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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lilac Lady, by Ruth Alberta Brown
+
+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: The Lilac Lady
+
+Author: Ruth Alberta Brown
+
+Release Date: December 9, 2007 [EBook #23782]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LILAC LADY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                             THE LILAC LADY
+
+                THE SECOND OF THE PEACE GREENFIELD BOOKS
+
+                          BY RUTH ALBERTA BROWN
+
+     Author of "At The Little Brown House," "Tabitha At Ivy Hall,"
+            "Tabitha's Glory," "Tabitha's Vacation," Etc.
+
+
+
+
+THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY
+CHICAGO    AKRON, OHIO    NEW YORK
+
+COPYRIGHT, MCMXIV
+By The Saalfield Publishing Co.
+
+
+TO
+EDITH HASERICK MCFARLANE,
+THE SAINT ELSPETH OF MY GIRLHOOD,
+THIS STORY IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Oh," cried Gail in quick sympathy, "what a feeble old
+creature! It is a shame she has to beg her living. Where is my purse?"]
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+       I. EXPLORING THE NEW HOME
+
+      II. THE FLAG ROOM
+
+     III. CHRISTMAS DAY WITH THE CAMPBELLS
+
+      IV. A ZEALOUS LITTLE MISSIONARY
+
+       V. AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION
+
+      VI. PEACE'S SPRING VACATION
+
+     VII. A VOICE FROM THE LILAC BUSHES
+
+    VIII. A PICNIC IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN
+
+      IX. GIUSEPPE NICOLI AND THE MONKEY
+
+       X. THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
+
+      XI. PEACE FINDS NEW PLAYMATES
+
+     XII. A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM
+
+    XIII. CHILDREN'S DAY AT HILL STREET CHURCH
+
+     XIV. HOW THE FOURTH OF JULY MONEY WAS SPENT
+
+      XV. PEACE GIVES THE LILAC LADY AN IDEA
+
+     XVI. THE LILAC LADY FALLS ASLEEP
+
+
+
+
+THE LILAC LADY
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+EXPLORING THE NEW HOME
+
+
+Two days after the night of the memorable surprise party in the little
+brown house, the place stood dismantled and deserted under the naked,
+shivering trees, good-byes had been spoken, and the six smiling sisters
+had driven away from their Parker home amid much fluttering of
+handkerchiefs and waving of hands. Everyone was sorry to see them go,
+yet all rejoiced in the great good fortune which had befallen the little
+orphan brood. Even after the Judge's carriage, which was to take them to
+the station, disappeared around the bend of the creek road, the
+enthusiastic crowd of friends and neighbors clustered about the sagging
+gate continued to shout their joking warnings and happy wishes upon the
+crisp, frosty, morning air.
+
+"There," breathed Peace, grinning from ear to ear, as she slowly unwound
+from the corkscrew twist she had assumed in her attempt to catch the
+last glimpse of the old home. "They're all out of sight now. I can't
+even see Hec Abbott any longer up in the tree with his dirty
+handkerchief. Oh, Mr. Judge, I forgot you were our coachman this
+morning, but his handkerchief _is_ awful dirty! It always is. I guess
+his mother doesn't chase him up like Gail does us with clean ones. Faith
+Greenfield, what do you mean by kicking me like that? Ain't there room
+enough on that back seat for your big feet?"
+
+"Little girls should be heard and not seen," quoted Cherry with her most
+sanctimonious air, noting the gathering frown on the older sister's
+face, and not quite understanding what had gone amiss.
+
+"Yes, that's just what Peace believes, too," cried Hope with her happy,
+contagious laugh in which Gail and the Judge and even Faith joined,
+making the sharp air ring with their hilarity.
+
+"Guess this ride must make you feel ticklish, too," suggested Peace,
+looking over her shoulder with a comical, self-complacent air at the
+crowded rear seat of the carryall. "I 'xpected to see some of you
+bawling about now--"
+
+"Bawling!" echoed the girls in genuine surprise, while the old Judge
+chuckled to himself. "What for?"
+
+"'Cause we've left Parker for good and all. We're never going to live
+there any more."
+
+"But we shall visit there often. Grandpa said so," cried Hope, warmly.
+"It isn't as if we were bound for the poor-farm or some dreadful orphan
+home. We might have reason to cry then; but as it is, we're going to
+Martindale to live in a splendid great house with splendid, lovely
+people; and I can't help wanting to jump up and shout for gladness, even
+though we do love Parker and all the people there who have been so good
+to us--"
+
+"Good for you, Miss Hope! Hip, hip, hurrah!" broke in the Judge,
+flapping the reins wildly as he doffed his hat and cheered heartily.
+"That's the proper spirit! We Parkerites don't expect you to break your
+hearts because you are going to a new home; we'd think it very queer
+indeed if you did. But we are glad to know this old town holds a tender
+spot in your memories. We shall miss you more than you will us, which is
+only natural; but as Hope says, you will be often among us as visitors,
+even though the little brown house will never be home to you again.
+Doctor and Mrs. Campbell have not only opened the door of their big
+house to you, but also the door of their hearts. Go in and take
+possession. You can make them the happiest people on earth if you want
+to--and I know you do. They intended to drive over after you this
+morning, but we villagers said no. They ought to be in Martindale to
+greet you, and we certainly deserved the privilege of escorting you
+to--"
+
+"Ain't it nice to be pop'lar?" sighed Peace in ecstasy. "We're all bones
+of _condescension_ today--now what are you laughing at?"
+
+"Oh, we've reached the station already," chirped Allee with a suddenness
+which made everyone jump.
+
+"And if there isn't Mr. Strong!" cried the older girls in astonishment.
+"How did you ever get here ahead of us? We left you sitting on Peace's
+gate-post."
+
+"He sneaked," Peace declared without giving him a chance for reply. "He
+can sneak in anywhere. Oh, I didn't mean that as a _complimemp_, Mr.
+Preacher. You know I didn't! But you truly go so like a cat that people
+never know when you will jump out at them. Where is Elspeth--I mean
+Pet--I mean--Oh, there she is in the station house, and Miss Truesdale
+and Miss Dunbar and Dr. Bainbridge! We're much obliged that so many of
+you have come down to make sure we left town. Let me get out of here,
+Judge! I want to kiss Glen again." Scrambling excitedly out of her seat
+beside the dignified driver, she was over the wheels before he could
+stop her, and into the arms of the waiting friends.
+
+None of the orphan sisters had expected such a glorious send-off--nor,
+indeed, had the Parker friends planned it beforehand. It was just one of
+those acts of kindness born of the impulse of the moment and made
+possible because of a shortcut to the station and the grocer's wagon
+which stood hitched in front of Mr. Hartman's door. But the sight of the
+little group of neighbors on the station platform was very gratifying to
+every one of the youthful Greenfields, and each proceeded to show her
+pleasure in her own characteristic way. This second farewell-taking was
+very brief, however, for down the tracks came the puffing train,
+stopping at the narrow platform only long enough for the laughing,
+chattering girls to climb aboard, before it glided away again, with
+Peace's shrill protests trailing off into silence: "I don't see why we
+have to take the train when it is such a teeny short ride. I'd rather go
+by street-car. I didn't kiss Elspeth but once, and the Judge looked as
+if he was dying for another--"
+
+Silently, soberly, the gay little company at the railroad station
+dispersed to their various homes; but fortunately for the band of
+inexperienced travellers aboard the flying train, there was no time for
+serious thought, so brief was their journey. Scarcely were they settled
+with their hand-bags and grips when the brakeman threw open the door and
+strode down the aisle, bawling loudly, "Martindale, Martindale! Our next
+stop is Martindale Union Depot!" And before they could realize what was
+happening, the porter had bundled them off in the great, dark, noisy
+station-yard, filled with throngs of excited, hurrying people passing in
+and out of the heavy iron gates.
+
+Caught in the jam, there was a moment of breathless bewilderment; a
+frantic disentangling of themselves from the pushing, shoving crowd; a
+hurried, frightened survey of the sea of unfamiliar faces around them,
+and then straight into the arms of the smiling college President the
+anxious sextette walked.
+
+"Well, well, well!" he cried with boyish eagerness, trying to gather
+them all in one embrace. "Here you are at last! I've waited one solid
+hour for this train. Those Parker people tried to tell me it was my
+place to stand in the doorway over at the house and welcome you there,
+but blessed if I could wait! Neither could Grandma. I thought I had
+stolen away without anyone seeing me, but before I had reached the
+car-tracks, there she was right at my heels. Here, mother, are
+your--own!"
+
+No welcome from the doorsteps of the great house could have warmed and
+thrilled those six hearts as did the husky, tremulous words of greeting
+in the dim, smoky station amid the clanging engines and shouted orders
+of trainmen. Home! Ah, what a glorious feeling of possession! The tears
+which had not come at thought of leaving the old home now welled up in
+the blue eyes and in the brown, but they were tears of joy and
+thanksgiving.
+
+"I knew someone would do some bawling before we got through with this,"
+sniffed Peace, searching in vain for the handkerchief which was never to
+be found in her pocket, and finally wiping her eyes on the august
+President's coat-sleeve. "Let's go home now. I want to see what it's
+like. You didn't bring the carriage, did you? It's just as well, I
+guess, for I s'pose we'll have lots of rides anyway. Only I wanted to
+see if the horses looked anything like Black Prince. Is this our car?
+Oak Street--I'll remember that; I may want to do some travelling all by
+myself some day. If you've got ten rooms in your house, how many are you
+going to turn over to us? For our very own, I mean. Three in a room
+makes things awfully crowded if the rooms are as teeny as they were in
+our house in Parker. 'Tisn't so bad in winter, but in summer we nearly
+roast to death nights. Do you have much comp'ny, and will we have to
+give up our rooms to them all the time? I forgot to ask you about these
+things before we said we'd come."
+
+"Peace!" reproved Gail in an undertone, trying to check the flow of
+questions and information pouring so rapidly from the lively tongue.
+"Don't talk all the time. Give grandpa a chance to say a few words."
+
+"Yes, I will," responded the child with angelic sweetness, in such loud
+tones that she could be heard all over the car. "I'm waiting for him to
+say a few words now. How about it, grandpa? Shall we each have a room or
+must we double up or thribble--"
+
+"Peace!" called Allee in wild excitement, "there is Frances Sherrar's
+house!"
+
+"Where? Is it, grandpa?" asked Cherry, a little twinge of envy seizing
+her as she remembered her younger sisters' visit there a few weeks
+before.
+
+"Yes," he replied, glancing hastily out of the window, "I think very
+likely it was, as they live on the corner we have just passed, and the
+next street is where we get off. Press the button, Curlypate, or the
+conductor will carry us by. I didn't know you were acquainted with the
+Sherrars, Abigail. Frances is a student at the University; you will
+probably be in some of her classes. Give me your hand, Hope. There,
+mother, all our family are off. Right about face! One block west,
+and--here we are. Welcome home, my children! Peace, how do you like the
+looks of it?"
+
+They had paused in front of a great, rambling, old house, set in the
+midst of a wide lawn, brown and sere now with approaching winter, and
+surrounded by huge, knotted, gnarled, old oaks, whose dry leaves still
+clung to the twisted branches and rustled in the crisp air. A fat,
+sleek, black Tabby lay asleep on the warm porch-rail; a gaunt, ungainly
+greyhound lay sunning himself on the door mat, and from inside somewhere
+came the sound of a canary's riotous song. The whole place breathed of
+home, and with a deep sigh of content, Peace lifted her great, brown
+eyes to the President's face and whispered, "It seems 'sif I b'longed
+already."
+
+"You do," he murmured huskily. "This is home, dear."
+
+Hand in hand they walked up the path and through the door into the big
+hall, flooded with warm sunshine and sweet with the smell of roses. Up
+the stairway they marched, followed by the other sisters, all silent,
+wondering, but happy, and paused in the doorway of a large, airy room,
+furnished with easy-chairs and couches, a tempting array of late books,
+and a dainty sewing-table, heaped with pretty materials such as young
+girls love. "This is mother's domain," the President announced, stepping
+aside to let them enter. "Hang your wraps in that closet for the time
+being, make yourselves presentable--there is a mirror on purpose for
+prinking--and then get acquainted with your new home. There is still an
+hour and a half before luncheon will be served, and that ought to give
+you quite an opportunity to make discoveries. Now away with you!"
+
+"But--," "How," "What do you mean?" blurted out the astonished girls,
+wondering whether he was in earnest or just joking, for this seemed a
+queer way to introduce them to their new life.
+
+"Just what I say," he laughed. "Mother thought we ought to conduct you
+about the place and explain all the different phases of your new home,
+but I am inclined to believe you will like it better if you can make the
+tour all by yourselves. Young folks usually glory in unexplored fields.
+Now to it, for time is fleeting! I shall call for a report of your
+discoveries at luncheon. A prize for the one who has seen the most."
+
+"Do we have to go by ourselves?" Peace lingered to ask.
+
+"As you wish," was the brief response; and with his hat in his hand, the
+busy President descended the stairs, leaving a very bewildered group in
+the sewing-room behind him.
+
+"Well!" Gail ejaculated. "How shall we begin?"
+
+"I saw a piano as we came through the hall below," Faith half whispered.
+
+"And books! Everywhere!" cried Cherry, her eyes fastened longingly upon
+the little book-case in the corner. "Do they really belong to us now?"
+
+"Yes, of course," answered Peace in business-like tones. "Come on,
+Allee; let's get to work and see what we can find before lunch time.
+This is a pretty big house, and we've got to hustle if we get all around
+it in an hour and a half. Wonder where grandpa and grandma went. Shall
+we commence at the bottom and work up, or start in at the attic? I guess
+the attic first will be best, seeing we've come up one flight of stairs
+already, and it would be just a waste of time to go down and have to
+climb them all again." Answering her own question, she clutched Alice's
+hand and disappeared in one direction, as the sisters, following her
+example, scattered about the great house on their tours of inspection.
+
+The next ninety minutes were busy ones in the Campbell house, and it was
+necessary to ring the dinner bell twice before all members of the happy
+family were summoned to the table.
+
+"Well, how goes it?" smiled the President. "Judging from the time it
+took to gather the clans, some of you must have been pretty busy."
+
+"We were," dreamily murmured Cherry, who had been dragged bodily from
+the stacks of books in the library.
+
+"Made any great discoveries?"
+
+"Yes, indeed!" they cried in unison.
+
+"Good! I'm all impatience! Relate your adventures. We are anxious to
+hear how you like your new home--mother and I. Abigail, you are the
+oldest; suppose you begin."
+
+"I didn't get very far, I am afraid," said Gail modestly. "Just a peep
+into the rooms upstairs and a beginning down here when I found Gussie
+almost on the verge of tears because her dessert had burned black and
+she had no time to make any more; so I--"
+
+"Bet our talking burned up her pies," Peace was heard to murmur
+remorsefully.
+
+"--helped her out a little," continued Gail, "and by that time the bell
+rang, so there was no opportunity for any further investigations."
+
+"Saint Elizabeth," said the President reverently, while the white-haired
+mistress of the house beamed her approval.
+
+"Now, Faith,--but there is really no need of asking her about her
+discoveries. She got no further than the parlor with its piano. Now, did
+you?"
+
+"No, grandpa," Faith confessed unblushingly. "I saw it when we came in,
+and I simply couldn't resist it a minute longer than was absolutely
+necessary. There will be lots of days for getting acquainted here, and
+besides, I knew Peace would carry off the prize--"
+
+"Me carry off the prize!" Peace interrupted. "I've never got a prize for
+anything in my life--"
+
+"Only because there never was one offered before for the person who
+could see the most or talk the longest," laughed Faith, and Peace
+subsided suddenly.
+
+"Saint Cecilia,--she could not get past the piano," teased Dr. Campbell,
+when the shout of laughter at Faith's sally had died away. "Hope, what
+have you to say for yourself?"
+
+"Not much. I visited all the rooms upstairs and down; fed the canary;
+got acquainted with Blinks, the cat, and Kyte, the hound; found Towzer
+and tried to make him be friends with Kyte, but he wouldn't be coaxed.
+Gussie said there were some kittens in the basement, so I went down
+there to find them, but the boy from the hardware store was there
+working on the furnace, and some way we fell to talking about studies,
+and he was so discouraged over his algebra lesson for night-school that
+I stopped to see if I could help him out a little, and the bell rang
+Just as we got the third problem worked."
+
+"My gentle Saint Lucia," he said in praise, as he turned from her to the
+next sister in age. "Cherry, give an account of your wanderings."
+
+"I wandered downstairs as far as the library--I guess that is what you
+call it."
+
+"And then what?" for she stopped as if her tale were told.
+
+"That's all. I stayed there."
+
+"Oh!" The President wilted, Mrs. Campbell stared, and for a moment even
+the sisters were silent in surprise at the matter-of-fact tone of the
+narrator; then the whole assembly burst into another merry shout, much
+to the disgust of poor Cherry, who could see no cause for amusement, and
+voiced her sentiments by saying petulantly, "I don't see anything the
+matter with that! What difference is there between playing the piano all
+the morning and reading books?"
+
+"It wasn't what you did that amused us," said Mrs. Campbell soothingly.
+"It was the way you told it. We won't laugh any more."
+
+"Oh!" breathed the ruffled damsel in relief, "if that's all, I don't
+care how much you laugh. But you'll have a better chance with Peace--she
+never can tell anything straight."
+
+"What kind of a saint is Cherry?" inquired the younger girl, ignoring
+the compliment she had just received. "If Gail is Saint 'Lizabeth and
+Faith is Saint Cecilia and Hope is Saint Lucy, what's Cherry?"
+
+"Saint Bookworm, I guess, Miss Curiosity-Box. What have you been doing
+this morning?"
+
+"Oh, lots of things," she sighed heavily. "Allee and me went together.
+We began with the attic, which is full of trunks of old clothes and
+battered-up furniture and cobwebs, and has two rooms for the hired girls
+to sleep in. Gussie's room is just _suburb_! It's dec'rated with the
+queerest looking old bird of a bedstead--"
+
+"Peace! What slang!" cried Faith in genuine horror.
+
+"It's no such thing! It is a bird! She calls it a swan, for it's got a
+tall, crooked neck for the foot-board, and if I had it in my room, I'd
+hang curtains on its tail. It could be done just splendid! I'll show you
+after lunch if you don't b'lieve me."
+
+"Oh, we believe you! Go on. I'm interested in that room," begged Hope,
+wondering why she too had not begun with the attic.
+
+"Then on the wall she has a great fish-net full of the prettiest
+postcards of Norway and Sweden and De'mark. She's a Swede, you
+know,--Gussie is; and her married brother and two sisters and
+grandmother still live over there. That's where the fish-net came from.
+I didn't have time to stop long to look at the cards 'cause there was so
+much else to do 'fore lunch time, but she's invited us to come up some
+evening when she's through work and then she'll tell all about them.
+There's the loveliest green and yellow quilt on her bed that she made
+all herself. She said grandma had a red one for her to use, but it
+seemed more like home with her own things, so she uses them instead of
+those that b'long to the house. But the prettiest of everything is a
+queer little piece of glass hanging in the window which makes her room
+look like a real rainbow on sunny days, 'cause the _prison respects_ the
+light and sorts out all the colors. Oh, you needn't laugh and think you
+know better! Gussie told us all about it, didn't she, Allee?"
+
+"Gussie did not call it a _prison_," Hope could not refrain from saying.
+"It is a prism, and it re--it isn't _respects_ the light, grandpa--"
+
+"No. Refracts is the word she wants to use. Peace tries to drink in so
+much information that she can't digest it all."
+
+"Maybe that is what's the matter," Peace agreed thoughtfully. "Anyway,
+her room is a beauty--lots prettier that Marie's, though Marie has the
+same chance of making hers look nice that Gussie has. There's the same
+difference in the girls themselves that there is in their rooms, too."
+
+"Why, what do you mean?" cried the astonished mistress of the house,
+while the President nodded his head in approval at the child's
+observations.
+
+"Well, Gussie is good-natured and 'bliging, while Marie is cross and
+grouchy. We hadn't got the knob of her door turned before she ordered us
+out of her room and told us to mind our own business."
+
+"Poor childie, I ought to have cautioned you not to go into either of
+those attic rooms without the girls' permission. You see, while they
+work here, that is the one place in the house which is really theirs,
+and they don't want the rest of the family intruding."
+
+"Yes, I know now. Gussie told me how it was when I spoke of Marie's
+being cross, but we never touched a thing; we just looked, didn't we,
+Allee? Marie had the tooth-ache, and that's enough to make anyone ugly.
+I got her some funny stuff that a shoemaker in Parker gave me once when
+I had the tooth-ache. After that she was a little pleasanter to us--that
+is, for a time. It did stop the aching right away, but it took all the
+skin off her cheek where she put the medicine--it is to be rubbed on
+outside. I forgot to tell her it would do that, so she didn't like it
+very well when her face began to peel off, 'cause she is going to the
+theatre tonight with her beau. But when she jawed about it, I told her
+I'd rather have a skinned face and a chance to go to the theatre, than
+an aching tooth any day of the week, and fin'ly she decided she would,
+too. I guess I'll like her in time, but I like Gussie better. Then we
+went on downstairs and 'xamined the rooms on that floor. The big front
+room is awfully pretty, and so is grandma's room where she sews, but the
+other three bedrooms are very bare and ugly-looking. Is that where
+you're going to put us, grandpa?"
+
+"Peace!" shrieked the sisters in horrified chorus.
+
+"Yes!" roared the delighted President, and even Mrs. Campbell joined in
+his merriment.
+
+"Well, I s'pose it is healthy," Peace reluctantly admitted; then as if
+divining a joke somewhere, she smiled serenely and continued her
+recital. "We looked through the parlor and library and dining-room and
+where you put company when they come, and then we came to the kitchen.
+We got there ahead of Gail all right, for Gussie was just making some
+pies and reading a book at the same time."
+
+"A book!" echoed Mrs. Campbell, a slight frown gathering on the usually
+placid forehead.
+
+"Yes, it was a _pome_ of some kind that she was trying to learn. She
+wants to be a _neducated_ Swede. She got through High School, but she
+wants to know more'n that, so's she can be a teacher some day. That's
+how she comes to be cooking for other people. She is a good cook and can
+make pretty good money that way. She isn't a big spender, so every month
+she can put away 'most all of her wages towards going to Normal School.
+I always thought Normal School was where they sent bad boys and girls
+who couldn't be good at home, but she says I mean Reform School. I guess
+she'll get to Normal School all right. I told her Gail would help her
+with her lessons when they got too hard for her alone, 'cause Gail's to
+go to the University right away; but I didn't think Faith would be much
+good at that, as long's she isn't quite through High School herself. I
+told her Faith could make lovely fancy things to eat and would like
+awfully well to teach her when she had any spare time, and Gussie says
+she'll be tickled to learn, 'cause she is only a plain cook and not up
+on frills yet."
+
+Faith and the President exchanged comical glances across the table, but
+Peace was too much interested in her cake and fruit to notice what was
+going on around her, and blissfully continued, "We went down in the
+basement, too, and saw that boy from Benton's. His name is Caspar Dodds.
+His father is dead--what a lot of dead folks there are in this
+world!--and he has to earn money to take care of his mother and two
+sisters. She does plain sewing, and I promised you'd hire her sometimes,
+grandma. They live on Sixteenth Street, just at the corner where the
+Pendennis car turns off from the bridge. He told me how to get there.
+He's going to night-school so's he can learn the education he's missing
+daytimes, and says he gets along well in everything but algebra. I guess
+that's how he came to speak to Hope about it. I told him she'd be glad
+to help him with 'xamples he couldn't do, 'cause she was Professor
+Watson's star scholar in that. Gussie told _us_ about the kittens, too,
+so I knew Hope would be down to find them, and that way she'd see
+Caspar. She must have come along right after us or she wouldn't have
+found him, 'cause he was 'most ready to go when we went out to the barn.
+
+"Jud had just brought in the horses from exercising them, and I told him
+I guessed likely we'd help him at that job after this, for all of us
+like to ride. At first he wasn't going to let us see the horses and we
+had to do a lot of talking 'fore he'd give in. He used awful poor
+grammar, and when he told us the stable wasn't the place for little
+girls and that we better go in the house and learn to cook like Gussie,
+I asked him why he didn't get some books and learn to speak right like
+Gussie, instead of sitting on an old box and reading yellow
+newspapers--well, it _was_ yellow, just as yellow and musty and old as
+it could be! And he's too nice looking to be nothing but a horseman all
+his life. When I told him that, he got interested and fin'ly showed us
+some books he was trying to study, but he can't see sense in the
+grammar. Gussie promised to help him, but she never has much time for
+such things, and he thinks she thinks he's a plumb dunce. I promised to
+ask her if that's the way she felt, but he said I mustn't; so I did the
+next best I could think of--I told him Cherry would study grammar with
+him. She uses the same book he has in the barn, and--"
+
+"Peace Greenfield, did you really tell him that?" gasped poor frightened
+Cherry, looking as if she had just heard her death sentence pronounced.
+
+"Why, yes! I thought you'd be glad to help him out that much. I haven't
+got as far as grammar in school yet, or I'd teach him all myself; but I
+promised to _talk_ proper grammar to him, so's to help all I could. What
+do you look so scared about, Cherry? He really wants to learn; he ain't
+fooling. And he's an awful nice man. He showed us the squirrels' hole in
+the vacant oak by the barn--I mean the hollow oak--and took us down to
+the boat-house on the river. You never told us anything about the river
+being so near here, grandpa. And he pointed out the University buildings
+through the trees, and promised to show us around the grounds right
+after lunch if you didn't have time to bother. He let us go up in the
+barn loft and says if you're willing, we can have a playhouse up there
+in the part with the window that looks out over the river. Then he
+pulled out his watch to let us know it was lunch time, but we told him
+right square out that there was one more thing we wanted to see, lunch
+time or no lunch time, and that was the horses. So after he grumbled
+some more about children being such nuisances, he took us downstairs
+again, and showed us your Marmalade and Champagne. Oh, but--"
+
+"What?" shouted the whole family in shocked amazement.
+
+"Marmalade and Champagne," Peace repeated more slowly. "That is what Jud
+called them. They aren't as pretty as our Black Prince, 'cause they are
+only red, and a red horse is never as nice as a black--"
+
+"Horses! What funny names!" laughed Hope.
+
+"She has made a mistake," smiled Mrs. Campbell. "They are Marmaduke and
+Charlemagne. My nephew's children named them, which accounts for their
+high-sounding titles. I am glad you like Marmaduke and Charlemagne,
+Peace. We think they are very intelligent animals. Jud has succeeded in
+teaching them several rather clever tricks."
+
+"Yes, I like the horses and I like the people. It's going to be nice to
+live with such a _neducated_ bunch. Marie's the only one that doesn't
+want to learn more, but p'raps she'll get over it. Who wins the prize,
+grandpa? That's all Allee and me saw. And what is the prize?"
+
+"After dinner in the den tonight I'll tell you the secret," the
+President promised. "I had no idea it would take so long to recount your
+adventures, but my time is up now. I must go back to the University at
+once. And by the way, Peace, I am afraid Jud will have to show you
+around the campus if you must see it this afternoon. I have an important
+meeting at two o'clock."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE FLAG ROOM
+
+
+Scarcely had the dinner hour ended that evening when the hilarious trio
+of younger girls, followed by the more sedate, but no less eager older
+sisters, scurried down the long corridor toward the den where the
+President had already intrenched himself, waiting for the promised
+visit.
+
+"Here we are, grandpa!" announced Allee, tumbling breathlessly through
+the doorway and into the nearest chair. "We raced and I beat."
+
+"'Cause Cherry tripped me up," exploded Peace wrathfully. "It's no
+fair--"
+
+"Tut, tut, my children!" Dr. Campbell interposed. "No scrapping allowed
+here. This is a home, not a kennel."
+
+"Oh, we weren't scrapping," Peace hastily assured him, "but I'd have won
+if Cherry hadn't got her feet mixed up with mine, so's Allee got in
+ahead. I don't care, though. I can run the fastest of the bunch
+outdoors. Jud says I'm a racer, all right. _Did_ I get the prize for
+talking the most this noon? Gail and Faith and all of them think I ought
+to have it--that is, Allee and me. We went together and saw the same
+things, though I did do all the telling."
+
+The President laughed. "Yes, I believe you and Allee won the prize all
+right. Grandma thinks so, too, but that is just where the hitch comes;
+because, you see, the prize was just to be your choice of rooms
+upstairs, and with Peace in one room and Allee in another, how are we
+going to settle the question as to who has first choice?"
+
+"Do you mean that the winner can choose which of those three bare rooms
+she wants for her very own?"
+
+"That's it." His eyes twinkled merrily. Peace's untrammeled frankness
+furnished him much amusement.
+
+"Well, then, why is Allee going to be in one room and me in another?"
+
+"Why--why--why--" stammered the learned Doctor, at loss to know how to
+explain certain plans he and Mrs. Campbell had in mind. "We thought it
+would be best to pair you off so one of you younger girls roomed with
+one of the older sisters. Don't you?"
+
+"No," was the emphatic reply. "It wouldn't do at all."
+
+"Why not?" gently asked Mrs. Campbell, who had entered the room so
+quietly that none of the girls was aware of her presence.
+
+"Well, s'pose you paired us off 'cording to our looks," Peace explained,
+without waiting for any of the sisters to register objections; "there'd
+be Hope and Allee together, for they are the lightest; and Gail and
+Cherry would have a room by themselves, 'cause they aren't either light
+or dark; and that would leave Faith and me to each other, being the
+darkest of them all. Now, Faith and me can't get along together two
+minutes. Ask Gail, ask Hope. Any of them will tell you so. It ain't
+because we like to fight, either. We just ain't made to suit each other,
+that's all. Mother used to say there are lots of people in the world
+like that, and the only way to get along is to make the best of it and
+agree to disagree. But it would never do to put us in the same room.
+That's too close. We don't like the same things, even. Faith'd be cross
+'cause I'd want to put my b'longings certain places, and I'd get awful
+ugly if she took all the nice spots for her things.
+
+"Then, s'posing you paired us off by ages--the youngest with the oldest,
+and the next youngest with the next oldest,--that would still leave
+Faith and me together. It wouldn't do at all, you see."
+
+"How would you suggest dividing the rooms among you, then?" meekly
+inquired the President, casting a comical look of resignation at his
+puzzled wife.
+
+"Put the ones of us together that get along the best. Allee and me are
+chums, and Cherry and Hope, and Faith and Gail. Then we'd all be suited
+and there wouldn't be any fussing--'nless it was among the big girls."
+
+The President coughed gently behind his hand, Mrs. Campbell bent over to
+straighten an imaginary wrinkle in the rug at her feet, while Gail and
+Hope were industriously studying a picture on the wall. But Faith
+readily seconded Peace's proposition, saying heartily, "What she says is
+true, grandpa. She and I can't seem to get along together at all, though
+we do love each other dearly. We never have been interested in the same
+things, and I don't believe we ever will be. We have always paired off
+the way she says, and get along famously that way."
+
+"But how will you furnish the rooms that way?" wailed Mrs. Campbell
+suddenly. "I had planned it all out--the blondes together, the
+brunettes, and--"
+
+"The blondes and brunettes?" repeated Cherry in bewilderment.
+
+"Yes; fair-haired, blue-eyed people are blondes, while those with dark
+hair and eyes are brunettes," Hope explained.
+
+"It would be so much easier to carry out a color scheme in each room if
+you girls were paired off according to looks," sighed the woman in
+disappointment.
+
+"Colors wouldn't amount to much if we fought all the time," murmured
+Peace, trying hard to look cheerful even at the prospect of having to
+room with the one sister she could not understand or agree with.
+
+"That's so," agreed the President, chasing away the disfiguring frown on
+his forehead with a bright smile. "Besides, mother, the girls may have
+altogether different plans for decorating their rooms than--Well, Peace
+and Allee have first choice of room then. Which shall it be?"
+
+"The one with the teenty porch!" quickly responded the duet, as though
+the matter had already been privately discussed.
+
+"Aha, conspirators! Had your minds all made up, did you?"
+
+"Yes, grandpa," Peace answered. "We have both slid down the pillar into
+the garden--what was the garden--and clum up the trellis as _easy_! Just
+think how much time we can save going in and out that way instead of
+having to run clear down the hall to the stairs every time--"
+
+"Peace!" screamed Mrs. Campbell in horror.
+
+"Peace!" echoed the scandalized sisters.
+
+But for a long moment the President only stared. Then he spoke. "Now,
+see here, children, if you have that balcony room for your own, you must
+promise one thing. Don't _ever_ use the porch pillars for a stairway
+again, either to get inside the house or out. Do you understand?"
+
+"Yes, grandpa," came the reluctant promise.
+
+"You will not forget?"
+
+"No, grandpa," with still more reluctance.
+
+"If you do, you will forfeit that room, remember. Porch pillars were
+never made for such purposes. They are not only hard on your clothes,
+but think what would happen if you should slip and fall."
+
+The whole group shuddered at this direful picture, and the chief culprit
+snuggled closer to this newly found guardian, and whispered contritely,
+"We didn't think of that before. We'll be good."
