Sophrony, saying: + +"Do tell me all the news. I'm nearly always too tired to go out and hear +any." + +"Ye do look tuckered," remarked Mrs. Hodgkins, "but hearin' the things +I've got ter tell will interest ye, an' make ye feel reel perky. Ye +needn't feel ye've got ter talk, fer I kin talk 'nough fer two. + +"When I started aout this morning, the fust pusson I see was Janie +Clifton, an' what on airth do ye think she's been up to?" + +Almira shook her head, to show her utter inability to guess what Janie's +latest notion might be. + +"Well, she got an idee that we was all behind the times up here, an' +needed a leetle fixin' up, an' she wondered ef she could slip inter the +chink an' fill the place she thought she see a gapin', an' take in a +leetle money at the same time. + +"She's 'mazing sot when she gits her mind on a thing, an' she talked it +over ter hum and carried the day; and she's been daown ter Boston these +past few months a learnin' dressmakin', when we all thought she was a +visitin'. + +"Naow she's set up fer herself, an' any of us that has an idee of lookin' +spreuced up, and has a leetle cash ter go with the notion, can buy the +goods fer a gaown at Barnes', an' go right up ter the room over his store +and be measured by Janie fer a fashionable fit. + +"Ef some of our husband's doesn't git fashionable fits when they hear the +extravagance Janie's a teachin' we'll be lucky. + +"I'll tell ye naow, Almiry, I'm goin' ter have a gaown cut by Janie come +fall, ef it takes all the egg money ter pay fer it!" + +"Why Aunt Sophrony!" was all the astonished Almira could ejaculate. Such +splendid courage was quite beyond the meek little woman's comprehension. + +"Miss Wilson's baby has cut another tooth, that makes five, an' she's a +doin' well too," continued Mrs. Hodgkins, "but that ain't a flea bite to +what I heerd next. + +"Ye know the Marvin's old Uncle Jehiel, him that lived with them five year +an' then went off, nobody knows where, without sayin' a word to 'em? Well, +he's been heard from! A lawyer has writ ter Jack Marvin's father sayin' +there's a will, an' sech a will I'll be baound wuz never heerd of before! + +"He's left five hundred dollars ter come ter Jack when he's twenty-one, ef +by that time he's given any sign of 'mountin' ter anything as a scholar, a +farmer, a preacher or a storekeeper. + +"Did ye ever hear anything like the choice? + +"An' then he says, the old rascal, that ef by that time he hasn't made +something of himself in one or t'other er them things, that the money can +be given ter his cousin Dot, whatever she's done or hasn't done, bein's +he's never expected anything of her, she bein' only a girl. + +"That made me bile when I heerd it, fer the old critter ought ter think +pretty well er girls and women. They say, as er boy he lived with his aunt +who gave him a good edication; a cousin er his'n, a woman by the way, set +him up in business, an' this money he's made his grand will fer was left +him by his wife, so ye'd think he'd feel thankful and kind toward all +women, but ye can't caount on folks." + +"I'd a thought he'd a left the money ter be divided between Jack an' Dot, +'twould a sounded pleasanter," said Almira. + +"Ef ye ever saw old Jehiel Marvin ye'd never expect anything very pleasant +of him," responded Mrs. Hodgkins. + +"But lemme tell ye the greatest! + +"Timotheus Simpkins ain't goin' ter the deestrict school this year, fer +the reason that his father says he's learned all there is ter learn, an' +there ain't nothing left that the teacher can tell him, so he's goin' ter +stay aout and help on the farm an' spend all his spare time on +literatoor! + +"That's what old Mr. Simpkins says, what on airth do ye s'pose he means?" + +Aunt Sophrony waited for her niece to solve the mystery, but the problem +was too great for her to grasp, and as Mrs. Hodgkins rose to go, Almira +begged her to question Timotheus if she chanced to meet him, and find out +just what he intended to do with his spare time, and to learn if possible +in what way "literatoor" was to form a part of his daily life. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE DISTRICT SCHOOL + + +The meeting held for the purpose of deciding that the town could or could +not afford to furnish suitable accommodations for its pupils proved to be +a most exciting affair. + +Josiah Boyden filled with indignation that the matter should have been +thought worthy of consideration after he had spoken so vehemently against +it at Barnes' store, sat pompous and important near the door, fully +determined to crush any suggestion which might be offered. + +Mr. Potts and Mr. Jenks early in the evening inquired the amount which the +town had set aside for the school. Upon learning the sum, each at once +agreed to contribute a quarter of the balance needed if others would make +up the remaining half. + +"I have two scholars for the school," said Mr. Weston, "and if Mr. Potts, +who intends to have a private tutor for his son, is willing to give a +quarter of the sum needed, I'm sure I'll do the same." + +"Three cheers for three quarters!" squeaked old Nate Burnham, from a seat +in the corner, and in the midst of the din old Sandy McLeod arose and +thumped his cane upon the floor for order. + +"I'll gie the remainin' quarter, an' add ten dollars to't that my Margaret +sent, sayin' in her gentle way, 'It may gie some added comfort to the +place wherever 'tis chosen.'" + +Wild applause greeted this characteristic speech. Sandy's eyes twinkled as +he sat down and he remarked to his next neighbor, "That mon Boyden has a +scowl that wad sour meelk." + +After much discussion, it was decided that a large, vacant farm-house, +centrally located, could be purchased and fitted for a schoolhouse at a +less expense than the building of a new structure would incur, and in +spite of Josiah Boyden's fuming and Nate Burnham's chuckling, in spite of +much murmuring on the part of a few frugal minded farmers, the moneyed +element carried the day, and under the twinkling stars the triumphant +members of that assemblage took their homeward way, filled with the joy of +victory. + +The money pledged was as promptly paid, and work upon the building was +commenced at once, and when September arrived it stood ready to receive +the scholars, a better schoolhouse than the average country village could +boast. + +One of the first to inspect it was Mrs. Sophrony Hodgkins. It would have +made her very unhappy to have had its good points described to her and +have been unable to say, + +"Oh, yes, I know, I saw it fust." + +Accordingly on the day that school was to open, she made an early start +and before any pupils thought of arriving she had inspected every part of +the building, decided that she approved of it in every particular, and +had sallied forth to describe it to all her friends. + +As she sped along the road, a brisk, bustling figure, the little squirrels +raced along the wall, sure that she intended to capture them; but one less +timid than his mates, sat upon his little haunches on an old stump, and +chattered and scolded as she passed as if offended by the stir which she +was making. + +A slouching figure leaned upon the top rail of the fence at the side of +the road and its attitude, together with the singular expression of the +face beneath the hat brim, piqued Mrs. Hodgkins' curiosity. + +"What on airth!"--she began, but the figure did not move. + +"Going ter be deef like his father, I wonder?" she murmured, then raising +her voice she exclaimed, + +"I say, Timotheus, what on airth be ye a dreaming of this bright mornin' +'stead er gittin' ready fer school?" + +A moment longer the boy stood staring at the sky, then as if slowly, and +with an effort coming down to earth again, he looked down upon the woman +who had interrupted him as he said, + +"I heered ye, Mis' Hodgkins the fust time ye spoke, but when I'm a +thinkin' a thought, I ain't apt ter answer." + +"Good gracious!" ejaculated Mrs. Hodgkins, "I hope fer the good of yer +family, ye don't think 'em often." + +"I'm allus er workin' ter improve my intellec'; that's why I ain't er +goin' ter school. Got so I knowed all the teacher knowed last year, so +'tain't nothin' but a waste er time ter think of goin' this year." + +"Yer father said ye was goin' ter devote yer time ter literatoor; what d' +he mean by that, Timotheus?" asked Mrs. Hodgkins. + +"Wall, I'll have ter help on the farm, but between chores, I expect ter be +readin' what literatoor we own. On the shelf in our parlor we've got the +almanic, a New England Primer, a book er Martyrs, a book called Book er +Beauty, another with a yaller kiver called the Pirate's Den, and one more +called The Letter Writer, 'n' I guess by the time I've read all them I'll +know a heap. Father says he expects I'll do somethin' wonderful yet, 'n' I +guess he's 'baout right." + +"Well of all the"--but here she checked herself, and bidding him a hasty +good morning, she hurried on, lest her disgust should make itself heard. + +Timotheus Simpkins still leaned upon the rail fence, as if he had +forgotten her; apparently he was once more "thinkin' a thought." + +"I guess I better write that daown before I fergit it," he remarked a few +moments later, as he started towards the house, his hands clasped behind +his back and his gaze riveted upon space. Some great thought was evidently +about to be transferred to paper. + +If Timotheus failed to appreciate the opportunity offered the young people +of the town to obtain an education, he stood alone in his ignorance and +egotism. + +At the hour for the opening of school all the pupils of the year before +were present and many new ones waited to be assigned to their respective +classes. + +Prue and Randy were surrounded by their friends upon their arrival, and +between the Babson girls stood little Hi Babson, their cousin, whose +mother had determined that during his three months' visit he should attend +school. Taking his hand, Belinda walked to the teacher's desk with a view +to introducing him. + +"This is my little cousin," she began, but was promptly interrupted by Hi +who remarked, + +"I ain't little, I'm a big boy." + +"And he wants to come to school, Miss Gilman." + +"No I don't want ter come ter school, an' I wouldn't only ma made me," +remarked Hi, determined to have his attitude plainly understood. + +Miss Gilman smiled as she looked at the rebellious little face, saying, +kindly, "Perhaps you will enjoy school when you are acquainted with some +of the scholars." + +"I know Randy Weston's little sister, and I'd like ter sit side of her; +she's some fun, 'sides she's littler'n I be," said Hi. + +Miss Gilman thought best to humor this, his first request, so he took his +seat beside Prue who smiled sweetly upon him, and the small boy at once +decided that school with Prue for a friend might be as attractive as +staying at home under the watchful eyes of Grandma Babson. + +"It's only quarter of nine," Phoebe Small was saying, "and I rushed about +like everything, thinking I should be late." + +"I didn't have to hurry," said Randy, laughing, "for I was so sure that I +was late when I awoke, that I never looked to see what time it was, but +flew around doing what I could before breakfast toward getting ready for +school. Then I began to wonder why mother didn't call me, and I looked at +the clock. It was an hour before breakfast time!" + +"Oh what a waste of strength," said Jack Marvin, with a well affected +yawn. "I got started first and called fer my cousin Dot, and by tugging +her all the way I managed to get her here, too." + +The Langham twins, to whom Jack was very attentive, looked at each other +in amazement. They admired Jack, but was he untruthful? The idea that he +was joking never occurred to them. + +Reuben Jenks described them as "joke proof," as they had never been known +to see the point of any witticism, and if it chanced to be explained +to them they would stare placidly at the speaker and then invariably +remark, + +"Why I don't call that funny." + +"I'm going to tell Miss Gilman that my name is Dorothea. I'm tired of +being called Dot, 'specially as I'm round and dumpy," remarked Jack's +cousin resolutely. + +"I'll call you Dorothea every time as loud as I can roar it, see if I +don't," said Jack, but as Miss Gilman touched her bell just at this +moment, Jack was obliged to wait for an opportunity to address his cousin +by her full name. + +As the scholars were taking their places in the seats which had been +assigned them, Molly Wilson entered, looking very pretty in a gown of a +dark, rich red and a pair of new boots which squeaked with every step. + +"Her new dress is just like yours," whispered Dot Marvin to Randy, but +Randy, whose cheeks were suddenly very pink, seemed not to have heard, and +Dot was obliged to be contented with looking from Molly's dress to Randy's +and wondering how it happened that they chanced to be alike. + +The scholars from the youngest to the oldest were loud in their praise of +the new school, and delighted that Miss Gilman was again their faithful +teacher, but in the merry throng there was one who found it difficult to +be content, and that was Phoebe Small. That the schoolroom was warm and +cheerful, that there was plenty of room, and ample opportunity for study +counted for little since she had set her heart upon going to boarding +school, and therefore an ordinary day school seemed a very tame affair. + +At recess she confided to Dot Marvin that she didn't see why ma couldn't +approve of having her daughter at a boarding school since she (Mrs. Small) +attended one when she was a girl. + +"I'd 'nough sight rather be at home," drawled Dot, "even with my cousin +Jack to tease me. When he goes a little too far I can hit back by teasing +him 'bout the Langham twins. That always stops him. But Phoebe," she +continued, "I shouldn't think you would like to go away to school. They'd +all be strangers and seems to me you'd be lonesome and homesick." + +"That's what ma said, but I wanted to try it. I can't, it seems, so I've +got to stay here and try to think I like it," said Phoebe, with an +expression upon her face of extreme dissatisfaction. + +In another part of the yard an animated conversation of quite a different +character was in progress. Little Hi Babson and Prue Weston were swinging +upon the gate. + +"Why how naughty," Prue was saying. "I shouldn't a thought you'd dare to." + +"Well, I did," Hi answered. "I didn't want ter come ter school, so ter pay +'em fer makin' me, I hid the clock key so they can't wind the clock. I +dropped it inter the m'lasses jug, 'n' I guess to-morrer mornin' they +won't know what time ter send me ter school. + +"I've took the basket er clothes-pins and lowered 'em down the well; I've +took an hid Grandma Babson's best cap, 'cause she said 'That boy needs a +lickin'.' Want ter know where I put it? Up in the barnloft on the hay. I +did somethin' else too. I put a wad er paper in the dinner horn. Won't +they be mad when they try to blow it? I guess they'll be sorry they made +me go ter school." + +"Oh, but that's naughty!" cried Prue. "I'd think you'd be most afraid to +be so _very_ naughty. What'll they do when you get home?" + +Hi's face lost its hilarious expression. + +"I ain't got home yet," he said. + +The boys and girls had returned to their lessons with all the eager +enthusiasm which had been a characteristic of the school when Miss Gilman +had first taken it, but the young teacher could not but contrast this +"first day" with that of the year before. Then, there had been little +order; now, there was perfect concord with every pupil striving to do his +best. + +Here and there an unruly member of the primary class caused a disturbance, +but as a whole, the pupils were both quiet and studious. + +When school closed Randy and Prue with a troop of friends walked along the +road toward home, talking of the little events of the day and exulting +over their fine schoolhouse, the large yard and full classes. + +"Didn't it seem odd to see so many new scholars this year?" said Randy. +"We must get acquainted with them and help them to enjoy our little +pleasures." + +"That is what you and Jotham did when I moved here last year," said Molly +Wilson, "and oh, Randy, I never could begin to tell you how in my heart I +thanked you when you came and spoke to me that first lonesome day at +school." + +"I knew that I should be glad to have some one speak to me if I had only +strangers about me," said Randy, sweetly. + +"How we shall miss Jotham this year," said Reuben Jenks. + +"He's going on with his studies with the professor here at home this +month, but the first of October he's to be in Cambridge. The tutor goes +back there to teach at the college and Jotham is to board near the +university, he says, and have private teachin'." + +"You'll miss him, Randy, won't you?" queried little Prue. + +"We shall all wish that he were with us," was Randy's discreet answer. +Suddenly Prue exclaimed, + +"You've got a new dress, Molly; it's a beauty, and it's just like my +Randy's." + +"So it is," said Molly. "I had a birthday a short time ago, and I had a +pair of mittens which mother had knit for me to wear this winter, some +candy, some shoes and this lovely dress." + +"Who gived you the dress?" asked Prue, innocently. + +"That's what I'd like to know," was Molly's answer. "It was sent to me, +and on the bundle it said, 'From one who loves you.' I'd give much to tell +the one who sent it how lovely I think it is." + +"I like mine better than any dress I've had," said Randy, "and since you +think it pretty it's nice that yours is like it." + +"I don't know as I'd care what gowns I had if I'd been allowed to go to +boarding school," said Phoebe Small. "This school is pleasant enough, I +like the teacher and of course I like the girls and boys." + +"'Specially the boys," remarked Reuben Jenks, when a scowl from Phoebe +silenced him. + +"I think it would be great fun to go away somewhere. I don't know as I +care where, and see a new school and new faces. 'Twouldn't prevent keeping +all my old friends just because I made new ones," said Phoebe in a +disconsolate voice. "It's just no use to wish," she continued, "for I +wished last night when I saw the moon over my right shoulder, and I don't, +know how many times I've wished when I've seen the first little star at +night. This morning I found a horse shoe, and stood on it wishing with all +my might that ma would let me just try boarding school for one term and I +guess that old horse shoe just about finished it, for I ran in and asked +ma again, and she put down the pan that she had in her hand and says she, + +"'Phoebe Small, if you ask me that again, I believe I shall fly. I've +said no to it repeatedly and I meant it. Now, hurry and get ready for +school; you'll find there's something yet to be learned there, I'll be +bound.'" + +"Never mind, Phoebe," said Randy, "it's disappointing if you so wished to +go, but think how we should have missed you." + +"O Randy, to think that you would have missed me makes me almost glad to +stay here," said Phoebe, with a bright tear upon her lashes. + +It was over a year since Phoebe had resolved to conquer her "unruly +tongue" as she described it, and although at times a sharp saying escaped +her lips she was really a very different girl from the Phoebe of the year +before. That she was in earnest was evident, for if some careless speech +chanced to hurt one of her friends, she promptly acknowledged her fault, +and grasped the first opportunity to do some little kindness which should +thus give proof that her regret was sincere. + +Of Jotham the boys and girls saw but little, his new studies requiring +strict application, and only at rare intervals was it possible for him to +find a few leisure moments for Randy, and when October came it was with +regret that he said "good-bye," although his heart was full of +anticipation. + +"You will miss me, Randy?" he had asked, and Randy had answered frankly, + +"I shall, indeed. Every one who has ever known you will miss you, Jotham." + +At the village school the weeks had passed with cheerful monotony. Lessons +were learned and recited with a regularity which failed to be tedious +since the pupils possessed much enthusiasm. + +The little ones, especially Prue Weston and Hi Babson furnished amusement +for the older classes, Prue with her unique answers, and Hi with his +countless pranks. + +Upon one occasion, Miss Gilman, thinking to make a little problem clear by +using names of well known objects asked, "If I had five pears and gave +you two, Prue, how many would that leave?" + +"'Twouldn't be half," said Prue, "so 'twouldn't be fair." + +At another time Prue was much interested in a little picture in her +arithmetic which represented a man walking beside a horse and cart. + +"If it takes a horse two hours to drag a load of stones to town," said +Miss Gilman, "how long--" + +"But," interrupted Prue, "if it took the horse as long as that, why didn't +the man hitch on another horse?" + +Laughter greeted this original solving of the problem by practical little +Prue, and Miss Gilman decided that examples expressed in ordinary numbers +would be far better for this little girl who found an odd question for +every pictured problem. + +Thus the days passed. The Sundays spent at the old meeting-house, and the +week-days filled with work at home and at school, with a running +accompaniment of gossip filling the spaces. + +But one morning something occurred which filled the scholars with +excitement, and aroused the interest or curiosity of nearly every one in +the village. + +Randy Weston had received a letter from Boston, and such a letter, too! + + + + +CHAPTER V + +RANDY'S JOURNEY + + +"Jest the moment I git these dishes done and a few other little chores +that I can't leave standin', I'll run over to Almiry's and see 'f she's +heerd 'bout the Boston letter that Randy Weston got. My! but that was a +letter wuth gittin'. + +"I don't b'lieve Almiry's heerd 'bout it, an' I'm baound to be the fust +one ter tell her," said Mrs. Sophrony Hodgkins. + +Soon her tasks were completed, and she went the shortest way across the +fields to tell the news, as if she feared that it might spoil if kept too +long. + +Mrs. Jenks, on her way home from the village paused at the gate to ask her +friend, Mrs. Marvin, if she had heard the news, and found that she had +already been told of the contents of the letter, and was glad to hear of +Randy's good luck. + +"'Tain't every girl I'd be so glad fer," said Mrs. Marvin, "but Randy's +such a sweet girl I like ter think of this plan which will, no doubt, give +her pleasure." + +"So do I," said Matilda Jenks, "an' I fer one shall be on hand ter wish +her joy." + +In the little workroom over Barnes' store, Janie Clifton sat humming +cheerfully, her needle flying in and out of the long ruffle which she was +hemming. + +"I'm making the people here look better than they ever did before," +thought Janie, with pardonable pride in her ability. "I make Mrs. +Brimblecom look ever so much less hefty, and I'm sure Mrs. Hodgkins says +she never looked as well in any gown she ever wore, as in the one I +finished for her last week. + +"And that skinny woman, now whatever was her name? She looked almost plump +in her new dress last Sunday." + +As she stopped to thread her needle, she gave utterance to the thought +which at that moment occupied her mind. + +"I b'lieve I'll go over to call on Mrs. Weston to-night, and p'raps she'll +ask me to help her, in fact, I should think she'd _have_ to." + +A passing figure caused her to look out of the window. + +"Well what a looking piece of headgear!" she remarked. "Lucky I took up +millinery when I was learning dressmakin'. I'll go over to the Weston's +to-night, see if I don't," and she nodded approvingly to her reflection in +the long mirror, a bit of furniture which Janie had felt to be a necessary +adjunct to her rooms. + +Even old Mrs. Brimblecom had a word to say. + +"I declare, Jabez," she remarked at the dinner table, "I'm reel glad fer +Randy Weston. This doos seem ter be a chance fer her ter see somethin' an' +gain a leetle extry in the way of edication." + +"Umph!" remarked Jabez, as he helped himself to a third potato, "'S you +say, it's a chance fer her, an' she's a likely sort er girl,--pass the +salt, will ye?--but I hope it won't poke her head full er notions,--I'll +thank ye fer a biscuit,--so's when she comes home she won't remember who +any of us be." + +At the table Jabez Brimblecom's conversation was always a mixture of +gossip and numerous requests for food, so that his wife, accustomed to +this trait, was able to understand what he wished to say, and could make +connected meaning out of what seemed to be a jumble of ideas. + +"Oh, Randy will be Randy wherever she is," said Mrs. Brimblecom. + +"Wal, I guess she will,--I'll take a leetle more tea," replied Jabez. + +"And one of the best girls I ever knew," said his wife. + +"I've always known ye set a store by Randy,--I'm ready fer pie naow," +replied Jabez, and when he had finished his dinner, he darted out of the +house as if in another moment the farm would have been ruined had it not +received his immediate attention. + +Every one who met Randy stopped her saying, "Got a letter from Boston, +didn't ye?" until Prue who was usually with her would say, + +"Why, Randy, how _does_ everybody know you got a letter?" + +"In the same way that everyone knows everything in this village," Randy +would answer with a laugh. + +In the midst of all this excitement Randy walked as if on air. Could it be +true, really true that she, Randy Weston, was actually going to Boston? + +The letter which had filled Randy's heart with delight had come from her +friend Helen Dayton, the lovely young girl who had spent one summer as a +guest of Mrs. Gray, a near neighbor of the Weston's. + +She had made a flying trip to the village at Christmas, bringing with her +the choicest of gifts for Randy and Prue, assuring Randy that they should +soon meet again. Randy had thought much of the promise, but never dreamed +of so delightful a fulfilment. + +Near Miss Dayton's home a fine private school had been opened, which +offered every advantage for girls of Randy's age. One of Helen's friends +had been chosen for one of its teachers, and it had occurred to her that +Randy might attend this school during the winter months, making her home +with herself and her aunt. + +"I should like to meet this young girl who has so pleased you, Helen," her +aunt had said, "but how would she like city girls, do you think, and on +the other hand, would they like and appreciate her?" + +"I would trust Randy to make friends anywhere," Helen had said, and +seating herself at her dainty desk, she wrote the letter containing the +invitation and full particulars in regard to the school. + +Randy, with a heart filled with anticipation, promptly answered the letter +telling of her eager acceptance, and rode to the Centre with her father to +mail it. + +Then followed such a wonderful series of shopping trips to Barnes' store, +and over to the next town which boasted an establishment called the Dry +Goods Emporium. + +With Mrs. Weston and Randy went Janie Clifton to advise them in regard to +the wisest choice of pretty things for Randy's appearance in the city. + +Fortunately Janie was possessed of good taste and while learning her trade +in the city she had, whenever possible, snatched a few moments to study +the best models of gowns and millinery which the great stores displayed. +She had invested in all the leading fashion books and fashion plates, and +her room over Barnes' store was gay with pictured figures of women and +children in rainbow attire. + +To say that Mrs. Weston was astonished when she had first looked upon the +fashion plates would be to express it very mildly. + +"Well, Janie Clifton!" she had ejaculated, "I can't think er lettin' you +make Randy look like that!" as she pointed to the figure of a young girl +in a street costume of flaming red, her head adorned with a walking hat +which was decorated with a phenomenally long quill. + +"Look at the toe er that shoe!" was the next remark. "The whole foot ain't +bigger'n my spectacle case, and 'bout as much shape to it." + +But Janie comforted her by assuring her that the plates usually showed the +extreme in fashion, and that Randy could be made to look very nice indeed +without following exactly any one pattern in every detail. + +Thus far Janie's orders had been but a single dress for a customer, so she +was much elated when commissioned to make three for Randy, and also to +select and trim two hats for her. Mrs. Weston's idea of "one for best and +one for everyday" had, by cautious urging upon Janie's part, been +stretched to the extent of adding "one more for second best." + +During the drive over to the "Emporium," Janie asked abruptly, "Didn't +Miss Dayton say somethin' 'bout a party in that letter she sent to Randy?" + +"Why yes," said Mrs. Weston, "she says that while Randy's there, she'll +give a little party for her, but why did ye ask?" + +"Well, I was thinkin' that means a party dress," remarked Janie. + +"A party dress!" gasped Mrs. Weston in astonishment. "Why that would be +her best dress, wouldn't it? Probably that's what the other girls would +wear." + +Now it happened that during her apprenticeship Janie had helped to make a +number of party dresses for young girls, so it was with a deal of +assurance that she answered her patron. + +"I don't know what a lot of city misses would think if Miss Dayton was +kind enough to give the party for Randy, and Randy appeared in just her +_best dress_," said Janie with a bit of emphasis. + +"Well, well I didn't know ye was expected ter dress different fer a party, +excepting that ye'd likely 'nough dress up some. Her father said when we +started out this morning, + +"'Git whatever Randy needs ter make her look right, and at the same time +honor Miss Dayton, since she's kind 'nough to ask Randy to her home,' so +if she needs a party gown why we'll choose one, but I tell ye again, +Janie, don't ye make her look like one er them wooden-lookin' girls er +prancin' about on the fashion plates, fer I couldn't stand that." + +With a commendable determination to make for Randy a dainty party gown +which should at the same time be sufficiently simple in style to please +Mrs. Weston, Janie chose a thin white muslin with white ribbons for its +only trimming. + +"I like that for a party dress, only it seems a little cool fer winter," +remarked Mrs. Weston, "but I s'pose she will wear extry flannels under +it." + +"Not if I know it," said Janie under her breath, for she had her own ideas +for making the dress, and thick flannels to completely hide the +transparency of the muslin were not included in her plan. Janie laid the +muslin and ribbon aside and commenced work upon the other gowns. + +The "best" gown was a dark blue cloth with velvet trimmings, and the hat +which she was to wear with it was of the same shade with dark blue +feathers drooping over the brim. + +Randy felt this to be almost too fine to wear and she touched the soft +feathers with caressing fingers before placing the hat upon her pretty +head. + +"Oh, it looks just a little like Miss Dayton's hats," exclaimed Randy, as +she looked in the mirror at this triumph of Janie's millinery skill. + +For the long ride in the cars and for general street and school wear, +there was a cute little suit of gray wool, and a hat of gray felt with +some smart gray wings. + +Randy was delighted with the suit and her eyes sparkled when she +experienced the joy of "trying it on." + +The party gown, the first which she had ever seen, was to her a dream of +loveliness. It was very simply made, as befitted this fair little country +maid. The skirt made quite plain, the waist cut out ever so little in the +neck, just enough to show the round, white throat, the modest elbow +sleeves and white satin ribbon trimmings filled Randy with speechless +delight as she stared at the sweet reflection in the mirror. + +When at last she spoke she said, + +"Oh, Janie, how _could_ you make me look so nice?" + +"I guess some of the good looks are your own, Randy," Janie answered, +which caused Randy to blush most becomingly. + +Monday was a busy day at the farm-house, and Mrs. Weston had said, "I +can't spare the time to go over to Janie's this afternoon, but she wants +ye ter try on one of yer gowns and ye can run over there after school. +She'll know whether it looks right or not without any help from me." + +So leaving Prue to trudge home with Johnny Buffum as an escort, she had +experienced great delight in seeing herself for the first time in a dainty +party gown. + +"Won't mother be surprised when I try on the pretty party dress for her to +see?" thought Randy as she hurried on toward home. + +Like many another bit of gossip set afloat in a country town, the story of +the letter from Boston together with descriptions of Randy's costumes +gained with every repetition, until one day on the way from the Centre, +Randy was astonished to be thus addressed, + +"Wal, how be ye Randy? I hear ye're havin' a tremenjous lot er gaowns made +ter take ter Boston with ye." + +The speaker was a woman whom Randy had seen but a few times, and she was +therefore surprised when the team stopped at the side of the road and its +occupant accosted her. + +"It is true that mother is having Janie Clifton make some things for me," +said Randy. + +"Wal, I live on the other side er the place," the woman continued, "an' so +I'm a leetle out er the way er hearin' news, so I'd like reel well ter +know; _be_ ye goin' ter have twelve gaowns, five cloaks, an' a half er +dozen hats as they say ye be?" + +"No, that isn't true," said Randy, her flushed cheeks showing that she +resented being thus questioned by a woman who was almost a stranger. +Turning, she hurried on toward home, and the curious one, giving the horse +a smart clip drove off muttering, + +"Gitting uppish 'fore she gits ter Boston. Do'no what she'll be when she's +stayed there a spell." + +At school, her mates were glad that Randy was to have so delightful a +winter, and many and varied were the comments and speculations regarding +it. + +"It'll be stupid here without you, Randy," said Dot Marvin, "I don't know +but that we shall all go to sleep, while you're a flyin' round in the +city." + +"I don't expect to do much flying," said Randy, laughing. "I shall be +working at school there instead of this school at home. You must all write +to me and tell me what you are doing, and I'll be glad enough to answer +you." + +"Indeed we will," said Reuben Jenks. "Let's write Randy a long letter, +each one of us writing a part of it and send it along to Boston, just to +show her what we can do when we try." + +"Oh, what fun!" said Randy, "it will seem as if you were with me when I +read a long letter in which all my friends are represented." + +"Lemme print something in it, Reuben, will you? I want to be in the big +letter, too," cried little Prue. + +"I guess I will let you," Reuben answered heartily. "What kind of a letter +would it be if you didn't have a hand in it, Prue?" + +"I'd like to be going to Boston if it wasn't for one thing," said Molly +Wilson, "and that's those city girls." + +"Oh, ho, Molly. I thought you were shy, and it ain't city girls you hanker +for? Then it must be city boys," said Reuben. + +"'Tis not, Reuben Jenks," said Molly, with unusual vim; "'tis not any such +thing, it's just that I'd be 'fraid those horrid city girls were watching +everything I did and thinking me countryfied." + +"Well, I shall not let that idea make me uncomfortable," said Randy, +stoutly. "I _am_ a country girl, and if they say so, they will not be +telling me anything new or surprising; beside, I think that there must be +nice girls in the city as well as among us here. I intend to like them, +and I hope that they will like me." + +"They'll be precious queer girls if they don't," said Jack Marvin. + +"I wanted to go to boarding school," said Phoebe Small, "but I didn't +mean a city school. Seems to me I'd rather 'twouldn't be city girls to get +acquainted with. Don't you wish they were not city girls, Randy?" + +"I believe that there are just as pleasant girls in Boston as there are +here, and I look forward to meeting them," said Randy. + +She spoke bravely and truthfully, yet afterward when in her little chamber +the conversation recurred to her, Randy found herself wondering if the +meeting between herself and these girls who were to be her classmates +during her stay in Boston would, after all, be as delightful as she had +fondly believed. + +Randy's pleasure at the thought of meeting them had been genuine, and so +friendly and sincere was she, that until the idea was suggested by Dot +Marvin it had never occurred to her that the meeting could be aught but +delightful. + +"I ought not to think that there could be anything which is not charming +where Miss Dayton is, and I believe I'm silly to let Dot's remarks make +me the least bit uneasy. I'll start intending to like every girl I meet, +and who knows? Perhaps I shall," she said with a laugh, and a nod at her +happy face reflected in the tiny mirror. + +During all the planning and preparation for Randy's departure, Prue had +been eager to see the pretty new dresses, had insisted upon seeing the +hats and gloves, and had talked of little else at home or at school. +Indeed, the little girl had been so happy in the thought of the promised +pleasure for her sister, that she had not seemed to realize how much the +parting would really mean. + +But when the morning arrived on which Randy was to start, and dressed in +her smart gray suit she stood waiting for her trunk to be placed in the +back of the wagon, Prue seemed all at once to understand that Randy's long +stay in Boston meant loneliness for her little self. As the thought swept +through her mind, its full meaning came to her, and she did what she had +never been known to do in all her sunny little life. Throwing herself +upon the great braided rug near the door she cried out, + +"O Randy, my Randy, I can't let you go!" + +Randy stooped and gathered the dear little sister to her breast, saying, + +"I'm not going to stay always, dear. Look up, Prue, while I tell you. I'll +write you nice long letters, and you shall write to me, and I'll send you +something 'way from Boston. Won't that be nice? Come, kiss me, Prue. I +want to think of you smiling instead of crying, dear." + +Choking back her sobs, Prue made a brave effort to smile, but it was not +much of a success, and Randy found it difficult to say good-bye with even +a semblance of cheerfulness. She possessed a singularly loving and tender +nature, and this was the first time that she had left home, so that while +her heart was full of anticipation, it was impossible for her to go +without feeling keenly the parting. + +Tears filled her sweet eyes, as turning to her mother she said, + +"The planning has been so delightful, and I have been anticipating so much +that I have looked forward to this morning when I should start, but now +the time has come I almost wish I'd never said I'd go." + +"I know just how ye feel, Randy," said Mrs. Weston, "an' I must say 'twas +easier ter plan ter have ye go than ter say good-bye. Ye must cheer up, +though, and look bright an' happy when ye meet Miss Dayton in Boston. The +long ride in the cars will be new to ye, and ye must remember that yer +Aunt Prudence is ter be with us while ye're away, ter help me an' ter keep +me from bein' too lonesome, fer mercy knows how I shall miss ye. + +"I want ye should go, though; it's a great chance fer ye, and don't forget +ter write, Randy. I couldn't stand that," and Mrs. Weston's voice had in +it a suspicion of a sob. + +"Oh, I could not forget you all," said Randy, then with a kiss and a +clinging embrace she clambered into the wagon to a seat beside her father, +and her mother's waving handkerchief and Prue's little face with its +quivering lip were photographed upon her mind as she rode to the Centre to +take the train. + +They talked but little on the way to the depot. Randy found it a task to +keep her tears from falling, and the expression of her father's face told +more plainly than words what this parting cost. When her trunk had been +taken charge of and Randy had chosen a seat, her father bent to kiss her, +saying as he did so, + +"God bless ye, child! I never knew 'till ter-day what it meant ter say +good-bye ter ye. I only hope the visit will bring ye joy enough ter repay +ye fer this partin' and then I shall be satisfied. Write often to us, that +we may know ye are safe, and spend the money I put in yer little wallet. + +"Ah, don't say a word, Randy, I could well afford it, an' I put it there +jest fer a little surprise." + +As Randy was about to speak, the conductor entered saying, that those +persons who intended leaving the train must do so at once, as it was about +to start. + +With a hasty kiss and embrace, Randy saw her father leave the car and she +waved her hand to him as he stood upon the platform, then in a sudden +panic of desolation she hid her face in her handkerchief and cried like a +little child. A long time she crouched upon the seat, her head against its +plush back and her eyes hidden by her handkerchief, but after a time it +occurred to her that she was not doing as her father would wish. + +"I'm crying like a child," thought Randy, "and father and mother have done +every generous thing which they could think of to make me enjoy the long +ride and the visit. + +"Father would wish me to be brave, and mother would not like to see me +crying." + +Accordingly she sat up, and wiping her tears, made a determined effort to +look as she felt sure that a girl should look who was starting out for a +delightful visit. + +As she looked from the window and saw the flying landscape, it seemed as +if the rumbling wheels were saying, "Going away, going away," and again +the tears lay upon her lashes, but after a time the novelty of the +situation dawned upon her, and her sunny disposition found much that was +amusing in what was going on about her. + +Mrs. Weston had put up a tempting lunch in a pretty basket, so when a boy +came through the car bearing a large tray covered with doubtful looking +viands, and shouting in stentorian tones: + +"Poy, coiks, tawts an' sanditches," Randy was not tempted to buy, but she +watched the boy and wondered how he had the courage to walk the aisle +loudly bawling his wares. + +At one station a woman entered carrying an infant whose pudgy face lay +upon her shoulder, and about whose tiny body her right arm was tightly +clasped. In her left hand she carried a large and apparently heavy bag. +Four other children trotted after her down the aisle, and like a rear +guard a burly looking man followed the children carrying a tiny parcel. + +"What a horrid man," thought Randy, as he proceeded immediately to make +himself comfortable by occupying the larger part of a seat. + +He did permit one child to sit beside him, but he allowed the other three +to crowd around his wife who held the sleeping infant in her arms, and +kept a watchful eye upon the big bag which sat on the floor at her feet. + +Randy's attention was about evenly divided between watching the passengers +and enjoying the beauties of the autumn landscape as the flying train +passed first a village nestling at the foot of a mountain, then a forest, +then a lake whose surface reflected the gorgeous coloring of the trees +upon its shore, then another village, then a winding river which, +mirror-like, repeated the blue sky and the floating clouds. This endless +panorama was to Randy a most wonderful thing, and the beauty of it all as +it passed before her, filled her with delight. + +At noon the train stopped at a large depot which was far more pretentious +than any which she had yet seen, and Randy wondered why nearly everyone +left the car. When she noticed that many of the passengers had left their +parcels in their seats, she was amazed at what seemed to be gross +carelessness. That they went forth in search of lunch never occurred to +her, but realizing that she was hungry and that nearly all the seats were +vacant, she opened her basket and was touched when she saw that her mother +had remembered her little freaks of taste, and had made up a lunch of what +she knew would tempt her. In one corner was a tiny paper bag on which was +printed in little Prue's best manner, + + "For my Randy." + +Poor little Prue! The bag of candy which her father had brought from the +Centre to cheer the little girl and help to turn her attention from the +thought of loneliness when Randy should say "good-bye," proved +inefficient. Nothing could make Randy's departure less hard for little +Prue, and she had evidently found a bit of comfort in tucking the little +bag into a corner of the lunch basket, thus contributing her mite toward +Randy's pleasure. + +"Dear little Prue," murmured Randy, "she shall have the loveliest doll I +can find in Boston." + +The afternoon ride seemed longer and less amusing than that of the +morning. The novelty was wearing off, and Randy was beginning to feel +weary. + +When it grew dusky and in the towns along the way bright lights appeared, +a sudden fear took possession of her. What if she should be unable to see +Miss Dayton when she stepped from the train at Boston? + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +NEW FRIENDS + + +A brakeman passed down the aisle and commenced to light the lamps, and +Randy peeping from the window saw that the stars were shining. She knew +that at home old Snowfoot and the cows were under the shelter of the great +barn, and that father and mother and dear little Prue were seated around +the table. Tears filled her eyes and she quickly drew the curtain and +began to look about the brightly lighted car with the hope of seeing +something which should hold her attention and thus help to dispel the wave +of homesickness which swept over her. + +An old lady with a kindly face turned just in time to see Randy's +handkerchief at her eyes, and she hastened to speak a word of comfort. + +"Traveling alone, dear?" she asked so gently that Randy forgot to be +surprised, and she bowed her head in assent in place of the word which, +for the moment she could not speak. + +"I thought so," said the old lady, "but don't cry, your friends will +probably be at the depot in Boston when you arrive, will they not?" + +"Oh, yes," said Randy, "but it isn't that. I was thinking of those I'd +left at home," and away went the little handkerchief again to her eyes. + +"Ah, that is it," said the sweet old voice. "Well, the homesickness will +wear off after a time, and now in regard to to-night, your friends will +doubtless be waiting when this train gets in, but if by chance they are +not, you shall come to my home with me until we can get word to their +address that you are in Boston." + +"Oh, how good you are," said Randy. + +"I am only doing what I would have some one do for my daughter in a like +position," was the reply, and looking up, Randy saw a beautiful light in +the kind eyes which looked into hers, and without a word she laid her +hand in that of her new friend. + +"Boston! Boston!" shouted the brakeman, and with a start Randy found +herself suddenly upon her feet, and with the other passengers making her +way toward the door. + +The great train-house, the crowd, the trucks loaded with trunks and bags, +the lights, the noise and bustle so confused Randy that she failed to see +the face for which she was eagerly looking. + +"Do you see your friends?" asked the gentle voice, but as she stepped upon +the platform she was rejoiced to hear her name called by the voice which +she so well knew. + +"O Randy dear, you did come didn't you?" and for a moment Helen Dayton +held her young friend closely; then she noticed the old lady who stood +smiling at what was so evidently a happy meeting. + +Hastening toward her, Helen extended her hand as she said, + +"I am so glad to see you, Mrs. Seymour, are you acquainted with this dear +friend of mine? I thought you were conversing when you stepped upon the +platform." + +"We have had no introduction," said the old lady, smiling, "but we became +acquainted on the car just before we reached Boston." + +"And she promised to take me to her home if you did not arrive," said +Randy. + +"I am glad that I was prompt, that you might know how eager I was to see +you, but had I been late, I could have asked for no kinder friend, or more +charming home for you, Randy, than this which was so sweetly offered you +to-night." + +After formally introducing them, and thanking Mrs. Seymour for her +kindness, Miss Dayton led Randy through the depot to a side entrance, +where her carriage stood waiting. + +The coachman opened the door, and soon the little country maiden was being +whirled through the city streets, and the blaze of lights from the huge +store windows caused Randy to ask in wide-eyed wonder if there was +"anything special going on." + +"Oh, no," said Helen, "the streets are brightly lighted every night, and +the people are walking, hurrying, rushing back and forth, looking into the +windows of the great stores, as eagerly as if the doors were open for +customers; then hastening away to some place of amusement, or to their +homes." + +Randy leaned luxuriously against the cushioned back of the coupé, and with +her hand in Helen's, she continued to watch the hurrying throng, and to +wonder vaguely if there were a sufficient number of houses to shelter them +all if they happened to think of retiring. + +After what seemed to Randy to be a very long ride, the carriage stopped. + +Together they ascended the broad sandstone steps, and as the butler opened +the door, the soft light in the hall showed the glowing red of the walls +above the carved oak wainscoting, and the odor of flowers floated out to +greet them. + +Then down the stairway came a beautiful old lady, whose grace and dignity +bespoke the grand dame, as with gentle courtesy she moved toward Randy, +extending her hand in greeting. Without waiting for an introduction she +said, + +"My dear, I am sure that you are Randy, and I am going to tell you that I +am Helen's aunt, and that I think I have been as eager to have you with us +as Helen has been." + +Randy placed her hand in the one extended toward her, and looking frankly +up into the fine old face she said, + +"It is nice to have you so glad to see me, will you let me love you while +I stay? I think I cannot help it." + +"While you stay, and always," was the quick response accompanied by a firm +pressure of the young girl's hand, and Randy felt as if at once among +friends. + +Miss Dayton who had been giving the coachman instruction in regard to +Randy's trunk, turned in surprise to see her aunt and Randy engaged in +conversation. + +"I waived the ceremony of an introduction," said the elder woman with a +smile, "and I do assure you, Helen, that we are already quite well +acquainted." + +"While I thought Randy was just behind me waiting until her belongings +were safely housed," Helen answered with a gay laugh, for she saw at a +glance, that her friend had found favor in Aunt Marcia's eyes; those +discriminating eyes which never failed to recognize the frank and the +true, or to detect the sham, however skillfully concealed. + +"How lovely she is," thought Aunt Marcia, as Randy with Helen ascended the +staircase toward the room which was to be Randy's own, during her stay in +Boston. + +"How handsome your dear old aunt is," said Randy to Helen, as they walked +along the upper hall. "Her hair is like the frost, and her eyes just +twinkle, twinkle, like stars when the night is cold." + +"Why, what a pretty thought," said Helen. "Aunt Marcia was a great +beauty, and a portrait of her when she was presented at court, hangs in +the drawing-room. Sometimes I think she is even handsomer now, with her +fine gray eyes and waving hair. If you are pleased with her, Randy, I +assure you that she is delighted with you; and now here we are at the room +which is to be yours while you are with us." + +"Oh, what a lovely room," cried Randy. "Roses, pink roses on the walls, +and real roses in the vase on my table, and such a dear little bed. Why, +the quilt has roses on it, too! 'Tis like a fairy tale, and makes me feel +like a princess. Oh, if mother and father and little Prue could see--" + +Again a sob arose in her throat, although she bravely repressed it. + +"Not a tear to-night, Randy dear," said Helen, "but instead let me tell +you what will cheer you, and make you feel nearer to them all to-night. +This little desk is for your use, and all your letters home will be +written here, where you will find paper and pens and ink awaiting you. +Now, would you not like to write just a little note, saying that you +arrived safely, and Thomas shall post it, so that it shall reach its +destination as soon as possible. You are too tired to-night to write much +of a letter, but to-morrow you can write twenty pages if you choose." + +"And if I did, in all the twenty pages I could not tell them how much I +miss them, and yet how glad I am to be here," said Randy. "Isn't it odd to +be glad and sorry at the same time? + +"Well, I'll write the little note now, that they may receive it as soon as +possible." + +"And when it is written, come down to the hall where I will meet you, and +when we have given the note to Thomas, we will have dinner." + +"Dinner!" said Randy, "why I thought everyone had dinner at twelve +o'clock!" + +"In the city we have dinner at six, and lunch at one, and never a supper +at all," said Helen, smiling at Randy's frank look of surprise. "To-night +dinner will be later, because your train was delayed, and I wished you to +have time for your note." + +Randy hastened to write the little letter, and then proceeded to freshen +her toilet, and when with the envelope in her hand she tripped down the +hall where Helen stood waiting, she looked every inch the fresh, sweet +Randy of the New England hills. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright, +and the soft little ringlets curled over her temples in a manner most +bewitching. + +Oh, how grand the dining-room looked to the girl who had never seen +anything finer than the parson's house in the country village. + +The dinner was a simple one, but to Randy the room with its fine +furnishings, the rare flowers in the centre of the table, the noiseless +tread of the servant with his silver salver, the soft light from the great +chandelier, all seemed a part of the fairyland of which she had so often +read in the old volume of "Grimm's Tales" at home. + +It was remarkable, however, that with all that was new and beautiful about +her, Randy seemed as much at ease as if always accustomed to her present +surroundings. + +So innocent was she in her frank enjoyment of all the beautiful things +which she saw, and the absence of affectation in her manner made her +sincere admiration so delightful, that Helen felt that Randy was even more +charming than when they had last met, and Aunt Marcia completely +captivated, at once decided that never before had a young country girl +appeared to so great advantage when transplanted to a city home. + +After dinner Helen sang some pretty ballads for Randy, and Aunt Marcia +told with evident delight reminiscences of her youth. + +Randy admiring the full length portrait of the dear old lady as she had +appeared in earlier days, looked frankly up in her face and said, + +"You were lovely then, but I think you are grander now," which of course +delighted Aunt Marcia. + +When at last Randy lay in her dainty bed, the light from the great street +lamps shone across the room, and on the wall before her, she could see the +rose vines upon the paper, and counting the blossoms, she fell asleep. + +When the sun came in at her window, Randy awoke with a start, and turning +toward the little clock which ticked upon the table she was surprised to +find that it was quite time to dress. When Miss Dayton had told her that +breakfast would be served at eight, Randy had wondered at the lateness of +the hour, remembering that at home, seven o'clock was considered to be as +late as any energetic person would think of breakfasting. + +"To think that I shall have just time to make myself presentable, and at +home I should have been awake long ago, and by this time have dressed Prue +and myself and have eaten breakfast. Whatever made me sleep so soundly?" + +On the stairway she met Helen, and together they entered the dining room, +where before the crackling fire in the grate stood Aunt Marcia, waiting to +greet them. + +During breakfast, Helen proposed a drive to the shopping district when she +could make a few purchases and at the same time show Randy the wonders of +the great stores. + +"The school will not open until next week," said Helen, "and we will make +this week a succession of little pleasure trips. We will visit the places +of interest and endeavor to make you wholly at home in our city, and +before school opens I shall invite some of the girls who will be your +classmates to meet you, so that on the opening day you will feel that you +have some acquaintances in the school." + +At ten o'clock Randy seated beside Miss Dayton in the coupé, was riding +through the city streets and feeling the wildest excitement as she saw +other fine carriages threading their way among scores of pedestrians, +hurrying throngs passing in and out of the great stores, electric cars +and carriages, and indeed everything which was new and strange to her. + +While Helen and Randy were driving about the city, an animated +conversation was in progress in a home not far from Miss Dayton's. + +The leader, was a tall, slender girl of about Randy's age, whose dark eyes +spoke of truth and loyalty. She made a graceful picture when having +braided her long, dark hair she proceeded to tie it firmly with a bright +scarlet ribbon. + +"Of course I shall call upon her," she was saying. "I wonder that you ask +such a question. She is Miss Dayton's friend, and that, in itself, is +enough to make me wish to go. Miss Dayton is all that is lovely and I +would do much to please her; but aside from that, this girl is a stranger +and I am asked to give her my friendship. I shall call upon her the day +which she has set, and I shall go intending to like Miss Randy Weston." + +She gave the ribbon a determined twitch and a tactful person would have +considered the matter settled, as Nina Irwin usually meant what she said; +but Polly Lawrence was as tactless as she was fickle, which was saying +much, therefore she persisted in her questioning. + +"Isn't Randy a queer name, Nina? No name in particular is it?" + +"Very likely her name is Miranda, and Randy is just a cute little pet +name," said Nina. "Some people might question if Polly was much of a name, +when you were really named Mary, and here is Margaret whom we all call +Peggy, much to her disgust." + +"That comes of having brothers," remarked Peggy. "No one ever thought of +calling me anything but Margaret until Jack started it, and every one +seems bent upon doing as Jack does. Even Polly has decided to wear nothing +but red, since that is Howard's color. Alas! My big brother is turning +things topsy turvy, when every friend I possess is wearing red, +regardless of the color of her hair or complexion." + +"I've _always_ liked red," remarked Polly, "and as to this call, I suppose +I shall make it. No girl can afford to offend the beautiful Miss Dayton, +as it might mean the loss of some fine invitations." + +"I intend to please Miss Dayton because I like and admire her, and not for +any invitations which I might otherwise miss," said Nina. "In her kind +little note she speaks of Miss Weston as charming, and if she charms Helen +Dayton, she surely will be able to interest me." + +"We might call together," remarked Peggy, with a lazy little drawl. "If I +promise to call for you, Nina, I shall surely get there, you are so +energetic." + +"I'll call for you, Peggy, and together we'll call for Nina," said Polly. +"I confess I've no great interest in a country girl, so, if I'm going, +I'll go with you, and perhaps the three of us will be able to make the +call a bit lively." + +"I, for one, anticipate meeting this friend of Miss Dayton's, and as she +asked us to call on an afternoon of this week, I think we might go +to-morrow," said Nina. + +Accordingly on the following day, the three girls sat in the reception +room, each wondering just what Miss Randy Weston would be like. + +"Do you fancy that she is light, or dark? Let's guess, girls," whispered +Polly, but at that moment Miss Dayton entered with Randy's hand in hers. +With a bright smile of welcome, Randy extended her hand to each girl as +she was presented, and as Nina gave the hand a cordial pressure, Randy +said, + +"I am so glad that you have come, because you see I have left all my +friends at home," there was a little tremor in her voice, "and to find new +friends here, will make it less lonely when I enter the school next week." + +"You have gained three friends to-day," said Nina, "and when we meet at +school you will soon know all the other girls." + +"We could call for you on the first day," ventured Peggy, completely won +by Randy's sweet face and frank manner. + +"Oh, if you would," said Randy, with such evident delight, that Polly more +than half wished that she had made the suggestion. + +How they talked and chattered that afternoon, and when the three girls +took leave of Randy and Helen and walked briskly down the avenue, Nina, +with twinkling eyes, said to Polly, + +"I think she is one of the sweetest girls that I know, and Polly, did she +seem _very_ countrified to you?" + +"Now, Nina," Polly answered in a crestfallen tone, + +"Who knew that she was a regular beauty, and who for a moment supposed +that she would be dressed like a city girl?" + +"I said that if Miss Helen Dayton called her charming, I had no doubt +about it," said Nina, "and I am willing to say that she is even more +pleasing than I had imagined." + +"It is her pretty, truthful manner that makes me like her," said Peggy, +"and I mean to be her friend while she is here." + +Miss Dayton had seen at once that Randy was making a pleasant impression +upon the girls, and wondered if Randy was equally pleased with them. + +"Well, Randy," she said after the girls had left, and together they stood +before the fire-place. + +"Oh, I liked them," was Randy's quick reply. "They were so friendly. I +like Nina Irwin best, but they were all so pleasant that perhaps I should +not like one better than the others." + +"Nina has always been a favorite with me," said Helen, "and as you really +liked the others I do not see that it matters that of the three Nina is +the favored one. + +"They were evidently pleased with you, so you see you already have three +friends for school and two for home, for Aunt Marcia and I claim your +dearest love." + +"Oh, I love you best," said Randy, "I care for you next to the dear ones +at home." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE LITTLE TRAVELERS + + +The crisp air stirred the bright yellow leaves which clung lovingly to the +birches, and a few dull red leaves still rustled upon the stout branches +of the oaks, but many of the trees were bare, and under foot there lay a +thick carpet of dried foliage through which the children delighted to +scuff their way toward school. + +The squirrels scampered about the woodland, busily hoarding their winter +store of nuts, and in the field the crows flew around the ancient +scare-crow, cawing derisively at his flapping garments as if laughing at +his attenuated figure and mockingly asking him to partake of the husks of +the garnered corn. + +Overhead the sky was blue and cloudless and upon the eaves of the +farm-house the tiny sparrows chirped a greeting to little Prue who stood +irresolutely upon the threshold, a wistful expression in her pretty brown +eyes, as she twisted one of her short curls and looked over her shoulder +to say good-bye to Tabby who lay in her accustomed place upon the large +braided rug beside the kitchen stove. + +"Good-bye Tabby," she called, "it isn't any fun to go to school, now Randy +isn't here." + +Aunt Prudence, who, true to her promise, had arrived at her brother's home +on the day after Randy's departure, now appeared in the doorway. + +"Just starting for school Prue?" said she, "why you said good-bye to yer +mother an' me some time ago." + +"Well, it takes me longer to get started than when Randy was here," said +Prue. "It's diffe'nt now. I used to hurry to keep up with my Randy, but +now I don't care when I get there long as Randy isn't in the school 't +all. I want a letter from her, too, and I wonder why she doesn't be +sending me one." + +"Why, Prue, Randy sent you one yesterday, don't you remember? You took it +to bed with you last night," said Aunt Prudence. + +"But I want another one this morning," said Prue, and seeing tears upon +her cheeks, Aunt Prudence, with unusual gentleness, sat down upon the +threshold beside the wee girl, and endeavored to make it clear to her, +that having received a letter from Randy upon the afternoon of one day, it +would be impossible for another one to arrive on the morning of the next. + +"Well, I've got my Randy's letter buttoned inside my jacket," said Prue, +"but all the same I want another now, and oh I want my Randy more than +anything." + +It required a deal of coaxing to induce Prue to start for school and she +went reluctantly, saying as she turned to wave her hand to Aunt Prudence, +"I used to like school, but tisn't any fun 't all without my Randy." + +She walked down the road swinging her little lunch basket, and thinking of +the dear sister whom she so wished to see. At recess Prue left her little +mates and Hi Babson, searching for her, found her outside the yard sitting +disconsolately upon an old stump, her basket beside her, and her luncheon +untouched. + +"What's the matter, Prue," said Hi, "I want yer ter play squat tag with +us." + +"I don't want to play," said Prue, "I want my Randy." + +"But she's in Boston, ain't she?" asked Hi. + +"Yes, and I _want_ her, I'm tired of going to school without her." + +"_I'm_ tired of goin' ter school at all," said Hi. Then a peculiar light +appeared in his small black eyes. + +"I'll tell yer what we'll do," said he, "We'll go and _see_ Randy, you 'n +me. I know the way to the deepot, Prue, Yes sir, we'll go'n see Randy. I +guess she'll be glad 'nough ter see us 'n wont you be glad to see her, +though?" + +Little Prue's eyes grew round with delight. Since Randy was to be away +from home, of course the best thing would be to go to her. + +"Do you _truly_ know the way?" asked Prue, eagerly, laying her little hand +upon Hi's arm. + +"Guess I do. Ain't I been to the deepot times 'nough?" was the confident +reply. "You jest come 'long with me, Prue, an' I tell ye we'll find your +Randy. I'm bigger'n you be 'n I know." + +"When will we go, Hi?" asked Prue, now confident that her little champion +could take her safely to Randy. + +"Now," said Hi, "right off now. I don't know my lessons, so I don't want +ter go back ter school, an' teacher's a ringin' the bell this minute. Pick +up yer lunch basket, I've got some cookies I hooked out 'n the cupboard +an' a big apple that Belindy gave me, an' we'll eat 'em when we're in the +cars." So the two children trudged down the road; Prue happier than she +had been for days because of the delightful prospect of seeing Randy, and +Hi, knowing that he was naughty in staying away from school, but easing +his little conscience by thinking that he was comforting Prue. + +It was true that he was larger than Prue, but they were of the same age, +and as unlike as two children could possibly be. + +Prue was lovely in face and disposition, small of her age and graceful in +her movements. Hi was a plain, sturdy looking country boy; stubborn, full +of mischief and large for a boy of six. + +Down the road they walked, a resolute little pair; Prue chattering and +laughing, Hi rather silent until well out of sight of the schoolhouse, +when his spirits rose and he cheered the way by telling his little +companion wonderful tales of the delights of a journey in the cars. + +Having twice enjoyed a long car ride, he considered himself quite a +traveled personage, and he continued to enlarge upon the pleasures of the +trip to Boston until Prue's eyes danced, and she skipped along the road +unable from sheer delight to walk without an occasional little hop. + +"If we stay with Randy, we won't have ter go ter school," said Hi, "an' +you'n me can play all day." + +"And see my Randy every day," said Prue, "and oh, Hi, you don't know how +lovely she looked in her new clothes she had to go to Boston with." + +"Randy looked nice in anything," said Hi, "and I'll like ter see her, but +the best of it is, I ain't er goin' ter school. I hate school, anyway." + +"I like school when my Randy's in it, but I don't like anything where my +Randy isn't," said Prue, stoutly, "and now we're going to see her." + +As she danced along, her hand tightly clasping that of her companion, she +hummed merrily, and Hi accompanied her with a discordant whistle, +cheerfully unaware that he was quite off the key. + +"Does it take long to get to Boston?" asked Prue, abruptly. + +"No, I guess not," said Hi, "but it's a little longer'n I thought to the +deepot." + +"Don't you know the way?" she asked when upon reaching a fork in the road +Hi stopped and stared about him as if puzzled as to which to choose. + +"Oh, yes, I know the way to the deepot," said Hi, "only I was a thinkin' +which was the nearest way. Last time I went there with Uncle Joshua he +said, 'We'll go this way 'cause it's a short cut,' an' I guess this is it, +Prue, so come along." + +And away they went down the road which led directly away from the Centre. +Naughty little Hi was far from sure that they were walking in the right +direction, but he knew that they were not going toward school, and that in +itself was delightful, and a glance at Prue's smiling face assured him +that he was making her happy, so on they trudged, singing and whistling +as before. + +The sun was high overhead, and the light breeze blew the curls about +Prue's little face, until Hi looking at her said, + +"You're the nicest girl I know Prue; will ye give me some er your lunch, +if I'll give you half er my apple?" + +"Oh, yes," assented Prue, "I'm getting hungry too. Here, let's divide this +gingerbread first." + +Upon the low stone wall they perched, and a pretty picture they made, +sharing their lunch and throwing the crumbs to the sparrows that twittered +in the dusty road. + +"We've been walking so long, we must be most to the deepot, Hi," said +Prue. + +"I guess so," the small boy answered, "so now we've finished the lunch, +we'll just start along. Gim me yer hand, Prue; I'm a big boy, 'n I'm +takin' care er you." + +"Yes, you're taking care of me real good," Prue answered sweetly, "and I +love you fer taking me to my Randy, but Hi," she continued, "I'll _have_ +to sit down a minute, my feets are so tired." + +"Oh, there's time 'nough," said Hi. "We'll rest a while, an' then, after +we've walked a little ways, fust thing you'll see'll be the deepot. Then +when we git inter the cars, we shall sit on the soft seat and jest rest +'til we get ter Randy's." + +"Well, then, let's hurry," said Prue, "I'm some rested now, and if we run +we'll get there all the sooner." + +But Prue was more weary than she knew, and her little legs refused to run, +so, settling into a jog trot the two tired children pushed onward, each +step carrying them farther from the depot and at the same time farther +from home. + + * * * * * + +When the pupils filed into the schoolroom after recess, Miss Gilman missed +Prue and Hi, and questioned a number of scholars in regard to them. + +"I seen 'em a-settin' on a stump back er the school," volunteered one +small boy, "Want me ter go'n look for 'em?" + +Permission given him, the boy ran out, delighted with the thought that he +might thus elude one recitation; but a long search failing to discover the +missing children, he was obliged to return with the information that he +had looked everywhere and they weren't "anywheres 'raound the place." + +"Possibly they have gone home," said Miss Gilman, but a vague uneasiness +took possession of her, and when the afternoon session commenced with both +children absent, she determined to call after school at the Weston's and +see if Prue were safe, at the same time sending the Babson girls home in +haste to learn if Hi could be found. + +When Prue did not return at noon, Mrs. Weston was not alarmed, as the +little girl often stayed at the school when, as on this day, she had in +her little basket a hearty lunch, and before Prue could have possibly +reached home in the afternoon Miss Gilman, with a desperate attempt to +appear calm, called to ask if the little girl had been unable to attend +the afternoon session. + +"Ill? Why no, indeed! Why, what is it you say, Miss Gilman? That Prue has +not been at school since the morning recess?" + +The color left Mrs. Weston's cheek, and she leaned heavily upon the table, +while Aunt Prudence, speaking with more confidence than she really felt, +exclaimed, + +"Now it's no use gettin' frightened. She's likely enough in someone's +house as safe as can be, and what we've got ter do is ter harness up an' +call at the houses where Prue is acquainted an' she'll be with us before +dark, I'll warrant ye." + +Just at this point, Belinda Babson breathless and excited, ran in at the +door crying wildly, + +"Oh, Miss Gilman, Mrs. Weston! Little Hi isn't at our house and a man just +told father that he saw Hi and Prue sitting on the stone wall away over on +the mill road, and that was long before noon time. Where can they be now? +Mother's just wild and Aunt Drusilla's lost every idea she ever had. She's +just wringing her hands and crying, and a saying that she's afraid that +they're lost and wont be found." + +Mr. Weston, coming in from the barn, heard Belinda's words and saw her +frightened face. + +With a grave expression in his kind gray eyes, he said, + +"There, there mother, I wouldn't get too frightened. Prue's out of sight? +Well, I'll start out ter find her, and we'll hope that she is not so far +off but that I shall soon bring her home." But to the mare he muttered as +he adjusted the harness, + +"This is bad business, Snowfoot. Two little folks lost and no idea where +ter look for 'em." + +And while two households were wild with fear, while Mr. Weston and Joshua +Babson were driving in every direction, stopping at the door of the +farm-houses to enquire if the children were there, or had been seen, the +two little ones who were the cause of all this commotion were still +walking wearily down the road, Prue hoping yet to see the cars which +should take her to Randy, and Hi beginning to think that he had lost his +way. The last glint of yellow had faded from the western sky, as Hi +proposed that they cut through the woods to "gain time," he said. + +"Oh, I'm 'fraid to go into the woods when it's getting dark," wailed Prue. + +"But me'n Uncle Joshua did the day we went the shortest way," said Hi, +"an' this looks just like the place. _I_ ain't 'fraid so you needn't be, +an' we've _got_ ter go the quickest way because it's gittin' late." + +Prue gave her hand to Hi, and together they entered the woods, trudging +wearily on toward the place where, between the distant trees they could +see the western sky. Their tired little feet stumbled on, tripping over +fallen twigs, and gnarled roots of the great trees. Prue was crying now +and Hi, anxious to keep up, at least a semblance of the big boy and +protector, made desperate efforts to swallow the lump in his throat which +was growing larger every moment. Prue had lost her lunch basket, but she +held Randy's letter tightly clasped in her hand, and the basket was +forgotten in her eagerness to keep a firm hold upon the treasured missive. + +"Oh, Hi, I've _got_ to sit down again, I'm so tired, and I'm cold, too," +she cried. + +Hi, with all his faults, was a kind-hearted little fellow, so with a deal +of gallantry he pulled off his jacket, saying, + +"This'll make ye warm, Prue, I'm a big boy so I don't mind." + +Hi heaped a mass of dry leaves together, saying, + +"We might lay down on these leaves jest a few minutes 'til we're a little +warmer, an' then when we're rested we'll go on again. We _must_ be 'most +there now, Prue." + +By snuggling closely beside her, the boy endeavored to make up for the +loss of his coat, and so completely tired out were the two little +wayfarers, that sleep overtook them, and in their dreams Prue saw her +beloved Randy, while Hi seemed floating through space upon one of the red +plush car seats on the way to Boston. + +After fruitless calls at the farm-houses Mr. Weston, now thoroughly +alarmed called upon his neighbors for assistance, and searching parties +with lanterns and torches commenced to scour field and wood. + +In and out between the great trees they wandered, their torches and +lanterns looking like giant fire-flies; and in every direction they +searched for the two little travelers; now at the margin of the woodland, +then in again to the heart of the forest. One man recounted to his +companion how several years before two children had been lost, and +although desperate search was made, they were not found until the pond was +dragged. Another farmer, determined not to be outdone, told, with bated +breath, of a bear which had been seen coming down the mountain, and that +when two hunters had given chase, he had disappeared in the woods. + +"I shouldn't like to have the children meet him," said the man. + +"Be still!" commanded his companion, "do ye want Square Weston ter hear +ye? He's 'nough worried now without yer tales er bears an' drowndings." + +As Mr. Weston passed them, his lantern revealed the pallor of his face, +and one man muttered to the other, + +"Ef they're not ter be faound alive, then I hope it'll not be the Square +that finds 'em." + +"That's so, man," the other returned, "'tho' it would be a hard job fer +any of us ter larn that aught had befallen little Prue, and even that +little scamp, Hi Babson, I'd hate ter think of a hard fate fer him, he was +so brimmin' over with fun." + +One man had strayed from the party, and with his torch held above his head +was slowly making his way through the underbrush, when, emerging from the +thicket, his foot touched something which but softly resisted it. +Thinking it to be some old and mossy log, he shifted his torch to the +other hand, and was preparing to step over the obstacle whatever it might +be, when, as the smoke blew backward, the flaming torch revealed the +sleeping children, Prue still holding Randy's letter in her hand, Hi with +a protecting arm about his little companion. + +"Well, of all the pretty sights!" he ejaculated. "Safe an' saound an' warm +I'll bet ye, but haow on airth come they over here?" + +Then with another look at the sleeping children, he hastened to rejoin the +party and to tell the joyful news that the little ones were found. + +When the crowd of torch-bearers hastened to the spot and gathered about +the wanderers, Prue and Hi sat up and rubbed their eyes, evidently +wondering what had caused such a commotion. [Illustration: As the smoke +blew backward, the flaming torch revealed the sleeping children] + +"How did ye git lost?" asked a farmer of Prue. + +"We wasn't lost," answered Prue, "How could we be lost when we knew where +we was going? We was going to Boston to my Randy, and we're 'most to the +cars, but we're just resting a little while first." + +To Uncle Joshua Babson, little Hi looked for pardon for this latest prank. + +"I wasn't naughty _this_ time," he said, "I knew the way to Boston, and +Prue felt so lonesome 'thout Randy that I was goin' ter take her there." + +"Never mind that, my boy," Uncle Joshua answered, "the main thing is ter +git ye home, an' stop yer mother's frettin'. She's in the mood ter forgive +most anything, sence yer safe and sound." + +Tired little Prue lay in her father's arms, crying softly, her face hidden +upon his breast. + +"There, there, don't cry, Prue, ye're all safe now. See, I have ye in my +arms, an' soon we'll be home with mother an' Aunt Prudence." + +"But if you take me home now," wailed Prue, "it'll be to-morrow 'fore I +could start again to find Randy, and we meaned to get there to-night." + +"But mother's 'bout sick a worryin' sence ye went off with Hi and didn't +tell where ye was goin'. Did ye think of it, Prue, that mother misses +Randy, so couldn't spare ye, too?" + +"Oh, I never thought," Prue answered, "I wanted to see my Randy, but I +didn't 'member that if I went to Boston there wouldn't be any girls 't all +in our house." + +With his lantern on his arm and his little daughter clasped to his breast, +Mr. Weston tramped along the rough road escorted by two neighbors who with +their torches made a path of light before him. As they reached the house, +two white-faced women saw them, but while Aunt Prudence hastened to open +the door Mrs. Weston drew back. + +"Alive or,--" + +"I want some supper," exclaimed a very energetic little voice and the +mother sprang forward to take her lost one in her arms. + +"Oh Prue, don't ye leave us again," she cried, her tears dropping upon the +soft curls. + +"But I was going to get my Randy and bring her home to you," said Prue, +"and I forgot that when I was away to Randy's there wouldn't be any girls +to take care of you 'n Tabby." + +That night, as an especial favor, Prue was allowed to take Tabby to bed +with her, and as she lay with her arms about the cat, she thought that, +although her journey to Boston was prevented, there yet were comforts at +home, and Tabby accustomed to sleeping in the shed, must have thought the +millennium had come. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +JUST A ROSE + + +It had been an easy task to convince little Prue that she must not again +attempt to run away to Randy, but must try to be a little comfort to those +at home; but no amount of reasoning could make her less lonely, until such +a delightful thing happened. + +A box addressed to Miss Prue Weston arrived one morning, and when its +cover was removed, there lay the loveliest dolly, evidently sound asleep. +As Prue lifted her from the box, her eyes opened wide, causing the little +girl to jump and exclaim, + +"My! Did you see her wink? Is she alive?" + +It was the first modern doll which Prue had seen, and she could hardly +believe that aught but a living thing could open and shut its eyes, or +smile so radiantly, thereby showing little pearly teeth. Oh the wonder of +the soft curling hair, the turning head, and jointed arms and legs! + +Her dress was made from a lovely shade of blue satin, and her hat was a +fine specimen of doll's millinery. In her hand she held a tiny envelope +which enclosed a letter from Randy to Prue,--printed, that the little +sister might have the pleasure of reading it for herself. + + "DEAR LITTLE PRUE:--I send this pretty doll to you. Her name is + Randy Helen Weston, named for two whom I know you love dearly. + You will make me very happy while I am here in Boston, if you are + good at school, and a little comfort to mother at home. Let the + Randy doll help you to wait cheerfully until I return, and I + shall be glad that I sent her. Print little letters to me, + telling me what is happening at home and at school, and remember + that I am + + "Your loving sister, + RANDY." + +All the children were invited to come on Saturday and see the wonderful +doll, and Randy Helen Weston was made to open and shut her lovely eyes, to +turn her head, to extend her beautifully jointed arm to her callers; to +cry, to stand alone upon her daintily-slippered feet, and, in fact, to +astonish them as much as possible and allow them to depart, glad of Prue's +happiness, or green with envy, according as their dispositions prompted +them. + +Prue was wild with delight, and was about to print a letter for Randy, +when it was proposed at school that the long letter from her schoolmates +should be written and little Prue was invited to have a part in it. + +The letter was a most amusing one, and Randy and Helen laughed heartily as +they saw the characteristics of the writers, as manifest, as if each had +been present. + +They had taken half sheets of paper and pasted the ends together so that a +long strip of writing paper was obtained. Then each friend had written +and signed his contribution, and truly the result was unique. Prue had +been given ample space for her part of what she termed the "party letter," +and with great care she printed it. Her spelling was phonetic. + + "DEAR RANDY:--Nobudy ever had a dolly so lovely as mine you + sended me. I ust tu take Tabby tu bed wiv me but now I take mi + dolly. 1 day Tabby washed her hare, I meen my dollys hare I gess + she thort it waz 1 of her kittns. Tabbys got tu kittns. They has + not got thay ize open yet, so I tryd tu pick um opn, but arnt + Prudence sed that wood be cruil. If thay cant git thay ize opn + thayselfs why aint I good tu pick um opn wiv my fingus + + "Yor little + PRUE." + +"What _will_ Prue do next, I wonder?" said Randy. + +"The idea of thinking that because those little cats could not open their +eyes, it would be a fine idea to 'pick' them open!" + +Randy pitied those kittens, but she could not help laughing as she thought +of Prue's efforts to help them. + +"She is probably wild to have those kittens see her new doll," said Miss +Dayton. + +The long letter from her schoolmates at home had reached Randy on a stormy +Saturday morning, when the wind was blowing the snow against the windows +with such force that it sounded like hail. She thought of the horses +harnessed to the rough snow ploughs "breaking out" the roads at home, of +the pine trees laden with what looked to be giant masses of white fruit, +of the snow-capped mountains and of little Prue, with hood and mittens, at +play with Johnny Buffum, and she wished to be borne there by some +magician, if only for a moment, that she might see it all as she had seen +it, ever since she could remember. + +Randy was, from the first, one of the most promising scholars at the +private school which she had entered a week after her arrival in Boston, +and her letters to father and mother, Aunt Prudence and to her friends at +the little district school were full of enthusiasm for study and ambition +to excel. + +Saturdays she spent in recreation, but this day she had especially wished +might be fair. Aunt Marcia had predicted snow the night before, but Randy +had laughingly refused to listen to it, preferring to believe that the sun +would shine. + +There was to be a fine concert in the afternoon, and Helen had secured +tickets for Randy, Aunt Marcia and herself, and as this was the first +concert that Randy had ever dreamed of attending, she was naturally +anxious for a fine day. + +"It blows a gale," said Aunt Marcia, at the breakfast table. "Really, +Helen, if it is such a hurricane as this, I would not advise you to go +this afternoon." + +"There are always concerts which are well worth attending," said Helen, +"so if it continues to blow and snow like this, I think we shall stay +cosily at home and attend some other concert next Saturday." + +To Helen one concert more or less meant little; but Randy watched the sky +with anxious eyes, and just before eleven, a tiny bit of blue sky was +visible. How she watched it! At half past eleven it was a large blue +opening, and when the soft chiming of the clock announced in silvery tones +that twelve o'clock had arrived, there was no doubt that the afternoon +would be fair. + +Lunch was served earlier than usual, and Randy hastened to her room to +dress for the concert. Twice she stepped from the dressing case to the +window to see if the blue sky was still visible, and when at last the +sunlight lay upon the carpet she laughed, and pinning her blue hat with +its soft feathers securely in place she hurried from the room and down the +stairway where in the hall she waited for Helen. + +Usually Randy thought it luxurious to nestle close to Helen in the +carriage, but this afternoon she wished that she might have walked, just +because her excitement made it difficult for her to placidly ride to the +great hall where Miss Dayton had told her that she should hear the +sweetest of music. As they rode along, Randy wondered if all the carriages +which she saw, were conveying their occupants to the concert, and she was +conscious of a mild regret for pedestrians who were wending their way in +an opposite direction. + +"They are not to enjoy the concert," she thought. + +"A penny for what is in your mind, Randy," said Helen, laying her hand +upon Randy's arm. + +"I was just wondering how many of the people whom I see on foot and in +carriages are going to the concert," said Randy. + +"Does the concert mean so much to you?" said Helen. + +"I cannot tell you how much," Randy answered, "but I have watched the +clouds, and hoped it would be fair this afternoon, and when I saw the +sunlight upon the floor, just before we started, I danced across my room +and down the stairs to meet you. I have heard you play and sing, oh, so +sweetly, I have heard little Janie's bird-like voice at home, and Sandy +McLeod has often played his pipes for me, but to-day I am to hear the +violins and listen to the great singer of whom you have told me. Oh, I can +hardly wait to get there, and to hear the music." + +"Well you haven't much longer to wait," said Helen, as the carriage +stopped before the entrance to the great hall. + +As the crowd surged toward the doorway, Randy began to think that all the +people whom she had seen and many more had decided that the concert was +too great a treat to miss. + +Once in their seats, Randy looked about her, and found great delight in +studying the faces and costumes of the vast audience. She smiled as she +thought of that summer day when in old Nathan Lawton's front parlor she +took part in the school exhibition and received the prize in the presence +of an assemblage of fifty persons, and considered it a "crowd." + +A slight commotion caused Randy to turn just in time to see the members of +the great orchestra taking their places. Then some late arrivals attracted +her attention. Two ladies with a beautiful little girl were seating +themselves on the opposite side of the aisle, and the child's face, with +her soft curls and brown eyes reminded Randy of the little sister at home. +Then a strange hush pervaded the hall, and as the director swayed his +baton, twenty bows were drawn across the strings of as many violins in one +grand chord of sweetest harmony. + +Randy started, and laid her hand upon Helen's, while with parted lips she +gazed at the musicians who were making the fairy-like music which so +enthralled her. Her sensitive lips quivered, and her breath came quickly +as the orchestra played the varying movements of a grand sonata. + +Enraptured with the music, tears filled her eyes during the gentle adagio, +and a bright smile chased away the tears when the next movement, a +brilliant polacca, filled the hall with its tripping measures. When the +last chord had died away Randy turned toward Helen and whispered, "Oh, I +never heard anything like that! Will they play again?" + +With a smile, Helen pointed to the other numbers upon the program which +the orchestra would perform, and Randy, with a contented little sigh, +leaned back to await the next number, when the Prima Donna, a vision of +loveliness, came forward to sing. + +Randy watched and listened and wondered, vaguely, if an angel could sing +like that. + +Her solo ended, the singer, bowing low, retired, but not for long, for +others beside Randy realized the beauty of the song and the wonderful +voice of the vocalist, and round after round of applause pleaded for her +return. + +Yet more applause, and again she stood before them, gracefully bowing her +acknowledgment of the compliment. + +Again the sweet notes filled the hall, and Randy leaned eagerly forward to +catch each silvery tone. + +When the song was finished, Helen said "Was not that a wonderful bit of +music?" + +"Oh, yes," said Randy, "how I wish that I could tell her that I think her +voice is like the violins." + +"I know her very well," Helen replied, "and I will tell her how her +singing has entranced you." + +"Tell her," said Randy, eagerly, "that I think nothing in all the world +was ever half so sweet." + +Then another number by the orchestra held Randy's attention and thus +through the afternoon until she felt as if her pulses were throbbing with +the rhythm of the music. She marveled that between the numbers many of the +vast audience talked and chatted merrily. The lovely little girl across +the aisle was fast asleep. Why were they ready to talk after listening to +such grand music, and how could anyone, even a child, sleep when there was +yet another witching air to be sung, another composition for those +wonderful musicians to execute! + +Miss Dayton found it an interesting study to watch Randy's face, and to +see portrayed there the varying movements of each composition. + +Just before the last selection was rendered, Helen penciled a hasty note +upon her card, and giving it to an usher, bade him take it to the great +singer and wait for a word in reply. The man took the card and hastened to +the room at the rear of the stage returning almost immediately with the +card which bore upon the reverse side these words, + +"A cordial welcome after the concert to Miss Helen Dayton and her friend." + +Leaning toward Helen, Randy read the invitation signed by the name of the +singer, and she caught her breath as she realized that she was about to +meet one who seemed to her so far above the realm of ordinary mortals. + +When the audience began to leave the hall and Helen led the way to the +dressing room, Randy walked beside her, sure that no girl was ever before +so favored. To hear the wonderful voice was rapture, to talk with the +singer,--Randy could hardly believe that in a few moments she should +experience so great a pleasure. + +When at last they reached the pretty room, they found the great vocalist +chatting merrily with the lovely child who had sat opposite Randy and had +slept through half of the afternoon. + +"And so you became tired," the lady was saying. + +"Not when you were singing," said the little girl, frankly, "but when the +violins and flutes and all the other things had played and played, they +made me sleepy, and I just lay back in my seat and shut my eyes a minute +when mama said:-- + +"'Come Marguerite, it is time to go, if you wish to see Madam Valena.' and +that made me open my eyes wide, I did so wish to see you." + +Quite like a miniature lady she made the little courteous speech, but she +was every inch a child as she clambered up into a chair where, upon +tip-toe she offered her lips for a kiss. Then away like a gay little +butterfly she flew to join her friends. + +Helen, taking Randy's hand, led her across the room and presented her. + +The singer and Miss Dayton's mother had been firm friends, and Helen was +always accorded a most cordial welcome. + +The table was heaped with flowers, and Randy, seeing such a profusion of +blossoms, wondered that she had thought for a moment of offering the +lovely rose which she held in her hand, to one to whom a single blossom +must seem of little value. + +With the cordial greeting and firm handclasp, Randy realized that the +sweet face bending over her, belonged to a woman as lovely in character, +as in person, and she gathered courage to speak the words which were +nearest her heart. + +"I did not know that any living being could sing as you sang this +afternoon," she said, "it made me think of the birds in the trees at home, +of the brook in the woods, of the white rose in my hand, and I longed to +give it to you, but when I saw all these lovely flowers, I felt that you +would not care for my one blossom, you would not understand,--" with a +queer little break in her voice, Randy ceased speaking and looking up into +the brilliant face was surprised to see two bright tears upon her cheek. + +"Not care for your flower? I want it more than all of these," she said, +gently taking the rose from the slender hand which held it, and placing it +in the folds of lace upon her breast. + +"With all the honors which I have won, with all the praise for my work +which I have received, no compliment ever offered me was more genuine, or +sincere, and this rose I shall keep in memory of the girl who gave it. + +"Let me give some of my flowers to you, in return for your words which +have moved me more than you think. + +"O! Helen," she continued. "I received my first inspiration from the birds +and the brook at home, when as a little country girl I listened to their +voices, and longed to make my tones as pure as theirs. This young girl has +brought it all back to me so clearly, that I see myself, a little barefoot +child, wading in the brook and mocking the birds which sang in the +branches above me." + +A maid approached, and laid a long fur wrap about Madam Valena's +shoulders, at the same time announcing that her carriage was waiting. + +Clasping the great cluster of brilliant blossoms closely, Randy said as +they parted, + +"I shall never forget you," and looking from her carriage window the +singer smiled as she said, + +"I shall keep your rose in memory of you." + +As they rode homeward Helen told Randy much of Madam Valena's life as her +mother had known her, of her close application to study, and of her +success, and when at home they found Aunt Marcia seated before the fire +place, placidly watching the dancing flames, Randy rushed in, and sitting +upon a low hassock, she related all the wonders of the afternoon, ending +with, + +"And oh, I wish that you had been there to see and hear it all." + +"Why, Randy, child!" exclaimed Aunt Marcia laughing, "I thought it rather +cold this afternoon, and stayed cosily at home instead of accompanying you +and Helen, but now your eyes shine like stars, and I begin to believe +that I missed much by not attending the concert. I knew the program was a +fine one, and Madam Valena is truly a most charming person." + +"Indeed she is," assented Randy, "and she looked so queenly, I never +thought she would really talk to me, but oh, do you know that she was once +a little country girl? When I looked at her I could not imagine it." + +"I know a little country maid, who no one would suppose had not spent all +her life in the city," said Aunt Marcia, with a smile, "only that she +enjoys every pleasure with a keen delight unknown to the girl who feels +that she has seen all that there is to be seen many, many times." + +"I shall never feel that way," said Randy, "how could I tire of the sweet +music, or of watching the crowd in the city streets? I was never tired of +listening to the birds at home and I'm sure," she added with a laugh, "I +even enjoyed watching the people coming into our little church. There is +always something new everywhere; and I am looking for it." + +"That is a part of the secret of your happiness, Randy," said Aunt Marcia, +"you intend to be delighted and usually succeed." + +"Why, I am still holding the flowers which Madam Valena gave me," said +Randy, "I must place them in water," and she hastened to find a suitable +vase in which to arrange them. They formed a brilliant bit of color in the +centre of the table when dinner was served, and caused Randy to talk once +more of the concert. + +"It was all so charming that I suppose I stared; at least Polly Lawrence +said that I did." + +"I saw Polly with you just as we were leaving the hall," said Helen, "what +did you say that she said?" + +"She said, 'Why Randy Weston, you are staring at everybody and everything +as if you'd never attended a concert before!'" + +"How singularly rude," said Aunt Marcia, little pleased that Randy should +be thus spoken to. + +"And what did you say to that, Randy," asked Helen, wondering if Polly's +speech had cut deeply. + +With a frank smile Randy answered,--"I said, 'Well this _is_ my first +concert. Possibly _you_ would be surprised if you had never before +experienced such a pleasure.'" + +Helen and her aunt were much amused that Randy could answer so readily a +remark which was intended to embarrass her, and they realized that Randy's +frankness in admitting herself a country girl quite unused to city +pleasures, would disarm a girl like Polly, more successfully than any +amount of artifice or pretense. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A SCOTCH LINNET + + +The sky was a cold, leaden gray, and down from the mountains swept a +pitiless wind, which whistled through the bare branches of the trees and +tossed a few dried leaves before it, as it hurried on as if with a fixed +determination to reach every corner of the village and chill everything +which it could touch. + +It leveled the few standing cornstalks and caused the dry twigs to rap a +tattoo upon the windows of the farm houses. It attacked the shivering form +of a lonely little cur who took his tail between his legs and scurried +away down the road in search of some sheltering barn or shed; it nipped +little Hi Babson's ears and snatching his cap, tossed it over the wall and +across the field where it lay, held fast in a clump of bushes. + +Hi secured the cap, and as he pulled it down about his ears he looked back +in the direction from which the gust had blown, and shaking his little +fist exclaimed, + +"Nasty old wind! I hate ye and ye know it. 'F I'd a been 'lowed ter stay +home an' whittle like I wanted ter, I wouldn't a lost my cap. I scratched +my fingers gittin' it, an' _that_ makes me mad." + +Again he shook his little fist at his enemy, the wind, but as it did not +cease blowing, he drew on his mittens and sulkily plodded on toward +school. His cold fingers smarted where the briers had torn them, and he +felt resentful that he should be on his way toward the despised school +house, quite forgetting that by the fireside with his beloved whittling he +usually managed to cut his fingers. + +Whistling lustily, Jack Marvin came down the road, overtaking Hi as he +stumbled along, a most disconsolate little figure. + +"Hello, Hi," said Jack. "Why, look here little feller," as he noticed +tears in the bright black eyes. + +"'Most frozen, and didn't want ter come ter school, either? Say, gimme yer +hand, mine are warm, an' you'n me'll be in school in no time. What's that? +Ain't done yer sums? Well, now, little chap, you jist come along quick, +an' 'fore ye know it ye'll be gittin' warm in the school room an' I'll +show ye 'bout yer sums 'fore the bell rings. My, but it takes you'n me ter +make good time over the road!" + +Jack Marvin never could bear to see a child in tears, and his kind heart +was delighted when little Hi skipped along beside him, laughing gaily, in +spite of the traces of tears upon his cheeks. + +Hi looked up to Jack as one of the best among the "big boys," and to race +along beside him and be assured of help with his lessons, took every care +from the little fellow's mind, and he laughed and whistled in company with +Jack. + +The boys turned up their collars or ducked their chins beneath the folds +of woollen mufflers; and the girls drew their wraps about them and hurried +on, eager to reach the schoolhouse and gain shelter from the icy blast. + +About the great stove they hovered, scorching their faces, while they +endeavored to get thoroughly warmed before the hands of the clock should +point to nine. Two girls were missing from the group around the stove. +Randy Weston, who had been at school in Boston for three months, and +Phoebe Small, whose incessant teasing had at last prevailed, and who had +six weeks before experienced the joy of going away to boarding school. It +was not that Phoebe did not love her home, or enjoy the friendship of her +mates, but she had long entertained the idea that a boarding school was +the only school worth attending. + +She had wished Randy good luck when she started for Boston, but she could +not stifle a feeling of envy, and it seemed impossible for her to stay +quietly at home attending the district school. + +In vain Mrs. Small insisted that Phoebe would be homesick, that Randy was +with friends, while at boarding school all would be strangers. Phoebe +invariably answered, + +"Well I'd just like to try it and see how it would seem. I could write +letters home to the girls as Randy does, and I think that would be just +grand." + +At last it occurred to Mrs. Small that the best thing for Phoebe would be +to grant her wish. + +"I know that she will be homesick before she's been away a week," she said +to her husband, "but she cannot be convinced, and perhaps if we allow her +to try it, she will get all and more than she wants of it, and come home +with a mind to be contented." + +So one bright morning Phoebe was driven to the station on her way to a +school for girls which was under the direction of two ladies who were +friends of Mrs. Small. Immediately upon her arrival she sent a note to +her mother in which she told in glowing words of the pleasure of her ride +in the cars, and her reception by the two elderly ladies who presided over +the school. + +Then, after a week had passed another letter came the general tone of +which was less cheerful. Then a fortnight slipped by, and a brief letter +told only of her studies, and said not a word of the delights of boarding +school life. Then, as time passed and the mail brought no letter from +Phoebe, her mother became anxious. + +"I do hope she's well, and I must say I wish I'd never consented when she +begged to go," said Mrs. Small a dozen times a day, to which her husband +would reply, + +"Oh, she's all right. If she was sick they'd let us know. Most likely +she's had 'nough of it, and hates ter say so." + +"Well, all the same, if I don't get a letter from her to-day, I'll go +after her to-morrow." Mrs. Small answered, as the wind whistled around the +corner and down the chimney. + +While this conversation was in progress at the Small homestead, the same +subject was being discussed at the village school. Because of the intense +cold, Miss Gilman permitted the scholars to enjoy the recess indoors and +they formed little groups about the great stove, eating their lunch and +discussing those topics which lay nearest their hearts. + +"I guess my Randy knows 'most everything now," Prue was saying. "She has +such long lessons, and studies late, and she's seen the big stores, and +she's been to a concert full of fiddles where she saw a great big Primmy +Dommy!" + +"Why, what's that?" asked little Hitty Buffum. "Wasn't she 'fraid when she +saw the Primny what yer call it comin'?" + +"I do'no," said Prue, "she didn't say, but whatever 'twas, I guess 'twas +pretty big, my Randy said so." + +Evidently the children considered that in Boston one might see strange +creatures of every type, and Randy Weston had been privileged to see one +of the largest. Just at this moment Hi Babson joined the little group. + +"Want ter know what I done Saturday?" he asked, his black eyes gleaming +with mischief. + +"I hadn't learnt my lessons fer Monday, and ma said I must stay up in the +spare room 'til I knew 'em all by heart. I didn't like ter stay up there +alone, but when I found I got ter, I set down on the mat an' 'twan't long +before I'd learnt half of 'em. Just 'bout that time I heard a awful +scratching an' then I 'membered that Uncle Joshua set a mouse trap down by +the beaury. When I looked, there was a little mouse in it, an' all to once +I knew what I'd like ter do. + +"The bedclothes was pulled down over the foot-board, an' I could see the +slit in the tick where they poke in their hands to stir up the straw. I +put the trap with the mouse in it, in there among the straw, an' then I +went down just as quiet as I could, an' got old Tom an' tugged him +upstairs. + +"When I put him on the bed an' held his head over the hole in the tick, +you'd oughter seen his tail switch! The mouse was a runnin' 'round in the +cage, an' Tom dove into the slit a scatterin' the straw all over the bed. +My! Didn't it fly?" + +"Why you naughty, bad boy," said little Hitty Buffum. + +"What _did_ they say to you," asked Prue. + +"Ma didn't say much," said Hi. "I laid down on the floor and rolled over +an' over, a laughin' like anything 'til ma come in, an' she jest looked at +that bed, drove Tom out'n the room an' then she took hold er me, an' I,--I +had ter stop laughin' ter cry 'n Grandma Babson said, 'That boy'll yet +come to the gallus.'" + +A group of the larger girls were comparing the letters which Randy had +sent with those which they had received from Phoebe Small. + +"Randy says that she misses the folks at home, and her friends here at +school, but aside from that her letters are cheerful, and she feels that +she is getting on so rapidly that it makes her contented," said Molly +Wilson, "and she must enjoy the pleasant things which Miss Dayton plans +for her Saturdays." + +"We miss Randy," said Belinda Babson, "but of course we're glad that she +is having such a lovely winter." + +"She writes just as she talks, and when we get one of her letters it seems +as if she were with us," said Jemima. + +"I didn't know what to make of Phoebe Small's last letter," said Dot +Marvin. "She commenced by saying that she could never do as she wished, +that she didn't like her roommate and that the two ladies who kept the +school watched them so closely that the girls could hardly breathe without +asking permission. Then she wrote, 'I don't want to say that I'm homesick +but,--' and then she signed her name. She didn't finish the sentence, but +there were two blistered places just above the name, as if the paper had +been wet, and I am sure that she was crying while she wrote." + +Miss Gilman touched the bell, and the pupils took their places. Recess was +ended, and for the remainder of the forenoon, recitations occupied their +minds in place of the much discussed letters. + + * * * * * + +By the great fireplace heaped with blazing logs sat old Sandy McLeod +energetically tugging at the straps of his great "arctics." + +"It's a cauld day, lass," he was saying to little Janie. + +"Will it be too cauld to venture out an' meet the music maester?" + +His eyes twinkled, for he well knew that Janie was wild to sing for this +man who would say if her voice were indeed worth training. + +The teacher of whom Sandy spoke was a man well known in musical circles, +whose instruction was eagerly sought, and upon whose judgment one could +safely rely. He had been chosen director of a flourishing musical society +in a large town some miles distant from Sandy's home, and on those days +when he was present to direct rehearsals, he also tried the voices of +those who asked permission to join the vocal club. Sandy had one day asked +if he might bring little Janie to him, saying quietly, + +"It's worth yer while, mon, ye ne'er heard sae blithe a voice as Janie's." + +Half doubting, yet amused at the old Scotchman's manner, he had made an +appointment for hearing Janie, and afterward wondered why he had done so, +as he felt sure that he was to listen to the vocal efforts of a child +whose singing chanced to please an old man whose knowledge of music was +probably meagre. + +Janie submitted to all the wrappings with which Margaret McLeod saw fit to +envelop her, and when in his great fur coat, Sandy stood in the doorway +and called to Janie that the sleigh was ready, she hurried toward him, an +animated bundle of dry goods. + +It was a long, cold ride, but Janie and her enthusiasm were both warm, and +when they reached the building and mounted the long flight of stairs to +the hall, her cheeks were glowing, and her eyes brilliant with excitement. +She was granted a few moments for a hearing before the hour for the club +rehearsal. + +The teacher was seated at the piano when they entered, and as he arose to +greet them he found it a task to refrain from laughing at the odd little +figure wound so snugly in shawls and scarfs. When, however, her wraps +removed, Janie stood before him, a typical little Scotch lass, with bright +blue eyes and flaxen braids, he was aware of a charm about the pretty +child which compelled him to believe that it was barely possible that she +could sing. + +"What are some of your songs, child?" he asked kindly. + +"I'll sing, 'Comin' thro' the rye,' if it please you," answered Janie, +simply. + +"Very well," was the reply, and he played a brilliant little prelude. The +music inspired Janie, and never had she sung as she sang that day. At the +end of the first verse, the man paused, with his hands resting upon the +keys, and surveyed the tiny figure as it stood before him, the little chin +lifted, and the sweet eyes looking into his so eagerly, as if asking for a +word of approval. + +"Come nearer," he said, "and sing another verse." + +"Willingly," said Janie, and again the fresh voice rang out, + + "If a body meet a body + Comin' frae the town + If a body kiss a body + Need a body frown." + +At the last sweet note the man at the piano turned, and lifting her in his +strong arms he exclaimed, + +"Child, you have the voice of an angel! Mr. McLeod, I ask your pardon for +doubting your statement that this little girl could sing." + +"Oh, it's of no account whatever," answered Sandy, stoutly, "since ye're +weel convinced." + +The members of the club were beginning to arrive, and standing Janie upon +a chair, the director stooped, and looking into the little face he asked. + +"Would you be willing to sing once for these ladies and gentlemen, Janie?" + +"Oh, I could na refuse if it was to gie them pleasure," she replied. + +The director in a few words told those present that he had been listening +to the child's singing, and that she had consented to sing for them. Some +of the faces wore a look of curiosity, some of skepticism, others of +genuine interest, but when turning toward them Janie commenced to sing, +she held them spellbound, and when she stepped down from the chair they +crowded around her and petted and praised her until Sandy was afraid that +she would be completely spoiled. + +Janie was delighted to have so pleased her audience, but her greatest joy +lay in the fact that Sandy had arranged that once a week she should sing +with the teacher, and had promised that there should be a piano for her to +practice with. + +With greatest care Sandy replaced Janie's numerous wraps, much as if she +had been a valuable painting, or a choice bit of sculpture, and taking her +hand, led her gently down the long stairway to the street. Then, lifting +her into the sleigh, and tucking the bear skin about her, he drove briskly +over the road toward home, not allowing the horse to slacken pace until he +reached his own door. + +Margaret McLeod was watching for them, and quickly left her seat at the +window to welcome them. + +"Weel, Janie, lass, and did the music maester think ye could sing?" + +"Oh, yes, yes!" cried Janie. "I'm to study with him, and Sandy, our Sandy +has promised to buy me a piano, so I shall know if I sing the right key, +and I'm to sing the lang exercises wi' ne'er a song 'til,--weel I dinna +when. + +"There's' in a' the world nae ane like our Sandy." + +"I've often thought the same mysel," said Margaret, with a droll smile at +her husband. + +"And between ye, ye mean tae spoil me completely, wi' yer flattery that I +own is sweet tae hear." + +"Ye canna be spoiled," said Margaret McLeod; "ye weel know ye're on a +pinnacle sae high o'e'r ither men, there's nae chance o' spoiling ye." + +"Oh, the prejudice o' a lovin' woman," Sandy replied, "is past the +understanding o' an ordinary mon, but 'tis sunshine tae live in the light +o' it." + +Later, when Mrs. McLeod was making preparation for tea, little Janie +followed her about, helping to set the table, at the same time telling +over and over the fine things which the director had said of her singing, +and yet again repeating the delightful fact that there was to be a fine +piano "in that verra house." + +"I wondered if the mon was a bit daft," said Sandy, "when he said tae +Janie, 'Mind ye sing the lessons I gie ye, an naething else.' + +"She's been singing the blithe Scotch ballads since she was a' most a +bairnie, an' her voice has grown sweeter a' the time. I say again, I hope +he's na daft." + +"Sandy, Sandy!" cried Margaret, "ye must na question the great music +maester. I doot not he knows a deal mair aboot music than we do." + +"He says that he will make me sing just wonderful," said Janie. + +"An' na doot he will," said Sandy, laying his hand lovingly upon Janie's +head. + + * * * * * + +It seemed as if the gale increased in force as it blew the dust and twigs +against the window, and hurried on with a shrill whistle around the +corner. + +After the table had been cleared, they took their places before the great +fireplace, Sandy, Margaret and Janie making a group in the centre, while +at one side sat the great brindle cat, Tam o' Shanter, and at a respectful +distance, on the opposite side of the hearth stone, stood the Scotch +Collie, Sir Walter Scott. + +Tam, with his forepaws snugly tucked in, and his great yellow eyes +blinking at the bright flames, was a picture of contentment. + +Sir Walter looked eagerly at Sandy, and longed to go and sit beside him, +but that would necessitate rather close proximity to Tam, and Tam usually +resented such familiarity, so the dog kept his place, and as he listened +to the conversation, seemed to understand what was being said. + +"I'll put fresh logs on the fire," said Sandy, "tae keep the cauld oot, +and I'm hopin' that there's nae ane abroad this night." + +At the little depot at the Centre, the station master stood upon the +platform looking anxiously up the track, hoping to see the light of an +approaching train. + +"'Most three hours late," muttered the man. "I'd like ter know if it ain't +er comin' ter-night." + +As he turned to re-enter the depot, a faint whistle made itself heard +above the clamor of the wind and turning he saw the headlight of the +engine coming around the bend. + +"There she is naow," he remarked, and as the train stopped, the mail bag +was quickly thrown out upon the platform and instantly picked up and +carried into the depot. + +The station agent did not dream that anyone would arrive so late in the +village on such a night, so having secured the mail bag, he allowed the +train to depart without even a glance at its receding form. + +One passenger, however, stepped from the car who evidently was not +expecting friends to meet her, as she immediately left the platform and +walked briskly up the road as if familiar with the place, and sure of the +direction which she must take to reach her destination. + +What had been a high wind during the day, now became a gale, and the +solitary figure wrapped her cloak closer about her and pushed resolutely +on, never pausing, yet at times looking hastily over her shoulder as if +fearful of a possible pursuer. As she passed a deserted farm house, a +sudden gust of wind blew one of its dilapidated blinds against the window, +shattering the glass with a resounding crash. With a scream the girl +sprang forward, then, half wild with fright she ran with a headlong pace +up the road. + +The promise of the leaden sky was now fulfilled, the falling sleet cutting +the girl's white cheeks, and serving to make the night more cheerless. + +Again she tried to draw the folds of her cloak about her, but the wind +snatched it from her fingers and blew it back and she was obliged to stop +and, for a moment, turn her back to the gale until she could securely +fasten the clasps which held it. Her hands shook with cold and fear, and +when she turned about and tried once more to run she found that her limbs +were weak with terror and that her progress must be slow. The great +branches of the trees groaned in the wind, as if crying out against such +rough handling, and the snow fell faster as the girl dragged herself along +the lonely road. + + * * * * * + +"The cauld increases," said Sandy. "I'll stir the fire an' throw on +anither log." + +"It's snawin'," announced Janie, as she emerged from behind the window +shade and ran to the fireplace, where she seated herself beside Sir +Walter, her arm about his neck. + +"Ain't ye glad ye're na scurryin' after the sheep at hame, ye big auld +dear?" asked Janie. + +The collie laid his head lovingly against her shoulder, as if agreeing, +and Tam, seeing the caress, looked as if he thought Janie's taste in her +choice of pets deteriorating. + +"Ah, Tam, Tam," she cried with a laugh, "are ye sae selfish ye want a' my +love? I love ye baith, an' I wad ye loved each ither." + +"Hark, Sandy! Did some one knock?" asked Mrs. McLeod, as she looked toward +the door. + +"Nae ane's aboot this night--Ay, Margaret, ye're right as usual, there's a +faint sound, an' I'll be seein',--" + +"Oh, Mr. McLeod, let me come in," said a girl's voice. + +"That I will, ye puir waif,--by all the saints, it's Phoebe Small! Here +Margaret! Janie! the lass is faintin'." + +"Oh, no I'm not," Phoebe answered, but her white face was not reassuring +and Sandy and Margaret were obliged to lead her to the great chair by the +fire. + +Janie loosened her boots which were covered with snow, and removing them, +set them to dry in a corner of the fireplace. Then she brought a cricket +and, handy little maid, lifted Phoebe's feet upon it, that the heat from +the fire might warm them. + +Soon Margaret McLeod had made a cup of tea, and it seemed to Phoebe that +nothing had ever tasted so delicious. Sandy stood beside her, offering the +lunch which Margaret had prepared, insisting gently that she must eat +heartily before going out into the night. + +"For I shall take ye hame, lass, I know that's where ye wad be, and warm +in the bear skin I'll wrap ye, an' in the sleigh 'twill be nae time before +we'll be at ye're door." + +"I could not stay away another day. The road from the depot was so lonely, +and I was so afraid,--" + +Phoebe was crying now, and Sandy laid his rough hand gently upon her +shoulder. + +"Never mind, lass, how ye got here, don't ye try tae tell it noo. If ye're +warm enough we'll be startin', an' ye can tell the folks at hame all aboot +it on the morrow." + +Little Janie examined Phoebe's boots, and finding them to be dry, insisted +upon putting them on and lacing them, and by the time that she had +finished the task the sleigh stood at the door. + +The ride was a short one, and soon Sandy was at the door of the Small +homestead, one arm about Phoebe who seemed too weary to stand, and the +other hand executing a rousing knock upon the panel of the door. + +Mrs. Small answered the summons and without ceremony Sandy entered, gently +pushing Phoebe before him. + +"This package was delayed in arrivin'," he commenced, but there seemed to +be no need of finishing the sentence. + +As Phoebe stood held close in her mother's embrace, she cried, + +"Oh, I never, never will go away to school again." + +"You never shall," said Mrs. Small, "but Phoebe, child, how is it that you +are here, and with Mr. McLeod at this time of night?" + +"Oh, I told them yesterday that I must come home, but they said at the +school, that you had paid for the term in advance, and that I could not +leave until the end of that term. + +"I said nothing, but this morning I ran away to the depot and when I had +bought my ticket and was in the cars riding toward home I was happier than +I had been for weeks. But the train was late and it was very dark when I +left the cars at the Centre and started to walk home." + +"The lass reached our door," said Sandy, "an' she was aboot faintin' when +I lifted her in, and set her doon before the fire. An' noo, as I'm not +necessary to ye're happiness," said Sandy with twinkling eyes, "I think +I'll bid ye 'good night,' and be drivin' hame tae Margaret." + +"I'm so glad to be at home again," said Phoebe, when Sandy had gone. + +"I cannot tell you, Phoebe, how we've missed you," her mother answered. +"Your father had to visit Boston yesterday and will be back to-morrow. +When Sandy arrived with you, I was sitting here alone and wondering how +long you would be willing to stay at boarding school." + +"I never wish to see or hear about one again," said Phoebe. I shall never +be discontented again. + +"It was a hard lesson," said Mrs. Small, as she kissed Phoebe, "but +perhaps it was a good one after all." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PARTY + + +Randy had become a favorite among the girls at the school, and one and all +declared that her frankness had been the trait which had first won their +admiration. + +"She always means what she says," said Nina Irwin. "I value a compliment +which Randy gives, for she never flatters. If she says a pleasant word, it +comes straight from her heart, and her heart is warm and loving." + +Randy had made rapid progress in her studies, and it seemed as if her zeal +increased as the months sped by. She had attended many concerts since the +memorable one when she had given her single rose to Madame Valena, "and +now the finest thing is yet to happen," she said in a letter to her +mother. + +Miss Dayton had sent out invitations for a little party to be given in +honor of Miss Randy Weston, and in consequence there was much excitement +at the private school. + +To receive an invitation from Miss Dayton meant much, and Randy's friends +talked of little else. + +"What shall you wear, Nina," asked Polly Lawrence. + +"Whatever mama suggests," replied Nina, with a laugh. + +"Because," continued Polly, "I think we ought to dress, well--in a very +showy manner, for Miss Dayton." + +"Why, I do not see that," remarked another girl. "Miss Dayton dresses +richly, but I should not say that 'showy' was a fitting word to apply to +her refined taste." + +"Indeed!" said Polly, sharply. "Well, I shall wear my red gauze over +satin, and I fancy Peggy will not choose a very simple frock for the +occasion." + +"Just my blue silk, dear," Peggy remarked lazily, "and since you've all +seen it you will not have to enthuse over it." + +"What do you suppose Randy will wear?" asked Peggy. + +"Something becoming, without a doubt," said Nina Irwin, "since everything +becomes her." + +At this point Randy entered, and the subject of conversation changed from +dress to the lessons for the day. + +"You always come with lessons prepared, Randy Weston," said Polly, "and +you look decidedly cheerful, too." + +"Why shouldn't I look cheerful, if I am ready for the recitations?" asked +Randy, in surprise. + +"Because," Polly answered, "it makes me cross to have to study, and you +must work persistently to keep up such a record as you have this year." + +"Miss Dayton helps me," Randy answered. + +"But she cannot _learn_ for you," said Nina Irwin, "and you seem to get on +as well in those studies which are new to you, as in those which you had +commenced in the district school." + +"But I like all my studies," said Randy, "and anyone would be interested +in new ones. There is another reason why I am working so diligently. + +"Father and mother sent me here, believing that I would study faithfully. +I should not be true to them if I wasted my opportunity. And little Prue +is trying to be patient, although her funny little letters show how she +misses me. I'll show you the last one which she sent me, only don't laugh +at her original spelling, Nina. Remember, she is a little girl. Here it +is:" + + "DEAR RANDY:-- + + "How long wil it bee fore you cum hom I luv you an I wanto see + you Me n Jonny slided on my sled an we ran intu a fense an got + hurted I lern my lesons, but I cant spel big words yet When I say + I want my Randy ma dont cry but her ize is wet and ant Prudence + wipes her glassis Hi put sum gum in Jonys cap an it got stuk to + his hare. When you cum hom I wil be so glad for I luv you + + "Yor litle + PRUE." + +"The cunning little thing," said Nina, "her funny letter shows just how +they miss you at home, and how dearly she loves you, Randy." + +"That is what I meant when I said one day to you, Nina that it was hard, +and at the same time delightful to be here. I love father, mother and dear +little Prue more than it is possible to say; I love the dear home, too. Of +course it is not like the homes which I have seen here, but nothing can +make it less dear to me," said Randy. + +"I enjoy all the pleasures which Miss Dayton plans for me, and I have +become attached to the school and to the pleasant friends which I have +made here in the city; but sometimes in the midst of my study, sometimes +when listening to rare music, the thought of home brings the tears, and +for the moment, I am homesick, so homesick that I think I cannot stay. + +"Then I remember that father and mother wish me to excel in my studies, +and I crowd back the tears, and by reminding myself that with the spring I +shall return, I try to be cheerful." + +As the bell called the girls to their seats, Nina whispered as she passed, + +"O Randy! The longer I know you, the more truly I love you;" and the +whispered words made Randy very happy. + + * * * * * + +On the day of the little party the decorators converted the drawing-room +into a veritable rose garden, glowing and sweet, the lovely pink blossoms +sending out their fragrance as if doing their utmost to honor Randy, who, +until that season, had known only the garden roses which blossomed near +the farm-house door. + +The lights were softened by delicate pink shades, and upon a pedestal +beneath Aunt Marcia's portrait, stood a huge jardinière filled with roses +the glowing petals of which seemed to repeat the color of the brocaded +court gown in the picture. + +In her little room, Randy, with sparkling eyes, and quick beating heart, +stood before her mirror, mechanically drawing a comb through her soft +brown hair. Her mind was far away and she did not seem to see the girl +reflected there. + +"If they were all here to-night,--" she murmured, and as the words escaped +her lips, two bright tears lay upon her cheek. + +"Oh, this will never do," said Randy, quickly drying the tears, and +endeavoring to summon a smile. + +"Mother and father would surely say, + +"'Be cheerful to-night, Miss Dayton will wish it. Remember she is giving +the party for you.'" + +So, smiling bravely, she arranged her hair in the pretty, simple manner in +which she usually dressed it, and proceeded to array herself in the white +muslin which Janie Clifton had declared to be just the thing for a city +party, and just the thing for Randy. + +And Janie had spoken wisely. Nothing could have been more becoming, or +served more surely to show Randy's fine coloring than the sheer muslin +with its white satin ribbons. + +As she stood looking at the transparent folds of the skirt, the tip of her +shoe peeped from below the hem, and Randy laughed merrily. She had quite +forgotten to change her street shoes for the silken hose and white +slippers which Miss Dayton had given her. + +"How _could_ I forget them, the first pretty slippers which I ever owned?" +She hastened to put them on, afterward surveying them with much +satisfaction. They were such pretty slippers, decorated with white satin +bows and crystal beading. + +"Like Cinderella's," thought Randy, as she held back her skirts, the +better to see them, and when later she paused on the stairway to look down +upon the many rose hued lights in the hall below, she turned a radiant +face toward Helen Dayton as she said:-- + +"Oh, how kind you are to give this lovely party for me, just me. I feel +like Cinderella, only," she added laughing, "I am sure that I shall not +lose my crystal slipper when to-night the clock strikes twelve." + +"Nor shall you part with them at any time," Helen replied, "but keep them +in remembrance of this night when you enjoyed your first party." + +A fine trio they formed as they stood waiting to receive their guests; +Aunt Marcia looking like an old countess in her stately gown of black +velvet and diamonds, Helen, resplendent in turquoise satin and pink roses, +and Randy in her white muslin and ribbons, a single rose in her hair. + +Soon the young guests began to arrive, and very cordially were they +greeted, Randy's bright face plainly showing how heartfelt was the +pleasure which her words expressed as each new friend was presented. + +One guest had been bidden to the party who had not yet arrived, and Helen +Dayton could not refrain from occasionally glancing toward the door, with +the hope of seeing the delinquent. The buzz of conversation and light +laughter seemed at its height, when a late arrival was announced. + +Miss Dayton heard the name, but Randy who was at the moment chatting with +Nina Irwin, did not. + +The young man in faultless evening dress made his way across the room to +Aunt Marcia, then to Miss Dayton, then, with a merry twinkle in his eyes +he turned to Randy who, still, talking with Nina, was unaware of his +approach. + +"Miss Randy," said a familiar voice, and Randy started, turned, then with +eyes expressing her surprise and delight she said, + +"O Jotham, truly you cannot guess how glad I am to see you." + +"And do you think I can tell you with what pleasure I have looked forward +to this evening?" Jotham answered. + +"I have been longing to call upon you, but my days and evenings have been +so completely occupied with study, that this is my first bit of recreation +since I came to Boston in the fall, and until I received Miss Dayton's +invitation, I did not know where I might find you." + +Then Jotham was presented to Nina who in turn led him to a group of her +friends where, surrounded by a bevy of bright faced girls, he seemed as +much at ease as if his life had consisted of naught but social pleasures. + +Randy turned, and meeting Helen's gaze she said, + +"It seems to me that Jotham looks like a prince to-night." + +"He has a charming manner," said Miss Dayton, "and I have always thought +that he possessed a noble mind, that priceless gift which only One can +give. Coronets can be purchased, but who can barter for true worth?" + +In the shadow cast by a statue and leaning against its pedestal, stood +Polly Lawrence, her flushed cheeks vieing with the scarlet gauze which she +wore, a most unpleasant expression upon her small face, while her nervous +fingers plucked to pieces a red rose which she had taken from her bodice +and she angrily tapped the floor with her satin slipper. And what had +occurred to mar the evening's pleasure for Polly Lawrence? + +Merely the fact that she was not the only girl in the room to receive +attention, and also that she had chosen a gaudy costume for the occasion, +and was conscious that her choice had been unwise. + +Shallow by nature, and without keen perception, she yet possessed +sufficient good sense to see that she had not impressed her friends with +the magnificence of her apparel, and her vanity received a thrust when a +friend said to her, + +"How sweet Randy Weston looks in her white gown and ribbons! One would +know that she would never wear a gaudy dress." + +Polly had made no reply, but in exasperation she thought, + +"Every one admires Randy. I do believe that they would think she looked +sweet in white calico." + +There was, after all, a bit of excuse for Polly. Reared by her aunt, a +woman with a character as shallow as that of her niece, Polly's vanity had +never been curbed, rather it had been encouraged. She was allowed to +choose her own costumes, her aunt rarely venturing a suggestion; and the +milliners and dressmakers, reading the girl's vain character, encouraged +Polly to purchase that which was most expensive, regardless as to whether +it might be suitable or becoming. + +Furs, designed apparently for a dowager, at once became her own, if only +she could be assured that no girl of her acquaintance owned a set as +costly, and upon all occasions it appeared to be her intention to wear +more jewelry than any other person present. + +Later, when all had repaired to the dining-room, Polly's displeasure was +somewhat appeased when she found herself placed beside Peggy's brother, +who was a thoroughly good fellow, and ever a gentleman, therefore he +immediately proceeded to make himself very agreeable to Polly, although +had he been given his choice of a companion he would most surely have +chosen quite a different girl. + +Beside Randy sat Jotham who declared himself to be "as happy as a king," +and his tutor, the young professor, seemed equally charmed beside Helen +Dayton, with whom he was exchanging reminiscences of college days. + +"Do you remember a certain girl, Miss Dayton," he asked, "who on a +memorable class day gave the pleasure of her company to a diffident +student who in ecstasy at playing escort to the lovely girl and her +dignified Aunt Marcia, nearly forgot all which he ever knew, managing only +to stammer through an effort at conversation which must have completely +bored her?" + +"Pardon me, the girl could not truly have been bored," Miss Dayton +replied, "else it would not be true that to-night she remembers every +event of that delightful day with a pleasure which she has never found +words to describe." + +"Is that really true?" he asked, but other voices making a merry din +allowed the answer to be heard only by the one for whom it was intended, +and soon Helen was leading the conversation into channels in which all +might take part, causing the gifted ones to show their sparkling wit, and +coaxing the shy guests to talk, who would otherwise have been silent. + +Miss Dayton possessed in a wonderful degree, the ability to help each +person present to appear at his best, with the result that all were made +happy and glad to proclaim that no home boasted as sweet a young hostess +as Helen Dayton, or as grand a mistress as gracious Aunt Marcia, who +dearly loved young people, and who was never happier than when in their +company. + +Peggy Atherton, aware that she was becomingly attired in her blue silk and +forget-me-nots, was doing her best to coax a diffident youth to join in +the conversation, and at the same time naughtily enjoying his blushing +answers to her bright speeches. + +Randy saw Peggy's roguish eyes, and wondered what it might be which so +amused her, when a pause in the general conversation allowed the following +to be heard,-- + +"Were you at the last symphony?" Peggy asked sweetly. + +"Yes,--no,--that is I think I was, but I can't quite remember," was the +halting answer. + +"Oh, you _would_ remember if you were really there," persisted Peggy, +"because the program was extra fine and the solos were something to dream +of." + +"Yes, yes the music was er,--very er,--musical, and the soloist, that is, +the one who sang a solo, was er,--the only one who er--sang alone, I +believe." + +Randy stifled a wild desire to laugh, for she saw plainly that Peggy was +teasing the youth, who in his extreme diffidence, was appearing as if he +were a simpleton, which was indeed far from the truth. + +Peggy well knew that he was a bright young student, and she secretly +admired his intellect, but she was an inveterate tease, and it amused her +to see him blush, and to hear his faltering answers. + +She did not mean to hurt him; only a thoughtless mirth tempted her to +torment him; but to Randy, Peggy's conduct seemed very cruel, and she +determined to save the luckless youth from further discomfort. Turning to +Jotham, expecting as usual to find in him an ally, Randy said, + +"I saw you talking with Cyril Langdon just before we left the +drawing-room. He is ill at ease, because Peggy is teasing him, but when he +chooses to talk he is very interesting. Do make Peggy stop, she is +spoiling his evening. Ask him,--oh ask him about the Tech. athletics or +anything, Jotham, can't you?" + +Jotham, as usual, glad of an opportunity to please Randy, succeeded in +drawing Cyril into a conversation which proved interesting to all, and +made the boy forget his discomfiture. + +Peggy was aware of a vague wish that she had been more merciful, and +resolved another time to help, rather than hinder a conversation. + +Later, when the gay little party returned to the drawing-room, Randy +begged Miss Dayton to favor her friends with some music. Helen, ever ready +to give pleasure, seated herself at the piano, Professor Marden standing +beside her, ostensibly to turn her music, but in truth to watch her +graceful fingers upon the keys. + +Her audience was enthusiastic, and not to be satisfied with one selection. +Helen smilingly acceded to their requests, and when she arose from the +piano she was greeted with generous praise. + +Among the happy faces Randy saw one less bright than the others. It was +Polly Lawrence, and Randy wondered what had caused a frown upon the +usually smiling face. "It would never do to ask her why she isn't enjoying +my party," she said to herself, "but I do wish she looked happier. I am so +happy this evening, that I wish everyone else to enjoy every moment of it. +I believe I'll ask her to sing for us. She sings nicely, and perhaps she +would be pleased to, if she knew we wished it." + +Accordingly, Randy hastened to Polly who was standing apart from the +guests, and looking as if in anything but a pleasant mood. Her face +brightened, however, when told that it would be a pleasure to hear her +sing, and after a little urging, she consented. She possessed a light +soprano voice which had been carefully trained, and when she chose, she +could sing most acceptably. + +On this especial evening, it pleased her to do her best, and she delighted +her friends with a number of songs, for which Miss Dayton played the +accompaniments. Polly received unstinted praise for her singing, and she +therefore, upon her return, told her aunt that the party was a success. + +At the end of the drawing-room, Nina Irwin was merrily chatting with a +number of her friends, and Polly hastened to join the group, where she was +soon laughing as gaily as the others, and apparently as happy. + +Near the centre of the room Miss Dayton and Randy, Jotham and Professor +Marden stood, evidently engaged in the discussion of a most interesting +subject, and as Aunt Marcia joined them, she was asked to give her +opinion. + +"What has been my greatest pleasure in life?" She smiled as she repeated +the question, and turned for a moment and looked long and earnestly at her +portrait, then she said, + +"When that picture was painted and was first seen by my friends, some one +remarked, + +"'Oh, how dearly above all else Marcia prizes a gay life!' + +"I have always enjoyed social pleasures," she continued, "but if I were to +say that one thing, above all else, gave me true delight, I should say, +that to make others happy had ever been my greatest joy." + +"Pardon me, if I venture to say that that is the charm which has preserved +your beauty," said the young tutor, gravely bowing to Aunt Marcia, who, +sweeping a low courtesy, acknowledged the courtly speech which was uttered +in such evident sincerity. + +"And, in return let me say, that the young man who thinks it worth while +to pay a graceful compliment to one who is quite old enough to be his +grandmother, proves himself to be a worthy descendant of his talented +father, a perfect gentleman of the old school," replied Aunt Marcia; and +Helen saw the quick flush of pleasure on the professor's cheek. His love +for his father amounted almost to worship, and Aunt Marcia could have +chosen no word of praise which would have moved him so deeply, or pleased +him more surely, than to thus have declared him, to be a "worthy +descendant." + +Other young people joined this central group, and Nina at the piano played +softly a dreamy nocturne which seemed a gentle accompaniment to the +conversation. + +In the shadow of a tall jar of ferns Jotham was looking at Randy, and +thinking that while the white party gown was very charming, it was also +true that Randy at home in a pink sunbonnet had been well worth looking +at. + +"How serious you look," said Randy, "are you thinking that to-night's +pleasure will mean many hours of hard study to-morrow, Jotham?" + +"No, indeed," he answered with a laugh, "I am not allowing a thought of +study to mar to-night's enjoyment. I was just wondering, Randy, why some +girls are very dependent for a good appearance, upon what they wear, while +one girl whom I know, can look equally well in a party gown or a gingham +dress and sunbonnet." + +Randy blushed as she said, "O, Jotham, has Professor Marden been teaching +you to pay compliments, along with your other studies?" + +"Indeed, no," was the answer. "He meant every word which he said to Miss +Dayton's aunt, as truly as I meant what I said to you, and Randy," he +continued, "you and I have been here in the city all winter, have seen its +life and stir and bustle, and you have seen much of the social side of the +problem which is puzzling me. Is it so much better, this city life, than +the home life in the country? There, every busybody is interested in his +neighbor; here, we are met on every hand by strangers who do not know, or +wish to know anything in regard to us. Here a hundred strangers in the +great railway stations are objects of but little interest. Randy, do you +realize the commotion which one arrival with a hand-bag causes at the +little station at home? I tell you, Randy, one is large in a little +country town, and small, so small in a great city." + +"One is never small, wherever he may be, in the hearts of his friends, +Jotham," was the sweet reply, "but in regard to home, there is no place +like it. I enjoy all the brightness, the study, the fine pictures which I +have seen and the rare music which I have heard; but, Jotham, I am at +heart a country girl, and while I like to be here, if I were to choose +'for always,' as little Prue says, I'd choose the mountains and the +streams at home. + +"I shall not leave behind the knowledge which I have gained. I shall be +all the happier because of it, but home is home, isn't it, Jotham?" + +"Indeed it is," answered Jotham, heartily. + +And now the carriages were beginning to arrive, and in twos and threes the +guests departed, assuring Randy and Helen that the evening had been one of +rare pleasure. + +Jotham and his tutor left together, promising their charming hostesses +that they should soon find leisure for a call. And when the last guest +had departed, and Randy, Helen, and Aunt Marcia looked about the flower +scented rooms, Randy said, with a happy sigh, + +"Oh, what a lovely, lovely party! I was sorry to see them go. I am not +even tired. No one could be tired during such an evening." + +"Dear Randy," said Helen, "it was indeed a pretty party, and well worth my +effort to make it a success. You were an ideal little hostess, Randy, you +did your part to perfection." + +"Why, I was only just myself. I was not at all fine," said Randy in +amazement. + +"That is just the secret of your success," Helen replied. "Always be just +your own true self, and no one in all the world would ask for more." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +TIMOTHEUS AND HIS NEIGHBORS + + +"Whao! Whao! I tell ye. Be ye deef, or be ye jest contrary? + +"I b'lieve them critters 'd like ter see me wait 'til June fer +plaoughin'." + +The ill-matched pair came to a standstill, and so listless was their +bearing, that one would say that having decided to halt, nothing would +induce them to again draw the plough. + +"There, ye can rest naow, fer a spell, 'til ye git yer wind, an' then I'll +set ye at it agin." + +One of the horses snorted derisively, but Jabez Brimblecom cared little +for that. He drew from his hip pocket a large envelope, and opening the +letter which it contained, adjusted his spectacles and laboriously read it +for the third time. + +"Wal, all I got ter say 'baout it is, that it's pooty full er big words, +an' flourishes, but biled daown, it 'maounts ter jist this; Sabriny's sot +her mind on makin' us an' everlastin' long visit. I shan't hev ter stand +much on't, however; I'll be aout doors most of the time, when I _have_ +ter, an' I vum I'll be aout all the rest of the time because I _choose_ +ter. + +"Sabriny's a team, an' so's Mis' Brimblecom. They never did pull together. +Not but that they _pull_ 'nough, only it's allus the opposite ways. I +don't stay in doors much arter she arrives! No, Siree! + +"G'lang there! G'lang I say! + +"Well, fust ye won't stop, an' then ye won't budge! I vaow I never see a +pair er critters like ye, 'cept my wife an' cousin Sabriny!" + +When at last the pair concluded to move, they started forward with a most +surprising lurch, and Jabez Brimblecom found his hands full in guiding the +plough, and the two horses who, having decided to bestir themselves, +tramped diligently back and forth, leaving the long rows of furrowed +earth as evidence of their willingness to work when their ambition was +aroused. + +Again they stopped to rest and again Mr. Brimblecom fumbled in his pocket +for the envelope, but he did not take it out. + +"Why didn't she write the letter 'stead er gittin' that husband er hern +ter write fer her? I'd 'nough rather she'd told Mis' Brimblecom she wuz +comin', 'stead er leavin' me ter tell her. She'll be mad's a hornet, an' I +vaow I won't blame her. + +"G'lang there! Wal, I'll be switched if she isn't comin' daown ter the +bars naow. Wonder what's up?" + +"Jabez! Jabez! _Ja--bez!_" + +"All right, I'll be there," was the answer, but in an aside he remarked +apparently to the horses, + +"'F I git my courage up, I'll tell her 'baout Sabriny naow and be done +with it;" but his bravery was not put to the test. Before he could reach +the bars where his wife stood waiting, she cried out vehemently, "Jabez +Brimblecom, what do ye think? Mis' Hodgkins used ter know yer cousin +Sabriny when they both wuz girls, an' she says she's jest got a letter a +sayin' that Sabriny's comin' here ter make er long visit. She's goin' ter +spend two weeks with Mis' Hodgkins, an' all the rest er the summer with +us. Jabez, I'd rather heerd of er cyclone a hittin' us, fer ye well know +that there'll be no peace 'til she packs an' starts fer home." + +"I know it, I know it," Jabez answered, with feeling. + +"I got er letter in my pocket, an' I been hatin' ter show it to ye, but +mebbe ye might as well read it and make what ye can out'n it." + +Mrs. Brimblecom wiped her glasses and commenced to read the letter. + +"Naow what's the use'n his talkin' baout the 'wonderful mountain air,' an' +the 'sparklin' springs,' an' er sayin' that they'll do such a sight fer +Sabriny? + +"We know what the air is, an' fer that matter, so does she; she's allus +lived here. An' as ter the springs; she never so much as looked at 'em +when she was here before, but she spent a lot er time tellin' me how she +couldn't sleep on my corded beds. She said she had ter sleep on springs +an' I was baout tired a hearin' tell of our short comin's; an' I told her +if springs was necessary to her well-bein', she'd no doubt be best off ter +hum where she'd been braggin' she had plenty of 'em." + +"I didn't blame ye fer gittin' riled," said Jabez, "but I s'pose we'll hev +ter welcome her, even if we're driven ter speed her departur;" and they +both laughed good-naturedly, and mentally decided to make the best of the +self-invited guest. + +"Wal, she ain't here yit," said Mrs. Brimblecom, "and the fust two weeks +she spends with Mis' Hodgkins, an' p'raps by the time she arrives here, +I'll be cooled daown 'nough ter be kind er perlite, though I shan't say, +'I'm glad ter see ye Sabriny,' fer that'd be a lie." + +"_I_ shall say, 'I hope I see ye well, Sabriny,' fer massy knows I +wouldn't want her ter be sick fer ye ter wait on," remarked Jabez, with a +twinkle in his eye. + +"Wal," he continued, "I must git this piece er plaoughin' done. I can't +set daown an' luxooriate an' wait 'til we see Sabriny acomin'." + +With a loud "G'lang there," he aroused his placid horses, and across the +fields they sped, and Mrs. Brimblecom, with the letter in her hand, +hastened back to the house where, after placing the large envelope under +the cushion of her rocking chair, she busied herself with household tasks. + +Later, when she felt that she had earned a few leisure moments, she drew +the letter from its hiding-place and sat down to study it. + +"'F I hadn't hid ye under the cushion, like as not when I wanted ter read +ye, ye'd be lost," she remarked. + +A few moments she read in silence, then her disgust moved her to speak. + +"Sabriny feels better in a 'higher altitude,'--well, why doesn't she git +one, whatever 'tis, an' git inter it an' stay there, 'stead a pesterin' me +with her visits." Mrs. Brimblecom perused a few more lines, when again she +spoke. + +"She seems ter 'have little energy,'--wal, I don't want ter be mean, but I +can't help a hopin' that she won't gain any. Sabriny without energy would +be er sight that'd cheer me. Her tremenjous vim nearly wore me aout last +season. Ef she'd jest manage ter leave her energy ter hum, I do'no's I'd +mind her comin'." + +While good Mrs. Brimblecom was studying the letter, Mrs. Hodgkins had +sallied forth to tell the great news, that the visitor was expected, and +as she passed the village store, old Mr. Simpkins, in the doorway, was +taking leave of Silas Barnes. + +"Yes, sir, he's a great feller, he is. There ain't another as 'riginal as +he is on the globe, I bet ye. He's done a lot er bright things time an' +time 'n again, but this time beats the other times all holler." + +"What's he done naow?" asked Barnes. + +"Hey?" remarked Mr. Simpkins, with his hand at his ear. + +"I say, what's he done _naow_?" roared Barnes. + +"Oh, I ain't tellin' yit. Even his brother Joel don't know, an' won't know +this week, but next week the taown will be 'baout wild with the news er +what Timotheus has done. Ye'll be 'bliged ter wait 'til then," said Mr. +Simpkins. + +"I guess I'll be able to stand it," remarked Silas Barnes in an undertone. + +"Hey? Did ye say ye'd understand it? Wal, I ain't sure whether ye will er +not. It's most too much fer _me_," Mr. Simpkins replied, as he made his +way cautiously down the rickety steps. + +"Fer goodness sakes, what's Timotheus been a doin' naow, I wonder," +muttered Mrs. Hodgkins. "I shan't ask, an' be told ter wait, as Silas +Barnes was. + +"I'd like ter know one thing," she continued, "an' that is whether the boy +is 'specially bright as his _father_ thinks, or whether he's a little +lackin' as _I_ think, an' I do'no who's ter decide." + +Up the road she trudged, and as she turned the corner, a most surprising +sight caused her to stop and ejaculate. "Land er the livin'! What ails him +naow?" + +Timotheus Simpkins, unaware that he was observed, was executing a most +fantastic jig in the middle of the road. + +"I've did it naow, I bet ye 'n even Joel 'll have ter admit I'm a sight +bigger'n anybody 'n taown. Good-bye ter farmin' and hooray fer literatoor, +I say." + +"Wal, be ye losin' yer senses, er clean gone crazy?" asked Mrs. Hodgkins +in disgust. + +Timotheus paused in his wild pirouette, and gave Mrs. Hodgkins a withering +glance. + +"It ain't wuth while ter explain Mis' Hodgkins, bein's I don't feel ye'd +be able ter' understand the magnitood er what I've done." + +"_Dew tell!_" remarked Mrs. Hodgkins with fine contempt, "I hope the +taown is still big 'nough ter hold ye, _Mr._ Simpkins." + +Her irony was wasted, however. + +"I'm glad ye reelize the time's come ter 'dress me as 'Mr.,'" remarked +Timotheus, and Mrs. Hodgkins vouchsafed no answer, but hurried along the +road, "afeared ter speak," as she afterward said, "lest I'd say a deal +more'n I orter." + +In the long drawing-room Randy and Helen Dayton were chatting merrily with +Jotham and Professor Marden when Aunt Marcia joined them, expressing +pleasure in being at home to share the call. + +In two weeks the private school would close, when Randy would say +"good-bye" to her city home and the two dear friends who had entertained +her, to the schoolmates of whom she had become so fond, and then she would +be speeding over the rails every mile of which would take her nearer home, +the dear country home. As Jotham was to leave the city at the same time, +he asked the pleasure of accompanying Randy upon the journey, and his +offer was gladly accepted. + +"And have you heard the latest news from home, Randy?" asked Jotham. +Without awaiting a reply he continued, + +"Timotheus Simpkins has 'blossomed aout,' as his father expresses it and a +specimen of his 'literatoor' is printed in the county paper. Father sent +me a marked copy, and if you like I will read the article." + +"I should indeed like to hear it," said Aunt Marcia; "from what Randy says +of him I think Timotheus must be an unique character." + +"He is truly an odd specimen," said Helen, "I cannot imagine what he would +write." + +"Read it, do read it," said Randy, and Jotham read the following: + + + "THORT. + + "Thort is the gratest thing that has ever been thort of. I don't + know of eny thing bigger than thort that I have thort of, less + twas riginalty, an reely _thats_ thort. When I'm busy thinkin' + thorts I aint apt ter have my mind on eny thing else mostly. Most + of the books what I have read I think was writ without enough + thort. Take the almanic; if _Id_ writ the almanic whare they say, + 'bout this time expect rain,' _Id_ a said, bout this time expect + weather. Id a put some thort on the matter and Id a knowd that + yed natraly have weather er some kind, cause theres _allus_ + weather round about these parts, but most folks havent no power + ter have thort, an thats why theres so few folks that is great. I + mean ter spend my time in thort an' casionally do a little + ploughing. I thort so continooal that I had ter leave school in + order ter git time ter think in, so havin learnt all there was + ter learn, I left school ter the fellers as thort so little that + they didn't need much time fer it an now I shall put on paper + such thort as most folks can tackle, but some er my thort is so + thortful that most any body couldn't understand it, an so no more + until Ive thort again. + + "Yours thortfully + TIMOTHEUS SIMPKINS." + +"Poor Timotheus," said Helen Dayton. + +"And why 'poor Timotheus'?" asked Professor Marden. "With his stock of +egotism, I think the fellow must be happier than the average man. I know +of no one who considers himself the only thinker in the universe, except +this young Simpkins. He must, indeed, be supremely happy." + +"And the joke is," said Jotham, "that he received a small sum for the +article, and a personal letter from the editor. The money, (I believe it +was the immense sum of two dollars,) pleased Timotheus, but the letter +puzzled him extremely. He considered the article to be a serious, as well +as a lofty effort, whereas the editor evidently supposed it to be +humorous, and believed the unique spelling to be a part of the fun. +Timotheus told my father that 'the money showed that his "literatoor" was +wuth something but that the editor man must be dull ter think that it was +anything but a tremenjous hefty comp'sition.' + +"Old Mr. Simpkins considers Timotheus a prodigy, and seems to feel +contempt for his elder son, Joel, who as he expressed it, 'ain't +intellectooal like Timotheus,' and Joel usually retaliates by saying, +'It's lucky one son er the Simpkins family has got jest plain common +sense.' + +"The paper is not published in our town," continued Jotham, "it is a +county paper, and its editor and publisher lives in a distant village, so +that, unacquainted with the Simpkins family, he supposed Timotheus to be a +would-be humorist, little dreaming that he was offending a genius, by +seeing fun where fun was not intended." + +"Timotheus, however, had the joy of feeling that his literary work had a +market value," said Professor Marden, with a laugh. + +Randy and Helen were much amused, but although Aunt Marcia's eyes +twinkled, she said, + +"Poor boy! I wonder when and how he will outgrow his egotism? There surely +is no chance for him to learn until he is made to realize how little he +knows, and who would care to attempt the task of opening his eyes?" + +"There are a plenty of persons in our town," said Jotham, "who have +repeatedly tried to enlighten him, but they have been obliged to +relinquish the effort. It is useless to tell him that talented people +think it necessary to obtain a fine education. He only insists that he is +a genius, and that there is nothing left for him to learn." + +"We must not worry for Timotheus," said Helen, "he is as happy as one +could wish; rather we should remember the old adage, 'Where ignorance is +bliss, etc.'" and the little company agreed that perhaps after all, +Timotheus Simpkins should be congratulated rather than commiserated. + +When the callers arose to depart, Jotham said, + +"Then on two weeks from to-day, Randy, I may call for you, and together we +will travel toward home?" + +"Yes, oh yes," Randy answered, an odd little note in her voice, "and how +hard it will be to say good-bye to these two dear friends, how delightful +to know that late in the afternoon I shall greet the dear ones whose faces +I so long to see. How I wish you both were going back with me, then I +should not say good-bye at all." + +"And since we cannot accompany you," said Aunt Marcia, laying her hand +gently upon Randy's arm, "we count ourselves fortunate that we are going +to our summer home soon after you leave us. You have been a ray of +sunlight in our home, Randy, and we could not easily or quickly become +used to your absence." + +"Oh, is it unkind to be glad that you will miss me?" asked Randy looking +quickly from Aunt Marcia to Helen. "I am puzzled, for I know that I would +do anything to make you happy; then why, when I love you so truly, am I +glad to have you grieved when I go?" + +She glanced at Professor Marden who, while apparently answering her +questioning, looked fixedly at Helen Dayton as he said, "That is not an +unkind thought, Miss Randy; if we can be assured that when absent we are +missed, we are then doubly sure that our presence is welcome." + +"No one should have so faint a heart as to for a moment doubt that he is +welcome," said Aunt Marcia, receiving in return a grateful smile from +Professor Marden, who bowed low over Miss Dayton's hand, and then with +Jotham walked briskly down the avenue. + +"Professor Marden is a most charming young man," said Aunt Marcia, as she +stood at the window watching his receding figure. "He is very like his +father, who was once my most valued friend." + +Helen turned quickly to look at her aunt, expecting that she was about to +tell more of the elder Marden, but she had left the window and stood by a +large jar of roses, rearranging the blossoms with infinite care, and when +she again spoke it was not of the Mardens, father or son, but of their +engagements and the weather for the morrow. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HOME + + +At last the long anticipated hour had arrived and Randy and Jotham were +speeding over the country toward home. + +Nina Irwin, Peggy Atherton, Polly Lawrence and a host of their schoolmates +had, on the day before bidden Randy an affectionate good-bye. They had +exchanged promises in regard to correspondence, had vowed never to forget +each other, and Nina had slipped a little parcel into Randy's hand, +saying, + +"Just a little gift, dear Randy. Open it when the train has started and +you are on your way home." + +"O Nina, I shall prize your gift, whatever it may be," said Randy. "How +can I wait until to-morrow to see it? And I have something to tell you," +she continued. + +"I had a letter from home yesterday, and mother says that I must be sure +to give you her invitation to spend a few weeks of the summer with us. She +tells me to remind you that our home is a farm-house, but that it is large +and comfortable, and that the welcome awaiting you is very cordial. + +"Father says, 'Tell Miss Nina that I am anxious to see my daughter's dear +friend of whom she writes such pleasant things.' Even Aunt Prudence says, +'I think I shall approve of Miss Irwin,' and little Prue says, 'Tell the +Nina girl I want her to come!'" + +"There was never a sweeter invitation, Randy Weston. Of course I'll come," +said Nina, "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Just a farm-house! Why, +Randy, that is half the charm. Haven't I been to hotels summer after +summer, but I never stayed over night in a farm-house. I shall enjoy every +hour of my stay with you. + +"Tell your mother how gladly I accept her invitation, and tell Prue that +the 'Nina girl' has no little sister, and that she is very eager to see +Randy's little Prue." + +On the morning of the journey Aunt Marcia folded Randy in a warm embrace +as she said, + +"Dear child promise me that you will come again, thus only, can I see you +depart;" and Randy had promised at some future time to again visit Boston. + +With Helen she had entered the coupé and together they rode to the +station. + +Jotham had been obliged to relinquish the pleasure of calling for Randy +and had written to say that, accompanied by his tutor, he would meet her +at the depot, so it happened that Jotham and Randy, after saying good-bye +to their two friends, rode out from the station and into the glad sunshine +on their homeward way, and Helen, her beautiful eyes filled with tears, +entered the carriage followed by Professor Marden who seated himself +beside her. + +"Come and lunch with Aunt Marcia and me" she had said, "then I shall feel +that while one dear friend departs, another remains." + +Upon entering the car, Jotham had turned over the seat opposite the one +which they had chosen, and upon it they laid wraps, bags, a box of candy, +and Helen's last gift to Randy, a great cluster of roses. + +Randy had enjoyed her sojourn in the city with all the enthusiasm of her +nature, but now her face was turned toward home, and with a smiling face +she said to Jotham, + +"I have you for company, and the day is sunny, I have my gifts, too, and +best of all, I shall soon see every one at home. O, Jotham, are you as +glad as I am, to-day?" + +There was a suspicious tremor in his voice as he replied, + +"I am every bit as happy as you are, Randy; I have worked very hard this +winter and been cheered by Professor Marden's genuine interest in me. He +has been kindness itself, and the letters from home have been a great +comfort. I am already looking forward to next season's study, and in the +meantime I shall enjoy the summer vacation. I'll show father that while he +is kind enough to allow me to spend my winter in study, I have not +forgotten how to help in the summer work upon the farm." + +"Look, Randy," continued Jotham, "the little towns and villages look more +like home as we ride away from the city." + +Randy looked from the window and noticed that the houses were farther and +farther apart, the broad fields in which cows were grazing, the winding +rivers dazzling in the sunlight, the hills blue and hazy and over all the +blue sky and fleecy clouds. + +When Randy opened the little parcel containing Nina's gift, she was +delighted to find a photograph, encased in a silver frame of exquisite +workmanship. Nina's card was fastened to the frame with a bit of ribbon, +and upon the card appeared this message: "You now see that I can be with +you always." + +"Nina knew that I would rather have her picture than any other thing," +said Randy. + +How swiftly the hours flew! At noon the car was very warm, for it was +late in May, and it seemed almost like June sunshine which lay in long +bars upon the red plush seats. + +Later, the air became cooler, and Randy had tired of the flying landscape +until aroused by Jotham, who exclaimed, + +"Look out, Randy! This is the next town to ours." + +"Do you mean that we are so near home?" asked Randy, with sparkling eyes. +Just at this point the brakeman's voice announced the station, and proved +that Jotham had spoken truly. + +How beautiful were the orchards, with their blossom-laden trees! "Ah home +is home after all," thought Randy. + + * * * * * + +As she stepped from the car a shrill little voice cried, + +"O Randy, my Randy! I thought you'd never come, but you did." + +Randy held her little sister closely, and laid her cheek against the soft +curls. Then she turned to her father and saw a wealth of love in his eyes +as he said, + +"_Now_ the home will be complete. It has been 'bout half empty with ye +away, Randy. I'm glad ye're home again. I ain't able to say _how_ glad, +an' Jotham, my boy, I'm glad to see ye, too. Ah, here's yer father. I +haven't a right ter a minute more er yer time." + +With eager questioning Randy asked, "And mother and Aunt Prudence?" + +"Oh they're feelin' pretty spry now the day's come fer ye to arrive. +They're full er preparations fer yer home-comin', an'--" + +"An' the big cake has got pink frostin' on top of it, an' my dolly has got +on her best dress 'cause she knew you was comin', an' I've kept askin' +Aunt Prudence all day what time it was, an' how long it would be 'fore +you'd be here, an' Tabby's got a ribbon on her neck, an' the house an' +barn has been painted, an' the cars an' engine ride behind our barn now, +an' I guess that's all," said Prue, with a sigh, as if regretting that +there was so little news. + +"Why that is a great deal of news," said Randy, "how did you remember it +all?" + +"Oh, I've been savin' it up, purpose to tell you when you comed," said +Prue. + +As they drove along the shady road toward home, they passed Jabez +Brimblecom who thus accosted Randy:-- + +"Wal, wal I'm glad ter see yer home agin, Randy, or must I say Miss +Weston, since ye've been to Boston?" + +"Oh please call me Randy, or I shall think you are a stranger, instead of +an old friend." + +"Wal, Randy it _is_ then, an' glad I be ter hear it. My wife said when ye +went off that she knew ye, an' that Randy'd be Randy anywhere 'n she's +'baout right 's usual." + +Every one whom they met had a word of greeting for Randy, until she +exclaimed, + +"Oh, it is almost worth while to go away, if everyone is to be so glad of +my return." + +"And we're the gladdest of all," said Prue. + +"Indeed we are," said Mr. Weston, "an' now, Randy, do ye see two women at +the corner of the wall? I tell ye, they couldn't wait 'til ye arrived at +the door." + +Mr. Weston stopped Snowfoot, and Randy jumped from the wagon, and running +to her mother, threw her arms about her neck. + +"O Randy, child, this is the first day of real happiness since ye started +fer Boston. Not but what we've gotten on pretty well, but ye left a space, +so ter speak, a space that nothin' could fill. Well, ye're here now, an' +we'll find it easy to be cheerful." + +"And _you're_ glad to see me, too, Aunt Prudence?" asked Randy, wondering +if so dignified a person would like a kiss. + +"Glad!" was the answer, "that's no name fer it," and she fervently kissed +Randy's cheek. "I must say, ef ye'd stayed away a week longer yer ma an' +me would been 'bout ready ter give up housekeepin'. I tell ye, Randy, we +shall all feel nigh on ter giddy, now ye've arrived." + +The remarkable sight of Aunt Prudence kissing Randy made a great +impression upon Prue. + +"If I goed to Boston, Aunt Prudence, would you kiss _me_ when I comed +back?" she asked. + +"Why bless ye, Prue, I'll kiss ye now, 'thout yer havin' ter go away," and +she did, much to Prue's delight. + +Arrived at the house, Prue exhibited her doll dressed in all her finery, +Tabby decorated with a gay ribbon, and was about to drag Randy out to the +barn that she might see the new railroad which ran through the pasture +lot, when Mrs. Weston suggested that the railroad would be there in the +morning and that as Randy had been riding all day it would be far better +to wait until the next day to see it. + +So little Prue sat beside Randy and listened to all which she had to tell +with the greatest interest. + +"Oh, I wish Johnny Buffum was here to hear all 'bout Boston," sighed Prue, +"then he'd know what a big girl my Randy is," and the little girl wondered +why they laughed. + +At tea she led Randy to the table and exclaimed, + +"There, didn't I _say_ the cake had pink frosting onto it?" and Randy +agreed that it was indeed pink and that it looked very tempting. + +Mrs. Weston and Aunt Prudence had arranged a fine little spread, composed +of Randy's favorite dishes and as she looked at the dear faces around the +table, she knew that she could not be happier at the grandest feast, +though it were given in her honor in palatial halls. + + * * * * * + +"Randy is here, Randy is here!" It seemed as if each person as soon as he +learned the news, repeated it to his neighbor, and that neighbor repeated +it to the next person whom he chanced to meet on the road, and soon the +entire village knew that Randy was once more at home. + +Prue followed her about as if she feared to lose sight of her, and +promised to recite an endless number of lessons to Randy if only she might +be permitted to stay out of school. + +"I can't go to school and not see my Randy all day. I don't want to be +anywhere where my Randy isn't." Prue pleaded so earnestly that at last Mr. +Weston said, + +"It is so near the end er the term, why not let her stay at home, mother?" + +Even Aunt Prudence interceded for her, and Prue's joy was unbounded when +she was told that she might consider that her vacation had commenced. + +The day after Randy's return was bright and sunny, and with little Prue +she wandered beneath the sweet scented apple blossoms drinking in their +beauty, and wondering if in all the world there was a fairer place than +the orchard with its wealth of bloom, when suddenly Prue exclaimed, + +"You're '_most_ as glad to see me as anybody, Randy? + +"Me 'n Tabby is just 'special glad you've got home." The little eyes +looked anxiously up into Randy's face. + +"You precious little sister," Randy answered, "I've been longing all +winter to see you, and when I have sat before the fire with Miss Dayton on +a stormy afternoon I have wished that Tabby with her paws tucked in, sat +blinking at the flames. There is no one, Prue, whom I am more truly glad +to see than you." + +While Randy and Prue were in the orchard, Mrs. Hodgkins "ran in fer a +chat," as she expressed it. + +"Wal, I hear tell that Randy's come back. What's she goin' ter do next +year, er don't she know yet? Did ye know't I had comp'ny?" She continued, +asking a second question without awaiting an answer to the first. + +"Wal, I _have_ got comp'ny, and comp'ny she means ter be considered. + +"It's Mis' C. Barnard Boardman, as she calls herself; she's Sabriny +Brimblecom that was, an' a pretty time I'm havin' with her. She's +delicate, or she thinks she is, an' I'm 'baout wild with her notions +'baout food, and her talkin' of 'zileratin' air, whatever that may be. + +"She can't lift her finger ter help me, an' the ruffles an' furbelows I +have ter iron fer her makes me bile, while she sets aout in the door-yard +a rockin' back'ards an' for'ards as cool as a cucumber. She ain't goin' +ter stay but a week longer with us, an' then she goes ter stay with her +brother Jabez, an' land knows, I pity Mis' Brimblecom, fer Sabriny says +she's goin' ter stay the whole summer. She's what ye might call savin', +fer she's savin' her board, an' when she left the Brimblecom's the last +time she spent the summer with 'em, she put a little package in Mis' +Brimblecom's hand just as she went aout the door, 'Jest a little gift in +return for your kindness,' said Sabriny, in her lofty way. + +"After she was gone Mis' Brimblecom opened the parcel an' she an' Jabez +just looked at each other, an' didn't speak. Sabriny's gift was _a wire +tea strainer_! Barnes sells 'em fer ten cents daown ter the store." + +"I should try, in some way, that she'd understand, ter make her realize +that her room was better'n her company," said Aunt Prudence. + +"You _think_ you would," said Mrs. Weston, "but you've a kind heart, an' +while you'd feel like tellin' her ter go, you wouldn't do it." + +"Mis' Brimblecom's one er the best women that ever lived, an' it's +provokin' fer her ter be pestered with Sabriny," declared Mrs. Hodgkins. + +"Wal, I must be goin'," and away she went, stopping on the way to greet +Randy who stood by the wall upon which sat Prue and Tabby. + +Long after Mrs. Hodgkins had left them, Randy and Prue sat under the +shadow of the blossoming branches, and it seemed to Randy that little Prue +had grown more lovely in face and figure. Her curls were longer, and her +sweet eyes darker, her hair had kept its sunny hue, and her coloring was +wonderfully like that of the apple blossoms. + +Prue was quite unaware of Randy's loving scrutiny, and she caressed Tabby, +humming contentedly, and looking about at the sunlight, the blossoms and +the butterflies. Suddenly she pointed down the road exclaiming, + +"Look, Randy, look! See old Mr. Simpkins coming this way." + +As he espied Randy he hastened toward her. + +"Glad ter see ye, glad ter see ye, Randy. Ye're lookin' fine. Haow be ye, +an' haow's Boston?" + +Randy assured him that the city seemed to be intact when she left it, but +he did not hear. + +"I expect ye haven't heared that Timotheus is a lit'rary feller naow, +doin' farm work only 'casionally, so ter speak. + +"Oh, ye did hear?" he questioned as Randy nodded assent. + +"Wal, he's a feelin' pooty big over his two dollars, but he's kind er +riled with the editor man fer thinkin' his writin' that he writ was funny. +Timotheus has fixed the attic fer a room ter stay in when he's a writin', +an' there he stays, day in, 'n day aout, a workin' away at his literatoor. +It's odd haow boys in one family will hev different idees. Naow Joel likes +store work best. Wal, here's some er the boys and girls a comin' ter see +ye, so I'll be goin' along." + +A laughing troop came hurrying along the road, and they hailed Randy with +shouts of delight when they espied her sitting upon the wall with Prue. As +they crowded about her, plying her with questions, Randy tried to answer +them all promptly, but gave it up with a laugh, exclaiming, + +"Oh, I'm glad to be with you all, and am pleased that you came over this +morning to see me. Sit down upon the wall and tell me all the news, and I +will try to answer all your questions." + +They seated themselves, a merry, laughing row, upon the wall; the Babson +girls, Dot and Jack Marvin, Jotham, the Langham twins, Reuben Jenks, +Mollie Wilson, Phoebe Small and even Sandy McLeod's little Janie, and +gaily they chattered, the petals of the apple-blossoms falling about them, +a perfumed shower. + +Randy's home coming had indeed been a glad one, and in "Randy and Prue" +one may learn more of Randy's sunny nature, and of the little sister's +winsome ways. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANDY AND HER FRIENDS*** + + +******* This file should be named 15111-8.txt or 15111-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/1/15111 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Randy and Her Friends</p> +<p>Author: Amy Brooks</p> +<p>Release Date: February 19, 2005 [eBook #15111]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANDY AND HER FRIENDS***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst, Emmy,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (www.pgdp.net).<br /> + <br /> + Four of the illustration were generously made available by the<br /> + Rare Books & Special Collections of the Thomas Cooper Library,<br /> + University of South Carolina.</h4> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>RANDY AND HER FRIENDS</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>AMY BROOKS</h2> + + +<p class="center">AUTHOR OF <i>RANDY'S SUMMER</i>, <i>RANDY'S WINTER</i>, +<i>A JOLLY CAT TALE</i>, <i>DOROTHY DAINTY</i></p> + + +<p class="center"><i>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR</i></p> + + +<p class="center">BOSTON<br /> +LEE AND SHEPARD<br /> +1902</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT, 1902, BY LEE AND SHEPARD<br /> +Published August, 1902</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="center"><i>All rights reserved</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> +<p class="figcenter"><a href="./images/cover.jpg"><img src="./images/cover-tb.jpg" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /></a></p> +<p class="center">RANDY AND HER FRIENDS<br /><br /><br /></p> + + +<p class="center">Norwood press<br /> +J.S. CUSHING & Co.—BERWICK & SMITH<br /> +Norwood, Mass. U.S.A. +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><b>Popular Stories</b></h2> + +<h3>BY AMY BROOKS.</h3> + +<p class="center">Each Beautifully Illustrated by the Author.</p> + + +<h3>THE RANDY BOOKS.</h3> + +<p class="center">THREE VOLUMES READY. 12MO. CLOTH. STRIKING +COVER DESIGN BY THE AUTHOR. + +COVER DESIGN BY THE AUTHOR.<br /> +RANDY'S SUMMER. Price $1.00<br /> +RANDY'S WINTER. Price 1.00<br /> +RANDY AND HER FRIENDS. Price 80 cents, <i>net</i><br /></p> + +<h2><b>For Younger Readers.</b></h2> + +<p class="center"> +A JOLLY CAT TALE. Large 12mo. Cloth.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Profusely Illustrated. Price $1.00</span><br /> +<br /> +DOROTHY DAINTY. Large 12mo. Cloth.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cover Design by the Author. Set in large</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">English type. Price 80 cents, <i>net</i></span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='right'></td><td align='right'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Through the Fields</td><td align='right'>7</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Cheerful Giver</td><td align='right'>20</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Gossip</td><td align='right'>38</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The District School</td><td align='right'>59</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Randy's Journey</td><td align='right'>79</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>New Friends</td><td align='right'>105</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Little Travelers</td><td align='right'>125</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Just a Rose</td><td align='right'>146</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Scotch Linnet</td><td align='right'>107</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Party</td><td align='right'>194</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Timotheus and His Neighbors</td><td align='right'>219</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Home</td><td align='right'>236</td></tr></table> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>PAGE</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>Randy and Snowfoot</td><td align='right'><a href="#Randy_and_Snowfoot"><b><i>Frontispiece</i></b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>"I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy</td><td align='right'><a href="#just_one_thing_more"><b>35</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>As she looked from the window and saw the flying landscape</td><td align='right'><a href="#As_she_looked"><b>101</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>As the smoke flew backward the flaming torch revealed the sleeping children</td><td align='right'><a href="#As_the_smoke"><b>142</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>Randy urges Polly to sing</td><td align='right'><a href="#Randy_urges_Polly"><b>212</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>Randy and Prue sat under the shadow of the blossoming branches</td><td align='right'><a href="#Randy_and_Prue"><b>251</b></a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="Randy_and_Snowfoot" id="Randy_and_Snowfoot" /><a href="./images/frontispiece.jpg"><img src="./images/frontispiece-tb.jpg" alt="Randy and Snowfoot" title="Randy and Snowfoot" /></a></p> +<p class="figcenter">Randy and Snowfoot</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>RANDY AND HER FRIENDS</h2> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I" />CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THROUGH THE FIELDS</h3> + + +<p>The sunniest place upon the hillside was the little pasture in which the +old mare was grazing, moving slowly about and nipping at the short grass +as if that which lay directly under her nose could not be nearly as choice +as that which she could obtain by constant perambulation.</p> + +<p>A blithe voice awoke the echoes with a fragment of an old song. The mare +looked up and gave a welcoming whinny as Randy Weston, Squire Weston's +daughter, crossed the pasture, her pink sunbonnet hanging from her arm by +its strings.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see me, Snowfoot?" asked Randy as she laid a caressing hand upon +the mare's neck and looked into the soft eyes which seemed to express a +world of love for the girl who never allowed a friendly whinny to pass +unnoticed. </p> + +<p>"My! but this August sun is hot," said Randy, vigorously wielding her +sunbonnet for a fan.</p> + +<p>"And before we can turn 'round it will be September, and then there'll be +lessons to learn, yes, and plenty of work to be done if I mean to keep the +promise I made myself when I won the prize in June.</p> + +<p>"A five dollar gold piece for being the best scholar, Snowfoot, and to +think that I haven't yet decided what to do with it!</p> + +<p>"I've spent it, in my mind a dozen times already, and to-day I'm no nearer +to knowing <i>just</i> what I'd rather do with it than on the day it was given +me. Did you ever know anything so silly?"</p> + +<p>The horse sneezed violently, as if in derision, and Randy laughed gaily at +having her plainly expressed opinion of herself so forcibly confirmed.</p> + +<p>Leaving Snowfoot to crop the grass and clover, Randy crossed the field and +followed a well trodden foot-path which led to a little grove and there in +the cool shade she paused to look off across the valley, and again her +thoughts reverted to the shining gold piece. Once more she wondered what +it could buy which would give lasting satisfaction. </p> + +<p>"If I were in the city," she mused, "I should probably see something which +I'd like to have in the first store I came to, and I could buy it at +once."</p> + +<p>A moment later she laughed softly as it occurred to her that in the large +city stores of which she had heard it would be more than probable that a +dozen pretty things would attract her, and her bewilderment would thus be +far greater than it had been at home with only a choice of imaginary +objects.</p> + +<p>"If old Sandy McLeod who gave the prize could know what a time I've had +deciding what to do with it, I believe he would laugh at me and say in +that deep voice of his,</p> + +<p>"'Hoot, lass! Since the gold piece troubles ye, I wonder if ye're glad ye +won it?'" </p> + +<p>Randy in her pink calico gown, her sunbonnet still hanging from her arm, +her cheeks flushed by the hot summer breeze, and the short ringlets +curling about her forehead, made a lovely picture as she stood at the +opening of the little grove and looked off across the valley to the +distant hills.</p> + +<p>She was thinking of the school session which would open so soon, when with +her classmates she would be eagerly working to gain knowledge; of her +longing for more than the "deestrict" school could give, of her father's +promise that she should have all the education she wished for, and the +light of enthusiasm shone in her merry gray eyes.</p> + +<p>"I shall work with all my heart this season," thought Randy, "and if I +could do two years' work in one, I should indeed be pleased. I believe +I'll ask the teacher to plan extra work for me, and if she will, I'll—" +but just at this point she heard a clear voice calling, </p> + +<p>"Randy! Randy!"</p> + +<p>Turning she saw Belinda Babson running along the little foot path, her +long yellow braids shining in the sun, and her round blue eyes showing her +pleasure at sight of her friend.</p> + +<p>"Why Belinda! Where did you come from?" cried Randy, "I'd no idea that +anyone was near me."</p> + +<p>"I've been sitting on the top rail at the further side of the pasture, and +just watching you, Randy Weston," said Belinda, laughing.</p> + +<p>"I was on the way up to your house when I met your little sister Prue, and +she said that you were out here, so I turned this way, and just as I +reached the bars I spied you a looking off at nothing and a thinking for +dear life."</p> + +<p>"I <i>was</i> thinking," admitted Randy, "and I was just wondering if I could +do two years of school work in one, when you called me." </p> + +<p>"Well what an idea!" gasped Belinda, "you don't catch me doing more than +one year's work if I can help it, and I wouldn't do <i>that</i> if pa didn't +set such a store by education.</p> + +<p>"Why, Randy," she resumed a moment later, "what makes you in such a drive +'bout your lessons, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sixteen this summer," Randy replied, "and I've no idea of waiting +forever to fit myself for something better than a district school."</p> + +<p>Belinda looked aghast, and her round face seemed longer than one could +have believed possible.</p> + +<p>"Randy Weston!" she ejaculated, "if you're planning to work like that the +whole duration time you won't have a single minute for fun, and how we'll +miss you!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't imagine that I shall lose all the winter's pleasures, Belinda," +Randy answered slipping her arm about her friend's waist. "I can study in +the long evenings and I think that I shall be able to join you all in the +'good times' which you plan and yet be able to do the extra work at +school." </p> + +<p>"Well, I wish you joy," said Belinda, "but I, for one, get all the school +work I want in a year as it is, and as to extra work, I guess I'll get it +fast enough this winter, although it won't be lessons I'll be attending to +in my spare time.</p> + +<p>"Ma got a letter last night when she rode over to the Centre, and Aunt +Drusilla writes that she's coming to make us a three months' visit, and +she's going to bring little Hi with her. And yesterday morning pa said +that Grandma Babson was a coming to make her home with us, so you might +guess, Randy, that Jemima and I'll have to step lively and help ma a bit."</p> + +<p>"You will indeed have to help," Randy answered, "but won't it be fun to +see little Hi again?</p> + +<p>"Do you remember, Belinda, when he was here last summer, he tried to +harness the hens and wondered why they didn't like it?" </p> + +<p>"I had forgotten that," said Belinda, "but Jemima reminded me this morning +of the day that pa lost his spectacles. Every one in the house hunted for +those glasses, and at last Jemima ran out into the door-yard, and there +was little Hi with the spectacles on his nose, a peering into the rain +water barrel and holding onto those specs to keep them from tumbling off +into the water. He said that pa said there were critters in any water, and +as he couldn't see 'em he ran off with the glasses to see if they would +help him. He tied our old Tom to the mouse trap because he said that he +wanted the cat to be on hand when the mice ran in. He carried a squash pie +out to the brindle cow because he thought she must be tired of eating +nothing but grass, and if he and Grandma Babson have got to spend three +months under the same roof, I b'lieve he'll drive her crazy, for she hates +boys and don't mind saying so, and he can think of more mischief in one +day than any other child could in a week." </p> + +<p>Both girls laughed as they thought of little Hi's pranks and Randy said, +with a bright twinkle in her eyes,</p> + +<p>"At least, you and Jemima will be amused this winter."</p> + +<p>"I guess we shall be in more ways than one," assented Belinda, "for I'm +pretty sure that Grandma Babson and that small boy will be enemies from +the start."</p> + +<p>Belinda's habitually jolly face wore such a comical look of anxiety that +Randy refrained from laughing, and to change the subject asked for a +schoolmate whom she had not recently seen. "Where is Molly Wilson?" she +questioned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Molly is so hard at work now it's only once in a while that I see +her. Her baby sister is ill, and Molly has no time for anything but +helping around home. Her mother says that she intends to have her go back +to school if she can spare her, but whatever do you suppose Molly meant? </p> + +<p>"She said to me, 'Belinda, even if mother can spare me, I may not go to +school. You can't think how anxious I am to be at work at my lessons +again, but I'm afraid I shan't look fit and father's had such a hard +summer, the farm hasn't paid for working it, he says, that I couldn't ask +him for anything for myself if I never had it.'</p> + +<p>"And oh, I never thought, Randy, I promised Molly I would not tell what +she said. I didn't mean to. Whatever made me forget?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Randy, an odd little smile showing the dimples at the +corners of her mouth.</p> + +<p>"I will not tell a single girl you may be very sure, but you and I who +know it will be extra kind to Molly."</p> + +<p>"Indeed we will," assented Belinda. "I'll go over this afternoon and see +if I can help her. The baby is a sweet little thing and she likes me, so +perhaps I shall be some help. Oh, there's Jemima calling at the bars, I +guess ma wants me. My! I wonder if some of our company has arrived? </p> + +<p>"Remember not to tell what I told you," cried Belinda to Randy, who stood +looking after her friend, as she ran across the pasture to join Jemima.</p> + +<p>They turned to wave their hands to Randy, who responded, then, as they +disappeared behind a clump of trees, she turned her eyes toward the sunny +valley and with her hands loosely clasped seemed to be watching the +shimmering sunlight on the winding river below.</p> + +<p>She had long been standing thus when a gentle whinny made her turn to +offer the caress for which old Snowfoot was hinting.</p> + +<p>The horse laid a shaggy head against Randy's shoulder and edged nearer as +the girl patted her nose, then walking over to a large rock she stood +close beside it and began to neigh, at the same time looking fixedly at +Randy. </p> + +<p>"Oh you cunning old thing," said Randy with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"You're inviting me to ride, just as you always do, by walking up to that +big flat rock so that I can mount. Well you old dear," she continued as +she stepped upon the rock and prepared to seat herself upon Snowfoot's +back,</p> + +<p>"I've found out what to do with that precious gold piece, and I'm going to +do it."</p> + +<p>Then without saddle or bridle, but with a firm grasp upon the shaggy mane +she chirped to her steed and the horse pricking up her ears at the sound, +bounded forward, and proud of her charge carried her across the pasture to +the bars where little Prue stood waiting to meet her.</p> + +<p>It was evident that the little sister had wonderful news to tell, for her +brown eyes were very wide open and she could hardly wait for Randy to slip +down from Snowfoot's back before beginning to tell what so excited her.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what do you think!" she began when with her hand in Randy's they +trudged along towards home. </p> + +<p>"My Tabby's caught a mouse, and father's just come back from the Centre +and he's brought the cloth for a new dress for you'n me, 'n I picked holes +in the bundles, an' one's blue an' one's red an' which do you s'pose is +mine? And Aunt Prudence is comin' to see us next week, an' there's goin' +to be a new spout to our rain water barrel, an' I guess that's all."</p> + +<p>"Well if all that happened while I've been out in the pasture," said +Randy, laughing, "I guess I'll have to stay in for a while and see what +happens next." </p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II" />CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A CHEERFUL GIVER</h3> + + +<p>It was a warm August evening when a farm hand passing the Weston house +paused a moment to look admiringly at the picture which the wide open door +presented.</p> + +<p>A rude frame of home manufacture, covered with netting, kept inquisitive +moths from entering, at the same time allowing a flood of light to make +its way out into the door-yard, where it lay upon the grass and added +glory to the marigolds which grew beside the path.</p> + +<p>"Happiest family I know on," muttered the man, drawing a rough hand across +his eyes. "Makes me think of the time when I was a little feller ter hum, +and had two sisters jest 'baout the size of Square Weston's girls."</p> + +<p>Then, with a sigh, the man went on up the road, but the memory of the +family group in the brightly lighted room remained in his mind for many a +day. </p> + +<p>At one side of the table with its bright cloth smoothly spread, sat Mr. +Weston perusing the county paper, at times reading aloud a bit of +especially interesting news to his wife who was busily at work upon an +apron for little Prue. In the centre of the table stood a large lamp, a +monument to the enterprise of Silas Barnes, the village storekeeper.</p> + +<p>"You folks don't want ter go pokin' raound with taller candles when ye kin +git er lamp that gives light like all fireation, do ye?" he had said.</p> + +<p>And those farmers who could afford the luxury invested in a lamp at once. +Others, whose purses were too lean for such expenditure, affected to +prefer candles, declaring the lamplight to be too glaring for their taste.</p> + +<p>Just where the light shone through the outline of her rippling hair sat +Randy, reading aloud to Prue, who stood beside her at the table, insisting +upon seeing each picture as Randy turned the page. </p> + +<p>As she finished reading the story, Randy turned, and slipping her arm +about Prue drew her closer, while the little sister, giving a contented +little sigh exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"That's the best story of all, Randy, read it again."</p> + +<p>"Why, Prue, you've just heard it twice," said Randy, "you don't want to +hear it again to-night!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I do!" cried Prue. "I'd like to hear it all over again from the +beginning, 'Once upon a time.' 'F I hear it this once more it'll seem +'bout true."</p> + +<p>"I should think 'twould seem threadbare," said her father, with ill +suppressed amusement.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" cried Prue, "'tain't freadbare, it's fine, the finest in the +book. Do read it, Randy, and then I'll be willing to go to bed."</p> + +<p>So Randy began once more the story which had so charmed the little sister, +and very patiently she read it, while Prue, who was really sleepy, made +heroic efforts to keep her eyes open. </p> + +<p>Often her lashes would lie for an instant upon her cheek, when immediately +she would open her eyes very wide, and look furtively about to see if her +drowsiness were detected.</p> + +<p>"And they lived happily ever after," read Randy.</p> + +<p>"And they lived—happily—ever—after," drawled Prue, as if in proof that +she were indeed awake.</p> + +<p>"Why Prue," cried Randy, "you're half asleep."</p> + +<p>"I'm not," Prue answered, "I heard what you read. You said 'and they lived +happy ever after.' Now I'm wide awake, else how did I hear?"</p> + +<p>After Prue was safely tucked in bed, Randy returned to the cheerful room +below and unfolded her plan for spending her prize money.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Weston put aside her sewing to listen, and Mr. Weston laying his +paper across his knees, watched Randy keenly as she said, </p> + +<p>"You see I've felt that I should like to do something with this prize +which it would always give me pleasure to remember, and I know that if you +both think best to let me do this, I shall always look back to it with +happy thoughts."</p> + +<p>There was a pause when Randy had finished speaking, then Mrs. Weston, +without a word, placed her hand upon Randy's, as it lay upon the table and +the Squire, taking off his glasses and affecting to see a bit of moisture +upon them, took out his handkerchief and slowly wiping the lenses he said,</p> + +<p>"As far as our <i>letting</i> ye, Randy, the money's yer own ter do as ye +please with, but fer my own opinion, ye well know I've always said 'twas' +better ter give than receive.' This time ye have both. Ye've known the joy +of receiving the prize, and now ye plan ter use it ter make another happy. +I'm proud of yer choice, and I guess yer mother thinks as I do. I'm well +able now ter give ye all ye need, and if winning and giving yer prize +makes ye twice glad, why what more could we ask?" </p> + +<p>"I'm so glad you like my plan," said Randy, with sparkling eyes. "Molly is +such a nice girl, and the way I'm going to send the gift, she will never +guess where it came from, I waited until Prue was asleep to tell you about +it.</p> + +<p>"She never could keep the secret, and a secret it <i>must</i> be, for Molly is +proud and shy and must only think that <i>some one</i> has sent her a nice +gift."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Randy," said Mrs. Weston, "but do ye think it can be +managed so that Molly won't dream where it came from?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," Randy answered, "I shall get Jotham to help me, and he will be +sure to do my errand just as I direct."</p> + +<p>"Wall, I guess that's sure enough," said Mr. Weston, with a chuckle, which +Randy heard on her way up the stairs to her little bed-room. </p> + +<p>The bright color flushed her cheeks as she thought of Jotham Potts who, +since they were both little children, had been her ardent admirer, +faithful and eager to do her slightest bidding. She admired his frank, +truthful character, appreciated his kindness and valued his friendship, +but she made no one friend a favorite, striving rather to be friendly and +cordial with all.</p> + +<p>In her dreams she sent her gift to Molly many times, and as many times +wondered if it pleased her, and when she awoke in the morning she could +hardly believe that it had not yet been purchased.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad it was just a dream," thought Randy, as she stood before the +tiny glass drawing the comb through the curling masses of her light brown +hair, "because I've yet the pleasure of choosing the gift and of buying +and sending it to her.</p> + +<p>"I believe I'll go down to Barnes' store to-day, for now I've made up my +mind what to do, I can hardly wait to do it."</p> + +<p>It seemed as if everything favored Randy's scheme. The first person whom +she saw as she ran out to the well and commenced to lower the bucket was +Jotham, whistling as he strode along, deftly cutting the tops from the +roadside weeds with a switch. </p> + +<p>"Hi, Randy! Let me help you," he said, vaulting lightly over the wall and +hastening toward her as she stood smiling in the sunlight.</p> + +<p>"You can help in another way to-day, if you will," said Randy. "Come and +sit upon the wall while I tell you about it."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I will," was the hearty rejoinder. "I've often told you, Randy, +that I'd do anything for you."</p> + +<p>"Well, this is for me, and for some one else too," said Randy, looking +earnestly up into his kind, dark eyes.</p> + +<p>"And Jotham," she continued eagerly, "you must not mind if I don't tell +you <i>all</i> about it, 'tis truly a good reason why I can't."</p> + +<p>"I'll do whatever you wish, Randy," was the reply, "and I won't ask a +question." </p> + +<p>"Oh, here's Prue coming," said Randy, "and she mustn't hear about it. You +meet me at Barnes' store about four o'clock this afternoon and I'll tell +you then what I wish you to do."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Jotham, "I'll be there on time, you may be sure of +that."</p> + +<p>"O, Randy," cried little Prue, "what you tellin' Jotham? Tell me too."</p> + +<p>"See here, Prue," said Jotham with as serious an expression as he could +assume, "I was just telling Randy that I should be at Barnes' store at +four o'clock."</p> + +<p>"Oh, was that all?" said Prue, "I thought 'twas something great," and her +look of disgust at finding the conversation to be upon so ordinary a topic +made both Randy and Jotham laugh heartily.</p> + +<p>"Well I don't see why you laugh," said Prue, "'twon't be funny to be going +down to the store this hot afternoon. I'd rather stay at home with my +Tabby cat, and fan her to keep her cool." </p> + +<p>Immediately after dinner, little Johnny Buffum appeared in the door-yard +and announced that he had come to play with Prue. He wore a blue-checked +pinafore, below which could be seen his short snuff-colored trousers and +little bare feet. Upon his head jauntily sat a large straw hat with a torn +brim through which the sunlight sifted, where it lay, a stripe of gold +upon his little freckled nose.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you've come, Johnny," said Prue. "Let's play school."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Johnny, "I'll be the teacher."</p> + +<p>"And I'll play I'm Randy, and Tabby can be me,—you 'member to call her +Prue when you speak to her,—and Johnny, this rag doll will be you," said +Prue.</p> + +<p>"That old doll's a girl," objected Johnny. "I won't let no girl doll be +me."</p> + +<p>But Prue argued that it would be enough better to be represented by the +despised rag doll, than not to be in the school at all, so half convinced, +the game began and the two children were so occupied when Randy started +for her walk to the Centre, that her little sister quite forgot to coax to +be allowed to "go too." </p> + +<p>As she trudged along the sunny, dusty road, Randy hummed a merry little +tune, her footsteps keeping time to its rhythm and her heart beating +faster as she thought of her delightful errand.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the store she asked Mr. Barnes to show her the piece of cloth +from which her father had bought on the night that he had driven to the +Centre.</p> + +<p>"Joel!" called Silas Barnes, "show Randy Weston that second piece of cloth +from the top, will ye? I've got ter finish opening this barrel o' sugar."</p> + +<p>Joel placed the cloth upon the counter, saying,</p> + +<p>"Is that the piece ye mean?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is it," said Randy. </p> + +<p>"Didn't yer pa git 'nough?" questioned Joel.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said Randy, "but I want this for something else. I'll take eight +yards."</p> + +<p>"Why that's 'nough for a whole gaown," said Joel, but a shade of annoyance +passed over Randy's sweet face and as she showed no disposition to +explain, the clerk cut off the number of yards with the injured air of one +whose kindly interest had been unappreciated.</p> + +<p>When the cloth had been made into a neat parcel, Joel looked up and +extended his hand for payment, when to his utter astonishment, Randy +informed him that she had yet another errand.</p> + +<p>"I'll look at some shoes now," she said with quite an air, for this was +her first shopping trip and a very happy one.</p> + +<p>"Fer yourself, Randy?" asked Joel.</p> + +<p>"I wish them to be <i>my size</i>, so I'll try them on," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Well ef they're ter be your size, they're to be yourn, ain't they?" +queried Joel, determined if possible to know all about this wild +extravagance. </p> + +<p>Randy had changed her gold piece for a bill before she left home, well +knowing that the bill would attract less attention.</p> + +<p>Assuming not to have heard his question, Randy took her parcels, and gave +Joel her bill. Joel took the money, but he could not resist the temptation +to ask one more question.</p> + +<p>"Mebbe ye didn't know that yer pa bought a pair er shoes jest that size +t'other night, did ye?"</p> + +<p>No one person was ever known to have bought two pairs of shoes and two +dresses at Barnes' store within a week, and the clerk was wild with +curiosity, but just as he was about to repeat his question, Jotham entered +the store, and Joel turned to see what his errand might be.</p> + +<p>"Nothing to-day," said Jotham, "I saw Randy in here, and I thought I'd +offer to take her bundles." </p> + +<p>Together they left the store, and as they turned into the quiet, shady +road Randy said,</p> + +<p>"I think I never was more glad to see you, Jotham, than when I turned and +saw you in the doorway of the store."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm doubly glad I came," said Jotham.</p> + +<p>"Well, Joel Simpkins thought 'twas the funniest thing that I should be +buying something when father was not with me, and he asked just every +question that he could think of except one. He didn't ask me where I got +my money, and I do believe he would have asked me that if you hadn't come +in just when you did."</p> + +<p>"O Randy, it's a funny sight to see you provoked," said Jotham with a +hearty laugh. "I know that he is an inquisitive fellow.</p> + +<p>"You know I've been studying this summer with the young professor who has +been boarding at our house, and father has arranged it so that when he +returns to teach at the university I shall go back with him, not to the +college of course, but as his private pupil. I shall work very hard at my +studies and hope another year to enter college. </p> + +<p>"Well, father was speaking to Mr. Barnes of my aspirations, and his plans +for me, when Joel stepped over to where they stood talking, and said he,</p> + +<p>"'Ain't that goin' ter be pooty expensive, Mr. Potts, an' likely ter put +kind er high notions inter Jotham's head?'</p> + +<p>"Father turned and looked at him, then he said,</p> + +<p>"'I'm not likely to incur any bills which I am unable to meet, and as to +Jotham's head, I truly believe it is level.'"</p> + +<p>They both laughed to think of Joel's discomfiture, and under the shade of +overhanging branches they sat down upon a large rock at the side of the +road and Randy, turning toward Jotham said,</p> + +<p>"There, now I'll tell you what I could not tell this morning, because dear +little Prue cannot keep a secret, and you can, and will." </p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="just_one_thing_more" id="just_one_thing_more" /><a href="./images/34.jpg"><img src="./images/34-tb.jpg" alt=""I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy" title=""I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy" /></a></p> +<p class="figcenter">"I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy</p> + +<p>"I will if you wish it, Randy," said Jotham.</p> + +<p>"Well then, these parcels are not for me, they are for someone else, and I +do not wish her to know where they came from, Jotham, are you willing to +go over to the Wilson farm to-night?" asked Randy.</p> + +<p>"I'd go to Joppa if you asked it," answered the boy with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Then go to Molly's house after dark, and leave these bundles on the +doorstep. Knock loudly, and then run away just far enough so that you will +be able to see them taken in, and don't tell anyone about it. It's just a +nice little surprise and you and I will keep our secret."</p> + +<p>"It's a pleasure that you are planning, of that I am sure," said Jotham.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy, "Molly Wilson is a nice +girl and she will be sixteen to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Oh ho! A birthday gift! Well, I don't wonder you wish it to get there +to-night, but if I leave it and run, how will they know that the bundles +are for Molly?" </p> + +<p>"Oh, I must put her name on the parcels now," said Randy.</p> + +<p>Jotham produced a pencil and thinking that Molly might recognize her +writing, Randy printed in large letters this legend:</p> + +<p>"For Mollie Wilson, from one who loves her."</p> + +<p>After viewing her work with satisfaction, Randy said,</p> + +<p>"There, now they are all ready, but Jotham," she added a moment later, +"what will you do with them between now and twilight?"</p> + +<p>"I'll take the packages home, and as you wish no one to know about them, +I'll hide them in a safe place in our woodshed. When I start for Molly's +house I have to go in the same direction that I would if I were intending +to stop at Reuben Jenks' door, so I'll leave the presents at the Wilson's, +and stop at Reuben's on the way home; then if I'm known to have been at +Reuben's no one will guess that I was running about delivering presents."</p> + + +<p>So at a bend of the road they parted, Jotham happy in the thought that he +had a part in one of Randy's plans, and at the same time doing her +bidding, and Randy wondering if Molly's delight when she looked at her +gifts would be as great as that which she had herself experienced in +sending them. </p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III" />CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>GOSSIP</h3> + + +<p>The sun shone down upon the dusty little "square," and the foliage of the +big willow tree near Barnes' store looked as if frosted, such a thick +coating of dust lay upon the leaves.</p> + +<p>At the trough beneath the tree an old gray horse stood alternately taking +a long draught of the clear water, and looking off across the square, as +if lost in meditation.</p> + +<p>A dragon-fly with steely wings lit upon the trough and, skilled little +acrobat, balanced upon the extreme edge as if thus to take in the full +beauty of old Dobbin's reflection.</p> + +<p>Exhaling a long breath as he lifted his shaggy head, the old horse sent a +shower of bright drops upon the dragon-fly who, considering the act to be +a great breach of etiquette, took zigzag flight across the sunny square, +and up the winding road toward the mill. </p> + +<p>It looked as if Dobbin might drink the trough dry if he chose, for an +animated conversation was in progress at Barnes' store, and his master was +one of the leaders in every discussion, whether the topic chanced to be +political, or simply a tale of village gossip.</p> + +<p>A chubby urchin made little hills of dust, using a well worn slipper for a +trowel, and Dobbin kicked and stamped impatiently, occasionally taking +another drink, and still the discussion went on.</p> + +<p>"Naow I argy, that a leetle deestrict school wus good 'nough fer me, an' +look at me!</p> + +<p>"Own my farm free an' clear, got a good lot er stock an' tools on the +place, an' I'm wuth two thousand dollars in cash!"</p> + +<p>The speaker was old Josiah Boyden, one of the "<i>see</i>lectmen," and a member +of the school committee. His greatest pride lay in the fact that he was a +self-made man, and truly he looked as if constructed upon a home made +pattern. </p> + +<p>The group of farmers, obedient to his command, turned and looked at the +speaker, while from behind the stove which, hot weather or cold, held the +place of honor in the centre of the store, a shrill voice ventured to +question the pompous owner of so great a property.</p> + +<p>"Be ye goin' ter say, Josiah, that every feller what's edicated at a +deestrict school can git ter own sech a fort'n as yourn?"</p> + +<p>"Huh! Wal, no, not exactly," was the admission, for while this good +committee-man was fighting a suggestion which had been made relative to +securing better quarters for the school which promised to be larger than +on any previous year, he did not wish to diminish his own glory by +inferring that any one, however bright, or ambitious, could possibly +arrive at his eminence.</p> + +<p>"I think, friends," said Parson Spooner in his soft, pleasant voice, "that +our scholars should be given every comfort and advantage which our village +can possibly afford to grant." </p> + +<p>"That's it, that's it," assented Josiah Boyden, "but the thing is, she +can't afford to offer nothin' extry beyond just what's set aside fer +schools."</p> + +<p>Again the squeaky voice from behind the stove made itself heard. "That's +the time, Josiah, when the taown can't afford it that cap'talists, such as +you say you be, oughter step right inter the gap an' help aout."</p> + +<p>"I've got a arrant daown ter the mill," remarked the offended +"<i>see</i>lectman," "an' I'm goin' right along ter 'tend to it, but I'll say +in leavin', thet I won't waste my breath a talkin' to a person with a mind +so narrer as ter s'pose fer a moment that private puss-strings hangs aout +fer every person who feels like it ter pull. I'm public sperited, every +one knows that, but I don't help support no institootion er larnin when I +got the hull er my edication at a deestrict school," and in intense +disgust he left the store followed by an irritating chuckle which, +although it came from behind the rusty old stove, reached the ears of +Boyden as he stamped down the rickety steps of the store and stalked +majestically across the square and up the road. </p> + +<p>He was sure of a sympathetic listener at the mill, for it was a well worn +saying in the village that the miller "agreed with everyone."</p> + +<p>The river which kept his mill running, wound its way through the next +village, where another grist mill was humming, and Martin Meers was far +too shrewd to permit himself to express a difference of opinion from that +held by a good customer, who in his wrath might take his grist to the +rival mill to be ground.</p> + +<p>Pondering over the "narrer minds" of those with whom he had been +conversing, Josiah Boyden tramped along the dusty road, becoming more +incensed with every step, as he thought of the individual who had presumed +to suggest that he might contribute toward the school fund, and still the +gossip at the store progressed, unhindered by the departure of the +"<i>see</i>lectman." </p> + +<p>"My Reuben," remarked Mr. Jenks, "made more progress in his studies last +season than he ever made before in two winters' work, and I feel that the +teacher deserves a deal of thanks fer stirring up such an interest. I +don't have the sort er feelin' that Boyden has. I stand ready and willin' +ter put my hand in my pocket ter help aout expenses, ef some others will +'gree ter chip in."</p> + +<p>"But there's a 'scuse fer Boyden," chuckled Nate Burnham, the old fellow +behind the stove, as he relighted his pipe, and puffed a few times to +determine if it intended to burn. "There's a sort er 'scuse fer Boyden," +he repeated, "fer his children have growd up, so he ain't got no use fer +schools, and fellers like him don't pay fer things they ain't a usin'."</p> + +<p>"Wal, I think we ought ter have a village improvement sarsiety fer the +benefit of us as is out'n school," remarked Joel Simpkins, thrusting his +hands deep into his pockets and tossing his head to shake back a +refractory lock of hay-colored hair. </p> + +<p>He was the "head clerk" at Barnes' store. To be sure he was, as a general +thing, the <i>only</i> clerk, but Joel considered himself quite a personage, +and never referred to himself as other than head clerk.</p> + +<p>"Kinder had an idee that ye couldn't be improved, Joel," remarked a young +farmer who had thus far taken no part in the conversation.</p> + +<p>Joel looked sharply at the man, and vaguely wondered if possibly the +remark was sarcastic, but the face into which he peered was so genuinely +good natured that Joel was reassured, and he at once decided that only a +very fine compliment was intended.</p> + +<p>"I think we could fix up this 'ere square," said Joel, "ter begin with. +Take that old horse trough. That could be fixed up 'n' painted, 'n' that +willer tree; 'twouldn't hurt it ter give it a good preunin'. Growin' as it +does daown in the ditch, or puddle beside this store, it flourishes, an' +lops its limbs nigh onto across the square; an' the rickety fence beside +it ought ter be straightened up 'fore some of the fellers that are +perpetually leanin' 'gainst it pitch with it backward inter the ditch." </p> + +<p>"Wal, Joel, while yer 'baout it," remarked Silas Barnes, "why don't yer +suggest a brick block er two, an' pavin' stones in the square an' a few +other things such as I told ye I seen in Boston. 'Tain't wuth while ter +stop after ye git started ter make suggestions."</p> + +<p>"Speakin' of the teacher," remarked Mr. Potts, "I'm one that speaks in +favor of Miss Gilman every time, and Jotham seconds everything I say."</p> + +<p>"Lemme tell ye what my Timotheus is a doin' these days. I set him ter +hoeing fer me, and I tell ye ye'd like ter watch him a spell," said old +Mr. Simpkins, his face beaming with pride in his youngest son.</p> + +<p>"Fust he'd work the hoe with them long arms er his'n 'til the weeds an' +dirt flew like Hail Columby, and ye'd think he'd got goin' an' couldn't +halt, when all to onct he'd stop as ef somethin'd bit him, an' he'd drop +the hoe and begin ter gesticerlate and spaout like a preacher. </p> + +<p>"Pooty soon he'd make a grab fer the hoe, and agin the dirt would fly like +all fury. Next thing ye knew, daown'd go the hoe agin, and up would go his +arms, a sawin' the air like a windmill, an' there he'd be a spaoutin' an' +a elocutin' fit ter kill. Who but Timotheus would ever think of combinin' +hoein' an' elocutin'? I tell ye, he's the most possessed of 'rig'nal'ty of +any pusson I ever seen."</p> + +<p>"I wonder someone don't think he's a reg'lar loony, a carryin' on like +that," muttered Joel, filled with jealousy and disgust.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Simpkins was deaf, and Joel's muttered remark passed unnoticed.</p> + +<p>"He ain't one er them fellers that can't do but one thing to a time. +T'other day I axed him ter bring two pail er water inter the barn, and +away he went ter git 'em. Anybody'd think a pail er water in each hand +oughter held him daown, but no sir, that feller came across the door-yard, +both pails full, an' his head in the air, his maouth wide open, and the +elocutin' a goin' on continoous." </p> + +<p>"Ef I thought fer a moment that edication would make any er my children +act like that, I vaow I'd keep 'em outer school fer one while," said a +farmer who had recently arrived in the village, and roars of laughter +followed this remark.</p> + +<p>As he was deaf, old Mr. Simpkins failed to catch the meaning of the +hilarity, so he construed it as it pleased him to, and when the laughter +had subsided, said,</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder ye laugh, ye didn't see him er doin' it, so ye don't know +haow he looked, but I tell ye 'twas a grand sight ter see a young feller +so eloquent that nothin' on airth could stop him."</p> + +<p>"Must 'a been a 'stonishing sight," agreed Mr. Jenks, "but naow, friends, +we've talked fer quite a spell on one thing or another, an we ain't much +nigher ter settlin' the question of a bigger schoolroom than when we +started. </p> + +<p>"Naow instead er hagglin' 'baout it, I b'lieve we'd better have a +committee meetin' called, and a reg'lar vote taken, an' I say right here +and naow, that I shall vote fer better quarters fer the school an' I'll +'gree, as I said, ter put my hand right in my pocket an' give the thing a +start.</p> + +<p>"Nathan Lawton gave the use of his best room fer a schoolroom last year, +an' 'twas kind an' generous fer him ter do it, but the village has been +growin' just amazin', an' this year shows a bigger list of inhabitants, +an' it 'pears as if most of the new comers had a family er children, so +something's got ter be done 'baout that school buildin'."</p> + +<p>"Good fer ye," squeaked old Nate Burnham, "an' I wish ye luck at the +meetin'."</p> + +<p>The village gossip was not monopolized by the frequenters of Barnes' +store. Indeed it seemed as if the place had taken on new life and +ambition, and if at any corner or turn of the road one chose to listen, he +could often hear a few stray bits of conversation in regard to the +interests which lay nearest to the hearts of the various newsmongers. </p> + +<p>Of all the tale-bearers, and there were many, none were as harmless, and +at the same time as busy as Mrs. Hodgkins.</p> + +<p>Walking down a shady lane one might espy her endeavoring to hold a +friendly confab with some busy farmer's wife who, while hanging out her +washing, endeavored to hold a clothespin in her mouth, and at the same +time answer Mrs. Hodgkins' frequent questions, such as,</p> + +<p>"Naow did ye ever hear anything ter beat that?</p> + +<p>"Ain't ye amazed at the idee?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hodgkins would on such occasions, lean against the rail fence and +bombard the busy woman alternately with bits of news, and pointed +questions until, the last piece of linen in place upon the line, the empty +basket would be a signal for adieus. </p> + +<p>Then Sophrony Hodgkins would meander down the lane, and if fortune favored +her, would find at the next farm-house its mistress possibly at the well +or sunning her milk pans in a corner of the door-yard.</p> + +<p>Immediately she would hail her with joy and proceed to repeat her own +stock of news with the addition of a few particulars gleaned from the +first friend.</p> + +<p>"Sophrony Hodgkins' stories," remarked old Nate Burnham, "remind me of the +snowballs we used ter roll and roll 'til from a leetle ball we finally by +rollin' an' trav'lin' got one bigger'n all creation.</p> + +<p>"She starts in with what <i>she's</i> heard. Then she adds on what somebody +else has heard, and after that, what this one an' that one and t'other one +has heard, 'til the size of the yarn must astonish her."</p> + +<p>"I'll say one thing 'bout her, though," remarked Silas Barnes, "with all +her talkin' an' tellin' she never tells anything that's detrimental to +somebody's character. She's full er tellin' ordinary news, but when it +comes ter news that would stir up strife, Sophrony's got nothin' ter say; +so let her talk, I say, ef she enjoys it; she 'muses herself an' don't +hurt no one else." </p> + +<p>On the sunny morning when Barnes' store had been the scene of the gossip +and discussion in regard to the new quarters for the school, Sophrony +Hodgkins had made an early start on a "c'lection tour," as old Nate +Burnham would have called it. She had met Janie Clifton at the Pour +Corners, and had stopped for a chat with her, had waylaid Molly Wilson in +the middle of the road, in order to inquire for her mother and baby +sister, had stopped for a moment at Mrs. Jenks' door just to ask if she +had heard the wonderful news about Dot Marvin's old uncle Jehiel, had +paused to look over the wall at the new Jersey cow which old Mr. Simpkins +had recently purchased, and to casually inquire if Timotheus was intending +to again be a pupil at the deestrict school, bein's he'd growed so durin' +the summer'n seemed more like a man than a boy, and had asked little +Johnny Buffum what on airth his sister Hitty had her head tied up in hot +weather for, when beet juice dropped in her ear would cure her earache in +two minutes, and had been informed that, </p> + +<p>"Hitty hadn't got no earache, 'twas a bee sting on her cheek;" all this +and much more had filled Mrs. Hodgkins' mind so completely that she was +amazed to find that eleven o'clock had arrived, and that she must turn +about and hasten home if she wished to have dinner ready when the kitchen +clock struck twelve.</p> + +<p>"I'll git something on the table when Joel gits in from the field, though +land knows what it'll be with only an hour ter git it in," she muttered +between short, puffing breaths, for Mrs. Hodgkins was stout, and she had +already taken a long walk.</p> + +<p>The dinner was indeed an odd one, made up from what were termed by Mrs. +Hodgkins "odds and ends," but Joel Hodgkins was a patient man, and his +appetite was one which never needed tempting, so he partook of the viands +which his wife offered him with an apparent relish, and was soon at work +again in the field. </p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Hodgkins donned a fresh apron preparatory to going out, +remarking as she tied her sunbonnet strings with a twitch,</p> + +<p>"I reely must go over to Almiry's, it's only a step er two, and what's the +use of havin' a niece in the neighborhood ef not ter tell news ter, an' +what's the use er hearin' news an' keepin' it ter yourself?</p> + +<p>"I'll git home in time ter bake a batch er gingerbread fer tea," she +continued, "Joel's paowerful fond er gingerbread an' it'll sort er pay +him fer eatin' such a dinner with such endurin' patience."</p> + +<p>Almira Meeks lay back in the big old fashioned rocker, too tired, she +declared, to care "whether school kept or not."</p> + +<p>Meek in name and in nature, there was not a day that she did not overwork, +and when the forenoon's tasks were completed, she would lie back exhausted +in the big old chair, only to be reprimanded if her husband chanced to +come in, for "havin' so little energy." It was with delight that she +welcomed Aunt Sophrony, saying: </p> + +<p>"Do tell me all the news. I'm nearly always too tired to go out and hear +any."</p> + +<p>"Ye do look tuckered," remarked Mrs. Hodgkins, "but hearin' the things +I've got ter tell will interest ye, an' make ye feel reel perky. Ye +needn't feel ye've got ter talk, fer I kin talk 'nough fer two.</p> + +<p>"When I started aout this morning, the fust pusson I see was Janie +Clifton, an' what on airth do ye think she's been up to?"</p> + +<p>Almira shook her head, to show her utter inability to guess what Janie's +latest notion might be.</p> + +<p>"Well, she got an idee that we was all behind the times up here, an' +needed a leetle fixin' up, an' she wondered ef she could slip inter the +chink an' fill the place she thought she see a gapin', an' take in a +leetle money at the same time.</p> + +<p>"She's 'mazing sot when she gits her mind on a thing, an' she talked it +over ter hum and carried the day; and she's been daown ter Boston these +past few months a learnin' dressmakin', when we all thought she was a +visitin'. </p> + +<p>"Naow she's set up fer herself, an' any of us that has an idee of lookin' +spreuced up, and has a leetle cash ter go with the notion, can buy the +goods fer a gaown at Barnes', an' go right up ter the room over his store +and be measured by Janie fer a fashionable fit.</p> + +<p>"Ef some of our husband's doesn't git fashionable fits when they hear the +extravagance Janie's a teachin' we'll be lucky.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell ye naow, Almiry, I'm goin' ter have a gaown cut by Janie come +fall, ef it takes all the egg money ter pay fer it!"</p> + +<p>"Why Aunt Sophrony!" was all the astonished Almira could ejaculate. Such +splendid courage was quite beyond the meek little woman's comprehension.</p> + +<p>"Miss Wilson's baby has cut another tooth, that makes five, an' she's a +doin' well too," continued Mrs. Hodgkins, "but that ain't a flea bite to +what I heerd next. </p> + +<p>"Ye know the Marvin's old Uncle Jehiel, him that lived with them five year +an' then went off, nobody knows where, without sayin' a word to 'em? Well, +he's been heard from! A lawyer has writ ter Jack Marvin's father sayin' +there's a will, an' sech a will I'll be baound wuz never heerd of before!</p> + +<p>"He's left five hundred dollars ter come ter Jack when he's twenty-one, ef +by that time he's given any sign of 'mountin' ter anything as a scholar, a +farmer, a preacher or a storekeeper.</p> + +<p>"Did ye ever hear anything like the choice?</p> + +<p>"An' then he says, the old rascal, that ef by that time he hasn't made +something of himself in one or t'other er them things, that the money can +be given ter his cousin Dot, whatever she's done or hasn't done, bein's +he's never expected anything of her, she bein' only a girl. </p> + +<p>"That made me bile when I heerd it, fer the old critter ought ter think +pretty well er girls and women. They say, as er boy he lived with his aunt +who gave him a good edication; a cousin er his'n, a woman by the way, set +him up in business, an' this money he's made his grand will fer was left +him by his wife, so ye'd think he'd feel thankful and kind toward all +women, but ye can't caount on folks."</p> + +<p>"I'd a thought he'd a left the money ter be divided between Jack an' Dot, +'twould a sounded pleasanter," said Almira.</p> + +<p>"Ef ye ever saw old Jehiel Marvin ye'd never expect anything very pleasant +of him," responded Mrs. Hodgkins.</p> + +<p>"But lemme tell ye the greatest!</p> + +<p>"Timotheus Simpkins ain't goin' ter the deestrict school this year, fer +the reason that his father says he's learned all there is ter learn, an' +there ain't nothing left that the teacher can tell him, so he's goin' ter +stay aout and help on the farm an' spend all his spare time on literatoor!</p> + + +<p>"That's what old Mr. Simpkins says, what on airth do ye s'pose he means?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Sophrony waited for her niece to solve the mystery, but the problem +was too great for her to grasp, and as Mrs. Hodgkins rose to go, Almira +begged her to question Timotheus if she chanced to meet him, and find out +just what he intended to do with his spare time, and to learn if possible +in what way "literatoor" was to form a part of his daily life. </p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV" />CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE DISTRICT SCHOOL</h3> + + +<p>The meeting held for the purpose of deciding that the town could or could +not afford to furnish suitable accommodations for its pupils proved to be +a most exciting affair.</p> + +<p>Josiah Boyden filled with indignation that the matter should have been +thought worthy of consideration after he had spoken so vehemently against +it at Barnes' store, sat pompous and important near the door, fully +determined to crush any suggestion which might be offered.</p> + +<p>Mr. Potts and Mr. Jenks early in the evening inquired the amount which the +town had set aside for the school. Upon learning the sum, each at once +agreed to contribute a quarter of the balance needed if others would make +up the remaining half.</p> + +<p>"I have two scholars for the school," said Mr. Weston, "and if Mr. Potts, +who intends to have a private tutor for his son, is willing to give a +quarter of the sum needed, I'm sure I'll do the same." </p> + +<p>"Three cheers for three quarters!" squeaked old Nate Burnham, from a seat +in the corner, and in the midst of the din old Sandy McLeod arose and +thumped his cane upon the floor for order.</p> + +<p>"I'll gie the remainin' quarter, an' add ten dollars to't that my Margaret +sent, sayin' in her gentle way, 'It may gie some added comfort to the +place wherever 'tis chosen.'"</p> + +<p>Wild applause greeted this characteristic speech. Sandy's eyes twinkled as +he sat down and he remarked to his next neighbor, "That mon Boyden has a +scowl that wad sour meelk."</p> + +<p>After much discussion, it was decided that a large, vacant farm-house, +centrally located, could be purchased and fitted for a schoolhouse at a +less expense than the building of a new structure would incur, and in +spite of Josiah Boyden's fuming and Nate Burnham's chuckling, in spite of +much murmuring on the part of a few frugal minded farmers, the moneyed +element carried the day, and under the twinkling stars the triumphant +members of that assemblage took their homeward way, filled with the joy of +victory. </p> + +<p>The money pledged was as promptly paid, and work upon the building was +commenced at once, and when September arrived it stood ready to receive +the scholars, a better schoolhouse than the average country village could +boast.</p> + +<p>One of the first to inspect it was Mrs. Sophrony Hodgkins. It would have +made her very unhappy to have had its good points described to her and +have been unable to say,</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know, I saw it fust."</p> + +<p>Accordingly on the day that school was to open, she made an early start +and before any pupils thought of arriving she had inspected every part of +the building, decided that she approved of it in every particular, and had +sallied forth to describe it to all her friends. </p> + +<p>As she sped along the road, a brisk, bustling figure, the little squirrels +raced along the wall, sure that she intended to capture them; but one less +timid than his mates, sat upon his little haunches on an old stump, and +chattered and scolded as she passed as if offended by the stir which she +was making.</p> + +<p>A slouching figure leaned upon the top rail of the fence at the side of +the road and its attitude, together with the singular expression of the +face beneath the hat brim, piqued Mrs. Hodgkins' curiosity.</p> + +<p>"What on airth!"—she began, but the figure did not move.</p> + +<p>"Going ter be deef like his father, I wonder?" she murmured, then raising +her voice she exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"I say, Timotheus, what on airth be ye a dreaming of this bright mornin' +'stead er gittin' ready fer school?"</p> + +<p>A moment longer the boy stood staring at the sky, then as if slowly, and +with an effort coming down to earth again, he looked down upon the woman +who had interrupted him as he said, </p> + +<p>"I heered ye, Mis' Hodgkins the fust time ye spoke, but when I'm a +thinkin' a thought, I ain't apt ter answer."</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" ejaculated Mrs. Hodgkins, "I hope fer the good of yer +family, ye don't think 'em often."</p> + +<p>"I'm allus er workin' ter improve my intellec'; that's why I ain't er +goin' ter school. Got so I knowed all the teacher knowed last year, so +'tain't nothin' but a waste er time ter think of goin' this year."</p> + +<p>"Yer father said ye was goin' ter devote yer time ter literatoor; what d' +he mean by that, Timotheus?" asked Mrs. Hodgkins.</p> + +<p>"Wall, I'll have ter help on the farm, but between chores, I expect ter be +readin' what literatoor we own. On the shelf in our parlor we've got the +almanic, a New England Primer, a book er Martyrs, a book called Book er +Beauty, another with a yaller kiver called the Pirate's Den, and one more +called The Letter Writer, 'n' I guess by the time I've read all them I'll +know a heap. Father says he expects I'll do somethin' wonderful yet, 'n' I +guess he's 'baout right." </p> + +<p>"Well of all the"—but here she checked herself, and bidding him a hasty +good morning, she hurried on, lest her disgust should make itself heard.</p> + +<p>Timotheus Simpkins still leaned upon the rail fence, as if he had +forgotten her; apparently he was once more "thinkin' a thought."</p> + +<p>"I guess I better write that daown before I fergit it," he remarked a few +moments later, as he started towards the house, his hands clasped behind +his back and his gaze riveted upon space. Some great thought was evidently +about to be transferred to paper.</p> + +<p>If Timotheus failed to appreciate the opportunity offered the young people +of the town to obtain an education, he stood alone in his ignorance and +egotism. </p> + +<p>At the hour for the opening of school all the pupils of the year before +were present and many new ones waited to be assigned to their respective +classes.</p> + +<p>Prue and Randy were surrounded by their friends upon their arrival, and +between the Babson girls stood little Hi Babson, their cousin, whose +mother had determined that during his three months' visit he should attend +school. Taking his hand, Belinda walked to the teacher's desk with a view +to introducing him.</p> + +<p>"This is my little cousin," she began, but was promptly interrupted by Hi +who remarked,</p> + +<p>"I ain't little, I'm a big boy."</p> + +<p>"And he wants to come to school, Miss Gilman."</p> + +<p>"No I don't want ter come ter school, an' I wouldn't only ma made me," +remarked Hi, determined to have his attitude plainly understood.</p> + +<p>Miss Gilman smiled as she looked at the rebellious little face, saying, +kindly, "Perhaps you will enjoy school when you are acquainted with some +of the scholars." </p> + +<p>"I know Randy Weston's little sister, and I'd like ter sit side of her; +she's some fun, 'sides she's littler'n I be," said Hi.</p> + +<p>Miss Gilman thought best to humor this, his first request, so he took his +seat beside Prue who smiled sweetly upon him, and the small boy at once +decided that school with Prue for a friend might be as attractive as +staying at home under the watchful eyes of Grandma Babson.</p> + +<p>"It's only quarter of nine," Phoebe Small was saying, "and I rushed about +like everything, thinking I should be late."</p> + +<p>"I didn't have to hurry," said Randy, laughing, "for I was so sure that I +was late when I awoke, that I never looked to see what time it was, but +flew around doing what I could before breakfast toward getting ready for +school. Then I began to wonder why mother didn't call me, and I looked at +the clock. It was an hour before breakfast time!" </p> + +<p>"Oh what a waste of strength," said Jack Marvin, with a well affected +yawn. "I got started first and called fer my cousin Dot, and by tugging +her all the way I managed to get her here, too."</p> + +<p>The Langham twins, to whom Jack was very attentive, looked at each other +in amazement. They admired Jack, but was he untruthful? The idea that he +was joking never occurred to them.</p> + +<p>Reuben Jenks described them as "joke proof," as they had never been known +to see the point of any witticism, and if it chanced to be explained +to them they would stare placidly at the speaker and then invariably +remark,</p> + +<p>"Why I don't call that funny."