+
+"That's my girlie! Now for the other matters we must consider. When it
+was settled that you were to come here to live, mother and I talked over
+plans for refurnishing the rooms you are to occupy, but somehow we could
+not come to any satisfactory conclusions, and finally decided it would
+be best and wisest to let you select your own furniture and arrange it
+to suit yourselves."
+
+"Whee!" interrupted Peace with a delighted little hop. "Won't that be--"
+
+"Don't say 'bully'," implored Cherry.
+
+"No, I won't. I'll say jolly. Won't that be jolly? Hooray!" Her shout of
+joy ended in such a queer, shrill squeak that the little company burst
+into a gale of laughter, and it was some minutes before order was
+restored, but when at last the merriment had subsided, each duet found
+themselves holding a small slip of paper which quite took their breath
+away.
+
+"What is it?" asked Allee, standing on tiptoe to get a better view of
+the yellow scrap in Peace's hand, though she could not read a word on
+it.
+
+"Grandpa! Is it to furnish our rooms with?" cried Hope, impulsively
+dropping a kiss on the tip of Mrs. Campbell's nose.
+
+"Oh, you precious people!" whispered Gail tremulously. "It is altogether
+too much. We ought not to spend all that just on our rooms."
+
+"Now, look here, my dearies," interposed Mrs. Campbell, beaming benignly
+at the flushed, surprised faces of the six girls, "father and I figured
+it all out carefully, and that is the amount we decided upon as
+necessary for all the fixings you would want to make you cosy. And you
+will find it won't go so far after all; but I know you can trim up some
+very dainty, pretty rooms with that amount. The beds we already had, so
+we left them there, but all the other furniture has been removed to the
+attic or disposed of in other ways, so you can follow your own
+inclinations in refurnishing your boudoirs. That is why I was so anxious
+to have the blondes together, but--I don't believe it will matter much.
+You will find some way of getting around that."
+
+"Of course they will, and the room that is fixed up the prettiest a week
+from today will be presented with an appropriate picture," declared the
+President, hugely enjoying the pleasure and surprise of his adopted
+family.
+
+Silence for a breathless moment fell upon the eager group, then with
+characteristic energy, Peace grabbed Allee's hand and started for the
+door, saying, "Come on, sister, let's get to work right away. We've got
+to win that picture to go with our porch." Just at the threshold another
+thought occurred to her, and she faced about with the remark, "Say,
+grandpa, do we have to spend _all_ this money for dec'rations?"
+
+"No," he laughed. "If you can find anything in the attic which you can
+use, take possession of it."
+
+"And the money we don't spend is ours?"
+
+For a fraction of a second he hesitated, wondering what scheme was
+taking shape under the thatch of brown curls; then with a twinkle in his
+eyes he answered, "Yes, I reckon it is."
+
+"But, Donald," whispered Mrs. Campbell in his ear, "they are too young
+to be intrusted with such a sum."
+
+"Grandpa," Gail interrupted, looking thoughtfully at the check which
+Faith was still studying curiously; "must we do this without help from
+anyone else? Suppose we should all happen to choose the same plan?"
+
+"Oh, there is no danger of that at all because your tastes are not all
+the same, so far as I can discover; but I think it might be a good plan
+to consult with some older or more experienced person--some one outside
+the family. Grandma and I are to be the judges, you know; so it would
+not be fair for us to know beforehand what you were intending to do."
+
+"Oh, how splendid to have it all a secret from you two!" cried Hope.
+"But who will help us?"
+
+"We shall ask Frances Sherrar," announced Gail after a whispered
+consultation with her room-mate. "She knows all about such things."
+
+"Then let's us ask Mrs. Sherrar," suggested Cherry, anxious to have as
+good authority to back them in their plans.
+
+"That's a good idea," Hope conceded readily. "Whom shall you choose,
+Peace?"
+
+They all expected to hear her name Mrs. Strong, her patron saint, but to
+their utter amazement she promptly retorted, "Gussie!"
+
+"But, Peace," they protested, "Gussie won't know--"
+
+"Gussie thinks just like I do about colors and such things. That's why I
+chose her."
+
+Nor could the sisters change her decision in the matter, but as the time
+was short and there were many other affairs demanding their attention,
+the girls soon forgot their concern over Gussie's barbaric tastes, and
+Peace and Allee were left to their own devices.
+
+For the next three days they spent their leisure moments in wandering
+hand in hand about the house, looking very sober, and listening
+anxiously to the sound of hammers in the rooms adjoining theirs. Then a
+marked change came over them; there were many conferences with Gussie in
+the kitchen; much prowling about the attic in secret, and even two or
+three trips to the barn to interview Jud, the man of all work. The sound
+of hammer and saw could be heard at almost any hour of the day, hurried
+visits were made to the sewing-room when no one else was in sight, and
+the pungent smell of paint and paste filled the house.
+
+But at last all three rooms were in spick-and-span order, and the two
+judges were summoned to behold the result of the week's labor. At the
+first door they halted, and the President turned to his wife with a
+ludicrous grimace as he said, "Dora, I am afraid I've got us into
+trouble. How in this wide world are we going to be able to decide which
+is the prettiest room! And if it should be easy to decide that question,
+how shall we ever make our peace with the occupants of the other two?
+Oh, Dora!"
+
+"Open the door!" clamored the laughing girls. "You should have thought
+of these things before you made such a rash promise." And they pressed
+about him so relentlessly that he was forced to turn the knob and enter
+the first bower of loveliness.
+
+It was indeed a bower, so refreshingly cool and beautiful with its color
+scheme of pink and green and brown that it required very little
+imagination to transport one into the heart of some enchanted woods; and
+instinctively the four younger girls as well as the judges burst into a
+long-drawn exclamation of wonder and delight.
+
+"Oh, I can smell the flowers," cried Hope, sniffing the air hungrily as
+if expecting to find the woodland blossoms there.
+
+"And hear the creek," added Peace.
+
+"I suppose they have won the prize," sighed Cherry disconsolately, while
+behind their backs Gail and Faith ecstatically hugged each other.
+
+"Don't decide the question until we have seen the other two," suggested
+Mrs. Campbell sagely, and the excited company flocked eagerly into the
+next room.
+
+Here everything was in blue and gold, even to the dainty curtains at the
+windows. The walls were covered with a delicate blue paper, dotted with
+sprays of cheerful goldenrod; the dresser and table were decorated with
+blue silk scarfs embroidered with the same flower; gilt-framed pictures
+hung upon the walls; and from the head of each narrow, gilded bedstead
+floated soft draperies of blue.
+
+"Sky and sunshine," murmured Gail, quick to feel the perfect harmony of
+the room. "Isn't it lovely?"
+
+"Yes, and it is fully as pretty as ours," whispered Faith, "though I
+like ours best."
+
+"Now for the last," Cherry urged eagerly, well content with the
+rapturous exclamations her room and Hope's had brought forth. "This will
+have to be awfully good to beat the other two."
+
+"It _is_ awfully good," Peace informed her. "_I_ think it is the best."
+
+"So do I!" "And I!" came the chorus of surprised voices as the last door
+swung open and the beauties of the third chamber burst upon their view.
+
+"It makes me think of fire-crackers," Cherry pensively observed.
+
+"Nobody but Peace would ever have thought of such a thing," Faith put
+in.
+
+"A regular Fourth of July room," stuttered the President when he had
+recovered his voice enough to speak. "Girlies, how did you do it?"
+
+"Well," confessed Peace, meditatively chewing her finger in her endeavor
+to appear modest in the midst of such unstinted praise, "at first we
+didn't know what to do. The other girls kept talking about 'propriate
+colors for their complexions. Faith is all _blunette_ and she looks best
+in pink. Hope is all blonde and blue is her best color, while Gail and
+Cherry have _blunette_ hair and blonde eyes, and they chose yellow and
+green. I didn't know it then, but that is what they did. Anyway, they
+talked about the different colors till I thought we ought to have our
+rooms fixed up in things that fitted us. That made it hard for Allee and
+me, you see, 'cause she is all blonde and I'm all _blunette_. To fit
+her, the room would have to be all blue, and to fit me it would be all
+red. Gussie said it wasn't stylish to use red and blue together any
+more, so we didn't know what to do until one day when we were
+_rummelging_ through the attic we found heaps and heaps of perfectly
+whole bunting and two great, big flags. That decided us to make a flag
+room of ours, and Gussie said it was a _splen-did_ idea. So that's how
+it happened.
+
+"Allee and me'd rather sleep together so's we can talk when we are
+awake, instead of having to holler our thoughts clear across the room
+from one bed to the other whenever we want to talk secrets; so we traded
+beds with Gussie. She said she was willing, and I always did want that
+bird of a bed after I saw it in her room. But the curtains wouldn't hang
+from its tail like I thought they would, and we--"
+
+"Stole my Paris doll to hold 'em up with!" cried Cherry, spying for the
+first time the beautiful waxen image dressed to represent the Goddess of
+Liberty, which stood on a tiny mantel over the quaint little bed, and
+held the bunting curtains in one hand.
+
+"We _borrowed_ it," Peace corrected. "We couldn't very well _ask_ you
+'bout it without your teasing to know why, and Allee and me didn't have
+a decent doll among us. Besides, you never play with it any more, and
+like as not grandpa or some other person that's got money will give us
+one of our own for Christmas. Then you can have yours back again. I
+guess you can wait that long, can't you? We wanted the walls striped
+with red and white, but Gussie thought that would look too much like a
+barber shop, so we just had white paper. It doesn't much matter, for the
+flags cover most of that wall, and Martha and George--we found them in
+the attic--Washington take up all the space on that side under the
+eagle--we got that out of the glass case that stands in the barn loft.
+We were going to see if we couldn't find some rugs with flags in them,
+but Gussie said it wasn't nice to _walk_ on our country's flag, so we
+chose this red carpet that used to be on this floor."
+
+"But where did you get such cute, quaint furniture?" asked Faith who was
+trying the white enameled chairs one after another.
+
+"Oh, that all came from the attic, too. Didn't cost us anything. It was
+a dull, ugly brown--"
+
+"Mother's mahogany set," whispered Mrs. Campbell to the amused doctor
+standing at her side.
+
+"--but a little white varnish made it just what we wanted."
+
+"Did you do the painting?" asked Cherry, testing it with her finger to
+see if it stuck.
+
+"No; we tried, but it looked so streaked we thought we sure had spoiled
+it. Gussie didn't have time to do a good job on it, either; so we asked
+Jud to help us out, and he said he would if Gussie--" There was a
+movement at the door, and the company glanced over their shoulders just
+in time to see Gussie's dress whisk out of sight down the hall. "--would
+give him a kiss. So you see we got that work done dirt cheap, too.
+Altogether, we spent nine dollars and ninety-one cents of the money
+grandpa gave us. Gussie kept the list. That's what the paper and white
+paint and ribbons for tying back our curtains--oh, yes, and the curtains
+themselves came to. They are just dotted _Swish_ and we got it at a
+sale, so it didn't cost us much. Mrs. Grinnell says always watch for
+sales, 'cause lots of bargains can be picked up that way, and we
+remembered it this time. We spent the extra nine cents--to make just an
+even ten dollars--for candy to treat Gussie and Jud, seeing they
+wouldn't take any money for their work, but they didn't eat it all; so
+Allee and me had the rest."
+
+"Did you make the curtains yourselves?" asked Cherry, the inquisitive.
+
+"Well, mostly. Gussie cut them for us, and I held them straight in the
+machine while Allee made the pedal go. The seams ain't _very_ crooked,
+but sometimes the needle would hit a lump in the pattern and teeter out
+around it, in spite of all I could do. But the made-up curtains at the
+store cost lots more than the raw cloth and weren't half so pretty, so
+Gussie said she'd help us make our own. Didn't we do well?"
+
+"You certainly did," was the unanimous verdict. "The prize is yours."
+
+"And children," said the President impressively, as they still lingered
+in the quaintly furnished room; "I hope every time you enter this door,
+the spirit of patriotism, the love of country, will grow stronger and
+greater in your hearts."
+
+"Yes, grandpa, I guess it will," answered Peace in all seriousness,
+"'cause we'll always be thinking of the rest of that check money which
+we've saved from dec'rating our room so's we could buy fire-crackers and
+rockets for next Fourth of July."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+CHRISTMAS DAY WITH THE CAMPBELLS
+
+
+The days which followed the advent of the orphan sisters in the great
+house were happy ones. Oh, so happy! How can they be described? The two
+lonely old hearts which had hungered all these long years for the little
+children who had so early left them thrilled with gladness at every
+sound of the eager, girlish voices. Boundless content reigned in their
+hearts as they watched each expressive face and studied each different
+character; and they wondered openly how they had ever managed to live
+without this precious band of granddaughters, as they insisted upon
+calling their charges.
+
+And the girls were equally happy. Gail felt as if a great weight had
+been lifted from her shoulders, as if her soul had been suddenly freed
+from a dark prison. The care-worn look vanished from the thin face; the
+big, gray-blue eyes sparkled with animation; her heart bubbled over with
+gratitude and love; and in every possible way she tried to show these
+new guardians how deeply and tenderly she loved them. And her attitude
+was that of the other sisters also, except that each took her own
+method of showing it. The Campbells were well satisfied with their
+experiment and were never tired of saying to each, other, "They are ours
+now."
+
+"Yes," Peace had answered them once when she had overheard these words;
+"we are yours now, but it seems to me 'sif we had always belonged to
+you. Some way, we fit in just as slick! 'Sif we had only been away on a
+vacation and just got home again, and you're tickled to see us and we're
+tickled to see you. Only--s'posing we really had been your
+granddaughters, s'posing you had been our Grandpa Greenfield, I bet
+_you'd_ never have named me Peace."
+
+"No," Dr. Campbell replied gravely, but with a quick thrill of
+tenderness in his heart for this little scapegrace who seemed to win
+from everyone an extra share of love; "no, I don't think I should have
+named you Peace--that is, if I could have foreseen what the blossom was
+to be when the bud unfolded. I should have called you Joy."
+
+"Joy?" repeated Peace. "Humph! That sounds like a heathen name. We've
+got a story book about Hop Loy, a Chinaman who was born on Christmas Day
+and never saw a Christmas tree until he was older'n Cherry. Why-ee!
+Ain't that terrible! I used to think I'd like to have my birthday come
+on Christmas, but now I'm glad it doesn't, for then everybody'd make one
+present do for the two days, and I'd get only half as many pretty
+things as other children have. It's bad enough as 'tis, being born on
+New Year's Day, for by that time most folks have spent all their money
+on Christmas doings."
+
+"Oho," he mocked, "is that what is bothering you? Well, now, don't you
+worry! You shall have your share of birthday gifts as well as heaps of
+Christmas presents as long as you live with us. This year Christmas will
+be doubly merry, for it is the first holiday season we have had any
+young folks to help us celebrate since the days when Dora's nephew used
+to spend his vacations with us."
+
+"Why doesn't he come any more?" asked Cherry curiously.
+
+"Oh, he is a gray-haired man now with children of his own," laughed
+grandma, then sighed, for the rollicking Ned who had been the life of so
+many vacations with them had married a society dame whose one aim was to
+see how many social victories she could score, and the poor children of
+the family fared as best they could in the great, loveless palace which
+they called home.
+
+"Do they live in Martindale?" asked Hope, eager to add to her list of
+acquaintances any whom the Campbells loved.
+
+"No, their home is in Chicago now. That is a photograph of the
+children." She pointed to a group picture on the fireplace mantel, and
+the girls clustered about it with inquisitive eyes.
+
+"What a sad-faced child the smaller one is," observed Faith. "How old is
+she?"
+
+"Six or seven weeks younger than Peace, I believe. She was born on
+Valentine Day."
+
+"How lovely!" Peace cried joyfully. "But I'd like it better if it was
+the boy who was almost my age. He looks the nicest of the bunch. The big
+girl is homely--"
+
+"Peace!"
+
+"Well, it ain't her fault, I know, and I wouldn't mind how homely she
+was if she looked _sweet_, but she doesn't. She looks 'sif she thought
+she owned the earth and I never did like a _darnimeering_ person. Now
+Tom--his name is Tom, isn't it?"
+
+"No, dear, it is Henderson. Henderson Meadows."
+
+"Oh! Why, I was sure it was Tom; he has such a Tom-ish look--"
+
+A shout of derision interrupted her, but she stoutly declared, "Well, he
+has! Boys named Tom are always nice--all I ever knew. I'm sorry his name
+is Henderson. It doesn't sound a bit like him."
+
+"You are a queer chick," said the President indulgently, "but I quite
+agree with you in regard to Henderson. He is a splendid fellow, however,
+in spite of his long name. They ought to have called him Ned Junior. He
+is big Ned all over again, just as Belle the second is the counterpart
+of her mother. Lorene is the odd piece. Every family has one odd one, I
+believe. Lorene is like neither her father nor mother."
+
+"What funny names! They are as bad as ours. But I should like to know
+the children--the folks, I mean. I s'pose Belle is too old to be called
+a child any longer, ain't she?"
+
+"Yes, Belle is sixteen and stylish," he answered grimly, as if that told
+the story, and it really did, for little more could be said of the
+frivolous, society-loving girl, brought up to follow in the footsteps of
+her worldly mother.
+
+"Do they come here often?" ventured Gail, still studying the group, none
+of whom looked really happy.
+
+"No, oh no," Mrs. Campbell answered hastily. "Martindale is too quiet
+for Mrs. Meadows. Ned sent Henderson and Lorene up here for a month last
+summer, but Belle has never been our guest. Grandpa and I have visited
+them twice in Chicago, but that is all we have ever seen them."
+
+"I wish they lived nearer," sighed Peace. "We never had any cousins of
+our own, but maybe they'd adopt us too, like you did; then we'd know
+what it feels like to have real relations."
+
+"Suppose you write Lorene. I think she would enjoy getting letters from
+a little girl so near her own age."
+
+"That _would_ be nice, s'posing I liked to write letters," Peace
+assented, "but I don't. I'll send her a Christmas present, though; and
+a valentine when it comes time, and a birthday gift, too. She will like
+that, won't she? What street does she live on in Chicago? It'll have to
+go pretty soon if it gets there in time for Christmas. That's only a
+week off. Mercy! What a lot of work we'll have to do before then,
+getting ready for the parties. I do love parties! But I don't see what
+you wanted to make two for. One would have been a plenty, and not near
+so much work."
+
+Mrs. Campbell laughed comfortably. "The house isn't large enough to
+accommodate all we want to invite, so we had to make two parties.
+Besides, the evening party is a sort of 'coming out' affair for my older
+girls--"
+
+"Coming out of what?"
+
+"Oh, introducing them into college society--"
+
+"And we littler girls ain't worth coming out for? Is that it?"
+
+"Oh dear no! But _little_ girls don't come out into society. They have
+to wait until they are grown up. Even Gail and Faith are too young for
+the social whirl as the world understands that phrase. They must wait
+until they are through with school and college life before they take up
+social duties. But they have met so very few of our young people since
+coming here to Martindale to live that we are giving this party to
+introduce them to their own classmates really. Do you understand now?"
+
+Peace did not, but she vaguely felt that she ought to, so she bobbed her
+head slowly and fell to puzzling over the queer ways of the world.
+Fortunately for the whole household, the last week of preparation for
+the holiday season was a very busy one, so Peace had little time to
+think of all these perplexing questions; and when Christmas Day dawned
+at length, everyone thought she had forgotten her grievance over not
+being invited to attend the evening party for the older sisters. But
+Peace remembered, and in the gray of the early dawn before anyone else
+was awake in the great house, the door of the flag room burst open with
+a jerk and a joyous voice shrieked through the gloom:
+
+"What have you got in your stockings, girls? Mine is stuffed so full it
+fell off the nail, and one chair and half the dresser is loaded with the
+left-over packages. And Allee's got as many as I have. There's a doll
+for each of us--they beat yours all hollow, Cherry. Now we've got a
+Goddess of Liberty all our own and you can have yours as soon as ever
+you want it. And I've got seven books. Guess Santa must have mixed me up
+with you again, Cherry. There are three puzzles and five games and a lot
+of handkerchiefs and ribbons, two sashes, and oh, the loveliest white
+dress for winter wear, all trimmed with the softest velvet--just the
+thing for your party tonight, Faith, s'posing I was invited. And
+there's a plaid dress and a plain red one and a brown one and a dark
+blue--six in all--and two coats. _Two!_ Think of that! Mercy, ain't we
+rich now? Are you awake, all of you? Are you listening? Ain't this
+different from last year?"
+
+Ah, how well they all remembered that last Christmas, and what a hymn of
+praise and thanksgiving went up from each of those six hearts for the
+joy and good tidings this Christmas had brought them!
+
+Before Peace had finished shouting her catalog of gifts, the other
+sisters were awake--and indeed, the whole household was astir--examining
+the generous remembrances loving hands had heaped around their beds as
+they slept. And what a merry time they made of it! Gussie could scarcely
+prevail upon anyone to touch her tempting breakfast, for excitement had
+dulled the usually hearty appetites; the young folks found their
+treasures more alluring than any breakfast table could possibly be, and
+the President and his wife hovered over them to enjoy the sight of their
+joy.
+
+"A body'd think they had never seen a Christmas Day before," muttered
+Marie, waiting impatiently in her snowy cap and apron to serve the
+rapidly cooling breakfast.
+
+"It's many a long day since they have seen one like this," said Gussie
+loyally, smiling gratefully as she thought of the liberal number of
+packages old Santa had left hanging to her door during the night. But at
+length the meal was ended, Marie had carried the dishes away, Jud
+appeared with a step-ladder and hammer, and the younger trio were
+banished upstairs to amuse themselves until the last of the party
+decorations were put in place. This was not a hard thing to do,
+fortunately, and for once not one of them raised any objection to being
+exiled in this fashion.
+
+"Why, I've enough things of my own to look at and think about to last me
+a week," Cherry breathed ecstatically.
+
+"Yes, and s'posing you did get tired of that," spoke up Peace, "there's
+all the rest of the girls' bundles to 'xamine. They've each got a
+hundred 'most near, I sh'd think."
+
+So for a long time they fluttered from room to room, admiring the pretty
+things that were now their own, nibbling chocolate drops, or discussing
+the party scheduled for two o'clock that afternoon. Then gradually
+conversation flagged; each girl sought a favorite retreat, and
+surrounded by her pile of belongings, sat down to gloat over them.
+Silence fell upon the rooms, broken only by the sound of rustling
+ribbons caressed by admiring hands, the opening and shutting of boxes,
+the fluttering of story-book leaves, the protesting squeak of Queen
+Helen's bisque arms and legs, and the rattle of mysterious puzzles.
+
+Cherry had retired to her own domain to regale herself with certain
+tempting volumes, and Peace and Allee were alone in the flag room when
+the older girl suddenly dropped the book in which she had been lost for
+a full half hour, and said eagerly, "Allee, this is the most interesting
+story I ever read. It tells how the little Swede children give the birds
+a Christmas. Think of that! The birds! We tried to make it happy for
+everyone we knew--Jud and Gussie and Marie and the flirty chimney-sweep
+who goes by here every morning, and the washwoman who lives in the
+alley, and the milk-boy who comes so far through the cold to bring us
+our milk, and Caspar Dodds' family--and--and--all of them; and we even
+remembered the canary and the dogs, but we never thought of the birds
+outdoors."
+
+"No, we didn't," Allee agreed, pausing in her occupation of undressing
+the gorgeous Queen Helen to stare fixedly at her sister as if trying to
+fathom her thoughts. "We might ask Gussie for some crumbs. It ain't too
+late yet."
+
+"Crumbs wouldn't do at all. The book says they tie a sheaf of wheat to a
+tall pole in the yard so the birds will see it and come down and eat.
+See, there is the picture."
+
+"Um-hm. But we haven't any tall pole in our yard, 'cept the flag-pole
+and that's on the roof."
+
+"No, we haven't any pole like the book shows, but we could hitch the
+wheat on our balcony-rail knobs and when the birds came down to get it,
+we could watch them from this window. See?"
+
+"Where'll you get the wheat?"
+
+"From the barn. Jud's got a lot of different kinds of grain out there."
+
+"But we can't go downstairs until party time. Even lunch is to be
+brought up here, grandma said."
+
+"That's so. But I don't think they'd care if we just slipped down the
+stairs and straight out of the front door. It wouldn't take us but a
+minute to get the wheat and come right back again."
+
+"Grandma said if we went downstairs before she gave us leave, we
+couldn't go to the party at all."
+
+"Then how can we feed those birds?"
+
+"I guess we can't feed them this year--'nless we do it tomorrow."
+
+"Tomorrow won't be Christmas. We've got to do it today. Just think how
+nice it will be to play we are little Swedes and how pleased Gussie'll
+be to think we did something her people do."
+
+"Why do just Swedes feed the birds?" inquired Allee, still a trifle
+dubious about entering into Peace's plan, in view of the risk involved.
+
+"Oh, I s'pose they thought of it first. Every kind of people do
+something queer at Christmas which they call a custom. The Holland
+children put out their shoes on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus to fill,
+instead of hanging up their stockings."
+
+"Their shoes?" Allee's eyes were as round as saucers with astonishment.
+
+"Yes. They wear big, wooden boats for shoes. I guess their feet must be
+extra big--anyway, their shoes are simply _e-mense_ and will hold a lot.
+Then there's the French people,--_they_ always save up all the fusses
+and scraps they have had with other folks during the year, and on
+Christmas Day they go around and get forgiven. Wonder what Gail would
+think of that! And the Irish folks stay up all night to hear the horses
+talk."
+
+"Peace, you're fooling!"
+
+"Allee Greenfield, do I ever fool you?"
+
+"N--o, you never have."
+
+"And I ain't beginning now. That is just what this book says."
+
+"But horses don't talk!"
+
+"Only at Christmas time."
+
+"I don't b'lieve they do then. Did you ever hear them!"
+
+"N--o, but I'm going to stay up tonight and listen."
+
+"Oh, we can't. This is party night and what would grandma say?"
+
+"We'll never know if they talk unless we do stay up and listen--and I'd
+like to find out what they say. It's just at midnight. That ain't long.
+We go to bed at eight, and midnight is only twelve o'clock. We could
+stay awake easily till then, 'cause the people who are invited will be
+leaving just about that time. I heard grandma say so. We'll just skip
+away to the barn and see if Duke and Charley are talking, and then we'll
+come back before anyone knows we're gone."
+
+The plan was truly very fascinating, but Allee still looked very
+doubtful, and after a silent moment Peace broke out in an aggrieved
+tone, "I don't see what is the matter with you, Allee. You are getting
+to be just like Cherry. She always sets down on my plans. You won't help
+me hang up the wheat for the Swedes or listen to the Irish horses. You
+never used to be like that."
+
+"I will too help you!" cried Allee, hurt at her boon companion's words
+and tone. "I'll do anything you want me to, only I don't see how we can
+carry out either one of those. We'll surely get scolded if we go
+downstairs now, and it would be dreadful if we couldn't go to either
+party."
+
+Peace walked to the balcony window and threw up the sash, murmuring, "If
+only grandpa hadn't made us promise not to slide down the pillars! Oh,
+I've got it, Allee! Look here!"
+
+Allee scrambled up from the floor and hurried to her side, shivering in
+the cold blast that blew in through the open window, bearing with it a
+few feathery flakes, for it was trying hard to snow. "See that piece of
+the wall that sticks out there, and--"
+
+"But how can you walk on that little mite of a piece?" gasped Allee,
+growing pale at the very thought. "And how would you get down to the
+ground?"
+
+"Oh, that's easy! The rain-pipe is fastened just high enough for me to
+hang onto, and 'sides, the trellis goes part of the way to the porch
+roof, and Jud hasn't taken down the ladder he put up there yesterday."
+
+"Yes, but s'posing you should fall," wailed Allee in sudden terror, for
+the water-pipe looked like a very frail support even for a child as
+small and light of foot as was Peace, and the corner with the projecting
+porch roof seemed so far away.
+
+"There's snow on the ground. I wouldn't get hurt. But you needn't think
+I'm going to fall. I've clum lots harder places than that before. You
+stay here and when I get back you can tack up the wheat on the rail
+post."
+
+Carefully she stepped out on the balcony, slipped over the low railing
+and set out on her perilous journey along the narrow coping, clinging
+tightly to the rain-trough with one hand, and hanging onto the trellis
+supports with the other till at last she was safe on the porch roof at
+the corner. With an exultant shout she turned and waved her hand at
+rigid, white-lipped Allee in the window, then slid lightly down the
+ladder and out of sight. She was gone a long time, and the small watcher
+above was becoming alarmed at her stay, fearing that the daring acrobat
+had been caught at her pranks, and wondering what punishment would
+befall her in such an event, when the bare, brown head appeared over the
+low porch roof once more, and Peace inquired in a worried tone, "Do you
+know whether birds eat hay? 'Cause I can't find any whole wheat out
+there. It's all shocked."
+
+"Why, I never watched them long enough to see," began Allee, eyeing the
+great twisted wisp the older child had in her hand.
+
+"Well, I brought some grain, too, but I don't know how we can tie that
+to a pole, 'nless we leave it in the bag, and then how can the birds get
+at it!"
+
+"We might throw it along the rail--it's wide enough to hold quite a
+little--"
+
+"Course! What a _nijut_ I am not to think of that myself!"
+
+Slinging the bag of grain over one arm, and still clutching the hay
+firmly in the other hand, she began her slow creeping along the coping
+back to the balcony window. The rain-pipe shook threateningly under her
+weight, and even the trellis supports swayed uncomfortably when once she
+slipped and almost lost her frail footing. Allee gave a low moan of
+horror and shut her eyes, but the daring climber did not fall, and when
+next the watcher looked, she beheld the curly, brown head bobbing over
+the balcony rail, as Peace swung up to safety beside her, and dropped
+the burden--the birds' Christmas dinner--into her trembling hands.
+
+Nor was Allee the only one who trembled. On the snowy walk below,
+approaching the house with rapid strides, came the dignified President,
+hand in hand with two children, a bright-eyed, black-haired boy of
+perhaps a dozen years, and an under-sized, gipsy-like little girl, both
+chattering like magpies as they raced along beside the tall, erect old
+man, when suddenly the girl screamed faintly, "Oh, Uncle Donald, look!"
+
+But he had caught sight of the apparition even before she spoke, and
+halted abruptly, breathlessly, terror clutching at his heart. The boy
+followed the gaze of his two petrified companions, and ejaculated in
+amazed admiration, "Golly, but she's got grit! Why, Uncle Donald, that's
+your house! That must be one of the girls you were telling us about. Is
+it Peace?"
+
+The President nodded his head mechanically, not knowing that he had
+heard the question, but the next moment the frozen horror of his face
+melted. The climber had reached the balcony and was unconcernedly
+scattering a handful of grain over the narrow railing, while Allee
+securely bound the wisp of hay to the balcony post. A great sigh of
+relief escaped the watchers below, their hearts began to beat once more
+and the red blood pounded through their veins.
+
+"Oh," gasped the girl, "I thought sure she'd fall!"
+
+"I didn't," declared the boy with a wise shake of his head. "She's a
+reg'lar cat. I believe she could climb a wall. She's like that 'human
+fly' the papers are always telling about. I'd like jolly well to see
+_him_ do some of his stunts, you better believe!"
+
+The President said nothing, but his mouth set in grim lines and a look
+of determination replaced the fearful pallor of his face. Forgetful of
+the guests he had in tow, he marched into the house and straight up the
+stairway with the children still at his heels. At the door of the flag
+room he knocked, then without waiting for a summons from within, he
+entered.
+
+The two scatterers of Christmas cheer had finished their work by this
+time and were now gleefully watching the feathered folk of the air
+settling about the unexpected repast, so they scarcely heard the steps
+in the hall or the creak of the opening door. But at the peculiar sound
+of the voice speaking to them, both girls wheeled quickly, and Peace
+asked in guilty haste, "Did you want us, grandpa?"
+
+"Yes, come here, both of you."
+
+They went and stood at his knee, a secret fear tugging at each little
+heart as they saw the unusually stern look he bent upon them.
+
+"Is--is--what--why--," stammered Peace, wishing he would smile a little
+to relieve the keenness of his glance.
+
+"What were you doing just now?"
+
+"Feeding the birds like the Swedes do on Christmas Day, only we didn't
+have a pole to hitch our wheat to, and all our wheat was in kernels
+anyway, and we were told not to go downstairs until Jud and the girls
+were through dec'rating, so we clum out of the window and I got some hay
+and grain just as slick! Don't the birds look as if they were enjoying
+their Christmas dinner?" Peace rattled on, speaking so rapidly that the
+words fairly tumbled out of her mouth.
+
+"Didn't I tell you when you chose this room for your own that you would
+forfeit it the first time you used the window for the stairway?"
+
+"No, grandpa," came the astounding reply from both eager little girls.
+"You said _porch_, _pillars_, and we have _never_ used them for
+stairways since the time we told you about. We 'membered that
+_carefully_, and this time we used that wide piece that sticks out of
+the wall, and then clum down Jud's ladder from the back porch roof. That
+ain't the balcony pillars, grandpa. You never said we couldn't go down
+that way."
+
+In absolute amazement the learned Doctor of Laws gazed long and
+silently into the anxious, upturned faces. Allee's lips began to
+tremble, and even Peace, remembering the Doctor's words in regard to
+lickings the night of the surprise party in the little brown house,
+shook in her shoes; but she steadfastly returned his gaze, and quietly
+repeated, "You know you didn't, grandpa!"
+
+"No," he said at last. "I did not forbid your going down that way, but
+it was only because I never dreamed you or anyone else would ever try
+such a feat." Suddenly his sternness vanished, he stooped quickly and
+gathered the scared little souls in his arms, choking huskily, "My
+little girlies, if you knew what a fright you have given your old
+grandpa--"
+
+"Oh, grandpa," quavered Allee from her retreat on his shoulder, "we'll
+never do it again, truly!"
+
+"And you won't take this darling room away from us this time, will you?"
+wheedled Peace, her equilibrium restored at sight of this unusual
+display of emotion.
+
+"No," he promised, "not this time. We'll try you again, but remember--no
+more window climbing of _any_ kind."
+
+"Not even out onto the balcony?" wailed Peace in dismay.
+
+There was a sound of suppressed laughter from the hall, and as the girls
+in the flag room whirled about to discover the cause, the President
+suddenly remembered his new guests and rose hurriedly to his feet. But
+Peace had reached the door in a bound and with a cry of delight dragged
+forth the embarrassed strangers, exclaiming, "It's Henderson and Lorene,
+grandpa! They look 'xactly like their picture, don't they, only not
+quite so grumpy? Grandma said I better write Lorene and I did and I
+invited her to come up for my party. That's how they happen to be here.
+Now we'll get acquainted with our relations, won't we? I invited Belle,
+too. Why didn't she come?"
+
+"Belle and mamma went to Evanston last week," Lorene explained
+bashfully.
+
+"And they let you come all alone?"
+
+"They don't know yet that we aren't in Chicago," chuckled Henderson.
+"Dad let us come. It's only a twelve-hour ride and we don't change cars
+at all. Pooh! We've gone longer ways than that alone."
+
+"But not when mamma knew it," supplemented Lorene. "She'd have
+_insisted_ upon sending Nurse with us--if she had let us come at all.
+Where shall we put our wraps? It's hot in here."
+
+"Oh, I forgot!" cried Peace, abruptly recalled to her duties as hostess,
+for dazed Dr. Campbell had gone in search of his wife the minute he saw
+that the children were sufficiently introduced.
+
+"Hang your coat on the hall-tree, Henderson; and Lorene, bring your
+things in here. It's pretty near lunch time already, and then we must
+dress for the party."
+
+So in spite of their very unexpected arrival, the two strangers received
+a royal welcome, and were soon very much at home with the six merry
+girls whom they promptly adopted as cousins, just as Peace had hoped
+they would. And how quickly the hours flew by! Before anyone realized
+it, the great clock in the hall struck two, and promptly the small
+guests began to arrive. Happy voices filled the house, happy faces
+beamed from every corner, happy hearts beat high with Christmas cheer;
+the very air seemed charged with happiness. The four younger sisters
+made charming hostesses, Grandma Campbell proved to be a rare
+entertainer, and the dignified President won everlasting fame as a
+story-teller and leader in games.
+
+"_Everything_ was a success," as Hope thankfully declared when the last
+guest had departed, and the happy group had congregated in grandma's
+room to talk things over while Jud and his corps of helpers were setting
+things to rights for the evening party.
+
+"Yes," Peace reluctantly conceded, "but think how much nicer it would
+have been if we could have had it in the evening like grown-up folks."
+
+"Still harping about that?" laughed Faith, pausing in the doorway with
+her arms full of holly wreaths ready to be hung. "Daytime is made for
+children. Gail and I didn't intrude at your party."
+
+"That ain't 'cause you wasn't invited," Peace replied pointedly.
+
+"But we couldn't very well come," Faith answered hastily. "There were so
+many things we had to get ready for our tree tonight."
+
+"Getting things ready for a tree ain't like having to lie in bed and
+hear all the noise and music and know you can't have any share at _all_
+in them," Peace persisted; but Faith had already vanished down the
+stairway, and only a tantalizing laugh floated back in reply.
+
+A hush fell over the little company in the cosy room, each busy with
+happy thoughts or rosy day-dreams, as she stared at the glowing embers
+in the great fireplace or watched the white flakes drifting down through
+the early twilight outside. Then there was a firm step on the stair, a
+cheery voice from the hallway broke the spell, and six pair of eyes were
+lifted to greet the busy President as he briskly entered the room and
+paused to survey the pretty scene.
+
+"Well, well," he said bluffly, "what's the difficulty? Quarrelling?"
+
+"No, sir!" they shouted emphatically.
+
+"We were just thinking--" Henderson began.
+
+"How nice it would be if little folks were invited to grown-up parties,"
+finished Peace, who seemed possessed of only that one idea.
+
+"That's just what I have been thinking, too," was the surprising
+confession from the tall man on the hearth rug.
+
+"Wh-at!"
+
+"Well, when mother and I came to think over the subject seriously, we
+both agreed that it did not seem exactly fair to put three, no, four
+such charming little maids to bed--for of course Lorene would share your
+fate, too--when there were to be such festive doings downstairs,
+although neither one of us believes in late hours for children. I
+presume we are very old-fashioned in some things--"
+
+"No, you aren't," chorused the loyal girls.
+
+"No? True patriots! And yet didn't you think grandma and I were just the
+least teenty bit hard on you to make you go to bed at the regulation
+hours tonight when it is Christmas?"
+
+"W-e-ll, we would like awfully much to stay up and see if Gail and Faith
+do as good entertaining their comp'ny as we did," confessed Peace with
+unusual hesitation.
+
+"Supposing I should tell you that we have decided to let you stay up an
+hour or two longer?"
+
+"Oh, grandpa, what a darling you are!"
+
+"No, you must thank Faith. She begged so hard that we have had to give
+in to satisfy her."
+
+"Faith?" Peace was so completely dumbfounded that they had to laugh at
+her.
+
+"Yes, dear, Faith. She says you are so dreadfully anxious to see what a
+grown-up Christmas party is like that she is afraid you will die of
+curiosity if you can't have that wish fulfilled."
+
+"Grandpa, you are just joking," Cherry reproved.
+
+"I am thoroughly in earnest, I assure you. To be sure, Faith used
+somewhat different words, but she sympathized so heartily with you that
+we decided to let you enjoy part of the evening's program. In fact, the
+only reason we planned _two_ parties in the first place was because the
+old house wouldn't hold at one time all we wanted to invite; and we
+thought it would be a great deal easier to entertain our guests if we
+had the big folks at one party and the little people at another. Do you
+understand now?"
+
+"Yes, and I'll bet you've been figuring on letting us go all the while
+we were stewing about it," cried Peace, the irrepressible.
+
+"Maybe you are right," he chuckled.
+
+She bounced off the floor with a squeal of delight, clutched Allee with
+one hand and Lorene with the other, and rushed out of the room, calling
+back over her shoulder, "Now, I'm _surblimely_ happy! You better go
+dress, Cherry! Dinner will soon be ready and there won't be much time
+after that before the party begins."
+
+They had been happy before, but the granting of this one dear wish
+transported them to such heights of bliss that they seemed to be walking
+on clouds, and went about in such a state of rapture that it was
+ludicrous as well as delightful to behold their antics.
+
+Evening came, the guests arrived, music sounded, carols were sung, and
+Peace, entranced, moved about through the gay, light-hearted throng like
+one in a dream. To be sure, it was just as the President had
+prophesied--little attention was paid to the children of the party, but
+it was glorious fun just to watch the changing scenes and be a part of
+them, instead of lying tucked away in bed upstairs listening with
+ever-increasing curiosity and longing to the sounds of merrymaking
+below.
+
+With a happy sigh of content at the realization of her great ambition,
+Peace dropped down upon a pile of cushions by one of the long French
+windows, leaned her forehead against the cool pane and looked out into
+the night, where by the flickering light of the street-lamps she could
+see the white snowflakes drifting slowly, lazily downward.
+
+"My, but hasn't this been a happy Christmas!" she said aloud, though no
+one was near enough to hear her words. "Who'd ever have thought last
+Christmas that we'd be here tonight? Do you s'pose the angels know we
+don't live in Parker any more? We might set a lamp in the window so's
+they'd see it and be sure. Gail says mother always did that when papa
+was out after night, so he could find his way home all right. I'll tell
+Allee and when we go to bed we'll just remind the angels that we don't
+need so much looking after now that we're living here. I'll never forget
+how s'prised Hec Abbott was when he found out that we'd all been 'dopted
+together. I wonder what Hec is doing about now? He can't brag any more
+about the good times they have at his house. We are just--what in the
+world is that coming up the steps?"
+
+Mechanically she rose to her feet, her nose still pressed flat against
+the window-pane as she studied the huge, misshapen figure already on the
+wide veranda. The footman who had ushered in the guests of the evening
+was at that moment occupied in fastening up a strand of evergreen which
+had fallen close above a gas-jet; the President was at the furthest
+corner of the great parlor engaged in an animated discussion with a
+pale-faced professor of Greek; and Mrs. Campbell was nowhere in sight.
+With a wildly beating heart, Peace seized the door-knob, and not waiting
+for the queer stranger outside to ring the bell, she flung wide the door
+and confronted him.
+
+"Why, it's Santa Claus!" they heard her say, for the sudden sharp blast
+of winter air had drawn a crowd to the door to see what had happened.
+"Don't you know, sir, that you can't come in this way? Go up to the roof
+and climb down the _chimbley_, like you do at other houses," she
+commanded, and in the face of the amazed Saint Nick she slammed the
+door.
+
+"Peace, what have you done?" cried Gail aghast, as she caught a glimpse
+of the fat, knobby pack disappearing down the steps.
+
+"It was just that Santa Claus forgot to go down the _chimbley_," she
+explained. "He ought to have remembered that!"
+
+A shout from the adjoining room cut short her defense, and as the crowd
+surged forward in that direction, she beheld the jolly old Saint
+shuffling across the floor dragging his heavy pack which certainly
+looked as sooty and dirty as if he had really plunged down the tall
+chimney and through the fireplace. Straight to her corner he came, and
+fumbling in his sack, drew forth a tiny statue of the Goddess of
+Liberty, which he presented with an elaborate bow, saying in a deep,
+rumbling voice, "To the defender of all childhood traditions--Liberty
+enlightening the world!" His words were greeted with mad applause, for
+by this time everyone had heard the story of the flag room and peeped at
+its quaint furnishings; but the laugh was quickly turned from one to
+another, for St. Nick had remembered well the pet foibles of each guest
+present, and had brought with him appropriate gifts for all.
+
+Much too soon the hands of the clock crept around to the hour of half
+past ten, and with sighs of resignation and disappointment, the four
+smaller girls, Cherry, Peace, Lorene and Allee, slipped quietly away to
+bed.
+
+"I did so want to hear the rest of the carols," murmured Cherry, yawning
+so widely that she nearly swallowed the rest of the exiled group.
+
+"We can hear them after we're in bed," said Peace, rubbing her eyes
+which were growing very heavy in spite of her efforts to stay awake.
+"Gussie promised to leave our doors open until time for the folks to go
+home. It's the charades I wanted to see."
+
+"Charades?" questioned Lorene. "Were they going to have charades, too?"
+
+"She means tableaux," explained Cherry. "She's crazy about them. They
+make me cough too much--the lights they use, I mean. Come on, Lorene,
+sleep with me tonight until Hope comes up to bed. Do, please! It isn't
+fair for you three to stick in here and leave me all by myself in the
+other room."
+
+Lorene glanced hesitatingly from one sister to the other, and seeing no
+opposition, answered, "All right, Cherry, I'll stay with you till the
+folks go. You don't care, do you, girls?"
+
+"Not for that long," Peace magnanimously replied, for a daring plan had
+just popped her eyes wide open, and Lorene might hinder its fulfillment.
+So they separated, and in a few short moments four white-robed figures
+were tucked snugly under the coverlets, the lights turned out, and the
+two doors left ajar that the sleepy exiles might hear the strains of
+music floating up the wide staircase. There was the soft sound of
+whispered words from bed to bed like the sleepy twitterings of birdlings
+in their nests, and then silence. Cherry and Lorene were fast asleep.
+Downstairs the carols ceased, the wail of violin and guitar died away,
+and the murmur of voices was again borne to the straining ears of the
+conspirators in the flag room.
+
+"Do you s'pose they have begun tableauing?" asked Allee, after what
+seemed an eternity of listening.
+
+"Not yet; they have lights. There, that must be one. See how queer the
+hall looks through the crack of the door? I guess it's time now. Come
+on, but be awful still."
+
+"It's cold after being in that warm bed," protested Allee as her bare
+feet touched the polished floor in the hall.
+
+"We'll get some wraps in here," Peace answered, inspired by a happy
+thought to seize upon two beautiful white opera robes belonging to some
+of the guests below, and with these heavy garments trailing behind them,
+they stole softly down the wide stairway almost to the landing, where,
+out of sight from the company massed in the parlor and adjoining rooms,
+they could still see the tableaux taking place in the reception hall
+below.
+
+Fortunately for their health's sake, this part of the program was brief,
+and had it not been for the very last scene pictured, no one would have
+dreamed of their presence behind the palings. But it happened that the
+girls had chosen as a climax for the evening the tableau of the first
+Christmas Eve; and Hope, arrayed as the angel of good tidings, appeared
+on the stairs just as Jud touched off the weird red light on the
+landing,--for neither actor nor servant had discovered the hidden
+culprits until too late to utter any words of warning or reproof.
+Startled beyond measure at the sudden glow almost at their elbow, the
+two conspirators scrambled to their feet and vanished hastily up the
+stairway as the chorus below took up the song,
+
+    "Angels ascending and descending,
+      Chanted the wond'rous refrain,
+    'Glory to God in the Highest,
+      Peace and good will toward men.'"
+
+The long, fur-lined opera cloaks streamed out behind them like misty
+clouds in the unearthly glow of the sulphur light, and it seemed as if
+they were really a part of the beautiful tableau, which brought forth
+such thunderous applause from the delighted audience that it had to be
+repeated. This Peace and Allee did not know, however, for with
+chattering teeth and trembling limbs, they had fled to the refuge of
+their room, pausing only long enough to drop their borrowed finery where
+they had found it; and they were crawling underneath the covers once
+more when Peace hissed sharply in her sister's ear, "What about the
+horses?"
+
+"What's the matter with them?" murmured Allee, too confused and sleepy
+to know what her companion was saying.
+
+"We were going out to hear them talk at midnight."
+
+"So we were! Well, I guess they'll have to talk all to themselves again
+tonight."
+
+"What? Ain't you going out with me to listen?"
+
+"We'd freeze in our nightgowns and we dahsent take those pussy-cat coats
+to the barn," protested the younger sister, aroused by Peace's surprised
+exclamation.
+
+"We'll dress."
+
+"Oh, Peace, and then have the fun of taking our clothes off again?"
+
+"We'll put on our stockings and overshoes and bundle up in grandma's
+shawls. How'll that do? But first, we better light that candle I told
+you about to let the angels know where we are tonight. There--I guess
+they'll see it, even if it isn't as big as a lamp. Come on, I heard the
+clock strike a long time ago."
+
+If Allee had not been so sleepy she might have remembered one other time
+just a year before when Peace had heard the clock strike; but being too
+near the land of Nod to realize anything but that Peace was calling her,
+she stumbled out of bed once more and allowed herself to be bundled up
+in wraps of all sorts until she was as shapeless as a mummy. In this
+fashion they slipped down the back stairs and out to the barn without
+betraying their presence, though the steps creaked under their weight,
+and every door they opened squeaked so alarmingly that Peace held her
+breath more than once for fear someone had heard.
+
+Once inside the dark barn, they had to feel their way about, for not a
+ray of light penetrated the blackness of the stormy night, and the grim
+silence of the place filled them with nameless terror. It was not so bad
+when they had finally found their way into Marmaduke's stall and cuddled
+close to the friendly beast, who nosed them inquiringly, but even there
+they did not dare speak above a whisper; and so they waited breathlessly
+for the mystic midnight hour when the animals should break their silence
+and talk, each secretly wishing she were safely back in bed again.
+
+Up at the house the merry evening had at length drawn to a close, and
+the guests had reluctantly departed. The President, returning from the
+gate where he had escorted the last guest to her sleigh, made a
+harrowing discovery. There was a light in the balcony window! Could it
+be that burglars had entered the house during the merrymaking and were
+even now ransacking the rooms? He looked again. It was such a tiny,
+steady light. Was it possible that one of the children was sick and
+Gussie had not told him? The last thought sent him flying up the stairs
+three steps at a time, and he reached the flag room door so breathless
+that he could scarcely turn the knob. The bed was empty. Only a wee
+taper from the Christmas tree burned faintly on the window sill.
+
+In frantic haste he called the family and they searched the house from
+garret to cellar, but the missing children were not to be found.
+
+"Do you suppose the tableau scared them to death?" asked Hope.
+
+"Maybe they tried to see if Santa Claus really came down the chimney and
+got stuck there themselves," suggested Henderson, who regarded the
+disappearance of the duet as something of a lark.
+
+"Wake Jud," commanded Mrs. Campbell, and the worried Doctor hastily
+lighted a lantern and went down to the barn to rouse the man of all
+work, wondering as he did so what good that would do. The horses
+whinnied as he entered the stable, and in the dim light that flooded
+the place, the President saw that the door of Marmaduke's stall stood
+open.
+
+"What can Jud be thinking of?" he muttered somewhat testily, stepping
+along to slip the bolt in its place, but the next instant his eyes fell
+upon two dark bundles huddled at the horse's feet, and with a startled
+exclamation he bent over to examine his find, just as Faith burst in
+through the door behind him, crying, "They must have left the house,
+grandpa, because the back hall door is unlocked and the storm-door is
+swinging."
+
+"Yes, Faith, and here they are," he answered, tenderly lifting the
+smaller warm bundle and depositing it in the girl's arms. "What in
+creation do you suppose they were doing here?"
+
+As if in answer to his question, the brown eyes of the child he was just
+lifting fluttered slowly open, and Peace drowsily drawled, "We fed the
+Swede birds for Gussie, and got French forgiveness from grandpa for
+doing so, and had a German Christmas tree, and lots of Hung'ry company,
+and 'Merican stockings and a 'Merican Santa Claus, but we didn't hear
+the Irish horses talk, and I b'lieve it's all a joke."
+
+In spite of their anxiety, Faith and the President gave a boisterous
+shout, and Peace heard as in a dream her sister's voice saying, "It is
+Christmas Eve that the animals are supposed to talk. Poor Peace!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A ZEALOUS LITTLE MISSIONARY
+
+
+Strange as it may seem, neither child felt any ill effects from that
+midnight escapade, but the next morning they awoke as chipper and gay as
+if there were no such thing as after-Christmas feelings. They even
+forgot the lonely vigil in the stable in their dismay at the discovery
+that Lorene had slept all night with Cherry instead of returning to
+their room as she had promised to do. An after-breakfast summons to the
+President's study brought their pranks vividly to mind again, however,
+and with considerable trepidation they saw the heavy door close behind
+them, shutting them in alone with the grave-eyed man, for they stood
+much in awe of the learned Doctor when that stern look replaced the
+usual bluff kindliness of his face.
+
+The conference was exceedingly brief and to the point, judging from the
+sober, wilted little culprits who pattered up the stairway a few minutes
+later and silently sought the flag room. Henderson and the girls were
+consumed with curiosity to know the result of the interview, and their
+amazement knew no bounds when the disgraced duet vanished within their
+quiet retreat and turned the key in the lock. After waiting in vain
+fifteen minutes for them to reappear Lorene crossed the hall and knocked
+timidly at the closed door. There was no answer. She tried again, this
+time with more vim, but with no better success. Then she called, but not
+a sound from within greeted her straining ear. Cherry and Hope each took
+a turn, and Henderson pounded his fists sore without receiving a single
+word of reply from the prisoners.
+
+"I believe they have climbed out of the window," he cried at last in
+exasperation.
+
+"No, they promised grandpa not to. I guess maybe they've been sent to
+bed," said Cherry, inwardly thankful that she had not been in the latest
+scrapes.
+
+Neither was right. But after a time, tiring of their efforts to get some
+sign from the culprits, the quartette in the hall dispersed to amuse
+themselves in some more entertaining manner. No sooner had their
+footsteps died away on the stairs, and Peace was convinced in her own
+mind that they had really gone for good, than a change came over her.
+She was sitting erect in a stiff-backed chair in one corner of the room,
+while her companion in misery sat huddled in the opposite corner,
+staring at the fresco of flags above her head. Both looked dreadfully
+woe-begone, and as if the tears were very near the surface, for
+punishment sat heavily upon these two light-hearted spirits,
+particularly as such severe measures did not seem necessary or just to
+them in view of the smallness of their sin. However, when the racket
+outside their door finally fell away into silence, Peace suddenly gave a
+little jump of inspiration, twisted her feet about the legs of her
+chair, and began a slow, laborious hitching process across the red rug
+toward the tiny dresser. Reaching this goal, she jerked open a drawer,
+rummaged out paper and pencil and began a furious scratching.
+
+Allee watched with fascinated eyes, but true to her promise to the
+President in the den below, she never said a word, though she was nearly
+bursting with curiosity and it was so hard to keep still. After a few
+moments of rapid scribbling on a page of vivid pink stationery, the
+brown-eyed plotter again commenced her queer march across the room until
+she had reached the door, unlocked it, and after a hard struggle managed
+to pin the slip to the outside panel. Then with a sigh of mingled relief
+at having accomplished her object and resignation at her unjust fate,
+she closed the door once more, and wriggled back to her place opposite
+Allee, never so much as looking at the eager face questioning hers so
+mutely.
+
+Again silence reigned in the pretty room, and both girls fell to
+wondering what the other members of the household were doing. Suppose
+Cherry had taken Lorene down to the pond to skate. That was what Peace
+herself had been planning on ever since she had looked into the small
+dark face of the child who was only six weeks and two days younger than
+she was. Suppose Hope had gone with Henderson to coast on the hill. He
+had promised Allee the first ride just the night before. Suppose Jud
+should choose this morning to take the girls sleighing as he had said he
+would do when the first heavy snow fell.
+
+It had stormed all night and the deep mantle of white lay tempting and
+inviting in the bright winter sunshine. Oh, dear, what a queer world it
+seemed! Some people were in trouble all the time and some were never
+bothered with scrapes and punishments. There was Hope. Why was it Hope
+never did such outlandish things to cause anxiety and dismay to those
+around her? Hope never even _thought_ of the freakish pranks that were
+constantly getting Peace into trouble.
+
+What was it grandma was always quoting? "Thoughtfulness seeks never to
+add to another's burdens, never to make extra work or care, but always
+to lighten loads." She said it was because Hope was always thinking of
+beautiful things that made folks love to have her near; that it was the
+mischievous thoughts which cause the misery of the world. She said--what
+did she say? The brown eyes winked slower and slower, the brown head
+bent lower and lower. Peace was asleep.
+
+An hour passed,--two. The luncheon bell tinkled, the family gathered
+about the table for the mid-day meal, but the chairs on either side of
+the President's place were vacant. Glances of inquiry flashed from face
+to face. Were the children to be kept in their room all day?
+
+"Where are Peace and Allee?" asked the Doctor, very much surprised at
+their absence.
+
+"I haven't seen them since you sent them upstairs this morning,"
+answered Mrs. Campbell, who had been occupied all the forenoon writing a
+paper for the Home Missionary Society which was to meet at the parsonage
+that afternoon.
+
+A guilty flush overspread the President's fine face, and forgetting to
+excuse himself from the table, he abruptly pushed back his chair and
+strode from the room, muttering remorsefully, "I deserve to be licked!
+That was three hours ago and I promised to call them in an hour." He
+returned shortly alone, looking very foolish, and holding in his hand a
+square of brilliant pink.
+
+"What is it?" asked his wife, surprised at the look on his face. "Where
+are the little folks?"
+
+"Asleep. They looked so worn out that I put them on the bed and left
+them to have their nap out. This is what I found on the door."
+
+He dropped the slip of paper into her hands as he resumed his seat, and
+she read in tipsy, scrawling letters Peace's poster: "It won't do enny
+good to raket or holler to us. We can't talk for an hour. If you want to
+ask queshuns go to grandpa he is boss of this roost."
+
+She smiled a little tremulously as she passed the pathetic scribble to
+Henderson, sitting at her right, but he, being a boy, saw only the funny
+side of the situation, and let out a lusty howl of joy as he read aloud
+the words with much gusto to his delighted audience.
+
+When the laughter had subsided somewhat, the President asked ruefully,
+"How can I make my peace with them? I sent them to their room for an
+hour and promptly forgot all about the affair."
+
+"I'll take them to the Missionary Meeting with me this afternoon,"
+suggested Mrs. Campbell, "and you can come for us with the sleigh. Peace
+has begged to go over ever since she has been here. It seems that Mrs.
+Strong is an enthusiastic missionary worker, and Peace's greatest
+ambition is to be like her Saint Elspeth."
+
+"So she can find another St. John and marry him," giggled Faith.
+
+"Yes. I guess it is hard to decide which one of her saints she thinks
+the most of," Mrs. Campbell agreed; "but I am so glad she has chosen
+such a beautiful couple to pattern her own ideals after. Their
+friendship will do much for our little--" she intended to say
+"mischief-maker," but this white-haired woman with her mother instincts
+seemed to understand that Peace's mischief was never done for mischief's
+sake, so she changed the word to "sunshine-maker."
+
+Thus it happened that when the brown eyes and the blue unclosed after
+their long nap, they looked up into the dear face of their
+grandmother-by-adoption, and saw by her tender smile that their
+punishment was ended. They were surprised to find how long they had
+slept, but the delight at being allowed to attend a grown-up missionary
+meeting, as Allee called it, overshadowed whatever resentment they might
+have felt at having been forgotten for so long a time, and they danced
+away through the snow beside Mrs. Campbell as happy and carefree as the
+little birds which they had fed yesterday.
+
+The meeting was not as exciting as Peace had been led to expect from
+Mrs. Strong's enthusiastic recitals regarding missionary work, but some
+of the words spoken by the different ladies sank very deeply into the
+children's fertile brains, and both were so silent on the homeward
+journey behind the flying horses that finally Mrs. Campbell ventured to
+ask, "Are you tired, girlies? Was the meeting a disappointment to you?"
+
+"Oh, no," Peace hastened to assure her. "_I_ liked it lots, and Allee
+likes the same things I do, don't you, Allee? The women were pretty slow
+about doing things--they talked so long each time before they could make
+up their minds about anything. But it's int'resting to know that at
+last they decided to send some barrels to the poor ministers in the
+little places who don't get enough to live on. 'Twould have been better
+if they had done it before Christmas, though, so's the children wouldn't
+have thought Santa Claus had forgotten them. Do--do you think like Mrs.
+McGowan--that if we have two coats and someone else hasn't any, we ought
+to give away one of ours? That's what she said, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes, that is what she said," Mrs. Campbell agreed; "and in a large
+measure I believe her doctrine, too. If we have more than we need and
+there are others less fortunate, I think we ought to share our
+blessings. But it takes a lot of good sense and tact to do this
+judicially."
+
+"I think so, too," answered Peace with such a peculiar thrill in her
+voice that the President, at whose side she was sitting, turned and
+looked quizzically at the rapt face. "I don't b'lieve in talking a lot
+about giving and then when it comes to really _doing_ it, to give just
+the left-over things that ain't any good to us any longer, and wouldn't
+be to anyone else, either."
+
+"Why, what do you mean, child?" the woman asked, taken by surprise at
+such quaint observations from the fly-away little maid, whose serious
+thoughts were regarded as jokes even by her own family.
+
+"Well, there was Mrs. Waddler in Parker. She always talked so big that
+folks who didn't know her thought she must have millions of money; but
+when she came to giving, it was usu'ly skim milk or some of her
+husband's worn-out pants."
+
+Here the President exploded, but at the same instant the horses turned
+in at the driveway; and in scrambling down from the sleigh Peace forgot
+to press her argument any further. Nor did the older folks remember it
+again for some days. Then Mrs. Campbell entered the doctor's study one
+afternoon with a deep frown on her forehead, and a little note in her
+hand.
+
+At the sound of her voice, the busy man paused in his writing and
+glanced up hastily, asking, "What seems to be the difficulty?"
+
+"This letter. I don't understand it. Mrs. Scofield writes a note of
+regrets because I found it impossible to be with them at the last
+missionary meeting, and closes by thanking me for my generous donation.
+Now, it happens that just before Christmas, I carefully went through all
+the closets of the house, sorted out and hunted up all the good,
+half-worn clothing that we could spare, and sent it to the Danbury
+Hospital for distribution among their poor families; so I simply had
+nothing of value to add to the barrels intended for the frontier
+ministers--"
+
+"Why didn't you buy something?"
+
+"I did; or, rather, I thought the poor preacher might find the money
+more acceptable than anything I could purchase, so I selected the family
+of Brother Bennet of Idaho, and sent him a check. I mailed it to him
+direct, not wanting to run the risk of the barrel being delayed or
+destroyed. I also neglected to inform the ladies of what I had done; so
+I am sure they know nothing about it, for it is yet too early to hear
+from Mr. Bennet himself."
+
+"Maybe it is a case of a little bird's having told the story," laughed
+the doctor, taking up his pen to resume his writing, and his wife, still
+musing over the strange occurrence, went away to receive a caller who
+had just been announced.
+
+An hour later she returned to the study looking more perplexed than when
+she had left him before, and the President banteringly asked, "Haven't
+you found out yet about that generous donation?"
+
+"Yes, Donald. Mrs. Haynes has just told me the whole story. It was not
+my donation at all."
+
+"Ah, the worthy ladies just got mixed in their thanks--"
+
+"Not at all! It was Peace's work, and naturally they thought I had
+authorized it. That little rascal picked up about half her wardrobe, her
+Christmas doll, several games and story books, and goodness knows what
+all, and took them over to Mrs. Scofield's house to be packed in the
+missionary barrels. Not only that, she persuaded Allee to do the same
+with her treasures."
+
+"The little sinner!" ejaculated the startled President. "Without saying
+a word to anyone about her intentions?"
+
+"She never consulted _me_."
+
+"Nor me. Well, we must just send her back after them, and make her
+understand she must ask us when she wants to dispose of her belongings."
+
+"That is just the trouble. The barrels have already gone."
+
+"You don't say so! The monkey! Send Peace to me when she comes in, Dora.
+We must curb these philanthropic tendencies in their infancy and direct
+them in the right channels. There is the making of a wonderful woman in
+that small body."
+
+"With the right training."
+
+"Yes. God grant that we may be able to give her the right training."
+
+Peace came radiantly in response to the message, dancing lightly down
+the hall as a hummingbird might flutter along, and the mere sight of her
+merry face as it popped through the study doorway was like a sudden
+shaft of sunlight in the great room. The President had determined to
+meet her gravely, even sternly, and show her that her uncalled-for
+generosity had displeased them, but in spite of himself, his eyes
+softened as they rested upon the sweet, round face upturned for a kiss,
+and he gently drew her into his lap before telling her why he had sent
+for her.
+
+"Why, yes, grandpa," she readily confessed. "I did give away some of my
+clothes and other things, and so did Allee, 'cause the children of the
+ministers on the frontier need them so much more than we do. Why, we're
+rich now and can have anything we want! You said so yourself, you know.
+We couldn't give the things we didn't want ourselves, grandpa, 'cause
+that wouldn't be a _sacrilege_; and the pretty lady who talked at the
+missionary meeting that day said it was the _sacrileges_ we made in this
+world that put stars in our crowns in the next world."
+
+"Sacrifice, dear, not sacrilege."
+
+"Is it? Well, I knew it was some kind of a sack. I want lots of stars in
+my crown when I get to heaven. Just think how terrible you'd feel
+s'posing when St. Peter let you inside the Gates, he handed you just a
+plain, blank crown. Mercy! I know I'd bawl my eyes out even if it does
+say there aren't any tears in heaven. So I picked out the things I liked
+the very best of all I got on Christmas--that is, most of them were. I
+don't care much for dolls, so that wasn't any sacri-_fice_ for me; but
+Allee likes them awfully much yet, and it was a big sacri-_fice_ for her
+to let hers go. But I sent my dear, beautiful plaid dress that I thought
+was the prettiest of the bunch, though I let Allee keep the one she
+liked best, seeing she cried so hard about Queen Helen. She didn't seem
+to enjoy thinking about the big star she'll get in its place, so I told
+her I thought likely you or grandma would give her even a prettier doll
+for her birthday, which isn't very far off now. I sent the book which
+tells all about the way little children in other lands spend Christmas
+day, but it was pretty hard work to give that one up. I pulled it out of
+the heap three times, and fin'ly had to run like wild up to Mrs.
+Scofield's house with it, so's I wouldn't take it out and put it on the
+shelf to stay."
+
+"But why did you take so many things?" asked the Doctor lamely.