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to tell Miss Gilman that my name is Dorothea. I'm tired of +being called Dot, 'specially as I'm round and dumpy," remarked Jack's +cousin resolutely.</p> + +<p>"I'll call you Dorothea every time as loud as I can roar it, see if I +don't," said Jack, but as Miss Gilman touched her bell just at this +moment, Jack was obliged to wait for an opportunity to address his cousin +by her full name. </p> + +<p>As the scholars were taking their places in the seats which had been +assigned them, Molly Wilson entered, looking very pretty in a gown of a +dark, rich red and a pair of new boots which squeaked with every step.</p> + +<p>"Her new dress is just like yours," whispered Dot Marvin to Randy, but +Randy, whose cheeks were suddenly very pink, seemed not to have heard, and +Dot was obliged to be contented with looking from Molly's dress to Randy's +and wondering how it happened that they chanced to be alike.</p> + +<p>The scholars from the youngest to the oldest were loud in their praise of +the new school, and delighted that Miss Gilman was again their faithful +teacher, but in the merry throng there was one who found it difficult to +be content, and that was Phoebe Small. That the schoolroom was warm and +cheerful, that there was plenty of room, and ample opportunity for study +counted for little since she had set her heart upon going to boarding +school, and therefore an ordinary day school seemed a very tame affair. </p> + +<p>At recess she confided to Dot Marvin that she didn't see why ma couldn't +approve of having her daughter at a boarding school since she (Mrs. Small) +attended one when she was a girl.</p> + +<p>"I'd 'nough sight rather be at home," drawled Dot, "even with my cousin +Jack to tease me. When he goes a little too far I can hit back by teasing +him 'bout the Langham twins. That always stops him. But Phoebe," she +continued, "I shouldn't think you would like to go away to school. They'd +all be strangers and seems to me you'd be lonesome and homesick."</p> + +<p>"That's what ma said, but I wanted to try it. I can't, it seems, so I've +got to stay here and try to think I like it," said Phoebe, with an +expression upon her face of extreme dissatisfaction. </p> + +<p>In another part of the yard an animated conversation of quite a different +character was in progress. Little Hi Babson and Prue Weston were swinging +upon the gate.</p> + +<p>"Why how naughty," Prue was saying. "I shouldn't a thought you'd dare to."</p> + +<p>"Well, I did," Hi answered. "I didn't want ter come ter school, so ter pay +'em fer makin' me, I hid the clock key so they can't wind the clock. I +dropped it inter the m'lasses jug, 'n' I guess to-morrer mornin' they +won't know what time ter send me ter school.</p> + +<p>"I've took the basket er clothes-pins and lowered 'em down the well; I've +took an hid Grandma Babson's best cap, 'cause she said 'That boy needs a +lickin'.' Want ter know where I put it? Up in the barnloft on the hay. I +did somethin' else too. I put a wad er paper in the dinner horn. Won't +they be mad when they try to blow it? I guess they'll be sorry they made +me go ter school."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but that's naughty!" cried Prue. "I'd think you'd be most afraid to +be so <i>very</i> naughty. What'll they do when you get home?" </p> + +<p>Hi's face lost its hilarious expression.</p> + +<p>"I ain't got home yet," he said.</p> + +<p>The boys and girls had returned to their lessons with all the eager +enthusiasm which had been a characteristic of the school when Miss Gilman +had first taken it, but the young teacher could not but contrast this +"first day" with that of the year before. Then, there had been little +order; now, there was perfect concord with every pupil striving to do his +best.</p> + +<p>Here and there an unruly member of the primary class caused a disturbance, +but as a whole, the pupils were both quiet and studious.</p> + +<p>When school closed Randy and Prue with a troop of friends walked along the +road toward home, talking of the little events of the day and exulting +over their fine schoolhouse, the large yard and full classes.</p> + +<p>"Didn't it seem odd to see so many new scholars this year?" said Randy. +"We must get acquainted with them and help them to enjoy our little +pleasures." </p> + +<p>"That is what you and Jotham did when I moved here last year," said Molly +Wilson, "and oh, Randy, I never could begin to tell you how in my heart I +thanked you when you came and spoke to me that first lonesome day at +school."</p> + +<p>"I knew that I should be glad to have some one speak to me if I had only +strangers about me," said Randy, sweetly.</p> + +<p>"How we shall miss Jotham this year," said Reuben Jenks.</p> + +<p>"He's going on with his studies with the professor here at home this +month, but the first of October he's to be in Cambridge. The tutor goes +back there to teach at the college and Jotham is to board near the +university, he says, and have private teachin'."</p> + +<p>"You'll miss him, Randy, won't you?" queried little Prue.</p> + +<p>"We shall all wish that he were with us," was Randy's discreet answer. +Suddenly Prue exclaimed, </p> + +<p>"You've got a new dress, Molly; it's a beauty, and it's just like my +Randy's."</p> + +<p>"So it is," said Molly. "I had a birthday a short time ago, and I had a +pair of mittens which mother had knit for me to wear this winter, some +candy, some shoes and this lovely dress."</p> + +<p>"Who gived you the dress?" asked Prue, innocently.</p> + +<p>"That's what I'd like to know," was Molly's answer. "It was sent to me, +and on the bundle it said, 'From one who loves you.' I'd give much to tell +the one who sent it how lovely I think it is."</p> + +<p>"I like mine better than any dress I've had," said Randy, "and since you +think it pretty it's nice that yours is like it."</p> + +<p>"I don't know as I'd care what gowns I had if I'd been allowed to go to +boarding school," said Phoebe Small. "This school is pleasant enough, I +like the teacher and of course I like the girls and boys." </p> + +<p>"'Specially the boys," remarked Reuben Jenks, when a scowl from Phoebe +silenced him.</p> + +<p>"I think it would be great fun to go away somewhere. I don't know as I +care where, and see a new school and new faces. 'Twouldn't prevent keeping +all my old friends just because I made new ones," said Phoebe in a +disconsolate voice. "It's just no use to wish," she continued, "for I +wished last night when I saw the moon over my right shoulder, and I don't, +know how many times I've wished when I've seen the first little star at +night. This morning I found a horse shoe, and stood on it wishing with all +my might that ma would let me just try boarding school for one term and I +guess that old horse shoe just about finished it, for I ran in and asked +ma again, and she put down the pan that she had in her hand and says she,</p> + +<p>"'Phoebe Small, if you ask me that again, I believe I shall fly. I've said +no to it repeatedly and I meant it. Now, hurry and get ready for school; +you'll find there's something yet to be learned there, I'll be bound.'" </p> + +<p>"Never mind, Phoebe," said Randy, "it's disappointing if you so wished to +go, but think how we should have missed you."</p> + +<p>"O Randy, to think that you would have missed me makes me almost glad to +stay here," said Phoebe, with a bright tear upon her lashes.</p> + +<p>It was over a year since Phoebe had resolved to conquer her "unruly +tongue" as she described it, and although at times a sharp saying escaped +her lips she was really a very different girl from the Phoebe of the year +before. That she was in earnest was evident, for if some careless speech +chanced to hurt one of her friends, she promptly acknowledged her fault, +and grasped the first opportunity to do some little kindness which should +thus give proof that her regret was sincere. </p> + +<p>Of Jotham the boys and girls saw but little, his new studies requiring +strict application, and only at rare intervals was it possible for him to +find a few leisure moments for Randy, and when October came it was with +regret that he said "good-bye," although his heart was full of +anticipation.</p> + +<p>"You will miss me, Randy?" he had asked, and Randy had answered frankly,</p> + +<p>"I shall, indeed. Every one who has ever known you will miss you, Jotham."</p> + +<p>At the village school the weeks had passed with cheerful monotony. Lessons +were learned and recited with a regularity which failed to be tedious +since the pupils possessed much enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>The little ones, especially Prue Weston and Hi Babson furnished amusement +for the older classes, Prue with her unique answers, and Hi with his +countless pranks.</p> + +<p>Upon one occasion, Miss Gilman, thinking to make a little problem clear by +using names of well known objects asked, "If I had five pears and gave you +two, Prue, how many would that leave?" </p> + +<p>"'Twouldn't be half," said Prue, "so 'twouldn't be fair."</p> + +<p>At another time Prue was much interested in a little picture in her +arithmetic which represented a man walking beside a horse and cart.</p> + +<p>"If it takes a horse two hours to drag a load of stones to town," said +Miss Gilman, "how long—"</p> + +<p>"But," interrupted Prue, "if it took the horse as long as that, why didn't +the man hitch on another horse?"</p> + +<p>Laughter greeted this original solving of the problem by practical little +Prue, and Miss Gilman decided that examples expressed in ordinary numbers +would be far better for this little girl who found an odd question for +every pictured problem.</p> + +<p>Thus the days passed. The Sundays spent at the old meeting-house, and the +week-days filled with work at home and at school, with a running +accompaniment of gossip filling the spaces. </p> + +<p>But one morning something occurred which filled the scholars with +excitement, and aroused the interest or curiosity of nearly every one in +the village.</p> + +<p>Randy Weston had received a letter from Boston, and such a letter, too! </p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V" />CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>RANDY'S JOURNEY</h3> + + +<p>"Jest the moment I git these dishes done and a few other little chores +that I can't leave standin', I'll run over to Almiry's and see 'f she's +heerd 'bout the Boston letter that Randy Weston got. My! but that was a +letter wuth gittin'.</p> + +<p>"I don't b'lieve Almiry's heerd 'bout it, an' I'm baound to be the fust +one ter tell her," said Mrs. Sophrony Hodgkins.</p> + +<p>Soon her tasks were completed, and she went the shortest way across the +fields to tell the news, as if she feared that it might spoil if kept too +long.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jenks, on her way home from the village paused at the gate to ask her +friend, Mrs. Marvin, if she had heard the news, and found that she had +already been told of the contents of the letter, and was glad to hear of +Randy's good luck. </p> + +<p>"'Tain't every girl I'd be so glad fer," said Mrs. Marvin, "but Randy's +such a sweet girl I like ter think of this plan which will, no doubt, give +her pleasure."</p> + +<p>"So do I," said Matilda Jenks, "an' I fer one shall be on hand ter wish +her joy."</p> + +<p>In the little workroom over Barnes' store, Janie Clifton sat humming +cheerfully, her needle flying in and out of the long ruffle which she was +hemming.</p> + +<p>"I'm making the people here look better than they ever did before," +thought Janie, with pardonable pride in her ability. "I make Mrs. +Brimblecom look ever so much less hefty, and I'm sure Mrs. Hodgkins says +she never looked as well in any gown she ever wore, as in the one I +finished for her last week.</p> + +<p>"And that skinny woman, now whatever was her name? She looked almost plump +in her new dress last Sunday."</p> + +<p>As she stopped to thread her needle, she gave utterance to the thought +which at that moment occupied her mind. </p> + +<p>"I b'lieve I'll go over to call on Mrs. Weston to-night, and p'raps she'll +ask me to help her, in fact, I should think she'd <i>have</i> to."</p> + +<p>A passing figure caused her to look out of the window.</p> + +<p>"Well what a looking piece of headgear!" she remarked. "Lucky I took up +millinery when I was learning dressmakin'. I'll go over to the Weston's +to-night, see if I don't," and she nodded approvingly to her reflection in +the long mirror, a bit of furniture which Janie had felt to be a necessary +adjunct to her rooms.</p> + +<p>Even old Mrs. Brimblecom had a word to say.</p> + +<p>"I declare, Jabez," she remarked at the dinner table, "I'm reel glad fer +Randy Weston. This doos seem ter be a chance fer her ter see somethin' an' +gain a leetle extry in the way of edication."</p> + +<p>"Umph!" remarked Jabez, as he helped himself to a third potato, "'S you +say, it's a chance fer her, an' she's a likely sort er girl,—pass the +salt, will ye?—but I hope it won't poke her head full er notions,—I'll +thank ye fer a biscuit,—so's when she comes home she won't remember who +any of us be." </p> + +<p>At the table Jabez Brimblecom's conversation was always a mixture of +gossip and numerous requests for food, so that his wife, accustomed to +this trait, was able to understand what he wished to say, and could make +connected meaning out of what seemed to be a jumble of ideas.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Randy will be Randy wherever she is," said Mrs. Brimblecom.</p> + +<p>"Wal, I guess she will,—I'll take a leetle more tea," replied Jabez.</p> + +<p>"And one of the best girls I ever knew," said his wife.</p> + +<p>"I've always known ye set a store by Randy,—I'm ready fer pie naow," +replied Jabez, and when he had finished his dinner, he darted out of the +house as if in another moment the farm would have been ruined had it not +received his immediate attention. </p> + +<p>Every one who met Randy stopped her saying, "Got a letter from Boston, +didn't ye?" until Prue who was usually with her would say,</p> + +<p>"Why, Randy, how <i>does</i> everybody know you got a letter?"</p> + +<p>"In the same way that everyone knows everything in this village," Randy +would answer with a laugh.</p> + +<p>In the midst of all this excitement Randy walked as if on air. Could it be +true, really true that she, Randy Weston, was actually going to Boston?</p> + +<p>The letter which had filled Randy's heart with delight had come from her +friend Helen Dayton, the lovely young girl who had spent one summer as a +guest of Mrs. Gray, a near neighbor of the Weston's.</p> + +<p>She had made a flying trip to the village at Christmas, bringing with her +the choicest of gifts for Randy and Prue, assuring Randy that they should +soon meet again. Randy had thought much of the promise, but never dreamed +of so delightful a fulfilment. </p> + +<p>Near Miss Dayton's home a fine private school had been opened, which +offered every advantage for girls of Randy's age. One of Helen's friends +had been chosen for one of its teachers, and it had occurred to her that +Randy might attend this school during the winter months, making her home +with herself and her aunt.</p> + +<p>"I should like to meet this young girl who has so pleased you, Helen," her +aunt had said, "but how would she like city girls, do you think, and on +the other hand, would they like and appreciate her?"</p> + +<p>"I would trust Randy to make friends anywhere," Helen had said, and +seating herself at her dainty desk, she wrote the letter containing the +invitation and full particulars in regard to the school.</p> + +<p>Randy, with a heart filled with anticipation, promptly answered the letter +telling of her eager acceptance, and rode to the Centre with her father to +mail it.</p> + +<p>Then followed such a wonderful series of shopping trips to Barnes' store, +and over to the next town which boasted an establishment called the Dry +Goods Emporium. </p> + +<p>With Mrs. Weston and Randy went Janie Clifton to advise them in regard to +the wisest choice of pretty things for Randy's appearance in the city.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Janie was possessed of good taste and while learning her trade +in the city she had, whenever possible, snatched a few moments to study +the best models of gowns and millinery which the great stores displayed. +She had invested in all the leading fashion books and fashion plates, and +her room over Barnes' store was gay with pictured figures of women and +children in rainbow attire.</p> + +<p>To say that Mrs. Weston was astonished when she had first looked upon the +fashion plates would be to express it very mildly.</p> + +<p>"Well, Janie Clifton!" she had ejaculated, "I can't think er lettin' you +make Randy look like that!" as she pointed to the figure of a young girl +in a street costume of flaming red, her head adorned with a walking hat +which was decorated with a phenomenally long quill. </p> + +<p>"Look at the toe er that shoe!" was the next remark. "The whole foot ain't +bigger'n my spectacle case, and 'bout as much shape to it."</p> + +<p>But Janie comforted her by assuring her that the plates usually showed the +extreme in fashion, and that Randy could be made to look very nice indeed +without following exactly any one pattern in every detail.</p> + +<p>Thus far Janie's orders had been but a single dress for a customer, so she +was much elated when commissioned to make three for Randy, and also to +select and trim two hats for her. Mrs. Weston's idea of "one for best and +one for everyday" had, by cautious urging upon Janie's part, been +stretched to the extent of adding "one more for second best."</p> + +<p>During the drive over to the "Emporium," Janie asked abruptly, "Didn't +Miss Dayton say somethin' 'bout a party in that letter she sent to Randy?"</p> + + +<p>"Why yes," said Mrs. Weston, "she says that while Randy's there, she'll +give a little party for her, but why did ye ask?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I was thinkin' that means a party dress," remarked Janie.</p> + +<p>"A party dress!" gasped Mrs. Weston in astonishment. "Why that would be +her best dress, wouldn't it? Probably that's what the other girls would +wear."</p> + +<p>Now it happened that during her apprenticeship Janie had helped to make a +number of party dresses for young girls, so it was with a deal of +assurance that she answered her patron.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what a lot of city misses would think if Miss Dayton was +kind enough to give the party for Randy, and Randy appeared in just her +<i>best dress</i>," said Janie with a bit of emphasis.</p> + +<p>"Well, well I didn't know ye was expected ter dress different fer a party, +excepting that ye'd likely 'nough dress up some. Her father said when we +started out this morning, </p> + +<p>"'Git whatever Randy needs ter make her look right, and at the same time +honor Miss Dayton, since she's kind 'nough to ask Randy to her home,' so +if she needs a party gown why we'll choose one, but I tell ye again, +Janie, don't ye make her look like one er them wooden-lookin' girls er +prancin' about on the fashion plates, fer I couldn't stand that."</p> + +<p>With a commendable determination to make for Randy a dainty party gown +which should at the same time be sufficiently simple in style to please +Mrs. Weston, Janie chose a thin white muslin with white ribbons for its +only trimming.</p> + +<p>"I like that for a party dress, only it seems a little cool fer winter," +remarked Mrs. Weston, "but I s'pose she will wear extry flannels under +it."</p> + +<p>"Not if I know it," said Janie under her breath, for she had her own ideas +for making the dress, and thick flannels to completely hide the +transparency of the muslin were not included in her plan. Janie laid the +muslin and ribbon aside and commenced work upon the other gowns. </p> + +<p>The "best" gown was a dark blue cloth with velvet trimmings, and the hat +which she was to wear with it was of the same shade with dark blue +feathers drooping over the brim.</p> + +<p>Randy felt this to be almost too fine to wear and she touched the soft +feathers with caressing fingers before placing the hat upon her pretty +head.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it looks just a little like Miss Dayton's hats," exclaimed Randy, as +she looked in the mirror at this triumph of Janie's millinery skill.</p> + +<p>For the long ride in the cars and for general street and school wear, +there was a cute little suit of gray wool, and a hat of gray felt with +some smart gray wings.</p> + +<p>Randy was delighted with the suit and her eyes sparkled when she +experienced the joy of "trying it on." </p> + +<p>The party gown, the first which she had ever seen, was to her a dream of +loveliness. It was very simply made, as befitted this fair little country +maid. The skirt made quite plain, the waist cut out ever so little in the +neck, just enough to show the round, white throat, the modest elbow +sleeves and white satin ribbon trimmings filled Randy with speechless +delight as she stared at the sweet reflection in the mirror.</p> + +<p>When at last she spoke she said,</p> + +<p>"Oh, Janie, how <i>could</i> you make me look so nice?"</p> + +<p>"I guess some of the good looks are your own, Randy," Janie answered, +which caused Randy to blush most becomingly.</p> + +<p>Monday was a busy day at the farm-house, and Mrs. Weston had said, "I +can't spare the time to go over to Janie's this afternoon, but she wants +ye ter try on one of yer gowns and ye can run over there after school. +She'll know whether it looks right or not without any help from me." </p> + +<p>So leaving Prue to trudge home with Johnny Buffum as an escort, she had +experienced great delight in seeing herself for the first time in a dainty +party gown.</p> + +<p>"Won't mother be surprised when I try on the pretty party dress for her to +see?" thought Randy as she hurried on toward home.</p> + +<p>Like many another bit of gossip set afloat in a country town, the story of +the letter from Boston together with descriptions of Randy's costumes +gained with every repetition, until one day on the way from the Centre, +Randy was astonished to be thus addressed,</p> + +<p>"Wal, how be ye Randy? I hear ye're havin' a tremenjous lot er gaowns made +ter take ter Boston with ye."</p> + +<p>The speaker was a woman whom Randy had seen but a few times, and she was +therefore surprised when the team stopped at the side of the road and its +occupant accosted her. </p> + +<p>"It is true that mother is having Janie Clifton make some things for me," +said Randy.</p> + +<p>"Wal, I live on the other side er the place," the woman continued, "an' so +I'm a leetle out er the way er hearin' news, so I'd like reel well ter +know; <i>be</i> ye goin' ter have twelve gaowns, five cloaks, an' a half er +dozen hats as they say ye be?"</p> + +<p>"No, that isn't true," said Randy, her flushed cheeks showing that she +resented being thus questioned by a woman who was almost a stranger. +Turning, she hurried on toward home, and the curious one, giving the horse +a smart clip drove off muttering,</p> + +<p>"Gitting uppish 'fore she gits ter Boston. Do'no what she'll be when she's +stayed there a spell."</p> + +<p>At school, her mates were glad that Randy was to have so delightful a +winter, and many and varied were the comments and speculations regarding +it. </p> + +<p>"It'll be stupid here without you, Randy," said Dot Marvin, "I don't know +but that we shall all go to sleep, while you're a flyin' round in the +city."</p> + +<p>"I don't expect to do much flying," said Randy, laughing. "I shall be +working at school there instead of this school at home. You must all write +to me and tell me what you are doing, and I'll be glad enough to answer +you."</p> + +<p>"Indeed we will," said Reuben Jenks. "Let's write Randy a long letter, +each one of us writing a part of it and send it along to Boston, just to +show her what we can do when we try."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what fun!" said Randy, "it will seem as if you were with me when I +read a long letter in which all my friends are represented."</p> + +<p>"Lemme print something in it, Reuben, will you? I want to be in the big +letter, too," cried little Prue.</p> + +<p>"I guess I will let you," Reuben answered heartily. "What kind of a letter +would it be if you didn't have a hand in it, Prue?" </p> + +<p>"I'd like to be going to Boston if it wasn't for one thing," said Molly +Wilson, "and that's those city girls."</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho, Molly. I thought you were shy, and it ain't city girls you hanker +for? Then it must be city boys," said Reuben.</p> + +<p>"'Tis not, Reuben Jenks," said Molly, with unusual vim; "'tis not any such +thing, it's just that I'd be 'fraid those horrid city girls were watching +everything I did and thinking me countryfied."</p> + +<p>"Well, I shall not let that idea make me uncomfortable," said Randy, +stoutly. "I <i>am</i> a country girl, and if they say so, they will not be +telling me anything new or surprising; beside, I think that there must be +nice girls in the city as well as among us here. I intend to like them, +and I hope that they will like me."</p> + +<p>"They'll be precious queer girls if they don't," said Jack Marvin.</p> + +<p>"I wanted to go to boarding school," said Phoebe Small, "but I didn't mean +a city school. Seems to me I'd rather 'twouldn't be city girls to get +acquainted with. Don't you wish they were not city girls, Randy?" </p> + +<p>"I believe that there are just as pleasant girls in Boston as there are +here, and I look forward to meeting them," said Randy.</p> + +<p>She spoke bravely and truthfully, yet afterward when in her little chamber +the conversation recurred to her, Randy found herself wondering if the +meeting between herself and these girls who were to be her classmates +during her stay in Boston would, after all, be as delightful as she had +fondly believed.</p> + +<p>Randy's pleasure at the thought of meeting them had been genuine, and so +friendly and sincere was she, that until the idea was suggested by Dot +Marvin it had never occurred to her that the meeting could be aught but +delightful.</p> + +<p>"I ought not to think that there could be anything which is not charming +where Miss Dayton is, and I believe I'm silly to let Dot's remarks make me +the least bit uneasy. I'll start intending to like every girl I meet, and +who knows? Perhaps I shall," she said with a laugh, and a nod at her happy +face reflected in the tiny mirror. </p> + +<p>During all the planning and preparation for Randy's departure, Prue had +been eager to see the pretty new dresses, had insisted upon seeing the +hats and gloves, and had talked of little else at home or at school. +Indeed, the little girl had been so happy in the thought of the promised +pleasure for her sister, that she had not seemed to realize how much the +parting would really mean.</p> + +<p>But when the morning arrived on which Randy was to start, and dressed in +her smart gray suit she stood waiting for her trunk to be placed in the +back of the wagon, Prue seemed all at once to understand that Randy's long +stay in Boston meant loneliness for her little self. As the thought swept +through her mind, its full meaning came to her, and she did what she had +never been known to do in all her sunny little life. Throwing herself upon +the great braided rug near the door she cried out, </p> + +<p>"O Randy, my Randy, I can't let you go!"</p> + +<p>Randy stooped and gathered the dear little sister to her breast, saying,</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to stay always, dear. Look up, Prue, while I tell you. I'll +write you nice long letters, and you shall write to me, and I'll send you +something 'way from Boston. Won't that be nice? Come, kiss me, Prue. I +want to think of you smiling instead of crying, dear."</p> + +<p>Choking back her sobs, Prue made a brave effort to smile, but it was not +much of a success, and Randy found it difficult to say good-bye with even +a semblance of cheerfulness. She possessed a singularly loving and tender +nature, and this was the first time that she had left home, so that while +her heart was full of anticipation, it was impossible for her to go +without feeling keenly the parting. </p> + +<p>Tears filled her sweet eyes, as turning to her mother she said,</p> + +<p>"The planning has been so delightful, and I have been anticipating so much +that I have looked forward to this morning when I should start, but now +the time has come I almost wish I'd never said I'd go."</p> + +<p>"I know just how ye feel, Randy," said Mrs. Weston, "an' I must say 'twas +easier ter plan ter have ye go than ter say good-bye. Ye must cheer up, +though, and look bright an' happy when ye meet Miss Dayton in Boston. The +long ride in the cars will be new to ye, and ye must remember that yer +Aunt Prudence is ter be with us while ye're away, ter help me an' ter keep +me from bein' too lonesome, fer mercy knows how I shall miss ye.</p> + +<p>"I want ye should go, though; it's a great chance fer ye, and don't forget +ter write, Randy. I couldn't stand that," and Mrs. Weston's voice had in +it a suspicion of a sob. </p> + +<p>"Oh, I could not forget you all," said Randy, then with a kiss and a +clinging embrace she clambered into the wagon to a seat beside her father, +and her mother's waving handkerchief and Prue's little face with its +quivering lip were photographed upon her mind as she rode to the Centre to +take the train.</p> + +<p>They talked but little on the way to the depot. Randy found it a task to +keep her tears from falling, and the expression of her father's face told +more plainly than words what this parting cost. When her trunk had been +taken charge of and Randy had chosen a seat, her father bent to kiss her, +saying as he did so,</p> + +<p>"God bless ye, child! I never knew 'till ter-day what it meant ter say +good-bye ter ye. I only hope the visit will bring ye joy enough ter repay +ye fer this partin' and then I shall be satisfied. Write often to us, that +we may know ye are safe, and spend the money I put in yer little wallet.</p> + +<p>"Ah, don't say a word, Randy, I could well afford it, an' I put it there +jest fer a little surprise."</p> + +<p>As Randy was about to speak, the conductor entered saying, that those +persons who intended leaving the train must do so at once, as it was about +to start.</p> + +<p>With a hasty kiss and embrace, Randy saw her father leave the car and she +waved her hand to him as he stood upon the platform, then in a sudden +panic of desolation she hid her face in her handkerchief and cried like a +little child. A long time she crouched upon the seat, her head against its +plush back and her eyes hidden by her handkerchief, but after a time it +occurred to her that she was not doing as her father would wish.</p> + +<p>"I'm crying like a child," thought Randy, "and father and mother have done +every generous thing which they could think of to make me enjoy the long +ride and the visit.</p> + +<p>"Father would wish me to be brave, and mother would not like to see me +crying."</p> + +<p>Accordingly she sat up, and wiping her tears, made a determined effort to +look as she felt sure that a girl should look who was starting out for a +delightful visit.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="As_she_looked" id="As_she_looked" /><a href="./images/101.jpg"><img src="./images/101-tb.jpg" alt="As she looked from the window and saw the flying landscape" title="As she looked from the window and saw the flying landscape" /></a></p> +<p class="figcenter">As she looked from the window and saw the flying landscape</p> + +<p>As she looked from the window and saw the flying landscape, it seemed as +if the rumbling wheels were saying, "Going away, going away," and again +the tears lay upon her lashes, but after a time the novelty of the +situation dawned upon her, and her sunny disposition found much that was +amusing in what was going on about her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Weston had put up a tempting lunch in a pretty basket, so when a boy +came through the car bearing a large tray covered with doubtful looking +viands, and shouting in stentorian tones:</p> + +<p>"Poy, coiks, tawts an' sanditches," Randy was not tempted to buy, but she +watched the boy and wondered how he had the courage to walk the aisle +loudly bawling his wares.</p> + +<p>At one station a woman entered carrying an infant whose pudgy face lay +upon her shoulder, and about whose tiny body her right arm was tightly +clasped. In her left hand she carried a large and apparently heavy bag. +Four other children trotted after her down the aisle, and like a rear +guard a burly looking man followed the children carrying a tiny parcel.</p> + +<p>"What a horrid man," thought Randy, as he proceeded immediately to make +himself comfortable by occupying the larger part of a seat.</p> + +<p>He did permit one child to sit beside him, but he allowed the other three +to crowd around his wife who held the sleeping infant in her arms, and +kept a watchful eye upon the big bag which sat on the floor at her feet.</p> + +<p>Randy's attention was about evenly divided between watching the passengers +and enjoying the beauties of the autumn landscape as the flying train +passed first a village nestling at the foot of a mountain, then a forest, +then a lake whose surface reflected the gorgeous coloring of the trees +upon its shore, then another village, then a winding river which, +mirror-like, repeated the blue sky and the floating clouds. This endless +panorama was to Randy a most wonderful thing, and the beauty of it all as +it passed before her, filled her with delight.</p> + +<p>At noon the train stopped at a large depot which was far more pretentious +than any which she had yet seen, and Randy wondered why nearly everyone +left the car. When she noticed that many of the passengers had left their +parcels in their seats, she was amazed at what seemed to be gross +carelessness. That they went forth in search of lunch never occurred to +her, but realizing that she was hungry and that nearly all the seats were +vacant, she opened her basket and was touched when she saw that her mother +had remembered her little freaks of taste, and had made up a lunch of what +she knew would tempt her. In one corner was a tiny paper bag on which was +printed in little Prue's best manner,</p> + +<p class="center"> +"For my Randy." +</p> + +<p>Poor little Prue! The bag of candy which her father had brought from the +Centre to cheer the little girl and help to turn her attention from the +thought of loneliness when Randy should say "good-bye," proved +inefficient. Nothing could make Randy's departure less hard for little +Prue, and she had evidently found a bit of comfort in tucking the little +bag into a corner of the lunch basket, thus contributing her mite toward +Randy's pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Dear little Prue," murmured Randy, "she shall have the loveliest doll I +can find in Boston."</p> + +<p>The afternoon ride seemed longer and less amusing than that of the +morning. The novelty was wearing off, and Randy was beginning to feel +weary.</p> + +<p>When it grew dusky and in the towns along the way bright lights appeared, +a sudden fear took possession of her. What if she should be unable to see +Miss Dayton when she stepped from the train at Boston?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI" />CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>NEW FRIENDS</h3> + + +<p>A brakeman passed down the aisle and commenced to light the lamps, and +Randy peeping from the window saw that the stars were shining. She knew +that at home old Snowfoot and the cows were under the shelter of the great +barn, and that father and mother and dear little Prue were seated around +the table. Tears filled her eyes and she quickly drew the curtain and +began to look about the brightly lighted car with the hope of seeing +something which should hold her attention and thus help to dispel the wave +of homesickness which swept over her.</p> + +<p>An old lady with a kindly face turned just in time to see Randy's +handkerchief at her eyes, and she hastened to speak a word of comfort.</p> + +<p>"Traveling alone, dear?" she asked so gently that Randy forgot to be +surprised, and she bowed her head in assent in place of the word which, +for the moment she could not speak.</p> + +<p>"I thought so," said the old lady, "but don't cry, your friends will +probably be at the depot in Boston when you arrive, will they not?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Randy, "but it isn't that. I was thinking of those I'd +left at home," and away went the little handkerchief again to her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is it," said the sweet old voice. "Well, the homesickness will +wear off after a time, and now in regard to to-night, your friends will +doubtless be waiting when this train gets in, but if by chance they are +not, you shall come to my home with me until we can get word to their +address that you are in Boston."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how good you are," said Randy.</p> + +<p>"I am only doing what I would have some one do for my daughter in a like +position," was the reply, and looking up, Randy saw a beautiful light in +the kind eyes which looked into hers, and without a word she laid her +hand in that of her new friend.</p> + +<p>"Boston! Boston!" shouted the brakeman, and with a start Randy found +herself suddenly upon her feet, and with the other passengers making her +way toward the door.</p> + +<p>The great train-house, the crowd, the trucks loaded with trunks and bags, +the lights, the noise and bustle so confused Randy that she failed to see +the face for which she was eagerly looking.</p> + +<p>"Do you see your friends?" asked the gentle voice, but as she stepped upon +the platform she was rejoiced to hear her name called by the voice which +she so well knew.</p> + +<p>"O Randy dear, you did come didn't you?" and for a moment Helen Dayton +held her young friend closely; then she noticed the old lady who stood +smiling at what was so evidently a happy meeting.</p> + +<p>Hastening toward her, Helen extended her hand as she said,</p> + +<p>"I am so glad to see you, Mrs. Seymour, are you acquainted with this dear +friend of mine? I thought you were conversing when you stepped upon the +platform."</p> + +<p>"We have had no introduction," said the old lady, smiling, "but we became +acquainted on the car just before we reached Boston."</p> + +<p>"And she promised to take me to her home if you did not arrive," said +Randy.</p> + +<p>"I am glad that I was prompt, that you might know how eager I was to see +you, but had I been late, I could have asked for no kinder friend, or more +charming home for you, Randy, than this which was so sweetly offered you +to-night."</p> + +<p>After formally introducing them, and thanking Mrs. Seymour for her +kindness, Miss Dayton led Randy through the depot to a side entrance, +where her carriage stood waiting.</p> + +<p>The coachman opened the door, and soon the little country maiden was being +whirled through the city streets, and the blaze of lights from the huge +store windows caused Randy to ask in wide-eyed wonder if there was +"anything special going on."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Helen, "the streets are brightly lighted every night, and +the people are walking, hurrying, rushing back and forth, looking into the +windows of the great stores, as eagerly as if the doors were open for +customers; then hastening away to some place of amusement, or to their +homes."</p> + +<p>Randy leaned luxuriously against the cushioned back of the coupé, and with +her hand in Helen's, she continued to watch the hurrying throng, and to +wonder vaguely if there were a sufficient number of houses to shelter them +all if they happened to think of retiring.</p> + +<p>After what seemed to Randy to be a very long ride, the carriage stopped.</p> + +<p>Together they ascended the broad sandstone steps, and as the butler opened +the door, the soft light in the hall showed the glowing red of the walls +above the carved oak wainscoting, and the odor of flowers floated out to +greet them.</p> + +<p>Then down the stairway came a beautiful old lady, whose grace and dignity +bespoke the grand dame, as with gentle courtesy she moved toward Randy, +extending her hand in greeting. Without waiting for an introduction she +said,</p> + +<p>"My dear, I am sure that you are Randy, and I am going to tell you that I +am Helen's aunt, and that I think I have been as eager to have you with us +as Helen has been."</p> + +<p>Randy placed her hand in the one extended toward her, and looking frankly +up into the fine old face she said,</p> + +<p>"It is nice to have you so glad to see me, will you let me love you while +I stay? I think I cannot help it."</p> + +<p>"While you stay, and always," was the quick response accompanied by a firm +pressure of the young girl's hand, and Randy felt as if at once among +friends.</p> + +<p>Miss Dayton who had been giving the coachman instruction in regard to +Randy's trunk, turned in surprise to see her aunt and Randy engaged in +conversation.</p> + +<p>"I waived the ceremony of an introduction," said the elder woman with a +smile, "and I do assure you, Helen, that we are already quite well +acquainted."</p> + +<p>"While I thought Randy was just behind me waiting until her belongings +were safely housed," Helen answered with a gay laugh, for she saw at a +glance, that her friend had found favor in Aunt Marcia's eyes; those +discriminating eyes which never failed to recognize the frank and the +true, or to detect the sham, however skillfully concealed.</p> + +<p>"How lovely she is," thought Aunt Marcia, as Randy with Helen ascended the +staircase toward the room which was to be Randy's own, during her stay in +Boston.</p> + +<p>"How handsome your dear old aunt is," said Randy to Helen, as they walked +along the upper hall. "Her hair is like the frost, and her eyes just +twinkle, twinkle, like stars when the night is cold."</p> + +<p>"Why, what a pretty thought," said Helen. "Aunt Marcia was a great +beauty, and a portrait of her when she was presented at court, hangs in +the drawing-room. Sometimes I think she is even handsomer now, with her +fine gray eyes and waving hair. If you are pleased with her, Randy, I +assure you that she is delighted with you; and now here we are at the room +which is to be yours while you are with us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a lovely room," cried Randy. "Roses, pink roses on the walls, +and real roses in the vase on my table, and such a dear little bed. Why, +the quilt has roses on it, too! 'Tis like a fairy tale, and makes me feel +like a princess. Oh, if mother and father and little Prue could see—"</p> + +<p>Again a sob arose in her throat, although she bravely repressed it.</p> + +<p>"Not a tear to-night, Randy dear," said Helen, "but instead let me tell +you what will cheer you, and make you feel nearer to them all to-night. +This little desk is for your use, and all your letters home will be +written here, where you will find paper and pens and ink awaiting you. +Now, would you not like to write just a little note, saying that you +arrived safely, and Thomas shall post it, so that it shall reach its +destination as soon as possible. You are too tired to-night to write much +of a letter, but to-morrow you can write twenty pages if you choose."</p> + +<p>"And if I did, in all the twenty pages I could not tell them how much I +miss them, and yet how glad I am to be here," said Randy. "Isn't it odd to +be glad and sorry at the same time?</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll write the little note now, that they may receive it as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p>"And when it is written, come down to the hall where I will meet you, and +when we have given the note to Thomas, we will have dinner."</p> + +<p>"Dinner!" said Randy, "why I thought everyone had dinner at twelve +o'clock!"</p> + +<p>"In the city we have dinner at six, and lunch at one, and never a supper +at all," said Helen, smiling at Randy's frank look of surprise. "To-night +dinner will be later, because your train was delayed, and I wished you to +have time for your note."</p> + +<p>Randy hastened to write the little letter, and then proceeded to freshen +her toilet, and when with the envelope in her hand she tripped down the +hall where Helen stood waiting, she looked every inch the fresh, sweet +Randy of the New England hills. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright, +and the soft little ringlets curled over her temples in a manner most +bewitching.</p> + +<p>Oh, how grand the dining-room looked to the girl who had never seen +anything finer than the parson's house in the country village.</p> + +<p>The dinner was a simple one, but to Randy the room with its fine +furnishings, the rare flowers in the centre of the table, the noiseless +tread of the servant with his silver salver, the soft light from the great +chandelier, all seemed a part of the fairyland of which she had so often +read in the old volume of "Grimm's Tales" at home.</p> + +<p>It was remarkable, however, that with all that was new and beautiful about +her, Randy seemed as much at ease as if always accustomed to her present +surroundings.</p> + +<p>So innocent was she in her frank enjoyment of all the beautiful things +which she saw, and the absence of affectation in her manner made her +sincere admiration so delightful, that Helen felt that Randy was even more +charming than when they had last met, and Aunt Marcia completely +captivated, at once decided that never before had a young country girl +appeared to so great advantage when transplanted to a city home.</p> + +<p>After dinner Helen sang some pretty ballads for Randy, and Aunt Marcia +told with evident delight reminiscences of her youth.</p> + +<p>Randy admiring the full length portrait of the dear old lady as she had +appeared in earlier days, looked frankly up in her face and said,</p> + +<p>"You were lovely then, but I think you are grander now," which of course +delighted Aunt Marcia.</p> + +<p>When at last Randy lay in her dainty bed, the light from the great street +lamps shone across the room, and on the wall before her, she could see the +rose vines upon the paper, and counting the blossoms, she fell asleep.</p> + +<p>When the sun came in at her window, Randy awoke with a start, and turning +toward the little clock which ticked upon the table she was surprised to +find that it was quite time to dress. When Miss Dayton had told her that +breakfast would be served at eight, Randy had wondered at the lateness of +the hour, remembering that at home, seven o'clock was considered to be as +late as any energetic person would think of breakfasting.</p> + +<p>"To think that I shall have just time to make myself presentable, and at +home I should have been awake long ago, and by this time have dressed Prue +and myself and have eaten breakfast. Whatever made me sleep so soundly?"</p> + +<p>On the stairway she met Helen, and together they entered the dining room, +where before the crackling fire in the grate stood Aunt Marcia, waiting to +greet them.</p> + +<p>During breakfast, Helen proposed a drive to the shopping district when she +could make a few purchases and at the same time show Randy the wonders of +the great stores.</p> + +<p>"The school will not open until next week," said Helen, "and we will make +this week a succession of little pleasure trips. We will visit the places +of interest and endeavor to make you wholly at home in our city, and +before school opens I shall invite some of the girls who will be your +classmates to meet you, so that on the opening day you will feel that you +have some acquaintances in the school."</p> + +<p>At ten o'clock Randy seated beside Miss Dayton in the coupé, was riding +through the city streets and feeling the wildest excitement as she saw +other fine carriages threading their way among scores of pedestrians, +hurrying throngs passing in and out of the great stores, electric cars +and carriages, and indeed everything which was new and strange to her.</p> + +<p>While Helen and Randy were driving about the city, an animated +conversation was in progress in a home not far from Miss Dayton's.</p> + +<p>The leader, was a tall, slender girl of about Randy's age, whose dark eyes +spoke of truth and loyalty. She made a graceful picture when having +braided her long, dark hair she proceeded to tie it firmly with a bright +scarlet ribbon.</p> + +<p>"Of course I shall call upon her," she was saying. "I wonder that you ask +such a question. She is Miss Dayton's friend, and that, in itself, is +enough to make me wish to go. Miss Dayton is all that is lovely and I +would do much to please her; but aside from that, this girl is a stranger +and I am asked to give her my friendship. I shall call upon her the day +which she has set, and I shall go intending to like Miss Randy Weston."</p> + +<p>She gave the ribbon a determined twitch and a tactful person would have +considered the matter settled, as Nina Irwin usually meant what she said; +but Polly Lawrence was as tactless as she was fickle, which was saying +much, therefore she persisted in her questioning.</p> + +<p>"Isn't Randy a queer name, Nina? No name in particular is it?"</p> + +<p>"Very likely her name is Miranda, and Randy is just a cute little pet +name," said Nina. "Some people might question if Polly was much of a name, +when you were really named Mary, and here is Margaret whom we all call +Peggy, much to her disgust."</p> + +<p>"That comes of having brothers," remarked Peggy. "No one ever thought of +calling me anything but Margaret until Jack started it, and every one +seems bent upon doing as Jack does. Even Polly has decided to wear nothing +but red, since that is Howard's color. Alas! My big brother is turning +things topsy turvy, when every friend I possess is wearing red, +regardless of the color of her hair or complexion."</p> + +<p>"I've <i>always</i> liked red," remarked Polly, "and as to this call, I suppose +I shall make it. No girl can afford to offend the beautiful Miss Dayton, +as it might mean the loss of some fine invitations."</p> + +<p>"I intend to please Miss Dayton because I like and admire her, and not for +any invitations which I might otherwise miss," said Nina. "In her kind +little note she speaks of Miss Weston as charming, and if she charms Helen +Dayton, she surely will be able to interest me."</p> + +<p>"We might call together," remarked Peggy, with a lazy little drawl. "If I +promise to call for you, Nina, I shall surely get there, you are so +energetic."</p> + +<p>"I'll call for you, Peggy, and together we'll call for Nina," said Polly. +"I confess I've no great interest in a country girl, so, if I'm going, +I'll go with you, and perhaps the three of us will be able to make the +call a bit lively."</p> + +<p>"I, for one, anticipate meeting this friend of Miss Dayton's, and as she +asked us to call on an afternoon of this week, I think we might go +to-morrow," said Nina.</p> + +<p>Accordingly on the following day, the three girls sat in the reception +room, each wondering just what Miss Randy Weston would be like.</p> + +<p>"Do you fancy that she is light, or dark? Let's guess, girls," whispered +Polly, but at that moment Miss Dayton entered with Randy's hand in hers. +With a bright smile of welcome, Randy extended her hand to each girl as +she was presented, and as Nina gave the hand a cordial pressure, Randy +said,</p> + +<p>"I am so glad that you have come, because you see I have left all my +friends at home," there was a little tremor in her voice, "and to find new +friends here, will make it less lonely when I enter the school next week."</p> + +<p>"You have gained three friends to-day," said Nina, "and when we meet at +school you will soon know all the other girls."</p> + +<p>"We could call for you on the first day," ventured Peggy, completely won +by Randy's sweet face and frank manner.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you would," said Randy, with such evident delight, that Polly more +than half wished that she had made the suggestion.</p> + +<p>How they talked and chattered that afternoon, and when the three girls +took leave of Randy and Helen and walked briskly down the avenue, Nina, +with twinkling eyes, said to Polly,</p> + +<p>"I think she is one of the sweetest girls that I know, and Polly, did she +seem <i>very</i> countrified to you?"</p> + +<p>"Now, Nina," Polly answered in a crestfallen tone,</p> + +<p>"Who knew that she was a regular beauty, and who for a moment supposed +that she would be dressed like a city girl?"</p> + +<p>"I said that if Miss Helen Dayton called her charming, I had no doubt +about it," said Nina, "and I am willing to say that she is even more +pleasing than I had imagined."</p> + +<p>"It is her pretty, truthful manner that makes me like her," said Peggy, +"and I mean to be her friend while she is here."</p> + +<p>Miss Dayton had seen at once that Randy was making a pleasant impression +upon the girls, and wondered if Randy was equally pleased with them.</p> + +<p>"Well, Randy," she said after the girls had left, and together they stood +before the fire-place.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I liked them," was Randy's quick reply. "They were so friendly. I +like Nina Irwin best, but they were all so pleasant that perhaps I should +not like one better than the others."</p> + +<p>"Nina has always been a favorite with me," said Helen, "and as you really +liked the others I do not see that it matters that of the three Nina is +the favored one.</p> + +<p>"They were evidently pleased with you, so you see you already have three +friends for school and two for home, for Aunt Marcia and I claim your +dearest love."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I love you best," said Randy, "I care for you next to the dear ones +at home."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII" />CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE TRAVELERS</h3> + + +<p>The crisp air stirred the bright yellow leaves which clung lovingly to the +birches, and a few dull red leaves still rustled upon the stout branches +of the oaks, but many of the trees were bare, and under foot there lay a +thick carpet of dried foliage through which the children delighted to +scuff their way toward school.</p> + +<p>The squirrels scampered about the woodland, busily hoarding their winter +store of nuts, and in the field the crows flew around the ancient +scare-crow, cawing derisively at his flapping garments as if laughing at +his attenuated figure and mockingly asking him to partake of the husks of +the garnered corn.</p> + +<p>Overhead the sky was blue and cloudless and upon the eaves of the +farm-house the tiny sparrows chirped a greeting to little Prue who stood +irresolutely upon the threshold, a wistful expression in her pretty brown +eyes, as she twisted one of her short curls and looked over her shoulder +to say good-bye to Tabby who lay in her accustomed place upon the large +braided rug beside the kitchen stove.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye Tabby," she called, "it isn't any fun to go to school, now Randy +isn't here."</p> + +<p>Aunt Prudence, who, true to her promise, had arrived at her brother's home +on the day after Randy's departure, now appeared in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Just starting for school Prue?" said she, "why you said good-bye to yer +mother an' me some time ago."</p> + +<p>"Well, it takes me longer to get started than when Randy was here," said +Prue. "It's diffe'nt now. I used to hurry to keep up with my Randy, but +now I don't care when I get there long as Randy isn't in the school 't +all. I want a letter from her, too, and I wonder why she doesn't be +sending me one."</p> + +<p>"Why, Prue, Randy sent you one yesterday, don't you remember? You took it +to bed with you last night," said Aunt Prudence.</p> + +<p>"But I want another one this morning," said Prue, and seeing tears upon +her cheeks, Aunt Prudence, with unusual gentleness, sat down upon the +threshold beside the wee girl, and endeavored to make it clear to her, +that having received a letter from Randy upon the afternoon of one day, it +would be impossible for another one to arrive on the morning of the next.</p> + +<p>"Well, I've got my Randy's letter buttoned inside my jacket," said Prue, +"but all the same I want another now, and oh I want my Randy more than +anything."</p> + +<p>It required a deal of coaxing to induce Prue to start for school and she +went reluctantly, saying as she turned to wave her hand to Aunt Prudence, +"I used to like school, but tisn't any fun 't all without my Randy."</p> + +<p>She walked down the road swinging her little lunch basket, and thinking of +the dear sister whom she so wished to see. At recess Prue left her little +mates and Hi Babson, searching for her, found her outside the yard sitting +disconsolately upon an old stump, her basket beside her, and her luncheon +untouched.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Prue," said Hi, "I want yer ter play squat tag with +us."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to play," said Prue, "I want my Randy."</p> + +<p>"But she's in Boston, ain't she?" asked Hi.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I <i>want</i> her, I'm tired of going to school without her."</p> + +<p>"<i>I'm</i> tired of goin' ter school at all," said Hi. Then a peculiar light +appeared in his small black eyes.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell yer what we'll do," said he, "We'll go and <i>see</i> Randy, you 'n +me. I know the way to the deepot, Prue, Yes sir, we'll go'n see Randy. I +guess she'll be glad 'nough ter see us 'n wont you be glad to see her, +though?"</p> + +<p>Little Prue's eyes grew round with delight. Since Randy was to be away +from home, of course the best thing would be to go to her.</p> + +<p>"Do you <i>truly</i> know the way?" asked Prue, eagerly, laying her little hand +upon Hi's arm.</p> + +<p>"Guess I do. Ain't I been to the deepot times 'nough?" was the confident +reply. "You jest come 'long with me, Prue, an' I tell ye we'll find your +Randy. I'm bigger'n you be 'n I know."</p> + +<p>"When will we go, Hi?" asked Prue, now confident that her little champion +could take her safely to Randy.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Hi, "right off now. I don't know my lessons, so I don't want +ter go back ter school, an' teacher's a ringin' the bell this minute. Pick +up yer lunch basket, I've got some cookies I hooked out 'n the cupboard +an' a big apple that Belindy gave me, an' we'll eat 'em when we're in the +cars." So the two children trudged down the road; Prue happier than she +had been for days because of the delightful prospect of seeing Randy, and +Hi, knowing that he was naughty in staying away from school, but easing +his little conscience by thinking that he was comforting Prue.</p> + +<p>It was true that he was larger than Prue, but they were of the same age, +and as unlike as two children could possibly be.</p> + +<p>Prue was lovely in face and disposition, small of her age and graceful in +her movements. Hi was a plain, sturdy looking country boy; stubborn, full +of mischief and large for a boy of six.</p> + +<p>Down the road they walked, a resolute little pair; Prue chattering and +laughing, Hi rather silent until well out of sight of the schoolhouse, +when his spirits rose and he cheered the way by telling his little +companion wonderful tales of the delights of a journey in the cars.</p> + +<p>Having twice enjoyed a long car ride, he considered himself quite a +traveled personage, and he continued to enlarge upon the pleasures of the +trip to Boston until Prue's eyes danced, and she skipped along the road +unable from sheer delight to walk without an occasional little hop.</p> + +<p>"If we stay with Randy, we won't have ter go ter school," said Hi, "an' +you'n me can play all day."</p> + +<p>"And see my Randy every day," said Prue, "and oh, Hi, you don't know how +lovely she looked in her new clothes she had to go to Boston with."</p> + +<p>"Randy looked nice in anything," said Hi, "and I'll like ter see her, but +the best of it is, I ain't er goin' ter school. I hate school, anyway."</p> + +<p>"I like school when my Randy's in it, but I don't like anything where my +Randy isn't," said Prue, stoutly, "and now we're going to see her."</p> + +<p>As she danced along, her hand tightly clasping that of her companion, she +hummed merrily, and Hi accompanied her with a discordant whistle, +cheerfully unaware that he was quite off the key.</p> + +<p>"Does it take long to get to Boston?" asked Prue, abruptly.</p> + +<p>"No, I guess not," said Hi, "but it's a little longer'n I thought to the +deepot."</p> + +<p>"Don't you know the way?" she asked when upon reaching a fork in the road +Hi stopped and stared about him as if puzzled as to which to choose.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know the way to the deepot," said Hi, "only I was a thinkin' +which was the nearest way. Last time I went there with Uncle Joshua he +said, 'We'll go this way 'cause it's a short cut,' an' I guess this is it, +Prue, so come along."</p> + +<p>And away they went down the road which led directly away from the Centre. +Naughty little Hi was far from sure that they were walking in the right +direction, but he knew that they were not going toward school, and that in +itself was delightful, and a glance at Prue's smiling face assured him +that he was making her happy, so on they trudged, singing and whistling +as before.</p> + +<p>The sun was high overhead, and the light breeze blew the curls about +Prue's little face, until Hi looking at her said,</p> + +<p>"You're the nicest girl I know Prue; will ye give me some er your lunch, +if I'll give you half er my apple?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," assented Prue, "I'm getting hungry too. Here, let's divide this +gingerbread first."</p> + +<p>Upon the low stone wall they perched, and a pretty picture they made, +sharing their lunch and throwing the crumbs to the sparrows that twittered +in the dusty road.</p> + +<p>"We've been walking so long, we must be most to the deepot, Hi," said +Prue.</p> + +<p>"I guess so," the small boy answered, "so now we've finished the lunch, +we'll just start along. Gim me yer hand, Prue; I'm a big boy, 'n I'm +takin' care er you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you're taking care of me real good," Prue answered sweetly, "and I +love you fer taking me to my Randy, but Hi," she continued, "I'll <i>have</i> +to sit down a minute, my feets are so tired."</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's time 'nough," said Hi. "We'll rest a while, an' then, after +we've walked a little ways, fust thing you'll see'll be the deepot. Then +when we git inter the cars, we shall sit on the soft seat and jest rest +'til we get ter Randy's."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, let's hurry," said Prue, "I'm some rested now, and if we run +we'll get there all the sooner."</p> + +<p>But Prue was more weary than she knew, and her little legs refused to run, +so, settling into a jog trot the two tired children pushed onward, each +step carrying them farther from the depot and at the same time farther +from home.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the pupils filed into the schoolroom after recess, Miss Gilman missed +Prue and Hi, and questioned a number of scholars in regard to them.</p> + +<p>"I seen 'em a-settin' on a stump back er the school," volunteered one +small boy, "Want me ter go'n look for 'em?"</p> + +<p>Permission given him, the boy ran out, delighted with the thought that he +might thus elude one recitation; but a long search failing to discover the +missing children, he was obliged to return with the information that he +had looked everywhere and they weren't "anywheres 'raound the place."</p> + +<p>"Possibly they have gone home," said Miss Gilman, but a vague uneasiness +took possession of her, and when the afternoon session commenced with both +children absent, she determined to call after school at the Weston's and +see if Prue were safe, at the same time sending the Babson girls home in +haste to learn if Hi could be found.</p> + +<p>When Prue did not return at noon, Mrs. Weston was not alarmed, as the +little girl often stayed at the school when, as on this day, she had in +her little basket a hearty lunch, and before Prue could have possibly +reached home in the afternoon Miss Gilman, with a desperate attempt to +appear calm, called to ask if the little girl had been unable to attend +the afternoon session.</p> + +<p>"Ill? Why no, indeed! Why, what is it you say, Miss Gilman? That Prue has +not been at school since the morning recess?"</p> + +<p>The color left Mrs. Weston's cheek, and she leaned heavily upon the table, +while Aunt Prudence, speaking with more confidence than she really felt, +exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Now it's no use gettin' frightened. She's likely enough in someone's +house as safe as can be, and what we've got ter do is ter harness up an' +call at the houses where Prue is acquainted an' she'll be with us before +dark, I'll warrant ye."</p> + +<p>Just at this point, Belinda Babson breathless and excited, ran in at the +door crying wildly,</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Gilman, Mrs. Weston! Little Hi isn't at our house and a man just +told father that he saw Hi and Prue sitting on the stone wall away over on +the mill road, and that was long before noon time. Where can they be now? +Mother's just wild and Aunt Drusilla's lost every idea she ever had. She's +just wringing her hands and crying, and a saying that she's afraid that +they're lost and wont be found."</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston, coming in from the barn, heard Belinda's words and saw her +frightened face.</p> + +<p>With a grave expression in his kind gray eyes, he said,</p> + +<p>"There, there mother, I wouldn't get too frightened. Prue's out of sight? +Well, I'll start out ter find her, and we'll hope that she is not so far +off but that I shall soon bring her home." But to the mare he muttered as +he adjusted the harness,</p> + +<p>"This is bad business, Snowfoot. Two little folks lost and no idea where +ter look for 'em."</p> + +<p>And while two households were wild with fear, while Mr. Weston and Joshua +Babson were driving in every direction, stopping at the door of the +farm-houses to enquire if the children were there, or had been seen, the +two little ones who were the cause of all this commotion were still +walking wearily down the road, Prue hoping yet to see the cars which +should take her to Randy, and Hi beginning to think that he had lost his +way. The last glint of yellow had faded from the western sky, as Hi +proposed that they cut through the woods to "gain time," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm 'fraid to go into the woods when it's getting dark," wailed Prue.</p> + +<p>"But me'n Uncle Joshua did the day we went the shortest way," said Hi, +"an' this looks just like the place. <i>I</i> ain't 'fraid so you needn't be, +an' we've <i>got</i> ter go the quickest way because it's gittin' late."</p> + +<p>Prue gave her hand to Hi, and together they entered the woods, trudging +wearily on toward the place where, between the distant trees they could +see the western sky. Their tired little feet stumbled on, tripping over +fallen twigs, and gnarled roots of the great trees. Prue was crying now +and Hi, anxious to keep up, at least a semblance of the big boy and +protector, made desperate efforts to swallow the lump in his throat which +was growing larger every moment. Prue had lost her lunch basket, but she +held Randy's letter tightly clasped in her hand, and the basket was +forgotten in her eagerness to keep a firm hold upon the treasured missive.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Hi, I've <i>got</i> to sit down again, I'm so tired, and I'm cold, too," +she cried.</p> + +<p>Hi, with all his faults, was a kind-hearted little fellow, so with a deal +of gallantry he pulled off his jacket, saying,</p> + +<p>"This'll make ye warm, Prue, I'm a big boy so I don't mind."</p> + +<p>Hi heaped a mass of dry leaves together, saying,</p> + +<p>"We might lay down on these leaves jest a few minutes 'til we're a little +warmer, an' then when we're rested we'll go on again. We <i>must</i> be 'most +there now, Prue."</p> + +<p>By snuggling closely beside her, the boy endeavored to make up for the +loss of his coat, and so completely tired out were the two little +wayfarers, that sleep overtook them, and in their dreams Prue saw her +beloved Randy, while Hi seemed floating through space upon one of the red +plush car seats on the way to Boston.</p> + +<p>After fruitless calls at the farm-houses Mr. Weston, now thoroughly +alarmed called upon his neighbors for assistance, and searching parties +with lanterns and torches commenced to scour field and wood.</p> + +<p>In and out between the great trees they wandered, their torches and +lanterns looking like giant fire-flies; and in every direction they +searched for the two little travelers; now at the margin of the woodland, +then in again to the heart of the forest. One man recounted to his +companion how several years before two children had been lost, and +although desperate search was made, they were not found until the pond was +dragged. Another farmer, determined not to be outdone, told, with bated +breath, of a bear which had been seen coming down the mountain, and that +when two hunters had given chase, he had disappeared in the woods.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't like to have the children meet him," said the man.</p> + +<p>"Be still!" commanded his companion, "do ye want Square Weston ter hear +ye? He's 'nough worried now without yer tales er bears an' drowndings."</p> + +<p>As Mr. Weston passed them, his lantern revealed the pallor of his face, +and one man muttered to the other,</p> + +<p>"Ef they're not ter be faound alive, then I hope it'll not be the Square +that finds 'em."</p> + +<p>"That's so, man," the other returned, "'tho' it would be a hard job fer +any of us ter larn that aught had befallen little Prue, and even that +little scamp, Hi Babson, I'd hate ter think of a hard fate fer him, he was +so brimmin' over with fun."</p> + +<p>One man had strayed from the party, and with his torch held above his head +was slowly making his way through the underbrush, when, emerging from the +thicket, his foot touched something which but softly resisted it. +Thinking it to be some old and mossy log, he shifted his torch to the +other hand, and was preparing to step over the obstacle whatever it might +be, when, as the smoke blew backward, the flaming torch revealed the +sleeping children, Prue still holding Randy's letter in her hand, Hi with +a protecting arm about his little companion.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="As_the_smoke" id="As_the_smoke" /><a href="./images/142.jpg"><img src="./images/142-tb.jpg" alt="As the smoke flew backward the flaming torch revealed the sleeping children" title="As the smoke flew backward the flaming torch revealed the sleeping children" /></a></p> +<p class="figcenter">As the smoke flew backward the flaming torch revealed the sleeping children</p> + +<p>"Well, of all the pretty sights!" he ejaculated. "Safe an' saound an' warm +I'll bet ye, but haow on airth come they over here?"</p> + +<p>Then with another look at the sleeping children, he hastened to rejoin the +party and to tell the joyful news that the little ones were found.</p> + +<p>When the crowd of torch-bearers hastened to the spot and gathered about +the wanderers, Prue and Hi sat up and rubbed their eyes, evidently +wondering what had caused such a commotion. [Illustration: As the smoke +blew backward, the flaming torch revealed the sleeping children]</p> + +<p>"How did ye git lost?" asked a farmer of Prue.</p> + +<p>"We wasn't lost," answered Prue, "How could we be lost when we knew where +we was going? We was going to Boston to my Randy, and we're 'most to the +cars, but we're just resting a little while first."</p> + +<p>To Uncle Joshua Babson, little Hi looked for pardon for this latest prank.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't naughty <i>this</i> time," he said, "I knew the way to Boston, and +Prue felt so lonesome 'thout Randy that I was goin' ter take her there."</p> + +<p>"Never mind that, my boy," Uncle Joshua answered, "the main thing is ter +git ye home, an' stop yer mother's frettin'. She's in the mood ter forgive +most anything, sence yer safe and sound."</p> + +<p>Tired little Prue lay in her father's arms, crying softly, her face hidden +upon his breast.</p> + +<p>"There, there, don't cry, Prue, ye're all safe now. See, I have ye in my +arms, an' soon we'll be home with mother an' Aunt Prudence."</p> + +<p>"But if you take me home now," wailed Prue, "it'll be to-morrow 'fore I +could start again to find Randy, and we meaned to get there to-night."</p> + +<p>"But mother's 'bout sick a worryin' sence ye went off with Hi and didn't +tell where ye was goin'. Did ye think of it, Prue, that mother misses +Randy, so couldn't spare ye, too?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I never thought," Prue answered, "I wanted to see my Randy, but I +didn't 'member that if I went to Boston there wouldn't be any girls 't all +in our house."</p> + +<p>With his lantern on his arm and his little daughter clasped to his breast, +Mr. Weston tramped along the rough road escorted by two neighbors who with +their torches made a path of light before him. As they reached the house, +two white-faced women saw them, but while Aunt Prudence hastened to open +the door Mrs. Weston drew back.</p> + +<p>"Alive or,—"</p> + +<p>"I want some supper," exclaimed a very energetic little voice and the +mother sprang forward to take her lost one in her arms.</p> + +<p>"Oh Prue, don't ye leave us again," she cried, her tears dropping upon the +soft curls.</p> + +<p>"But I was going to get my Randy and bring her home to you," said Prue, +"and I forgot that when I was away to Randy's there wouldn't be any girls +to take care of you 'n Tabby."</p> + +<p>That night, as an especial favor, Prue was allowed to take Tabby to bed +with her, and as she lay with her arms about the cat, she thought that, +although her journey to Boston was prevented, there yet were comforts at +home, and Tabby accustomed to sleeping in the shed, must have thought the +millennium had come.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII" />CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>JUST A ROSE</h3> + + +<p>It had been an easy task to convince little Prue that she must not again +attempt to run away to Randy, but must try to be a little comfort to those +at home; but no amount of reasoning could make her less lonely, until such +a delightful thing happened.</p> + +<p>A box addressed to Miss Prue Weston arrived one morning, and when its +cover was removed, there lay the loveliest dolly, evidently sound asleep. +As Prue lifted her from the box, her eyes opened wide, causing the little +girl to jump and exclaim,</p> + +<p>"My! Did you see her wink? Is she alive?"</p> + +<p>It was the first modern doll which Prue had seen, and she could hardly +believe that aught but a living thing could open and shut its eyes, or +smile so radiantly, thereby showing little pearly teeth. Oh the wonder of +the soft curling hair, the turning head, and jointed arms and legs!</p> + +<p>Her dress was made from a lovely shade of blue satin, and her hat was a +fine specimen of doll's millinery. In her hand she held a tiny envelope +which enclosed a letter from Randy to Prue,—printed, that the little +sister might have the pleasure of reading it for herself.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"DEAR LITTLE PRUE:—I send this pretty doll to you. Her name is + Randy Helen Weston, named for two whom I know you love dearly. + You will make me very happy while I am here in Boston, if you are + good at school, and a little comfort to mother at home. Let the + Randy doll help you to wait cheerfully until I return, and I + shall be glad that I sent her. Print little letters to me, + telling me what is happening at home and at school, and remember + that I am</p></div> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">"Your loving sister,</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 24em;">RANDY."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>All the children were invited to come on Saturday and see the wonderful +doll, and Randy Helen Weston was made to open and shut her lovely eyes, to +turn her head, to extend her beautifully jointed arm to her callers; to +cry, to stand alone upon her daintily-slippered feet, and, in fact, to +astonish them as much as possible and allow them to depart, glad of Prue's +happiness, or green with envy, according as their dispositions prompted +them.</p> + +<p>Prue was wild with delight, and was about to print a letter for Randy, +when it was proposed at school that the long letter from her schoolmates +should be written and little Prue was invited to have a part in it.</p> + +<p>The letter was a most amusing one, and Randy and Helen laughed heartily as +they saw the characteristics of the writers, as manifest, as if each had +been present.</p> + +<p>They had taken half sheets of paper and pasted the ends together so that a +long strip of writing paper was obtained. Then each friend had written +and signed his contribution, and truly the result was unique. Prue had +been given ample space for her part of what she termed the "party letter," +and with great care she printed it. Her spelling was phonetic.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"DEAR RANDY:—Nobudy ever had a dolly so lovely as mine you + sended me. I ust tu take Tabby tu bed wiv me but now I take mi + dolly. 1 day Tabby washed her hare, I meen my dollys hare I gess + she thort it waz 1 of her kittns. Tabbys got tu kittns. They has + not got thay ize open yet, so I tryd tu pick um opn, but arnt + Prudence sed that wood be cruil. If thay cant git thay ize opn + thayselfs why aint I good tu pick um opn wiv my fingus</p></div> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">"Yor little</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 24em;">PRUE."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"What <i>will</i> Prue do next, I wonder?" said Randy.</p> + +<p>"The idea of thinking that because those little cats could not open their +eyes, it would be a fine idea to 'pick' them open!"</p> + +<p>Randy pitied those kittens, but she could not help laughing as she thought +of Prue's efforts to help them.</p> + +<p>"She is probably wild to have those kittens see her new doll," said Miss +Dayton.</p> + +<p>The long letter from her schoolmates at home had reached Randy on a stormy +Saturday morning, when the wind was blowing the snow against the windows +with such force that it sounded like hail. She thought of the horses +harnessed to the rough snow ploughs "breaking out" the roads at home, of +the pine trees laden with what looked to be giant masses of white fruit, +of the snow-capped mountains and of little Prue, with hood and mittens, at +play with Johnny Buffum, and she wished to be borne there by some +magician, if only for a moment, that she might see it all as she had seen +it, ever since she could remember.</p> + +<p>Randy was, from the first, one of the most promising scholars at the +private school which she had entered a week after her arrival in Boston, +and her letters to father and mother, Aunt Prudence and to her friends at +the little district school were full of enthusiasm for study and ambition +to excel.</p> + +<p>Saturdays she spent in recreation, but this day she had especially wished +might be fair. Aunt Marcia had predicted snow the night before, but Randy +had laughingly refused to listen to it, preferring to believe that the sun +would shine.</p> + +<p>There was to be a fine concert in the afternoon, and Helen had secured +tickets for Randy, Aunt Marcia and herself, and as this was the first +concert that Randy had ever dreamed of attending, she was naturally +anxious for a fine day.