+
+"There are five children in the family we sent our stuff to, and three
+of them are girls. There are six girls in our family, and when we lived
+all alone in the little brown house with just ragged, faded dresses to
+wear and only plain things to eat, holidays and all, we'd have been
+tickled to death if someone had given us such pretty things all for our
+very own. Oh, wouldn't it have made _you_ happy if you had been a little
+girl?"
+
+The great, brown eyes shone with such a glorified light and the small,
+round face looked so blissfully happy that the Doctor's lecture was
+wholly forgotten, and for a long time he held the little form close in
+his arms while his mind went backward over the long years to the time
+when he was a homeless orphan and Hi Allen--Hi Greenfield--had shared
+his treasures with him. They made a beautiful picture sitting there in
+the gathering dusk, the white head bending low over the riotous brown
+curls, the strong hands intertwined with the supple, childish fingers;
+and so completely had she captured the great heart of the man that when
+at length he set her on the floor and sent her away with a kiss, he
+spoke no chiding word. And Peace skipped off well content with the
+results of her first missionary efforts.
+
+A few days later she danced into the house one afternoon from school,
+wet from head to foot with a damp, clinging snow which was falling, and
+at sight of her, Mrs. Campbell threw up her hands and exclaimed, "Peace,
+my child, what have you been doing?"
+
+"Ted and Evelyn Smiley and Allee and me and some others had a snow-ball
+battle."
+
+"That is expressly forbidden by the school board--" began the gentle
+little grandmother reprovingly.
+
+"Oh, we didn't battle with the school board, grandma! We waited until we
+reached Evelyn's house and had it in their back yard. The snow is just
+right for dandy balls."
+
+"I should think as much. Come here!"
+
+Peace obeyed, glancing hastily at her feet as she guiltily remembered a
+certain pair of new shoes which she was wearing and saw the sharp, black
+eyes fixed searchingly upon them.
+
+"Peace Greenfield, what have you on your feet?"
+
+"Shoes."
+
+"Your new strapped shoes--slippers--for summer wear?"
+
+Peace nodded.
+
+"After I told you not to wear them until warmer weather!"
+
+"You didn't say that, grandma," Peace expostulated. "You said as long as
+I had any others, you guessed I had better put these away for party wear
+until it got warmer."
+
+As a rule, Peace's excuses rather amused the mistress of the house, but
+this time she looked sternly at the little culprit, and briefly
+commanded, "Go to your room and put on your other shoes immediately."
+
+"I haven't got any others."
+
+"No others? What do you mean?"
+
+"I--I--gave mine all away."
+
+"To whom did you give them?" asked the President, who had entered the
+room unnoticed.
+
+"To a little girl I met on the hill yesterday. Her toes were sticking
+through hers and she looked dreadfully cold, and kept stamping her feet
+to keep them from freezing."
+
+The President swallowed a lump in his throat.
+
+"She did not need _two_ pair to keep her feet warm, did she?"
+
+"She was twins."
+
+"Wh-at?"
+
+Peace jumped. "Well, she said she had a sister just her same age at
+home, who hadn't any shoes at all."
+
+He took her by the hand, led her to her room, and after seeing that the
+wet shoes and stockings were replaced with dry ones, he lectured her
+kindly about giving away her belongings in such a promiscuous manner
+without first consulting her elders. And having won her promise for
+future good behavior, he went down town to purchase new shoes for the
+shoeless culprit, satisfied that Peace would remember his words of
+caution, and that they should not again be disturbed by the too generous
+acts of this zealous little home missionary.
+
+And Peace did remember for a long time, but one day when the two younger
+children had been left alone with the servants, temptation again invaded
+this little Garden of Eden, and the brown-haired Eve yielded.
+
+It was late in the afternoon and Peace and Allee were standing by the
+window watching the sinking sun, when a ragged, stooped, old man trailed
+down the quiet street with a battered, wheezy, old hand-organ strapped
+to his back and a wizened, wistful-eyed, peaked-faced child at his
+heels. Seeing the two bright faces in the window and concluding that
+money was plentiful in that home, the vagabond slipped the organ from
+its supports, and began grinding out a discordant tune from the
+protesting instrument, sending the ragged, weary, little girl to the
+door with her tin cup for contributions.
+
+Peace saw her approaching, and opened the door before she had a chance
+to ring the bell, surprising the tiny ragamuffin so completely that she
+could only stand and mutely hold out her appealing dipper, having
+forgotten entirely the words she had been taught to speak on such
+occasions.
+
+"You're cold," said Peace, a great pity surging through her breast as
+she saw the swollen, purple hands trying to hide under ragged sleeves of
+a pitifully thin coat.
+
+"Ver' col'," repeated the beggar, finding her tongue.
+
+"And hungry?"
+
+"Not'ing to eat today."
+
+Peace made a sudden dive at the dirty, unkempt creature, jerked her into
+the warm hall, and calling over her shoulder to the organ-grinder on the
+walk, "Go on playing, old man, she'll be back pretty soon!" she slammed
+the door shut, pushed the child into a chair by the glowing grate, and
+turned to Allee with the command, "Go ask Gussie for something to eat.
+Tell her a lunch in a bag will do. She's always good to beggars."
+
+"No beggar," remonstrated the little foreigner. "Earn money. Some days
+much. Little this day. It so col'."
+
+"Is that all the coat you have?" Peace demanded, eyeing the scant attire
+with horrified eyes.
+
+"All," answered the child simply, and she sighed heavily.
+
+"I've got two. You can have one of mine," cried Peace, forgetting
+wisdom, discretion, everything, in her great pity for this hapless bit
+of humanity.
+
+"You mean it? No, you fool," was the disconcerting reply.
+
+"I'm not a fool!"
+
+"No, no, not a fool. You jus' fool,--joke. You no mean it."
+
+"I do, too! Wait a minute till I get it, and see if it fits. You're
+thinner'n me, but you're about as tall."
+
+She rushed eagerly up the stairway, and soon returned with the pretty,
+brown coat which she had found on her bed Christmas morning. Into this
+she bundled the surprised beggar child, pleased to think it fitted so
+well, and explained rapidly, "I got two new coats for Christmas. Grandma
+said the red one was for best, so I kept that one, but you can have
+this. Keep it on outside your old rag. It will be just that much warmer,
+and tonight is awfully cold. Here's a pair of mittens, too. Wear 'em;
+they're nice and warm."
+
+Thrusting Allee's bag of lunch into the blue-mittened hands, Peace
+opened the door and let the newly-cloaked figure run down the walk to
+the impatient man stamping back and forth in the street. They watched
+him minutely examining the child's new treasures, but they could not see
+the avaricious gleam in his ugly eyes, nor did they dream that the
+precious brown coat would be stripped off the shivering little form just
+as soon as they were out of sight around the corner, and bartered for
+whiskey at the nearest saloon.
+
+So happy was Peace in thinking of this other child's happiness that she
+never once thought of her promise made to her grandfather until she saw
+Jud drive up the avenue and help the rest of the family out of the big
+sleigh. At sight of the erect figure striding up the walk with the
+gentle little grandmother on one arm and sister Gail on the other, she
+suddenly remembered that he had told her when she gave away her shoes
+that she must ask permission before disposing of her belongings, or he
+should be compelled to use drastic measures. "Brass-stick" measures, she
+called it, and visions of a certain brass rule on the desk in the
+library rose before her in a most disquieting fashion as she recalled
+that impressive interview.
+
+"Don't tell him what you have done," whispered a little evil voice in
+her ear.
+
+"Tell him at once," commanded her conscience; and acting upon the
+impulse of the moment, she flew into the old gentleman's arms almost
+before he had crossed the threshold and panted out, "I 'xpect you'll be
+_compendled_ to use your _brass-stick_ measures on me this time sure. I
+guv away my coat!"
+
+"You did what?" he cried, pushing her from him that he might look into
+her face.
+
+"Gave, I mean. I gave away my brown coat."
+
+"Peace!"
+
+The sorrowful tone of his voice cut her to the heart, but she flew to
+her own defense with oddly distorted words, "I couldn't help it,
+grandpa! She was so ragged and cold. S'posing _you_ had to go around
+begging hand-organs for a squeaky old penny, without anything to eat on
+your back or vittles to wear. Wouldn't _you_ like to have someone with
+two coats give you one?"
+
+"Very likely I should, my child. I am not blaming you for the unselfish
+feeling which prompted you to give away your coat to one more
+unfortunate than yourself, but you are not yet old enough to know how to
+give wisely. You will do more harm than good by such giving. No doubt
+your little brown coat is in the pawn-shop by this time."
+
+"But grandpa, she was in _rags_!"
+
+"Yes, and that is the way that brute of a man will keep her. Do you
+suppose he would get any money for his playing if he sent around a
+well-dressed child to collect the pennies? No, indeed! That is why he
+makes her wear rags. He will sell or pawn your coat for liquor, and
+neither you nor the beggar child will have it to wear."
+
+"But I have my red one."
+
+"You can't wear that to school."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"It is not suitable."
+
+"Then you'll get me another."
+
+"No, Peace."
+
+"You won't?" Her grieved surprise almost unmanned him.
+
+"No."
+
+"But you've got plenty of money!"
+
+"I will not have it long if you are going to give it all away."
+
+"You bought me some more shoes."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That took money."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I--I thought you'd give us anything we wanted."
+
+"I have tried to, dear."
+
+"But I shall want another coat."
+
+He shook his head. "You deliberately gave away the one you had without
+asking permission. I can't supply you with new clothes continually if
+that is what you intend to do with them."
+
+"Then how will I go to school any more?"
+
+"You must wear the coat you had when you came here to live."
+
+"So you hung onto that old gray Parker coat, did you?" she said
+bitterly.
+
+"Yes, and now you will have to wear it until spring comes."
+
+She was silent a moment, then shrugged her shoulders and airily
+retorted, "I s'pose you know! But, anyway, it was worth giving the new
+coat away just to see how glad the Dago was to get it."
+
+It was the President's turn to look surprised, and for an instant he was
+at a loss to know what to say; then he took her hand and led her away to
+the study, with the grave command, "Come, Peace, I think we will have to
+see this out by ourselves."
+
+She caught her breath sharply, but never having questioned his authority
+since the days of the little brown house were over, she obediently
+followed him into the dim library and heard the door click behind them.
+As the gas flared up when he touched a match to the jet, she looked
+apprehensively about the room, and shuddered as she saw the brass ruler
+lying on top of a pile of papers on the desk. He even picked it up and
+toyed with it for a moment, and she thought her hour of reckoning had
+surely come. And it had, but not in the way she expected.
+
+Dropping the ruler at length, he abruptly ordered, "Sit down in my lap,
+Peace."
+
+Usually he lifted her to that throne of honor himself, but this time he
+made no effort to help her, and when she was seated with her face lifted
+expectantly toward his, he disengaged the warm arms from about his neck
+and turned her around on his knee until she was looking at the desk
+straight in front of them. Then he picked up a book and began reading
+silently.
+
+Peace was plainly puzzled, for each time she turned her head to look at
+him, he gently but firmly wheeled her about and went on reading. At last
+she could be patient no longer, and with an angry little hop, she
+demanded, "What's the fuss about, grandpa? What are you going to do?"
+
+Without looking up from his book he laid one finger on his lips and
+remained silent.
+
+"Can't I talk?"
+
+It was a terrible punishment for Peace to keep still, and knowing this,
+just the faintest glimmer of a smile twitched at his lips, but he merely
+nodded gravely.
+
+"Aren't you going to say anything?"
+
+Gravely he shook his head.
+
+Peace stared at the chandelier, then surreptitiously stole a peep at the
+face behind her. A big hand turned the curly head gently from him.
+
+She studied the green walls with their delicate frescoing, then
+cautiously leaned back against the President's broadcloth vest. Firmly
+he righted her. Dismay took possession of her. This was the worst
+punishment that ever had befallen her,--that ever could.
+
+She gulped down the big lump which was growing in her throat, and
+counted the books on the highest shelf around the wall.
+Fifty--sixty--seventy--her heart burst, and with a wail of anguish she
+kicked the book out of the President's hand and clutched him about the
+neck with a grip that nearly choked him, as she sobbed, "Oh, grandpa,
+I'll never, never, _never_ forget again! I'll be the most un-missionary
+person you ever knew,--yes, I'll be a reg'lar heathen if you'll just
+speak to me! I didn't think I was being bad in trying to help others--"
+
+"My precious darling! I don't want you to be a heathen," he cried,
+straining her to his heart. "I want you to be the best and most
+enthusiastic little missionary it is possible for you to be, but in
+order to be a good missionary, one must first learn obedience, and
+cultivate good judgment. I wouldn't for all the world have my little
+girl grow up a stingy, miserly woman. I am proud of the sweet, generous,
+unselfish spirit which prompts you to try to make the burdens of others
+lighter, but you are too little a girl yet to know how and where to give
+money and clothes and such things so they will do good and not harm."
+
+"I see now what you mean, grandpa. I thought when I gave my coat to the
+little hand-organ beggar that she would keep it and use it. I never
+s'posed her father wouldn't let her have it, and now when he takes it
+away from her she will be sorrier'n she would have been if she had never
+had it."
+
+"Yes, dear; and the money the old fellow gets from selling it will
+undoubtedly be spent for drink, or something equally as bad for him.
+Just out of curiosity, I traced the shoes you gave to the child on the
+hill not long ago, and I found that she had not told you the truth at
+all. She had no twin sister, nor did she even need the shoes herself."
+
+"Is--is--there no one that really is hungry and cold and needs things?"
+gulped the unhappy child after a long pause of serious thought.
+
+"Oh, yes, my dear! Thousands and thousands of them," he sighed
+sorrowfully; "and I am deeply thankful that my little girlie wants to
+make the old world happier. But after all, dear, the greatest need of
+this world of ours is love. It is not the _money_ we give away which
+counts; it is the _love_ we have for other people. I remember well a
+little couplet your great-grandmother was fond of quoting--and she
+practiced it every day of her life, too,--
+
+    'Give, if thou canst, an alms; if not, afford
+    Instead of that, a sweet and gentle word.'
+
+"She had little of this world's goods to give away, but she was one of
+the greatest sunshine missionaries I ever knew. My, how every one loved
+her. And her son, Hi, was just like her--one of the biggest-hearted,
+most lovable people God ever created. He was certainly a power for good
+during his life, but his only riches were a great love for his fellowmen
+and his warm, sunny smile."
+
+Again a deep silence fell over the room, for Peace, cuddled in the
+strong man's arms, with the tears still glistening on the long, curved
+lashes, was thinking as she had never thought before. Suddenly the
+dinner bell pealed out its summons, and as the President stirred in his
+chair, the child lifted her head from his shoulder, and looking squarely
+into the strong, kindly face, she said simply, "I'm going to be like
+them and you, so's folks will love me, too. And I'm not going to give
+away any more coats or shoes without you say I can, until I am big
+enough to grow some sense. I'm just going to smile and talk."
+
+He did not laugh at her quaint phrasing of her intentions, but
+tightening his clasp upon the small body nestling within the circle of
+his arms, he quoted,
+
+    "'Work a little, sing a little,
+      Whistle and be gay;
+    Read a little, play a little,
+      Busy every day.
+    Talk a little, laugh a little,
+      Don't forget to pray;
+    Be a bit of merry sunshine
+      All the blessed way.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION
+
+
+Having a naturally light-hearted, merry disposition, Peace did not find
+it hard work to "smile and talk," but it was hard, very hard, to
+restrain her generous impulses to give away everything she possessed to
+those less fortunate than herself, and it soon became a familiar sight
+to see her fly excitedly into the house straight to the study where the
+busy President spent many hours each day, exclaiming breathlessly as she
+ran, "Oh, grandpa, there is a little beggar at the door in perfect rags
+and tatters! Just come and look if she doesn't need some clothes. And
+she is so cold and pinched up with being empty. Gussie has fed her, but
+can't I give her some things to wear? I've more than I need, truly!"
+
+Then the good man with a patient sigh would leave his work to
+investigate the case, spending many minutes of his precious time in
+satisfying himself as to whether or not Peace's newly found beggar was
+genuine and really in need of relief,--for this small maid's thirst for
+discovering vagabonds seemed insatiable, and the string of tramps which
+haunted the President's doorstep led poor Gussie a strenuous life for a
+time. But relief came from an unexpected source at length.
+
+Late one dull spring afternoon, as Gail sat with her chum, Frances
+Sherrar, in the cosy window-seat of the reception-hall, studying the
+next day's Latin lesson, a shadow fell across the page. Looking up in
+surprise, for neither girl had heard the sound of approaching footsteps,
+they beheld on the piazza the bent, shriveled, ragged form of what
+appeared to be a tiny, deformed, old woman. An ancient, faded shawl,
+patched and darned until it had almost lost its identity, enveloped her
+from head to foot, and she looked more like an Indian squaw than like a
+civilized white being. Her head and hands shook ceaselessly as with the
+palsy, and the way she tottered about made one fearful every minute last
+she fall.
+
+"Oh," cried Gail in quick sympathy, "what a feeble old creature! It is a
+shame she has to beg her living. Where is my purse?"
+
+"Are you going to give her money?" asked Frances in surprise.
+
+"Doesn't she look as if she needed it?"
+
+"She is a fake. I've seen her ever since I can remember--always just
+like this. She wouldn't dare beg in town, but we are so far out--well,
+if you are really determined to do it, here's a quarter."
+
+Gail took the proffered coin, added a shining dollar to it, and
+stepping to the door where the palsied beggar stood mumbling and whining
+a pitiful hard luck tale, she pressed the silver into the leathery,
+claw-like hand, smiled a sympathetic smile and bade the old woman a
+God-speed.
+
+Frances stayed for dinner that evening, and as the family gathered
+around the table for this, the merriest hour of the whole day, the
+President suddenly clapped his hand against his pockets, searched
+rapidly through them, and finally brought forth a crumpled sheet of
+paper, daubed with many ink blots and tipsy hieroglyphics, which read,
+"No more beggars, tramps and vagabuns allowed on these promises. We have
+already given away enuf to keep a army. There are two dogs and two men
+in this family--so bewair!"
+
+Even the presence of Peace, the author, did not prevent an explosion of
+delighted shrieks from the little company, but the child merely fixed
+her brown eyes, somber with reproof, upon the perfectly grave face of
+the Doctor of Laws, and demanded, "Now, grandpa, what made you take it
+down?"
+
+"I didn't, child," he defended. "It had blown down, I think, and lodged
+about the door-knob. I thought it was a hand-bill, and rescued it as I
+came in."
+
+"Where had you put it?" asked Cherry, grinning superciliously at the
+distorted characters on the soiled paper.
+
+"On the side of the house by the front door," she confessed. "That's
+where I put that one."
+
+"That one! Are there more?" laughed Frances, whose affection for this
+original bit of femininity had only increased with the months of their
+acquaintance.
+
+"Of course! There had to be one for each door, 'cause the beggars don't
+all go the back way, and to be sure everyone saw the tag, I stuck one on
+the corner of the barn nearest the road, and another on each gate. That
+surely ought' to be enough, oughtn't it?"
+
+"I should think so," Mrs. Campbell agreed, making a wry face at thought
+of the queer-looking signs scattered so liberally about the property
+"How did you come to make them?"
+
+"'Cause of that beggar at the front door this afternoon," Allee
+volunteered unexpectedly.
+
+"What beggar?" asked the President with interest, while Gail and Frances
+exchanged knowing glances.
+
+"A teenty, crooked, old woman came to the house while grandma was out
+this afternoon," Peace began. "She looked as if she might be a witch or
+old Grandmother, Tipsy-toe--I never did like that game--"
+
+"We thought she _was_ a witch," again Allee spoke up, unmindful of the
+frown on her older sister's face; "and we hid."
+
+"But we watched her," Peace continued hastily, "and saw Gail give her
+some money. She did look awful forlorny and squizzled up as if she never
+had enough to eat to make any meat on her bones, and she nearly tumbled
+over, trying to kiss Gail's hand 'cause she gave her some money. So
+after she was gone, we ran down to the gate to watch her, and what do
+you think? Just as she turned the corner, there was a cop--"
+
+"A what, Peace?"
+
+"I mean a p'liceman, coming along with his club swinging around his
+hand, and when the beggar woman saw him, she straightened up as stiff
+and starchy as anybody could be, and hustled off down the street 'most
+as quick as I can walk. She was a--a fraud, and Gail got cheated just
+like I did when I gave that hole-y shoed girl on the hill my shoes."
+Here Frances shot a look of triumph at discomfited Gail. "So I made up
+my mind that grandpa is right--they are all frauds."
+
+"Why, Peace, child, I never said that in the world," the President
+disclaimed, surprised out of his usual serenity by her words.
+
+"That's so,--you said only half were frauds. Well, I guess it's the
+fraud half that come here to beg of us. Gussie is tired of feeding them,
+Jud's getting ugly, and if they keep on coming I'm 'fraid they'll really
+eat grandpa out of house and home. Jud says they will. There were seven
+tramps last week, and already we have had two this week, and one beggar.
+So I made these signs and stuck them up where everybody'd see them and
+know they meant business, w'thout Jud's having to turn the dogs loose or
+get his shotgun like he said he ought to. He told me that all hoboes
+have some way of letting other hoboes know where they can get a square
+meal, and that's why we have so many. He says they never used to bother
+so until I came here to tow them along by coaxing Gussie to feed 'em. I
+thought I was being good to 'em. S'posing we had sent grandpa away when
+he came tramping around to our house in Parker--Faith wanted to--where
+would we be now? Still grubbing in Parker trying to get enough to eat,
+'most likely; or maybe in the poorhouse, for 'twas grandpa who paid the
+mortgage on the farm. I guess I must wait till I'm grown way up to have
+any missionary sense."
+
+She spoke so dejectedly and her face looked so pathetic and utterly
+discouraged that no one had the heart to laugh, but a sudden feeling of
+restraint fell upon the group. Even the President had no words in which
+to answer the poor, disheartened little missionary.
+
+"Do you belong to Miss Smiley's Gleaners?" It was Frances who spoke, and
+though the words themselves signified little, her tone of voice was like
+an electric thrill, and the faces of the whole company turned
+expectantly toward her as she waited for Peace's answer.
+
+"No, not yet. Evelyn has been after us ever since we came here to join
+them, but something has always kept us away from the meetings each
+month, so we haven't been 'lected yet. Evelyn says they don't do much
+but have a good time, anyway, though it is a missionary society. That's
+about all our Sunshine Club in Parker ever did, too, 'xcept make comfort
+powders for the sick and _mained_ in the hospital."
+
+"Evelyn is right about what the Gleaners used to be, but since her aunt
+has taken up the work, they are doing lots of real missionary work. Why,
+since Christmas they have raised enough money to take care of two
+orphans in India for a year. Edith Smiley is such a beautiful girl--"
+
+"Ain't she, though!" Peace burst out with customary impetuosity. "I've
+wanted her for my Sunday School teacher ever since we began to go to
+South Avenue Church, but she's got a class of _boys_."
+
+"And don't they adore her!"
+
+"No more'n I would."
+
+"It is easier to get teachers for girls' classes; and besides, Miss
+Edith has had these boys from the time she started to teach. She
+certainly has her hands full with her Sunday School class, the Gleaners
+Missionary Band and the Young People's Society, for she is our president
+this term. There is no lag about her. She is always planning something
+beautiful for somebody. _Everyone_ loves her. When Victor was in the
+hospital the time he was hurt by the runaway, Miss Edith took him
+flowers several times; and the nurse told us that she visits the
+children's ward twice a month regularly and takes them fruit or flowers
+or scrap-books or something nice. They always know when to expect her,
+and she never disappoints them."
+
+"She certainly knows how to make sunshine for those around her," said
+Mrs. Campbell warmly. "I am so pleased to think she could take charge of
+the Gleaners. We ladies were really afraid the society must die. Miss
+Hilliker had neither strength, time nor talent to do justice to the
+work; but, poor soul, she did try so hard, and she did give the children
+a good time, whether or not they ever accomplished anything else."
+
+"I am glad Miss Smiley has taken the Gleaners, too," said Peace
+meditatively. "Me and Allee 'xpect to join at next meeting. I guess
+maybe Cherry and Hope will, too, though I haven't asked them yet."
+
+"I think you have headed them in the right direction, Frances,"
+whispered the President in grateful tones, when at last the dinner was
+ended and the chattering group were filing out of the dining-room. "I
+was beginning to wonder what in the world to do with our little Peace,
+but I think perhaps Miss Smiley will help solve the problem for us."
+
+"I know she will," Frances replied confidently. "I can understand how
+discouraged poor Peace must feel. I've been there myself, only instead
+of giving away my own things as she does, I gave away other people's
+belongings. I can never forget the seance I had with mother the day I
+handed over father's best, go-to-meeting overcoat to a dirty,
+evil-looking tramp, and gave away Victor's velocipede to the ash-man's
+little boy. I came to the conclusion that the whole world was just a
+sham and all men--yes, and women--were liars. Mrs. Smiley came to my
+rescue, and what missionary spirit there is left in me is due to her
+good work and untiring efforts. Edith is a second edition of her
+mother."
+
+"And I think Frances must be second cousin at heart," said the Doctor,
+gently pressing her hand.
+
+"I don't deserve such praise," she protested, blushing with pleasure at
+his compliment. "I have only tried to make the most of the best in me,
+remembering the little verse we had for a motto:
+
+    'No robin but may thrill some heart,
+      His dawnlight gladness voicing.
+    God gives us all some small sweet way
+      To set the world rejoicing.'
+
+"We were only children when we took that as our class motto, but we have
+kept it all these years, and I know there is not one of the girls who
+considers it childish sentiment even yet."
+
+"That is why I am particularly thankful for your words at the table
+tonight. I want my girls to meet and mingle with and be influenced by
+such people as Miss Edith and her mother--and Miss Frances!"
+
+"I shall work hard to keep the reputation you have given me," she
+laughed gayly, flitting away to join Gail in the Grove, as the pink and
+green and brown room was called; but she was secretly much touched and
+helped by the President's words, and rejoiced openly when a few days
+later the four younger Greenfield girls really did join the Gleaners
+Missionary Band and became active workers in that field.
+
+"It is kind of a queer missionary society," Peace reported after one of
+the meetings. "Sometimes we don't say hardly a word about heathen or
+poor ministers on the frontier all the time we are at the church. We
+talk about how we can help each other and our families and folks who
+live close by us. Miss Edith says first and foremost a good missionary
+must be cheerful and sunshiny. Our motto is "Scatter Sunshine," and our
+song is the prettiest music I ever heard. She says it isn't the music
+that counts, it's the words, but just s'posing we sang:
+
+    'In a world where sorrow
+      Ever will be known,
+    Where are found the needy,
+      And the sad and lone;
+    How much joy and comfort
+      You can all bestow,
+    If you scatter sunshine
+      Everywhere you go.'
+
+to the tune of 'Go tell Aunt Rhody,' it wouldn't cheer _me_ up very
+much. "Would it you?"
+
+"No," laughed Mrs. Campbell, who chanced to be her confidante on this
+particular occasion, "I don't think it would; but on the other hand,
+meaningless words would not cheer anyone, either, no matter how pretty
+the tune. Is that not so?"
+
+"Yes, I s'pose it is. I guess it takes both together to do the work.
+This week our verse is:
+
+    'Can I help another
+      By some word or deed?
+    Can I scatter blessings
+      O'er a soul's sore need?
+    If I can, then let me
+      Now, within today,
+    Help the one who needs me
+      On a little way.'
+
+"The next time we tell if we remembered the verse and worked it."
+
+"Worked it?" Mrs. Campbell was not yet accustomed to Peace's queer
+speeches, and often did not understand her meaning.
+
+"Yes. Miss Edith says just helping Gussie carry the dishes away nights,
+or buttoning Marie's dress when she is cross and in a hurry, or getting
+grandpa's slippers ready for him when he comes home from the University
+all cold and tired, or holding that squirmy yarn for you when you knit
+those ugly shawls, or talking nice to Jud when he makes me mad, is being
+a missionary. She says it is the little, everyday things that count; for
+some of us may never get a chance to do anything real big and splendid,
+and if we wait all our lives for such a time to come along, we will be
+just wasting our talents. But all of us have hundreds of little things
+each day to do, and if we do them cheerfully and sweetly, we are being
+sunshine missionaries and are making others happier all the time. She
+says Abr'am Lincoln's greatest wish was to have it said of him when he
+died that he had always tried to pull up a thistle and plant a flower
+wherever he got a chance. Thistles mean hard feelings and mean acts, and
+the flowers are kind words and deeds."
+
+"Miss Edith has found the key to true happiness," murmured Mrs.
+Campbell, glancing out of the window at a tall, slender, gray-eyed
+young lady hurrying down the street, surrounded by a bevy of
+bright-faced, adoring boys and girls.
+
+"Yes, she's another Saint Elspeth, isn't she? How nice it is to have her
+here as long as I can't have my dear Mrs. Strong! And do you know,
+grandma, she and Mrs. Strong were chums when they went to college? Isn't
+that queer?"
+
+"How did you happen to find that out?"
+
+"'Cause on my list of missionary doings this week I had 'not getting mad
+when Gray chawed up St. Elspeth's letter 'fore I had read it more'n
+three times.' And she asked me who Saint Elspeth was."
+
+"Do you make out a list of missionary doings each week?" asked Mrs.
+Campbell, amused at Peace's version of the occurrence, for the child had
+been so angry at the destruction of the letter from this beloved friend
+that she had seized a heavy club and rushed at the cowering pup as if
+bent on crushing its skull. Before the blow descended, however, she
+dropped her weapon, bounced into a nearby chair, and glared wrathfully
+at poor Gray until he shrank from her almost as if she had struck him.
+Then suddenly the anger died from her eyes, and clutching the surprised
+animal about the neck she fell to petting him energetically, exclaiming
+in pitying tones, "Poor Gray, I don't s'pose you know how near I came to
+knocking your head off any more'n you know how much I wanted that
+letter you've just swallowed, but I'm sorry just the same. Shake hands
+and be friends!"
+
+Peace, not understanding the smile that crept over the gentle face of
+the dear old lady, hastened to explain, "We write them so's folks won't
+laugh. We don't mean to laugh at each other, but sometimes children do
+say the funniest things. There is Bernice Platte for one. She can't say
+anything the way she wants to, and it makes her feel bad when we giggle.
+So Miss Edith took to having us write our lists. I don't care how much
+they laugh at me, I get so much of that at home that I am used to it,
+but some folks ain't brought up that way and I s'pose it hurts."
+
+Mrs. Campbell caught her breath sharply. It had never occurred to her
+before that Peace was sensitive, but the gusty sigh with which these
+words were spoken told her companion much, and slipping her arm about
+the little figure crouched at her side, the woman said gently, "Would
+you mind telling grandma some of the bits of sunshine you have been
+scattering this week?"
+
+The wistful round face brightened quickly. "Would you care to hear?"
+
+"I should love to, dearie."
+
+"I didn't _make_ much sunshine, I guess, 'nless 'twas here at home where
+folks know me, but I tried. You know Hope has been taking flowers to
+one of her teachers at High School, and the other day Miss Pope told her
+that she gave them all to her brother who is lame and can't walk, and he
+spends all his days drawing and painting the pretty things he sees.
+Well, there is a teacher in our school who looks awful turned-down at
+the mouth, and kind of sour like, and last week Minnie Herbert told me
+that it was 'cause the woman had lost her brother in a wreck. So I
+thought maybe she'd like some flowers, and I took her some. I didn't
+know her name, but she was sitting in the hall to keep order during
+recess time, and I carried the bouquet right up to her and laid them in
+her lap. I 'xpected to see her smile, but instead, she picked them up
+and looked kind of red as she asked me what made me bring them to her. I
+meant to tell her I was sorry she looked so lonely and sad, but what I
+really said was 'homely and bad.' I don't see why it is I always twist
+things up so, but that made her mad and I couldn't explain it so's she
+would take the flowers again, and I had to give them to one of the girls
+whose mother has _delirious tremors_."
+
+"Oh, Peace, you have made a mistake."
+
+"What is it, then?"
+
+"I presume the poor woman is delirious with a fever of some sort."
+
+"_Tryfoid_," supplied Peace. "Stella told teacher so. That same day on
+my way home from school I saw a little girl lugging a heavy pail, and
+the handle kept cutting her hands, so she had to set it down every few
+steps and change to the other side. When I asked her to let me help, she
+gave me hold, and we carried the bucket down the alley to a
+chicken-coop, where it had to be dumped, 'cause it was slops for the
+hens. There was a big box there to stand on, and I lifted the pail to
+the top of the fence and emptied it, but the woman which owns the
+chickens was right under where the stuff fell, and she didn't like it a
+bit, and scolded us both good.
+
+"Then there was Birdie Holden who wanted a bite of my apple, and when I
+turned it around to give her a good chance at it, she bit straight into
+a worm, and said I did it on purpose, though I never knew the worm was
+there any more'n she did.
+
+"But the worst of all was the day teacher sent me to the office for
+thumb tacks to fasten up our drawings around the room. She told me to
+see how quick I could get back, but she never counted on the principal's
+not being there, which she wasn't. So I had to wait. Then all at once I
+saw a big sign on the wall which said if Miss Lisk wasn't in and folks
+were in a hurry, to ring the bell twice.
+
+"I was in a _big_ hurry for I had waited so long already that I thought
+sure Miss Allen would be after me in a minute to see if I was making the
+tacks; so I grabbed the cord and jerked the bell hard twice, and then
+twice again, and then twice the third time. I 'xpected she'd come
+a-running at that, but what do you think, grandma? Everyone in that
+schoolhouse just got up and hustled out of doors as fast as they could
+march. We never used to have fire drill in Parker and I hadn't heard of
+such a thing here, either, so I was dreadfully s'prised to find what my
+gong-ringing had done. Maybe Miss Lisk wasn't mad for a minute, when she
+saw me hanging out of the window yelling to know what was the matter,
+'cause I was in a hurry for my thumb-tacks! But afterwards she laughed
+like anything and said the children made record time in getting out,
+'cause no one, not even she herself, knew whether it was just a fire
+drill or whether the janitor had rung the gong on account of the
+school's really being burned up."
+
+No one could blame the good dame for smiling at the vivid pictures Peace
+had painted of her missionary efforts, but Mrs. Campbell knew how sore
+the little heart must be over these seeming failures, so she pressed the
+nestling head closer to her shoulder and said comfortingly, "But think
+of all the smiles you have won from the washerwoman. When I paid her
+last night, she showed me the big bunch of flowers you had cut from your
+hyacinths and lilies in the conservatory, and told me how eagerly her
+poor, sick little girl watched for her home-coming the days she washed
+here, knowing that you would never forget to send her something. And Jud
+was telling your grandpa only this morning how the ash-man's horse
+always whinnies when the team stops in the alley, because you never fail
+to be there with a lump of sugar or a handful of oats. Mrs. Dodds says
+it is a real pleasure to make dresses for you, just to hear you praise
+her work. I was in the kitchen this morning when the grocer brought our
+order, and after he was gone, Gussie showed me a sack of candy he had
+slipped in for you, because you are so kind to his little girl at
+school. I don't need Jud's words to tell me how the horses and other
+animals on the place love you. And why? Because you love them and never
+hurt them."
+
+"But, grandma," interrupted Peace, her eyes wide with amazement at this
+recital; "you don't call those things scattering sunshine, do you?"
+
+"What would you call it, dear?"
+
+"But--but--I didn't do those things on purpose, grandma. They--they just
+did themselves. I like to see Mrs. O'Flaherty's eyes shine and hear her
+say, 'May the saints in Hivin bliss ye, darlint,' when I give her
+anything for Maggie; and the ash-man's horse doesn't get enough to
+eat--really, it is 'most starved, I guess; and Mrs. Dodds does look so
+tickled when I say anything she makes is pretty. They _are_ pretty, too.
+And the grocer's little girl is so scared if anyone speaks to her that
+a lot of the bigger girls got to teasing her dreadfully and I couldn't
+help lighting into them and telling them they ought to be ashamed of
+themselves; and--"
+
+"That is what _I_ call scattering sunshine, dear. It is these little
+acts of ours which count, these acts done unconsciously, without any
+thought of others seeing, done simply because our hearts are so full of
+love and sympathy that they bubble over without our knowing it, and
+others are made happy because of our unselfishness."
+
+"I guess you're right," said Peace thoughtfully; "'cause when folks are
+watching and I want to be 'specially sweet and nice and helpful, I just
+make a dreadful bungle of it, and everyone laughs. It's the things we do
+without thinking that make folks happiest. That is what Saint Elspeth
+used to tell me. Some way I could understand her better than Miss Edith,
+I guess; but maybe it was 'cause I knew her better. When do you s'pose
+we can go to see her, grandma? Saint Elspeth, I mean. It has been such a
+long time since--"
+
+"She wants you next week, you and Allee."
+
+It was the President who spoke, and with a startled cry, Peace leaped up
+to find him in the doorway behind them. "Why, Grandpa Campbell, how did
+you sneak in here so softly? I never heard you at all, you came so
+catty. Did you hear what we were talking about?"
+
+"Not much of it. I arrived just in time to catch your remarks about Mrs.
+Strong, and as I happen to have a note in my pocket this minute from
+your Saint John, I spoke right out without thinking. I was intending to
+make you and grandma jump a little."
+
+"You made me jump a lot," she retorted, throwing her arms about him and
+giving him a rapturous hug. "Did you really mean that Mrs. Strong wants
+me next week? That is our spring vacation here in Martindale."
+
+"Yes, so the letter said. You see, the Strongs are living in Martindale
+now, too."
+
+"Grandpa! You're fooling!"
+
+"Not this time. I have known for a whole month that there was some
+prospect of their coming to the city, but I waited until I was sure
+before saying anything, because I knew you girls would be disappointed
+if they did not get the place."
+
+"What place? How did it happen? What will Parker do without him? Will he
+live near us? Can we see them often? Where did you get the note?"
+
+"One question at a time, please," he cried laughingly. "Mr. Strong
+dropped in at the University a minute this afternoon. He has been called
+to fill the vacancy at Hill Street Church, and has accepted, but as his
+pastorate is about three miles from this part of the city, he will not
+live very close to us. However, it will be possible for you to see each
+other more frequently than if they had remained at Parker. They moved
+yesterday into the new parsonage, and Mrs. Strong wants to borrow our
+two youngest next week to help her with the baby while they are getting
+settled. Do you want to go?"
+
+"Oh, I can hardly wait! Can we really stay the whole week?"
+
+"You ungrateful little vagabond!" he thundered in pretended anger. "You
+want to leave your old grandpa for a whole week, do you?"
+
+"Yes," she giggled. "A change would do us both good. Besides, we live
+with you all the time, and I don't get a chance to see Saint Elspeth and
+Glen very often--but I'd lots rather have my _home_ with you, though I
+do like to go visiting once in a while, same as you do."
+
+"Teaser! Well, if grandma thinks it wise, you and Allee may go next week
+to visit your patron saints--What is the matter, Dora? Doesn't the plan
+please you?"
+
+For grandma looked unusually grave and thoughtful, but at his question
+she merely answered, "Peace may accept if she wishes, but unless Allee's
+cold is much better by Monday, I don't think it best for her to go. I
+kept her home from school today."
+
+For a moment the brown-haired child stood silent and hesitating on one
+foot in the middle of the floor. It would be hard to be separated from
+this golden-haired sister for a whole week, but--it had been _such_ a
+long time since she had seen these other precious friends; and anyway,
+Elspeth needed someone to help her. Besides, Allee might be well enough
+to go by Monday, or perhaps she could come later in the week. It would
+be wisest to accept the invitation at once, so with a little hop of
+decision, she announced serenely, "Tell Saint John I'll come, and
+prob'ly Allee will, too. Her colds don't usu'ly last long, and she'll be
+all right by Monday."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+PEACE'S SPRING VACATION
+
+
+Allee's cold was no better Monday morning, but it was decided that Peace
+should go alone to the new parsonage on Hill Street, with the promise
+that if possible the younger child should join her before the week's
+visit was ended. So Peace departed. But it was with a heavy heart that
+she went, for, much as she wanted to see her former pastor's family, she
+dreaded being separated from this dearest of sisters even for seven
+days; nor could she shake off the vague feeling of unrest which had
+gripped her when she saw the sick, sorrowful look in Allee's great blue
+eyes as they said good-bye.
+
+"Get well quick, dear," she whispered tenderly, holding the tiny, hot
+hand against her cheek after a quaint fashion they had of saying
+good-night to each other. "I can't have a good time even with Saint
+Elspeth and Glen if you are at home sick. Take your med'cine like a good
+girl, and about Wednesday I 'xpect Saint John will be coming after you
+if grandpa hasn't brought you before."
+
+And Allee had promised to do her best, but Peace could not forget her
+last glimpse of the wistful, flushed face, pressed against the
+window-pane to watch her out of sight around the corner. And so sober
+was she that Jud, who was driving her to the dovecote on the hill,
+looked around inquiringly more than once, and finally ventured to ask,
+"Have you caught cold, too?"
+
+"No, indeed!" she flung back at him. "I'm never sick. Why?"
+
+"Your eyes look pretty red."
+
+His ruse was effective, for in trying to see herself in a tiny scrap of
+a mirror which she carried in her satchel, she forgot her desire to cry,
+and looked as gay and chipper as usual when the carriage drew up at the
+parsonage curbing and Mr. Strong bounded boyishly down the walk to meet
+her, holding his beautiful year-old boy on one arm, and dragging the
+sweet girl wife by the other.
+
+"Oh, but it's good to see you again!" cried Peace, vaulting over the
+wheels to the ground before either Jud or the minister could lift her
+down. "It doesn't seem 'sif you'd really moved to Martindale to live.
+How did it happen? Grandpa couldn't make me understand about bishops and
+preachers and congregations, but I'm glad you've come. Did you have a
+hard time getting out of Parker and was there a farewell reception?
+Ain't it too bad Faith wasn't there to make you another cake? Mercy! How
+the baby has grown! Why, I b'lieve he knows me. He wants to come. Oh,
+he ain't too heavy and I won't break his precious neck, will I, Glen?
+How do you like my new dress and did you get my hand-satchel 'fore Jud
+drove off? I forgot all about it the minute I saw the baby. Grandpa was
+going to bring me, but the faculty had to plan a meeting for this
+morning, of course, and grandma couldn't come on account of Allee's
+cold. What a cute little house you've got! It looks wholer than the
+Parker parsonage. I'm just dying to see all the little cubby-holes and
+closets. How many rooms are there?"
+
+"It is the same old Peace, Elizabeth," laughed Mr. Strong, rescuing his
+boy and leading the way to the house. "Prosperity has not changed her a
+whit. She has hundreds of questions stored up under that curly wig
+waiting to be asked. I can see them sticking out all over her. My dear,
+you are here for a week's visit. Don't choke yourself trying to ask
+everything in one breath, but 'walk into our parlor' and we will show
+you all we have, and let you rummage to your heart's content."
+
+So they initiated her into the mysteries of the new parsonage with its
+pretty, cheerful rooms, unexpected cosy corners, tiny kitchen and
+cunning little cupboard, and for a week she fairly revelled in the
+playhouse, as she immediately named the spandy new cottage, amusing the
+baby, who promptly attached himself to her with the devotion of a
+lap-dog, dusting furniture, washing dishes, and causing her usual
+commotion trying to help where her presence was only a hindrance. But
+they enjoyed it! Oh, dear, yes! Her quaint speeches were a constant
+delight to them, and the sight of her somber brown eyes, so at odds with
+her merry disposition, and the sound of her gay whistle or rippling
+little giggle were like the breath of spring to these homesick hearts.
+
+So the days slipped happily by in the dovecote on the hill, in spite of
+Peace's vague fears for the little sister at home who did not get well
+enough to join them; and before anyone was aware of it, the whole week
+was gone and Sunday night had arrived. The evening service was over,
+Peace had said good-night to the pastor and his wife, and the house was
+in darkness when suddenly there was the sound of hurried steps on the
+walk, the door-bell jangled harshly, and the brown eyes in the room
+across the hall flew open just as the front door closed with a bang, and
+Mrs. Strong's frightened voice called through the darkness, "What is it,
+John? A telegram?"
+
+"A messenger boy."
+
+"Oh, what is the trouble? Someone hurt or sick at home? Here is a light,
+dear."
+
+Flickering shadows danced across the walls of Peace's room, she heard
+the tearing of paper, and then Mr. Strong's quick exclamation,
+"Elizabeth! It is Allee!" "_What_ is Allee?" A white gown shot out of
+the door opposite them, and terrified Peace threw herself into the
+woman's arms, demanding again, "What is Allee? Is she--dead?"
+
+"No, dear," he hastily assured her, provoked to think he had frightened
+the child so badly; "only ill--quarantined for scarlet fever."
+
+"Scarlet fever!" gasped the girl. "That's what killed Myrtle Perry. Oh,
+will Allee die, too? Why didn't I stay at home with her?"
+
+"There, there, little girlie, you mustn't cry about it like that," said
+Mrs. Strong, stroking the brown head in her arms with comforting
+touches. "Lots of people have scarlet fever and get over it. The letter
+says Allee's case is not at all severe, but she will be quarantined for
+some weeks and you can't go home until the house has been fumigated. You
+must be our girl for a month or two longer. Will that be hard work?"
+
+"N-o, but s'posing she _should_ die! I ought to be there to have it,
+too."
+
+"No, indeed! That would make it only harder for Grandma Campbell. You
+must stay here and keep well so they won't be worrying about you, too.
+Allee isn't going to die, but in a few weeks will be as well as ever."
+
+"S'posing I've caught it already and give it to Glen?"
+
+"Dr. Coates thinks you would have been sick by this time if you were
+going to have the disease, but he is taking no chances, and has sent
+some medicine as a preventive."
+
+"What about school?" The case was becoming interesting to Peace, now
+that she was assured that Allee would not die.
+
+"Oh, you can have another week of vacation from lessons, and then if
+everything is all right, you can finish your term at Chestnut School.
+That is only four blocks from here, and Miss Curtis is a splendid
+principal. I knew her when I went to college, and I am sure you will
+like her."
+
+This was not exactly what Peace had expected or hoped for. She would
+have preferred no more school at all, as long as the sisters at home
+were to have an enforced vacation of several weeks, and her face clouded
+again as she heard Elizabeth's plan. "But--I can't--I don't want--I
+would rather--" she stammered.
+
+"Remember your motto and 'scatter sunshine,' dear. It will help the home
+folks to know you are cheerful and happy here, and it will help us,
+too."
+
+She had touched the right chord. Peace slowly dried her tears, gave a
+final gulp or two, and lifted her face once more smiling and serene,
+saying gravely, "You can bet on me! I won't bawl any more. You folks
+better get to bed now and not stand here shivering until you catch cold.
+Good-night again!" With a hearty kiss for each, she trailed away to her
+tiny room and was soon fast asleep among the pillows.
+
+In spite of her determination to be brave, however, she often found it
+hard to wear a smiling face during the week which followed the
+messenger's coming, for much as she wanted a vacation from her books,
+time hung heavily on her hands. She could not help fretting about Allee
+lying ill at home, Glen took a sleepy spell and spent many hours each
+day napping when she wanted to play with him, the little house had soon
+been put in order, everything was unpacked and in its place, the
+minister and Elizabeth were compelled to devote much of their time to
+making the acquaintance of their new parishioners and becoming familiar
+with this new field of labor; so Peace was necessarily left to her own
+devices more than was good for her.
+
+To make a bad situation worse, a drizzly spring rain set in, which
+lasted for days and kept the freedom-loving child a prisoner indoors,
+when she longed to be dancing in the fresh air and exploring a certain
+inviting grove which she had discovered on the hillside behind the
+church.
+
+"I b'lieve it's raining just to spite me," she exclaimed crossly one
+afternoon as she stood drumming on the window-sill and watching the
+pearly drops course down the pane in zigzag rivulets. "It just knows how
+bad I want to get out to play."
+
+Elizabeth looked up from a tiny dress which she was mending carefully,
+and said in sprightly tones,
+
+    "'Is it raining, little flower?
+      Be glad of rain.
+    Too much sun would wither thee,
+      'Twill shine again.
+    The sky is very black, 'tis true,
+    But just behind it shines the blue.'"
+
+"Oh, yes, you can say that all right," Peace snapped, "cause you ain't
+just a-dying to get out and dig. Why, Saint Elspeth, the air just fairly
+smells of angleworms and birds' nests, and I do want to make a garden so
+bad!"
+
+"Poor girlie," smiled the woman to herself, "what a hard time she would
+have in life if she could not run and romp all she wanted." But aloud
+she merely said, "It is too early to make a garden yet, dear. The ground
+is so cold that the seeds would rot instead of sprouting, and if any
+little shoots were brave enough to climb through the soil into open air,
+they probably would get frozen for their trouble. We are apt to have
+some hard frosts yet this spring. See, the leaves on the trees have
+scarcely begun to swell yet. They know it isn't time. Be patient a
+little longer; it can't rain forever."
+
+"It's hard to be patient with nothing to do," sighed the child, pressing
+her nose flatter and flatter against the glass as she looked up and
+down the dreary, deserted street, vainly hoping for something to
+distract her dismal thoughts.
+
+"Have you finished dressing the paper dolls for Allee?"
+
+"Yes, I made ten different suits for every single doll, and there were
+fifteen, counting in the father and mother and grandma. Saint John has
+already mailed them. I've read till I'm tired and the back fell off of
+the book--it wasn't a nice story anyway, 'cause the good girl was always
+getting whaled for what the bad one did. I whistled Glen to sleep before
+I knew it and then couldn't wake him up, though I shook and shook him.
+I've sewed up all today's squares of patch-work and two of tomorrow's;
+but it isn't int'resting work when you ain't there to tell me stories
+about them. And anyway, I _hate_ sewing--patch-work 'specially! When I
+grow up and get married, my husband will have to buy our quilts already
+made. I'll never waste my time sewing on little snips to hatch up some
+bed-clothes. They're always covered up with spreads anyway. Rainy days
+are the dismalest things I know!"
+
+"That is very true if we let it rain inside, too," Elizabeth agreed
+quietly.
+
+"Let it rain inside! Whoever heard tell of such a thing--'nless the roof
+was leaky." Peace giggled in spite of her gloom.
+
+"You are letting it rain inside now when you frown and sigh instead of
+trying to be cheerful and happy in spite of the storm outside. One of
+our poets says:
+
+    "'Whatever the weather may be,' says he,
+    'Whatever the weather may be,
+    It's the songs ye sing, and the smiles ye wear
+    That's a-making the sunshine everywhere!'"
+
+Peace abruptly ceased her drumming on the window-sill and stared
+thoughtfully through the wet pane at a row of draggled sparrows chirping
+blithely on a fence across the muddy street. Then she remarked, "What a
+lot of poetry you know! Seems 'sif I'd struck a poetic bunch since we
+left Parker. Grandma and grandpa and Miss Edith and Frances, and now you
+have taken to talking in rhymes--and they are mostly about sunshine,
+too."
+
+    "'When the days are gloomy
+    Sing some happy song,'"
+
+hummed Elizabeth, leaning suddenly forward and drawing out a drawer in
+her desk close by. She rummaged through its contents for a moment, and
+then laid a dainty brown and gold book in the girl's hands, saying,
+"That reminds me. When I was a little girl not much older than you are
+now, my mother was very ill for a long time, and my sister Esther and I
+were sent away from home to live with a lame old aunt in a lonely little
+house about a mile from the nearest neighbor's. Needless to say, we got
+very homesick with no one to play with or amuse us, and the days were
+often so long that we were glad when night came so we could sleep and
+forget our childish troubles. Though Aunt Nancy was not accustomed to
+children, she soon discovered our loneliness and set about to mend
+matters as best she could. But the old house had very little in it for
+us to play with, the books were all too old for us to understand, and
+like you, we were not overly fond of sewing. So poor old auntie was at
+her wit's end to know what to do with us when she happened to think of
+her diary."
+
+"Did she have many cows?"
+
+"Cows?"
+
+"In her diary."
+
+"Oh, child, that is dairy you mean. A diary is a record of each day's
+events--all the little things that happen from week to week--sort of a
+written history of one's life."
+
+"H'm, I shouldn't think that would be fun," Peace commented candidly,
+still holding the unopened volume in her hand, thinking it was another
+uninteresting story-book. "I don't like writing any better than I do
+sewing."
+
+"Neither did I, but Esther was rather fond of scribbling, and Aunt
+Nancy's diary was one of the brightest, sprightliest histories of
+common, everyday affairs that we ever read, and we were both greatly
+amused over it. She had kept a faithful record for years--not every day,
+or even every week, but just when she happened to feel like writing, so
+it was no drudgery.
+
+"She was quite given to making rhymes, as you call it, and we were
+astonished to find several very beautiful little poems and stories that
+she had written just for her own enjoyment; for she had always lived
+alone a great deal, and these little blank books of hers held the
+thoughts that she could not speak to other folks because there were no
+folks to talk with. Esther was several years older than I, and she knew
+a lady who wrote for magazines. So, unbeknown to Aunt Nancy, she copied
+a number of the prettiest verses and sent them to this author, who not
+only had them printed, but begged for more. I never shall forget how
+pleased Aunt Nancy was, and I think it was that which decided us girls
+to try keeping a diary, too. We raced each other good-naturedly, to see
+who could write the queerest fancies or longest rhymes, and many an hour
+have we whiled away, scribbling in the dusty attic."
+
+"Did you ever get anything printed?" Peace was becoming interested, for
+Gail had secret ambitions along this line, and such matters as poems,
+stories and publishers were often discussed in the home circle.
+
+"No," sighed Elizabeth, a trifle wistfully, perhaps, as she thought of
+that dear dream of her girlhood days. "I soon came to the conclusion
+that poets are born and not made. But Esther has been quite successful
+in writing short stories for magazines, and she lays it all to the
+summer we spent with Aunt Nancy on that dreary farm."
+
+"How long did you write your dairy?"
+
+"_Diary_, Peace. I am still writing it--"
+
+"Ain't that book full yet?"
+
+"Oh, yes, a dozen or more, but most of them were burned up in the fire
+at--"
+
+"I thought maybe this was one of them." She held up the brown and gold
+volume, much disappointed to think it did not contain the record of
+those early attempts which Elizabeth had so charmingly described.
+
+"No, dear, that is a notebook which I was intending to send John's
+youngest brother, Jasper, who thinks he wants to be an author, so he
+might jot down bits of information or interesting anecdotes to help him
+in his work. However, it just occurred to me that perhaps Peace
+Greenfield would like such a book to gather up sunbeams in."
+
+"To gather up sunbeams?"
+
+"Yes, dear. Don't you think it would be a nice plan these rainy, dreary
+days to write down all the cheerful bits of poetry you know or happy
+thoughts that come to you, or the pretty little fairy tales you and
+Allee love to make up about the moon lady and the brownies in the dell?
+You see, I have painted little brownies all along the margins of the
+various pages--"
+
+"And they are carrying sunflowers," Peace interrupted.
+
+"Sun-flowers if you wish," and Elizabeth made a wry face at her
+reflection in the mirror. "I called them black-eyed Susans, but
+sun-flower is a better name for them, because this is to be a sunshine
+book. Another coincidence--I have written on the fly-leaf the very verse
+I just quoted:
+
+    "It's the songs ye sing, and the smiles ye wear
+    That's a-makin' the sunshine everywhere!'"
+
+"And ain't the fly's leaf dec'rations cute!" Peace pointed a stubby
+forefinger at the painted brownie chorus, armed with open song-books and
+broad grins, who seemed waiting only for the signal of the leader facing
+them with baton raised and arms extended, to burst into rollicking
+melody. "I think it's a splendid book and you're a _nangel_ to give it
+to me when you meant it for someone else. But it ought to have a name.
+Just _dairy_ sounds so milky and barnlike; and I don't like 'sunbeam
+book' real well, either. What did you call yours?"
+
+Elizabeth laughed. "Esther's was 'Happy Moments,' but I was more
+ambitious, and called mine 'Golden Thoughts.' How would 'Sunbeams,' or
+'Gleams of Sunshine' do for yours?"
+
+"Oh, I like that last one! That's what I'll call it, and I'll begin
+writing now. Shall I use pen and ink?"
+
+"Ink would be best, wouldn't it? Pencil marks soon get rubbed and
+dingy."
+
+"That's what I was thinking," Peace answered promptly, for the
+possibilities of the ink-pot always had held a great charm for her, and
+at home her privileges in this direction were considerably curtailed,
+ever since she had dyed Tabby's white kittens black to match their
+mother. So she drew up her chair before the orderly desk, and began her
+first literary efforts, having first sorted out five blotters, six
+pen-holders, two erasers, a knife and a whole box of pen-points to
+assist her.
+
+It was a little hard at first to know just what to write, but after a
+few nibbles at the end of her pen, she seemed to collect her thoughts,
+and commenced scratching away so busily on the clean, white page that
+Elizabeth smiled and congratulated herself on having so easily solved
+the problem of what to do with the restless, little chatter-box until
+she could go back to school the following Monday. There were only three
+days of that week remaining, and if the book would just hold the child's
+attention until these were ended, she should count her scheme
+successful, even though she did have to find another present for
+Jasper's birthday.
+
+So she smiled with satisfaction, for Peace had become so engrossed with
+her new amusement that she never heard the door-bell ring, nor the voice
+of the visitor in the adjoining room, but scribbled away energetically
+until words failed her, and she paused to think of something to rhyme
+with "bird." Then her revery came to a sudden end, for through the open
+door of the parlor floated the words, "And so we decided to adopt her
+resolutions."
+
+"Poor thing," murmured Peace under her breath. "I s'pose it's another
+orphan. Beats all how many there are in this world! I am glad she's
+going to be adopted, though; but if she was mine, I'd change her name to
+something besides Resolutions. That's a whole lot worse'n Peace. It
+sounds like war."
+
+She glanced out of the window, and with a subdued shout dropped her pen
+and rushed for her coat and rubbers. The rain had ceased and the sun was
+shining! Not only that, but trudging down the muddy hill, hand-in-hand
+and tearful, were two small, fat cherubs, the first children Peace had
+seen while she had been visiting the parsonage, except as she met the
+boys and girls of the Sunday School. Elizabeth had told her that this
+part of the city was still new, and consequently few families had
+settled there as yet; but she had longed for other companionship than
+Glen could give her, and this was too good an opportunity to miss. So,
+flinging on her wraps, she hurried out of the back door, so as not to
+disturb Elizabeth and her caller, and ran after the children already at
+the street crossing, preparing to wade into the rushing torrent of muddy
+water coursing down the hillside.
+
+"Oh, wait!" she cried breathlessly, but at the sound of her voice both
+children started guiltily, and with a snarl of anger and defiance,
+plunged boldly into the flood, not even glancing behind them at the
+flying, gray-coated figure in pursuit. However, the water was swift in
+the gutter, the mud very slippery, and the little tots in too great a
+hurry. So without any warning, two pair of feet shot out from under
+their owners, two frightened babies plumped flat in the dirty stream,
+and two voices rose in protest against such an unhappy fate.
+Nevertheless, when Peace waded in to their rescue, they fought and bit
+like wild-cats, till she dragged them howling back to the sidewalk and
+safety. Then abruptly the wails ceased, two pair of round gray eyes
+stared blankly up at their rescuer, and two voices demanded
+aggressively, "Who's you?"
+
+"Are you twins?" asked Peace in turn, noticing for the first time how
+very much alike were the small, snub-nosed, freckled faces of the dirty
+duet.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What are your names?"
+
+"Lewie and Loie."
+
+"Lewie and Loie what?"
+
+"That's all."
+
+"Oh, but you must have another name."
+
+"That's all," they stubbornly insisted.
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+"Nowhere."
+
+"Haven't you any mamma?"
+
+"She's gone."
+
+"But who takes care of you?"
+
+"Nobody," gulped the one called Loie.
+
+"Mittie did, but she runned away and lef' us," added Lewie.
+
+"Where are you going now?"
+
+"To fin' mamma."
+
+"But you said she was dead."
+
+"She just goned away and lef' us, too," murmured Loie, looking very much
+puzzled.
+
+Peace was delighted. Years and years ago, when her grandfather was a
+boy, he had adopted a little, homeless orphan and kept him from being
+taken to the poor-farm. Here were two waifs needing love and care. Who
+had a better right to adopt them than she who had found them? Grandpa
+Campbell surely would not turn them away, for did he not know what it
+was to be homeless and friendless? But she could not take them home
+while Allee was in bed with scarlet fever, and perhaps the Strongs would
+not feel that they could open the parsonage doors to two more children,
+seeing that the house was so very tiny. What could she do with her
+charges?
+
+There was a rush of feet on the walk behind her, someone gave her a
+violent push, and she sprawled full length in the gutter. Surprised,
+drenched to the skin and dazed by her fall, she staggered to her feet
+only to be knocked down the second time, while a jeering, mocking voice
+from the sidewalk taunted, "You're a pretty sight now, you nigger-wool
+kidnapper! Get up and take another dose! I'll teach you to steal
+children!"
+
+Blind with rage and half choked with mud, Peace shook the water from her
+eyes and flew at her assailant with vengeance in her heart, pounding
+right and left with relentless fists wherever she could hit. But the
+enemy was a larger and stronger child, and it would have gone hard with
+the brown-eyed maid had not the minister himself arrived unexpectedly
+upon the scene and separated the two young pugilists, demanding in
+shocked tones, "Why, Peace, what does this mean? I thought you were
+above fighting."
+
+"She hit me first!" sputtered Peace, trying to wipe the blood from a
+long scratch on her cheek.
+
+"She stole my kids!"
+
+"They are orphans, Saint John, and I was going to adopt them like my
+grandfather did Grandpa Campbell."
+
+"They ain't either orphans!" shouted the other.
+
+"They said their mother was dead and they had no home."
+
+"Mamma goned away and locked up the house," volunteered Lewie from the
+parsonage porch where he had taken refuge with his twin sister at the
+first sign of the fray.
+
+"Are you their sister?" sternly demanded Mr. Strong of the older girl.
+
+"No, I ain't! They live next door and Mrs. Hoyt left the kids with me
+till she got back."
+
+"Where is your house?"
+
+"On top of the hill," she muttered sullenly.
+
+"Then how does it come they are so far from home?"
+
+"They ran away."
+
+"She shut us out of hern house," said Loie, "and we went to fin' mamma."
+
+Just at this moment the parsonage door opened, and Elizabeth's visitor
+stepped out on the piazza, almost stumbling over the crouching twins;
+and at sight of them she exclaimed in surprise, "Why, Lewis and Lois
+Hoyt, what are you doing down here? Does your mother know where you
+are?"
+
+"Ah, Mrs. Lane, how do you do?" said the minister, extending his hand in
+greeting. "Are these tots neighbors of yours?"
+
+"They live just across the street from us. I often take care of them
+when the mother is away." Then her eye chanced to fall upon the
+shrinking figure of Mittie, and she demanded wrathfully, "Have you been
+up to your tricks again, Mittie Cole? I shall certainly report you to
+your father this time sure. I will take the twins home, Mr. Strong. It
+is too bad your little guest has been hurt, but you can mark my words,
+she was not to blame. There is trouble wherever Mittie goes. I don't see
+why Mrs. Hoyt ever left the children with her in the first place. She
+might have known what would happen."
+
+Shooing the little brood ahead of her, she marched out of sight up the
+hill, and Peace followed the minister into the house, wailing
+disconsolately, "I thought they were orphans and I could adopt them like
+grandpa did."
+
+"But think how nice it is that they have a mother and father and a nice
+home of their own. Aren't you glad they are not friendless waifs?"
+
+It was a new thought. Peace paused in her lament, and then with a bright
+smile answered, "It is nicer that way, ain't it? 'Cause even if they had
+been orphans, maybe grandpa would think he had his hands full with the
+six of us, and couldn't make room for any more. Lewie can bite like a
+badger and I 'magine grandpa wouldn't stand for much of that. Anyway _I_
+wouldn't. When I grow bigger and have a house of my own, then I can
+adopt all the children I want to, can't I? Just like that lady that was
+here a minute ago."
+
+"Mrs. Lane? Why, she has no adopted children!" exclaimed Elizabeth, who
+had been a silent spectator of part of the scene.
+
+"But I heard her tell you so myself," insisted Peace.
+
+"When?"
+
+"This afternoon while I was writing in my book. She said they decided to
+adopt Resol--Resol--something."
+
+Fortunately the minister was lighting the fire in the kitchen stove, so
+Peace could not see the laughter in his face, and Elizabeth had long
+since learned to hide her mirth from the keen childish eyes, so she
+explained, "It was not a child, Peace, which she was talking about.
+Doesn't your Missionary Band ever adopt resolutions of any sort in their
+business meetings?"
+
+"I never saw any they adopted, though we're s'porting two orphan heathen
+in India."
+
+Elizabeth could not refrain from smiling slightly, but she carefully
+explained to Peace the meaning of the perplexing phrase, as she bustled
+about her preparations for supper, and the incident was apparently
+forgotten.
+
+While she was putting things to rights for the night, long after the
+children had been tucked away in their beds, she found the preacher
+seated by her desk chuckling over a little book among the papers before
+him, and peeping over his shoulder she saw it was the brown and gold
+volume which she had given Peace that afternoon. On the fly-leaf, just
+above the quaint brownie chorus, in straggling inky letters, Peace had
+penned the title, "Glimmers of Gladness," this being as near as she
+could recall the name Elizabeth had suggested. Then followed the most
+extraordinarily original diary the woman had ever seen, and she laughed
+till the tears ran down her cheeks, as she read the words written with
+such painstaking care and plenty of ink:
+
+"This is the first dairy I ever kept. Saint Elspeth gave me the book
+which she ment for Jasper Strong, St. John's brother who wood rather be
+a writer than a huming boy. He ought to change places with me, cause I'd
+rather be a live girl any day than a norther which is what Gale wants to
+be and that is one reason I am going to keep a dairy as she may find it
+usful when she gets to be famus like St. Elspeth's sister Ester. I
+should not want to keep a dairy if I had to tend to it every day, but
+St. Elspeth says just to rite when I feel like it which I don't s'pose
+will be offen as there is usuly something to do which I like better. I
+am riting today becaus it rains and I cant go out doors.