</p> + +<p>"It blows a gale," said Aunt Marcia, at the breakfast table. "Really, +Helen, if it is such a hurricane as this, I would not advise you to go +this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"There are always concerts which are well worth attending," said Helen, +"so if it continues to blow and snow like this, I think we shall stay +cosily at home and attend some other concert next Saturday."</p> + +<p>To Helen one concert more or less meant little; but Randy watched the sky +with anxious eyes, and just before eleven, a tiny bit of blue sky was +visible. How she watched it! At half past eleven it was a large blue +opening, and when the soft chiming of the clock announced in silvery tones +that twelve o'clock had arrived, there was no doubt that the afternoon +would be fair.</p> + +<p>Lunch was served earlier than usual, and Randy hastened to her room to +dress for the concert. Twice she stepped from the dressing case to the +window to see if the blue sky was still visible, and when at last the +sunlight lay upon the carpet she laughed, and pinning her blue hat with +its soft feathers securely in place she hurried from the room and down the +stairway where in the hall she waited for Helen.</p> + +<p>Usually Randy thought it luxurious to nestle close to Helen in the +carriage, but this afternoon she wished that she might have walked, just +because her excitement made it difficult for her to placidly ride to the +great hall where Miss Dayton had told her that she should hear the +sweetest of music. As they rode along, Randy wondered if all the carriages +which she saw, were conveying their occupants to the concert, and she was +conscious of a mild regret for pedestrians who were wending their way in +an opposite direction.</p> + +<p>"They are not to enjoy the concert," she thought.</p> + +<p>"A penny for what is in your mind, Randy," said Helen, laying her hand +upon Randy's arm.</p> + +<p>"I was just wondering how many of the people whom I see on foot and in +carriages are going to the concert," said Randy.</p> + +<p>"Does the concert mean so much to you?" said Helen.</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you how much," Randy answered, "but I have watched the +clouds, and hoped it would be fair this afternoon, and when I saw the +sunlight upon the floor, just before we started, I danced across my room +and down the stairs to meet you. I have heard you play and sing, oh, so +sweetly, I have heard little Janie's bird-like voice at home, and Sandy +McLeod has often played his pipes for me, but to-day I am to hear the +violins and listen to the great singer of whom you have told me. Oh, I can +hardly wait to get there, and to hear the music."</p> + +<p>"Well you haven't much longer to wait," said Helen, as the carriage +stopped before the entrance to the great hall.</p> + +<p>As the crowd surged toward the doorway, Randy began to think that all the +people whom she had seen and many more had decided that the concert was +too great a treat to miss.</p> + +<p>Once in their seats, Randy looked about her, and found great delight in +studying the faces and costumes of the vast audience. She smiled as she +thought of that summer day when in old Nathan Lawton's front parlor she +took part in the school exhibition and received the prize in the presence +of an assemblage of fifty persons, and considered it a "crowd."</p> + +<p>A slight commotion caused Randy to turn just in time to see the members of +the great orchestra taking their places. Then some late arrivals attracted +her attention. Two ladies with a beautiful little girl were seating +themselves on the opposite side of the aisle, and the child's face, with +her soft curls and brown eyes reminded Randy of the little sister at home. +Then a strange hush pervaded the hall, and as the director swayed his +baton, twenty bows were drawn across the strings of as many violins in one +grand chord of sweetest harmony.</p> + +<p>Randy started, and laid her hand upon Helen's, while with parted lips she +gazed at the musicians who were making the fairy-like music which so +enthralled her. Her sensitive lips quivered, and her breath came quickly +as the orchestra played the varying movements of a grand sonata.</p> + +<p>Enraptured with the music, tears filled her eyes during the gentle adagio, +and a bright smile chased away the tears when the next movement, a +brilliant polacca, filled the hall with its tripping measures. When the +last chord had died away Randy turned toward Helen and whispered, "Oh, I +never heard anything like that! Will they play again?"</p> + +<p>With a smile, Helen pointed to the other numbers upon the program which +the orchestra would perform, and Randy, with a contented little sigh, +leaned back to await the next number, when the Prima Donna, a vision of +loveliness, came forward to sing.</p> + +<p>Randy watched and listened and wondered, vaguely, if an angel could sing +like that.</p> + +<p>Her solo ended, the singer, bowing low, retired, but not for long, for +others beside Randy realized the beauty of the song and the wonderful +voice of the vocalist, and round after round of applause pleaded for her +return.</p> + +<p>Yet more applause, and again she stood before them, gracefully bowing her +acknowledgment of the compliment.</p> + +<p>Again the sweet notes filled the hall, and Randy leaned eagerly forward to +catch each silvery tone.</p> + +<p>When the song was finished, Helen said "Was not that a wonderful bit of +music?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Randy, "how I wish that I could tell her that I think her +voice is like the violins."</p> + +<p>"I know her very well," Helen replied, "and I will tell her how her +singing has entranced you."</p> + +<p>"Tell her," said Randy, eagerly, "that I think nothing in all the world +was ever half so sweet."</p> + +<p>Then another number by the orchestra held Randy's attention and thus +through the afternoon until she felt as if her pulses were throbbing with +the rhythm of the music. She marveled that between the numbers many of the +vast audience talked and chatted merrily. The lovely little girl across +the aisle was fast asleep. Why were they ready to talk after listening to +such grand music, and how could anyone, even a child, sleep when there was +yet another witching air to be sung, another composition for those +wonderful musicians to execute!</p> + +<p>Miss Dayton found it an interesting study to watch Randy's face, and to +see portrayed there the varying movements of each composition.</p> + +<p>Just before the last selection was rendered, Helen penciled a hasty note +upon her card, and giving it to an usher, bade him take it to the great +singer and wait for a word in reply. The man took the card and hastened to +the room at the rear of the stage returning almost immediately with the +card which bore upon the reverse side these words,</p> + +<p>"A cordial welcome after the concert to Miss Helen Dayton and her friend."</p> + +<p>Leaning toward Helen, Randy read the invitation signed by the name of the +singer, and she caught her breath as she realized that she was about to +meet one who seemed to her so far above the realm of ordinary mortals.</p> + +<p>When the audience began to leave the hall and Helen led the way to the +dressing room, Randy walked beside her, sure that no girl was ever before +so favored. To hear the wonderful voice was rapture, to talk with the +singer,—Randy could hardly believe that in a few moments she should +experience so great a pleasure.</p> + +<p>When at last they reached the pretty room, they found the great vocalist +chatting merrily with the lovely child who had sat opposite Randy and had +slept through half of the afternoon.</p> + +<p>"And so you became tired," the lady was saying.</p> + +<p>"Not when you were singing," said the little girl, frankly, "but when the +violins and flutes and all the other things had played and played, they +made me sleepy, and I just lay back in my seat and shut my eyes a minute +when mama said:—</p> + +<p>"'Come Marguerite, it is time to go, if you wish to see Madam Valena.' and +that made me open my eyes wide, I did so wish to see you."</p> + +<p>Quite like a miniature lady she made the little courteous speech, but she +was every inch a child as she clambered up into a chair where, upon +tip-toe she offered her lips for a kiss. Then away like a gay little +butterfly she flew to join her friends.</p> + +<p>Helen, taking Randy's hand, led her across the room and presented her.</p> + +<p>The singer and Miss Dayton's mother had been firm friends, and Helen was +always accorded a most cordial welcome.</p> + +<p>The table was heaped with flowers, and Randy, seeing such a profusion of +blossoms, wondered that she had thought for a moment of offering the +lovely rose which she held in her hand, to one to whom a single blossom +must seem of little value.</p> + +<p>With the cordial greeting and firm handclasp, Randy realized that the +sweet face bending over her, belonged to a woman as lovely in character, +as in person, and she gathered courage to speak the words which were +nearest her heart.</p> + +<p>"I did not know that any living being could sing as you sang this +afternoon," she said, "it made me think of the birds in the trees at home, +of the brook in the woods, of the white rose in my hand, and I longed to +give it to you, but when I saw all these lovely flowers, I felt that you +would not care for my one blossom, you would not understand,—" with a +queer little break in her voice, Randy ceased speaking and looking up into +the brilliant face was surprised to see two bright tears upon her cheek.</p> + +<p>"Not care for your flower? I want it more than all of these," she said, +gently taking the rose from the slender hand which held it, and placing it +in the folds of lace upon her breast.</p> + +<p>"With all the honors which I have won, with all the praise for my work +which I have received, no compliment ever offered me was more genuine, or +sincere, and this rose I shall keep in memory of the girl who gave it.</p> + +<p>"Let me give some of my flowers to you, in return for your words which +have moved me more than you think.</p> + +<p>"O! Helen," she continued. "I received my first inspiration from the birds +and the brook at home, when as a little country girl I listened to their +voices, and longed to make my tones as pure as theirs. This young girl has +brought it all back to me so clearly, that I see myself, a little barefoot +child, wading in the brook and mocking the birds which sang in the +branches above me."</p> + +<p>A maid approached, and laid a long fur wrap about Madam Valena's +shoulders, at the same time announcing that her carriage was waiting.</p> + +<p>Clasping the great cluster of brilliant blossoms closely, Randy said as +they parted,</p> + +<p>"I shall never forget you," and looking from her carriage window the +singer smiled as she said,</p> + +<p>"I shall keep your rose in memory of you."</p> + +<p>As they rode homeward Helen told Randy much of Madam Valena's life as her +mother had known her, of her close application to study, and of her +success, and when at home they found Aunt Marcia seated before the fire +place, placidly watching the dancing flames, Randy rushed in, and sitting +upon a low hassock, she related all the wonders of the afternoon, ending +with,</p> + +<p>"And oh, I wish that you had been there to see and hear it all."</p> + +<p>"Why, Randy, child!" exclaimed Aunt Marcia laughing, "I thought it rather +cold this afternoon, and stayed cosily at home instead of accompanying you +and Helen, but now your eyes shine like stars, and I begin to believe +that I missed much by not attending the concert. I knew the program was a +fine one, and Madam Valena is truly a most charming person."</p> + +<p>"Indeed she is," assented Randy, "and she looked so queenly, I never +thought she would really talk to me, but oh, do you know that she was once +a little country girl? When I looked at her I could not imagine it."</p> + +<p>"I know a little country maid, who no one would suppose had not spent all +her life in the city," said Aunt Marcia, with a smile, "only that she +enjoys every pleasure with a keen delight unknown to the girl who feels +that she has seen all that there is to be seen many, many times."</p> + +<p>"I shall never feel that way," said Randy, "how could I tire of the sweet +music, or of watching the crowd in the city streets? I was never tired of +listening to the birds at home and I'm sure," she added with a laugh, "I +even enjoyed watching the people coming into our little church. There is +always something new everywhere; and I am looking for it."</p> + +<p>"That is a part of the secret of your happiness, Randy," said Aunt Marcia, +"you intend to be delighted and usually succeed."</p> + +<p>"Why, I am still holding the flowers which Madam Valena gave me," said +Randy, "I must place them in water," and she hastened to find a suitable +vase in which to arrange them. They formed a brilliant bit of color in the +centre of the table when dinner was served, and caused Randy to talk once +more of the concert.</p> + +<p>"It was all so charming that I suppose I stared; at least Polly Lawrence +said that I did."</p> + +<p>"I saw Polly with you just as we were leaving the hall," said Helen, "what +did you say that she said?"</p> + +<p>"She said, 'Why Randy Weston, you are staring at everybody and everything +as if you'd never attended a concert before!'"</p> + +<p>"How singularly rude," said Aunt Marcia, little pleased that Randy should +be thus spoken to.</p> + +<p>"And what did you say to that, Randy," asked Helen, wondering if Polly's +speech had cut deeply.</p> + +<p>With a frank smile Randy answered,—"I said, 'Well this <i>is</i> my first +concert. Possibly <i>you</i> would be surprised if you had never before +experienced such a pleasure.'"</p> + +<p>Helen and her aunt were much amused that Randy could answer so readily a +remark which was intended to embarrass her, and they realized that Randy's +frankness in admitting herself a country girl quite unused to city +pleasures, would disarm a girl like Polly, more successfully than any +amount of artifice or pretense.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX" />CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>A SCOTCH LINNET</h3> + + +<p>The sky was a cold, leaden gray, and down from the mountains swept a +pitiless wind, which whistled through the bare branches of the trees and +tossed a few dried leaves before it, as it hurried on as if with a fixed +determination to reach every corner of the village and chill everything +which it could touch.</p> + +<p>It leveled the few standing cornstalks and caused the dry twigs to rap a +tattoo upon the windows of the farm houses. It attacked the shivering form +of a lonely little cur who took his tail between his legs and scurried +away down the road in search of some sheltering barn or shed; it nipped +little Hi Babson's ears and snatching his cap, tossed it over the wall and +across the field where it lay, held fast in a clump of bushes.</p> + +<p>Hi secured the cap, and as he pulled it down about his ears he looked back +in the direction from which the gust had blown, and shaking his little +fist exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Nasty old wind! I hate ye and ye know it. 'F I'd a been 'lowed ter stay +home an' whittle like I wanted ter, I wouldn't a lost my cap. I scratched +my fingers gittin' it, an' <i>that</i> makes me mad."</p> + +<p>Again he shook his little fist at his enemy, the wind, but as it did not +cease blowing, he drew on his mittens and sulkily plodded on toward +school. His cold fingers smarted where the briers had torn them, and he +felt resentful that he should be on his way toward the despised school +house, quite forgetting that by the fireside with his beloved whittling he +usually managed to cut his fingers.</p> + +<p>Whistling lustily, Jack Marvin came down the road, overtaking Hi as he +stumbled along, a most disconsolate little figure.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Hi," said Jack. "Why, look here little feller," as he noticed +tears in the bright black eyes.</p> + +<p>"'Most frozen, and didn't want ter come ter school, either? Say, gimme yer +hand, mine are warm, an' you'n me'll be in school in no time. What's that? +Ain't done yer sums? Well, now, little chap, you jist come along quick, +an' 'fore ye know it ye'll be gittin' warm in the school room an' I'll +show ye 'bout yer sums 'fore the bell rings. My, but it takes you'n me ter +make good time over the road!"</p> + +<p>Jack Marvin never could bear to see a child in tears, and his kind heart +was delighted when little Hi skipped along beside him, laughing gaily, in +spite of the traces of tears upon his cheeks.</p> + +<p>Hi looked up to Jack as one of the best among the "big boys," and to race +along beside him and be assured of help with his lessons, took every care +from the little fellow's mind, and he laughed and whistled in company with +Jack.</p> + +<p>The boys turned up their collars or ducked their chins beneath the folds +of woollen mufflers; and the girls drew their wraps about them and hurried +on, eager to reach the schoolhouse and gain shelter from the icy blast.</p> + +<p>About the great stove they hovered, scorching their faces, while they +endeavored to get thoroughly warmed before the hands of the clock should +point to nine. Two girls were missing from the group around the stove. +Randy Weston, who had been at school in Boston for three months, and +Phoebe Small, whose incessant teasing had at last prevailed, and who had +six weeks before experienced the joy of going away to boarding school. It +was not that Phoebe did not love her home, or enjoy the friendship of her +mates, but she had long entertained the idea that a boarding school was +the only school worth attending.</p> + +<p>She had wished Randy good luck when she started for Boston, but she could +not stifle a feeling of envy, and it seemed impossible for her to stay +quietly at home attending the district school.</p> + +<p>In vain Mrs. Small insisted that Phoebe would be homesick, that Randy was +with friends, while at boarding school all would be strangers. Phoebe +invariably answered,</p> + +<p>"Well I'd just like to try it and see how it would seem. I could write +letters home to the girls as Randy does, and I think that would be just +grand."</p> + +<p>At last it occurred to Mrs. Small that the best thing for Phoebe would be +to grant her wish.</p> + +<p>"I know that she will be homesick before she's been away a week," she said +to her husband, "but she cannot be convinced, and perhaps if we allow her +to try it, she will get all and more than she wants of it, and come home +with a mind to be contented."</p> + +<p>So one bright morning Phoebe was driven to the station on her way to a +school for girls which was under the direction of two ladies who were +friends of Mrs. Small. Immediately upon her arrival she sent a note to +her mother in which she told in glowing words of the pleasure of her ride +in the cars, and her reception by the two elderly ladies who presided over +the school.</p> + +<p>Then, after a week had passed another letter came the general tone of +which was less cheerful. Then a fortnight slipped by, and a brief letter +told only of her studies, and said not a word of the delights of boarding +school life. Then, as time passed and the mail brought no letter from +Phoebe, her mother became anxious.</p> + +<p>"I do hope she's well, and I must say I wish I'd never consented when she +begged to go," said Mrs. Small a dozen times a day, to which her husband +would reply,</p> + +<p>"Oh, she's all right. If she was sick they'd let us know. Most likely +she's had 'nough of it, and hates ter say so."</p> + +<p>"Well, all the same, if I don't get a letter from her to-day, I'll go +after her to-morrow." Mrs. Small answered, as the wind whistled around the +corner and down the chimney.</p> + +<p>While this conversation was in progress at the Small homestead, the same +subject was being discussed at the village school. Because of the intense +cold, Miss Gilman permitted the scholars to enjoy the recess indoors and +they formed little groups about the great stove, eating their lunch and +discussing those topics which lay nearest their hearts.</p> + +<p>"I guess my Randy knows 'most everything now," Prue was saying. "She has +such long lessons, and studies late, and she's seen the big stores, and +she's been to a concert full of fiddles where she saw a great big Primmy +Dommy!"</p> + +<p>"Why, what's that?" asked little Hitty Buffum. "Wasn't she 'fraid when she +saw the Primny what yer call it comin'?"</p> + +<p>"I do'no," said Prue, "she didn't say, but whatever 'twas, I guess 'twas +pretty big, my Randy said so."</p> + +<p>Evidently the children considered that in Boston one might see strange +creatures of every type, and Randy Weston had been privileged to see one +of the largest. Just at this moment Hi Babson joined the little group.</p> + +<p>"Want ter know what I done Saturday?" he asked, his black eyes gleaming +with mischief.</p> + +<p>"I hadn't learnt my lessons fer Monday, and ma said I must stay up in the +spare room 'til I knew 'em all by heart. I didn't like ter stay up there +alone, but when I found I got ter, I set down on the mat an' 'twan't long +before I'd learnt half of 'em. Just 'bout that time I heard a awful +scratching an' then I 'membered that Uncle Joshua set a mouse trap down by +the beaury. When I looked, there was a little mouse in it, an' all to once +I knew what I'd like ter do.</p> + +<p>"The bedclothes was pulled down over the foot-board, an' I could see the +slit in the tick where they poke in their hands to stir up the straw. I +put the trap with the mouse in it, in there among the straw, an' then I +went down just as quiet as I could, an' got old Tom an' tugged him +upstairs.</p> + +<p>"When I put him on the bed an' held his head over the hole in the tick, +you'd oughter seen his tail switch! The mouse was a runnin' 'round in the +cage, an' Tom dove into the slit a scatterin' the straw all over the bed. +My! Didn't it fly?"</p> + +<p>"Why you naughty, bad boy," said little Hitty Buffum.</p> + +<p>"What <i>did</i> they say to you," asked Prue.</p> + +<p>"Ma didn't say much," said Hi. "I laid down on the floor and rolled over +an' over, a laughin' like anything 'til ma come in, an' she jest looked at +that bed, drove Tom out'n the room an' then she took hold er me, an' I,—I +had ter stop laughin' ter cry 'n Grandma Babson said, 'That boy'll yet +come to the gallus.'"</p> + +<p>A group of the larger girls were comparing the letters which Randy had +sent with those which they had received from Phoebe Small.</p> + +<p>"Randy says that she misses the folks at home, and her friends here at +school, but aside from that her letters are cheerful, and she feels that +she is getting on so rapidly that it makes her contented," said Molly +Wilson, "and she must enjoy the pleasant things which Miss Dayton plans +for her Saturdays."</p> + +<p>"We miss Randy," said Belinda Babson, "but of course we're glad that she +is having such a lovely winter."</p> + +<p>"She writes just as she talks, and when we get one of her letters it seems +as if she were with us," said Jemima.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know what to make of Phoebe Small's last letter," said Dot +Marvin. "She commenced by saying that she could never do as she wished, +that she didn't like her roommate and that the two ladies who kept the +school watched them so closely that the girls could hardly breathe without +asking permission. Then she wrote, 'I don't want to say that I'm homesick +but,—' and then she signed her name. She didn't finish the sentence, but +there were two blistered places just above the name, as if the paper had +been wet, and I am sure that she was crying while she wrote."</p> + +<p>Miss Gilman touched the bell, and the pupils took their places. Recess was +ended, and for the remainder of the forenoon, recitations occupied their +minds in place of the much discussed letters.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>By the great fireplace heaped with blazing logs sat old Sandy McLeod +energetically tugging at the straps of his great "arctics."</p> + +<p>"It's a cauld day, lass," he was saying to little Janie.</p> + +<p>"Will it be too cauld to venture out an' meet the music maester?"</p> + +<p>His eyes twinkled, for he well knew that Janie was wild to sing for this +man who would say if her voice were indeed worth training.</p> + +<p>The teacher of whom Sandy spoke was a man well known in musical circles, +whose instruction was eagerly sought, and upon whose judgment one could +safely rely. He had been chosen director of a flourishing musical society +in a large town some miles distant from Sandy's home, and on those days +when he was present to direct rehearsals, he also tried the voices of +those who asked permission to join the vocal club. Sandy had one day asked +if he might bring little Janie to him, saying quietly,</p> + +<p>"It's worth yer while, mon, ye ne'er heard sae blithe a voice as Janie's."</p> + +<p>Half doubting, yet amused at the old Scotchman's manner, he had made an +appointment for hearing Janie, and afterward wondered why he had done so, +as he felt sure that he was to listen to the vocal efforts of a child +whose singing chanced to please an old man whose knowledge of music was +probably meagre.</p> + +<p>Janie submitted to all the wrappings with which Margaret McLeod saw fit to +envelop her, and when in his great fur coat, Sandy stood in the doorway +and called to Janie that the sleigh was ready, she hurried toward him, an +animated bundle of dry goods.</p> + +<p>It was a long, cold ride, but Janie and her enthusiasm were both warm, and +when they reached the building and mounted the long flight of stairs to +the hall, her cheeks were glowing, and her eyes brilliant with excitement. +She was granted a few moments for a hearing before the hour for the club +rehearsal.</p> + +<p>The teacher was seated at the piano when they entered, and as he arose to +greet them he found it a task to refrain from laughing at the odd little +figure wound so snugly in shawls and scarfs. When, however, her wraps +removed, Janie stood before him, a typical little Scotch lass, with bright +blue eyes and flaxen braids, he was aware of a charm about the pretty +child which compelled him to believe that it was barely possible that she +could sing.</p> + +<p>"What are some of your songs, child?" he asked kindly.</p> + +<p>"I'll sing, 'Comin' thro' the rye,' if it please you," answered Janie, +simply.</p> + +<p>"Very well," was the reply, and he played a brilliant little prelude. The +music inspired Janie, and never had she sung as she sang that day. At the +end of the first verse, the man paused, with his hands resting upon the +keys, and surveyed the tiny figure as it stood before him, the little chin +lifted, and the sweet eyes looking into his so eagerly, as if asking for a +word of approval.</p> + +<p>"Come nearer," he said, "and sing another verse."</p> + +<p>"Willingly," said Janie, and again the fresh voice rang out,</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Poem"> +<tr><td align='left'>"If a body meet a body</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Comin' frae the town</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: .5em;">If a body kiss a body</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Need a body frown."</span></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>At the last sweet note the man at the piano turned, and lifting her in his +strong arms he exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Child, you have the voice of an angel! Mr. McLeod, I ask your pardon for +doubting your statement that this little girl could sing."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's of no account whatever," answered Sandy, stoutly, "since ye're +weel convinced."</p> + +<p>The members of the club were beginning to arrive, and standing Janie upon +a chair, the director stooped, and looking into the little face he asked.</p> + +<p>"Would you be willing to sing once for these ladies and gentlemen, Janie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I could na refuse if it was to gie them pleasure," she replied.</p> + +<p>The director in a few words told those present that he had been listening +to the child's singing, and that she had consented to sing for them. Some +of the faces wore a look of curiosity, some of skepticism, others of +genuine interest, but when turning toward them Janie commenced to sing, +she held them spellbound, and when she stepped down from the chair they +crowded around her and petted and praised her until Sandy was afraid that +she would be completely spoiled.</p> + +<p>Janie was delighted to have so pleased her audience, but her greatest joy +lay in the fact that Sandy had arranged that once a week she should sing +with the teacher, and had promised that there should be a piano for her to +practice with.</p> + +<p>With greatest care Sandy replaced Janie's numerous wraps, much as if she +had been a valuable painting, or a choice bit of sculpture, and taking her +hand, led her gently down the long stairway to the street. Then, lifting +her into the sleigh, and tucking the bear skin about her, he drove briskly +over the road toward home, not allowing the horse to slacken pace until he +reached his own door.</p> + +<p>Margaret McLeod was watching for them, and quickly left her seat at the +window to welcome them.</p> + +<p>"Weel, Janie, lass, and did the music maester think ye could sing?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, yes!" cried Janie. "I'm to study with him, and Sandy, our Sandy +has promised to buy me a piano, so I shall know if I sing the right key, +and I'm to sing the lang exercises wi' ne'er a song 'til,—weel I dinna +when.</p> + +<p>"There's' in a' the world nae ane like our Sandy."</p> + +<p>"I've often thought the same mysel," said Margaret, with a droll smile at +her husband.</p> + +<p>"And between ye, ye mean tae spoil me completely, wi' yer flattery that I +own is sweet tae hear."</p> + +<p>"Ye canna be spoiled," said Margaret McLeod; "ye weel know ye're on a +pinnacle sae high o'e'r ither men, there's nae chance o' spoiling ye."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the prejudice o' a lovin' woman," Sandy replied, "is past the +understanding o' an ordinary mon, but 'tis sunshine tae live in the light +o' it."</p> + +<p>Later, when Mrs. McLeod was making preparation for tea, little Janie +followed her about, helping to set the table, at the same time telling +over and over the fine things which the director had said of her singing, +and yet again repeating the delightful fact that there was to be a fine +piano "in that verra house."</p> + +<p>"I wondered if the mon was a bit daft," said Sandy, "when he said tae +Janie, 'Mind ye sing the lessons I gie ye, an naething else.'</p> + +<p>"She's been singing the blithe Scotch ballads since she was a' most a +bairnie, an' her voice has grown sweeter a' the time. I say again, I hope +he's na daft."</p> + +<p>"Sandy, Sandy!" cried Margaret, "ye must na question the great music +maester. I doot not he knows a deal mair aboot music than we do."</p> + +<p>"He says that he will make me sing just wonderful," said Janie.</p> + +<p>"An' na doot he will," said Sandy, laying his hand lovingly upon Janie's +head.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It seemed as if the gale increased in force as it blew the dust and twigs +against the window, and hurried on with a shrill whistle around the +corner.</p> + +<p>After the table had been cleared, they took their places before the great +fireplace, Sandy, Margaret and Janie making a group in the centre, while +at one side sat the great brindle cat, Tam o' Shanter, and at a respectful +distance, on the opposite side of the hearth stone, stood the Scotch +Collie, Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>Tam, with his forepaws snugly tucked in, and his great yellow eyes +blinking at the bright flames, was a picture of contentment.</p> + +<p>Sir Walter looked eagerly at Sandy, and longed to go and sit beside him, +but that would necessitate rather close proximity to Tam, and Tam usually +resented such familiarity, so the dog kept his place, and as he listened +to the conversation, seemed to understand what was being said.</p> + +<p>"I'll put fresh logs on the fire," said Sandy, "tae keep the cauld oot, +and I'm hopin' that there's nae ane abroad this night."</p> + +<p>At the little depot at the Centre, the station master stood upon the +platform looking anxiously up the track, hoping to see the light of an +approaching train.</p> + +<p>"'Most three hours late," muttered the man. "I'd like ter know if it ain't +er comin' ter-night."</p> + +<p>As he turned to re-enter the depot, a faint whistle made itself heard +above the clamor of the wind and turning he saw the headlight of the +engine coming around the bend.</p> + +<p>"There she is naow," he remarked, and as the train stopped, the mail bag +was quickly thrown out upon the platform and instantly picked up and +carried into the depot.</p> + +<p>The station agent did not dream that anyone would arrive so late in the +village on such a night, so having secured the mail bag, he allowed the +train to depart without even a glance at its receding form.</p> + +<p>One passenger, however, stepped from the car who evidently was not +expecting friends to meet her, as she immediately left the platform and +walked briskly up the road as if familiar with the place, and sure of the +direction which she must take to reach her destination.</p> + +<p>What had been a high wind during the day, now became a gale, and the +solitary figure wrapped her cloak closer about her and pushed resolutely +on, never pausing, yet at times looking hastily over her shoulder as if +fearful of a possible pursuer. As she passed a deserted farm house, a +sudden gust of wind blew one of its dilapidated blinds against the window, +shattering the glass with a resounding crash. With a scream the girl +sprang forward, then, half wild with fright she ran with a headlong pace +up the road.</p> + +<p>The promise of the leaden sky was now fulfilled, the falling sleet cutting +the girl's white cheeks, and serving to make the night more cheerless.</p> + +<p>Again she tried to draw the folds of her cloak about her, but the wind +snatched it from her fingers and blew it back and she was obliged to stop +and, for a moment, turn her back to the gale until she could securely +fasten the clasps which held it. Her hands shook with cold and fear, and +when she turned about and tried once more to run she found that her limbs +were weak with terror and that her progress must be slow. The great +branches of the trees groaned in the wind, as if crying out against such +rough handling, and the snow fell faster as the girl dragged herself along +the lonely road.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"The cauld increases," said Sandy. "I'll stir the fire an' throw on +anither log."</p> + +<p>"It's snawin'," announced Janie, as she emerged from behind the window +shade and ran to the fireplace, where she seated herself beside Sir +Walter, her arm about his neck.</p> + +<p>"Ain't ye glad ye're na scurryin' after the sheep at hame, ye big auld +dear?" asked Janie.</p> + +<p>The collie laid his head lovingly against her shoulder, as if agreeing, +and Tam, seeing the caress, looked as if he thought Janie's taste in her +choice of pets deteriorating.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Tam, Tam," she cried with a laugh, "are ye sae selfish ye want a' my +love? I love ye baith, an' I wad ye loved each ither."</p> + +<p>"Hark, Sandy! Did some one knock?" asked Mrs. McLeod, as she looked toward +the door.</p> + +<p>"Nae ane's aboot this night—Ay, Margaret, ye're right as usual, there's a +faint sound, an' I'll be seein',—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. McLeod, let me come in," said a girl's voice.</p> + +<p>"That I will, ye puir waif,—by all the saints, it's Phoebe Small! Here +Margaret! Janie! the lass is faintin'."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no I'm not," Phoebe answered, but her white face was not reassuring +and Sandy and Margaret were obliged to lead her to the great chair by the +fire.</p> + +<p>Janie loosened her boots which were covered with snow, and removing them, +set them to dry in a corner of the fireplace. Then she brought a cricket +and, handy little maid, lifted Phoebe's feet upon it, that the heat from +the fire might warm them.</p> + +<p>Soon Margaret McLeod had made a cup of tea, and it seemed to Phoebe that +nothing had ever tasted so delicious. Sandy stood beside her, offering the +lunch which Margaret had prepared, insisting gently that she must eat +heartily before going out into the night.</p> + +<p>"For I shall take ye hame, lass, I know that's where ye wad be, and warm +in the bear skin I'll wrap ye, an' in the sleigh 'twill be nae time before +we'll be at ye're door."</p> + +<p>"I could not stay away another day. The road from the depot was so lonely, +and I was so afraid,—"</p> + +<p>Phoebe was crying now, and Sandy laid his rough hand gently upon her +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, lass, how ye got here, don't ye try tae tell it noo. If ye're +warm enough we'll be startin', an' ye can tell the folks at hame all aboot +it on the morrow."</p> + +<p>Little Janie examined Phoebe's boots, and finding them to be dry, insisted +upon putting them on and lacing them, and by the time that she had +finished the task the sleigh stood at the door.</p> + +<p>The ride was a short one, and soon Sandy was at the door of the Small +homestead, one arm about Phoebe who seemed too weary to stand, and the +other hand executing a rousing knock upon the panel of the door.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Small answered the summons and without ceremony Sandy entered, gently +pushing Phoebe before him.</p> + +<p>"This package was delayed in arrivin'," he commenced, but there seemed to +be no need of finishing the sentence.</p> + +<p>As Phoebe stood held close in her mother's embrace, she cried,</p> + +<p>"Oh, I never, never will go away to school again."</p> + +<p>"You never shall," said Mrs. Small, "but Phoebe, child, how is it that you +are here, and with Mr. McLeod at this time of night?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I told them yesterday that I must come home, but they said at the +school, that you had paid for the term in advance, and that I could not +leave until the end of that term.</p> + +<p>"I said nothing, but this morning I ran away to the depot and when I had +bought my ticket and was in the cars riding toward home I was happier than +I had been for weeks. But the train was late and it was very dark when I +left the cars at the Centre and started to walk home."</p> + +<p>"The lass reached our door," said Sandy, "an' she was aboot faintin' when +I lifted her in, and set her doon before the fire. An' noo, as I'm not +necessary to ye're happiness," said Sandy with twinkling eyes, "I think +I'll bid ye 'good night,' and be drivin' hame tae Margaret."</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad to be at home again," said Phoebe, when Sandy had gone.</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you, Phoebe, how we've missed you," her mother answered. +"Your father had to visit Boston yesterday and will be back to-morrow. +When Sandy arrived with you, I was sitting here alone and wondering how +long you would be willing to stay at boarding school."</p> + +<p>"I never wish to see or hear about one again," said Phoebe. I shall never +be discontented again.</p> + +<p>"It was a hard lesson," said Mrs. Small, as she kissed Phoebe, "but +perhaps it was a good one after all."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X" />CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE PARTY</h3> + + +<p>Randy had become a favorite among the girls at the school, and one and all +declared that her frankness had been the trait which had first won their +admiration.</p> + +<p>"She always means what she says," said Nina Irwin. "I value a compliment +which Randy gives, for she never flatters. If she says a pleasant word, it +comes straight from her heart, and her heart is warm and loving."</p> + +<p>Randy had made rapid progress in her studies, and it seemed as if her zeal +increased as the months sped by. She had attended many concerts since the +memorable one when she had given her single rose to Madame Valena, "and +now the finest thing is yet to happen," she said in a letter to her +mother.</p> + +<p>Miss Dayton had sent out invitations for a little party to be given in +honor of Miss Randy Weston, and in consequence there was much excitement +at the private school.</p> + +<p>To receive an invitation from Miss Dayton meant much, and Randy's friends +talked of little else.</p> + +<p>"What shall you wear, Nina," asked Polly Lawrence.</p> + +<p>"Whatever mama suggests," replied Nina, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Because," continued Polly, "I think we ought to dress, well—in a very +showy manner, for Miss Dayton."</p> + +<p>"Why, I do not see that," remarked another girl. "Miss Dayton dresses +richly, but I should not say that 'showy' was a fitting word to apply to +her refined taste."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" said Polly, sharply. "Well, I shall wear my red gauze over +satin, and I fancy Peggy will not choose a very simple frock for the +occasion."</p> + +<p>"Just my blue silk, dear," Peggy remarked lazily, "and since you've all +seen it you will not have to enthuse over it."</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose Randy will wear?" asked Peggy.</p> + +<p>"Something becoming, without a doubt," said Nina Irwin, "since everything +becomes her."</p> + +<p>At this point Randy entered, and the subject of conversation changed from +dress to the lessons for the day.</p> + +<p>"You always come with lessons prepared, Randy Weston," said Polly, "and +you look decidedly cheerful, too."</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't I look cheerful, if I am ready for the recitations?" asked +Randy, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Because," Polly answered, "it makes me cross to have to study, and you +must work persistently to keep up such a record as you have this year."</p> + +<p>"Miss Dayton helps me," Randy answered.</p> + +<p>"But she cannot <i>learn</i> for you," said Nina Irwin, "and you seem to get on +as well in those studies which are new to you, as in those which you had +commenced in the district school."</p> + +<p>"But I like all my studies," said Randy, "and anyone would be interested +in new ones. There is another reason why I am working so diligently.</p> + +<p>"Father and mother sent me here, believing that I would study faithfully. +I should not be true to them if I wasted my opportunity. And little Prue +is trying to be patient, although her funny little letters show how she +misses me. I'll show you the last one which she sent me, only don't laugh +at her original spelling, Nina. Remember, she is a little girl. Here it +is:"</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"DEAR RANDY:—</p> + +<p> "How long wil it bee fore you cum hom I luv you an I wanto see + you Me n Jonny slided on my sled an we ran intu a fense an got + hurted I lern my lesons, but I cant spel big words yet When I say + I want my Randy ma dont cry but her ize is wet and ant Prudence + wipes her glassis Hi put sum gum in Jonys cap an it got stuk to + his hare. When you cum hom I wil be so glad for I luv you</p></div> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">"Yor litle</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 24em;">PRUE."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"The cunning little thing," said Nina, "her funny letter shows just how +they miss you at home, and how dearly she loves you, Randy."</p> + +<p>"That is what I meant when I said one day to you, Nina that it was hard, +and at the same time delightful to be here. I love father, mother and dear +little Prue more than it is possible to say; I love the dear home, too. Of +course it is not like the homes which I have seen here, but nothing can +make it less dear to me," said Randy.</p> + +<p>"I enjoy all the pleasures which Miss Dayton plans for me, and I have +become attached to the school and to the pleasant friends which I have +made here in the city; but sometimes in the midst of my study, sometimes +when listening to rare music, the thought of home brings the tears, and +for the moment, I am homesick, so homesick that I think I cannot stay.</p> + +<p>"Then I remember that father and mother wish me to excel in my studies, +and I crowd back the tears, and by reminding myself that with the spring I +shall return, I try to be cheerful."</p> + +<p>As the bell called the girls to their seats, Nina whispered as she passed,</p> + +<p>"O Randy! The longer I know you, the more truly I love you;" and the +whispered words made Randy very happy.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>On the day of the little party the decorators converted the drawing-room +into a veritable rose garden, glowing and sweet, the lovely pink blossoms +sending out their fragrance as if doing their utmost to honor Randy, who, +until that season, had known only the garden roses which blossomed near +the farm-house door.</p> + +<p>The lights were softened by delicate pink shades, and upon a pedestal +beneath Aunt Marcia's portrait, stood a huge jardinière filled with roses +the glowing petals of which seemed to repeat the color of the brocaded +court gown in the picture.</p> + +<p>In her little room, Randy, with sparkling eyes, and quick beating heart, +stood before her mirror, mechanically drawing a comb through her soft +brown hair. Her mind was far away and she did not seem to see the girl +reflected there.</p> + +<p>"If they were all here to-night,—" she murmured, and as the words escaped +her lips, two bright tears lay upon her cheek.</p> + +<p>"Oh, this will never do," said Randy, quickly drying the tears, and +endeavoring to summon a smile.</p> + +<p>"Mother and father would surely say,</p> + +<p>"'Be cheerful to-night, Miss Dayton will wish it. Remember she is giving +the party for you.'"</p> + +<p>So, smiling bravely, she arranged her hair in the pretty, simple manner in +which she usually dressed it, and proceeded to array herself in the white +muslin which Janie Clifton had declared to be just the thing for a city +party, and just the thing for Randy.</p> + +<p>And Janie had spoken wisely. Nothing could have been more becoming, or +served more surely to show Randy's fine coloring than the sheer muslin +with its white satin ribbons.</p> + +<p>As she stood looking at the transparent folds of the skirt, the tip of her +shoe peeped from below the hem, and Randy laughed merrily. She had quite +forgotten to change her street shoes for the silken hose and white +slippers which Miss Dayton had given her.</p> + +<p>"How <i>could</i> I forget them, the first pretty slippers which I ever owned?" +She hastened to put them on, afterward surveying them with much +satisfaction. They were such pretty slippers, decorated with white satin +bows and crystal beading.</p> + +<p>"Like Cinderella's," thought Randy, as she held back her skirts, the +better to see them, and when later she paused on the stairway to look down +upon the many rose hued lights in the hall below, she turned a radiant +face toward Helen Dayton as she said:—</p> + +<p>"Oh, how kind you are to give this lovely party for me, just me. I feel +like Cinderella, only," she added laughing, "I am sure that I shall not +lose my crystal slipper when to-night the clock strikes twelve."</p> + +<p>"Nor shall you part with them at any time," Helen replied, "but keep them +in remembrance of this night when you enjoyed your first party."</p> + +<p>A fine trio they formed as they stood waiting to receive their guests; +Aunt Marcia looking like an old countess in her stately gown of black +velvet and diamonds, Helen, resplendent in turquoise satin and pink roses, +and Randy in her white muslin and ribbons, a single rose in her hair.</p> + +<p>Soon the young guests began to arrive, and very cordially were they +greeted, Randy's bright face plainly showing how heartfelt was the +pleasure which her words expressed as each new friend was presented.</p> + +<p>One guest had been bidden to the party who had not yet arrived, and Helen +Dayton could not refrain from occasionally glancing toward the door, with +the hope of seeing the delinquent. The buzz of conversation and light +laughter seemed at its height, when a late arrival was announced.</p> + +<p>Miss Dayton heard the name, but Randy who was at the moment chatting with +Nina Irwin, did not.</p> + +<p>The young man in faultless evening dress made his way across the room to +Aunt Marcia, then to Miss Dayton, then, with a merry twinkle in his eyes +he turned to Randy who, still, talking with Nina, was unaware of his +approach.</p> + +<p>"Miss Randy," said a familiar voice, and Randy started, turned, then with +eyes expressing her surprise and delight she said,</p> + +<p>"O Jotham, truly you cannot guess how glad I am to see you."</p> + +<p>"And do you think I can tell you with what pleasure I have looked forward +to this evening?" Jotham answered.</p> + +<p>"I have been longing to call upon you, but my days and evenings have been +so completely occupied with study, that this is my first bit of recreation +since I came to Boston in the fall, and until I received Miss Dayton's +invitation, I did not know where I might find you."</p> + +<p>Then Jotham was presented to Nina who in turn led him to a group of her +friends where, surrounded by a bevy of bright faced girls, he seemed as +much at ease as if his life had consisted of naught but social pleasures.</p> + +<p>Randy turned, and meeting Helen's gaze she said,</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that Jotham looks like a prince to-night."</p> + +<p>"He has a charming manner," said Miss Dayton, "and I have always thought +that he possessed a noble mind, that priceless gift which only One can +give. Coronets can be purchased, but who can barter for true worth?"</p> + +<p>In the shadow cast by a statue and leaning against its pedestal, stood +Polly Lawrence, her flushed cheeks vieing with the scarlet gauze which she +wore, a most unpleasant expression upon her small face, while her nervous +fingers plucked to pieces a red rose which she had taken from her bodice +and she angrily tapped the floor with her satin slipper. And what had +occurred to mar the evening's pleasure for Polly Lawrence?</p> + +<p>Merely the fact that she was not the only girl in the room to receive +attention, and also that she had chosen a gaudy costume for the occasion, +and was conscious that her choice had been unwise.</p> + +<p>Shallow by nature, and without keen perception, she yet possessed +sufficient good sense to see that she had not impressed her friends with +the magnificence of her apparel, and her vanity received a thrust when a +friend said to her,</p> + +<p>"How sweet Randy Weston looks in her white gown and ribbons! One would +know that she would never wear a gaudy dress."</p> + +<p>Polly had made no reply, but in exasperation she thought,</p> + +<p>"Every one admires Randy. I do believe that they would think she looked +sweet in white calico."</p> + +<p>There was, after all, a bit of excuse for Polly. Reared by her aunt, a +woman with a character as shallow as that of her niece, Polly's vanity had +never been curbed, rather it had been encouraged. She was allowed to +choose her own costumes, her aunt rarely venturing a suggestion; and the +milliners and dressmakers, reading the girl's vain character, encouraged +Polly to purchase that which was most expensive, regardless as to whether +it might be suitable or becoming.</p> + +<p>Furs, designed apparently for a dowager, at once became her own, if only +she could be assured that no girl of her acquaintance owned a set as +costly, and upon all occasions it appeared to be her intention to wear +more jewelry than any other person present.</p> + +<p>Later, when all had repaired to the dining-room, Polly's displeasure was +somewhat appeased when she found herself placed beside Peggy's brother, +who was a thoroughly good fellow, and ever a gentleman, therefore he +immediately proceeded to make himself very agreeable to Polly, although +had he been given his choice of a companion he would most surely have +chosen quite a different girl.</p> + +<p>Beside Randy sat Jotham who declared himself to be "as happy as a king," +and his tutor, the young professor, seemed equally charmed beside Helen +Dayton, with whom he was exchanging reminiscences of college days.</p> + +<p>"Do you remember a certain girl, Miss Dayton," he asked, "who on a +memorable class day gave the pleasure of her company to a diffident +student who in ecstasy at playing escort to the lovely girl and her +dignified Aunt Marcia, nearly forgot all which he ever knew, managing only +to stammer through an effort at conversation which must have completely +bored her?"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, the girl could not truly have been bored," Miss Dayton +replied, "else it would not be true that to-night she remembers every +event of that delightful day with a pleasure which she has never found +words to describe."</p> + +<p>"Is that really true?" he asked, but other voices making a merry din +allowed the answer to be heard only by the one for whom it was intended, +and soon Helen was leading the conversation into channels in which all +might take part, causing the gifted ones to show their sparkling wit, and +coaxing the shy guests to talk, who would otherwise have been silent.</p> + +<p>Miss Dayton possessed in a wonderful degree, the ability to help each +person present to appear at his best, with the result that all were made +happy and glad to proclaim that no home boasted as sweet a young hostess +as Helen Dayton, or as grand a mistress as gracious Aunt Marcia, who +dearly loved young people, and who was never happier than when in their +company.</p> + +<p>Peggy Atherton, aware that she was becomingly attired in her blue silk and +forget-me-nots, was doing her best to coax a diffident youth to join in +the conversation, and at the same time naughtily enjoying his blushing +answers to her bright speeches.</p> + +<p>Randy saw Peggy's roguish eyes, and wondered what it might be which so +amused her, when a pause in the general conversation allowed the following +to be heard,—</p> + +<p>"Were you at the last symphony?" Peggy asked sweetly.</p> + +<p>"Yes,—no,—that is I think I was, but I can't quite remember," was the +halting answer.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you <i>would</i> remember if you were really there," persisted Peggy, +"because the program was extra fine and the solos were something to dream +of."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes the music was er,—very er,—musical, and the soloist, that is, +the one who sang a solo, was er,—the only one who er—sang alone, I +believe."</p> + +<p>Randy stifled a wild desire to laugh, for she saw plainly that Peggy was +teasing the youth, who in his extreme diffidence, was appearing as if he +were a simpleton, which was indeed far from the truth.</p> + +<p>Peggy well knew that he was a bright young student, and she secretly +admired his intellect, but she was an inveterate tease, and it amused her +to see him blush, and to hear his faltering answers.</p> + +<p>She did not mean to hurt him; only a thoughtless mirth tempted her to +torment him; but to Randy, Peggy's conduct seemed very cruel, and she +determined to save the luckless youth from further discomfort. Turning to +Jotham, expecting as usual to find in him an ally, Randy said,</p> + +<p>"I saw you talking with Cyril Langdon just before we left the +drawing-room. He is ill at ease, because Peggy is teasing him, but when he +chooses to talk he is very interesting. Do make Peggy stop, she is +spoiling his evening. Ask him,—oh ask him about the Tech. athletics or +anything, Jotham, can't you?"</p> + +<p>Jotham, as usual, glad of an opportunity to please Randy, succeeded in +drawing Cyril into a conversation which proved interesting to all, and +made the boy forget his discomfiture.</p> + +<p>Peggy was aware of a vague wish that she had been more merciful, and +resolved another time to help, rather than hinder a conversation.</p> + +<p>Later, when the gay little party returned to the drawing-room, Randy +begged Miss Dayton to favor her friends with some music. Helen, ever ready +to give pleasure, seated herself at the piano, Professor Marden standing +beside her, ostensibly to turn her music, but in truth to watch her +graceful fingers upon the keys.</p> + +<p>Her audience was enthusiastic, and not to be satisfied with one selection. +Helen smilingly acceded to their requests, and when she arose from the +piano she was greeted with generous praise.</p> + +<p>Among the happy faces Randy saw one less bright than the others. It was +Polly Lawrence, and Randy wondered what had caused a frown upon the +usually smiling face. "It would never do to ask her why she isn't enjoying +my party," she said to herself, "but I do wish she looked happier. I am so +happy this evening, that I wish everyone else to enjoy every moment of it. +I believe I'll ask her to sing for us. She sings nicely, and perhaps she +would be pleased to, if she knew we wished it."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="Randy_urges_Polly" id="Randy_urges_Polly" /><a href="./images/212.jpg"><img src="./images/212-tb.jpg" alt="Randy urges Polly to sing" title="Randy urges Polly to sing" /></a></p> +<p class="figcenter">Randy urges Polly to sing</p> + +<p>Accordingly, Randy hastened to Polly who was standing apart from the +guests, and looking as if in anything but a pleasant mood. Her face +brightened, however, when told that it would be a pleasure to hear her +sing, and after a little urging, she consented. She possessed a light +soprano voice which had been carefully trained, and when she chose, she +could sing most acceptably.</p> + +<p>On this especial evening, it pleased her to do her best, and she delighted +her friends with a number of songs, for which Miss Dayton played the +accompaniments. Polly received unstinted praise for her singing, and she +therefore, upon her return, told her aunt that the party was a success.</p> + +<p>At the end of the drawing-room, Nina Irwin was merrily chatting with a +number of her friends, and Polly hastened to join the group, where she was +soon laughing as gaily as the others, and apparently as happy.</p> + +<p>Near the centre of the room Miss Dayton and Randy, Jotham and Professor +Marden stood, evidently engaged in the discussion of a most interesting +subject, and as Aunt Marcia joined them, she was asked to give her +opinion.</p> + +<p>"What has been my greatest pleasure in life?" She smiled as she repeated +the question, and turned for a moment and looked long and earnestly at her +portrait, then she said,</p> + +<p>"When that picture was painted and was first seen by my friends, some one +remarked,</p> + +<p>"'Oh, how dearly above all else Marcia prizes a gay life!'</p> + +<p>"I have always enjoyed social pleasures," she continued, "but if I were to +say that one thing, above all else, gave me true delight, I should say, +that to make others happy had ever been my greatest joy."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, if I venture to say that that is the charm which has preserved +your beauty," said the young tutor, gravely bowing to Aunt Marcia, who, +sweeping a low courtesy, acknowledged the courtly speech which was uttered +in such evident sincerity.</p> + +<p>"And, in return let me say, that the young man who thinks it worth while +to pay a graceful compliment to one who is quite old enough to be his +grandmother, proves himself to be a worthy descendant of his talented +father, a perfect gentleman of the old school," replied Aunt Marcia; and +Helen saw the quick flush of pleasure on the professor's cheek. His love +for his father amounted almost to worship, and Aunt Marcia could have +chosen no word of praise which would have moved him so deeply, or pleased +him more surely, than to thus have declared him, to be a "worthy +descendant."</p> + +<p>Other young people joined this central group, and Nina at the piano played +softly a dreamy nocturne which seemed a gentle accompaniment to the +conversation.</p> + +<p>In the shadow of a tall jar of ferns Jotham was looking at Randy, and +thinking that while the white party gown was very charming, it was also +true that Randy at home in a pink sunbonnet had been well worth looking +at.</p> + +<p>"How serious you look," said Randy, "are you thinking that to-night's +pleasure will mean many hours of hard study to-morrow, Jotham?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," he answered with a laugh, "I am not allowing a thought of +study to mar to-night's enjoyment. I was just wondering, Randy, why some +girls are very dependent for a good appearance, upon what they wear, while +one girl whom I know, can look equally well in a party gown or a gingham +dress and sunbonnet."</p> + +<p>Randy blushed as she said, "O, Jotham, has Professor Marden been teaching +you to pay compliments, along with your other studies?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, no," was the answer. "He meant every word which he said to Miss +Dayton's aunt, as truly as I meant what I said to you, and Randy," he +continued, "you and I have been here in the city all winter, have seen its +life and stir and bustle, and you have seen much of the social side of the +problem which is puzzling me. Is it so much better, this city life, than +the home life in the country? There, every busybody is interested in his +neighbor; here, we are met on every hand by strangers who do not know, or +wish to know anything in regard to us. Here a hundred strangers in the +great railway stations are objects of but little interest. Randy, do you +realize the commotion which one arrival with a hand-bag causes at the +little station at home? I tell you, Randy, one is large in a little +country town, and small, so small in a great city."</p> + +<p>"One is never small, wherever he may be, in the hearts of his friends, +Jotham," was the sweet reply, "but in regard to home, there is no place +like it. I enjoy all the brightness, the study, the fine pictures which I +have seen and the rare music which I have heard; but, Jotham, I am at +heart a country girl, and while I like to be here, if I were to choose +'for always,' as little Prue says, I'd choose the mountains and the +streams at home.</p> + +<p>"I shall not leave behind the knowledge which I have gained. I shall be +all the happier because of it, but home is home, isn't it, Jotham?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed it is," answered Jotham, heartily.</p> + +<p>And now the carriages were beginning to arrive, and in twos and threes the +guests departed, assuring Randy and Helen that the evening had been one of +rare pleasure.</p> + +<p>Jotham and his tutor left together, promising their charming hostesses +that they should soon find leisure for a call. And when the last guest +had departed, and Randy, Helen, and Aunt Marcia looked about the flower +scented rooms, Randy said, with a happy sigh,</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a lovely, lovely party! I was sorry to see them go. I am not +even tired. No one could be tired during such an evening."</p> + +<p>"Dear Randy," said Helen, "it was indeed a pretty party, and well worth my +effort to make it a success. You were an ideal little hostess, Randy, you +did your part to perfection."</p> + +<p>"Why, I was only just myself. I was not at all fine," said Randy in +amazement.</p> + +<p>"That is just the secret of your success," Helen replied. "Always be just +your own true self, and no one in all the world would ask for more."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI" />CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>TIMOTHEUS AND HIS NEIGHBORS</h3> + + +<p>"Whao! Whao! I tell ye. Be ye deef, or be ye jest contrary?</p> + +<p>"I b'lieve them critters 'd like ter see me wait 'til June fer +plaoughin'."</p> + +<p>The ill-matched pair came to a standstill, and so listless was their +bearing, that one would say that having decided to halt, nothing would +induce them to again draw the plough.</p> + +<p>"There, ye can rest naow, fer a spell, 'til ye git yer wind, an' then I'll +set ye at it agin."</p> + +<p>One of the horses snorted derisively, but Jabez Brimblecom cared little +for that. He drew from his hip pocket a large envelope, and opening the +letter which it contained, adjusted his spectacles and laboriously read it +for the third time.</p> + +<p>"Wal, all I got ter say 'baout it is, that it's pooty full er big words, +an' flourishes, but biled daown, it 'maounts ter jist this; Sabriny's sot +her mind on makin' us an' everlastin' long visit. I shan't hev ter stand +much on't, however; I'll be aout doors most of the time, when I <i>have</i> +ter, an' I vum I'll be aout all the rest of the time because I <i>choose</i> +ter.</p> + +<p>"Sabriny's a team, an' so's Mis' Brimblecom. They never did pull together. +Not but that they <i>pull</i> 'nough, only it's allus the opposite ways. I +don't stay in doors much arter she arrives! No, Siree!</p> + +<p>"G'lang there! G'lang I say!</p> + +<p>"Well, fust ye won't stop, an' then ye won't budge! I vaow I never see a +pair er critters like ye, 'cept my wife an' cousin Sabriny!"</p> + +<p>When at last the pair concluded to move, they started forward with a most +surprising lurch, and Jabez Brimblecom found his hands full in guiding the +plough, and the two horses who, having decided to bestir themselves, +tramped diligently back and forth, leaving the long rows of furrowed +earth as evidence of their willingness to work when their ambition was +aroused.</p> + +<p>Again they stopped to rest and again Mr. Brimblecom fumbled in his pocket +for the envelope, but he did not take it out.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't she write the letter 'stead er gittin' that husband er hern +ter write fer her? I'd 'nough rather she'd told Mis' Brimblecom she wuz +comin', 'stead er leavin' me ter tell her. She'll be mad's a hornet, an' I +vaow I won't blame her.</p> + +<p>"G'lang there! Wal, I'll be switched if she isn't comin' daown ter the +bars naow. Wonder what's up?"</p> + +<p>"Jabez! Jabez! <i>Ja—bez!</i>"</p> + +<p>"All right, I'll be there," was the answer, but in an aside he remarked +apparently to the horses,</p> + +<p>"'F I git my courage up, I'll tell her 'baout Sabriny naow and be done +with it;" but his bravery was not put to the test. Before he could reach +the bars where his wife stood waiting, she cried out vehemently, "Jabez +Brimblecom, what do ye think? Mis' Hodgkins used ter know yer cousin +Sabriny when they both wuz girls, an' she says she's jest got a letter a +sayin' that Sabriny's comin' here ter make er long visit. She's goin' ter +spend two weeks with Mis' Hodgkins, an' all the rest er the summer with +us. Jabez, I'd rather heerd of er cyclone a hittin' us, fer ye well know +that there'll be no peace 'til she packs an' starts fer home."</p> + +<p>"I know it, I know it," Jabez answered, with feeling.</p> + +<p>"I got er letter in my pocket, an' I been hatin' ter show it to ye, but +mebbe ye might as well read it and make what ye can out'n it."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brimblecom wiped her glasses and commenced to read the letter.</p> + +<p>"Naow what's the use'n his talkin' baout the 'wonderful mountain air,' an' +the 'sparklin' springs,' an' er sayin' that they'll do such a sight fer +Sabriny?</p> + +<p>"We know what the air is, an' fer that matter, so does she; she's allus +lived here. An' as ter the springs; she never so much as looked at 'em +when she was here before, but she spent a lot er time tellin' me how she +couldn't sleep on my corded beds. She said she had ter sleep on springs +an' I was baout tired a hearin' tell of our short comin's; an' I told her +if springs was necessary to her well-bein', she'd no doubt be best off ter +hum where she'd been braggin' she had plenty of 'em."</p> + +<p>"I didn't blame ye fer gittin' riled," said Jabez, "but I s'pose we'll hev +ter welcome her, even if we're driven ter speed her departur;" and they +both laughed good-naturedly, and mentally decided to make the best of the +self-invited guest.</p> + +<p>"Wal, she ain't here yit," said Mrs. Brimblecom, "and the fust two weeks +she spends with Mis' Hodgkins, an' p'raps by the time she arrives here, +I'll be cooled daown 'nough ter be kind er perlite, though I shan't say, +'I'm glad ter see ye Sabriny,' fer that'd be a lie."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> shall say, 'I hope I see ye well, Sabriny,' fer massy knows I +wouldn't want her ter be sick fer ye ter wait on," remarked Jabez, with a +twinkle in his eye.</p> + +<p>"Wal," he continued, "I must git this piece er plaoughin' done. I can't +set daown an' luxooriate an' wait 'til we see Sabriny acomin'."</p> + +<p>With a loud "G'lang there," he aroused his placid horses, and across the +fields they sped, and Mrs. Brimblecom, with the letter in her hand, +hastened back to the house where, after placing the large envelope under +the cushion of her rocking chair, she busied herself with household tasks.</p> + +<p>Later, when she felt that she had earned a few leisure moments, she drew +the letter from its hiding-place and sat down to study it.</p> + +<p>"'F I hadn't hid ye under the cushion, like as not when I wanted ter read +ye, ye'd be lost," she remarked.</p> + +<p>A few moments she read in silence, then her disgust moved her to speak.</p> + +<p>"Sabriny feels better in a 'higher altitude,'—well, why doesn't she git +one, whatever 'tis, an' git inter it an' stay there, 'stead a pesterin' me +with her visits." Mrs. Brimblecom perused a few more lines, when again she +spoke.</p> + +<p>"She seems ter 'have little energy,'—wal, I don't want ter be mean, but I +can't help a hopin' that she won't gain any. Sabriny without energy would +be er sight that'd cheer me. Her tremenjous vim nearly wore me aout last +season. Ef she'd jest manage ter leave her energy ter hum, I do'no's I'd +mind her comin'."</p> + +<p>While good Mrs. Brimblecom was studying the letter, Mrs. Hodgkins had +sallied forth to tell the great news, that the visitor was expected, and +as she passed the village store, old Mr. Simpkins, in the doorway, was +taking leave of Silas Barnes.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, he's a great feller, he is. There ain't another as 'riginal as +he is on the globe, I bet ye. He's done a lot er bright things time an' +time 'n again, but this time beats the other times all holler."</p> + +<p>"What's he done naow?" asked Barnes.</p> + +<p>"Hey?" remarked Mr. Simpkins, with his hand at his ear.</p> + +<p>"I say, what's he done <i>naow</i>?" roared Barnes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I ain't tellin' yit. Even his brother Joel don't know, an' won't know +this week, but next week the taown will be 'baout wild with the news er +what Timotheus has done. Ye'll be 'bliged ter wait 'til then," said Mr. +Simpkins.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'll be able to stand it," remarked Silas Barnes in an undertone.</p> + +<p>"Hey? Did ye say ye'd understand it? Wal, I ain't sure whether ye will er +not. It's most too much fer <i>me</i>," Mr. Simpkins replied, as he made his +way cautiously down the rickety steps.</p> + +<p>"Fer goodness sakes, what's Timotheus been a doin' naow, I wonder," +muttered Mrs. Hodgkins. "I shan't ask, an' be told ter wait, as Silas +Barnes was.</p> + +<p>"I'd like ter know one thing," she continued, "an' that is whether the boy +is 'specially bright as his <i>father</i> thinks, or whether he's a little +lackin' as <i>I</i> think, an' I do'no who's ter decide."</p> + +<p>Up the road she trudged, and as she turned the corner, a most surprising +sight caused her to stop and ejaculate. "Land er the livin'! What ails him +naow?"</p> + +<p>Timotheus Simpkins, unaware that he was observed, was executing a most +fantastic jig in the middle of the road.</p> + +<p>"I've did it naow, I bet ye 'n even Joel 'll have ter admit I'm a sight +bigger'n anybody 'n taown. Good-bye ter farmin' and hooray fer literatoor, +I say."</p> + +<p>"Wal, be ye losin' yer senses, er clean gone crazy?" asked Mrs. Hodgkins +in disgust.</p> + +<p>Timotheus paused in his wild pirouette, and gave Mrs. Hodgkins a withering +glance.</p> + +<p>"It ain't wuth while ter explain Mis' Hodgkins, bein's I don't feel ye'd +be able ter' understand the magnitood er what I've done."</p> + +<p>"<i>Dew tell!</i>" remarked Mrs. Hodgkins with fine contempt, "I hope the +taown is still big 'nough ter hold ye, <i>Mr.</i> Simpkins."</p> + +<p>Her irony was wasted, however.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad ye reelize the time's come ter 'dress me as 'Mr.,'" remarked +Timotheus, and Mrs. Hodgkins vouchsafed no answer, but hurried along the +road, "afeared ter speak," as she afterward said, "lest I'd say a deal +more'n I orter."</p> + +<p>In the long drawing-room Randy and Helen Dayton were chatting merrily with +Jotham and Professor Marden when Aunt Marcia joined them, expressing +pleasure in being at home to share the call.</p> + +<p>In two weeks the private school would close, when Randy would say +"good-bye" to her city home and the two dear friends who had entertained +her, to the schoolmates of whom she had become so fond, and then she would +be speeding over the rails every mile of which would take her nearer home, +the dear country home. As Jotham was to leave the city at the same time, +he asked the pleasure of accompanying Randy upon the journey, and his +offer was gladly accepted.</p> + +<p>"And have you heard the latest news from home, Randy?" asked Jotham. +Without awaiting a reply he continued,</p> + +<p>"Timotheus Simpkins has 'blossomed aout,' as his father expresses it and a +specimen of his 'literatoor' is printed in the county paper. Father sent +me a marked copy, and if you like I will read the article."</p> + +<p>"I should indeed like to hear it," said Aunt Marcia; "from what Randy says +of him I think Timotheus must be an unique character."</p> + +<p>"He is truly an odd specimen," said Helen, "I cannot imagine what he would +write."</p> + +<p>"Read it, do read it," said Randy, and Jotham read the following:</p> + + +<p class="center">"THORT.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> "Thort is the gratest thing that has ever been thort of. I don't + know of eny thing bigger than thort that I have thort of, less + twas riginalty, an reely <i>thats</i> thort. When I'm busy thinkin' + thorts I aint apt ter have my mind on eny thing else mostly. Most + of the books what I have read I think was writ without enough + thort. Take the almanic; if <i>Id</i> writ the almanic whare they say, + 'bout this time expect rain,' <i>Id</i> a said, bout this time expect + weather. Id a put some thort on the matter and Id a knowd that + yed natraly have weather er some kind, cause theres <i>allus</i> + weather round about these parts, but most folks havent no power + ter have thort, an thats why theres so few folks that is great. I + mean ter spend my time in thort an' casionally do a little + ploughing. I thort so continooal that I had ter leave school in + order ter git time ter think in, so havin learnt all there was + ter learn, I left school ter the fellers as thort so little that + they didn't need much time fer it an now I shall put on paper + such thort as most folks can tackle, but some er my thort is so + thortful that most any body couldn't understand it, an so no more + until Ive thort again.</p></div> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 22em;">"Yours thortfully</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 24em;">TIMOTHEUS SIMPKINS."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Poor Timotheus," said Helen Dayton.</p> + +<p>"And why 'poor Timotheus'?" asked Professor Marden. "With his stock of +egotism, I think the fellow must be happier than the average man. I know +of no one who considers himself the only thinker in the universe, except +this young Simpkins. He must, indeed, be supremely happy."</p> + +<p>"And the joke is," said Jotham, "that he received a small sum for the +article, and a personal letter from the editor. The money, (I believe it +was the immense sum of two dollars,) pleased Timotheus, but the letter +puzzled him extremely. He considered the article to be a serious, as well +as a lofty effort, whereas the editor evidently supposed it to be +humorous, and believed the unique spelling to be a part of the fun. +Timotheus told my father that 'the money showed that his "literatoor" was +wuth something but that the editor man must be dull ter think that it was +anything but a tremenjous hefty comp'sition.</p> + +<p>"Old Mr. Simpkins considers Timotheus a prodigy, and seems to feel +contempt for his elder son, Joel, who as he expressed it, 'ain't +intellectooal like Timotheus,' and Joel usually retaliates by saying, +'It's lucky one son er the Simpkins family has got jest plain common +sense.'</p> + +<p>"The paper is not published in our town," continued Jotham, "it is a +county paper, and its editor and publisher lives in a distant village, so +that, unacquainted with the Simpkins family, he supposed Timotheus to be a +would-be humorist, little dreaming that he was offending a genius, by +seeing fun where fun was not intended."</p> + +<p>"Timotheus, however, had the joy of feeling that his literary work had a +market value," said Professor Marden, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>Randy and Helen were much amused, but although Aunt Marcia's eyes +twinkled, she said,</p> + +<p>"Poor boy! I wonder when and how he will outgrow his egotism? There surely +is no chance for him to learn until he is made to realize how little he +knows, and who would care to attempt the task of opening his eyes?"</p> + +<p>"There are a plenty of persons in our town," said Jotham, "who have +repeatedly tried to enlighten him, but they have been obliged to +relinquish the effort. It is useless to tell him that talented people +think it necessary to obtain a fine education. He only insists that he is +a genius, and that there is nothing left for him to learn."</p> + +<p>"We must not worry for Timotheus," said Helen, "he is as happy as one +could wish; rather we should remember the old adage, 'Where ignorance is +bliss, etc.'" and the little company agreed that perhaps after all, +Timotheus Simpkins should be congratulated rather than commiserated.</p> + +<p>When the callers arose to depart, Jotham said,</p> + +<p>"Then on two weeks from to-day, Randy, I may call for you, and together we +will travel toward home?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, oh yes," Randy answered, an odd little note in her voice, "and how +hard it will be to say good-bye to these two dear friends, how delightful +to know that late in the afternoon I shall greet the dear ones whose faces +I so long to see. How I wish you both were going back with me, then I +should not say good-bye at all."</p> + +<p>"And since we cannot accompany you," said Aunt Marcia, laying her hand +gently upon Randy's arm, "we count ourselves fortunate that we are going +to our summer home soon after you leave us. You have been a ray of +sunlight in our home, Randy, and we could not easily or quickly become +used to your absence."</p> + +<p>"Oh, is it unkind to be glad that you will miss me?" asked Randy looking +quickly from Aunt Marcia to Helen. "I am puzzled, for I know that I would +do anything to make you happy; then why, when I love you so truly, am I +glad to have you grieved when I go?"</p> + +<p>She glanced at Professor Marden who, while apparently answering her +questioning, looked fixedly at Helen Dayton as he said, "That is not an +unkind thought, Miss Randy; if we can be assured that when absent we are +missed, we are then doubly sure that our presence is welcome."</p> + +<p>"No one should have so faint a heart as to for a moment doubt that he is +welcome," said Aunt Marcia, receiving in return a grateful smile from +Professor Marden, who bowed low over Miss Dayton's hand, and then with +Jotham walked briskly down the avenue.