+
+    "The sparrow is playing in the mud
+      Don't I wish I could, too.
+    He don't need rubbers on his feet,
+      Behind the clouds it's blue.
+    He wears feathers stead of close
+      And to him the rain aint wet.
+    I wisht that I wore feathers, too,
+      Then I'd stay out doors you bet.
+
+"The raindrop fairy is my newest fairy. I'll tell Allee all about it
+when she gets well enough so's I can go home. They are very wet but it
+aint their fault. If they wuz dry they wouldnt be water. They go about
+doing lots of good to the trees and flowers which couldnt grow without
+water, and we mustn't fuss cause there is always sun somewhere and its a
+cumfert to no it wont rain all the time. When the storm is over the
+raindrop faries strech a net of red and blue and green and yellow &C
+akros the sky which means it wont rain any more until the next time.
+Thats the way with huming beings. If we skowl and growl we're making a
+huming thunder-storm, but just as soon as the smile comes out thats the
+rainbow and shows the sun is shining, 'cause there is never a rainbow
+without the sun is in the clouds behind it. I'm going to smile and smile
+after this and be a reglar sunflour all myself."
+
+"Dear little Peace," murmured Elizabeth, as she closed the book and laid
+it back on the desk. "It's mean to laugh at her precious diary,
+particularly when she has taken such pains with it and tried her best to
+please."
+
+"She'll make an author yet," chuckled the minister. "I am proud of our
+little philosopher. She is scattering more sunshine than she dreams of,
+and some day will harvest a big crop of sunflowers."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A VOICE FROM THE LILAC BUSHES
+
+
+It was a glorious morning in May. Spring had really come at last with
+its warm, life-giving sunshine, and the air was heavy with the smell of
+growing things. Overhead the blue sky was clear and cloudless, underfoot
+the new grass made a thick carpet invitingly cool and refreshing. The
+trees were sporting fresh garlands of leaves, and in woods and gardens
+the bright-colored blossoms glowed and blushed. How beautiful it all
+was!
+
+Peace paused at Elizabeth's side in the open doorway to drink in the
+rich fragrance of the lilacs, whose purple plumes nodded so temptingly
+from the hedge across the way. For days it had been part of her morning
+program to rush out of doors as soon as she was dressed to sniff
+hungrily at the lilac-laden air, but never before had they smelled so
+sweet nor looked so beautiful and feathery as they did this morning, for
+now they had reached the height of their perfection. Tomorrow some of
+their beauty would be gone; they would be growing old.
+
+"Oh, Elspeth, ain't they lovely?" she sighed. "Don't they make you feel
+like heaven? Wouldn't you like a great, big bunch of them under your
+nose always? I wonder why the folks who live there don't give them away.
+I should if they b'longed to me. Think how many people would be glad to
+get them. May I go over in the field to play? I won't break one of Saint
+John's plants or touch a single lilac, truly, if I can just play where I
+can smell their smell as it comes fresh from the bush. We only get the
+wee, ragged edges of it over here."
+
+Elizabeth came out of her own revery at the sound of Peace's gusty sigh
+of longing, and readily gave her consent, as this was Saturday morning
+and school did not keep. So, like a bird trying its wings after a long
+imprisonment, the brown-eyed maid with arms flapping and curls bobbing,
+skipped happily across the road to the field where she had helped the
+minister plant a little vegetable garden, and which already was lined
+with irregular rows of pale green shoots where beans and potatoes,
+turnips and cabbages, had pushed their way up through the black earth.
+
+Peace was even prouder of the small truck patch than the preacher
+himself, if such a thing were possible, and it was a favorite pastime of
+both these gardeners to walk back and forth between the rows each day
+and count the tender sprouts which had appeared during the night. So
+this morning from force of habit, Peace strolled up and down the length
+of the garden, counting in a sing-song fashion as she greedily filled
+nostrils and lungs with the sweet scent of the lilac bushes just beyond,
+drawing nearer and nearer the hedge with its delicate, dainty sprays.
+
+Unconsciously her counting changed into the humming refrain of the
+Gleaner's motto song, and she danced lightly down the last row of crisp
+cornblades, joyously chanting words which fitted into the happy music:
+"Oh, you pretty lilacs, growing by the wall! How I'd like to have you
+for my very own. I would pick your blossoms, lavender and white, and
+give them all to sick folks, shut in from the light.--Why, that rhymed
+all of its own self!"
+
+She paused abruptly beside the lilac bushes, her arms still uplifted and
+fingers outstretched as if beckoning to the plumy sprays above her Head.
+"Isn't it queer how such things will happen when if I'd been trying to
+make poetry in my dairy I couldn't have thought of those words for an
+hour? I guess it was the lilacs that did it. Oh, you are so beautiful!
+You'd make anything rhyme, wouldn't you? What is it that gives you your
+sweetness? I wish you could tell me the secret. Oh, you lovely lilacs,
+growing up so high; swinging in the sunshine--" Again her made-up words
+came to a sudden end, and she stood motionless, her head cocked to one
+side, listening intently to a brilliant trill of melody from the other
+side of the hedge.
+
+"There goes my bird again! Saint John says it must be a canary which
+b'longs to the stone house that owns these lilacs, but I don't b'lieve
+it would sing like that if it was shut up in a cage."
+
+She held her breath again to harken to the music, then puckered her lips
+and mocked its song. The feathered musician broke off in the midst of
+his rhapsody, surprised at the strange echo of his own notes. There was
+a moment of silence; then he began again, and once more Peace mimicked
+the warbler. This time there was a stir on the other side of the bushes,
+and the purple-tasseled branches were cautiously parted where the
+foliage was thinnest, but Peace was too much absorbed in watching the
+topmost boughs--for the music seemed to come from overhead somewhere--to
+see the startled eyes looking at her through the tangle of leaves and
+blossoms. All unconscious of her hidden audience, she joyously trilled
+the canary bird's chorus.
+
+Then miracle of miracles--or so it seemed to Peace--there was a whir of
+wings, and a bright-eyed, yellow-coated, saucy, little bird perched on a
+twig just above her head. Peace gasped and was silent.
+
+The bird chirped a note of defiance and hopped to the branch below.
+Peace advanced a cautious step; the canary did not retreat, but tipped
+its dainty head sidewise and eyed the child curiously. A small brown
+hand shot out unexpectedly, dexterously, and the yellow songster found
+itself a helpless prisoner in the child's tight grasp.
+
+Peace was almost as surprised as the bird. She had not really thought to
+capture the creature so easily, and to find it in her hand sent a thrill
+of delight through her whole being. She snuggled it close in her neck
+and crooned:
+
+"You little darling! Saint John was right, you _are_ a canary! But I was
+right, too. You ain't caged. I'm mighty glad I've caught you. I always
+did like pets. I wonder what you will think of Muffet, grandma's canary?
+If I just had these lovely lilacs now, little birdie, I'd be perfectly
+happy. But a bird in the hand is worth--a whole bushel of blossoms. I
+guess I'll take you home to Elspeth--"
+
+"Oh, you mustn't!" cried a distressed voice behind the purple tassels.
+"That is my bird, Gypsy. I just let him loose to see if it was really
+you mocking him. Bring him home, won't you? And I'll give you all the
+lilacs you want."
+
+Startled at the sound of a human voice almost at her elbow when she
+could see no sign of the speaker, Peace let go her hold on the
+frightened captive, and with a relieved chirp, it flew out of sight
+among the thick branches. But she made no attempt to follow its flight,
+she was too scared. "Are--are--was it a real woman which did that
+talking?" chattered Peace, wetting her lips with her tongue.
+
+"Yes," answered the voice, with just the tinge of a laugh in it. "I live
+in the stone house this side of the lilac bushes. I saw you through the
+leaves and heard what you said, but won't you please bring my little
+Gypsy home? I'll give you all the flowers you want. Go down to the road
+and come in through the front gate. I am here in my chair."
+
+"Your bird has gone home already," Peace answered, reassured by this
+explanation. "But I'll come and get those lilacs you spoke about."
+
+She ran nimbly down the length of the lilac hedge, dodged out of sight
+around the corner, and appeared the next moment at the iron gate which
+shut out the street from the grand stone house with its wide lawns,
+great oaks, smooth, flower-bordered walks, and splashing fountain.
+
+"Oh, how beau-ti-ful!" cried the child in delight, as the gate swung
+shut behind her. "I've always wanted to know what this place looked
+like, but the tall hedge all along the fence is too thick to see through
+and one can get only a teenty peek through the gate. There is your bird
+on top of its cage now. See, I didn't keep him, though I'd like to. He
+is a splendid singer. I sh'd think you'd be the happiest lady in the
+whole world with all these lovely flowers and--are you a lady?"
+
+For the first time since entering the great gate, Peace turned her big,
+brown eyes full upon the occupant of the reclining chair in the shade
+of the lilac bushes, and her lively chatter faltered, for the face
+pillowed among the silken cushions seemed neither a child's nor yet a
+woman's. The eyes, intensely blue and clear, the broad, high forehead,
+the thin cheeks and colorless lips, even the heavy braids of brown hair
+with their auburn lights, did not seem to belong to a mere mortal. And
+yet she could not be an angel, for even Peace's youthful, untrained mind
+swiftly read the bitterness and rebellion which lurked in those deep,
+wonderful eyes. It was as if some doomed soul were looking out through
+the bars of a prison fortress, without a single ray of hope to break the
+gloom, without a single thought to cheer or comfort. And so Peace, in
+her childish ignorance, asked, "Are you a lady?"
+
+"A woman grown," the sweet voice answered, and a faint smile of
+amusement flitted across the marble-white face.
+
+"Your--your hair is in braids," stammered Peace, unable to put her
+subtle feelings into words.
+
+"It is more restful that way," the speaker sighed; then again that
+fleeting smile lighted up the beautiful features, and holding out her
+hand to the puzzled child, she said coaxingly, "Tell me about yourself.
+Is it really you who whistles so divinely in the garden each morning? I
+have heard it so often but never could locate it before. Aunt Pen
+thought it must be another canary at the parsonage. It always seemed to
+come from that direction."
+
+"That's 'cause Saint John and I live there. He whistles, too, though I
+do it the best."
+
+"Saint John?" The flicker of amusement became a genuine smile.
+
+"That's the new preacher of Hill Street Church. He used to be our
+minister in Parker and he lets me call him by his front name when we are
+alone, but it was so easy to forget and do it when we weren't alone that
+I named him _Saint_ John, 'cause Faith says he is my pattern--no patron
+saint. I call Elizabeth Saint Elspeth, too, for the same reason. She is
+his wife."
+
+"But I thought you were their little girl."
+
+"Mercy, no! They ain't old enough to have a little girl my age yet. Glen
+is their only children. I'm just visiting."
+
+"You have been with them ever since they came here, haven't you?"
+
+"Almost. They were a week ahead of me. They moved in from Parker last
+March, the very week before our spring vacation from school, and they
+begged grandpa so hard to let me come and help them settle that he said
+I might. Then Allee got the scarlet fever, so I had to stay for a time.
+Just as she was getting well so they 'xpected to _fumergate_ 'most any
+day, Cherry went to work and caught it, and now Hope is in bed. There
+are two more yet to have it, 'nless you count me, and I ain't going to
+get it. I don't think Gail and Faith will, either, 'cause they have been
+staying with Frances Sherrar ever since the doctor decided he knew what
+ailed Allee. Anyway, they had it when they were little."
+
+"What quaint names!" murmured the lady, softly repeating them one by
+one.
+
+"Yes, they are, but as it ain't our fault, we've quit fretting about
+'em. Our grandfather was a minister, and he named us--all but Gail and
+Allee. Papa named the oldest, and mamma named the youngest. Grandpa
+fixed up all the rest."
+
+The ludicrous look of resignation in the small round face was too much
+for the questioner, and she burst into a rippling peal of laughter, so
+hearty that a much older woman popped a surprised face out of the door
+to see what was the matter. Peace caught a glimpse of her as she
+vanished within doors once more, and demanded, "Who is that?"
+
+"Aunt Pen."
+
+"That's a quaint name, too. I'd as soon be called 'pencil'," she
+retaliated.
+
+"It isn't very common these days," smiled the woman. "The real name is
+Penelope, but I shortened it to 'Pen.' Poor Aunt Pen, she has a hard
+time of it."
+
+"Why? I sh'd think it would be easy work living in such a beautiful
+place as this."
+
+"A beautiful place isn't everything in life," came the bitter retort,
+and the rebellious look clouded the lovely eyes once more.
+
+"No, it ain't," Peace acknowledged; "but it's a whole lot. Just s'posing
+you had to live in a mite of an ugly house without nice things to eat or
+wear and with no father or mother to take care of you, and a mortgage
+you couldn't pay, and an old skinflint of a man ready to slam you
+outdoors and gobble up the farm, furniture and everything, the minute
+the mortgage was due. How'd you like that?"
+
+"Have you no father or mother?" The voice was very soft and sweet again,
+and the blue eyes glowed tenderly.
+
+Peace shook her head. "They are both inside the gates."
+
+"Then who takes care of you?"
+
+"Grandpa Campbell, what was adopted by my own grandpa when he was a
+boy."
+
+"Tell me about it, won't you, dear?"
+
+So Peace related the pathetic story of the two souls who had gone into
+the Great Beyond, leaving the helpless orphan band to battle by
+themselves; of the struggle the little brown house had witnessed; of the
+tramp who came begging his breakfast, and afterwards proved to be the
+beloved President of the University; and of the beautiful change which
+had come in their fortunes when he had adopted the whole flock.
+
+When she had finished her recital there were tears in the blue eyes, and
+the white-faced lady murmured compassionately, "Poor little sisters!
+There are so many orphans in this big world."
+
+Something in her tone and the far-away expression of her eyes impelled
+Peace to say with conviction, "You are an orphan, too."
+
+"Yes, child."
+
+"Since you were a little girl?"
+
+"Since I was five years old."
+
+"Oh, as little as Allee when mamma died! Wasn't there anyone to take
+care of you? Did your Aunt Pen adopt you?"
+
+"Aunt Pen has always lived with us. I don't remember any other mother."
+
+"And did you always live here?"
+
+"Yes, I was born here. It wasn't part of the city then."
+
+"But you don't look real old."
+
+"I am not _real_ old. I was twenty-four last November."
+
+"And Gail was nineteen the same month! You're only four, five years
+older than she is. That's not much--but there's a bigger difference."
+
+"How, dear?"
+
+"Oh, she looks 'sif she liked to live better'n you do."
+
+The woman drew a long, shivering breath and closed her eyes as if a
+spasm of pain had seized her; and Peace, frightened at the death-like
+pallor of the face, quavered, "Oh, don't faint! What is the matter? Are
+you sick? Or is it just a chill? Maybe you better run around a bit until
+you get warm."
+
+The deep, unfathomable blue eyes opened, and the voice said bitterly, "I
+can _never_ run again. I must lie in this chair all the rest of my life
+with nothing to do but think, think, think! Do you wonder now that I am
+not happy? Do you understand now why Aunt Pen has a hard time? Do you
+see the reason for that tall, thick hedge all around the yard?"
+
+"No," Peace replied bluntly. "I can't see a mite of sense in it! If I
+had to live in a chair all my days, I'd want it where I could watch the
+world go by. I'd cut down all the hedges and let the sun shine in. If I
+couldn't run about myself, I'd just watch the folks that did have good
+feet. I'd wave my hands at the children and give 'em flowers, and they'd
+come and talk to me when I was tired of reading. I'd have a bird like
+you've got, and I'd make a pet of it, too. I'd have more'n one; I'd have
+a whole m'nagerie of dogs and cats and rabbits and squirrels and--and
+ponies, maybe, and a monkey or two. And I'd teach them to do tricks, and
+then I'd call all the poor little children who can't go to the circus to
+see my animals perform. I'd have gardens of flowers for the sick people
+and vegetables for those who haven't any place to raise their own and
+no money to buy them. That's what Saint John is going to do with all
+they don't use at the parsonage. I'd make a park of my back yard and let
+dirty children play there so's they would not get run over in the
+street; I'd--oh, there are so many things I'd do to enjoy myself!"
+
+Peace paused for breath, the well of her imagination run dry, but her
+face was so radiant that instinctively her listener knew these were not
+idle words, though she could not keep the hard tone out of her voice as
+she answered, "Ah, that is easy enough to say, but--wait until you are
+where I am now, and I think you will find it lots harder to practice
+what you preach. You will turn your face to the wall, say good-bye to
+those who you thought were your friends, build a high fence around
+yourself and hide--_hide_ from the world and everything!"
+
+"Oh, no," Peace protested, shuddering at the picture she had drawn. "I
+should _die_ if I couldn't see the sun and flowers and kind faces of the
+folks I love. But--it--would be--awfully hard _never_ to walk again."
+
+"Hard? It is _torture_!" She had forgotten that she was talking to a
+mere child, one who could not understand what it was to have dearest
+ambitions thwarted, one who could not even know yet what it was to have
+ambitions. "I had dreamed of being a great singer some day--"
+
+"Oh, do you sing?" cried Peace, who was passionately fond of music in
+whatever guise it came.
+
+"Masters said I could--"
+
+"Then please sing for me. I can only whistle, and then folks say,
+
+    "'Whistling girls and crowing hens
+    Always come to some bad ends.'
+
+"I'd like awfully much to hear you sing."
+
+"Oh, I don't sing any more! That is all past now; but oh, how I loved
+it! We were going to Europe, Aunt Pen and I, and when we came back after
+months and years of study, I thought I should be a--Jenny Lind, perhaps.
+I thought of it by day, I dreamed of it by night. It was _everything_ to
+me. And then--my horse fell--and here I am."
+
+"Was it long ago?" whispered Peace, strangely stirred by the passionate
+words of the girl before her.
+
+"Five years."
+
+"And you've been here ever since?"
+
+"Ever since."
+
+Oh, the hopelessness of the words, the bitterness of the face!
+
+Involuntarily Peace turned her eyes away, and as her glance fell upon
+the delicate bloom of the lilac bushes beside her, she began to hum
+under her breath, "Oh, you lovely lilacs, growing up so high."
+
+"Sing to me," commanded the lame girl imperiously.
+
+"Sing? I can't sing! All I can do is whistle."
+
+"But you were singing just now."
+
+"I was humming."
+
+"Don't quibble!" A faint smile smoothed away the hard lines about the
+young mouth. "Please sing that little tune for me. I have heard you so
+often in the garden and that seems quite a favorite of yours, but I can
+never make out the words."
+
+"That's 'cause the words ain't usu'ly alike."
+
+"What?"
+
+"Why, Allee and me have always fitted talking words into our song music
+and--"
+
+"I don't understand, I am afraid."
+
+"Why, we just sing things instead of talking them like other folks
+would. They don't rhyme, but they fit into tunes which we like, and our
+Gleaners' motto song is our favorite, so that's the one we usu'ly hum,
+and that's how you hear it so much."
+
+"Then sing the motto song. The tune is very pretty."
+
+"Yes, it is pretty, but the reason we like it so well is 'cause it
+sounds glad. We never can sing it when we're cross or bad. It's made
+just for sunshine."
+
+Softly she began to chant the words:
+
+    "'In a world where sorrow
+      Ever will be known
+    Where are found the needy
+      And the sad and lone.'"
+
+Peace was right in saying that she could not sing, and yet her happy
+voice, warbling out those joyous words, made very sweet music that
+bright May morning. The lines of weariness gradually left the invalid's
+face, a feeling of rest stole over her, and with a tired little sigh,
+she closed her eyes.
+
+    "'When the days are gloomy,
+      Sing some happy song,
+    Meet the world's repining
+      With a courage strong;
+
+    "'Go with faith undaunted
+      Thro' the ills of life,
+    Scatter smiles and sunshine
+      O'er its toil and strife,'"
+
+piped Peace, staring at the waving plumes of lavender above her head.
+
+    "'Sca-atter sunshine all along your wa-ay,
+    Cheer and bless and bri-ighten--'"
+
+The song ceased in the midst of the chorus.
+
+The big blue eyes flashed open and the lame girl demanded in surprise.
+"Why did you stop?"
+
+"Oh," breathed Peace, a look of great relief passing over her face, "I
+thought sure you'd gone to sleep and I wouldn't get my lilacs after
+all."
+
+"You little goosie! I don't go to sleep that easily. Sing the chorus
+again for me, and then Hicks shall cut all the flowers you can carry."
+
+"He better begin now, then, 'cause the chorus ain't long and it sounds
+'sif Elspeth was calling me. I've been out of sight from the parsonage
+quite a spell and likely she's getting anxious. Besides, Glen may be
+awake and wanting me."
+
+"Very well," she laughed. "Hicks shall begin right away. See, there he
+comes with his basket and scissors. Now sing."
+
+So Peace repeated the sprightly chorus with a vim, and was rewarded with
+such a huge bouquet of the fragrant blossoms that she was almost hidden
+from sight as she stood clasping them tightly in her arms, and
+exclaiming in rapture, "All for me? Oh, dear Lilac Lady, I didn't 'xpect
+that many! You better have Aunt Pen put some of these in the house for
+you."
+
+"No, I don't want them in my house!" exclaimed the girl fiercely. "They
+are all for you--and Saint Elspeth."
+
+"Oh, she'll love you for sending them. Can I bring her over to see you?
+Her and Saint John?"
+
+"No, I don't care to meet them. Saint John has already called, but--I
+sent him away again."
+
+"Then--I s'pose--you won't care to have me call again either."
+
+This beautiful garden seemed like the Promised Land to Peace's childish
+eyes, and the thought of never being allowed to enter it again was
+dreadful.
+
+"Oh, yes, _do_ come again! You _must_ come again! Come every day. No,
+not every day, some days I couldn't see you if you came. I will hang a
+white cloth on the lilac bushes--see,--on the other side, where you can
+see it from the parsonage, and you will come then, won't you?"
+
+"Yes, if Elspeth doesn't need me and Glen is asleep. He likes flowers,
+too, even if he is just a baby, and he never tears them to pieces."
+
+"I'll have Hicks cut you some tulips--"
+
+"You better not today. I'll get them next time I come. These are all I
+can carry now, and they are a lot too many for our little parsonage. But
+I'm awful glad you gave me such a big bunch, 'cause there are ever so
+many of the church people sick, and Elspeth will be so pleased to have
+me _distribit_ bouquets amongst 'em. Some of 'em it will be like
+slinging coals of fire at their heads, too. There's old Deacon Hopper
+for one. He doesn't like Saint John and calls him a meddlesome monkey of
+a minister. Now he's sick, I'll take him a bunch of lilacs and tell him
+the meddlesome monkey's minister has sent him some flowers and hopes he
+soon gets onto his feet again.
+
+"Mittie Cole is another that needs some fire on her head. She pushed me
+into the gutter three times the day I tried to adopt the runaway twins,
+and we'd have had a grand scrimmage if Saint John hadn't happened along
+to stop it. But she's got lung fever now, and there was days the doctor
+said she wouldn't live. I reckon she doesn't feel much like fighting any
+more, but likely she'll enjoy the smell of these lovely lilacs. She
+seemed awful glad to see me the day I carried her some chicken broth.
+
+"The Foster baby is sick, and Grandma Deane, and little Freddie James,
+and Mrs. Hoover, and Dan'l Fielding. You see that's quite a bunch, and
+it will take a big lot of flowers to go around. I'll tell 'em all that
+you sent 'em--"
+
+"No, indeed!" There was real alarm in her voice. "Because I did not send
+them. I gave them to you."
+
+"But if you hadn't given them to me, I couldn't share 'em with other
+folks, so it's really you who is to blame. You--you don't care if I give
+some away, do you?"
+
+"Certainly not, dear. You may give them all away if it will make you any
+happier."
+
+"Oh, it does! I just love to see sick faces smile when someone brings in
+flowers to smell or nice things to eat. Miss Edith sometimes takes us to
+the hospital with bouquets to _distribit_, and my! how glad the patients
+are to get them. They say it is almost as good as a breath of real,
+genuine air. I'm going with Saint Elspeth tomorrow afternoon--"
+
+"Then you must come over here and get some more lilacs. Hicks will cut
+all you can carry."
+
+"Oh, do you mean it? You darling Lilac Lady--that's what I mean to call
+you always, 'cause you give away so many lilacs to make other folks
+happy. I'll bring the biggest basket I can find. There is Elspeth
+calling again. I must hurry home."
+
+"You haven't told me your name yet. I forgot to ask it before, but if I
+am to be your Lilac Lady, I must know what to call you, too."
+
+"Peace--Peace Greenfield. Good-bye. I'll be here tomorrow just the
+minute dinner is over."
+
+The blue eyes followed her longingly as she danced away through the
+fresh clover and disappeared beyond the heavy gates. Then the lame girl
+turned in her chair,--almost against her will, it seemed--and looked up
+at the fragrant purple plumes nodding above her head. "Peace," she
+murmured. "How odd! 'The peace which passeth understanding.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A PICNIC IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN
+
+
+After that Peace came often to the handsome stone house, half hidden
+from the road by its thick hedges and giant trees. Almost daily the
+white cloth fluttered its summons from the lilac bushes, and Elizabeth,
+having heard the sad story of the young girl mistress, rejoiced that the
+tumble-haired, merry-hearted little romp could bring even a gleam of
+sunshine into that darkened life.
+
+At first it was the great, beautiful gardens which lured the child
+through the iron gates, for she could not understand the different moods
+of the imperious young invalid, and secretly stood somewhat in awe of
+her. But gradually the natural childish vivacity and quaint philosophy
+of the smaller maid tore down the barriers behind which the older girl
+had so long screened herself, and Peace found to her great amazement
+that the white-faced invalid, who could never leave her chair again, was
+a wonderful story-teller and a perfect witch at inventing new games and
+planning delightful surprises to make each visit a real event for this
+guest. So the calls grew more and more frequent and the chance
+acquaintance blossomed into a deep, tender friendship.
+
+Of course, Peace did not realize how much sweetness and sunshine she was
+bringing into the garden with her, but in her ignorance supposed that
+the many visits were all for her own happiness. How could she know that
+her lively prattle was making the weary days bearable for the frail
+sufferer? And had anyone tried to tell her what an important part she
+was playing in that life drama, she would not have believed it. Perhaps
+it was the very unconsciousness of her power which made her such a
+beautiful comrade for the aching heart imprisoned in the garden. At any
+rate, Peace not only made friends with the lonely Lilac Lady, but she
+also captivated gentle Aunt Pen and the adoring Hicks, who met her with
+beaming faces whenever she entered the garden, and sighed when the brief
+hours were over. But none of them would listen to her bringing Elspeth
+or the minister, much to her bewilderment.
+
+"It isn't because _I_ don't want them," explained Aunt Pen one day when
+Peace had pleaded with her and had been grieved at her refusal. "Your
+Lilac Lady isn't ready to receive other callers yet. You can't
+understand now, dearie. God grant you may _never_ understand. She shut
+herself up four years ago when she found out that she would never get
+well enough to walk again, and you are the first person she has ever
+seen since that time, except her own household and the physician.
+Perhaps you are the opening wedge, child. Oh, I trust it may be so!"
+
+Peace did not understand what an opening wedge was, but it did not sound
+very appetizing, and she had grave doubts as to whether she had better
+continue her visits under such conditions. But when she went to
+Elizabeth with the story, that wise little woman answered her by
+singing:
+
+    "'Slightest actions often
+      Meet the sorest needs,
+    For the world wants daily,
+      Little kindly deeds;
+    Oh, what care and sorrow
+      You may help remove,
+    With your songs and courage,
+      Sympathy and love.'"
+
+Peace was comforted and went back to the shady garden with a deeper
+desire to brighten the long, dreary, aimless days of the helpless
+invalid. She said no more about introducing her beloved minister's
+family, but in secret she still mourned because the lame girl so
+steadfastly refused to welcome her dearest friends.
+
+So the days flew swiftly by and the month of May was gone. Summer was
+early that year, and the first day of June dawned sultry and still over
+the sweltering city. It was a half-holiday at the Chestnut School, so
+Peace returned home at noon, hot, perspiring, but radiant at the thought
+of no more lessons till the morrow. She came a round-about way in order
+to pass the great gates of the stone mansion, hoping to catch a glimpse
+of the well-known chair under the lilac bushes; but the lawn was
+deserted, and she was disappointed, for she had counted much on spending
+these unexpected leisure hours in the cool garden with the lame girl.
+
+To add to her woe, she found Elizabeth lying on the couch in the
+darkened study, suffering from a nerve-racking headache, and the
+preacher, looking very droll togged out in his little wife's
+kitchen-apron, was flying about serving up the scorched, unseasoned
+dinner for the forlorn family. He was too much concerned over the
+illness of the mistress and the unfinished condition of his next
+Sunday's sermon to sample his own cooking, and as Glen fell asleep over
+his bowl of bread and milk, Peace was left entirely to her own devices
+when the meal was ended.
+
+It was too hot to romp, it was too hot to read, and there was no one to
+play with. She swung idly in the hammock until the very motion was
+maddening. She prowled through the grove behind the church, she dug
+industriously in the small flower garden under the east window, she did
+everything she could think of to make the time pass quickly, but at
+length threw herself once more into the hammock with a discouraged sigh.
+
+"School might better have kept all day. It is horrid to stay home with
+nothing to do that's int'resting. I've watched all the afternoon for the
+Lilac Lady's table-cloth and haven't had a peek of it yet. But there--I
+don't s'pose she'd know there was only one session today, so she ain't
+apt to hang it out until time for school to let out, like she usu'ly
+does. Guess I'll just walk over in that d'rection and see if she ain't
+under the trees yet. It's been two days since I've seen a glimpse of
+her. Hicks says she's been dreadful bad again. P'raps I better take her
+some flowers this time--and there is that little strawberry pie Elspeth
+made for my very own. I might take her some sandwiches, too,--yes, I'll
+do it!"
+
+She tiptoed softly into the house, so as not to disturb the two
+slumberers, and went in search of the minister in order to lay her plan
+before him; but he, too, had fallen asleep and lay sprawled full length
+by the open window, beside his half-written manuscript.
+
+"If that ain't just the way!" spluttered Peace under her breath. "I
+never did go to tell anyone nice plans but they went to sleep or were
+too busy to be disturbed. Well, I'll do it anyway. I know they won't
+care a single speck. I'll ask 'em when I get home and they are awake."
+
+Back to the kitchen she stole, and into the tiny pantry, where for the
+next few minutes she industriously cut and buttered bread, made
+sandwiches, sliced cake and packed lunch enough for a dozen in the
+picnic hamper which she found hanging on a nail in the shed. With this
+on her arm, she returned to the little garden under the window and dug
+up her choicest flowers, stacked them in an old shoe-box with plenty of
+black dirt, as she had often seen Hicks do, and departed with her
+luggage for the stone house across the corner.
+
+She paused at the heavy gates, wondering for the first time whether or
+not she would be welcome at this time, when no signal had fluttered from
+the lilac bushes, but at sight of the motionless figure under the
+largest oak, her doubts vanished, and, boldly opening the gate, she
+marched up the gravel path and across the lawn toward the familiar
+chair, bearing the lunch-basket on one arm and a huge box of
+cheerful-faced pansies on the other.
+
+Hearing the click of the latch and the sound of steps on the walk, the
+lame girl frowned impatiently, and without opening her eyes, said
+peevishly, "If you have any errand here, go on to the house. I won't be
+bothered."
+
+"Oh, I'm sorry," cried Peace in mournful tones. "I brought a picnic with
+me, but--"
+
+The big blue eyes flashed wide in surprise, and their owner demanded
+sharply, "Why did you come this time of day? I have not sent for you."
+
+"I didn't say you had. I came 'cause I thought you'd be glad to see me,
+but if you ain't, I'll go straight home again and eat my picnic all
+alone, and plant my flowers in my garden again. You don't have to have
+them if you don't want 'em."
+
+She whirled on her heel and stamped angrily across the grass toward the
+gate, too hurt to keep the tears from her eyes, and too proud to let her
+companion see how deeply wounded she was.
+
+Astonished at this flash of gunpowder, the lame girl cried contritely,
+"Oh, don't go away, Peace! I didn't mean to be cross to you. This has
+been _such_ a hard week, dear, I hardly know what I am doing half the
+time."
+
+"Is the pain so bad?" whispered Peace tenderly, dropping on her knees
+before the sufferer, having already forgotten her own grievance in her
+longing to ease and comfort the poor, aching back.
+
+"It is better now," answered the girl, smiling wanly at the sympathetic
+face bending over her. "The heat always makes it worse, but I do believe
+it is growing cooler now. Feel the breeze? What have you brought me? A
+picnic lunch!"
+
+"Yes--my strawberry pie--"
+
+"Did Mrs. Strong know?"
+
+"She made the pie all for my very own self to do just what I please
+with. Don't you like strawberry pie?" Peace paused in her task of
+unpacking the basket to look up questioningly at the face among the
+pillows.