</p> + +<p>"Professor Marden is a most charming young man," said Aunt Marcia, as she +stood at the window watching his receding figure. "He is very like his +father, who was once my most valued friend."</p> + +<p>Helen turned quickly to look at her aunt, expecting that she was about to +tell more of the elder Marden, but she had left the window and stood by a +large jar of roses, rearranging the blossoms with infinite care, and when +she again spoke it was not of the Mardens, father or son, but of their +engagements and the weather for the morrow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII" />CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>HOME</h3> + + +<p>At last the long anticipated hour had arrived and Randy and Jotham were +speeding over the country toward home.</p> + +<p>Nina Irwin, Peggy Atherton, Polly Lawrence and a host of their schoolmates +had, on the day before bidden Randy an affectionate good-bye. They had +exchanged promises in regard to correspondence, had vowed never to forget +each other, and Nina had slipped a little parcel into Randy's hand, +saying,</p> + +<p>"Just a little gift, dear Randy. Open it when the train has started and +you are on your way home."</p> + +<p>"O Nina, I shall prize your gift, whatever it may be," said Randy. "How +can I wait until to-morrow to see it? And I have something to tell you," +she continued.</p> + +<p>"I had a letter from home yesterday, and mother says that I must be sure +to give you her invitation to spend a few weeks of the summer with us. She +tells me to remind you that our home is a farm-house, but that it is large +and comfortable, and that the welcome awaiting you is very cordial.</p> + +<p>"Father says, 'Tell Miss Nina that I am anxious to see my daughter's dear +friend of whom she writes such pleasant things.' Even Aunt Prudence says, +'I think I shall approve of Miss Irwin,' and little Prue says, 'Tell the +Nina girl I want her to come!'"</p> + +<p>"There was never a sweeter invitation, Randy Weston. Of course I'll come," +said Nina, "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Just a farm-house! Why, +Randy, that is half the charm. Haven't I been to hotels summer after +summer, but I never stayed over night in a farm-house. I shall enjoy every +hour of my stay with you.</p> + +<p>"Tell your mother how gladly I accept her invitation, and tell Prue that +the 'Nina girl' has no little sister, and that she is very eager to see +Randy's little Prue."</p> + +<p>On the morning of the journey Aunt Marcia folded Randy in a warm embrace +as she said,</p> + +<p>"Dear child promise me that you will come again, thus only, can I see you +depart;" and Randy had promised at some future time to again visit Boston.</p> + +<p>With Helen she had entered the coupé and together they rode to the +station.</p> + +<p>Jotham had been obliged to relinquish the pleasure of calling for Randy +and had written to say that, accompanied by his tutor, he would meet her +at the depot, so it happened that Jotham and Randy, after saying good-bye +to their two friends, rode out from the station and into the glad sunshine +on their homeward way, and Helen, her beautiful eyes filled with tears, +entered the carriage followed by Professor Marden who seated himself +beside her.</p> + +<p>"Come and lunch with Aunt Marcia and me" she had said, "then I shall feel +that while one dear friend departs, another remains."</p> + +<p>Upon entering the car, Jotham had turned over the seat opposite the one +which they had chosen, and upon it they laid wraps, bags, a box of candy, +and Helen's last gift to Randy, a great cluster of roses.</p> + +<p>Randy had enjoyed her sojourn in the city with all the enthusiasm of her +nature, but now her face was turned toward home, and with a smiling face +she said to Jotham,</p> + +<p>"I have you for company, and the day is sunny, I have my gifts, too, and +best of all, I shall soon see every one at home. O, Jotham, are you as +glad as I am, to-day?"</p> + +<p>There was a suspicious tremor in his voice as he replied,</p> + +<p>"I am every bit as happy as you are, Randy; I have worked very hard this +winter and been cheered by Professor Marden's genuine interest in me. He +has been kindness itself, and the letters from home have been a great +comfort. I am already looking forward to next season's study, and in the +meantime I shall enjoy the summer vacation. I'll show father that while he +is kind enough to allow me to spend my winter in study, I have not +forgotten how to help in the summer work upon the farm."</p> + +<p>"Look, Randy," continued Jotham, "the little towns and villages look more +like home as we ride away from the city."</p> + +<p>Randy looked from the window and noticed that the houses were farther and +farther apart, the broad fields in which cows were grazing, the winding +rivers dazzling in the sunlight, the hills blue and hazy and over all the +blue sky and fleecy clouds.</p> + +<p>When Randy opened the little parcel containing Nina's gift, she was +delighted to find a photograph, encased in a silver frame of exquisite +workmanship. Nina's card was fastened to the frame with a bit of ribbon, +and upon the card appeared this message: "You now see that I can be with +you always."</p> + +<p>"Nina knew that I would rather have her picture than any other thing," +said Randy.</p> + +<p>How swiftly the hours flew! At noon the car was very warm, for it was +late in May, and it seemed almost like June sunshine which lay in long +bars upon the red plush seats.</p> + +<p>Later, the air became cooler, and Randy had tired of the flying landscape +until aroused by Jotham, who exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Look out, Randy! This is the next town to ours."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that we are so near home?" asked Randy, with sparkling eyes. +Just at this point the brakeman's voice announced the station, and proved +that Jotham had spoken truly.</p> + +<p>How beautiful were the orchards, with their blossom-laden trees! "Ah home +is home after all," thought Randy.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>As she stepped from the car a shrill little voice cried,</p> + +<p>"O Randy, my Randy! I thought you'd never come, but you did."</p> + +<p>Randy held her little sister closely, and laid her cheek against the soft +curls. Then she turned to her father and saw a wealth of love in his eyes +as he said,</p> + +<p>"<i>Now</i> the home will be complete. It has been 'bout half empty with ye +away, Randy. I'm glad ye're home again. I ain't able to say <i>how</i> glad, +an' Jotham, my boy, I'm glad to see ye, too. Ah, here's yer father. I +haven't a right ter a minute more er yer time."</p> + +<p>With eager questioning Randy asked, "And mother and Aunt Prudence?"</p> + +<p>"Oh they're feelin' pretty spry now the day's come fer ye to arrive. +They're full er preparations fer yer home-comin', an'—"</p> + +<p>"An' the big cake has got pink frostin' on top of it, an' my dolly has got +on her best dress 'cause she knew you was comin', an' I've kept askin' +Aunt Prudence all day what time it was, an' how long it would be 'fore +you'd be here, an' Tabby's got a ribbon on her neck, an' the house an' +barn has been painted, an' the cars an' engine ride behind our barn now, +an' I guess that's all," said Prue, with a sigh, as if regretting that +there was so little news.</p> + +<p>"Why that is a great deal of news," said Randy, "how did you remember it +all?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I've been savin' it up, purpose to tell you when you comed," said +Prue.</p> + +<p>As they drove along the shady road toward home, they passed Jabez +Brimblecom who thus accosted Randy:—</p> + +<p>"Wal, wal I'm glad ter see yer home agin, Randy, or must I say Miss +Weston, since ye've been to Boston?"</p> + +<p>"Oh please call me Randy, or I shall think you are a stranger, instead of +an old friend."</p> + +<p>"Wal, Randy it <i>is</i> then, an' glad I be ter hear it. My wife said when ye +went off that she knew ye, an' that Randy'd be Randy anywhere 'n she's +'baout right 's usual."</p> + +<p>Every one whom they met had a word of greeting for Randy, until she +exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is almost worth while to go away, if everyone is to be so glad of +my return."</p> + +<p>"And we're the gladdest of all," said Prue.</p> + +<p>"Indeed we are," said Mr. Weston, "an' now, Randy, do ye see two women at +the corner of the wall? I tell ye, they couldn't wait 'til ye arrived at +the door."</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston stopped Snowfoot, and Randy jumped from the wagon, and running +to her mother, threw her arms about her neck.</p> + +<p>"O Randy, child, this is the first day of real happiness since ye started +fer Boston. Not but what we've gotten on pretty well, but ye left a space, +so ter speak, a space that nothin' could fill. Well, ye're here now, an' +we'll find it easy to be cheerful."</p> + +<p>"And <i>you're</i> glad to see me, too, Aunt Prudence?" asked Randy, wondering +if so dignified a person would like a kiss.</p> + +<p>"Glad!" was the answer, "that's no name fer it," and she fervently kissed +Randy's cheek. "I must say, ef ye'd stayed away a week longer yer ma an' +me would been 'bout ready ter give up housekeepin'. I tell ye, Randy, we +shall all feel nigh on ter giddy, now ye've arrived."</p> + +<p>The remarkable sight of Aunt Prudence kissing Randy made a great +impression upon Prue.</p> + +<p>"If I goed to Boston, Aunt Prudence, would you kiss <i>me</i> when I comed +back?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Why bless ye, Prue, I'll kiss ye now, 'thout yer havin' ter go away," and +she did, much to Prue's delight.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the house, Prue exhibited her doll dressed in all her finery, +Tabby decorated with a gay ribbon, and was about to drag Randy out to the +barn that she might see the new railroad which ran through the pasture +lot, when Mrs. Weston suggested that the railroad would be there in the +morning and that as Randy had been riding all day it would be far better +to wait until the next day to see it.</p> + +<p>So little Prue sat beside Randy and listened to all which she had to tell +with the greatest interest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wish Johnny Buffum was here to hear all 'bout Boston," sighed Prue, +"then he'd know what a big girl my Randy is," and the little girl wondered +why they laughed.</p> + +<p>At tea she led Randy to the table and exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"There, didn't I <i>say</i> the cake had pink frosting onto it?" and Randy +agreed that it was indeed pink and that it looked very tempting.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Weston and Aunt Prudence had arranged a fine little spread, composed +of Randy's favorite dishes and as she looked at the dear faces around the +table, she knew that she could not be happier at the grandest feast, +though it were given in her honor in palatial halls.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Randy is here, Randy is here!" It seemed as if each person as soon as he +learned the news, repeated it to his neighbor, and that neighbor repeated +it to the next person whom he chanced to meet on the road, and soon the +entire village knew that Randy was once more at home.</p> + +<p>Prue followed her about as if she feared to lose sight of her, and +promised to recite an endless number of lessons to Randy if only she might +be permitted to stay out of school.</p> + +<p>"I can't go to school and not see my Randy all day. I don't want to be +anywhere where my Randy isn't." Prue pleaded so earnestly that at last Mr. +Weston said,</p> + +<p>"It is so near the end er the term, why not let her stay at home, mother?"</p> + +<p>Even Aunt Prudence interceded for her, and Prue's joy was unbounded when +she was told that she might consider that her vacation had commenced.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"><a name="Randy_and_Prue" id="Randy_and_Prue" /><a href="./images/250.jpg"><img src="./images/250-tb.jpg" alt="Randy and Prue sat under the shadow of the blossoming branches" title="Randy and Prue sat under the shadow of the blossoming branches" /></a></p> +<p class="figcenter">Randy and Prue sat under the shadow of the blossoming branches</p> + +<p>The day after Randy's return was bright and sunny, and with little Prue +she wandered beneath the sweet scented apple blossoms drinking in their +beauty, and wondering if in all the world there was a fairer place than +the orchard with its wealth of bloom, when suddenly Prue exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"You're '<i>most</i> as glad to see me as anybody, Randy?</p> + +<p>"Me 'n Tabby is just 'special glad you've got home." The little eyes +looked anxiously up into Randy's face.</p> + +<p>"You precious little sister," Randy answered, "I've been longing all +winter to see you, and when I have sat before the fire with Miss Dayton on +a stormy afternoon I have wished that Tabby with her paws tucked in, sat +blinking at the flames. There is no one, Prue, whom I am more truly glad +to see than you."</p> + +<p>While Randy and Prue were in the orchard, Mrs. Hodgkins "ran in fer a +chat," as she expressed it.</p> + +<p>"Wal, I hear tell that Randy's come back. What's she goin' ter do next +year, er don't she know yet? Did ye know't I had comp'ny?" She continued, +asking a second question without awaiting an answer to the first.</p> + +<p>"Wal, I <i>have</i> got comp'ny, and comp'ny she means ter be considered.</p> + +<p>"It's Mis' C. Barnard Boardman, as she calls herself; she's Sabriny +Brimblecom that was, an' a pretty time I'm havin' with her. She's +delicate, or she thinks she is, an' I'm 'baout wild with her notions +'baout food, and her talkin' of 'zileratin' air, whatever that may be.</p> + +<p>"She can't lift her finger ter help me, an' the ruffles an' furbelows I +have ter iron fer her makes me bile, while she sets aout in the door-yard +a rockin' back'ards an' for'ards as cool as a cucumber. She ain't goin' +ter stay but a week longer with us, an' then she goes ter stay with her +brother Jabez, an' land knows, I pity Mis' Brimblecom, fer Sabriny says +she's goin' ter stay the whole summer. She's what ye might call savin', +fer she's savin' her board, an' when she left the Brimblecom's the last +time she spent the summer with 'em, she put a little package in Mis' +Brimblecom's hand just as she went aout the door, 'Jest a little gift in +return for your kindness,' said Sabriny, in her lofty way.</p> + +<p>"After she was gone Mis' Brimblecom opened the parcel an' she an' Jabez +just looked at each other, an' didn't speak. Sabriny's gift was <i>a wire +tea strainer</i>! Barnes sells 'em fer ten cents daown ter the store."</p> + +<p>"I should try, in some way, that she'd understand, ter make her realize +that her room was better'n her company," said Aunt Prudence.</p> + +<p>"You <i>think</i> you would," said Mrs. Weston, "but you've a kind heart, an' +while you'd feel like tellin' her ter go, you wouldn't do it."</p> + +<p>"Mis' Brimblecom's one er the best women that ever lived, an' it's +provokin' fer her ter be pestered with Sabriny," declared Mrs. Hodgkins.</p> + +<p>"Wal, I must be goin'," and away she went, stopping on the way to greet +Randy who stood by the wall upon which sat Prue and Tabby.</p> + +<p>Long after Mrs. Hodgkins had left them, Randy and Prue sat under the +shadow of the blossoming branches, and it seemed to Randy that little Prue +had grown more lovely in face and figure. Her curls were longer, and her +sweet eyes darker, her hair had kept its sunny hue, and her coloring was +wonderfully like that of the apple blossoms.</p> + +<p>Prue was quite unaware of Randy's loving scrutiny, and she caressed Tabby, +humming contentedly, and looking about at the sunlight, the blossoms and +the butterflies. Suddenly she pointed down the road exclaiming,</p> + +<p>"Look, Randy, look! See old Mr. Simpkins coming this way."</p> + +<p>As he espied Randy he hastened toward her.</p> + +<p>"Glad ter see ye, glad ter see ye, Randy. Ye're lookin' fine. Haow be ye, +an' haow's Boston?"</p> + +<p>Randy assured him that the city seemed to be intact when she left it, but +he did not hear.</p> + +<p>"I expect ye haven't heared that Timotheus is a lit'rary feller naow, +doin' farm work only 'casionally, so ter speak.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ye did hear?" he questioned as Randy nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"Wal, he's a feelin' pooty big over his two dollars, but he's kind er +riled with the editor man fer thinkin' his writin' that he writ was funny. +Timotheus has fixed the attic fer a room ter stay in when he's a writin', +an' there he stays, day in, 'n day aout, a workin' away at his literatoor. +It's odd haow boys in one family will hev different idees. Naow Joel likes +store work best. Wal, here's some er the boys and girls a comin' ter see +ye, so I'll be goin' along."</p> + +<p>A laughing troop came hurrying along the road, and they hailed Randy with +shouts of delight when they espied her sitting upon the wall with Prue. As +they crowded about her, plying her with questions, Randy tried to answer +them all promptly, but gave it up with a laugh, exclaiming,</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm glad to be with you all, and am pleased that you came over this +morning to see me. Sit down upon the wall and tell me all the news, and I +will try to answer all your questions."</p> + +<p>They seated themselves, a merry, laughing row, upon the wall; the Babson +girls, Dot and Jack Marvin, Jotham, the Langham twins, Reuben Jenks, +Mollie Wilson, Phoebe Small and even Sandy McLeod's little Janie, and +gaily they chattered, the petals of the apple-blossoms falling about them, +a perfumed shower.</p> + +<p>Randy's home coming had indeed been a glad one, and in "Randy and Prue" +one may learn more of Randy's sunny nature, and of the little sister's +winsome ways.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANDY AND HER FRIENDS***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 15111-h.txt or 15111-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/1/15111">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/1/1/15111</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Randy and Her Friends + +Author: Amy Brooks + +Release Date: February 19, 2005 [eBook #15111] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANDY AND HER FRIENDS*** + + +E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst, Emmy, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (www.pgdp.net). Four of the +illustration were generously made available by the Rare Books & Special +Collections of the Thomas Cooper Library, University of South Carolina. + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 15111-h.htm or 15111-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/1/15111/15111-h/15111-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/1/15111/15111-h.zip) + + + + + +RANDY AND HER FRIENDS + +by + +AMY BROOKS + +Author Of _Randy's Summer_, _Randy's Winter_, +_A Jolly Cat Tale_, _Dorothy Dainty_ + +With Illustrations by the Author + +Boston +Lee and Shepard + +1902 + + + + + + + +Norwood press +J.S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith +Norwood, Mass. U.S.A. + +Popular Stories + +BY AMY BROOKS. + +Each Beautifully Illustrated by the Author. + + +THE RANDY BOOKS. + +THREE VOLUMES READY. 12MO. CLOTH. STRIKING +COVER DESIGN BY THE AUTHOR. + +RANDY'S SUMMER. Price $1.00 +RANDY'S WINTER. Price 1.00 +RANDY AND HER FRIENDS. Price 80 cents, net + +For Younger Readers. + +A JOLLY CAT TALE. Large 12mo. Cloth. + Profusely Illustrated. Price $1.00 + +DOROTHY DAINTY. Large 12mo. Cloth. + Cover Design by the Author. Set in large + English type. Price 80 cents, net + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I +Through the Fields + +CHAPTER II +A Cheerful Giver + +CHAPTER III +Gossip + +CHAPTER IV +The District School + +CHAPTER V +Randy's Journey + +CHAPTER VI +New Friends + +CHAPTER VII +The Little Travelers + +CHAPTER VIII +Just a Rose + +CHAPTER IX +A Scotch Linnet + +CHAPTER X +The Party + +CHAPTER XI +Timotheus and His Neighbors + +CHAPTER XII +Home + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Randy and Snowfoot (Frontispiece) + +"I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy + +As she looked from the window and saw the flying landscape + +As the smoke flew backward the flaming torch revealed the + sleeping children + +Randy urges Polly to sing + +Randy and Prue sat under the shadow of the blossoming branches + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THROUGH THE FIELDS + + +The sunniest place upon the hillside was the little pasture in which the +old mare was grazing, moving slowly about and nipping at the short grass +as if that which lay directly under her nose could not be nearly as choice +as that which she could obtain by constant perambulation. + +A blithe voice awoke the echoes with a fragment of an old song. The mare +looked up and gave a welcoming whinny as Randy Weston, Squire Weston's +daughter, crossed the pasture, her pink sunbonnet hanging from her arm by +its strings. + +"Glad to see me, Snowfoot?" asked Randy as she laid a caressing hand upon +the mare's neck and looked into the soft eyes which seemed to express a +world of love for the girl who never allowed a friendly whinny to pass +unnoticed. + +"My! but this August sun is hot," said Randy, vigorously wielding her +sunbonnet for a fan. + +"And before we can turn 'round it will be September, and then there'll be +lessons to learn, yes, and plenty of work to be done if I mean to keep the +promise I made myself when I won the prize in June. + +"A five dollar gold piece for being the best scholar, Snowfoot, and to +think that I haven't yet decided what to do with it! + +"I've spent it, in my mind a dozen times already, and to-day I'm no nearer +to knowing _just_ what I'd rather do with it than on the day it was given +me. Did you ever know anything so silly?" + +The horse sneezed violently, as if in derision, and Randy laughed gaily at +having her plainly expressed opinion of herself so forcibly confirmed. + +Leaving Snowfoot to crop the grass and clover, Randy crossed the field +and followed a well trodden foot-path which led to a little grove and +there in the cool shade she paused to look off across the valley, and +again her thoughts reverted to the shining gold piece. Once more she +wondered what it could buy which would give lasting satisfaction. + +"If I were in the city," she mused, "I should probably see something which +I'd like to have in the first store I came to, and I could buy it at +once." + +A moment later she laughed softly as it occurred to her that in the large +city stores of which she had heard it would be more than probable that a +dozen pretty things would attract her, and her bewilderment would thus be +far greater than it had been at home with only a choice of imaginary +objects. + +"If old Sandy McLeod who gave the prize could know what a time I've had +deciding what to do with it, I believe he would laugh at me and say in +that deep voice of his, + +"'Hoot, lass! Since the gold piece troubles ye, I wonder if ye're glad ye +won it?'" + +Randy in her pink calico gown, her sunbonnet still hanging from her arm, +her cheeks flushed by the hot summer breeze, and the short ringlets +curling about her forehead, made a lovely picture as she stood at the +opening of the little grove and looked off across the valley to the +distant hills. + +She was thinking of the school session which would open so soon, when with +her classmates she would be eagerly working to gain knowledge; of her +longing for more than the "deestrict" school could give, of her father's +promise that she should have all the education she wished for, and the +light of enthusiasm shone in her merry gray eyes. + +"I shall work with all my heart this season," thought Randy, "and if I +could do two years' work in one, I should indeed be pleased. I believe +I'll ask the teacher to plan extra work for me, and if she will, I'll--" +but just at this point she heard a clear voice calling, + +"Randy! Randy!" + +Turning she saw Belinda Babson running along the little foot path, her +long yellow braids shining in the sun, and her round blue eyes showing her +pleasure at sight of her friend. + +"Why Belinda! Where did you come from?" cried Randy, "I'd no idea that +anyone was near me." + +"I've been sitting on the top rail at the further side of the pasture, and +just watching you, Randy Weston," said Belinda, laughing. + +"I was on the way up to your house when I met your little sister Prue, and +she said that you were out here, so I turned this way, and just as I +reached the bars I spied you a looking off at nothing and a thinking for +dear life." + +"I _was_ thinking," admitted Randy, "and I was just wondering if I could +do two years of school work in one, when you called me." + +"Well what an idea!" gasped Belinda, "you don't catch me doing more than +one year's work if I can help it, and I wouldn't do _that_ if pa didn't +set such a store by education. + +"Why, Randy," she resumed a moment later, "what makes you in such a drive +'bout your lessons, anyway?" + +"I'm sixteen this summer," Randy replied, "and I've no idea of waiting +forever to fit myself for something better than a district school." + +Belinda looked aghast, and her round face seemed longer than one could +have believed possible. + +"Randy Weston!" she ejaculated, "if you're planning to work like that the +whole duration time you won't have a single minute for fun, and how we'll +miss you!" + +"Oh, don't imagine that I shall lose all the winter's pleasures, Belinda," +Randy answered slipping her arm about her friend's waist. "I can study in +the long evenings and I think that I shall be able to join you all in the +'good times' which you plan and yet be able to do the extra work at +school." + +"Well, I wish you joy," said Belinda, "but I, for one, get all the school +work I want in a year as it is, and as to extra work, I guess I'll get it +fast enough this winter, although it won't be lessons I'll be attending to +in my spare time. + +"Ma got a letter last night when she rode over to the Centre, and Aunt +Drusilla writes that she's coming to make us a three months' visit, and +she's going to bring little Hi with her. And yesterday morning pa said +that Grandma Babson was a coming to make her home with us, so you might +guess, Randy, that Jemima and I'll have to step lively and help ma a bit." + +"You will indeed have to help," Randy answered, "but won't it be fun to +see little Hi again? + +"Do you remember, Belinda, when he was here last summer, he tried to +harness the hens and wondered why they didn't like it?" + +"I had forgotten that," said Belinda, "but Jemima reminded me this morning +of the day that pa lost his spectacles. Every one in the house hunted for +those glasses, and at last Jemima ran out into the door-yard, and there +was little Hi with the spectacles on his nose, a peering into the rain +water barrel and holding onto those specs to keep them from tumbling off +into the water. He said that pa said there were critters in any water, and +as he couldn't see 'em he ran off with the glasses to see if they would +help him. He tied our old Tom to the mouse trap because he said that he +wanted the cat to be on hand when the mice ran in. He carried a squash pie +out to the brindle cow because he thought she must be tired of eating +nothing but grass, and if he and Grandma Babson have got to spend three +months under the same roof, I b'lieve he'll drive her crazy, for she +hates boys and don't mind saying so, and he can think of more mischief in +one day than any other child could in a week." + +Both girls laughed as they thought of little Hi's pranks and Randy said, +with a bright twinkle in her eyes, + +"At least, you and Jemima will be amused this winter." + +"I guess we shall be in more ways than one," assented Belinda, "for I'm +pretty sure that Grandma Babson and that small boy will be enemies from +the start." + +Belinda's habitually jolly face wore such a comical look of anxiety that +Randy refrained from laughing, and to change the subject asked for a +schoolmate whom she had not recently seen. "Where is Molly Wilson?" she +questioned. + +"Oh, Molly is so hard at work now it's only once in a while that I see +her. Her baby sister is ill, and Molly has no time for anything but +helping around home. Her mother says that she intends to have her go back +to school if she can spare her, but whatever do you suppose Molly meant? + +"She said to me, 'Belinda, even if mother can spare me, I may not go to +school. You can't think how anxious I am to be at work at my lessons +again, but I'm afraid I shan't look fit and father's had such a hard +summer, the farm hasn't paid for working it, he says, that I couldn't ask +him for anything for myself if I never had it.' + +"And oh, I never thought, Randy, I promised Molly I would not tell what +she said. I didn't mean to. Whatever made me forget?" + +"Never mind," said Randy, an odd little smile showing the dimples at the +corners of her mouth. + +"I will not tell a single girl you may be very sure, but you and I who +know it will be extra kind to Molly." + +"Indeed we will," assented Belinda. "I'll go over this afternoon and see +if I can help her. The baby is a sweet little thing and she likes me, so +perhaps I shall be some help. Oh, there's Jemima calling at the bars, I +guess ma wants me. My! I wonder if some of our company has arrived? + +"Remember not to tell what I told you," cried Belinda to Randy, who stood +looking after her friend, as she ran across the pasture to join Jemima. + +They turned to wave their hands to Randy, who responded, then, as they +disappeared behind a clump of trees, she turned her eyes toward the sunny +valley and with her hands loosely clasped seemed to be watching the +shimmering sunlight on the winding river below. + +She had long been standing thus when a gentle whinny made her turn to +offer the caress for which old Snowfoot was hinting. + +The horse laid a shaggy head against Randy's shoulder and edged nearer as +the girl patted her nose, then walking over to a large rock she stood +close beside it and began to neigh, at the same time looking fixedly at +Randy. + +"Oh you cunning old thing," said Randy with a laugh. + +"You're inviting me to ride, just as you always do, by walking up to that +big flat rock so that I can mount. Well you old dear," she continued as +she stepped upon the rock and prepared to seat herself upon Snowfoot's +back, + +"I've found out what to do with that precious gold piece, and I'm going to +do it." + +Then without saddle or bridle, but with a firm grasp upon the shaggy mane +she chirped to her steed and the horse pricking up her ears at the sound, +bounded forward, and proud of her charge carried her across the pasture to +the bars where little Prue stood waiting to meet her. + +It was evident that the little sister had wonderful news to tell, for her +brown eyes were very wide open and she could hardly wait for Randy to slip +down from Snowfoot's back before beginning to tell what so excited her. + +"Oh, what do you think!" she began when with her hand in Randy's they +trudged along towards home. + +"My Tabby's caught a mouse, and father's just come back from the Centre +and he's brought the cloth for a new dress for you'n me, 'n I picked holes +in the bundles, an' one's blue an' one's red an' which do you s'pose is +mine? And Aunt Prudence is comin' to see us next week, an' there's goin' +to be a new spout to our rain water barrel, an' I guess that's all." + +"Well if all that happened while I've been out in the pasture," said +Randy, laughing, "I guess I'll have to stay in for a while and see what +happens next." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A CHEERFUL GIVER + + +It was a warm August evening when a farm hand passing the Weston house +paused a moment to look admiringly at the picture which the wide open door +presented. + +A rude frame of home manufacture, covered with netting, kept inquisitive +moths from entering, at the same time allowing a flood of light to make +its way out into the door-yard, where it lay upon the grass and added +glory to the marigolds which grew beside the path. + +"Happiest family I know on," muttered the man, drawing a rough hand across +his eyes. "Makes me think of the time when I was a little feller ter hum, +and had two sisters jest 'baout the size of Square Weston's girls." + +Then, with a sigh, the man went on up the road, but the memory of the +family group in the brightly lighted room remained in his mind for many a +day. + +At one side of the table with its bright cloth smoothly spread, sat Mr. +Weston perusing the county paper, at times reading aloud a bit of +especially interesting news to his wife who was busily at work upon an +apron for little Prue. In the centre of the table stood a large lamp, a +monument to the enterprise of Silas Barnes, the village storekeeper. + +"You folks don't want ter go pokin' raound with taller candles when ye kin +git er lamp that gives light like all fireation, do ye?" he had said. + +And those farmers who could afford the luxury invested in a lamp at once. +Others, whose purses were too lean for such expenditure, affected to +prefer candles, declaring the lamplight to be too glaring for their taste. + +Just where the light shone through the outline of her rippling hair sat +Randy, reading aloud to Prue, who stood beside her at the table, +insisting upon seeing each picture as Randy turned the page. + +As she finished reading the story, Randy turned, and slipping her arm +about Prue drew her closer, while the little sister, giving a contented +little sigh exclaimed, + +"That's the best story of all, Randy, read it again." + +"Why, Prue, you've just heard it twice," said Randy, "you don't want to +hear it again to-night!" + +"Oh, yes, I do!" cried Prue. "I'd like to hear it all over again from the +beginning, 'Once upon a time.' 'F I hear it this once more it'll seem +'bout true." + +"I should think 'twould seem threadbare," said her father, with ill +suppressed amusement. + +"No, no!" cried Prue, "'tain't freadbare, it's fine, the finest in the +book. Do read it, Randy, and then I'll be willing to go to bed." + +So Randy began once more the story which had so charmed the little sister, +and very patiently she read it, while Prue, who was really sleepy, made +heroic efforts to keep her eyes open. + +Often her lashes would lie for an instant upon her cheek, when immediately +she would open her eyes very wide, and look furtively about to see if her +drowsiness were detected. + +"And they lived happily ever after," read Randy. + +"And they lived--happily--ever--after," drawled Prue, as if in proof that +she were indeed awake. + +"Why Prue," cried Randy, "you're half asleep." + +"I'm not," Prue answered, "I heard what you read. You said 'and they lived +happy ever after.' Now I'm wide awake, else how did I hear?" + +After Prue was safely tucked in bed, Randy returned to the cheerful room +below and unfolded her plan for spending her prize money. + +Mrs. Weston put aside her sewing to listen, and Mr. Weston laying his +paper across his knees, watched Randy keenly as she said, + +"You see I've felt that I should like to do something with this prize +which it would always give me pleasure to remember, and I know that if you +both think best to let me do this, I shall always look back to it with +happy thoughts." + +There was a pause when Randy had finished speaking, then Mrs. Weston, +without a word, placed her hand upon Randy's, as it lay upon the table and +the Squire, taking off his glasses and affecting to see a bit of moisture +upon them, took out his handkerchief and slowly wiping the lenses he said, + +"As far as our _letting_ ye, Randy, the money's yer own ter do as ye +please with, but fer my own opinion, ye well know I've always said 'twas' +better ter give than receive.' This time ye have both. Ye've known the joy +of receiving the prize, and now ye plan ter use it ter make another happy. +I'm proud of yer choice, and I guess yer mother thinks as I do. I'm well +able now ter give ye all ye need, and if winning and giving yer prize +makes ye twice glad, why what more could we ask?" + +"I'm so glad you like my plan," said Randy, with sparkling eyes. "Molly is +such a nice girl, and the way I'm going to send the gift, she will never +guess where it came from, I waited until Prue was asleep to tell you about +it. + +"She never could keep the secret, and a secret it _must_ be, for Molly is +proud and shy and must only think that _some one_ has sent her a nice +gift." + +"That's right, Randy," said Mrs. Weston, "but do ye think it can be +managed so that Molly won't dream where it came from?" + +"Oh, yes," Randy answered, "I shall get Jotham to help me, and he will be +sure to do my errand just as I direct." + +"Wall, I guess that's sure enough," said Mr. Weston, with a chuckle, which +Randy heard on her way up the stairs to her little bed-room. + +The bright color flushed her cheeks as she thought of Jotham Potts who, +since they were both little children, had been her ardent admirer, +faithful and eager to do her slightest bidding. She admired his frank, +truthful character, appreciated his kindness and valued his friendship, +but she made no one friend a favorite, striving rather to be friendly and +cordial with all. + +In her dreams she sent her gift to Molly many times, and as many times +wondered if it pleased her, and when she awoke in the morning she could +hardly believe that it had not yet been purchased. + +"I'm glad it was just a dream," thought Randy, as she stood before the +tiny glass drawing the comb through the curling masses of her light brown +hair, "because I've yet the pleasure of choosing the gift and of buying +and sending it to her. + +"I believe I'll go down to Barnes' store to-day, for now I've made up my +mind what to do, I can hardly wait to do it." + +It seemed as if everything favored Randy's scheme. The first person whom +she saw as she ran out to the well and commenced to lower the bucket was +Jotham, whistling as he strode along, deftly cutting the tops from the +roadside weeds with a switch. + +"Hi, Randy! Let me help you," he said, vaulting lightly over the wall and +hastening toward her as she stood smiling in the sunlight. + +"You can help in another way to-day, if you will," said Randy. "Come and +sit upon the wall while I tell you about it." + +"Indeed I will," was the hearty rejoinder. "I've often told you, Randy, +that I'd do anything for you." + +"Well, this is for me, and for some one else too," said Randy, looking +earnestly up into his kind, dark eyes. + +"And Jotham," she continued eagerly, "you must not mind if I don't tell +you _all_ about it, 'tis truly a good reason why I can't." + +"I'll do whatever you wish, Randy," was the reply, "and I won't ask a +question." + +"Oh, here's Prue coming," said Randy, "and she mustn't hear about it. You +meet me at Barnes' store about four o'clock this afternoon and I'll tell +you then what I wish you to do." + +"All right," said Jotham, "I'll be there on time, you may be sure of +that." + +"O, Randy," cried little Prue, "what you tellin' Jotham? Tell me too." + +"See here, Prue," said Jotham with as serious an expression as he could +assume, "I was just telling Randy that I should be at Barnes' store at +four o'clock." + +"Oh, was that all?" said Prue, "I thought 'twas something great," and her +look of disgust at finding the conversation to be upon so ordinary a topic +made both Randy and Jotham laugh heartily. + +"Well I don't see why you laugh," said Prue, "'twon't be funny to be going +down to the store this hot afternoon. I'd rather stay at home with my +Tabby cat, and fan her to keep her cool." + +Immediately after dinner, little Johnny Buffum appeared in the door-yard +and announced that he had come to play with Prue. He wore a blue-checked +pinafore, below which could be seen his short snuff-colored trousers and +little bare feet. Upon his head jauntily sat a large straw hat with a torn +brim through which the sunlight sifted, where it lay, a stripe of gold +upon his little freckled nose. + +"I'm glad you've come, Johnny," said Prue. "Let's play school." + +"All right," agreed Johnny, "I'll be the teacher." + +"And I'll play I'm Randy, and Tabby can be me,--you 'member to call her +Prue when you speak to her,--and Johnny, this rag doll will be you," said +Prue. + +"That old doll's a girl," objected Johnny. "I won't let no girl doll be +me." + +But Prue argued that it would be enough better to be represented by the +despised rag doll, than not to be in the school at all, so half convinced, +the game began and the two children were so occupied when Randy started +for her walk to the Centre, that her little sister quite forgot to coax to +be allowed to "go too." + +As she trudged along the sunny, dusty road, Randy hummed a merry little +tune, her footsteps keeping time to its rhythm and her heart beating +faster as she thought of her delightful errand. + +Arrived at the store she asked Mr. Barnes to show her the piece of cloth +from which her father had bought on the night that he had driven to the +Centre. + +"Joel!" called Silas Barnes, "show Randy Weston that second piece of cloth +from the top, will ye? I've got ter finish opening this barrel o' sugar." + +Joel placed the cloth upon the counter, saying, + +"Is that the piece ye mean?" + +"Yes, that is it," said Randy. + +"Didn't yer pa git 'nough?" questioned Joel. + +"Oh yes," said Randy, "but I want this for something else. I'll take eight +yards." + +"Why that's 'nough for a whole gaown," said Joel, but a shade of annoyance +passed over Randy's sweet face and as she showed no disposition to +explain, the clerk cut off the number of yards with the injured air of one +whose kindly interest had been unappreciated. + +When the cloth had been made into a neat parcel, Joel looked up and +extended his hand for payment, when to his utter astonishment, Randy +informed him that she had yet another errand. + +"I'll look at some shoes now," she said with quite an air, for this was +her first shopping trip and a very happy one. + +"Fer yourself, Randy?" asked Joel. + +"I wish them to be _my size_, so I'll try them on," was the answer. + +"Well ef they're ter be your size, they're to be yourn, ain't they?" +queried Joel, determined if possible to know all about this wild +extravagance. + +Randy had changed her gold piece for a bill before she left home, well +knowing that the bill would attract less attention. + +Assuming not to have heard his question, Randy took her parcels, and gave +Joel her bill. Joel took the money, but he could not resist the temptation +to ask one more question. + +"Mebbe ye didn't know that yer pa bought a pair er shoes jest that size +t'other night, did ye?" + +No one person was ever known to have bought two pairs of shoes and two +dresses at Barnes' store within a week, and the clerk was wild with +curiosity, but just as he was about to repeat his question, Jotham entered +the store, and Joel turned to see what his errand might be. + +"Nothing to-day," said Jotham, "I saw Randy in here, and I thought I'd +offer to take her bundles." + +Together they left the store, and as they turned into the quiet, shady +road Randy said, + +"I think I never was more glad to see you, Jotham, than when I turned and +saw you in the doorway of the store." + +"Then I'm doubly glad I came," said Jotham. + +"Well, Joel Simpkins thought 'twas the funniest thing that I should be +buying something when father was not with me, and he asked just every +question that he could think of except one. He didn't ask me where I got +my money, and I do believe he would have asked me that if you hadn't come +in just when you did." + +"O Randy, it's a funny sight to see you provoked," said Jotham with a +hearty laugh. "I know that he is an inquisitive fellow. + +"You know I've been studying this summer with the young professor who has +been boarding at our house, and father has arranged it so that when he +returns to teach at the university I shall go back with him, not to the +college of course, but as his private pupil. I shall work very hard at my +studies and hope another year to enter college. + +"Well, father was speaking to Mr. Barnes of my aspirations, and his plans +for me, when Joel stepped over to where they stood talking, and said he, + +"'Ain't that goin' ter be pooty expensive, Mr. Potts, an' likely ter put +kind er high notions inter Jotham's head?' + +"Father turned and looked at him, then he said, + +"'I'm not likely to incur any bills which I am unable to meet, and as to +Jotham's head, I truly believe it is level.'" + +They both laughed to think of Joel's discomfiture, and under the shade of +overhanging branches they sat down upon a large rock at the side of the +road and Randy, turning toward Jotham said, + +"There, now I'll tell you what I could not tell this morning, because dear +little Prue cannot keep a secret, and you can, and will." + +[Illustration: "I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy.] + +"I will if you wish it, Randy," said Jotham. + +"Well then, these parcels are not for me, they are for someone else, and I +do not wish her to know where they came from, Jotham, are you willing to +go over to the Wilson farm to-night?" asked Randy. + +"I'd go to Joppa if you asked it," answered the boy with a laugh. + +"Then go to Molly's house after dark, and leave these bundles on the +doorstep. Knock loudly, and then run away just far enough so that you will +be able to see them taken in, and don't tell anyone about it. It's just a +nice little surprise and you and I will keep our secret." + +"It's a pleasure that you are planning, of that I am sure," said Jotham. + +"I'll tell you just one thing more," said Randy, "Molly Wilson is a nice +girl and she will be sixteen to-morrow." + +"Oh ho! A birthday gift! Well, I don't wonder you wish it to get there +to-night, but if I leave it and run, how will they know that the bundles +are for Molly?" + +"Oh, I must put her name on the parcels now," said Randy. + +Jotham produced a pencil and thinking that Molly might recognize her +writing, Randy printed in large letters this legend: + +"For Mollie Wilson, from one who loves her." + +After viewing her work with satisfaction, Randy said, + +"There, now they are all ready, but Jotham," she added a moment later, +"what will you do with them between now and twilight?" + +"I'll take the packages home, and as you wish no one to know about them, +I'll hide them in a safe place in our woodshed. When I start for Molly's +house I have to go in the same direction that I would if I were intending +to stop at Reuben Jenks' door, so I'll leave the presents at the Wilson's, +and stop at Reuben's on the way home; then if I'm known to have been at +Reuben's no one will guess that I was running about delivering presents." + +So at a bend of the road they parted, Jotham happy in the thought that he +had a part in one of Randy's plans, and at the same time doing her +bidding, and Randy wondering if Molly's delight when she looked at her +gifts would be as great as that which she had herself experienced in +sending them. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +GOSSIP + + +The sun shone down upon the dusty little "square," and the foliage of the +big willow tree near Barnes' store looked as if frosted, such a thick +coating of dust lay upon the leaves. + +At the trough beneath the tree an old gray horse stood alternately taking +a long draught of the clear water, and looking off across the square, as +if lost in meditation. + +A dragon-fly with steely wings lit upon the trough and, skilled little +acrobat, balanced upon the extreme edge as if thus to take in the full +beauty of old Dobbin's reflection. + +Exhaling a long breath as he lifted his shaggy head, the old horse sent a +shower of bright drops upon the dragon-fly who, considering the act to be +a great breach of etiquette, took zigzag flight across the sunny square, +and up the winding road toward the mill. + +It looked as if Dobbin might drink the trough dry if he chose, for an +animated conversation was in progress at Barnes' store, and his master was +one of the leaders in every discussion, whether the topic chanced to be +political, or simply a tale of village gossip. + +A chubby urchin made little hills of dust, using a well worn slipper for a +trowel, and Dobbin kicked and stamped impatiently, occasionally taking +another drink, and still the discussion went on. + +"Naow I argy, that a leetle deestrict school wus good 'nough fer me, an' +look at me! + +"Own my farm free an' clear, got a good lot er stock an' tools on the +place, an' I'm wuth two thousand dollars in cash!" + +The speaker was old Josiah Boyden, one of the "_see_lectmen," and a member +of the school committee. His greatest pride lay in the fact that he was a +self-made man, and truly he looked as if constructed upon a home made +pattern. + +The group of farmers, obedient to his command, turned and looked at the +speaker, while from behind the stove which, hot weather or cold, held the +place of honor in the centre of the store, a shrill voice ventured to +question the pompous owner of so great a property. + +"Be ye goin' ter say, Josiah, that every feller what's edicated at a +deestrict school can git ter own sech a fort'n as yourn?" + +"Huh! Wal, no, not exactly," was the admission, for while this good +committee-man was fighting a suggestion which had been made relative to +securing better quarters for the school which promised to be larger than +on any previous year, he did not wish to diminish his own glory by +inferring that any one, however bright, or ambitious, could possibly +arrive at his eminence. + +"I think, friends," said Parson Spooner in his soft, pleasant voice, "that +our scholars should be given every comfort and advantage which our +village can possibly afford to grant." + +"That's it, that's it," assented Josiah Boyden, "but the thing is, she +can't afford to offer nothin' extry beyond just what's set aside fer +schools." + +Again the squeaky voice from behind the stove made itself heard. "That's +the time, Josiah, when the taown can't afford it that cap'talists, such as +you say you be, oughter step right inter the gap an' help aout." + +"I've got a arrant daown ter the mill," remarked the offended +"_see_lectman," "an' I'm goin' right along ter 'tend to it, but I'll say +in leavin', thet I won't waste my breath a talkin' to a person with a mind +so narrer as ter s'pose fer a moment that private puss-strings hangs aout +fer every person who feels like it ter pull. I'm public sperited, every +one knows that, but I don't help support no institootion er larnin when I +got the hull er my edication at a deestrict school," and in intense +disgust he left the store followed by an irritating chuckle which, +although it came from behind the rusty old stove, reached the ears of +Boyden as he stamped down the rickety steps of the store and stalked +majestically across the square and up the road. + +He was sure of a sympathetic listener at the mill, for it was a well worn +saying in the village that the miller "agreed with everyone." + +The river which kept his mill running, wound its way through the next +village, where another grist mill was humming, and Martin Meers was far +too shrewd to permit himself to express a difference of opinion from that +held by a good customer, who in his wrath might take his grist to the +rival mill to be ground. + +Pondering over the "narrer minds" of those with whom he had been +conversing, Josiah Boyden tramped along the dusty road, becoming more +incensed with every step, as he thought of the individual who had presumed +to suggest that he might contribute toward the school fund, and still the +gossip at the store progressed, unhindered by the departure of the +"_see_lectman." + +"My Reuben," remarked Mr. Jenks, "made more progress in his studies last +season than he ever made before in two winters' work, and I feel that the +teacher deserves a deal of thanks fer stirring up such an interest. I +don't have the sort er feelin' that Boyden has. I stand ready and willin' +ter put my hand in my pocket ter help aout expenses, ef some others will +'gree ter chip in." + +"But there's a 'scuse fer Boyden," chuckled Nate Burnham, the old fellow +behind the stove, as he relighted his pipe, and puffed a few times to +determine if it intended to burn. "There's a sort er 'scuse fer Boyden," +he repeated, "fer his children have growd up, so he ain't got no use fer +schools, and fellers like him don't pay fer things they ain't a usin'." + +"Wal, I think we ought ter have a village improvement sarsiety fer the +benefit of us as is out'n school," remarked Joel Simpkins, thrusting his +hands deep into his pockets and tossing his head to shake back a +refractory lock of hay-colored hair. + +He was the "head clerk" at Barnes' store. To be sure he was, as a general +thing, the _only_ clerk, but Joel considered himself quite a personage, +and never referred to himself as other than head clerk. + +"Kinder had an idee that ye couldn't be improved, Joel," remarked a young +farmer who had thus far taken no part in the conversation. + +Joel looked sharply at the man, and vaguely wondered if possibly the +remark was sarcastic, but the face into which he peered was so genuinely +good natured that Joel was reassured, and he at once decided that only a +very fine compliment was intended. + +"I think we could fix up this 'ere square," said Joel, "ter begin with. +Take that old horse trough. That could be fixed up 'n' painted, 'n' that +willer tree; 'twouldn't hurt it ter give it a good preunin'. Growin' as it +does daown in the ditch, or puddle beside this store, it flourishes, an' +lops its limbs nigh onto across the square; an' the rickety fence beside +it ought ter be straightened up 'fore some of the fellers that are +perpetually leanin' 'gainst it pitch with it backward inter the ditch." + +"Wal, Joel, while yer 'baout it," remarked Silas Barnes, "why don't yer +suggest a brick block er two, an' pavin' stones in the square an' a few +other things such as I told ye I seen in Boston. 'Tain't wuth while ter +stop after ye git started ter make suggestions." + +"Speakin' of the teacher," remarked Mr. Potts, "I'm one that speaks in +favor of Miss Gilman every time, and Jotham seconds everything I say." + +"Lemme tell ye what my Timotheus is a doin' these days. I set him ter +hoeing fer me, and I tell ye ye'd like ter watch him a spell," said old +Mr. Simpkins, his face beaming with pride in his youngest son. + +"Fust he'd work the hoe with them long arms er his'n 'til the weeds an' +dirt flew like Hail Columby, and ye'd think he'd got goin' an' couldn't +halt, when all to onct he'd stop as ef somethin'd bit him, an' he'd drop +the hoe and begin ter gesticerlate and spaout like a preacher. + +"Pooty soon he'd make a grab fer the hoe, and agin the dirt would fly like +all fury. Next thing ye knew, daown'd go the hoe agin, and up would go his +arms, a sawin' the air like a windmill, an' there he'd be a spaoutin' an' +a elocutin' fit ter kill. Who but Timotheus would ever think of combinin' +hoein' an' elocutin'? I tell ye, he's the most possessed of 'rig'nal'ty of +any pusson I ever seen." + +"I wonder someone don't think he's a reg'lar loony, a carryin' on like +that," muttered Joel, filled with jealousy and disgust. + +Old Mr. Simpkins was deaf, and Joel's muttered remark passed unnoticed. + +"He ain't one er them fellers that can't do but one thing to a time. +T'other day I axed him ter bring two pail er water inter the barn, and +away he went ter git 'em. Anybody'd think a pail er water in each hand +oughter held him daown, but no sir, that feller came across the door-yard, +both pails full, an' his head in the air, his maouth wide open, and the +elocutin' a goin' on continoous." + +"Ef I thought fer a moment that edication would make any er my children +act like that, I vaow I'd keep 'em outer school fer one while," said a +farmer who had recently arrived in the village, and roars of laughter +followed this remark. + +As he was deaf, old Mr. Simpkins failed to catch the meaning of the +hilarity, so he construed it as it pleased him to, and when the laughter +had subsided, said, + +"I don't wonder ye laugh, ye didn't see him er doin' it, so ye don't know +haow he looked, but I tell ye 'twas a grand sight ter see a young feller +so eloquent that nothin' on airth could stop him." + +"Must 'a been a 'stonishing sight," agreed Mr. Jenks, "but naow, friends, +we've talked fer quite a spell on one thing or another, an we ain't much +nigher ter settlin' the question of a bigger schoolroom than when we +started. + +"Naow instead er hagglin' 'baout it, I b'lieve we'd better have a +committee meetin' called, and a reg'lar vote taken, an' I say right here +and naow, that I shall vote fer better quarters fer the school an' I'll +'gree, as I said, ter put my hand right in my pocket an' give the thing a +start. + +"Nathan Lawton gave the use of his best room fer a schoolroom last year, +an' 'twas kind an' generous fer him ter do it, but the village has been +growin' just amazin', an' this year shows a bigger list of inhabitants, +an' it 'pears as if most of the new comers had a family er children, so +something's got ter be done 'baout that school buildin'." + +"Good fer ye," squeaked old Nate Burnham, "an' I wish ye luck at the +meetin'." + +The village gossip was not monopolized by the frequenters of Barnes' +store. Indeed it seemed as if the place had taken on new life and +ambition, and if at any corner or turn of the road one chose to listen, he +could often hear a few stray bits of conversation in regard to the +interests which lay nearest to the hearts of the various newsmongers. + +Of all the tale-bearers, and there were many, none were as harmless, and +at the same time as busy as Mrs. Hodgkins. + +Walking down a shady lane one might espy her endeavoring to hold a +friendly confab with some busy farmer's wife who, while hanging out her +washing, endeavored to hold a clothespin in her mouth, and at the same +time answer Mrs. Hodgkins' frequent questions, such as, + +"Naow did ye ever hear anything ter beat that? + +"Ain't ye amazed at the idee?" + +Mrs. Hodgkins would on such occasions, lean against the rail fence and +bombard the busy woman alternately with bits of news, and pointed +questions until, the last piece of linen in place upon the line, the empty +basket would be a signal for adieus. + +Then Sophrony Hodgkins would meander down the lane, and if fortune favored +her, would find at the next farm-house its mistress possibly at the well +or sunning her milk pans in a corner of the door-yard. + +Immediately she would hail her with joy and proceed to repeat her own +stock of news with the addition of a few particulars gleaned from the +first friend. + +"Sophrony Hodgkins' stories," remarked old Nate Burnham, "remind me of the +snowballs we used ter roll and roll 'til from a leetle ball we finally by +rollin' an' trav'lin' got one bigger'n all creation. + +"She starts in with what _she's_ heard. Then she adds on what somebody +else has heard, and after that, what this one an' that one and t'other one +has heard, 'til the size of the yarn must astonish her." + +"I'll say one thing 'bout her, though," remarked Silas Barnes, "with all +her talkin' an' tellin' she never tells anything that's detrimental to +somebody's character. She's full er tellin' ordinary news, but when it +comes ter news that would stir up strife, Sophrony's got nothin' ter say; +so let her talk, I say, ef she enjoys it; she 'muses herself an' don't +hurt no one else." + +On the sunny morning when Barnes' store had been the scene of the gossip +and discussion in regard to the new quarters for the school, Sophrony +Hodgkins had made an early start on a "c'lection tour," as old Nate +Burnham would have called it. She had met Janie Clifton at the Pour +Corners, and had stopped for a chat with her, had waylaid Molly Wilson in +the middle of the road, in order to inquire for her mother and baby +sister, had stopped for a moment at Mrs. Jenks' door just to ask if she +had heard the wonderful news about Dot Marvin's old uncle Jehiel, had +paused to look over the wall at the new Jersey cow which old Mr. Simpkins +had recently purchased, and to casually inquire if Timotheus was intending +to again be a pupil at the deestrict school, bein's he'd growed so durin' +the summer'n seemed more like a man than a boy, and had asked little +Johnny Buffum what on airth his sister Hitty had her head tied up in hot +weather for, when beet juice dropped in her ear would cure her earache in +two minutes, and had been informed that, + +"Hitty hadn't got no earache, 'twas a bee sting on her cheek;" all this +and much more had filled Mrs. Hodgkins' mind so completely that she was +amazed to find that eleven o'clock had arrived, and that she must turn +about and hasten home if she wished to have dinner ready when the kitchen +clock struck twelve. + +"I'll git something on the table when Joel gits in from the field, though +land knows what it'll be with only an hour ter git it in," she muttered +between short, puffing breaths, for Mrs. Hodgkins was stout, and she had +already taken a long walk. + +The dinner was indeed an odd one, made up from what were termed by Mrs. +Hodgkins "odds and ends," but Joel Hodgkins was a patient man, and his +appetite was one which never needed tempting, so he partook of the viands +which his wife offered him with an apparent relish, and was soon at work +again in the field. + +Then Mrs. Hodgkins donned a fresh apron preparatory to going out, +remarking as she tied her sunbonnet strings with a twitch, + +"I reely must go over to Almiry's, it's only a step er two, and what's the +use of havin' a niece in the neighborhood ef not ter tell news ter, an' +what's the use er hearin' news an' keepin' it ter yourself? + +"I'll git home in time ter bake a batch er gingerbread fer tea," she +continued, "Joel's paowerful fond er gingerbread an' it'll sort er pay +him fer eatin' such a dinner with such endurin' patience." + +Almira Meeks lay back in the big old fashioned rocker, too tired, she +declared, to care "whether school kept or not." + +Meek in name and in nature, there was not a day that she did not overwork, +and when the forenoon's tasks were completed, she would lie back exhausted +in the big old chair, only to be reprimanded if her husband chanced to +come in, for "havin' so little energy." It was with delight that she +welcomed Aunt Sophrony, saying: + +"Do tell me all the news. I'm nearly always too tired to go out and hear +any." + +"Ye do look tuckered," remarked Mrs. Hodgkins, "but hearin' the things +I've got ter tell will interest ye, an' make ye feel reel perky. Ye +needn't feel ye've got ter talk, fer I kin talk 'nough fer two. + +"When I started aout this morning, the fust pusson I see was Janie +Clifton, an' what on airth do ye think she's been up to?" + +Almira shook her head, to show her utter inability to guess what Janie's +latest notion might be. + +"Well, she got an idee that we was all behind the times up here, an' +needed a leetle fixin' up, an' she wondered ef she could slip inter the +chink an' fill the place she thought she see a gapin', an' take in a +leetle money at the same time. + +"She's 'mazing sot when she gits her mind on a thing, an' she talked it +over ter hum and carried the day; and she's been daown ter Boston these +past few months a learnin' dressmakin', when we all thought she was a +visitin'. + +"Naow she's set up fer herself, an' any of us that has an idee of lookin' +spreuced up, and has a leetle cash ter go with the notion, can buy the +goods fer a gaown at Barnes', an' go right up ter the room over his store +and be measured by Janie fer a fashionable fit. + +"Ef some of our husband's doesn't git fashionable fits when they hear the +extravagance Janie's a teachin' we'll be lucky. + +"I'll tell ye naow, Almiry, I'm goin' ter have a gaown cut by Janie come +fall, ef it takes all the egg money ter pay fer it!" + +"Why Aunt Sophrony!" was all the astonished Almira could ejaculate. Such +splendid courage was quite beyond the meek little woman's comprehension. + +"Miss Wilson's baby has cut another tooth, that makes five, an' she's a +doin' well too," continued Mrs. Hodgkins, "but that ain't a flea bite to +what I heerd next. + +"Ye know the Marvin's old Uncle Jehiel, him that lived with them five year +an' then went off, nobody knows where, without sayin' a word to 'em? Well, +he's been heard from! A lawyer has writ ter Jack Marvin's father sayin' +there's a will, an' sech a will I'll be baound wuz never heerd of before! + +"He's left five hundred dollars ter come ter Jack when he's twenty-one, ef +by that time he's given any sign of 'mountin' ter anything as a scholar, a +farmer, a preacher or a storekeeper. + +"Did ye ever hear anything like the choice? + +"An' then he says, the old rascal, that ef by that time he hasn't made +something of himself in one or t'other er them things, that the money can +be given ter his cousin Dot, whatever she's done or hasn't done, bein's +he's never expected anything of her, she bein' only a girl. + +"That made me bile when I heerd it, fer the old critter ought ter think +pretty well er girls and women. They say, as er boy he lived with his aunt +who gave him a good edication; a cousin er his'n, a woman by the way, set +him up in business, an' this money he's made his grand will fer was left +him by his wife, so ye'd think he'd feel thankful and kind toward all +women, but ye can't caount on folks." + +"I'd a thought he'd a left the money ter be divided between Jack an' Dot, +'twould a sounded pleasanter," said Almira. + +"Ef ye ever saw old Jehiel Marvin ye'd never expect anything very pleasant +of him," responded Mrs. Hodgkins. + +"But lemme tell ye the greatest! + +"Timotheus Simpkins ain't goin' ter the deestrict school this year, fer +the reason that his father says he's learned all there is ter learn, an' +there ain't nothing left that the teacher can tell him, so he's goin' ter +stay aout and help on the farm an' spend all his spare time on +literatoor! + +"That's what old Mr. Simpkins says, what on airth do ye s'pose he means?" + +Aunt Sophrony waited for her niece to solve the mystery, but the problem +was too great for her to grasp, and as Mrs. Hodgkins rose to go, Almira +begged her to question Timotheus if she chanced to meet him, and find out +just what he intended to do with his spare time, and to learn if possible +in what way "literatoor" was to form a part of his daily life. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE DISTRICT SCHOOL + + +The meeting held for the purpose of deciding that the town could or could +not afford to furnish suitable accommodations for its pupils proved to be +a most exciting affair. + +Josiah Boyden filled with indignation that the matter should have been +thought worthy of consideration after he had spoken so vehemently against +it at Barnes' store, sat pompous and important near the door, fully +determined to crush any suggestion which might be offered. + +Mr. Potts and Mr. Jenks early in the evening inquired the amount which the +town had set aside for the school. Upon learning the sum, each at once +agreed to contribute a quarter of the balance needed if others would make +up the remaining half. + +"I have two scholars for the school," said Mr. Weston, "and if Mr. Potts, +who intends to have a private tutor for his son, is willing to give a +quarter of the sum needed, I'm sure I'll do the same." + +"Three cheers for three quarters!" squeaked old Nate Burnham, from a seat +in the corner, and in the midst of the din old Sandy McLeod arose and +thumped his cane upon the floor for order. + +"I'll gie the remainin' quarter, an' add ten dollars to't that my Margaret +sent, sayin' in her gentle way, 'It may gie some added comfort to the +place wherever 'tis chosen.'" + +Wild applause greeted this characteristic speech. Sandy's eyes twinkled as +he sat down and he remarked to his next neighbor, "That mon Boyden has a +scowl that wad sour meelk." + +After much discussion, it was decided that a large, vacant farm-house, +centrally located, could be purchased and fitted for a schoolhouse at a +less expense than the building of a new structure would incur, and in +spite of Josiah Boyden's fuming and Nate Burnham's chuckling, in spite of +much murmuring on the part of a few frugal minded farmers, the moneyed +element carried the day, and under the twinkling stars the triumphant +members of that assemblage took their homeward way, filled with the joy of +victory. + +The money pledged was as promptly paid, and work upon the building was +commenced at once, and when September arrived it stood ready to receive +the scholars, a better schoolhouse than the average country village could +boast. + +One of the first to inspect it was Mrs. Sophrony Hodgkins. It would have +made her very unhappy to have had its good points described to her and +have been unable to say, + +"Oh, yes, I know, I saw it fust." + +Accordingly on the day that school was to open, she made an early start +and before any pupils thought of arriving she had inspected every part of +the building, decided that she approved of it in every particular, and +had sallied forth to describe it to all her friends. + +As she sped along the road, a brisk, bustling figure, the little squirrels +raced along the wall, sure that she intended to capture them; but one less +timid than his mates, sat upon his little haunches on an old stump, and +chattered and scolded as she passed as if offended by the stir which she +was making. + +A slouching figure leaned upon the top rail of the fence at the side of +the road and its attitude, together with the singular expression of the +face beneath the hat brim, piqued Mrs. Hodgkins' curiosity. + +"What on airth!"--she began, but the figure did not move. + +"Going ter be deef like his father, I wonder?" she murmured, then raising +her voice she exclaimed, + +"I say, Timotheus, what on airth be ye a dreaming of this bright mornin' +'stead er gittin' ready fer school?" + +A moment longer the boy stood staring at the sky, then as if slowly, and +with an effort coming down to earth again, he looked down upon the woman +who had interrupted him as he said, + +"I heered ye, Mis' Hodgkins the fust time ye spoke, but when I'm a +thinkin' a thought, I ain't apt ter answer." + +"Good gracious!" ejaculated Mrs. Hodgkins, "I hope fer the good of yer +family, ye don't think 'em often." + +"I'm allus er workin' ter improve my intellec'; that's why I ain't er +goin' ter school. Got so I knowed all the teacher knowed last year, so +'tain't nothin' but a waste er time ter think of goin' this year." + +"Yer father said ye was goin' ter devote yer time ter literatoor; what d' +he mean by that, Timotheus?" asked Mrs. Hodgkins. + +"Wall, I'll have ter help on the farm, but between chores, I expect ter be +readin' what literatoor we own. On the shelf in our parlor we've got the +almanic, a New England Primer, a book er Martyrs, a book called Book er +Beauty, another with a yaller kiver called the Pirate's Den, and one more +called The Letter Writer, 'n' I guess by the time I've read all them I'll +know a heap. Father says he expects I'll do somethin' wonderful yet, 'n' I +guess he's 'baout right." + +"Well of all the"--but here she checked herself, and bidding him a hasty +good morning, she hurried on, lest her disgust should make itself heard. + +Timotheus Simpkins still leaned upon the rail fence, as if he had +forgotten her; apparently he was once more "thinkin' a thought." + +"I guess I better write that daown before I fergit it," he remarked a few +moments later, as he started towards the house, his hands clasped behind +his back and his gaze riveted upon space. Some great thought was evidently +about to be transferred to paper. + +If Timotheus failed to appreciate the opportunity offered the young people +of the town to obtain an education, he stood alone in his ignorance and +egotism. + +At the hour for the opening of school all the pupils of the year before +were present and many new ones waited to be assigned to their respective +classes. + +Prue and Randy were surrounded by their friends upon their arrival, and +between the Babson girls stood little Hi Babson, their cousin, whose +mother had determined that during his three months' visit he should attend +school. Taking his hand, Belinda walked to the teacher's desk with a view +to introducing him. + +"This is my little cousin," she began, but was promptly interrupted by Hi +who remarked, + +"I ain't little, I'm a big boy." + +"And he wants to come to school, Miss Gilman." + +"No I don't want ter come ter school, an' I wouldn't only ma made me," +remarked Hi, determined to have his attitude plainly understood. + +Miss Gilman smiled as she looked at the rebellious little face, saying, +kindly, "Perhaps you will enjoy school when you are acquainted with some +of the scholars." + +"I know Randy Weston's little sister, and I'd like ter sit side of her; +she's some fun, 'sides she's littler'n I be," said Hi. + +Miss Gilman thought best to humor this, his first request, so he took his +seat beside Prue who smiled sweetly upon him, and the small boy at once +decided that school with Prue for a friend might be as attractive as +staying at home under the watchful eyes of Grandma Babson. + +"It's only quarter of nine," Phoebe Small was saying, "and I rushed about +like everything, thinking I should be late." + +"I didn't have to hurry," said Randy, laughing, "for I was so sure that I +was late when I awoke, that I never looked to see what time it was, but +flew around doing what I could before breakfast toward getting ready for +school. Then I began to wonder why mother didn't call me, and I looked at +the clock. It was an hour before breakfast time!" + +"Oh what a waste of strength," said Jack Marvin, with a well affected +yawn. "I got started first and called fer my cousin Dot, and by tugging +her all the way I managed to get her here, too." + +The Langham twins, to whom Jack was very attentive, looked at each other +in amazement. They admired Jack, but was he untruthful? The idea that he +was joking never occurred to them. + +Reuben Jenks described them as "joke proof," as they had never been known +to see the point of any witticism, and if it chanced to be explained +to them they would stare placidly at the speaker and then invariably +remark, + +"Why I don't call that funny." + +"I'm going to tell Miss Gilman that my name is Dorothea. I'm tired of +being called Dot, 'specially as I'm round and dumpy," remarked Jack's +cousin resolutely. + +"I'll call you Dorothea every time as loud as I can roar it, see if I +don't," said Jack, but as Miss Gilman touched her bell just at this +moment, Jack was obliged to wait for an opportunity to address his cousin +by her full name. + +As the scholars were taking their places in the seats which had been +assigned them, Molly Wilson entered, looking very pretty in a gown of a +dark, rich red and a pair of new boots which squeaked with every step. + +"Her new dress is just like yours," whispered Dot Marvin to Randy, but +Randy, whose cheeks were suddenly very pink, seemed not to have heard, and +Dot was obliged to be contented with looking from Molly's dress to Randy's +and wondering how it happened that they chanced to be alike. + +The scholars from the youngest to the oldest were loud in their praise of +the new school, and delighted that Miss Gilman was again their faithful +teacher, but in the merry throng there was one who found it difficult to +be content, and that was Phoebe Small. That the schoolroom was warm and +cheerful, that there was plenty of room, and ample opportunity for study +counted for little since she had set her heart upon going to boarding +school, and therefore an ordinary day school seemed a very tame affair. + +At recess she confided to Dot Marvin that she didn't see why ma couldn't +approve of having her daughter at a boarding school since she (Mrs. Small) +attended one when she was a girl. + +"I'd 'nough sight rather be at home," drawled Dot, "even with my cousin +Jack to tease me. When he goes a little too far I can hit back by teasing +him 'bout the Langham twins. That always stops him. But Phoebe," she +continued, "I shouldn't think you would like to go away to school. They'd +all be strangers and seems to me you'd be lonesome and homesick." + +"That's what ma said, but I wanted to try it. I can't, it seems, so I've +got to stay here and try to think I like it," said Phoebe, with an +expression upon her face of extreme dissatisfaction. + +In another part of the yard an animated conversation of quite a different +character was in progress. Little Hi Babson and Prue Weston were swinging +upon the gate. + +"Why how naughty," Prue was saying. "I shouldn't a thought you'd dare to." + +"Well, I did," Hi answered. "I didn't want ter come ter school, so ter pay +'em fer makin' me, I hid the clock key so they can't wind the clock. I +dropped it inter the m'lasses jug, 'n' I guess to-morrer mornin' they +won't know what time ter send me ter school. + +"I've took the basket er clothes-pins and lowered 'em down the well; I've +took an hid Grandma Babson's best cap, 'cause she said 'That boy needs a +lickin'.' Want ter know where I put it? Up in the barnloft on the hay. I +did somethin' else too. I put a wad er paper in the dinner horn. Won't +they be mad when they try to blow it? I guess they'll be sorry they made +me go ter school." + +"Oh, but that's naughty!" cried Prue. "I'd think you'd be most afraid to +be so _very_ naughty. What'll they do when you get home?" + +Hi's face lost its hilarious expression. + +"I ain't got home yet," he said. + +The boys and girls had returned to their lessons with all the eager +enthusiasm which had been a characteristic of the school when Miss Gilman +had first taken it, but the young teacher could not but contrast this +"first day" with that of the year before. Then, there had been little +order; now, there was perfect concord with every pupil striving to do his +best. + +Here and there an unruly member of the primary class caused a disturbance, +but as a whole, the pupils were both quiet and studious. + +When school closed Randy and Prue with a troop of friends walked along the +road toward home, talking of the little events of the day and exulting +over their fine schoolhouse, the large yard and full classes. + +"Didn't it seem odd to see so many new scholars this year?" said Randy. +"We must get acquainted with them and help them to enjoy our little +pleasures." + +"That is what you and Jotham did when I moved here last year," said Molly +Wilson, "and oh, Randy, I never could begin to tell you how in my heart I +thanked you when you came and spoke to me that first lonesome day at +school." + +"I knew that I should be glad to have some one speak to me if I had only +strangers about me," said Randy, sweetly. + +"How we shall miss Jotham this year," said Reuben Jenks. + +"He's going on with his studies with the professor here at home this +month, but the first of October he's to be in Cambridge. The tutor goes +back there to teach at the college and Jotham is to board near the +university, he says, and have private teachin'." + +"You'll miss him, Randy, won't you?" queried little Prue. + +"We shall all wish that he were with us," was Randy's discreet answer. +Suddenly Prue exclaimed, + +"You've got a new dress, Molly; it's a beauty, and it's just like my +Randy's." + +"So it is," said Molly. "I had a birthday a short time ago, and I had a +pair of mittens which mother had knit for me to wear this winter, some +candy, some shoes and this lovely dress." + +"Who gived you the dress?" asked Prue, innocently. + +"That's what I'd like to know," was Molly's answer. "It was sent to me, +and on the bundle it said, 'From one who loves you.' I'd give much to tell +the one who sent it how lovely I think it is." + +"I like mine better than any dress I've had," said Randy, "and since you +think it pretty it's nice that yours is like it." + +"I don't know as I'd care what gowns I had if I'd been allowed to go to +boarding school," said Phoebe Small. "This school is pleasant enough, I +like the teacher and of course I like the girls and boys." + +"'Specially the boys," remarked Reuben Jenks, when a scowl from Phoebe +silenced him. + +"I think it would be great fun to go away somewhere. I don't know as I +care where, and see a new school and new faces. 