+
+"Oh, yes, dear, I am very fond of it, and it is sweet of you to share
+yours with me. I shall put my half away for tea."
+
+"Oh, you mustn't do that," protested the ardent little picnicker,
+passing her a plate of generously thick, ragged looking sandwiches,
+spread with great chunks of butter fresh from the ice-box, and filled
+with delicate slices of pink ham. "I want you to eat it with me. This is
+a 'specially good pie, and Elspeth can 'most beat Faith when it comes to
+dough. Mrs. Deacon Hopper sent us the ham--a whole one, all boiled and
+baked with sugar and cloves. It's simply _fine_! The lilacs I took the
+deacon did the work all right. He was so tickled that he got over being
+grumpy, and calls Saint John a promising preacher now. Please taste the
+sandwiches. I know you'll like them even if I didn't get the bread cut
+real even and nice. Then after we get through eating, I'll plant the
+pansies."
+
+"Pansies!" She stared past the brown head bobbing over the hamper, to
+the box of nodding blossoms in the grass. "What made you bring me
+pansies?"
+
+"'Cause you ain't got any, and no garden looks quite finished without
+some of those flowers in it. Don't you think so?"
+
+"I _de-spise_ pansies!"
+
+Peace eyed her in horrified amazement an instant, then swept the
+rejected blossoms out of sight beneath the basket cover, saying tartly,
+"You needn't be ugly about it! I can take them home again. I s'posed of
+course you liked them. I didn't know the garden was empty of them 'cause
+you _wouldn't_ have them. _I_ think they are the prettiest flower
+growing, next to lilacs and roses."
+
+"Those mocking little faces?"
+
+"Those darling, giggly smiles!"
+
+"What?"
+
+"Didn't you ever see a giggling pansy?"
+
+"No, I can't say I ever did." A faint trace of amusement stole around
+the corners of the white lips.
+
+"Well, here's one. Oh, I forgot! You _de-spise_ them!" She had half
+lifted a gorgeous yellow blossom from the hidden box, but at second
+thought dropped it back in the loose earth.
+
+"Let me see it!" The Lilac Lady extended one blue-veined hand with the
+imperious gesture which Peace had learned to know and obey. Silently she
+thrust the moist plant into the outstretched fingers, and gravely
+watched while the keen blue eyes studied the golden petals which, as
+Peace had declared, seemed fairly teeming with sunshine and laughter.
+"It does--look rather--cheerful," she conceded at length.
+
+"That is just what I thought. I named it Hope."
+
+"Hope! The name is appropriate."
+
+"Yes, it is very 'propriate. Hope is always so sunshiny and smily--"
+
+"Oh, you named it for your sister."
+
+"Who did you think it was named for?"
+
+"I didn't understand. Is it a habit of yours to name all your flowers?"
+
+"N-o, not all. But we gener'ly name our pansies, Allee and me. See, this
+beautiful white one with just a tiny speck of yellow in the middle I
+called my Lilac Lady."
+
+"Why?" A queer little choke came in her throat at these unexpected
+words, and she turned her eyes away that Peace might not see the tears
+which dimmed her sight.
+
+"You looked so sweet and like a _nangel_ the first time I saw you, and
+this pansy has a reg'lar angel face."
+
+"Don't I look sweet and like an angel any more?"
+
+"Some days--whenever you want to. But lots of times I guess you don't
+care how you look," was the reply, as the busy fingers sorted out the
+different colored blossoms from the box, all unconscious of the stinging
+arrow she had just shot into the heart of her friend. "This blue one's
+Allee. Blue means truth, grandma says, and Allee is true blue. Red in
+our flag stands for valor. Cherry ain't very brave, but I named this
+for her anyway, in hopes she'd ask why and I could tell her. Then maybe
+when she found out that folks thought she was a 'fraid cat, she'd get
+over it. Don't you think she would?"
+
+"Perhaps--if you were her teacher," the older girl answered absently.
+"Who is the black one?"
+
+"Grandpa. Isn't it a whopper? He is real tall but not fat like the
+flower. He always wears black at the University--that's why I picked
+that one for him. This one is grandma and here is Gail. The striped one
+is Faith. She is good in streaks, but she can be awful cross sometimes,
+too,--like you. This tiny one is Glen, and the big, brown, spotted
+feller is Aunt Pen. It makes me think of old Cockletop, a mother hen we
+used to have in Parker, which 'dopted everything it could find wandering
+around loose. That's what Aunt Pen looks as if she'd like to do."
+
+This was too much for the lame girl's risibles, and she laughed
+outright, long and loud, to Peace's secret delight, for when the Lilac
+Lady laughed it was a sure sign that she was feeling better.
+
+When she had recovered her composure, she said gravely, "Speaking of
+Aunt Pen reminds me that she told me this morning the cook had made some
+chicken patties for my special benefit and was hurt to think I refused
+them. You might run up to the house and ask for them now to go with our
+picnic lunch. Minnie will give them to you--cold, please. Some lemonade
+would taste good, too. Aunt Pen knows how to make it to perfection."
+
+Peace was gone almost before she had finished giving her directions, and
+as she watched the nimble feet skimming through the clover, she smiled
+tenderly, then sighed and looked sadly down at her own useless limbs
+which would never bear her weight again. How many years of existence
+must she endure in her crippled helplessness? Oh, the bitterness of it!
+And yet as she gazed at the slippers which never wore out, and compared
+her lot with that of the dancing, curly-haired sprite, tumbling eagerly
+up the kitchen steps after the promised goodies, the old, weary look of
+utter despair did not quite come back into the deep blue eyes; but
+through the bitterness of her rebellion flashed a faint gleam of
+something akin to hope. She was thinking of Peace's latest sunshine
+quotation which had been laboriously entered in the little brown and
+gold volume and brought to her for her inspection:
+
+    "'To live in hope, to trust in right,
+      To smile when shadows start,
+    To walk through darkness as through light,
+      With sunshine in the heart.'"
+
+Below the little stanza, Peace had penned her own version of the words
+in her quaint language: "This means to smile no matter how bad the
+world goes round and to keep on smiling till the hurt is gone. It don't
+cost any more to smile than it does to be uggly, and it pays a heep site
+better."
+
+What a dear little philosopher the child was! A sudden desire to meet
+the other sisters of that happy family sprang up within her heart. Why
+should she stay shut away from the world like a nun in her cloister?
+What had she gained by it? Nothing but bitterness! And think of the joys
+she had missed!
+
+An insistent rustling of the lilac bushes behind her caught her
+attention, and by carefully raising her head she could see the thick
+branches close to the ground bending and giving, as a small, dark object
+twisted and grunted and wriggled its way through the tiny opening it had
+managed to find in the hedge.
+
+The girl's first impulse was to scream for help, but a second glance
+told her that it was not an animal pushing its way through the twigs,
+for animals do not wear blue gingham rompers. So she held her breath and
+waited, and at last she was rewarded by seeing a round, flushed,
+inquisitive baby face peeping through the leaves at her. She smiled and
+held out her hands, and with a gurgle of gladness, the little fellow
+gave a final struggle, scrambled to his feet and toddled unsteadily
+across the lawn to her chair, jabbering baby lingo, the only word of
+which she could understand was, "Peace."
+
+"Are you Glen?" she demanded, smoothing the soft black hair so like his
+father's.
+
+"G'en," he repeated, parrot fashion.
+
+"Where is your mamma?"
+
+"Mamma." He pointed in the direction he had come, and gurgled, "S'eep.
+Papa s'eep. All gone."
+
+The baby himself looked as if he had just awakened from a nap. One cheek
+was rosier than the other, his hair lay in damp rings all over his head,
+and his feet were bare and earth-stained from his scramble through the
+vegetable garden on the other side of the hedge.
+
+A sudden gust of cool wind blew through the trees overhead, a rattling
+peal of thunder jarred the earth, a blinding flash of lightning startled
+both girl and baby, and before either knew what had happened, a torrent
+of rain dashed down upon them. The storm which had been brewing all that
+sultry day broke in its fury. Hicks came running from the stable to the
+rescue of his helpless young mistress, Aunt Pen flew out of the house
+like a distracted hen, and Peace rushed frantically to the garden to
+save the precious picnic lunch and the box of pansies which were to be
+planted under the gnarled old oak nearest the lame girl's window.
+
+So it happened that baby Glen was borne away into the great house to
+wait until the deluge of rain and hail should cease. In the flurry of
+getting everything under shelter, no one thought of the mother at home,
+crazed with anxiety and fright; and the whole group was startled a few
+moments later to behold a bare-headed, wild-eyed woman, drenched to the
+skin, dash through the iron gates, up the walk, and straight into the
+house itself, without ever stopping to knock.
+
+"It's Elspeth!" cried Peace, first to find her voice.
+
+"Glen, where's Glen?" was all the frantic mother could gasp as she stood
+tottering and dripping in the doorway.
+
+"Ma-ma," lisped the little runaway, struggling down from Aunt Pen's lap,
+where he had been cuddling, and running into Elizabeth's arms.
+
+"Peace, why did you take him without saying a word?" she reproached,
+sinking into the nearest chair, and hugging her small son close to her
+breast.
+
+"I didn't--" Peace began.
+
+"I think he must have run away," volunteered the Lilac Lady, staring
+fixedly at Elizabeth's face with almost frightened eyes. "He squirmed
+through the hedge while I was alone in the garden. I had not seen the
+storm approaching, and it broke before I could call Peace or--"
+
+At the sound of the sweet voice, Elizabeth had abruptly risen to her
+feet, and after one searching glance at the white face among the
+cushions, cried out with girlish glee, "Myra! Can it be that Peace's
+Lilac Lady is my dear old chum?"
+
+"You are the same darling Beth!" cried the lame girl hysterically,
+clinging to the wet hand outstretched to hers. "Why didn't I guess it
+before? Oh, I have wanted you _so_ often--but I never dreamed of finding
+you here. And to think I have refused all this while to let Peace bring
+you!"
+
+"No, don't think about that. Her desire is accomplished, however it came
+about--and you are going to let me stay?"
+
+"I would keep you with me always if I could. I have been learning
+Peace's philosophy and find it very--"
+
+"Peaceful?" They laughed together, and in that laugh sounded the doom of
+the hedges which Peace had lamented so long.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+GIUSEPPE NICOLI AND THE MONKEY
+
+
+The next morning dawned bright and clear and cool, and Peace, hurrying
+to school with her nose buried in a great bunch of early roses from the
+stone house, pranced gaily down the hill chanting under her breath,
+"Roses, roses, yellow, red and white, you are surely lovely, sweet and
+bright--another rhyme! They always come when I ain't trying to make 'em.
+I wonder if I'll ever be a big poet like Longfellow was. It must be nice
+to have folks learn the things you write and speak 'em at concerts and
+school exercises like I'm going to do his 'Children's Hour' next Friday.
+I've got it so I can say it backwards almost. Elizabeth says I know it
+perfectly. I hope Miss Peyton will think the same way. She is lots
+harder to please and I 'most never can do anything to suit her."
+
+She sighed dolefully, for her ludicrous mistakes and blunt remarks were
+the bane of her new teacher's methodical life, and many an hour she had
+been kept after school as a punishment for her unruly tongue.
+
+Unfortunately, Miss Peyton belonged to that great army of teachers who
+teach because they must, and not because they love the work. To be
+sure, she was most just and impartial in her treatment of the fifty
+scholars under her supervision, but, possessed of about as much
+imagination as a cat, she failed to analyze or understand the
+dispositions of her charges; and well-meaning Peace was usually in
+disgrace.
+
+But her sunny nature could not stay unhappy long, and as she thrust her
+small nose deeper among the fragrant blossoms, she smilingly added, "I
+guess she'll like these roses, anyway. They are the prettiest I ever
+saw, even in greenhouses. There goes the first bell. I 'xpected to be
+there early this morning, but likely Annie Simms has beat me again.
+Well, I don't care, there is only one more week of school and then
+vacation--and p'raps I can go home. Why, what a crowd there is on the
+walk! I wonder if someone is hurt again. Where can the principal be?"
+
+She broke into a run, forgetful of her cherished bouquet, and dashed
+heedlessly across the school-grounds to the group of excited, shouting
+boys and girls, gathered around the tallest linden, throwing stones and
+missiles of all sorts up into the branches at some object which Peace
+could not see. But as she drew near, she could hear a queer, distressed
+chattering, which reminded her of the monkeys in the park zoo, and
+turning to one of her mates, she demanded, "What is it the boys have got
+treed there?"
+
+"A monkey."
+
+"A monkey?" shrieked Peace in real surprise. "Where did they get him?"
+
+"I guess he b'longs to a hand-organ man. He's dressed in funny little
+pants and a red cap. Thad DePugh found him on his way to school and
+tried to catch him, but he run up the tree."
+
+"And you stand there without saying a word and let them stone a poor
+little helpless monkey!"
+
+"It don't b'long to me," muttered the child, angered by the indignant
+flash of the brown eyes and the scathing rebuke which seemed directed
+against her alone. "Anyway, I ain't stoning it."
+
+"You ain't helping, either. Let me through here!" She pushed and elbowed
+her way into the midst of the throng and boldly confronted the
+ringleaders of the tormentors, screaming in protest, "Don't you throw
+another stone, you big bullies! Ain't you ashamed of yourself, trying to
+kill that poor little thing!"
+
+"We ain't trying to kill it," retorted the nearest chap, pausing with
+his arm uplifted ready to pitch another pebble.
+
+"You mind your own business!" growled another. "This monkey isn't yours.
+We're trying to make it come down so we can catch it."
+
+"You'll quit throwing things at it, or I'll tell Miss Curtis."
+
+"Tattle-tale, tattle-tale!" mocked the throng, and another handful of
+rocks flew up among the branches.
+
+"O-h-h-h-h!" shrieked Peace, beside herself with rage. "You d'serve to
+have the stuffing whaled out of you for that!"
+
+Flinging aside the treasured roses, she seized the biggest boy by the
+hair and jerked him mercilessly back and forth across the yard, while he
+sought in vain to loosen the supple fingers, and bawled loudly for help.
+
+"Teacher, teacher! Miss Curtis, oh teacher!" shouted the excited
+children; and at these sounds of strife from the playgrounds, the
+principal and half a dozen of her staff rushed out of the building to
+quell the riot. But even then Peace did not release her grip on the
+lad's thick topknot.
+
+Pulled forcibly from her victim by the long-suffering Miss Peyton, she
+collapsed in the middle of the walk and sobbed convulsively, while the
+rest of the scholars huddled around in scared silence, eager to see what
+punishment was to be meted out to this small offender, for it was a
+great disgrace at Chestnut School to be caught fighting.
+
+The grave-faced principal looked from the pitiful heap of misery at her
+feet to the blubbering bully who had retreated to a safe distance and
+stood ruefully rubbing his smarting cranium, minus several tufts of
+hair; and though inwardly smiling at the spectacle, she demanded
+sternly, "Peace Greenfield, aren't you ashamed of yourself for fighting
+Thad--"
+
+"Yes," hiccoughed Peace with amazing promptness and candor; "I'm
+terribly ashamed to think I _touched_ him--he's so dirty. But I ain't
+half as ashamed of _myself_ as I am of him."
+
+Even Miss Peyton caught her breath in dismay. But the principal had not
+forgotten her own childhood days, and being still a girl at heart, and
+secretly in sympathy with the small maid on the ground, she only said,
+"Explain yourself, Peace."
+
+"It ain't half as bad for a little girl like me to fight a big bully
+like him, as it is for a big bully like him to fight a little monkey--"
+
+"I wasn't fighting the monkey," sullenly muttered the boy, hanging his
+head in shame.
+
+"You were stoning him, and he couldn't hit back, so there!"
+
+"What monkey?" demanded the principal, glancing swiftly around the yard
+for any evidence of such a creature.
+
+A dozen hands pointed toward the linden tree, and one small voice piped,
+"He's up there!"
+
+"A real monkey?"
+
+"Yes, dressed up in hand-organ pants," Peace explained, scrambling to
+her feet and peering up among the thick leaves for a glimpse of the
+frightened animal, which had ceased its wild chattering and sat huddled
+close against the tree trunk almost within reach. "See it? Poor little
+Jocko, I won't hurt you!" She stretched out her hands at the same moment
+that unknowingly she had spoken its name, and to the intense amazement
+of teachers and pupils, the tiny, trembling creature unhesitatingly
+dropped upon her shoulder, threw its claw-like arms about her neck and
+hid its face in her curls.
+
+"Whose monkey is it?" gently asked Miss Curtis, breaking the silence
+which fell upon the group watching the strange sight.
+
+"I never saw it before," Peace answered.
+
+"But you called it by name," chorused the children, crowding closer
+about her.
+
+"That was just a guess. There's a story in our reader about Jocko, and I
+happened to think of it. I didn't know it was this monkey's name."
+
+"How odd!" murmured the primary teacher.
+
+"She's the queerest child I ever saw," confided Miss Peyton; but the
+principal had seen the janitor approaching the open door to ring the
+last bell, and being at loss to know what to do with the unwelcome
+little animal in Peace's arms, she suggested that the child take it home
+and put it in a box until the owner could be found. This Peace was only
+too delighted to do, for as no one in the neighborhood seemed to know
+where it came from or whose it was, she had fond hopes that no one would
+inquire for it, and that she might keep it for a pet.
+
+So she joyfully carried it back to the parsonage, and burst in upon the
+little household with the jumbled explanation, "Here's a stone I found
+monkeying up a tree and Miss Curtis asked me to bring it home and box it
+till the owner comes around after it. And if he doesn't come, I can keep
+it myself, can't I, Saint John? He jumped right into my arms and won't
+let go, but just shakes and shakes 'sif he was still getting hit by
+those rocks. I pulled Thad DePugh 'most bald headed, and didn't get
+scolded a bit hardly. She made him go to the office, though, and I hope
+he gets licked the way I couldn't do but wanted to."
+
+"Here, here," laughed the minister, looking much bewildered at the
+twisted story. "Just say that again, please, and say it straight. I
+haven't the faintest idea yet how you got hold of that little reptile or
+what Thad's hair had to do with it."
+
+"It isn't a reptile!" Peace indignantly denied. "It's a monkey which hid
+in the linden tree at the schoolhouse to get away from the boys and they
+stoned it."
+
+Little by little the story was untangled, while the monkey still
+tenaciously clung to Peace's neck and wide-eyed Glen hung onto her
+skirts.
+
+"So you think there is a chance of your keeping him for a pet?" said the
+preacher, when at length the tale was ended.
+
+"Can't I?"
+
+"You are hoping too much, little girl. If this animal belongs to an
+organ-grinder, he will be around for him very soon, you may be sure. It
+is the monkey's antics that bring in the pennies. He can't afford to
+lose such a valuable. Besides, Peace, the poor little thing is almost
+dead now."
+
+"Oh, Saint John, he is only scared. S'posing you were a monkey and
+hateful boys stoned you, wouldn't you tremble and shake?"
+
+"I don't doubt it, girlie, but it isn't only fear that ails that animal.
+Look here at his back--just a solid mass of sores. Elizabeth, isn't that
+shocking? This is surely a case for the Humane Society. It is a shame to
+let the creature live, suffering as it must be suffering from those
+cruel wounds. His owner ought to be jailed."
+
+"Oh, Saint John, you aren't going to kill Jocko, are you?"
+
+"No, dear, he is not my property, and I have no legal right to put him
+out of his misery, but we must call up the Humane Society and notify
+them at once. They will be merciful. It is better to have him die now
+than live and suffer at the hands of a brutal owner, Peace. You must not
+cry."
+
+For great tears of pity were coursing down the rosy cheeks, and Glen was
+trying his best to wipe them away with his fat little fists. Elizabeth
+supplied the missing handkerchief, and as Peace raised it to her face,
+the monkey gave a sudden convulsive shudder, the tiny paws loosed their
+grasp about the warm neck, and Jocko lay dead in the child's arms.
+
+For a full moment she stared at the pitiful form, and Elizabeth expected
+a storm of grief and protest; but instead, the little maid drew a long,
+deep breath as of relief, and said soberly, "Saint John is right. Jocko
+is better off dead, but I'm glad he died in my arms, knowing I was good
+to him, 'stead of being stoned to death by those cruel boys in the tree.
+Where is Saint John? Has he already gone to telephone the Human Society?
+He needn't to now. The monkey is dead. I'll run and catch him on my way
+back to school. Good-bye."
+
+She was off like a flash down the hill once more, but the preacher had
+either taken a different route or already reached his goal, for he was
+nowhere in sight. So Peace continued her way to the schoolhouse, racing
+like mad to make up lost time. As she panted up the steps into the
+dimness of the cool hall, she stumbled over a trembling figure crouching
+in the darkest corner by the stairway, and drew back with a startled
+cry, which was echoed by her victim, a frail, ragged, young urchin with
+a thatch of jet black curls and great, hollow, dusky eyes.
+
+"Who are you?" demanded Peace, not recognizing him as one of the regular
+pupils at Chestnut School. "And what are you doing here?"
+
+"Giuseppe Nicoli," answered the elf, looking terribly frightened and
+shrinking further into his corner. "Me losa monk'. He come here but gona
+way. W'en Petri fin', he keel me." The thin face worked pathetically as
+the little fellow bravely tried to stifle the sobs which shook his
+feeble body; and Peace, with childish instinct, understood what the
+waif's queer, broken English failed to tell her.
+
+"Is Petri your father?" she asked.
+
+"No, no, no!" He shook his head vehemently to emphasize his words.
+
+"Then why are you afraid of him?"
+
+"He playa de organ, me seeng, me feedle, de monk' he dance and bring in
+mon'. Monk' los', Petri keel me."
+
+"The monkey is dead." The words escaped her lips before she thought, but
+the frozen horror on the boy's face brought her to her senses, and she
+hastily cried, "But he was _so_ sick and hurt! His back was just a mess
+of solid sores. It is better that he is dead!"
+
+"Oh, but Petri keel me!"
+
+"Sh! The teachers will hear you if you screech so loud. Come upstairs
+with me. Miss Curtis will know what to do. She won't let Petri get you.
+Don't be afraid, Jessup. I wouldn't hurt you for the world."
+
+He did not understand half that she said, but the great brown eyes were
+filled with sympathy, and with the same instinct which had led the
+monkey to leap into her arms a few moments before, the ragamuffin laid
+his grimy fists into hers, and she led him up the winding stairs to the
+principal's office.
+
+When the worthy lady had heard the queer story, she could only stare
+from one child to the other and gasp for breath. Peace was noted for
+finding all sorts of maimed birds or sick animals on her way to school,
+but never before had she appeared with a human being, and Miss Curtis
+almost doubted now that little Giuseppe was a real human. He looked so
+pitifully like a scarecrow. What could she do with him? It would be
+criminal to let the brutal organ-player get him again if the lad's story
+were true, and she did not doubt its truth after the waif had slipped
+back his ragged sleeves and showed great, ugly, purple welts across his
+naked arms.
+
+"Poor little chap," she murmured. "Poor little chap!" As she gingerly
+touched the bony hands, she was seized with a happy inspiration, and
+bidding the children sit down till she returned, she entered a little
+inner office, and Peace heard her at the telephone. "Give me 9275."
+
+There was a pause; then the child grew rigid with horror. The voice from
+the adjoining room was saying, "Is this the Humane Society?"
+
+It was to the Humane Society that Saint John had intended telephoning,
+in order that they might come up and kill the poor monkey. Was Miss
+Curtis a murderer? Surely Giuseppe was not to be killed, too. Then why
+had she telephoned the Humane Society?
+
+Tiptoeing across the floor to the Italian waif's chair, she clutched him
+by the hand, dragged him to his feet, and signalling him to be quiet,
+she stole cautiously from the room with him in tow. Down the long stairs
+they hurried, and out into the bright sunshine, though poor, frightened
+Giuseppe protested volubly in his own tongue and the little broken
+English which he knew, for once on the streets, he feared that the bold,
+bad Petri would find him and drag him away to dreadful punishments
+again. But the harder he protested, the faster Peace jerked him along,
+repeating over and over in her frantic efforts to make him understand,
+"Petri shan't get you, Jessup. But if we stay there the Human Society
+will, and that's just as bad. They killed Deacon Skinner's old horse in
+Parker, and Tim Shandy's lame cow, and were coming to finish Jocko when
+he died of his own self. You don't want to go the same way, do you?"
+
+Poor Peace did not know the real mission of the Humane Society, or she
+would not have been so shocked at the idea of little Giuseppe's falling
+into their hands; but her fear had its effect upon the struggling
+urchin, and his feet fairly flew over the ground, as he tried to keep
+pace with his leader. When only half a block from the parsonage, Peace
+abruptly halted, and the boy's dark eyes looked into hers inquiringly,
+fearfully. What was the matter now? This was certainly a queer child at
+his side. Perhaps it would have been wiser had he stayed with the
+gentle-faced lady in the schoolhouse.
+
+"Run," he urged, tugging at her hand when she continued to stand
+motionless in the middle of the walk. "Petri geta me."
+
+"No, no, Petri shan't have you, I say!" Peace declared savagely. "But if
+I take you home to Saint Elspeth, like as not the Human Society will be
+right there to nab you; and if they ain't now, Miss Curtis will send 'em
+along as soon as she finds we've run away. Where can I take you?"
+
+Anxiously she looked about her for a hiding place, and as if in answer
+to her question, her glance rested upon the stone house, surrounded by
+its tall hedges. "Sure enough! Why didn't I think of that before? My
+Lilac Lady will take care of you, I know, until Saint John can find some
+nice place for you to live always. Come on this way."
+
+She whisked around the corner, threw open the gate, and ushered the
+trembling waif into the splendid garden, with the announcement, "Here is
+the place I mean, and there is the Lilac Lady under the trees."
+
+The boy surveyed the masses of brilliant flowers, the sparkling
+fountain, the shifting shadows of the great oaks above him where birds
+were singing. Then he turned and scanned the white, sweet face among the
+pillows, and clasping his thin hands in rapture, he breathed, "Italy!
+Oh, eet iss Paradise!" And as if unable to restrain his joy any longer,
+he burst into a wild, plaintive song, with a voice silvery toned and
+clear as a bell. Peace paused in the midst of a turbulent explanation to
+listen; Aunt Pen came to the door with her sewing in her hand; Hicks
+stole around the corner of the house, thinking perhaps the young
+mistress had broken her long silence; and the lame girl herself lay with
+parted lips, charmed by the glorious burst of melody.
+
+The song won her heart, even before she heard the pitiful story of the
+wretched little musician, and when Peace had finished recounting the
+morning's events, the mistress of the stone house turned toward her aunt
+with blazing, wrathful eyes, exclaiming impetuously, "Isn't that
+shocking? Oh, how dreadful! We must help him, Aunt Pen. Poor little
+Giuseppe! See the Humane Society about him at once--Now don't look so
+horrified, Peace. They don't kill little boys and girls. They take good
+care of just such waifs as this, and provide nice homes for them. Even
+if Giuseppe were related to Petri, the Humane Society would take the
+child away from him on account of his brutality. He is worse than a
+beast to treat the boy so, and Giuseppe shall never go back to him as
+long as I can do anything. He shall go to school like other children and
+get an education. Then we'll make a splendid musician of him; and who
+knows, Peace, but some day he will be a second Campanini?"
+
+Peace had not the faintest idea of what a Campanini was, but she did
+understand that Giuseppe Nicoli had found a home and friends, and she
+was content.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
+
+
+Peace was panic stricken. Almost at the last minute Miss Peyton had
+changed her mind about the poem which she was to speak, and had given
+her instead of "The Children's Hour" which she had so carefully learned,
+those other lines called "Children"; and there were only five days in
+which to learn them. Memorizing poetry, particularly when she could not
+quite understand its meaning, was not Peace's strong forte, and it was
+small wonder that she was dismayed at this change of program; but it was
+useless to protest. When Miss Peyton decided to do a certain thing, "all
+the king's horses and all the king's men" could not alter her decision.
+Peace had learned this from bitter experience and many hours in the dark
+closet behind the teacher's desk. So, inwardly raging, though outwardly
+calm, she accepted her fate, and marched home to air her outraged sense
+of justice before the little parsonage family, sure of sympathy and help
+in that quarter. Nor was she disappointed.
+
+Elizabeth recognized the small maid's failings as a student, and was
+much provoked at Miss Peyton's want of understanding, but very wisely
+kept these sentiments to herself, and set about to help Peace in her
+difficult task. At her suggestion, the young elocutionist waited until
+the following morning before beginning her study of the new lines, and
+with the teacher's copied words in her hand, went out to the hammock
+under the trees to be alone with her work. There she sat swinging
+violently to and fro, gabbling the stanzas line by line, while she
+ferociously jerked the short curls on her forehead and frowned so
+fiercely that Elizabeth, busy with her Saturday baking, could not resist
+smiling whenever she chanced to pass the door, through which she could
+see the familiar figure.
+
+Slower and slower the red lips moved, lower and lower the hammock swung,
+and finally with a gesture of utter despair, Peace cast the paper from
+her, and dropped her head dejectedly into her hands.
+
+"Poor youngster," murmured the flushed cook from the window where she
+sat picking over berries. "John, have you a minute to spare? Peace is in
+trouble--Oh, nothing but that new poem, but I thought perhaps you might
+invent some easy way for her to memorize it. You were always good at
+such things, and I can't stop until my cake is out of the oven and the
+pies are made."
+
+He assented promptly, and strolling out of the door as if for a breath
+of fresh air, wandered across the grass to the motionless figure in the
+hammock. "What seems to be the matter, chick?" he inquired cheerfully,
+rescuing the discarded paper from the dirt and handing it back to its
+owner.
+
+"Oh, Saint John, this is a perfectly _dreadful_ poem! I don't b'lieve
+Longfellow ever wrote it, and even if he did, I know I can _never_ learn
+it. The verses haven't _any_ sense at _all_. Just listen to this!" She
+seized the sheet with an angry little flirt, and read to the amazed man:
+
+    "'Ye open the eastern windows,
+      That look toward the sun,
+    Where shots are stinging swallows
+      And the brooks in mourning run.
+
+    "'What the leaves are to the forest,
+      Where light and air are stewed,
+    Ere their feet and slender juices
+      Have been buttoned into food,--
+
+    "'That to the world are children;
+      Through them it feels the glow
+    Of a brighter and stunnier slimate
+      Than scratches the trunks below.
+
+    "'Ye are better than all the ballots
+      That ever were snug and dead;
+    For ye are living poets,
+      And all the blest ate bread.'"
+
+With difficulty the preacher controlled his desire to shout, and mutely
+held out his hand for the paper, which he studied long and carefully,
+for even to his experienced eyes, the hastily scribbled words were hard
+to decipher. But when he had finished, all he said was, "You have
+misread the lines, Peace. Wait and I will get you the book from the
+library. Then you will see your mistake."
+
+Shaking with suppressed mirth he went back to his study, found the
+volume in question, and returned to the discouraged student with it open
+in his hands. Half-heartedly Peace reached up for it, but he shook his
+head, knowing how easy it was for her to misread even printed words and
+what ludicrous blunders it often led to, and gravely suggested, "Suppose
+I read it to you first. Then if there is anything you do not understand,
+perhaps I can explain it so it will be easier to memorize."
+
+"Oh, if you just would!" Peace exclaimed gratefully. "I never could read
+Miss Peyton's writing, and then she marks me down for her own mistakes."
+
+So in sonorous tones, the preacher read the poet's beautiful tribute to
+childhood:
+
+    "'Come to me, O ye children!
+      For I hear you at your play,
+    And the questions that perplexed me
+      Have vanished quite away.
+
+    "'Ye open the eastern windows,
+      That look towards the sun,
+    Where thoughts are singing swallows
+      And the brooks of morning run.
+
+    "'In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine,
+      In your thoughts the brooklet's flow,
+    But in mine is the wind of Autumn
+      And the first fall of the snow.
+
+    "'Ah! what would the world be to us
+      If the children were no more?
+    We should dread the desert behind us
+      Worse than the dark before.
+
+    "'What the leaves are to the forest,
+      With light and air for food,
+    Ere their sweet and tender juices
+      Have been hardened into wood,--
+
+    "'That to the world are children;
+      Through them it feels the glow
+    Of a brighter and sunnier climate
+      Than reaches the trunks below.
+
+    "'Come to me, O ye children!
+      And whisper in my ear
+    What the birds and the winds are singing
+      In your sunny atmosphere.
+
+    "'For what are all our contrivings,
+      And the wisdom of our books,
+    When compared with your caresses,
+      And the gladness of your looks?
+
+    "'Ye are better than all the ballads
+      That ever were sung or said;
+    For ye are living poems,
+      And all the rest are dead.'"
+
+"Well," breathed Peace in evident relief, as he lingeringly repeated the
+last stanza, "that sounds a little more like it. Maybe with that book I
+can learn her old poem now."
+
+"Those are beautiful verses, Peace," he rebuked her.
+
+"Yes, I 'xpect they are. I haven't got any grudge against the verses,
+but it takes a beautifully long time for me to learn anything like that,
+too." She seized the fat volume with both hands, tipped back among the
+hammock cushions, and with her feet swinging idly back and forth, began
+an animated study of the right version of the words, while the minister
+strolled back to the house to enjoy the joke with Elizabeth.