'Twouldn't prevent keeping +all my old friends just because I made new ones," said Phoebe in a +disconsolate voice. "It's just no use to wish," she continued, "for I +wished last night when I saw the moon over my right shoulder, and I don't, +know how many times I've wished when I've seen the first little star at +night. This morning I found a horse shoe, and stood on it wishing with all +my might that ma would let me just try boarding school for one term and I +guess that old horse shoe just about finished it, for I ran in and asked +ma again, and she put down the pan that she had in her hand and says she, + +"'Phoebe Small, if you ask me that again, I believe I shall fly. I've +said no to it repeatedly and I meant it. Now, hurry and get ready for +school; you'll find there's something yet to be learned there, I'll be +bound.'" + +"Never mind, Phoebe," said Randy, "it's disappointing if you so wished to +go, but think how we should have missed you." + +"O Randy, to think that you would have missed me makes me almost glad to +stay here," said Phoebe, with a bright tear upon her lashes. + +It was over a year since Phoebe had resolved to conquer her "unruly +tongue" as she described it, and although at times a sharp saying escaped +her lips she was really a very different girl from the Phoebe of the year +before. That she was in earnest was evident, for if some careless speech +chanced to hurt one of her friends, she promptly acknowledged her fault, +and grasped the first opportunity to do some little kindness which should +thus give proof that her regret was sincere. + +Of Jotham the boys and girls saw but little, his new studies requiring +strict application, and only at rare intervals was it possible for him to +find a few leisure moments for Randy, and when October came it was with +regret that he said "good-bye," although his heart was full of +anticipation. + +"You will miss me, Randy?" he had asked, and Randy had answered frankly, + +"I shall, indeed. Every one who has ever known you will miss you, Jotham." + +At the village school the weeks had passed with cheerful monotony. Lessons +were learned and recited with a regularity which failed to be tedious +since the pupils possessed much enthusiasm. + +The little ones, especially Prue Weston and Hi Babson furnished amusement +for the older classes, Prue with her unique answers, and Hi with his +countless pranks. + +Upon one occasion, Miss Gilman, thinking to make a little problem clear by +using names of well known objects asked, "If I had five pears and gave +you two, Prue, how many would that leave?" + +"'Twouldn't be half," said Prue, "so 'twouldn't be fair." + +At another time Prue was much interested in a little picture in her +arithmetic which represented a man walking beside a horse and cart. + +"If it takes a horse two hours to drag a load of stones to town," said +Miss Gilman, "how long--" + +"But," interrupted Prue, "if it took the horse as long as that, why didn't +the man hitch on another horse?" + +Laughter greeted this original solving of the problem by practical little +Prue, and Miss Gilman decided that examples expressed in ordinary numbers +would be far better for this little girl who found an odd question for +every pictured problem. + +Thus the days passed. The Sundays spent at the old meeting-house, and the +week-days filled with work at home and at school, with a running +accompaniment of gossip filling the spaces. + +But one morning something occurred which filled the scholars with +excitement, and aroused the interest or curiosity of nearly every one in +the village. + +Randy Weston had received a letter from Boston, and such a letter, too! + + + + +CHAPTER V + +RANDY'S JOURNEY + + +"Jest the moment I git these dishes done and a few other little chores +that I can't leave standin', I'll run over to Almiry's and see 'f she's +heerd 'bout the Boston letter that Randy Weston got. My! but that was a +letter wuth gittin'. + +"I don't b'lieve Almiry's heerd 'bout it, an' I'm baound to be the fust +one ter tell her," said Mrs. Sophrony Hodgkins. + +Soon her tasks were completed, and she went the shortest way across the +fields to tell the news, as if she feared that it might spoil if kept too +long. + +Mrs. Jenks, on her way home from the village paused at the gate to ask her +friend, Mrs. Marvin, if she had heard the news, and found that she had +already been told of the contents of the letter, and was glad to hear of +Randy's good luck. + +"'Tain't every girl I'd be so glad fer," said Mrs. Marvin, "but Randy's +such a sweet girl I like ter think of this plan which will, no doubt, give +her pleasure." + +"So do I," said Matilda Jenks, "an' I fer one shall be on hand ter wish +her joy." + +In the little workroom over Barnes' store, Janie Clifton sat humming +cheerfully, her needle flying in and out of the long ruffle which she was +hemming. + +"I'm making the people here look better than they ever did before," +thought Janie, with pardonable pride in her ability. "I make Mrs. +Brimblecom look ever so much less hefty, and I'm sure Mrs. Hodgkins says +she never looked as well in any gown she ever wore, as in the one I +finished for her last week. + +"And that skinny woman, now whatever was her name? She looked almost plump +in her new dress last Sunday." + +As she stopped to thread her needle, she gave utterance to the thought +which at that moment occupied her mind. + +"I b'lieve I'll go over to call on Mrs. Weston to-night, and p'raps she'll +ask me to help her, in fact, I should think she'd _have_ to." + +A passing figure caused her to look out of the window. + +"Well what a looking piece of headgear!" she remarked. "Lucky I took up +millinery when I was learning dressmakin'. I'll go over to the Weston's +to-night, see if I don't," and she nodded approvingly to her reflection in +the long mirror, a bit of furniture which Janie had felt to be a necessary +adjunct to her rooms. + +Even old Mrs. Brimblecom had a word to say. + +"I declare, Jabez," she remarked at the dinner table, "I'm reel glad fer +Randy Weston. This doos seem ter be a chance fer her ter see somethin' an' +gain a leetle extry in the way of edication." + +"Umph!" remarked Jabez, as he helped himself to a third potato, "'S you +say, it's a chance fer her, an' she's a likely sort er girl,--pass the +salt, will ye?--but I hope it won't poke her head full er notions,--I'll +thank ye fer a biscuit,--so's when she comes home she won't remember who +any of us be." + +At the table Jabez Brimblecom's conversation was always a mixture of +gossip and numerous requests for food, so that his wife, accustomed to +this trait, was able to understand what he wished to say, and could make +connected meaning out of what seemed to be a jumble of ideas. + +"Oh, Randy will be Randy wherever she is," said Mrs. Brimblecom. + +"Wal, I guess she will,--I'll take a leetle more tea," replied Jabez. + +"And one of the best girls I ever knew," said his wife. + +"I've always known ye set a store by Randy,--I'm ready fer pie naow," +replied Jabez, and when he had finished his dinner, he darted out of the +house as if in another moment the farm would have been ruined had it not +received his immediate attention. + +Every one who met Randy stopped her saying, "Got a letter from Boston, +didn't ye?" until Prue who was usually with her would say, + +"Why, Randy, how _does_ everybody know you got a letter?" + +"In the same way that everyone knows everything in this village," Randy +would answer with a laugh. + +In the midst of all this excitement Randy walked as if on air. Could it be +true, really true that she, Randy Weston, was actually going to Boston? + +The letter which had filled Randy's heart with delight had come from her +friend Helen Dayton, the lovely young girl who had spent one summer as a +guest of Mrs. Gray, a near neighbor of the Weston's. + +She had made a flying trip to the village at Christmas, bringing with her +the choicest of gifts for Randy and Prue, assuring Randy that they should +soon meet again. Randy had thought much of the promise, but never dreamed +of so delightful a fulfilment. + +Near Miss Dayton's home a fine private school had been opened, which +offered every advantage for girls of Randy's age. One of Helen's friends +had been chosen for one of its teachers, and it had occurred to her that +Randy might attend this school during the winter months, making her home +with herself and her aunt. + +"I should like to meet this young girl who has so pleased you, Helen," her +aunt had said, "but how would she like city girls, do you think, and on +the other hand, would they like and appreciate her?" + +"I would trust Randy to make friends anywhere," Helen had said, and +seating herself at her dainty desk, she wrote the letter containing the +invitation and full particulars in regard to the school. + +Randy, with a heart filled with anticipation, promptly answered the letter +telling of her eager acceptance, and rode to the Centre with her father to +mail it. + +Then followed such a wonderful series of shopping trips to Barnes' store, +and over to the next town which boasted an establishment called the Dry +Goods Emporium. + +With Mrs. Weston and Randy went Janie Clifton to advise them in regard to +the wisest choice of pretty things for Randy's appearance in the city. + +Fortunately Janie was possessed of good taste and while learning her trade +in the city she had, whenever possible, snatched a few moments to study +the best models of gowns and millinery which the great stores displayed. +She had invested in all the leading fashion books and fashion plates, and +her room over Barnes' store was gay with pictured figures of women and +children in rainbow attire. + +To say that Mrs. Weston was astonished when she had first looked upon the +fashion plates would be to express it very mildly. + +"Well, Janie Clifton!" she had ejaculated, "I can't think er lettin' you +make Randy look like that!" as she pointed to the figure of a young girl +in a street costume of flaming red, her head adorned with a walking hat +which was decorated with a phenomenally long quill. + +"Look at the toe er that shoe!" was the next remark. "The whole foot ain't +bigger'n my spectacle case, and 'bout as much shape to it." + +But Janie comforted her by assuring her that the plates usually showed the +extreme in fashion, and that Randy could be made to look very nice indeed +without following exactly any one pattern in every detail. + +Thus far Janie's orders had been but a single dress for a customer, so she +was much elated when commissioned to make three for Randy, and also to +select and trim two hats for her. Mrs. Weston's idea of "one for best and +one for everyday" had, by cautious urging upon Janie's part, been +stretched to the extent of adding "one more for second best." + +During the drive over to the "Emporium," Janie asked abruptly, "Didn't +Miss Dayton say somethin' 'bout a party in that letter she sent to Randy?" + +"Why yes," said Mrs. Weston, "she says that while Randy's there, she'll +give a little party for her, but why did ye ask?" + +"Well, I was thinkin' that means a party dress," remarked Janie. + +"A party dress!" gasped Mrs. Weston in astonishment. "Why that would be +her best dress, wouldn't it? Probably that's what the other girls would +wear." + +Now it happened that during her apprenticeship Janie had helped to make a +number of party dresses for young girls, so it was with a deal of +assurance that she answered her patron. + +"I don't know what a lot of city misses would think if Miss Dayton was +kind enough to give the party for Randy, and Randy appeared in just her +_best dress_," said Janie with a bit of emphasis. + +"Well, well I didn't know ye was expected ter dress different fer a party, +excepting that ye'd likely 'nough dress up some. Her father said when we +started out this morning, + +"'Git whatever Randy needs ter make her look right, and at the same time +honor Miss Dayton, since she's kind 'nough to ask Randy to her home,' so +if she needs a party gown why we'll choose one, but I tell ye again, +Janie, don't ye make her look like one er them wooden-lookin' girls er +prancin' about on the fashion plates, fer I couldn't stand that." + +With a commendable determination to make for Randy a dainty party gown +which should at the same time be sufficiently simple in style to please +Mrs. Weston, Janie chose a thin white muslin with white ribbons for its +only trimming. + +"I like that for a party dress, only it seems a little cool fer winter," +remarked Mrs. Weston, "but I s'pose she will wear extry flannels under +it." + +"Not if I know it," said Janie under her breath, for she had her own ideas +for making the dress, and thick flannels to completely hide the +transparency of the muslin were not included in her plan. Janie laid the +muslin and ribbon aside and commenced work upon the other gowns. + +The "best" gown was a dark blue cloth with velvet trimmings, and the hat +which she was to wear with it was of the same shade with dark blue +feathers drooping over the brim. + +Randy felt this to be almost too fine to wear and she touched the soft +feathers with caressing fingers before placing the hat upon her pretty +head. + +"Oh, it looks just a little like Miss Dayton's hats," exclaimed Randy, as +she looked in the mirror at this triumph of Janie's millinery skill. + +For the long ride in the cars and for general street and school wear, +there was a cute little suit of gray wool, and a hat of gray felt with +some smart gray wings. + +Randy was delighted with the suit and her eyes sparkled when she +experienced the joy of "trying it on." + +The party gown, the first which she had ever seen, was to her a dream of +loveliness. It was very simply made, as befitted this fair little country +maid. The skirt made quite plain, the waist cut out ever so little in the +neck, just enough to show the round, white throat, the modest elbow +sleeves and white satin ribbon trimmings filled Randy with speechless +delight as she stared at the sweet reflection in the mirror. + +When at last she spoke she said, + +"Oh, Janie, how _could_ you make me look so nice?" + +"I guess some of the good looks are your own, Randy," Janie answered, +which caused Randy to blush most becomingly. + +Monday was a busy day at the farm-house, and Mrs. Weston had said, "I +can't spare the time to go over to Janie's this afternoon, but she wants +ye ter try on one of yer gowns and ye can run over there after school. +She'll know whether it looks right or not without any help from me." + +So leaving Prue to trudge home with Johnny Buffum as an escort, she had +experienced great delight in seeing herself for the first time in a dainty +party gown. + +"Won't mother be surprised when I try on the pretty party dress for her to +see?" thought Randy as she hurried on toward home. + +Like many another bit of gossip set afloat in a country town, the story of +the letter from Boston together with descriptions of Randy's costumes +gained with every repetition, until one day on the way from the Centre, +Randy was astonished to be thus addressed, + +"Wal, how be ye Randy? I hear ye're havin' a tremenjous lot er gaowns made +ter take ter Boston with ye." + +The speaker was a woman whom Randy had seen but a few times, and she was +therefore surprised when the team stopped at the side of the road and its +occupant accosted her. + +"It is true that mother is having Janie Clifton make some things for me," +said Randy. + +"Wal, I live on the other side er the place," the woman continued, "an' so +I'm a leetle out er the way er hearin' news, so I'd like reel well ter +know; _be_ ye goin' ter have twelve gaowns, five cloaks, an' a half er +dozen hats as they say ye be?" + +"No, that isn't true," said Randy, her flushed cheeks showing that she +resented being thus questioned by a woman who was almost a stranger. +Turning, she hurried on toward home, and the curious one, giving the horse +a smart clip drove off muttering, + +"Gitting uppish 'fore she gits ter Boston. Do'no what she'll be when she's +stayed there a spell." + +At school, her mates were glad that Randy was to have so delightful a +winter, and many and varied were the comments and speculations regarding +it. + +"It'll be stupid here without you, Randy," said Dot Marvin, "I don't know +but that we shall all go to sleep, while you're a flyin' round in the +city." + +"I don't expect to do much flying," said Randy, laughing. "I shall be +working at school there instead of this school at home. You must all write +to me and tell me what you are doing, and I'll be glad enough to answer +you." + +"Indeed we will," said Reuben Jenks. "Let's write Randy a long letter, +each one of us writing a part of it and send it along to Boston, just to +show her what we can do when we try." + +"Oh, what fun!" said Randy, "it will seem as if you were with me when I +read a long letter in which all my friends are represented." + +"Lemme print something in it, Reuben, will you? I want to be in the big +letter, too," cried little Prue. + +"I guess I will let you," Reuben answered heartily. "What kind of a letter +would it be if you didn't have a hand in it, Prue?" + +"I'd like to be going to Boston if it wasn't for one thing," said Molly +Wilson, "and that's those city girls." + +"Oh, ho, Molly. I thought you were shy, and it ain't city girls you hanker +for? Then it must be city boys," said Reuben. + +"'Tis not, Reuben Jenks," said Molly, with unusual vim; "'tis not any such +thing, it's just that I'd be 'fraid those horrid city girls were watching +everything I did and thinking me countryfied." + +"Well, I shall not let that idea make me uncomfortable," said Randy, +stoutly. "I _am_ a country girl, and if they say so, they will not be +telling me anything new or surprising; beside, I think that there must be +nice girls in the city as well as among us here. I intend to like them, +and I hope that they will like me." + +"They'll be precious queer girls if they don't," said Jack Marvin. + +"I wanted to go to boarding school," said Phoebe Small, "but I didn't +mean a city school. Seems to me I'd rather 'twouldn't be city girls to get +acquainted with. Don't you wish they were not city girls, Randy?" + +"I believe that there are just as pleasant girls in Boston as there are +here, and I look forward to meeting them," said Randy. + +She spoke bravely and truthfully, yet afterward when in her little chamber +the conversation recurred to her, Randy found herself wondering if the +meeting between herself and these girls who were to be her classmates +during her stay in Boston would, after all, be as delightful as she had +fondly believed. + +Randy's pleasure at the thought of meeting them had been genuine, and so +friendly and sincere was she, that until the idea was suggested by Dot +Marvin it had never occurred to her that the meeting could be aught but +delightful. + +"I ought not to think that there could be anything which is not charming +where Miss Dayton is, and I believe I'm silly to let Dot's remarks make +me the least bit uneasy. I'll start intending to like every girl I meet, +and who knows? Perhaps I shall," she said with a laugh, and a nod at her +happy face reflected in the tiny mirror. + +During all the planning and preparation for Randy's departure, Prue had +been eager to see the pretty new dresses, had insisted upon seeing the +hats and gloves, and had talked of little else at home or at school. +Indeed, the little girl had been so happy in the thought of the promised +pleasure for her sister, that she had not seemed to realize how much the +parting would really mean. + +But when the morning arrived on which Randy was to start, and dressed in +her smart gray suit she stood waiting for her trunk to be placed in the +back of the wagon, Prue seemed all at once to understand that Randy's long +stay in Boston meant loneliness for her little self. As the thought swept +through her mind, its full meaning came to her, and she did what she had +never been known to do in all her sunny little life. Throwing herself +upon the great braided rug near the door she cried out, + +"O Randy, my Randy, I can't let you go!" + +Randy stooped and gathered the dear little sister to her breast, saying, + +"I'm not going to stay always, dear. Look up, Prue, while I tell you. I'll +write you nice long letters, and you shall write to me, and I'll send you +something 'way from Boston. Won't that be nice? Come, kiss me, Prue. I +want to think of you smiling instead of crying, dear." + +Choking back her sobs, Prue made a brave effort to smile, but it was not +much of a success, and Randy found it difficult to say good-bye with even +a semblance of cheerfulness. She possessed a singularly loving and tender +nature, and this was the first time that she had left home, so that while +her heart was full of anticipation, it was impossible for her to go +without feeling keenly the parting. + +Tears filled her sweet eyes, as turning to her mother she said, + +"The planning has been so delightful, and I have been anticipating so much +that I have looked forward to this morning when I should start, but now +the time has come I almost wish I'd never said I'd go." + +"I know just how ye feel, Randy," said Mrs. Weston, "an' I must say 'twas +easier ter plan ter have ye go than ter say good-bye. Ye must cheer up, +though, and look bright an' happy when ye meet Miss Dayton in Boston. The +long ride in the cars will be new to ye, and ye must remember that yer +Aunt Prudence is ter be with us while ye're away, ter help me an' ter keep +me from bein' too lonesome, fer mercy knows how I shall miss ye. + +"I want ye should go, though; it's a great chance fer ye, and don't forget +ter write, Randy. I couldn't stand that," and Mrs. Weston's voice had in +it a suspicion of a sob. + +"Oh, I could not forget you all," said Randy, then with a kiss and a +clinging embrace she clambered into the wagon to a seat beside her father, +and her mother's waving handkerchief and Prue's little face with its +quivering lip were photographed upon her mind as she rode to the Centre to +take the train. + +They talked but little on the way to the depot. Randy found it a task to +keep her tears from falling, and the expression of her father's face told +more plainly than words what this parting cost. When her trunk had been +taken charge of and Randy had chosen a seat, her father bent to kiss her, +saying as he did so, + +"God bless ye, child! I never knew 'till ter-day what it meant ter say +good-bye ter ye. I only hope the visit will bring ye joy enough ter repay +ye fer this partin' and then I shall be satisfied. Write often to us, that +we may know ye are safe, and spend the money I put in yer little wallet. + +"Ah, don't say a word, Randy, I could well afford it, an' I put it there +jest fer a little surprise." + +As Randy was about to speak, the conductor entered saying, that those +persons who intended leaving the train must do so at once, as it was about +to start. + +With a hasty kiss and embrace, Randy saw her father leave the car and she +waved her hand to him as he stood upon the platform, then in a sudden +panic of desolation she hid her face in her handkerchief and cried like a +little child. A long time she crouched upon the seat, her head against its +plush back and her eyes hidden by her handkerchief, but after a time it +occurred to her that she was not doing as her father would wish. + +"I'm crying like a child," thought Randy, "and father and mother have done +every generous thing which they could think of to make me enjoy the long +ride and the visit. + +"Father would wish me to be brave, and mother would not like to see me +crying." + +Accordingly she sat up, and wiping her tears, made a determined effort to +look as she felt sure that a girl should look who was starting out for a +delightful visit. + +As she looked from the window and saw the flying landscape, it seemed as +if the rumbling wheels were saying, "Going away, going away," and again +the tears lay upon her lashes, but after a time the novelty of the +situation dawned upon her, and her sunny disposition found much that was +amusing in what was going on about her. + +Mrs. Weston had put up a tempting lunch in a pretty basket, so when a boy +came through the car bearing a large tray covered with doubtful looking +viands, and shouting in stentorian tones: + +"Poy, coiks, tawts an' sanditches," Randy was not tempted to buy, but she +watched the boy and wondered how he had the courage to walk the aisle +loudly bawling his wares. + +At one station a woman entered carrying an infant whose pudgy face lay +upon her shoulder, and about whose tiny body her right arm was tightly +clasped. In her left hand she carried a large and apparently heavy bag. +Four other children trotted after her down the aisle, and like a rear +guard a burly looking man followed the children carrying a tiny parcel. + +"What a horrid man," thought Randy, as he proceeded immediately to make +himself comfortable by occupying the larger part of a seat. + +He did permit one child to sit beside him, but he allowed the other three +to crowd around his wife who held the sleeping infant in her arms, and +kept a watchful eye upon the big bag which sat on the floor at her feet. + +Randy's attention was about evenly divided between watching the passengers +and enjoying the beauties of the autumn landscape as the flying train +passed first a village nestling at the foot of a mountain, then a forest, +then a lake whose surface reflected the gorgeous coloring of the trees +upon its shore, then another village, then a winding river which, +mirror-like, repeated the blue sky and the floating clouds. This endless +panorama was to Randy a most wonderful thing, and the beauty of it all as +it passed before her, filled her with delight. + +At noon the train stopped at a large depot which was far more pretentious +than any which she had yet seen, and Randy wondered why nearly everyone +left the car. When she noticed that many of the passengers had left their +parcels in their seats, she was amazed at what seemed to be gross +carelessness. That they went forth in search of lunch never occurred to +her, but realizing that she was hungry and that nearly all the seats were +vacant, she opened her basket and was touched when she saw that her mother +had remembered her little freaks of taste, and had made up a lunch of what +she knew would tempt her. In one corner was a tiny paper bag on which was +printed in little Prue's best manner, + + "For my Randy." + +Poor little Prue! The bag of candy which her father had brought from the +Centre to cheer the little girl and help to turn her attention from the +thought of loneliness when Randy should say "good-bye," proved +inefficient. Nothing could make Randy's departure less hard for little +Prue, and she had evidently found a bit of comfort in tucking the little +bag into a corner of the lunch basket, thus contributing her mite toward +Randy's pleasure. + +"Dear little Prue," murmured Randy, "she shall have the loveliest doll I +can find in Boston." + +The afternoon ride seemed longer and less amusing than that of the +morning. The novelty was wearing off, and Randy was beginning to feel +weary. + +When it grew dusky and in the towns along the way bright lights appeared, +a sudden fear took possession of her. What if she should be unable to see +Miss Dayton when she stepped from the train at Boston? + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +NEW FRIENDS + + +A brakeman passed down the aisle and commenced to light the lamps, and +Randy peeping from the window saw that the stars were shining. She knew +that at home old Snowfoot and the cows were under the shelter of the great +barn, and that father and mother and dear little Prue were seated around +the table. Tears filled her eyes and she quickly drew the curtain and +began to look about the brightly lighted car with the hope of seeing +something which should hold her attention and thus help to dispel the wave +of homesickness which swept over her. + +An old lady with a kindly face turned just in time to see Randy's +handkerchief at her eyes, and she hastened to speak a word of comfort. + +"Traveling alone, dear?" she asked so gently that Randy forgot to be +surprised, and she bowed her head in assent in place of the word which, +for the moment she could not speak. + +"I thought so," said the old lady, "but don't cry, your friends will +probably be at the depot in Boston when you arrive, will they not?" + +"Oh, yes," said Randy, "but it isn't that. I was thinking of those I'd +left at home," and away went the little handkerchief again to her eyes. + +"Ah, that is it," said the sweet old voice. "Well, the homesickness will +wear off after a time, and now in regard to to-night, your friends will +doubtless be waiting when this train gets in, but if by chance they are +not, you shall come to my home with me until we can get word to their +address that you are in Boston." + +"Oh, how good you are," said Randy. + +"I am only doing what I would have some one do for my daughter in a like +position," was the reply, and looking up, Randy saw a beautiful light in +the kind eyes which looked into hers, and without a word she laid her +hand in that of her new friend. + +"Boston! Boston!" shouted the brakeman, and with a start Randy found +herself suddenly upon her feet, and with the other passengers making her +way toward the door. + +The great train-house, the crowd, the trucks loaded with trunks and bags, +the lights, the noise and bustle so confused Randy that she failed to see +the face for which she was eagerly looking. + +"Do you see your friends?" asked the gentle voice, but as she stepped upon +the platform she was rejoiced to hear her name called by the voice which +she so well knew. + +"O Randy dear, you did come didn't you?" and for a moment Helen Dayton +held her young friend closely; then she noticed the old lady who stood +smiling at what was so evidently a happy meeting. + +Hastening toward her, Helen extended her hand as she said, + +"I am so glad to see you, Mrs. Seymour, are you acquainted with this dear +friend of mine? I thought you were conversing when you stepped upon the +platform." + +"We have had no introduction," said the old lady, smiling, "but we became +acquainted on the car just before we reached Boston." + +"And she promised to take me to her home if you did not arrive," said +Randy. + +"I am glad that I was prompt, that you might know how eager I was to see +you, but had I been late, I could have asked for no kinder friend, or more +charming home for you, Randy, than this which was so sweetly offered you +to-night." + +After formally introducing them, and thanking Mrs. Seymour for her +kindness, Miss Dayton led Randy through the depot to a side entrance, +where her carriage stood waiting. + +The coachman opened the door, and soon the little country maiden was being +whirled through the city streets, and the blaze of lights from the huge +store windows caused Randy to ask in wide-eyed wonder if there was +"anything special going on." + +"Oh, no," said Helen, "the streets are brightly lighted every night, and +the people are walking, hurrying, rushing back and forth, looking into the +windows of the great stores, as eagerly as if the doors were open for +customers; then hastening away to some place of amusement, or to their +homes." + +Randy leaned luxuriously against the cushioned back of the coupe, and with +her hand in Helen's, she continued to watch the hurrying throng, and to +wonder vaguely if there were a sufficient number of houses to shelter them +all if they happened to think of retiring. + +After what seemed to Randy to be a very long ride, the carriage stopped. + +Together they ascended the broad sandstone steps, and as the butler opened +the door, the soft light in the hall showed the glowing red of the walls +above the carved oak wainscoting, and the odor of flowers floated out to +greet them. + +Then down the stairway came a beautiful old lady, whose grace and dignity +bespoke the grand dame, as with gentle courtesy she moved toward Randy, +extending her hand in greeting. Without waiting for an introduction she +said, + +"My dear, I am sure that you are Randy, and I am going to tell you that I +am Helen's aunt, and that I think I have been as eager to have you with us +as Helen has been." + +Randy placed her hand in the one extended toward her, and looking frankly +up into the fine old face she said, + +"It is nice to have you so glad to see me, will you let me love you while +I stay? I think I cannot help it." + +"While you stay, and always," was the quick response accompanied by a firm +pressure of the young girl's hand, and Randy felt as if at once among +friends. + +Miss Dayton who had been giving the coachman instruction in regard to +Randy's trunk, turned in surprise to see her aunt and Randy engaged in +conversation. + +"I waived the ceremony of an introduction," said the elder woman with a +smile, "and I do assure you, Helen, that we are already quite well +acquainted." + +"While I thought Randy was just behind me waiting until her belongings +were safely housed," Helen answered with a gay laugh, for she saw at a +glance, that her friend had found favor in Aunt Marcia's eyes; those +discriminating eyes which never failed to recognize the frank and the +true, or to detect the sham, however skillfully concealed. + +"How lovely she is," thought Aunt Marcia, as Randy with Helen ascended the +staircase toward the room which was to be Randy's own, during her stay in +Boston. + +"How handsome your dear old aunt is," said Randy to Helen, as they walked +along the upper hall. "Her hair is like the frost, and her eyes just +twinkle, twinkle, like stars when the night is cold." + +"Why, what a pretty thought," said Helen. "Aunt Marcia was a great +beauty, and a portrait of her when she was presented at court, hangs in +the drawing-room. Sometimes I think she is even handsomer now, with her +fine gray eyes and waving hair. If you are pleased with her, Randy, I +assure you that she is delighted with you; and now here we are at the room +which is to be yours while you are with us." + +"Oh, what a lovely room," cried Randy. "Roses, pink roses on the walls, +and real roses in the vase on my table, and such a dear little bed. Why, +the quilt has roses on it, too! 'Tis like a fairy tale, and makes me feel +like a princess. Oh, if mother and father and little Prue could see--" + +Again a sob arose in her throat, although she bravely repressed it. + +"Not a tear to-night, Randy dear," said Helen, "but instead let me tell +you what will cheer you, and make you feel nearer to them all to-night. +This little desk is for your use, and all your letters home will be +written here, where you will find paper and pens and ink awaiting you. +Now, would you not like to write just a little note, saying that you +arrived safely, and Thomas shall post it, so that it shall reach its +destination as soon as possible. You are too tired to-night to write much +of a letter, but to-morrow you can write twenty pages if you choose." + +"And if I did, in all the twenty pages I could not tell them how much I +miss them, and yet how glad I am to be here," said Randy. "Isn't it odd to +be glad and sorry at the same time? + +"Well, I'll write the little note now, that they may receive it as soon as +possible." + +"And when it is written, come down to the hall where I will meet you, and +when we have given the note to Thomas, we will have dinner." + +"Dinner!" said Randy, "why I thought everyone had dinner at twelve +o'clock!" + +"In the city we have dinner at six, and lunch at one, and never a supper +at all," said Helen, smiling at Randy's frank look of surprise. "To-night +dinner will be later, because your train was delayed, and I wished you to +have time for your note." + +Randy hastened to write the little letter, and then proceeded to freshen +her toilet, and when with the envelope in her hand she tripped down the +hall where Helen stood waiting, she looked every inch the fresh, sweet +Randy of the New England hills. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright, +and the soft little ringlets curled over her temples in a manner most +bewitching. + +Oh, how grand the dining-room looked to the girl who had never seen +anything finer than the parson's house in the country village. + +The dinner was a simple one, but to Randy the room with its fine +furnishings, the rare flowers in the centre of the table, the noiseless +tread of the servant with his silver salver, the soft light from the great +chandelier, all seemed a part of the fairyland of which she had so often +read in the old volume of "Grimm's Tales" at home. + +It was remarkable, however, that with all that was new and beautiful about +her, Randy seemed as much at ease as if always accustomed to her present +surroundings. + +So innocent was she in her frank enjoyment of all the beautiful things +which she saw, and the absence of affectation in her manner made her +sincere admiration so delightful, that Helen felt that Randy was even more +charming than when they had last met, and Aunt Marcia completely +captivated, at once decided that never before had a young country girl +appeared to so great advantage when transplanted to a city home. + +After dinner Helen sang some pretty ballads for Randy, and Aunt Marcia +told with evident delight reminiscences of her youth. + +Randy admiring the full length portrait of the dear old lady as she had +appeared in earlier days, looked frankly up in her face and said, + +"You were lovely then, but I think you are grander now," which of course +delighted Aunt Marcia. + +When at last Randy lay in her dainty bed, the light from the great street +lamps shone across the room, and on the wall before her, she could see the +rose vines upon the paper, and counting the blossoms, she fell asleep. + +When the sun came in at her window, Randy awoke with a start, and turning +toward the little clock which ticked upon the table she was surprised to +find that it was quite time to dress. When Miss Dayton had told her that +breakfast would be served at eight, Randy had wondered at the lateness of +the hour, remembering that at home, seven o'clock was considered to be as +late as any energetic person would think of breakfasting. + +"To think that I shall have just time to make myself presentable, and at +home I should have been awake long ago, and by this time have dressed Prue +and myself and have eaten breakfast. Whatever made me sleep so soundly?" + +On the stairway she met Helen, and together they entered the dining room, +where before the crackling fire in the grate stood Aunt Marcia, waiting to +greet them. + +During breakfast, Helen proposed a drive to the shopping district when she +could make a few purchases and at the same time show Randy the wonders of +the great stores. + +"The school will not open until next week," said Helen, "and we will make +this week a succession of little pleasure trips. We will visit the places +of interest and endeavor to make you wholly at home in our city, and +before school opens I shall invite some of the girls who will be your +classmates to meet you, so that on the opening day you will feel that you +have some acquaintances in the school." + +At ten o'clock Randy seated beside Miss Dayton in the coupe, was riding +through the city streets and feeling the wildest excitement as she saw +other fine carriages threading their way among scores of pedestrians, +hurrying throngs passing in and out of the great stores, electric cars +and carriages, and indeed everything which was new and strange to her. + +While Helen and Randy were driving about the city, an animated +conversation was in progress in a home not far from Miss Dayton's. + +The leader, was a tall, slender girl of about Randy's age, whose dark eyes +spoke of truth and loyalty. She made a graceful picture when having +braided her long, dark hair she proceeded to tie it firmly with a bright +scarlet ribbon. + +"Of course I shall call upon her," she was saying. "I wonder that you ask +such a question. She is Miss Dayton's friend, and that, in itself, is +enough to make me wish to go. Miss Dayton is all that is lovely and I +would do much to please her; but aside from that, this girl is a stranger +and I am asked to give her my friendship. I shall call upon her the day +which she has set, and I shall go intending to like Miss Randy Weston." + +She gave the ribbon a determined twitch and a tactful person would have +considered the matter settled, as Nina Irwin usually meant what she said; +but Polly Lawrence was as tactless as she was fickle, which was saying +much, therefore she persisted in her questioning. + +"Isn't Randy a queer name, Nina? No name in particular is it?" + +"Very likely her name is Miranda, and Randy is just a cute little pet +name," said Nina. "Some people might question if Polly was much of a name, +when you were really named Mary, and here is Margaret whom we all call +Peggy, much to her disgust." + +"That comes of having brothers," remarked Peggy. "No one ever thought of +calling me anything but Margaret until Jack started it, and every one +seems bent upon doing as Jack does. Even Polly has decided to wear nothing +but red, since that is Howard's color. Alas! My big brother is turning +things topsy turvy, when every friend I possess is wearing red, +regardless of the color of her hair or complexion." + +"I've _always_ liked red," remarked Polly, "and as to this call, I suppose +I shall make it. No girl can afford to offend the beautiful Miss Dayton, +as it might mean the loss of some fine invitations." + +"I intend to please Miss Dayton because I like and admire her, and not for +any invitations which I might otherwise miss," said Nina. "In her kind +little note she speaks of Miss Weston as charming, and if she charms Helen +Dayton, she surely will be able to interest me." + +"We might call together," remarked Peggy, with a lazy little drawl. "If I +promise to call for you, Nina, I shall surely get there, you are so +energetic." + +"I'll call for you, Peggy, and together we'll call for Nina," said Polly. +"I confess I've no great interest in a country girl, so, if I'm going, +I'll go with you, and perhaps the three of us will be able to make the +call a bit lively." + +"I, for one, anticipate meeting this friend of Miss Dayton's, and as she +asked us to call on an afternoon of this week, I think we might go +to-morrow," said Nina. + +Accordingly on the following day, the three girls sat in the reception +room, each wondering just what Miss Randy Weston would be like. + +"Do you fancy that she is light, or dark? Let's guess, girls," whispered +Polly, but at that moment Miss Dayton entered with Randy's hand in hers. +With a bright smile of welcome, Randy extended her hand to each girl as +she was presented, and as Nina gave the hand a cordial pressure, Randy +said, + +"I am so glad that you have come, because you see I have left all my +friends at home," there was a little tremor in her voice, "and to find new +friends here, will make it less lonely when I enter the school next week." + +"You have gained three friends to-day," said Nina, "and when we meet at +school you will soon know all the other girls." + +"We could call for you on the first day," ventured Peggy, completely won +by Randy's sweet face and frank manner. + +"Oh, if you would," said Randy, with such evident delight, that Polly more +than half wished that she had made the suggestion. + +How they talked and chattered that afternoon, and when the three girls +took leave of Randy and Helen and walked briskly down the avenue, Nina, +with twinkling eyes, said to Polly, + +"I think she is one of the sweetest girls that I know, and Polly, did she +seem _very_ countrified to you?" + +"Now, Nina," Polly answered in a crestfallen tone, + +"Who knew that she was a regular beauty, and who for a moment supposed +that she would be dressed like a city girl?" + +"I said that if Miss Helen Dayton called her charming, I had no doubt +about it," said Nina, "and I am willing to say that she is even more +pleasing than I had imagined." + +"It is her pretty, truthful manner that makes me like her," said Peggy, +"and I mean to be her friend while she is here." + +Miss Dayton had seen at once that Randy was making a pleasant impression +upon the girls, and wondered if Randy was equally pleased with them. + +"Well, Randy," she said after the girls had left, and together they stood +before the fire-place. + +"Oh, I liked them," was Randy's quick reply. "They were so friendly. I +like Nina Irwin best, but they were all so pleasant that perhaps I should +not like one better than the others." + +"Nina has always been a favorite with me," said Helen, "and as you really +liked the others I do not see that it matters that of the three Nina is +the favored one. + +"They were evidently pleased with you, so you see you already have three +friends for school and two for home, for Aunt Marcia and I claim your +dearest love." + +"Oh, I love you best," said Randy, "I care for you next to the dear ones +at home." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE LITTLE TRAVELERS + + +The crisp air stirred the bright yellow leaves which clung lovingly to the +birches, and a few dull red leaves still rustled upon the stout branches +of the oaks, but many of the trees were bare, and under foot there lay a +thick carpet of dried foliage through which the children delighted to +scuff their way toward school. + +The squirrels scampered about the woodland, busily hoarding their winter +store of nuts, and in the field the crows flew around the ancient +scare-crow, cawing derisively at his flapping garments as if laughing at +his attenuated figure and mockingly asking him to partake of the husks of +the garnered corn. + +Overhead the sky was blue and cloudless and upon the eaves of the +farm-house the tiny sparrows chirped a greeting to little Prue who stood +irresolutely upon the threshold, a wistful expression in her pretty brown +eyes, as she twisted one of her short curls and looked over her shoulder +to say good-bye to Tabby who lay in her accustomed place upon the large +braided rug beside the kitchen stove. + +"Good-bye Tabby," she called, "it isn't any fun to go to school, now Randy +isn't here." + +Aunt Prudence, who, true to her promise, had arrived at her brother's home +on the day after Randy's departure, now appeared in the doorway. + +"Just starting for school Prue?" said she, "why you said good-bye to yer +mother an' me some time ago." + +"Well, it takes me longer to get started than when Randy was here," said +Prue. "It's diffe'nt now. I used to hurry to keep up with my Randy, but +now I don't care when I get there long as Randy isn't in the school 't +all. I want a letter from her, too, and I wonder why she doesn't be +sending me one." + +"Why, Prue, Randy sent you one yesterday, don't you remember? You took it +to bed with you last night," said Aunt Prudence. + +"But I want another one this morning," said Prue, and seeing tears upon +her cheeks, Aunt Prudence, with unusual gentleness, sat down upon the +threshold beside the wee girl, and endeavored to make it clear to her, +that having received a letter from Randy upon the afternoon of one day, it +would be impossible for another one to arrive on the morning of the next. + +"Well, I've got my Randy's letter buttoned inside my jacket," said Prue, +"but all the same I want another now, and oh I want my Randy more than +anything." + +It required a deal of coaxing to induce Prue to start for school and she +went reluctantly, saying as she turned to wave her hand to Aunt Prudence, +"I used to like school, but tisn't any fun 't all without my Randy." + +She walked down the road swinging her little lunch basket, and thinking of +the dear sister whom she so wished to see. At recess Prue left her little +mates and Hi Babson, searching for her, found her outside the yard sitting +disconsolately upon an old stump, her basket beside her, and her luncheon +untouched. + +"What's the matter, Prue," said Hi, "I want yer ter play squat tag with +us." + +"I don't want to play," said Prue, "I want my Randy." + +"But she's in Boston, ain't she?" asked Hi. + +"Yes, and I _want_ her, I'm tired of going to school without her." + +"_I'm_ tired of goin' ter school at all," said Hi. Then a peculiar light +appeared in his small black eyes. + +"I'll tell yer what we'll do," said he, "We'll go and _see_ Randy, you 'n +me. I know the way to the deepot, Prue, Yes sir, we'll go'n see Randy. I +guess she'll be glad 'nough ter see us 'n wont you be glad to see her, +though?" + +Little Prue's eyes grew round with delight. Since Randy was to be away +from home, of course the best thing would be to go to her. + +"Do you _truly_ know the way?" asked Prue, eagerly, laying her little hand +upon Hi's arm. + +"Guess I do. Ain't I been to the deepot times 'nough?" was the confident +reply. "You jest come 'long with me, Prue, an' I tell ye we'll find your +Randy. I'm bigger'n you be 'n I know." + +"When will we go, Hi?" asked Prue, now confident that her little champion +could take her safely to Randy. + +"Now," said Hi, "right off now. I don't know my lessons, so I don't want +ter go back ter school, an' teacher's a ringin' the bell this minute. Pick +up yer lunch basket, I've got some cookies I hooked out 'n the cupboard +an' a big apple that Belindy gave me, an' we'll eat 'em when we're in the +cars." So the two children trudged down the road; Prue happier than she +had been for days because of the delightful prospect of seeing Randy, and +Hi, knowing that he was naughty in staying away from school, but easing +his little conscience by thinking that he was comforting Prue. + +It was true that he was larger than Prue, but they were of the same age, +and as unlike as two children could possibly be. + +Prue was lovely in face and disposition, small of her age and graceful in +her movements. Hi was a plain, sturdy looking country boy; stubborn, full +of mischief and large for a boy of six. + +Down the road they walked, a resolute little pair; Prue chattering and +laughing, Hi rather silent until well out of sight of the schoolhouse, +when his spirits rose and he cheered the way by telling his little +companion wonderful tales of the delights of a journey in the cars. + +Having twice enjoyed a long car ride, he considered himself quite a +traveled personage, and he continued to enlarge upon the pleasures of the +trip to Boston until Prue's eyes danced, and she skipped along the road +unable from sheer delight to walk without an occasional little hop. + +"If we stay with Randy, we won't have ter go ter school," said Hi, "an' +you'n me can play all day." + +"And see my Randy every day," said Prue, "and oh, Hi, you don't know how +lovely she looked in her new clothes she had to go to Boston with." + +"Randy looked nice in anything," said Hi, "and I'll like ter see her, but +the best of it is, I ain't er goin' ter school. I hate school, anyway." + +"I like school when my Randy's in it, but I don't like anything where my +Randy isn't," said Prue, stoutly, "and now we're going to see her." + +As she danced along, her hand tightly clasping that of her companion, she +hummed merrily, and Hi accompanied her with a discordant whistle, +cheerfully unaware that he was quite off the key. + +"Does it take long to get to Boston?" asked Prue, abruptly. + +"No, I guess not," said Hi, "but it's a little longer'n I thought to the +deepot." + +"Don't you know the way?" she asked when upon reaching a fork in the road +Hi stopped and stared about him as if puzzled as to which to choose. + +"Oh, yes, I know the way to the deepot," said Hi, "only I was a thinkin' +which was the nearest way. Last time I went there with Uncle Joshua he +said, 'We'll go this way 'cause it's a short cut,' an' I guess this is it, +Prue, so come along." + +And away they went down the road which led directly away from the Centre. +Naughty little Hi was far from sure that they were walking in the right +direction, but he knew that they were not going toward school, and that in +itself was delightful, and a glance at Prue's smiling face assured him +that he was making her happy, so on they trudged, singing and whistling +as before. + +The sun was high overhead, and the light breeze blew the curls about +Prue's little face, until Hi looking at her said, + +"You're the nicest girl I know Prue; will ye give me some er your lunch, +if I'll give you half er my apple?" + +"Oh, yes," assented Prue, "I'm getting hungry too. Here, let's divide this +gingerbread first." + +Upon the low stone wall they perched, and a pretty picture they made, +sharing their lunch and throwing the crumbs to the sparrows that twittered +in the dusty road. + +"We've been walking so long, we must be most to the deepot, Hi," said +Prue. + +"I guess so," the small boy answered, "so now we've finished the lunch, +we'll just start along. Gim me yer hand, Prue; I'm a big boy, 'n I'm +takin' care er you." + +"Yes, you're taking care of me real good," Prue answered sweetly, "and I +love you fer taking me to my Randy, but Hi," she continued, "I'll _have_ +to sit down a minute, my feets are so tired." + +"Oh, there's time 'nough," said Hi. "We'll rest a while, an' then, after +we've walked a little ways, fust thing you'll see'll be the deepot. Then +when we git inter the cars, we shall sit on the soft seat and jest rest +'til we get ter Randy's." + +"Well, then, let's hurry," said Prue, "I'm some rested now, and if we run +we'll get there all the sooner." + +But Prue was more weary than she knew, and her little legs refused to run, +so, settling into a jog trot the two tired children pushed onward, each +step carrying them farther from the depot and at the same time farther +from home. + + * * * * * + +When the pupils filed into the schoolroom after recess, Miss Gilman missed +Prue and Hi, and questioned a number of scholars in regard to them. + +"I seen 'em a-settin' on a stump back er the school," volunteered one +small boy, "Want me ter go'n look for 'em?" + +Permission given him, the boy ran out, delighted with the thought that he +might thus elude one recitation; but a long search failing to discover the +missing children, he was obliged to return with the information that he +had looked everywhere and they weren't "anywheres 'raound the place." + +"Possibly they have gone home," said Miss Gilman, but a vague uneasiness +took possession of her, and when the afternoon session commenced with both +children absent, she determined to call after school at the Weston's and +see if Prue were safe, at the same time sending the Babson girls home in +haste to learn if Hi could be found. + +When Prue did not return at noon, Mrs. Weston was not alarmed, as the +little girl often stayed at the school when, as on this day, she had in +her little basket a hearty lunch, and before Prue could have possibly +reached home in the afternoon Miss Gilman, with a desperate attempt to +appear calm, called to ask if the little girl had been unable to attend +the afternoon session. + +"Ill? Why no, indeed! Why, what is it you say, Miss Gilman? That Prue has +not been at school since the morning recess?" + +The color left Mrs. Weston's cheek, and she leaned heavily upon the table, +while Aunt Prudence, speaking with more confidence than she really felt, +exclaimed, + +"Now it's no use gettin' frightened. She's likely enough in someone's +house as safe as can be, and what we've got ter do is ter harness up an' +call at the houses where Prue is acquainted an' she'll be with us before +dark, I'll warrant ye." + +Just at this point, Belinda Babson breathless and excited, ran in at the +door crying wildly, + +"Oh, Miss Gilman, Mrs. Weston! Little Hi isn't at our house and a man just +told father that he saw Hi and Prue sitting on the stone wall away over on +the mill road, and that was long before noon time. Where can they be now? +Mother's just wild and Aunt Drusilla's lost every idea she ever had. She's +just wringing her hands and crying, and a saying that she's afraid that +they're lost and wont be found." + +Mr. Weston, coming in from the barn, heard Belinda's words and saw her +frightened face. + +With a grave expression in his kind gray eyes, he said, + +"There, there mother, I wouldn't get too frightened. Prue's out of sight? +Well, I'll start out ter find her, and we'll hope that she is not so far +off but that I shall soon bring her home." But to the mare he muttered as +he adjusted the harness, + +"This is bad business, Snowfoot. Two little folks lost and no idea where +ter look for 'em." + +And while two households were wild with fear, while Mr. Weston and Joshua +Babson were driving in every direction, stopping at the door of the +farm-houses to enquire if the children were there, or had been seen, the +two little ones who were the cause of all this commotion were still +walking wearily down the road, Prue hoping yet to see the cars which +should take her to Randy, and Hi beginning to think that he had lost his +way. The last glint of yellow had faded from the western sky, as Hi +proposed that they cut through the woods to "gain time," he said. + +"Oh, I'm 'fraid to go into the woods when it's getting dark," wailed Prue. + +"But me'n Uncle Joshua did the day we went the shortest way," said Hi, +"an' this looks just like the place. _I_ ain't 'fraid so you needn't be, +an' we've _got_ ter go the quickest way because it's gittin' late." + +Prue gave her hand to Hi, and together they entered the woods, trudging +wearily on toward the place where, between the distant trees they could +see the western sky. Their tired little feet stumbled on, tripping over +fallen twigs, and gnarled roots of the great trees. Prue was crying now +and Hi, anxious to keep up, at least a semblance of the big boy and +protector, made desperate efforts to swallow the lump in his throat which +was growing larger every moment. Prue had lost her lunch basket, but she +held Randy's letter tightly clasped in her hand, and the basket was +forgotten in her eagerness to keep a firm hold upon the treasured missive. + +"Oh, Hi, I've _got_ to sit down again, I'm so tired, and I'm cold, too," +she cried. + +Hi, with all his faults, was a kind-hearted little fellow, so with a deal +of gallantry he pulled off his jacket, saying, + +"This'll make ye warm, Prue, I'm a big boy so I don't mind." + +Hi heaped a mass of dry leaves together, saying, + +"We might lay down on these leaves jest a few minutes 'til we're a little +warmer, an' then when we're rested we'll go on again. We _must_ be 'most +there now, Prue." + +By snuggling closely beside her, the boy endeavored to make up for the +loss of his coat, and so completely tired out were the two little +wayfarers, that sleep overtook them, and in their dreams Prue saw her +beloved Randy, while Hi seemed floating through space upon one of the red +plush car seats on the way to Boston. + +After fruitless calls at the farm-houses Mr. Weston, now thoroughly +alarmed called upon his neighbors for assistance, and searching parties +with lanterns and torches commenced to scour field and wood. + +In and out between the great trees they wandered, their torches and +lanterns looking like giant fire-flies; and in every direction they +searched for the two little travelers; now at the margin of the woodland, +then in again to the heart of the forest. One man recounted to his +companion how several years before two children had been lost, and +although desperate search was made, they were not found until the pond was +dragged. Another farmer, determined not to be outdone, told, with bated +breath, of a bear which had been seen coming down the mountain, and that +when two hunters had given chase, he had disappeared in the woods. + +"I shouldn't like to have the children meet him," said the man. + +"Be still!" commanded his companion, "do ye want Square Weston ter hear +ye? He's 'nough worried now without yer tales er bears an' drowndings." + +As Mr. Weston passed them, his lantern revealed the pallor of his face, +and one man muttered to the other, + +"Ef they're not ter be faound alive, then I hope it'll not be the Square +that finds 'em." + +"That's so, man," the other returned, "'tho' it would be a hard job fer +any of us ter larn that aught had befallen little Prue, and even that +little scamp, Hi Babson, I'd hate ter think of a hard fate fer him, he was +so brimmin' over with fun." + +One man had strayed from the party, and with his torch held above his head +was slowly making his way through the underbrush, when, emerging from the +thicket, his foot touched something which but softly resisted it. +Thinking it to be some old and mossy log, he shifted his torch to the +other hand, and was preparing to step over the obstacle whatever it might +be, when, as the smoke blew backward, the flaming torch revealed the +sleeping children, Prue still holding Randy's letter in her hand, Hi with +a protecting arm about his little companion. + +"Well, of all the pretty sights!" he ejaculated. "Safe an' saound an' warm +I'll bet ye, but haow on airth come they over here?" + +Then with another look at the sleeping children, he hastened to rejoin the +party and to tell the joyful news that the little ones were found. + +When the crowd of torch-bearers hastened to the spot and gathered about +the wanderers, Prue and Hi sat up and rubbed their eyes, evidently +wondering what had caused such a commotion. [Illustration: As the smoke +blew backward, the flaming torch revealed the sleeping children] + +"How did ye git lost?" asked a farmer of Prue. + +"We wasn't lost," answered Prue, "How could we be lost when we knew where +we was going? We was going to Boston to my Randy, and we're 'most to the +cars, but we're just resting a little while first." + +To Uncle Joshua Babson, little Hi looked for pardon for this latest prank. + +"I wasn't naughty _this_ time," he said, "I knew the way to Boston, and +Prue felt so lonesome 'thout Randy that I was goin' ter take her there." + +"Never mind that, my boy," Uncle Joshua answered, "the main thing is ter +git ye home, an' stop yer mother's frettin'. She's in the mood ter forgive +most anything, sence yer safe and sound." + +Tired little Prue lay in her father's arms, crying softly, her face hidden +upon his breast. + +"There, there, don't cry, Prue, ye're all safe now. See, I have ye in my +arms, an' soon we'll be home with mother an' Aunt Prudence." + +"But if you take me home now," wailed Prue, "it'll be to-morrow 'fore I +could start again to find Randy, and we meaned to get there to-night." + +"But mother's 'bout sick a worryin' sence ye went off with Hi and didn't +tell where ye was goin'. Did ye think of it, Prue, that mother misses +Randy, so couldn't spare ye, too?" + +"Oh, I never thought," Prue answered, "I wanted to see my Randy, but I +didn't 'member that if I went to Boston there wouldn't be any girls 't all +in our house." + +With his lantern on his arm and his little daughter clasped to his breast, +Mr. Weston tramped along the rough road escorted by two neighbors who with +their torches made a path of light before him. As they reached the house, +two white-faced women saw them, but while Aunt Prudence hastened to open +the door Mrs. Weston drew back. + +"Alive or,--" + +"I want some supper," exclaimed a very energetic little voice and the +mother sprang forward to take her lost one in her arms. + +"Oh Prue, don't ye leave us again," she cried, her tears dropping upon the +soft curls. + +"But I was going to get my Randy and bring her home to you," said Prue, +"and I forgot that when I was away to Randy's there wouldn't be any girls +to take care of you 'n Tabby." + +That night, as an especial favor, Prue was allowed to take Tabby to bed +with her, and as she lay with her arms about the cat, she thought that, +although her journey to Boston was prevented, there yet were comforts at +home, and Tabby accustomed to sleeping in the shed, must have thought the +millennium had come. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +JUST A ROSE + + +It had been an easy task to convince little Prue that she must not again +attempt to run away to Randy, but must try to be a little comfort to those +at home; but no amount of reasoning could make her less lonely, until such +a delightful thing happened. + +A box addressed to Miss Prue Weston arrived one morning, and when its +cover was removed, there lay the loveliest dolly, evidently sound asleep. +As Prue lifted her from the box, her eyes opened wide, causing the little +girl to jump and exclaim, + +"My! Did you see her wink? Is she alive?" + +It was the first modern doll which Prue had seen, and she could hardly +believe that aught but a living thing could open and shut its eyes, or +smile so radiantly, thereby showing little pearly teeth. Oh the wonder of +the soft curling hair, the turning head, and jointed arms and legs! + +Her dress was made from a lovely shade of blue satin, and her hat was a +fine specimen of doll's millinery. In her hand she held a tiny envelope +which enclosed a letter from Randy to Prue,--printed, that the little +sister might have the pleasure of reading it for herself. + + "DEAR LITTLE PRUE:--I send this pretty doll to you. Her name is + Randy Helen Weston, named for two whom I know you love dearly. + You will make me very happy while I am here in Boston, if you are + good at school, and a little comfort to mother at home. Let the + Randy doll help you to wait cheerfully until I return, and I + shall be glad that I sent her. Print little letters to me, + telling me what is happening at home and at school, and remember + that I am + + "Your loving sister, + RANDY." + +All the children were invited to come on Saturday and see the wonderful +doll, and Randy Helen Weston was made to open and shut her lovely eyes, to +turn her head, to extend her beautifully jointed arm to her callers; to +cry, to stand alone upon her daintily-slippered feet, and, in fact, to +astonish them as much as possible and allow them to depart, glad of Prue's +happiness, or green with envy, according as their dispositions prompted +them. + +Prue was wild with delight, and was about to print a letter for Randy, +when it was proposed at school that the long letter from her schoolmates +should be written and little Prue was invited to have a part in it. + +The letter was a most amusing one, and Randy and Helen laughed heartily as +they saw the characteristics of the writers, as manifest, as if each had +been present. + +They had taken half sheets of paper and pasted the ends together so that a +long strip of writing paper was obtained. Then each friend had written +and signed his contribution, and truly the result was unique. Prue had +been given ample space for her part of what she termed the "party letter," +and with great care she printed it. Her spelling was phonetic. + + "DEAR RANDY:--Nobudy ever had a dolly so lovely as mine you + sended me. I ust tu take Tabby tu bed wiv me but now I take mi + dolly. 1 day Tabby washed her hare, I meen my dollys hare I gess + she thort it waz 1 of her kittns. Tabbys got tu kittns. They has + not got thay ize open yet, so I tryd tu pick um opn, but arnt + Prudence sed that wood be cruil. If thay cant git thay ize opn + thayselfs why aint I good tu pick um opn wiv my fingus + + "Yor little + PRUE." + +"What _will_ Prue do next, I wonder?" said Randy. + +"The idea of thinking that because those little cats could not open their +eyes, it would be a fine idea to 'pick' them open!" + +Randy pitied those kittens, but she could not help laughing as she thought +of Prue's efforts to help them. + +"She is probably wild to have those kittens see her new doll," said Miss +Dayton. + +The long letter from her schoolmates at home had reached Randy on a stormy +Saturday morning, when the wind was blowing the snow against the windows +with such force that it sounded like hail. She thought of the horses +harnessed to the rough snow ploughs "breaking out" the roads at home, of +the pine trees laden with what looked to be giant masses of white fruit, +of the snow-capped mountains and of little Prue, with hood and mittens, at +play with Johnny Buffum, and she wished to be borne there by some +magician, if only for a moment, that she might see it all as she had seen +it, ever since she could remember. + +Randy was, from the first, one of the most promising scholars at the +private school which she had entered a week after her arrival in Boston, +and her letters to father and mother, Aunt Prudence and to her friends at +the little district school were full of enthusiasm for study and ambition +to excel. + +Saturdays she spent in recreation, but this day she had especially wished +might be fair. Aunt Marcia had predicted snow the night before, but Randy +had laughingly refused to listen to it, preferring to believe that the sun +would shine. + +There was to be a fine concert in the afternoon, and Helen had secured +tickets for Randy, Aunt Marcia and herself, and as this was the first +concert that Randy had ever dreamed of attending, she was naturally +anxious for a fine day. + +"It blows a gale," said Aunt Marcia, at the breakfast table. "Really, +Helen, if it is such a hurricane as this, I would not advise you to go +this afternoon." + +"There are always concerts which are well worth attending," said Helen, +"so if it continues to blow and snow like this, I think we shall stay +cosily at home and attend some other concert next Saturday." + +To Helen one concert more or less meant little; but Randy watched the sky +with anxious eyes, and just before eleven, a tiny bit of blue sky was +visible. How she watched it! At half past eleven it was a large blue +opening, and when the soft chiming of the clock announced in silvery tones +that twelve o'clock had arrived, there was no doubt that the afternoon +would be fair. + +Lunch was served earlier than usual, and Randy hastened to her room to +dress for the concert. Twice she stepped from the dressing case to the +window to see if the blue sky was still visible, and when at last the +sunlight lay upon the carpet she laughed, and pinning her blue hat with +its soft feathers securely in place she hurried from the room and down the +stairway where in the hall she waited for Helen. + +Usually Randy thought it luxurious to nestle close to Helen in the +carriage, but this afternoon she wished that she might have walked, just +because her excitement made it difficult for her to placidly ride to the +great hall where Miss Dayton had told her that she should hear the +sweetest of music. As they rode along, Randy wondered if all the carriages +which she saw, were conveying their occupants to the concert, and she was +conscious of a mild regret for pedestrians who were wending their way in +an opposite direction. + +"They are not to enjoy the concert," she thought. + +"A penny for what is in your mind, Randy," said Helen, laying her hand +upon Randy's arm. + +"I was just wondering how many of the people whom I see on foot and in +carriages are going to the concert," said Randy. + +"Does the concert mean so much to you?" said Helen. + +"I cannot tell you how much," Randy answered, "but I have watched the +clouds, and hoped it would be fair this afternoon, and when I saw the +sunlight upon the floor, just before we started, I danced across my room +and down the stairs to meet you. I have heard you play and sing, oh, so +sweetly, I have heard little Janie's bird-like voice at home, and Sandy +McLeod has often played his pipes for me, but to-day I am to hear the +violins and listen to the great singer of whom you have told me. Oh, I can +hardly wait to get there, and to hear the music." + +"Well you haven't much longer to wait," said Helen, as the carriage +stopped before the entrance to the great hall. + +As the crowd surged toward the doorway, Randy began to think that all the +people whom she had seen and many more had decided that the concert was +too great a treat to miss. + +Once in their seats, Randy looked about her, and found great delight in +studying the faces and costumes of the vast audience. She smiled as she +thought of that summer day when in old Nathan Lawton's front parlor she +took part in the school exhibition and received the prize in the presence +of an assemblage of fifty persons, and considered it a "crowd." + +A slight commotion caused Randy to turn just in time to see the members of +the great orchestra taking their places. Then some late arrivals attracted +her attention. Two ladies with a beautiful little girl were seating +themselves on the opposite side of the aisle, and the child's face, with +her soft curls and brown eyes reminded Randy of the little sister at home. +Then a strange hush pervaded the hall, and as the director swayed his +baton, twenty bows were drawn across the strings of as many violins in one +grand chord of sweetest harmony. + +Randy started, and laid her hand upon Helen's, while with parted lips she +gazed at the musicians who were making the fairy-like music which so +enthralled her. Her sensitive lips quivered, and her breath came quickly +as the orchestra played the varying movements of a grand sonata. + +Enraptured with the music, tears filled her eyes during the gentle adagio, +and a bright smile chased away the tears when the next movement, a +brilliant polacca, filled the hall with its tripping measures. When the +last chord had died away Randy turned toward Helen and whispered, "Oh, I +never heard anything like that! Will they play again?" + +With a smile, Helen pointed to the other numbers upon the program which +the orchestra would perform, and Randy, with a contented little sigh, +leaned back to await the next number, when the Prima Donna, a vision of +loveliness, came forward to sing. + +Randy watched and listened and wondered, vaguely, if an angel could sing +like that. + +Her solo ended, the singer, bowing low, retired, but not for long, for +others beside Randy realized the beauty of the song and the wonderful +voice of the vocalist, and round after round of applause pleaded for her +return. + +Yet more applause, and again she stood before them, gracefully bowing her +acknowledgment of the compliment. + +Again the sweet notes filled the hall, and Randy leaned eagerly forward to +catch each silvery tone. + +When the song was finished, Helen said "Was not that a wonderful bit of +music?" + +"Oh, yes," said Randy, "how I wish that I could tell her that I think her +voice is like the violins." + +"I know her very well," Helen replied, "and I will tell her how her +singing has entranced you." + +"Tell her," said Randy, eagerly, "that I think nothing in all the world +was ever half so sweet." + +Then another number by the orchestra held Randy's attention and thus +through the afternoon until she felt as if her pulses were throbbing with +the rhythm of the music. She marveled that between the numbers many of the +vast audience talked and chatted merrily. The lovely little girl across +the aisle was fast asleep. Why were they ready to talk after listening to +such grand music, and how could anyone, even a child, sleep when there was +yet another witching air to be sung, another composition for those +wonderful musicians to execute! + +Miss Dayton found it an interesting study to watch Randy's face, and to +see portrayed there the varying movements of each composition. + +Just before the last selection was rendered, Helen penciled a hasty note +upon her card, and giving it to an usher, bade him take it to the great +singer and wait for a word in reply. The man took the card and hastened to +the room at the rear of the stage returning almost immediately with the +card which bore upon the reverse side these words, + +"A cordial welcome after the concert to Miss Helen Dayton and her friend." + +Leaning toward Helen, Randy read the invitation signed by the name of the +singer, and she caught her breath as she realized that she was about to +meet one who seemed to her so far above the realm of ordinary mortals. + +When the audience began to leave the hall and Helen led the way to the +dressing room, Randy walked beside her, sure that no girl was ever before +so favored. To hear the wonderful voice was rapture, to talk with the +singer,--Randy could hardly believe that in a few moments she should +experience so great a pleasure. + +When at last they reached the pretty room, they found the great vocalist +chatting merrily with the lovely child who had sat opposite Randy and had +slept through half of the afternoon. + +"And so you became tired," the lady was saying. + +"Not when you were singing," said the little girl, frankly, "but when the +violins and flutes and all the other things had played and played, they +made me sleepy, and I just lay back in my seat and shut my eyes a minute +when mama said:-- + +"'Come Marguerite, it is time to go, if you wish to see Madam Valena.' and +that made me open my eyes wide, I did so wish to see you." + +Quite like a miniature lady she made the little courteous speech, but she +was every inch a child as she clambered up into a chair where, upon +tip-toe she offered her lips for a kiss. Then away like a gay little +butterfly she flew to join her friends. + +Helen, taking Randy's hand, led her across the room and presented her. + +The singer and Miss Dayton's mother had been firm friends, and Helen was +always accorded a most cordial welcome. + +The table was heaped with flowers, and Randy, seeing such a profusion of +blossoms, wondered that she had thought for a moment of offering the +lovely rose which she held in her hand, to one to whom a single blossom +must seem of little value. + +With the cordial greeting and firm handclasp, Randy realized that the +sweet face bending over her, belonged to a woman as lovely in character, +as in person, and she gathered courage to speak the words which were +nearest her heart. + +"I did not know that any living being could sing as you sang this +afternoon," she said, "it made me think of the birds in the trees at home, +of the brook in the woods, of the white rose in my hand, and I longed to +give it to you, but when I saw all these lovely flowers, I felt that you +would not care for my one blossom, you would not understand,--" with a +queer little break in her voice, Randy ceased speaking and looking up into +the brilliant face was surprised to see two bright tears upon her cheek. + +"Not care for your flower? I want it more than all of these," she said, +gently taking the rose from the slender hand which held it, and placing it +in the folds of lace upon her breast. + +"With all the honors which I have won, with all the praise for my work +which I have received, no compliment ever offered me was more genuine, or +sincere, and this rose I shall keep in memory of the girl who gave it. + +"Let me give some of my flowers to you, in return for your words which +have moved me more than you think. + +"O! Helen," she continued. "I received my first inspiration from the birds +and the brook at home, when as a little country girl I listened to their +voices, and longed to make my tones as pure as theirs. This young girl has +brought it all back to me so clearly, that I see myself, a little barefoot +child, wading in the brook and mocking the birds which sang in the +branches above me." + +A maid approached, and laid a long fur wrap about Madam Valena's +shoulders, at the same time announcing that her carriage was waiting. + +Clasping the great cluster of brilliant blossoms closely, Randy said as +they parted, + +"I shall never forget you," and looking from her carriage window the +singer smiled as she said, + +"I shall keep your rose in memory of you." + +As they rode homeward Helen told Randy much of Madam Valena's life as her +mother had known her, of her close application to study, and of her +success, and when at home they found Aunt Marcia seated before the fire +place, placidly watching the dancing flames, Randy rushed in, and sitting +upon a low hassock, she related all the wonders of the afternoon, ending +with, + +"And oh, I wish that you had been there to see and hear it all." + +"Why, Randy, child!" exclaimed Aunt Marcia laughing, "I thought it rather +cold this afternoon, and stayed cosily at home instead of accompanying you +and Helen, but now your eyes shine like stars, and I begin to believe +that I missed much by not attending the concert. I knew the program was a +fine one, and Madam Valena is truly a most charming person." + +"Indeed she is," assented Randy, "and she looked so queenly, I never +thought she would really talk to me, but oh, do you know that she was once +a little country girl? When I looked at her I could not imagine it." + +"I know a little country maid, who no one would suppose had not spent all +her life in the city," said Aunt Marcia, with a smile, "only that she +enjoys every pleasure with a keen delight unknown to the girl who feels +that she has seen all that there is to be seen many, many times." + +"I shall never feel that way," said Randy, "how could I tire of the sweet +music, or of watching the crowd in the city streets? I was never tired of +listening to the birds at home and I'm sure," she added with a laugh, "I +even enjoyed watching the people coming into our little church. There is +always something new everywhere; and I am looking for it." + +"That is a part of the secret of your happiness, Randy," said Aunt Marcia, +"you intend to be delighted and usually succeed." + +"Why, I am still holding the flowers which Madam Valena gave me," said +Randy, "I must place them in water," and she hastened to find a suitable +vase in which to arrange them. They formed a brilliant bit of color in the +centre of the table when dinner was served, and caused Randy to talk once +more of the concert. + +"It was all so charming that I suppose I stared; at least Polly Lawrence +said that I did." + +"I saw Polly with you just as we were leaving the hall," said Helen, "what +did you say that she said?" + +"She said, 'Why Randy Weston, you are staring at everybody and everything +as if you'd never attended a concert before!'" + +"How singularly rude," said Aunt Marcia, little pleased that Randy should +be thus spoken to. + +"And what did you say to that, Randy," asked Helen, wondering if Polly's +speech had cut deeply. + +With a frank smile Randy answered,--"I said, 'Well this _is_ my first +concert. Possibly _you_ would be surprised if you had never before +experienced such a pleasure.'" + +Helen and her aunt were much amused that Randy could answer so readily a +remark which was intended to embarrass her, and they realized that Randy's +frankness in admitting herself a country girl quite unused to city +pleasures, would disarm a girl like Polly, more successfully than any +amount of artifice or pretense. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A SCOTCH LINNET + + +The sky was a cold, leaden gray, and down from the mountains swept a +pitiless wind, which whistled through the bare branches of the trees and +tossed a few dried leaves before it, as it hurried on as if with a fixed +determination to reach every corner of the village and chill everything +which it could touch. + +It leveled the few standing cornstalks and caused the dry twigs to rap a +tattoo upon the windows of the farm houses. It attacked the shivering form +of a lonely little cur who took his tail between his legs and scurried +away down the road in search of some sheltering barn or shed; it nipped +little Hi Babson's ears and snatching his cap, tossed it over the wall and +across the field where it lay, held fast in a clump of bushes. + +Hi secured the cap, and as he pulled it down about his ears he looked back +in the direction from which the gust had blown, and shaking his little +fist exclaimed, + +"Nasty old wind! I hate ye and ye know it. 'F I'd a been 'lowed ter stay +home an' whittle like I wanted ter, I wouldn't a lost my cap. I scratched +my fingers gittin' it, an' _that_ makes me mad." + +Again he shook his little fist at his enemy, the wind, but as it did not +cease blowing, he drew on his mittens and sulkily plodded on toward +school. His cold fingers smarted where the briers had torn them, and he +felt resentful that he should be on his way toward the despised school +house, quite forgetting that by the fireside with his beloved whittling he +usually managed to cut his fingers. + +Whistling lustily, Jack Marvin came down the road, overtaking Hi as he +stumbled along, a most disconsolate little figure. + +"Hello, Hi," said Jack. "Why, look here little feller," as he noticed +tears in the bright black eyes. + +"'Most frozen, and didn't want ter come ter school, either? Say, gimme yer +hand, mine are warm, an' you'n me'll be in school in no time. What's that? +Ain't done yer sums? Well, now, little chap, you jist come along quick, +an' 'fore ye know it ye'll be gittin' warm in the school room an' I'll +show ye 'bout yer sums 'fore the bell rings. My, but it takes you'n me ter +make good time over the road!" + +Jack Marvin never could bear to see a child in tears, and his kind heart +was delighted when little Hi skipped along beside him, laughing gaily, in +spite of the traces of tears upon his cheeks. + +Hi looked up to Jack as one of the best among the "big boys," and to race +along beside him and be assured of help with his lessons, took every care +from the little fellow's mind, and he laughed and whistled in company with +Jack. + +The boys turned up their collars or ducked their chins beneath the folds +of woollen mufflers; and the girls drew their wraps about them and hurried +on, eager to reach the schoolhouse and gain shelter from the icy blast. + +About the great stove they hovered, scorching their faces, while they +endeavored to get thoroughly warmed before the hands of the clock should +point to nine. Two girls were missing from the group around the stove. +Randy Weston, who had been at school in Boston for three months, and +Phoebe Small, whose incessant teasing had at last prevailed, and who had +six weeks before experienced the joy of going away to boarding school. It +was not that Phoebe did not love her home, or enjoy the friendship of her +mates, but she had long entertained the idea that a boarding school was +the only school worth attending. + +She had wished Randy good luck when she started for Boston, but she could +not stifle a feeling of envy, and it seemed impossible for her to stay +quietly at home attending the district school. + +In vain Mrs. Small insisted that Phoebe would be homesick, that Randy was +with friends, while at boarding school all would be strangers. Phoebe +invariably answered, + +"Well I'd just like to try it and see how it would seem. I could write +letters home to the girls as Randy does, and I think that would be just +grand." + +At last it occurred to Mrs. Small that the best thing for Phoebe would be +to grant her wish. + +"I know that she will be homesick before she's been away a week," she said +to her husband, "but she cannot be convinced, and perhaps if we allow her +to try it, she will get all and more than she wants of it, and come home +with a mind to be contented." + +So one bright morning Phoebe was driven to the station on her way to a +school for girls which was under the direction of two ladies who were +friends of Mrs. Small. Immediately upon her arrival she sent a note to +her mother in which she told in glowing words of the pleasure of her ride +in the cars, and her reception by the two elderly ladies who presided over +the school. + +Then, after a week had passed another letter came the general tone of +which was less cheerful. Then a fortnight slipped by, and a brief letter +told only of her studies, and said not a word of the delights of boarding +school life. Then, as time passed and the mail brought no letter from +Phoebe, her mother became anxious. + +"I do hope she's well, and I must say I wish I'd never consented when she +begged to go," said Mrs. Small a dozen times a day, to which her husband +would reply, + +"Oh, she's all right. If she was sick they'd let us know. Most likely +she's had 'nough of it, and hates ter say so." + +"Well, all the same, if I don't get a letter from her to-day, I'll go +after her to-morrow." Mrs. Small answered, as the wind whistled around the +corner and down the chimney. + +While this conversation was in progress at the Small homestead, the same +subject was being discussed at the village school. Because of the intense +cold, Miss Gilman permitted the scholars to enjoy the recess indoors and +they formed little groups about the great stove, eating their lunch and +discussing those topics which lay nearest their hearts. + +"I guess my Randy knows 'most everything now," Prue was saying. "She has +such long lessons, and studies late, and she's seen the big stores, and +she's been to a concert full of fiddles where she saw a great big Primmy +Dommy!" + +"Why, what's that?" asked little Hitty Buffum. "Wasn't she 'fraid when she +saw the Primny what yer call it comin'?" + +"I do'no," said Prue, "she didn't say, but whatever 'twas, I guess 'twas +pretty big, my Randy said so." + +Evidently the children considered that in Boston one might see strange +creatures of every type, and Randy Weston had been privileged to see one +of the largest. Just at this moment Hi Babson joined the little group. + +"Want ter know what I done Saturday?" he asked, his black eyes gleaming +with mischief. + +"I hadn't learnt my lessons fer Monday, and ma said I must stay up in the +spare room 'til I knew 'em all by heart. I didn't like ter stay up there +alone, but when I found I got ter, I set down on the mat an' 'twan't long +before I'd learnt half of 'em. Just 'bout that time I heard a awful +scratching an' then I 'membered that Uncle Joshua set a mouse trap down by +the beaury. When I looked, there was a little mouse in it, an' all to once +I knew what I'd like ter do. + +"The bedclothes was pulled down over the foot-board, an' I could see the +slit in the tick where they poke in their hands to stir up the straw. I +put the trap with the mouse in it, in there among the straw, an' then I +went down just as quiet as I could, an' got old Tom an' tugged him +upstairs. + +"When I put him on the bed an' held his head over the hole in the tick, +you'd oughter seen his tail switch! The mouse was a runnin' 'round in the +cage, an' Tom dove into the slit a scatterin' the straw all over the bed. +My! Didn't it fly?" + +"Why you naughty, bad boy," said little Hitty Buffum. + +"What _did_ they say to you," asked Prue. + +"Ma didn't say much," said Hi. "I laid down on the floor and rolled over +an' over, a laughin' like anything 'til ma come in, an' she jest looked at +that bed, drove Tom out'n the room an' then she took hold er me, an' I,--I +had ter stop laughin' ter cry 'n Grandma Babson said, 'That boy'll yet +come to the gallus.'" + +A group of the larger girls were comparing the letters which Randy had +sent with those which they had received from Phoebe Small. + +"Randy says that she misses the folks at home, and her friends here at +school, but aside from that her letters are cheerful, and she feels that +she is getting on so rapidly that it makes her contented," said Molly +Wilson, "and she must enjoy the pleasant things which Miss Dayton plans +for her Saturdays." + +"We miss Randy," said Belinda Babson, "but of course we're glad that she +is having such a lovely winter." + +"She writes just as she talks, and when we get one of her letters it seems +as if she were with us," said Jemima. + +"I didn't know what to make of Phoebe Small's last letter," said Dot +Marvin. "She commenced by saying that she could never do as she wished, +that she didn't like her roommate and that the two ladies who kept the +school watched them so closely that the girls could hardly breathe without +asking permission. Then she wrote, 'I don't want to say that I'm homesick +but,--' and then she signed her name. She didn't finish the sentence, but +there were two blistered places just above the name, as if the paper had +been wet, and I am sure that she was crying while she wrote." + +Miss Gilman touched the bell, and the pupils took their places. Recess was +ended, and for the remainder of the forenoon, recitations occupied their +minds in place of the much discussed letters. + + * * * * * + +By the great fireplace heaped with blazing logs sat old Sandy McLeod +energetically tugging at the straps of his great "arctics." + +"It's a cauld day, lass," he was saying to little Janie. + +"Will it be too cauld to venture out an' meet the music maester?" + +His eyes twinkled, for he well knew that Janie was wild to sing for this +man who would say if her voice were indeed worth training. + +The teacher of whom Sandy spoke was a man well known in musical circles, +whose instruction was eagerly sought, and upon whose judgment one could +safely rely. He had been chosen director of a flourishing musical society +in a large town some miles distant from Sandy's home, and on those days +when he was present to direct rehearsals, he also tried the voices of +those who asked permission to join the vocal club. Sandy had one day asked +if he might bring little Janie to him, saying quietly, + +"It's worth yer while, mon, ye ne'er heard sae blithe a voice as Janie's." + +Half doubting, yet amused at the old Scotchman's manner, he had made an +appointment for hearing Janie, and afterward wondered why he had done so, +as he felt sure that he was to listen to the vocal efforts of a child +whose singing chanced to please an old man whose knowledge of music was +probably meagre. + +Janie submitted to all the wrappings with which Margaret McLeod saw fit to +envelop her, and when in his great fur coat, Sandy stood in the doorway +and called to Janie that the sleigh was ready, she hurried toward him, an +animated bundle of dry goods. + +It was a long, cold ride, but Janie and her enthusiasm were both warm, and +when they reached the building and mounted the long flight of stairs to +the hall, her cheeks were glowing, and her eyes brilliant with excitement. +She was granted a few moments for a hearing before the hour for the club +rehearsal. + +The teacher was seated at the piano when they entered, and as he arose to +greet them he found it a task to refrain from laughing at the odd little +figure wound so snugly in shawls and scarfs. When, however, her wraps +removed, Janie stood before him, a typical little Scotch lass, with bright +blue eyes and flaxen braids, he was aware of a charm about the pretty +child which compelled him to believe that it was barely possible that she +could sing. + +"What are some of your songs, child?" he asked kindly. + +"I'll sing, 'Comin' thro' the rye,' if it please you," answered Janie, +simply. + +"Very well," was the reply, and he played a brilliant little prelude. The +music inspired Janie, and never had she sung as she sang that day. At the +end of the first verse, the man paused, with his hands resting upon the +keys, and surveyed the tiny figure as it stood before him, the little chin +lifted, and the sweet eyes looking into his so eagerly, as if asking for a +word of approval. + +"Come nearer," he said, "and sing another verse." + +"Willingly," said Janie, and again the fresh voice rang out, + + "If a body meet a body + Comin' frae the town + If a body kiss a body + Need a body frown." + +At the last sweet note the man at the piano turned, and lifting her in his +strong arms he exclaimed, + +"Child, you have the voice of an angel! Mr. McLeod, I ask your pardon for +doubting your statement that this little girl could sing." + +"Oh, it's of no account whatever," answered Sandy, stoutly, "since ye're +weel convinced." + +The members of the club were beginning to arrive, and standing Janie upon +a chair, the director stooped, and looking into the little face he asked. + +"Would you be willing to sing once for these ladies and gentlemen, Janie?" + +"Oh, I could na refuse if it was to gie them pleasure," she replied. + +The director in a few words told those present that he had been listening +to the child's singing, and that she had consented to sing for them. Some +of the faces wore a look of curiosity, some of skepticism, others of +genuine interest, but when turning toward them Janie commenced to sing, +she held them spellbound, and when she stepped down from the chair they +crowded around her and petted and praised her until Sandy was afraid that +she would be completely spoiled. + +Janie was delighted to have so pleased her audience, but her greatest joy +lay in the fact that Sandy had arranged that once a week she should sing +with the teacher, and had promised that there should be a piano for her to +practice with. + +With greatest care Sandy replaced Janie's numerous wraps, much as if she +had been a valuable painting, or a choice bit of sculpture, and taking her +hand, led her gently down the long stairway to the street. Then, lifting +her into the sleigh, and tucking the bear skin about her, he drove briskly +over the road toward home, not allowing the horse to slacken pace until he +reached his own door. + +Margaret McLeod was watching for them, and quickly left her seat at the +window to welcome them. + +"Weel, Janie, lass, and did the music maester think ye could sing?" + +"Oh, yes, yes!" cried Janie. "I'm to study with him, and Sandy, our Sandy +has promised to buy me a piano, so I shall know if I sing the right key, +and I'm to sing the lang exercises wi' ne'er a song 'til,--weel I dinna +when. + +"There's' in a' the world nae ane like our Sandy." + +"I've often thought the same mysel," said Margaret, with a droll smile at +her husband. + +"And between ye, ye mean tae spoil me completely, wi' yer flattery that I +own is sweet tae hear." + +"Ye canna be spoiled," said Margaret McLeod; "ye weel know ye're on a +pinnacle sae high o'e'r ither men, there's nae chance o' spoiling ye." + +"Oh, the prejudice o' a lovin' woman," Sandy replied, "is past the +understanding o' an ordinary mon, but 'tis sunshine tae live in the light +o' it." + +Later, when Mrs. McLeod was making preparation for tea, little Janie +followed her about, helping to set the table, at the same time telling +over and over the fine things which the director had said of her singing, +and yet again repeating the delightful fact that there was to be a fine +piano "in that verra house." + +"I wondered if the mon was a bit daft," said Sandy, "when he said tae +Janie, 'Mind ye sing the lessons I gie ye, an naething else.' + +"She's been singing the blithe Scotch ballads since she was a' most a +bairnie, an' her voice has grown sweeter a' the time. I say again, I hope +he's na daft." + +"Sandy, Sandy!" cried Margaret, "ye must na question the great music +maester. I doot not he knows a deal mair aboot music than we do." + +"He says that he will make me sing just wonderful," said Janie. + +"An' na doot he will," said Sandy, laying his hand lovingly upon Janie's +head. + + * * * * * + +It seemed as if the gale increased in force as it blew the dust and twigs +against the window, and hurried on with a shrill whistle around the +corner. + +After the table had been cleared, they took their places before the great +fireplace, Sandy, Margaret and Janie making a group in the centre, while +at one side sat the great brindle cat, Tam o' Shanter, and at a respectful +distance, on the opposite side of the hearth stone, stood the Scotch +Collie, Sir Walter Scott. + +Tam, with his forepaws snugly tucked in, and his great yellow eyes +blinking at the bright flames, was a picture of contentment. + +Sir Walter looked eagerly at Sandy, and longed to go and sit beside him, +but that would necessitate rather close proximity to Tam, and Tam usually +resented such familiarity, so the dog kept his place, and as he listened +to the conversation, seemed to understand what was being said. + +"I'll put fresh logs on the fire," said Sandy, "tae keep the cauld oot, +and I'm hopin' that there's nae ane abroad this night." + +At the little depot at the Centre, the station master stood upon the +platform looking anxiously up the track, hoping to see the light of an +approaching train. + +"'Most three hours late," muttered the man. "I'd like ter know if it ain't +er comin' ter-night." + +As he turned to re-enter the depot, a faint whistle made itself heard +above the clamor of the wind and turning he saw the headlight of the +engine coming around the bend. + +"There she is naow," he remarked, and as the train stopped, the mail bag +was quickly thrown out upon the platform and instantly picked up and +carried into the depot. + +The station agent did not dream that anyone would arrive so late in the +village on such a night, so having secured the mail bag, he allowed the +train to depart without even a glance at its receding form. + +One passenger, however, stepped from the car who evidently was not +expecting friends to meet her, as she immediately left the platform and +walked briskly up the road as if familiar with the place, and sure of the +direction which she must take to reach her destination. + +What had been a high wind during the day, now became a gale, and the +solitary figure wrapped her cloak closer about her and pushed resolutely +on, never pausing, yet at times looking hastily over her shoulder as if +fearful of a possible pursuer. As she passed a deserted farm house, a +sudden gust of wind blew one of its dilapidated blinds against the window, +shattering the glass with a resounding crash. With a scream the girl +sprang forward, then, half wild with fright she ran with a headlong pace +up the road. + +The promise of the leaden sky was now fulfilled, the falling sleet cutting +the girl's white cheeks, and serving to make the night more cheerless. + +Again she tried to draw the folds of her cloak about her, but the wind +snatched it from her fingers and blew it back and she was obliged to stop +and, for a moment, turn her back to the gale until she could securely +fasten the clasps which held it. Her hands shook with cold and fear, and +when she turned about and tried once more to run she found that her limbs +were weak with terror and that her progress must be slow. The great +branches of the trees groaned in the wind, as if crying out against such +rough handling, and the snow fell faster as the girl dragged herself along +the lonely road. + + * * * * * + +"The cauld increases," said Sandy. "I'll stir the fire an' throw on +anither log." + +"It's snawin'," announced Janie, as she emerged from behind the window +shade and ran to the fireplace, where she seated herself beside Sir +Walter, her arm about his neck. + +"Ain't ye glad ye're na scurryin' after the sheep at hame, ye big auld +dear?" asked Janie. + +The collie laid his head lovingly against her shoulder, as if agreeing, +and Tam, seeing the caress, looked as if he thought Janie's taste in her +choice of pets deteriorating. + +"Ah, Tam, Tam," she cried with a laugh, "are ye sae selfish ye want a' my +love? I love ye baith, an' I wad ye loved each ither." + +"Hark, Sandy! Did some one knock?" asked Mrs. McLeod, as she looked toward +the door. + +"Nae ane's aboot this night--Ay, Margaret, ye're right as usual, there's a +faint sound, an' I'll be seein',--" + +"Oh, Mr. McLeod, let me come in," said a girl's voice. + +"That I will, ye puir waif,--by all the saints, it's Phoebe Small! Here +Margaret! Janie! the lass is faintin'." + +"Oh, no I'm not," Phoebe answered, but her white face was not reassuring +and Sandy and Margaret were obliged to lead her to the great chair by the +fire. + +Janie loosened her boots which were covered with snow, and removing them, +set them to dry in a corner of the fireplace. Then she brought a cricket +and, handy little maid, lifted Phoebe's feet upon it, that the heat from +the fire might warm them. + +Soon Margaret McLeod had made a cup of tea, and it seemed to Phoebe that +nothing had ever tasted so delicious. Sandy stood beside her, offering the +lunch which Margaret had prepared, insisting gently that she must eat +heartily before going out into the night. + +"For I shall take ye hame, lass, I know that's where ye wad be, and warm +in the bear skin I'll wrap ye, an' in the sleigh 'twill be nae time before +we'll be at ye're door." + +"I could not stay away another day. The road from the depot was so lonely, +and I was so afraid,--" + +Phoebe was crying now, and Sandy laid his rough hand gently upon her +shoulder. + +"Never mind, lass, how ye got here, don't ye try tae tell it noo. If ye're +warm enough we'll be startin', an' ye can tell the folks at hame all aboot +it on the morrow." + +Little Janie examined Phoebe's boots, and finding them to be dry, insisted +upon putting them on and lacing them, and by the time that she had +finished the task the sleigh stood at the door. + +The ride was a short one, and soon Sandy was at the door of the Small +homestead, one arm about Phoebe who seemed too weary to stand, and the +other hand executing a rousing knock upon the panel of the door. + +Mrs. Small answered the summons and without ceremony Sandy entered, gently +pushing Phoebe before him. + +"This package was delayed in arrivin'," he commenced, but there seemed to +be no need of finishing the sentence. + +As Phoebe stood held close in her mother's embrace, she cried, + +"Oh, I never, never will go away to school again." + +"You never shall," said Mrs. Small, "but Phoebe, child, how is it that you +are here, and with Mr. McLeod at this time of night?" + +"Oh, I told them yesterday that I must come home, but they said at the +school, that you had paid for the term in advance, and that I could not +leave until the end of that term. + +"I said nothing, but this morning I ran away to the depot and when I had +bought my ticket and was in the cars riding toward home I was happier than +I had been for weeks. But the train was late and it was very dark when I +left the cars at the Centre and started to walk home." + +"The lass reached our door," said Sandy, "an' she was aboot faintin' when +I lifted her in, and set her doon before the fire. An' noo, as I'm not +necessary to ye're happiness," said Sandy with twinkling eyes, "I think +I'll bid ye 'good night,' and be drivin' hame tae Margaret." + +"I'm so glad to be at home again," said Phoebe, when Sandy had gone. + +"I cannot tell you, Phoebe, how we've missed you," her mother answered. +"Your father had to visit Boston yesterday and will be back to-morrow. +When Sandy arrived with you, I was sitting here alone and wondering how +long you would be willing to stay at boarding school." + +"I never wish to see or hear about one again," said Phoebe. I shall never +be discontented again. + +"It was a hard lesson," said Mrs. Small, as she kissed Phoebe, "but +perhaps it was a good one after all." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PARTY + + +Randy had become a favorite among the girls at the school, and one and all +declared that her frankness had been the trait which had first won their +admiration. + +"She always means what she says," said Nina Irwin. "I value a compliment +which Randy gives, for she never flatters. If she says a pleasant word, it +comes straight from her heart, and her heart is warm and loving." + +Randy had made rapid progress in her studies, and it seemed as if her zeal +increased as the months sped by. She had attended many concerts since the +memorable one when she had given her single rose to Madame Valena, "and +now the finest thing is yet to happen," she said in a letter to her +mother. + +Miss Dayton had sent out invitations for a little party to be given in +honor of Miss Randy Weston, and in consequence there was much excitement +at the private school. + +To receive an invitation from Miss Dayton meant much, and Randy's friends +talked of little else. + +"What shall you wear, Nina," asked Polly Lawrence. + +"Whatever mama suggests," replied Nina, with a laugh. + +"Because," continued Polly, "I think we ought to dress, well--in a very +showy manner, for Miss Dayton." + +"Why, I do not see that," remarked another girl. "Miss Dayton dresses +richly, but I should not say that 'showy' was a fitting word to apply to +her refined taste." + +"Indeed!" said Polly, sharply. "Well, I shall wear my red gauze over +satin, and I fancy Peggy will not choose a very simple frock for the +occasion." + +"Just my blue silk, dear," Peggy remarked lazily, "and since you've all +seen it you will not have to enthuse over it." + +"What do you suppose Randy will wear?" asked Peggy. + +"Something becoming, without a doubt," said Nina Irwin, "since everything +becomes her." + +At this point Randy entered, and the subject of conversation changed from +dress to the lessons for the day. + +"You always come with lessons prepared, Randy Weston," said Polly, "and +you look decidedly cheerful, too." + +"Why shouldn't I look cheerful, if I am ready for the recitations?" asked +Randy, in surprise. + +"Because," Polly answered, "it makes me cross to have to study, and you +must work persistently to keep up such a record as you have this year." + +"Miss Dayton helps me," Randy answered. + +"But she cannot _learn_ for you," said Nina Irwin, "and you seem to get on +as well in those studies which are new to you, as in those which you had +commenced in the district school." + +"But I like all my studies," said Randy, "and anyone would be interested +in new ones. There is another reason why I am working so diligently. + +"Father and mother sent me here, believing that I would study faithfully. +I should not be true to them if I wasted my opportunity. And little Prue +is trying to be patient, although her funny little letters show how she +misses me. I'll show you the last one which she sent me, only don't laugh +at her original spelling, Nina. Remember, she is a little girl. Here it +is:" + + "DEAR RANDY:-- + + "How long wil it bee fore you cum hom I luv you an I wanto see + you Me n Jonny slided on my sled an we ran intu a fense an got + hurted I lern my lesons, but I cant spel big words yet When I say + I want my Randy ma dont cry but her ize is wet and ant Prudence + wipes her glassis Hi put sum gum in Jonys cap an it got stuk to + his hare. When you cum hom I wil be so glad for I luv you + + "Yor litle + PRUE." + +"The cunning little thing," said Nina, "her funny letter shows just how +they miss you at home, and how dearly she loves you, Randy." + +"That is what I meant when I said one day to you, Nina that it was hard, +and at the same time delightful to be here. I love father, mother and dear +little Prue more than it is possible to say; I love the dear home, too. Of +course it is not like the homes which I have seen here, but nothing can +make it less dear to me," said Randy. + +"I enjoy all the pleasures which Miss Dayton plans for me, and I have +become attached to the school and to the pleasant friends which I have +made here in the city; but sometimes in the midst of my study, sometimes +when listening to rare music, the thought of home brings the tears, and +for the moment, I am homesick, so homesick that I think I cannot stay. + +"Then I remember that father and mother wish me to excel in my studies, +and I crowd back the tears, and by reminding myself that with the spring I +shall return, I try to be cheerful." + +As the bell called the girls to their seats, Nina whispered as she passed, + +"O Randy! The longer I know you, the more truly I love you;" and the +whispered words made Randy very happy. + + * * * * * + +On the day of the little party the decorators converted the drawing-room +into a veritable rose garden, glowing and sweet, the lovely pink blossoms +sending out their fragrance as if doing their utmost to honor Randy, who, +until that season, had known only the garden roses which blossomed near +the farm-house door. + +The lights were softened by delicate pink shades, and upon a pedestal +beneath Aunt Marcia's portrait, stood a huge jardiniere filled with roses +the glowing petals of which seemed to repeat the color of the brocaded +court gown in the picture. + +In her little room, Randy, with sparkling eyes, and quick beating heart, +stood before her mirror, mechanically drawing a comb through her soft +brown hair. Her mind was far away and she did not seem to see the girl +reflected there. + +"If they were all here to-night,--" she murmured, and as the words escaped +her lips, two bright tears lay upon her cheek. + +"Oh, this will never do," said Randy, quickly drying the tears, and +endeavoring to summon a smile. + +"Mother and father would surely say, + +"'Be cheerful to-night, Miss Dayton will wish it. Remember she is giving +the party for you.'" + +So, smiling bravely, she arranged her hair in the pretty, simple manner in +which she usually dressed it, and proceeded to array herself in the white +muslin which Janie Clifton had declared to be just the thing for a city +party, and just the thing for Randy. + +And Janie had spoken wisely. Nothing could have been more becoming, or +served more surely to show Randy's fine coloring than the sheer muslin +with its white satin ribbons. + +As she stood looking at the transparent folds of the skirt, the tip of her +shoe peeped from below the hem, and Randy laughed merrily. She had quite +forgotten to change her street shoes for the silken hose and white +slippers which Miss Dayton had given her. + +"How _could_ I forget them, the first pretty slippers which I ever owned?" +She hastened to put them on, afterward surveying them with much +satisfaction. They were such pretty slippers, decorated with white satin +bows and crystal beading. + +"Like Cinderella's," thought Randy, as she held back her skirts, the +better to see them, and when later she paused on the stairway to look down +upon the many rose hued lights in the hall below, she turned a radiant +face toward Helen Dayton as she said:-- + +"Oh, how kind you are to give this lovely party for me, just me. I feel +like Cinderella, only," she added laughing, "I am sure that I shall not +lose my crystal slipper when to-night the clock strikes twelve." + +"Nor shall you part with them at any time," Helen replied, "but keep them +in remembrance of this night when you enjoyed your first party." + +A fine trio they formed as they stood waiting to receive their guests; +Aunt Marcia looking like an old countess in her stately gown of black +velvet and diamonds, Helen, resplendent in turquoise satin and pink roses, +and Randy in her white muslin and ribbons, a single rose in her hair. + +Soon the young guests began to arrive, and very cordially were they +greeted, Randy's bright face plainly showing how heartfelt was the +pleasure which her words expressed as each new friend was presented. + +One guest had been bidden to the party who had not yet arrived, and Helen +Dayton could not refrain from occasionally glancing toward the door, with +the hope of seeing the delinquent. The buzz of conversation and light +laughter seemed at its height, when a late arrival was announced. + +Miss Dayton heard the name, but Randy who was at the moment chatting with +Nina Irwin, did not. + +The young man in faultless evening dress made his way across the room to +Aunt Marcia, then to Miss Dayton, then, with a merry twinkle in his eyes +he turned to Randy who, still, talking with Nina, was unaware of his +approach. + +"Miss Randy," said a familiar voice, and Randy started, turned, then with +eyes expressing her surprise and delight she said, + +"O Jotham, truly you cannot guess how glad I am to see you." + +"And do you think I can tell you with what pleasure I have looked forward +to this evening?" Jotham answered. + +"I have been longing to call upon you, but my days and evenings have been +so completely occupied with study, that this is my first bit of recreation +since I came to Boston in the fall, and until I received Miss Dayton's +invitation, I did not know where I might find you." + +Then Jotham was presented to Nina who in turn led him to a group of her +friends where, surrounded by a bevy of bright faced girls, he seemed as +much at ease as if his life had consisted of naught but social pleasures. + +Randy turned, and meeting Helen's gaze she said, + +"It seems to me that Jotham looks like a prince to-night." + +"He has a charming manner," said Miss Dayton, "and I have always thought +that he possessed a noble mind, that priceless gift which only One can +give. Coronets can be purchased, but who can barter for true worth?" + +In the shadow cast by a statue and leaning against its pedestal, stood +Polly Lawrence, her flushed cheeks vieing with the scarlet gauze which she +wore, a most unpleasant expression upon her small face, while her nervous +fingers plucked to pieces a red rose which she had taken from her bodice +and she angrily tapped the floor with her satin slipper. And what had +occurred to mar the evening's pleasure for Polly Lawrence? + +Merely the fact that she was not the only girl in the room to receive +attention, and also that she had chosen a gaudy costume for the occasion, +and was conscious that her choice had been unwise. + +Shallow by nature, and without keen perception, she yet possessed +sufficient good sense to see that she had not impressed her friends with +the magnificence of her apparel, and her vanity received a thrust when a +friend said to her, + +"How sweet Randy Weston looks in her white gown and ribbons! One would +know that she would never wear a gaudy dress." + +Polly had made no reply, but in exasperation she thought, + +"Every one admires Randy. I do believe that they would think she looked +sweet in white calico." + +There was, after all, a bit of excuse for Polly. Reared by her aunt, a +woman with a character as shallow as that of her niece, Polly's vanity had +never been curbed, rather it had been encouraged. She was allowed to +choose her own costumes, her aunt rarely venturing a suggestion; and the +milliners and dressmakers, reading the girl's vain character, encouraged +Polly to purchase that which was most expensive, regardless as to whether +it might be suitable or becoming. + +Furs, designed apparently for a dowager, at once became her own, if only +she could be assured that no girl of her acquaintance owned a set as +costly, and upon all occasions it appeared to be her intention to wear +more jewelry than any other person present. + +Later, when all had repaired to the dining-room, Polly's displeasure was +somewhat appeased when she found herself placed beside Peggy's brother, +who was a thoroughly good fellow, and ever a gentleman, therefore he +immediately proceeded to make himself very agreeable to Polly, although +had he been given his choice of a companion he would most surely have +chosen quite a different girl. + +Beside Randy sat Jotham who declared himself to be "as happy as a king," +and his tutor, the young professor, seemed equally charmed beside Helen +Dayton, with whom he was exchanging reminiscences of college days. + +"Do you remember a certain girl, Miss Dayton," he asked, "who on a +memorable class day gave the pleasure of her company to a diffident +student who in ecstasy at playing escort to the lovely girl and her +dignified Aunt Marcia, nearly forgot all which he ever knew, managing only +to stammer through an effort at conversation which must have completely +bored her?" + +"Pardon me, the girl could not truly have been bored," Miss Dayton +replied, "else it would not be true that to-night she remembers every +event of that delightful day with a pleasure which she has never found +words to describe." + +"Is that really true?" he asked, but other voices making a merry din +allowed the answer to be heard only by the one for whom it was intended, +and soon Helen was leading the conversation into channels in which all +might take part, causing the gifted ones to show their sparkling wit, and +coaxing the shy guests to talk, who would otherwise have been silent. + +Miss Dayton possessed in a wonderful degree, the ability to help each +person present to appear at his best, with the result that all were made +happy and glad to proclaim that no home boasted as sweet a young hostess +as Helen Dayton, or as grand a mistress as gracious Aunt Marcia, who +dearly loved young people, and who was never happier than when in their +company. + +Peggy Atherton, aware that she was becomingly attired in her blue silk and +forget-me-nots, was doing her best to coax a diffident youth to join in +the conversation, and at the same time naughtily enjoying his blushing +answers to her bright speeches. + +Randy saw Peggy's roguish eyes, and wondered what it might be which so +amused her, when a pause in the general conversation allowed the following +to be heard,-- + +"Were you at the last symphony?" Peggy asked sweetly. + +"Yes,--no,--that is I think I was, but I can't quite remember," was the +halting answer. + +"Oh, you _would_ remember if you were really there," persisted Peggy, +"because the program was extra fine and the solos were something to dream +of." + +"Yes, yes the music was er,--very er,--musical, and the soloist, that is, +the one who sang a solo, was er,--the only one who er--sang alone, I +believe." + +Randy stifled a wild desire to laugh, for she saw plainly that Peggy was +teasing the youth, who in his extreme diffidence, was appearing as if he +were a simpleton, which was indeed far from the truth. + +Peggy well knew that he was a bright young student, and she secretly +admired his intellect, but she was an inveterate tease, and it amused her +to see him blush, and to hear his faltering answers. + +She did not mean to hurt him; only a thoughtless mirth tempted her to +torment him; but to Randy, Peggy's conduct seemed very cruel, and she +determined to save the luckless youth from further discomfort. Turning to +Jotham, expecting as usual to find in him an ally, Randy said, + +"I saw you talking with Cyril Langdon just before we left the +drawing-room. He is ill at ease, because Peggy is teasing him, but when he +chooses to talk he is very interesting. Do make Peggy stop, she is +spoiling his evening. Ask him,--oh ask him about the Tech. athletics or +anything, Jotham, can't you?" + +Jotham, as usual, glad of an opportunity to please Randy, succeeded in +drawing Cyril into a conversation which proved interesting to all, and +made the boy forget his discomfiture. + +Peggy was aware of a vague wish that she had been more merciful, and +resolved another time to help, rather than hinder a conversation. + +Later, when the gay little party returned to the drawing-room, Randy +begged Miss Dayton to favor her friends with some music. Helen, ever ready +to give pleasure, seated herself at the piano, Professor Marden standing +beside her, ostensibly to turn her music, but in truth to watch her +graceful fingers upon the keys. + +Her audience was enthusiastic, and not to be satisfied with one selection. +Helen smilingly acceded to their requests, and when she arose from the +piano she was greeted with generous praise. + +Among the happy faces Randy saw one less bright than the others. It was +Polly Lawrence, and Randy wondered what had caused a frown upon the +usually smiling face. "It would never do to ask her why she isn't enjoying +my party," she said to herself, "but I do wish she looked happier. I am so +happy this evening, that I wish everyone else to enjoy every moment of it. +I believe I'll ask her to sing for us. She sings nicely, and perhaps she +would be pleased to, if she knew we wished it." + +Accordingly, Randy hastened to Polly who was standing apart from the +guests, and looking as if in anything but a pleasant mood. Her face +brightened, however, when told that it would be a pleasure to hear her +sing, and after a little urging, she consented. She possessed a light +soprano voice which had been carefully trained, and when she chose, she +could sing most acceptably. + +On this especial evening, it pleased her to do her best, and she delighted +her friends with a number of songs, for which Miss Dayton played the +accompaniments. Polly received unstinted praise for her singing, and she +therefore, upon her return, told her aunt that the party was a success. + +At the end of the drawing-room, Nina Irwin was merrily chatting with a +number of her friends, and Polly hastened to join the group, where she was +soon laughing as gaily as the others, and apparently as happy. + +Near the centre of the room Miss Dayton and Randy, Jotham and Professor +Marden stood, evidently engaged in the discussion of a most interesting +subject, and as Aunt Marcia joined them, she was asked to give her +opinion. + +"What has been my greatest pleasure in life?" She smiled as she repeated +the question, and turned for a moment and looked long and earnestly at her +portrait, then she said, + +"When that picture was painted and was first seen by my friends, some one +remarked, + +"'Oh, how dearly above all else Marcia prizes a gay life!' + +"I have always enjoyed social pleasures," she continued, "but if I were to +say that one thing, above all else, gave me true delight, I should say, +that to make others happy had ever been my greatest joy." + +"Pardon me, if I venture to say that that is the charm which has preserved +your beauty," said the young tutor, gravely bowing to Aunt Marcia, who, +sweeping a low courtesy, acknowledged the courtly speech which was uttered +in such evident sincerity. + +"And, in return let me say, that the young man who thinks it worth while +to pay a graceful compliment to one who is quite old enough to be his +grandmother, proves himself to be a worthy descendant of his talented +father, a perfect gentleman of the old school," replied Aunt Marcia; and +Helen saw the quick flush of pleasure on the professor's cheek. His love +for his father amounted almost to worship, and Aunt Marcia could have +chosen no word of praise which would have moved him so deeply, or pleased +him more surely, than to thus have declared him, to be a "worthy +descendant." + +Other young people joined this central group, and Nina at the piano played +softly a dreamy nocturne which seemed a gentle accompaniment to the +conversation. + +In the shadow of a tall jar of ferns Jotham was looking at Randy, and +thinking that while the white party gown was very charming, it was also +true that Randy at home in a pink sunbonnet had been well worth looking +at. + +"How serious you look," said Randy, "are you thinking that to-night's +pleasure will mean many hours of hard study to-morrow, Jotham?" + +"No, indeed," he answered with a laugh, "I am not allowing a thought of +study to mar to-night's enjoyment. I was just wondering, Randy, why some +girls are very dependent for a good appearance, upon what they wear, while +one girl whom I know, can look equally well in a party gown or a gingham +dress and sunbonnet." + +Randy blushed as she said, "O, Jotham, has Professor Marden been teaching +you to pay compliments, along with your other studies?" + +"Indeed, no," was the answer. "He meant every word which he said to Miss +Dayton's aunt, as truly as I meant what I said to you, and Randy," he +continued, "you and I have been here in the city all winter, have seen its +life and stir and bustle, and you have seen much of the social side of the +problem which is puzzling me. Is it so much better, this city life, than +the home life in the country? There, every busybody is interested in his +neighbor; here, we are met on every hand by strangers who do not know, or +wish to know anything in regard to us. Here a hundred strangers in the +great railway stations are objects of but little interest. Randy, do you +realize the commotion which one arrival with a hand-bag causes at the +little station at home? I tell you, Randy, one is large in a little +country town, and small, so small in a great city." + +"One is never small, wherever he may be, in the hearts of his friends, +Jotham," was the sweet reply, "but in regard to home, there is no place +like it. I enjoy all the brightness, the study, the fine pictures which I +have seen and the rare music which I have heard; but, Jotham, I am at +heart a country girl, and while I like to be here, if I were to choose +'for always,' as little Prue says, I'd choose the mountains and the +streams at home. + +"I shall not leave behind the knowledge which I have gained. I shall be +all the happier because of it, but home is home, isn't it, Jotham?" + +"Indeed it is," answered Jotham, heartily. + +And now the carriages were beginning to arrive, and in twos and threes the +guests departed, assuring Randy and Helen that the evening had been one of +rare pleasure. + +Jotham and his tutor left together, promising their charming hostesses +that they should soon find leisure for a call. And when the last guest +had departed, and Randy, Helen, and Aunt Marcia looked about the flower +scented rooms, Randy said, with a happy sigh, + +"Oh, what a lovely, lovely party! I was sorry to see them go. I am not +even tired. No one could be tired during such an evening." + +"Dear Randy," said Helen, "it was indeed a pretty party, and well worth my +effort to make it a success. You were an ideal little hostess, Randy, you +did your part to perfection." + +"Why, I was only just myself. I was not at all fine," said Randy in +amazement. + +"That is just the secret of your success," Helen replied. "Always be just +your own true self, and no one in all the world would ask for more." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +TIMOTHEUS AND HIS NEIGHBORS + + +"Whao! Whao! I tell ye. Be ye deef, or be ye jest contrary? + +"I b'lieve them critters 'd like ter see me wait 'til June fer +plaoughin'." + +The ill-matched pair came to a standstill, and so listless was their +bearing, that one would say that having decided to halt, nothing would +induce them to again draw the plough. + +"There, ye can rest naow, fer a spell, 'til ye git yer wind, an' then I'll +set ye at it agin." + +One of the horses snorted derisively, but Jabez Brimblecom cared little +for that. He drew from his hip pocket a large envelope, and opening the +letter which it contained, adjusted his spectacles and laboriously read it +for the third time. + +"Wal, all I got ter say 'baout it is, that it's pooty full er big words, +an' flourishes, but biled daown, it 'maounts ter jist this; Sabriny's sot +her mind on makin' us an' everlastin' long visit. I shan't hev ter stand +much on't, however; I'll be aout doors most of the time, when I _have_ +ter, an' I vum I'll be aout all the rest of the time because I _choose_ +ter. + +"Sabriny's a team, an' so's Mis' Brimblecom. They never did pull together. +Not but that they _pull_ 'nough, only it's allus the opposite ways. I +don't stay in doors much arter she arrives! No, Siree! + +"G'lang there! G'lang I say! + +"Well, fust ye won't stop, an' then ye won't budge! I vaow I never see a +pair er critters like ye, 'cept my wife an' cousin Sabriny!" + +When at last the pair concluded to move, they started forward with a most +surprising lurch, and Jabez Brimblecom found his hands full in guiding the +plough, and the two horses who, having decided to bestir themselves, +tramped diligently back and forth, leaving the long rows of furrowed +earth as evidence of their willingness to work when their ambition was +aroused. + +Again they stopped to rest and again Mr. Brimblecom fumbled in his pocket +for the envelope, but he did not take it out. + +"Why didn't she write the letter 'stead er gittin' that husband er hern +ter write fer her? I'd 'nough rather she'd told Mis' Brimblecom she wuz +comin', 'stead er leavin' me ter tell her. She'll be mad's a hornet, an' I +vaow I won't blame her. + +"G'lang there! Wal, I'll be switched if she isn't comin' daown ter the +bars naow. Wonder what's up?" + +"Jabez! Jabez! _Ja--bez!_" + +"All right, I'll be there," was the answer, but in an aside he remarked +apparently to the horses, + +"'F I git my courage up, I'll tell her 'baout Sabriny naow and be done +with it;" but his bravery was not put to the test. Before he could reach +the bars where his wife stood waiting, she cried out vehemently, "Jabez +Brimblecom, what do ye think? Mis' Hodgkins used ter know yer cousin +Sabriny when they both wuz girls, an' she says she's jest got a letter a +sayin' that Sabriny's comin' here ter make er long visit. She's goin' ter +spend two weeks with Mis' Hodgkins, an' all the rest er the summer with +us. Jabez, I'd rather heerd of er cyclone a hittin' us, fer ye well know +that there'll be no peace 'til she packs an' starts fer home." + +"I know it, I know it," Jabez answered, with feeling. + +"I got er letter in my pocket, an' I been hatin' ter show it to ye, but +mebbe ye might as well read it and make what ye can out'n it." + +Mrs. Brimblecom wiped her glasses and commenced to read the letter. + +"Naow what's the use'n his talkin' baout the 'wonderful mountain air,' an' +the 'sparklin' springs,' an' er sayin' that they'll do such a sight fer +Sabriny? + +"We know what the air is, an' fer that matter, so does she; she's allus +lived here. An' as ter the springs; she never so much as looked at 'em +when she was here before, but she spent a lot er time tellin' me how she +couldn't sleep on my corded beds. She said she had ter sleep on springs +an' I was baout tired a hearin' tell of our short comin's; an' I told her +if springs was necessary to her well-bein', she'd no doubt be best off ter +hum where she'd been braggin' she had plenty of 'em." + +"I didn't blame ye fer gittin' riled," said Jabez, "but I s'pose we'll hev +ter welcome her, even if we're driven ter speed her departur;" and they +both laughed good-naturedly, and mentally decided to make the best of the +self-invited guest. + +"Wal, she ain't here yit," said Mrs. Brimblecom, "and the fust two weeks +she spends with Mis' Hodgkins, an' p'raps by the time she arrives here, +I'll be cooled daown 'nough ter be kind er perlite, though I shan't say, +'I'm glad ter see ye Sabriny,' fer that'd be a lie." + +"_I_ shall say, 'I hope I see ye well, Sabriny,' fer massy knows I +wouldn't want her ter be sick fer ye ter wait on," remarked Jabez, with a +twinkle in his eye. + +"Wal," he continued, "I must git this piece er plaoughin' done. I can't +set daown an' luxooriate an' wait 'til we see Sabriny acomin'." + +With a loud "G'lang there," he aroused his placid horses, and across the +fields they sped, and Mrs. Brimblecom, with the letter in her hand, +hastened back to the house where, after placing the large envelope under +the cushion of her rocking chair, she busied herself with household tasks. + +Later, when she felt that she had earned a few leisure moments, she drew +the letter from its hiding-place and sat down to study it. + +"'F I hadn't hid ye under the cushion, like as not when I wanted ter read +ye, ye'd be lost," she remarked. + +A few moments she read in silence, then her disgust moved her to speak. + +"Sabriny feels better in a 'higher altitude,'--well, why doesn't she git +one, whatever 'tis, an' git inter it an' stay there, 'stead a pesterin' me +with her visits." Mrs. Brimblecom perused a few more lines, when again she +spoke. + +"She seems ter 'have little energy,'--wal, I don't want ter be mean, but I +can't help a hopin' that she won't gain any. Sabriny without energy would +be er sight that'd cheer me. Her tremenjous vim nearly wore me aout last +season. Ef she'd jest manage ter leave her energy ter hum, I do'no's I'd +mind her comin'." + +While good Mrs. Brimblecom was studying the letter, Mrs. Hodgkins had +sallied forth to tell the great news, that the visitor was expected, and +as she passed the village store, old Mr. Simpkins, in the doorway, was +taking leave of Silas Barnes. + +"Yes, sir, he's a great feller, he is. There ain't another as 'riginal as +he is on the globe, I bet ye. He's done a lot er bright things time an' +time 'n again, but this time beats the other times all holler." + +"What's he done naow?" asked Barnes. + +"Hey?" remarked Mr. Simpkins, with his hand at his ear. + +"I say, what's he done _naow_?" roared Barnes. + +"Oh, I ain't tellin' yit. Even his brother Joel don't know, an' won't know +this week, but next week the taown will be 'baout wild with the news er +what Timotheus has done. Ye'll be 'bliged ter wait 'til then," said Mr. +Simpkins. + +"I guess I'll be able to stand it," remarked Silas Barnes in an undertone. + +"Hey? Did ye say ye'd understand it? Wal, I ain't sure whether ye will er +not. It's most too much fer _me_," Mr. Simpkins replied, as he made his +way cautiously down the rickety steps. + +"Fer goodness sakes, what's Timotheus been a doin' naow, I wonder," +muttered Mrs. Hodgkins. "I shan't ask, an' be told ter wait, as Silas +Barnes was. + +"I'd like ter know one thing," she continued, "an' that is whether the boy +is 'specially bright as his _father_ thinks, or whether he's a little +lackin' as _I_ think, an' I do'no who's ter decide." + +Up the road she trudged, and as she turned the corner, a most surprising +sight caused her to stop and ejaculate. "Land er the livin'! What ails him +naow?" + +Timotheus Simpkins, unaware that he was observed, was executing a most +fantastic jig in the middle of the road. + +"I've did it naow, I bet ye 'n even Joel 'll have ter admit I'm a sight +bigger'n anybody 'n taown. Good-bye ter farmin' and hooray fer literatoor, +I say." + +"Wal, be ye losin' yer senses, er clean gone crazy?" asked Mrs. Hodgkins +in disgust. + +Timotheus paused in his wild pirouette, and gave Mrs. Hodgkins a withering +glance. + +"It ain't wuth while ter explain Mis' Hodgkins, bein's I don't feel ye'd +be able ter' understand the magnitood er what I've done." + +"_Dew tell!_" remarked Mrs. Hodgkins with fine contempt, "I hope the +taown is still big 'nough ter hold ye, _Mr._ Simpkins." + +Her irony was wasted, however. + +"I'm glad ye reelize the time's come ter 'dress me as 'Mr.,'" remarked +Timotheus, and Mrs. Hodgkins vouchsafed no answer, but hurried along the +road, "afeared ter speak," as she afterward said, "lest I'd say a deal +more'n I orter." + +In the long drawing-room Randy and Helen Dayton were chatting merrily with +Jotham and Professor Marden when Aunt Marcia joined them, expressing +pleasure in being at home to share the call. + +In two weeks the private school would close, when Randy would say +"good-bye" to her city home and the two dear friends who had entertained +her, to the schoolmates of whom she had become so fond, and then she would +be speeding over the rails every mile of which would take her nearer home, +the dear country home. As Jotham was to leave the city at the same time, +he asked the pleasure of accompanying Randy upon the journey, and his +offer was gladly accepted. + +"And have you heard the latest news from home, Randy?" asked Jotham. +Without awaiting a reply he continued, + +"Timotheus Simpkins has 'blossomed aout,' as his father expresses it and a +specimen of his 'literatoor' is printed in the county paper. Father sent +me a marked copy, and if you like I will read the article." + +"I should indeed like to hear it," said Aunt Marcia; "from what Randy says +of him I think Timotheus must be an unique character." + +"He is truly an odd specimen," said Helen, "I cannot imagine what he would +write." + +"Read it, do read it," said Randy, and Jotham read the following: + + + "THORT. + + "Thort is the gratest thing that has ever been thort of. I don't + know of eny thing bigger than thort that I have thort of, less + twas riginalty, an reely _thats_ thort. When I'm busy thinkin' + thorts I aint apt ter have my mind on eny thing else mostly. Most + of the books what I have read I think was writ without enough + thort. Take the almanic; if _Id_ writ the almanic whare they say, + 'bout this time expect rain,' _Id_ a said, bout this time expect + weather. Id a put some thort on the matter and Id a knowd that + yed natraly have weather er some kind, cause theres _allus_ + weather round about these parts, but most folks havent no power + ter have thort, an thats why theres so few folks that is great. I + mean ter spend my time in thort an' casionally do a little + ploughing. I thort so continooal that I had ter leave school in + order ter git time ter think in, so havin learnt all there was + ter learn, I left school ter the fellers as thort so little that + they didn't need much time fer it an now I shall put on paper + such thort as most folks can tackle, but some er my thort is so + thortful that most any body couldn't understand it, an so no more + until Ive thort again. + + "Yours thortfully + TIMOTHEUS SIMPKINS." + +"Poor Timotheus," said Helen Dayton. + +"And why 'poor Timotheus'?" asked Professor Marden. "With his stock of +egotism, I think the fellow must be happier than the average man. I know +of no one who considers himself the only thinker in the universe, except +this young Simpkins. He must, indeed, be supremely happy." + +"And the joke is," said Jotham, "that he received a small sum for the +article, and a personal letter from the editor. The money, (I believe it +was the immense sum of two dollars,) pleased Timotheus, but the letter +puzzled him extremely. He considered the article to be a serious, as well +as a lofty effort, whereas the editor evidently supposed it to be +humorous, and believed the unique spelling to be a part of the fun. +Timotheus told my father that 'the money showed that his "literatoor" was +wuth something but that the editor man must be dull ter think that it was +anything but a tremenjous hefty comp'sition.' + +"Old Mr. Simpkins considers Timotheus a prodigy, and seems to feel +contempt for his elder son, Joel, who as he expressed it, 'ain't +intellectooal like Timotheus,' and Joel usually retaliates by saying, +'It's lucky one son er the Simpkins family has got jest plain common +sense.' + +"The paper is not published in our town," continued Jotham, "it is a +county paper, and its editor and publisher lives in a distant village, so +that, unacquainted with the Simpkins family, he supposed Timotheus to be a +would-be humorist, little dreaming that he was offending a genius, by +seeing fun where fun was not intended." + +"Timotheus, however, had the joy of feeling that his literary work had a +market value," said Professor Marden, with a laugh. + +Randy and Helen were much amused, but although Aunt Marcia's eyes +twinkled, she said, + +"Poor boy! I wonder when and how he will outgrow his egotism? There surely +is no chance for him to learn until he is made to realize how little he +knows, and who would care to attempt the task of opening his eyes?" + +"There are a plenty of persons in our town," said Jotham, "who have +repeatedly tried to enlighten him, but they have been obliged to +relinquish the effort. It is useless to tell him that talented people +think it necessary to obtain a fine education. He only insists that he is +a genius, and that there is nothing left for him to learn." + +"We must not worry for Timotheus," said Helen, "he is as happy as one +could wish; rather we should remember the old adage, 'Where ignorance is +bliss, etc.'" and the little company agreed that perhaps after all, +Timotheus Simpkins should be congratulated rather than commiserated. + +When the callers arose to depart, Jotham said, + +"Then on two weeks from to-day, Randy, I may call for you, and together we +will travel toward home?" + +"Yes, oh yes," Randy answered, an odd little note in her voice, "and how +hard it will be to say good-bye to these two dear friends, how delightful +to know that late in the afternoon I shall greet the dear ones whose faces +I so long to see. How I wish you both were going back with me, then I +should not say good-bye at all." + +"And since we cannot accompany you," said Aunt Marcia, laying her hand +gently upon Randy's arm, "we count ourselves fortunate that we are going +to our summer home soon after you leave us. You have been a ray of +sunlight in our home, Randy, and we could not easily or quickly become +used to your absence." + +"Oh, is it unkind to be glad that you will miss me?" asked Randy looking +quickly from Aunt Marcia to Helen. "I am puzzled, for I know that I would +do anything to make you happy; then why, when I love you so truly, am I +glad to have you grieved when I go?" + +She glanced at Professor Marden who, while apparently answering her +questioning, looked fixedly at Helen Dayton as he said, "That is not an +unkind thought, Miss Randy; if we can be assured that when absent we are +missed, we are then doubly sure that our presence is welcome." + +"No one should have so faint a heart as to for a moment doubt that he is +welcome," said Aunt Marcia, receiving in return a grateful smile from +Professor Marden, who bowed low over Miss Dayton's hand, and then with +Jotham walked briskly down the avenue. + +"Professor Marden is a most charming young man," said Aunt Marcia, as she +stood at the window watching his receding figure. "He is very like his +father, who was once my most valued friend." + +Helen turned quickly to look at her aunt, expecting that she was about to +tell more of the elder Marden, but she had left the window and stood by a +large jar of roses, rearranging the blossoms with infinite care, and when +she again spoke it was not of the Mardens, father or son, but of their +engagements and the weather for the morrow. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HOME + + +At last the long anticipated hour had arrived and Randy and Jotham were +speeding over the country toward home. + +Nina Irwin, Peggy Atherton, Polly Lawrence and a host of their schoolmates +had, on the day before bidden Randy an affectionate good-bye. They had +exchanged promises in regard to correspondence, had vowed never to forget +each other, and Nina had slipped a little parcel into Randy's hand, +saying, + +"Just a little gift, dear Randy. Open it when the train has started and +you are on your way home." + +"O Nina, I shall prize your gift, whatever it may be," said Randy. "How +can I wait until to-morrow to see it? And I have something to tell you," +she continued. + +"I had a letter from home yesterday, and mother says that I must be sure +to give you her invitation to spend a few weeks of the summer with us. She +tells me to remind you that our home is a farm-house, but that it is large +and comfortable, and that the welcome awaiting you is very cordial. + +"Father says, 'Tell Miss Nina that I am anxious to see my daughter's dear +friend of whom she writes such pleasant things.' Even Aunt Prudence says, +'I think I shall approve of Miss Irwin,' and little Prue says, 'Tell the +Nina girl I want her to come!'" + +"There was never a sweeter invitation, Randy Weston. Of course I'll come," +said Nina, "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Just a farm-house! Why, +Randy, that is half the charm. Haven't I been to hotels summer after +summer, but I never stayed over night in a farm-house. I shall enjoy every +hour of my stay with you. + +"Tell your mother how gladly I accept her invitation, and tell Prue that +the 'Nina girl' has no little sister, and that she is very eager to see +Randy's little Prue." + +On the morning of the journey Aunt Marcia folded Randy in a warm embrace +as she said, + +"Dear child promise me that you will come again, thus only, can I see you +depart;" and Randy had promised at some future time to again visit Boston. + +With Helen she had entered the coupe and together they rode to the +station. + +Jotham had been obliged to relinquish the pleasure of calling for Randy +and had written to say that, accompanied by his tutor, he would meet her +at the depot, so it happened that Jotham and Randy, after saying good-bye +to their two friends, rode out from the station and into the glad sunshine +on their homeward way, and Helen, her beautiful eyes filled with tears, +entered the carriage followed by Professor Marden who seated himself +beside her. + +"Come and lunch with Aunt Marcia and me" she had said, "then I shall feel +that while one dear friend departs, another remains." + +Upon entering the car, Jotham had turned over the seat opposite the one +which they had chosen, and upon it they laid wraps, bags, a box of candy, +and Helen's last gift to Randy, a great cluster of roses. + +Randy had enjoyed her sojourn in the city with all the enthusiasm of her +nature, but now her face was turned toward home, and with a smiling face +she said to Jotham, + +"I have you for company, and the day is sunny, I have my gifts, too, and +best of all, I shall soon see every one at home. O, Jotham, are you as +glad as I am, to-day?" + +There was a suspicious tremor in his voice as he replied, + +"I am every bit as happy as you are, Randy; I have worked very hard this +winter and been cheered by Professor Marden's genuine interest in me. He +has been kindness itself, and the letters from home have been a great +comfort. I am already looking forward to next season's study, and in the +meantime I shall enjoy the summer vacation. I'll show father that while he +is kind enough to allow me to spend my winter in study, I have not +forgotten how to help in the summer work upon the farm." + +"Look, Randy," continued Jotham, "the little towns and villages look more +like home as we ride away from the city." + +Randy looked from the window and noticed that the houses were farther and +farther apart, the broad fields in which cows were grazing, the winding +rivers dazzling in the sunlight, the hills blue and hazy and over all the +blue sky and fleecy clouds. + +When Randy opened the little parcel containing Nina's gift, she was +delighted to find a photograph, encased in a silver frame of exquisite +workmanship. Nina's card was fastened to the frame with a bit of ribbon, +and upon the card appeared this message: "You now see that I can be with +you always." + +"Nina knew that I would rather have her picture than any other thing," +said Randy. + +How swiftly the hours flew! At noon the car was very warm, for it was +late in May, and it seemed almost like June sunshine which lay in long +bars upon the red plush seats. + +Later, the air became cooler, and Randy had tired of the flying landscape +until aroused by Jotham, who exclaimed, + +"Look out, Randy! This is the next town to ours." + +"Do you mean that we are so near home?" asked Randy, with sparkling eyes. +Just at this point the brakeman's voice announced the station, and proved +that Jotham had spoken truly. + +How beautiful were the orchards, with their blossom-laden trees! "Ah home +is home after all," thought Randy. + + * * * * * + +As she stepped from the car a shrill little voice cried, + +"O Randy, my Randy! I thought you'd never come, but you did." + +Randy held her little sister closely, and laid her cheek against the soft +curls. Then she turned to her father and saw a wealth of love in his eyes +as he said, + +"_Now_ the home will be complete. It has been 'bout half empty with ye +away, Randy. I'm glad ye're home again. I ain't able to say _how_ glad, +an' Jotham, my boy, I'm glad to see ye, too. Ah, here's yer father. I +haven't a right ter a minute more er yer time." + +With eager questioning Randy asked, "And mother and Aunt Prudence?" + +"Oh they're feelin' pretty spry now the day's come fer ye to arrive. +They're full er preparations fer yer home-comin', an'--" + +"An' the big cake has got pink frostin' on top of it, an' my dolly has got +on her best dress 'cause she knew you was comin', an' I've kept askin' +Aunt Prudence all day what time it was, an' how long it would be 'fore +you'd be here, an' Tabby's got a ribbon on her neck, an' the house an' +barn has been painted, an' the cars an' engine ride behind our barn now, +an' I guess that's all," said Prue, with a sigh, as if regretting that +there was so little news. + +"Why that is a great deal of news," said Randy, "how did you remember it +all?" + +"Oh, I've been savin' it up, purpose to tell you when you comed," said +Prue. + +As they drove along the shady road toward home, they passed Jabez +Brimblecom who thus accosted Randy:-- + +"Wal, wal I'm glad ter see yer home agin, Randy, or must I say Miss +Weston, since ye've been to Boston?" + +"Oh please call me Randy, or I shall think you are a stranger, instead of +an old friend." + +"Wal, Randy it _is_ then, an' glad I be ter hear it. My wife said when ye +went off that she knew ye, an' that Randy'd be Randy anywhere 'n she's +'baout right 's usual." + +Every one whom they met had a word of greeting for Randy, until she +exclaimed, + +"Oh, it is almost worth while to go away, if everyone is to be so glad of +my return." + +"And we're the gladdest of all," said Prue. + +"Indeed we are," said Mr. Weston, "an' now, Randy, do ye see two women at +the corner of the wall? I tell ye, they couldn't wait 'til ye arrived at +the door." + +Mr. Weston stopped Snowfoot, and Randy jumped from the wagon, and running +to her mother, threw her arms about her neck. + +"O Randy, child, this is the first day of real happiness since ye started +fer Boston. Not but what we've gotten on pretty well, but ye left a space, +so ter speak, a space that nothin' could fill. Well, ye're here now, an' +we'll find it easy to be cheerful." + +"And _you're_ glad to see me, too, Aunt Prudence?" asked Randy, wondering +if so dignified a person would like a kiss. + +"Glad!" was the answer, "that's no name fer it," and she fervently kissed +Randy's cheek. "I must say, ef ye'd stayed away a week longer yer ma an' +me would been 'bout ready ter give up housekeepin'. I tell ye, Randy, we +shall all feel nigh on ter giddy, now ye've arrived." + +The remarkable sight of Aunt Prudence kissing Randy made a great +impression upon Prue. + +"If I goed to Boston, Aunt Prudence, would you kiss _me_ when I comed +back?" she asked. + +"Why bless ye, Prue, I'll kiss ye now, 'thout yer havin' ter go away," and +she did, much to Prue's delight. + +Arrived at the house, Prue exhibited her doll dressed in all her finery, +Tabby decorated with a gay ribbon, and was about to drag Randy out to the +barn that she might see the new railroad which ran through the pasture +lot, when Mrs. Weston suggested that the railroad would be there in the +morning and that as Randy had been riding all day it would be far better +to wait until the next day to see it. + +So little Prue sat beside Randy and listened to all which she had to tell +with the greatest interest. + +"Oh, I wish Johnny Buffum was here to hear all 'bout Boston," sighed Prue, +"then he'd know what a big girl my Randy is," and the little girl wondered +why they laughed. + +At tea she led Randy to the table and exclaimed, + +"There, didn't I _say_ the cake had pink frosting onto it?" and Randy +agreed that it was indeed pink and that it looked very tempting. + +Mrs. Weston and Aunt Prudence had arranged a fine little spread, composed +of Randy's favorite dishes and as she looked at the dear faces around the +table, she knew that she could not be happier at the grandest feast, +though it were given in her honor in palatial halls. + + * * * * * + +"Randy is here, Randy is here!" It seemed as if each person as soon as he +learned the news, repeated it to his neighbor, and that neighbor repeated +it to the next person whom he chanced to meet on the road, and soon the +entire village knew that Randy was once more at home. + +Prue followed her about as if she feared to lose sight of her, and +promised to recite an endless number of lessons to Randy if only she might +be permitted to stay out of school. + +"I can't go to school and not see my Randy all day. I don't want to be +anywhere where my Randy isn't." Prue pleaded so earnestly that at last Mr. +Weston said, + +"It is so near the end er the term, why not let her stay at home, mother?" + +Even Aunt Prudence interceded for her, and Prue's joy was unbounded when +she was told that she might consider that her vacation had commenced. + +The day after Randy's return was bright and sunny, and with little Prue +she wandered beneath the sweet scented apple blossoms drinking in their +beauty, and wondering if in all the world there was a fairer place than +the orchard with its wealth of bloom, when suddenly Prue exclaimed, + +"You're '_most_ as glad to see me as anybody, Randy? + +"Me 'n Tabby is just 'special glad you've got home." The little eyes +looked anxiously up into Randy's face. + +"You precious little sister," Randy answered, "I've been longing all +winter to see you, and when I have sat before the fire with Miss Dayton on +a stormy afternoon I have wished that Tabby with her paws tucked in, sat +blinking at the flames. There is no one, Prue, whom I am more truly glad +to see than you." + +While Randy and Prue were in the orchard, Mrs. Hodgkins "ran in fer a +chat," as she expressed it. + +"Wal, I hear tell that Randy's come back. What's she goin' ter do next +year, er don't she know yet? Did ye know't I had comp'ny?" She continued, +asking a second question without awaiting an answer to the first. + +"Wal, I _have_ got comp'ny, and comp'ny she means ter be considered. + +"It's Mis' C. Barnard Boardman, as she calls herself; she's Sabriny +Brimblecom that was, an' a pretty time I'm havin' with her. She's +delicate, or she thinks she is, an' I'm 'baout wild with her notions +'baout food, and her talkin' of 'zileratin' air, whatever that may be. + +"She can't lift her finger ter help me, an' the ruffles an' furbelows I +have ter iron fer her makes me bile, while she sets aout in the door-yard +a rockin' back'ards an' for'ards as cool as a cucumber. She ain't goin' +ter stay but a week longer with us, an' then she goes ter stay with her +brother Jabez, an' land knows, I pity Mis' Brimblecom, fer Sabriny says +she's goin' ter stay the whole summer. She's what ye might call savin', +fer she's savin' her board, an' when she left the Brimblecom's the last +time she spent the summer with 'em, she put a little package in Mis' +Brimblecom's hand just as she went aout the door, 'Jest a little gift in +return for your kindness,' said Sabriny, in her lofty way. + +"After she was gone Mis' Brimblecom opened the parcel an' she an' Jabez +just looked at each other, an' didn't speak. Sabriny's gift was _a wire +tea strainer_! Barnes sells 'em fer ten cents daown ter the store." + +"I should try, in some way, that she'd understand, ter make her realize +that her room was better'n her company," said Aunt Prudence. + +"You _think_ you would," said Mrs. Weston, "but you've a kind heart, an' +while you'd feel like tellin' her ter go, you wouldn't do it." + +"Mis' Brimblecom's one er the best women that ever lived, an' it's +provokin' fer her ter be pestered with Sabriny," declared Mrs. Hodgkins. + +"Wal, I must be goin'," and away she went, stopping on the way to greet +Randy who stood by the wall upon which sat Prue and Tabby. + +Long after Mrs. Hodgkins had left them, Randy and Prue sat under the +shadow of the blossoming branches, and it seemed to Randy that little Prue +had grown more lovely in face and figure. Her curls were longer, and her +sweet eyes darker, her hair had kept its sunny hue, and her coloring was +wonderfully like that of the apple blossoms. + +Prue was quite unaware of Randy's loving scrutiny, and she caressed Tabby, +humming contentedly, and looking about at the sunlight, the blossoms and +the butterflies. Suddenly she pointed down the road exclaiming, + +"Look, Randy, look! See old Mr. Simpkins coming this way." + +As he espied Randy he hastened toward her. + +"Glad ter see ye, glad ter see ye, Randy. Ye're lookin' fine. Haow be ye, +an' haow's Boston?" + +Randy assured him that the city seemed to be intact when she left it, but +he did not hear. + +"I expect ye haven't heared that Timotheus is a lit'rary feller naow, +doin' farm work only 'casionally, so ter speak. + +"Oh, ye did hear?" he questioned as Randy nodded assent. + +"Wal, he's a feelin' pooty big over his two dollars, but he's kind er +riled with the editor man fer thinkin' his writin' that he writ was funny. +Timotheus has fixed the attic fer a room ter stay in when he's a writin', +an' there he stays, day in, 'n day aout, a workin' away at his literatoor. +It's odd haow boys in one family will hev different idees. Naow Joel likes +store work best. Wal, here's some er the boys and girls a comin' ter see +ye, so I'll be goin' along." + +A laughing troop came hurrying along the road, and they hailed Randy with +shouts of delight when they espied her sitting upon the wall with Prue. As +they crowded about her, plying her with questions, Randy tried to answer +them all promptly, but gave it up with a laugh, exclaiming, + +"Oh, I'm glad to be with you all, and am pleased that you came over this +morning to see me. Sit down upon the wall and tell me all the news, and I +will try to answer all your questions." + +They seated themselves, a merry, laughing row, upon the wall; the Babson +girls, Dot and Jack Marvin, Jotham, the Langham twins, Reuben Jenks, +Mollie Wilson, Phoebe Small and even Sandy McLeod's little Janie, and +gaily they chattered, the petals of the apple-blossoms falling about them, +a perfumed shower. + +Randy's home coming had indeed been a glad one, and in "Randy and Prue" +one may learn more of Randy's sunny nature, and of the little sister's +winsome ways. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANDY AND HER FRIENDS*** + + +******* This file should be named 15111.txt or 15111.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/1/15111 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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