+
+But though Peace studied industriously and faithfully during the
+remaining days, she could not seem to master the lines in spite of all
+the minister's coaching, and in spite of Miss Peyton's struggle with her
+after school each day.
+
+"There is no sense in making such hard work of a simple little poem like
+that," declared the teacher, closing her lips in a straight line and
+looking very much exasperated after an hour's battle with the child
+Tuesday afternoon. "You have just made up your mind that you will learn
+it, and that is where the whole trouble lies."
+
+"That's where you are mistaken," sobbed Peace forlornly, though her eyes
+flashed with indignation as she wiped away her tears. "It's you which
+has got her mind made up, and you and me ain't the same people. I just
+can't seem to make those words stick, and I might as well give up trying
+right now."
+
+"You will have that poem perfectly learned tomorrow afternoon, or I
+shall know the reason why."
+
+"Then I 'xpect you'll have to know the reason why," gulped the unhappy
+little scholar, who found the hill of knowledge very steep to climb.
+"You can't make a frog fly if you tried all your life. It takes me a
+_month_ to learn as big a poem as that, and you never gave it to me
+until Friday afternoon."
+
+"Nine four-line stanzas!" snapped the weary instructor, privately
+thinking Peace the greatest, trial she had ever had to endure.
+
+"It might as well be ninety," sighed the child. "If Elizabeth was my
+teacher, or the Lilac Lady, I could get it in no time, but I never could
+learn anything for some people. Just the sight of them knocks everything
+I know clean out of my head."
+
+Longfellow slammed shut with a terrific bang, and Miss Peyton rose from
+her chair, choking with indignation. "You may go now, Peace
+Greenfield," she said icily, "but that poem must be perfect by tomorrow
+afternoon, remember."
+
+So with a heavy heart Peace trudged home and took up her struggle once
+more in the hammock; but was at last rewarded by being able to say every
+line perfectly and without much hesitation. Elizabeth and her spouse
+both heard her repeat it many times that evening and again the next
+morning, and sent her on her way rejoicing to think the task was
+conquered.
+
+But when it came to the afternoon's rehearsal, poor Peace could only
+stare at the ceiling, and open and shut her lips in agony, waiting for
+the words which would not come, while Miss Peyton impatiently tapped the
+floor with her slippered toe and frowned angrily at the miserable
+figure. Finally Peace blurted out, "P'raps if you'd go out of the room,
+I could say it all right."
+
+"You will say it all right with me in the room!" retorted the woman
+grimly.
+
+"Then s'posing you look out of the window and quit staring so hard at
+me. All I can think of is that scowl, and it doesn't help a bit."
+
+The dazed teacher shifted her gaze, and Peace slowly began, "'Come to
+me, O ye children!'" speaking very distinctly and with more expression
+than Miss Peyton had thought possible.
+
+"There!" exclaimed the woman, much mollified, when the child had
+finished. "I knew you could say it if you wanted to. Now try it again."
+
+So with the teacher staring out of the window, and Peace gazing at the
+ceiling, the poem was recited without a flaw six times in succession,
+and she was finally excused to put in some more practice at home.
+
+Elizabeth thought the day was won, but poor Peace took little comfort in
+the knowledge that she had acquitted herself creditably at the last
+rehearsal. "It would be different if that was tomorrow afternoon," she
+sighed. "But I just know she'll look at me when I get up to speak, and
+with her eyes boring holes through me, I'll be sure to forget some part
+of it. None of my other teachers were like her a bit. Miss Truesdale and
+Miss Olney and Miss Allen all liked children; but I don't b'lieve Miss
+Peyton does. There's lots of the scholars that she ain't going to let
+pass, and the only reason they didn't have better lessons is 'cause she
+scares it out of 'em. Oh, dear, school is such a funny thing!"
+
+"Would you like to have me come to visit you tomorrow?" suggested
+Elizabeth, who dreaded the ordeal almost as much as did Peace.
+
+"No, you needn't mind. S'posing I should make a _frizzle_ of everything,
+you'd feel just terribly, I know, and I should, too. I guess it will be
+bad enough with all the other mothers there. But I wish there wasn't
+_going_ to be any exercises. I'm sick of 'em already. And what do you
+think now! She told us only this afternoon that we must all have an
+_antidote_ for some of the Presidents to tell tomorrow for General
+Lesson."
+
+"A what!"
+
+"An _antidote_. A short story about some of the Presidents of the United
+States."
+
+"You mean anecdote, child. I didn't suppose you were old enough to be
+studying history in your room."
+
+"Oh, this ain't hist'ry! We have a calendar each month telling what big
+men or women were born and why. Then teacher tells us something about
+their lives. Lots of 'em are very int'resting, but I can't remember
+which were Presidents and which were only _manner-fracturers_. That's my
+trouble."
+
+"Well, it just happens that I can help you out there, my girlie," smiled
+Elizabeth, smoothing the damp curls back from the flushed cheeks. "John
+has a book in his library of just such things as that. We'll get it and
+hunt up some nice, new stories that aren't hoary with age."
+
+The volume was quickly found, and several quaint anecdotes were selected
+for the next day's program, so if by chance other pupils had come
+prepared with some of them, there would be still others for Peace to
+choose from. And when school-time came the next day, she departed almost
+happily, with the Presidential book tucked under one arm and the
+well-fingered Longfellow under the other; for she meant to make sure
+that the words were fresh in her mind before her turn came to recite.
+
+The session began very auspiciously with some happy songs, and Peace's
+spirits rose. Then came the drawing lesson. Peace was no more of an
+artist than she was an elocutionist, but she tried hard, and was working
+away industriously trying to paint the group of grape leaves Miss Peyton
+had arranged on her desk, when one of the little visitors slipped from
+his seat in his mother's lap and wandered across the room to his
+sister's desk, which chanced to be directly in front of Peace; so he
+could easily see what she was doing. He watched her in silence a moment,
+and then demanded in a stage whisper, "What you d'awing?"
+
+"Grape leaves," Peace stopped chewing her tongue long enough to answer.
+
+"No, they ain't neither. They's piggies."
+
+The brown head was quickly raised from her task, and the would-be artist
+studied her work critically. The boy was right. They did look somewhat
+like a litter of curly-tailed pigs. All they needed were eyes and
+pointed ears. Mechanically Peace added these little touches, made the
+snouts a little sharper, drew in two or three legs to make them
+complete, and sat back in her seat to admire the result of her work.
+
+"Ah," simpered Miss Peyton, who had chanced to look up just that
+minute, "Peace has finished her sketch. Bring it to the desk, please, so
+we may all criticize it."
+
+Peace had just dipped her brush into the hollow of her cake of red
+paint, intending to make the piggies' noses pink, but at this startling
+command from the teacher, she seemed suddenly turned to an icicle. What
+could she do? She glanced around her in an agony of despair, saw no
+loophole of escape, and gathering up the unlucky sketch, she stumbled up
+the aisle to the desk, still holding her scarlet-tipped paint brush in
+her hand.
+
+Usually Miss Peyton examined the drawings herself before calling upon
+the scholars to criticise; but this was the last day of school, and the
+program was long; so she smiled her prettiest, and said sweetly, "Hold
+it up for inspection, Peace."
+
+Miserably Peace faced the roomful of scholars and parents, and extended
+the drawing with a trembling hand. There was an ominous hush, and then
+the whole audience broke into a yell of laughter. Miss Peyton's face
+flushed scarlet, and holding out her hand she said sharply, "Give it to
+me."
+
+Peace wheeled about and dropped the sheet of pigs upon the desk, but at
+that unfortunate moment, the paint-brush slipped from her grasp and
+spilled a great, scarlet blot on the teacher's fresh white waist.
+Dismayed, Peace could only stare at the ruin she had wrought, having
+forgotten all about her drawing in wondering what punishment would
+follow this second calamity; and Miss Peyton had to speak twice before
+she came to her senses enough to know that she was being ordered to her
+seat.
+
+"Oh," she gasped in mingled surprise and relief, "lemon juice and salt
+will take that stain out, if it won't fade away with just washing."
+
+Again an audible titter ran around the room, and the teacher, furiously
+red, repeated for the third time, "Take your seat, Peace Greenfield!"
+
+Much mortified and confused, the child subsided in her place and tried
+to hide her burning cheeks behind the covers of her volume of anecdotes,
+but fate seemed against her, for Miss Peyton promptly ordered the paint
+boxes put away, the desks cleared, and the scholars to be prepared to
+tell the stories they had found. Now it happened that generous-hearted
+Peace had lent her book of Presidential reminiscences to several of her
+less lucky mates that noon, and as she was one of the last to be called
+upon, she listened with dismay as one after another of the tales she had
+taken so much pains to learn were repeated by other scholars.
+
+In order that all might hear what was said, each pupil marched to the
+front of the room, told his little story and returned noiselessly to
+his seat; so when it came Peace's turn, she stalked bravely up the
+aisle, faced the throng of scared, perspiring children and beaming
+mothers, made a profound bow, and said, "George Washington was
+pock-marked."
+
+She was well on her way to her seat again, when Miss Peyton's crisp
+tones halted her: "Peace, you surely have something more than that. Have
+you forgotten?"
+
+"No, ma'am. I lent my stories to the rest of the scholars this noon and
+they have already spoke all I knew, 'xcept those that are _hairy_ with
+age. Everyone knows that George Washington was bled to death by
+over-_jealous_ doctors."
+
+The harder Peace tried to do her best, the more blundering she became;
+and now, feeling that the visitors were having great fun at her expense,
+she sank into her seat and buried her face in her arms, swallowing hard
+to keep back the tears that stung her eyes.
+
+Directly, she heard Patty Fellows reciting, "The Psalm of Life," and
+Sara Gray answer to her name with, "The Castle-Builder." Next, the
+children sang another song, and then--horror of horrors!--Miss Peyton
+called her name. It was too bad! Any other teacher would have excused
+her, but she knew Miss Peyton never would. So with a final gulp, she
+struggled to her feet and advanced once more to the platform.
+
+Her heart beat like a trip-hammer, her breath came in gasps, and her
+mind seemed an utter blank. "'Come to me,'" prompted the teacher,
+perceiving for the first time the child's panic and distress; but Peace
+did not understand that this was her cue, and with a despairing glance
+at the immovable face behind the desk, she cried hastily, "Oh, not this
+time! I've thunk of it now. Here goes!
+
+    "'Between the dark and the daylight
+      When the night is beginning to lower,
+    Comes a pause in the day's occupation,
+      That is known as the Children's Hour.'"
+
+Verse after verse she repeated glibly, racing so rapidly that the words
+fairly tumbled out of her mouth. Suddenly the dreadful thought came to
+her. She had begun the wrong poem! Her voice faltered; she turned
+pleading, glassy eyes toward the teacher; and Miss Peyton,
+misunderstanding the cause of her hesitation, again prompted, "'They
+climb--'"
+
+Peace was hopelessly lost.
+
+    "'They climb up onto the target,'"
+
+She recited in feverish tones:
+
+    "'O'er my arms and the back of my hair;
+    If I try to e-scrape, they surround me;
+      They scream to me everywhere,'"
+
+Someone tittered; the ripple of mirth broke into a peal of laughter; and
+with a despairing sob, Peace cried, "Oh, teacher, I've got the
+stage-_strike_! I can't say another word!" And out of the room she
+rushed like a wounded bird.
+
+Usually Elizabeth was her comforter, but this day some blind instinct
+led her to take refuge in the Enchanted Garden, and she sobbed out her
+sorrow and humiliation in the skirts of her beloved Lilac Lady.
+
+Peace in tears was a new sight for the invalid, and she was alarmed at
+the wild tempest of grief. But the small philosopher could not be
+unhappy long, and after a few moments the tears ceased, the storm was
+spent, a flushed, swollen face peeped up at the anxious eyes above her,
+and with a familiar, queer little grimace, she giggled, "I made 'em all
+laugh, anyway, and they did look awful solemn and _funerally_ lined up
+there against the wall. But I s'pose teacher won't let me pass now, and
+I'll have to take this term all over again."
+
+"Tell me about it," said the lame girl gently, stroking the damp curls
+on the round, brown head in her lap.
+
+So Peace faithfully recounted the day's events to the amusement and
+indignation of her lone audience; but when she had finished, she sighed
+dolefully. "The worst of it is, I've got to go back to school tomorrow
+for my books and dismissal card. Oh, mercy, yes! And Miss Peyton has
+got my Longfellow. I don't b'lieve I can ever ask her for it, even if
+it is Saint John's."
+
+"Oh, yes, you can," assured the Lilac Lady. "By the time tomorrow comes,
+the teacher will have forgotten all about the mistakes of today."
+
+"It's very plain that you don't know Miss Peyton," was the disconcerting
+reply. "There's nothing she ever forgets. My one comfort is I won't have
+to go to school to her next year even if she doesn't let me pass now,
+'cause by that time the girls will all be well and I can go home again.
+There's always a grain of comfort in every bit of trouble, grandma
+says."
+
+"Sca-atter sunshine, all along the wa-ay," sang the lame girl, surprised
+out of her long silence in her anxiety to cajole her little playmate
+into her happy self again; but Peace did not even hear the rich
+sweetness of the voice, so surprised was she to have her motto turned
+upon her in that manner, and for a few moments she sat so lost in
+thought that the lame girl feared she had offended her, and was about to
+beg her forgiveness when the round face lifted itself again, and Peace
+exclaimed, "That's what I'll do! Tomorrow, when I have to go back for my
+card, I'll offer to kiss her good-bye, and I'll tell her I'm sorry I've
+been such a bother to her all these weeks. I never thought about it
+before, but I s'pose she's just been in _ag-o-ny_ over having me upset
+all her plans like I've managed to do, though I never meant to. The
+worse I try to follow what she tells us to do, the bigger chase I lead
+her. My, what a time she must have had! Do you think she she'd like to
+hear I'm sorry?"
+
+"What a darling you are!" thought the lame girl. "I don't wonder
+everyone loves you so much." But aloud she merely answered heartily, "I
+think it is a beautiful plan, dear. When she understands that you have
+tried your best to please her, I am sure she will be kind to my little
+curly-head."
+
+So it happened that when Peace received her dismissal card from Miss
+Peyton the next morning, she lifted her rosy mouth for a kiss, and
+murmured contritely, "I'm very sorry you have caused me so much bother
+since I came here to school, but next term I won't be here, for which
+you bet I'm thankful." She had rehearsed that little speech over and
+over on her way to school; but, as usual, when she came to say it to
+this argus-eyed teacher, she juggled her pronouns so thoroughly that no
+one could have been sure just what she did mean.
+
+However, Miss Peyton had done some hard thinking since the previous
+afternoon, and a little glimmer of understanding was beginning to
+penetrate her methodical, order-loving soul, so she stooped and kissed
+the forgiving lips raised to hers, as she said heartily, "That is all
+right, my child. I wish I could erase all the troubles that have marred
+these days for you. I am sorry I did not know as much three months ago
+as I do now."
+
+"I am, too, but folks are never too old to learn, grandpa says," Peace
+answered happily, and departed with beaming countenance, for Miss Peyton
+had "passed her" after all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+PEACE FINDS NEW PLAYMATES
+
+
+It had been decided that Giuseppe Nicoli was to live at the stone house
+and be educated as the Lilac Lady's protégé.
+
+The Humane Society had thoroughly investigated the case and found that
+the poor little waif was an orphan, whom greedy-eyed Petri had taken in
+charge on account of his unusual musical talent. There were no relatives
+on this side of the water to claim the homeless lad, and those in old
+Italy were too poor to be burdened with his keep; so the Society gladly
+listened to the lame girl's plea, and gave Giuseppe into her keeping.
+
+It would be hard to tell which was the more jubilant over his good
+fortune, the child himself, or Peace, who was never tired of rehearsing
+the story of his rescue from the brutal organ-grinder's clutches. So the
+minute she knew that the big house was to be his future home, she raced
+off to the corner drug store to telephone the good news to Allee and the
+rest at home, who were much interested in the doings at the little
+parsonage, and only regretted that the Hill Street Church was not yet
+able to afford a telephone of its own, for Peace could make only one
+trip daily to the drug store, and often the girls thought of something
+else they wanted to ask her after she had rung off. Also, the drug clerk
+was sometimes impolite enough to tell Peace that she was talking too
+long, and that does leave one so embarrassed.
+
+This day, however, he had no occasion for uttering a word of complaint,
+for after a surprised exclamation and three or four rapid questions of
+the speaker at the other end of the line, Peace banged the receiver on
+its hook, and turned rebellious eyes on the idle clerk lolling behind
+the counter, saying, "Now, what do you think of that?"
+
+"What?" drawled the man, who was in his element when he could tease
+someone. "Do you take me for a mind reader?"
+
+"I sh'd say not!" she answered crossly. "It takes folks with brains to
+read other folks' minds."
+
+"Whew!" he whistled, delighted with the encounter. "Your claws are out
+today. What seems to be the matter?"
+
+"Grandpa has taken grandma and the little girls to the Pine Woods
+without so much as saying a word to me about it; and Gail and Faith have
+gone to the lake with the Sherrars and never invited me."
+
+"If the whole family is away, who is keeping house?"
+
+"Gussie and Marie, of course. Who'd you s'pose? Grandma told Gussie that
+when I called up she was to 'xplain matters to me so's I'd understand
+how it all happened and not feel bad about their going off. Gail and
+Faith went first. I 'xpected that part of it, but none of 'em ever
+hinted a word to me about the Pine Woods. I s'pose they've lived so long
+without me at home that they've got used to it and so don't care any
+more about me."
+
+Two tears stole out from under the twitching lids and rolled down the
+chubby cheeks. The clerk moved uneasily. He did hate to see anyone cry,
+but had not the slightest idea how to avert the threatened deluge. As
+his eye roved about the small store for something to divert her
+attention, it chanced to rest upon the candy cabinet, and hastily diving
+into the case, he brought forth a handful of tempting chocolates, and
+presented them with the tactful remark, "Aw, you're cross; have some
+candy to sweeten you up!"
+
+The brown eyes winked away the tears and blazed scornfully up at the
+face above her. "Keep it yourself! You need it!" she growled savagely,
+pushing the extended hand away from her so fiercely that the candy was
+scattered all about the floor, and without a backward glance, she
+flounced out of the store.
+
+"Well, I vum!" exclaimed the astonished clerk. "Next time I'll let her
+bawl." Stooping over to collect the hapless chocolate drops before they
+should be tramped upon, he began to whistle, and the notes followed
+Peace out on the street--just a bar of her sunshine song, but the
+woe-begone face brightened a bit, although the girl said to herself,
+"Oh, dear, seems 'sif that song chases me wherever I go. I get it sung
+or whistled or spoke at me a dozen times a day. And it's hard work
+always to remember it, 'specially when folks go off and forget all about
+you when you've just been counting the _days_ till 'twas time to go home
+and see Allee and grandpa after being away so long. S'posing I should
+die 'fore they get back, I wonder how they'll feel. Why, Peace
+Greenfield, you hateful little tike! Ain't you ashamed of yourself? Yes,
+I am. Of course they didn't run away a-purpose. Grandpa didn't know he
+had to go until an hour 'fore the train went, and there wasn't time to
+send for me and get my clo'es ready to go, too. It was awful nice of him
+to think of taking the girls and grandma to the Pine Woods to get real
+well and rested while he did up his business in Dolliver. They'll come
+back lots better than they'd be if they had to stay here through all
+this hot.
+
+"Think of being shut up three months in the house so's they couldn't
+plant gardens or go flower-hunting, or have picnics, or even go to
+school! I've been doing all those things while they've been sick. I'm
+truly 'shamed of myself to be so cross about their going off. Elizabeth
+and Saint John are just the dearest people to me, and the Lilac Lady
+really cried tears in her eyes when she thought I was going to leave
+here Monday. She'll be glad to know that I am to stay two or three weeks
+longer. And it will be such fun to get letters from the girls in the
+woods all the while they are gone. After all, I b'lieve I'll have a
+better time here anyway."
+
+The cloud had passed over without the threatened storm, and the round
+face, though still a little sober, looked quite contented again. But
+during this silent soliloquy, the young philosopher had been wandering
+aimlessly through the streets, without any thought of the direction she
+was taking, and was suddenly roused from her revery by the mingled
+shouts and laughter of a throng of boys and girls playing noisily in a
+great yard fenced in by tall iron pickets.
+
+"Why, school is closed for the summer!" murmured Peace to herself,
+pressing her face against the iron bars in order that she might watch
+the lively games on the other side of the palings. "Elizabeth says all
+the Martindale schools close at the same time. What can these children
+be doing here then? P'raps this is where the old lady who lived in a
+shoe had to move to when the shoe got too small for her fambly. Do you
+s'pose it is?"
+
+"Yup, I guess that's how it happened," answered a voice close beside
+her, and she jumped almost out of her shoes in her surprise, for
+unconsciously she had spoken her thoughts aloud, and a merry-faced
+urchin, sprawled in the shade of a low-limbed box-elder, had answered
+her. His peal of delight at having startled her so brought another lad
+and two girls to see the cause of his glee, and Peace was shocked to
+behold in the smaller of the girls her own double, only the stranger
+child was dressed in a long blue apron, which made her look much older
+than she really was. As the children stood staring at each other through
+the close-set pickets, the boy in the grass discovered the likeness of
+the two faces, and with a startled whoop sat up to ask excitedly of
+Peace, "Did you ever have a twin?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Oh, dear, I was sure you must have! You're just the _yimage_ of Lottie.
+She's a _norphan_, and the folks that brought her here didn't even know
+what her real name was or anything about her, and we've always 'magined
+that some day her truly people would come and find her and she'd have a
+mother of her own."
+
+"Is this a--a school?" asked Peace. She wanted to say orphan asylum, but
+was afraid it would be impolite, and she did not wish to offend any of
+these friendly appearing children.
+
+"It's the Children's Home."
+
+"Who owns it?"
+
+"Why--er--I don't know," stammered the second youth, who seemed the
+oldest of the quartette inside the fence.
+
+"I guess the splintered ladies do," remarked the cherub in the grass.
+
+"The wh-at?"
+
+"Tony's trying to be smart now," said the larger girl scornfully. "The
+Lady Board is meeting today, and he always calls them the splintered
+ladies."
+
+"What is a Lady Board?" inquired mystified Peace, thinking this was the
+queerest home she had ever heard tell of.
+
+"Why, they are the ladies who say how things shall be done here--"
+
+"The number of times we can have butter each week and how much milk each
+of us can drink, and the number of potatoes the cook shall fix," put in
+the boy called Tony.
+
+"Don't you have butter every day!" cried Peace in shocked surprise.
+
+"Well, I guess not! We have it Sunday noons and sometimes holiday
+nights."
+
+"And we never have sugar on our oatmeal, or sauce to eat with our
+bread," added Lottie, shaking her curls dolefully.
+
+"What do you eat, then?"
+
+"Oh, bread and milk, and mush of some kind, or rice, and potatoes and
+vegetables and meat once a week and pie or pudding real seldom."
+
+"Who takes care of you?" asked Peace again after a slight pause.
+
+"The matron and nurses."
+
+"What's a matron?"
+
+"The boss of the caboose," grinned Tony irreverently.
+
+"Is she nice?"
+
+"That's what we're waiting to find out. She's just come, you see, and we
+don't know her real well yet. The other one was a holy fright."
+
+"But the new one _looks_ nice," said Lottie loyally. "She smiles all the
+time, and Miss Cooper never did. She always looked froze."
+
+"She must be like Miss Peyton. She was my teacher at Chestnut School and
+I didn't like her a bit till the day school ended. She did get thawed
+out then, though, and I b'lieve she'll be nicer after this."
+
+"Do you live near here?" asked Tony, thinking it was their turn to ask
+questions of this debonair little stranger, who evidently belonged to
+rich people, because her brown curls were tied back with a huge pink
+ribbon, a dainty white pinafore covered her pretty gingham dress, and
+her feet were shod in patent leather slippers.
+
+"No, grandpa's house is three miles away, but I am staying at the Hill
+Street parsonage." Briefly she explained how it had all come about, and
+the story seemed like a fairy tale to the four eager listeners.
+
+"Then you are an orphan, too," cried Tony triumphantly, when she had
+finished. "How do you know Lottie ain't your twin sister?"
+
+"'Cause there never were any twins in our family, and if there had been,
+do you s'pose mother'd have let one loose like that, to get put in a
+Children's Home? I guess not!"
+
+"Maybe she's a cousin, then."
+
+"We haven't got any. Papa was the only child Grandpa Greenfield had, and
+mother's only brother died when he was little."
+
+"But Lottie's just the _yimage_ of you," insisted Tony, bent on
+discovering some tie of relationship between the two.
+
+"I can't help that. I guess it's just a queerity, though I'd like to
+find out I had some sure-enough cousins which I didn't know anything
+about. Besides, Lottie is lots darker than me. Her hair is black and so
+are her eyes. Least I guess they are what you'd call black. Mine are
+only brown."
+
+"You're the same size. Ain't they, Ethel?" asked the older lad.
+
+"Yes, that was what I was thinking. I don't believe many folks would
+know them apart if they changed clothes."
+
+"Oh, let's do it!" cried Peace, charmed with the suggestion. "We've got
+a book at home that tells how a little beggar boy changed places with a
+prince, and they had the strangest 'xperiences! It'll be lots of fun to
+fool the others. They haven't been paying any 'tention to our talking
+here. Where's the gate?"
+
+"At the other side of the yard. There's only one--"
+
+"But visitors aren't allowed to come and play with us without a permit
+from the matron," began the larger boy, cautiously.
+
+"Oh, bother, George," Tony cried impatiently. "We can't get a permit now
+with all the Lady Boards here, and you know it."
+
+"Why not?" asked Peace.
+
+"'Cause Miss Chase is busy with them in the parlors and we can't see her
+till they are gone."
+
+"How long will that be?"
+
+"Oh, hours, maybe."
+
+"Then I'll come in now and get my permit later."
+
+Without waiting to hear what comments they might have to make about this
+plan, she flew around the corner Tony had indicated a moment before, and
+in through the great iron gates, standing slightly ajar. Following the
+wide walks leading from the front yard to the back, she came to another
+lower gate, where Ethel and Lottie met her; and in a jiffy the white
+apron was exchanged for the long, blue pinafore of the black-eyed child.
+
+"You'll have to give her your hair-ribbon, too," said Ethel, surveying
+the two figures critically. "We don't wear ribbons here on common days,
+and that would give away that you weren't really Lottie."
+
+Peace gleefully jerked off her rampant pink bow, and the older girl
+deftly tied it among the raven locks of the other orphan.
+
+Tony and George now came slowly around the corner of the building, to
+discover whether the visitor had really kept her promise, and were
+themselves puzzled to know which was their mate and which the stranger
+child until Peace laughed. "That's where you are different," said
+George, critically. "You don't sound a bit alike. Come on and see who
+will be first to find out the secret."
+
+So the masqueraders were led laughingly away to meet the other children,
+still boisterously playing at games under the trees. It did not take the
+fifty pair of sharp eyes as long to discover the difference as the five
+plotters had hoped, but they were all just as charmed with the result,
+and gave Peace a royal time. She was a natural leader and her lively
+imagination delighted her new playmates. But Lottie, in her borrowed
+finery, received scant attention, and being, unfortunately, rather a
+spoiled child, she resented the fact that Peace had usurped her place.
+So she retired to the fence and pouted. At first no one noticed her
+sullen looks, but finally Ethel missed her, and finding her standing
+cross and glum in the corner, she tried to draw her into the lively
+game of last couple out, which the stranger had organized.
+
+"I won't play at all," declared the jealous girl. "No one cares whether
+I'm here or not, and 's long as you'd rather have _her_, you can just
+have her!"
+
+"But we wouldn't rather," fibbed the older girl. "She's our comp'ny and
+we have to be nice to her."
+
+"'Cause you like her better'n you do me," insisted the other.
+
+"No such thing! Come on and see!"
+
+"I won't, either!"
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Peace, hearing the excited voices and
+stepping out of line to learn the cause.
+
+"Oh, Lottie's spunky," answered Ethel carelessly, turning back to join
+her companions.
+
+"I'm not! You horrid thing, take that!" Out shot one little hand and the
+sharp nails dug vicious, cruel scratches down Ethel's cheek.
+
+"You cat!" cried Peace, horrified at the uncalled-for act, and springing
+at the white-aproned figure, she caught her by the shoulder, and shook
+her till her teeth rattled. Lottie doubled up like a jack-knife and
+buried her sharp teeth in the brown hand gripping her so tightly, biting
+so viciously that the blood ran and Peace screamed with pain.
+
+Frightened at the sight of the two girls clinched in battle, the other
+children danced excitedly about the yard and shrieked wildly. Tony even
+started for the matron, but remembered the Lady Board meeting, and flew
+instead for the new cook, busy preparing refreshments for the
+distinguished visitors, gasping out as he stumbled into the kitchen,
+"Oh, come quick! There's a strange girl in the yard and Lottie's chewing
+her into shoe-strings!"
+
+Bridget was new at the business, or she would never have meddled in the
+affair. Glancing out of the window, she saw what looked to be a small
+riot in the corner, and knowing that the matron and her assistants were
+engaged with their visitors in the other wing of the building, she
+dropped her plate of sandwiches, and rushed to the rescue as fast as her
+avoirdupois would permit. She was familiar enough with the rules of the
+institution to know that the Home children did not wear white aprons and
+pink hair-ribbons except on special occasions, and also that fighting
+was severely punished. It never occurred to her that the matron was the
+proper authority to whom to report trouble. She made a lunge for the two
+struggling children, jerked them apart, shook them impartially, and
+blazed out in rich, Irish brogue, "Ye dirty spalpeens, phwat d'ye mane
+by sich disorderly conduct? It'll be a long toime afore ye'll iver git
+inside this fince again to play, ye black-eyed miss! Make tracks now or
+I'll call the p'lice! You, ye little beggar, march straight inter the
+house! The matron'll settle with ye good and plenty whin she gits
+toime!"
+
+Both girls tried to explain, and the frightened, excited Home children
+shouted in vain. Irish Bridget seized the resisting Lottie, thrust her
+forcibly out through the gate, and hustled poor Peace into the dark
+entry, in spite of her protests and frantic kicking. "I'm not Lottie,
+I'm not Lottie!" she wailed. "I don't b'long here, I tell you!"
+
+"I don't care if ye're Lottie or Lillie," screamed the angry cook,
+pinioning the struggling child and carrying her bodily up a short flight
+of stairs into a wide hall. "Ye've been breaking the rules by fightin'
+and in that room ye go! The matron'll settle with ye afther a bit. An'
+ye'll catch it good, too, if ye kape on screeching loike that."
+
+Peace was dumped into a small, office-like apartment, the key turned in
+the lock, and she was left alone. Frantic with excitement and fear, she
+let out three or four piercing screams, rattled the knob, and pounded
+the door until her fists were sore, but no one came to release her, and
+after a few moments she seemed to realize how useless it was to expect
+help from that quarter. She looked around her prison hopefully,
+curiously, for some other avenue of escape. A window stood open across
+the room, but the screen was fastened so tightly that she could not
+move it even when she threw her whole weight upon it. Besides, it was a
+long way to the ground below. Would she dare jump if the screen were not
+in her way?
+
+Then her restless eyes spied the telephone on the desk behind her, and
+with a shriek of triumph she seized the receiver and called breathlessly
+over the wire, "Hello, central! Give me the drug store where I telephone
+every day. Number? I don't know the number. It's on Hill Street and
+Twenty-ninth Avenue. What information do you want? Well, I've thunk of
+the drug store's name now. It's Teeter's Pharmacy, and it's on the
+corner--Well, I'm giving you the information 's fast as I can. My name
+is Peace Greenfield, and the crazy cook's taken me for someone else and
+shut me in when I don't b'long to this Home at all. I changed clothes
+with--well, what is the matter now? If you'll give me that drug
+store--Teeter's Pharmacy, corner of Hill Street and Twenty-ninth
+Avenue,--I'll have them go after Saint John, so's he can come and get me
+out of here. A--what? Policeman? Are you a p'liceman? No, I ain't one,
+and I don't want one! Do you s'pose I want to be 'rested for getting
+bit? Oh, dear, I don't know what you are trying to say! Ain't you
+central? Then why don't you give me Teeter's Pharmacy, corner of Hill
+Street and--now she's clicked her old machine up! Oh, how will I ever
+get out of here?"
+
+Dismayed to find that central had deserted her, she puckered her face to
+cry, but at that moment there were hasty steps in the hall, a key grated
+in the lock, and the door flew open, showing a startled, white-faced
+woman and frightened Tony in the doorway, while a whole string of
+curious-eyed ladies were gathered in the hall behind them.
+
+Silently Peace stared from one to another, and then as no one offered to
+speak, she asked, "Where's the cook? Have you seen her lately?"
+
+"No," laughed the matron, very evidently relieved at her reception.
+"Tony tells me that a mistake has been made and that you don't belong to
+the Home."
+
+"He is right, I'm thankful to say," returned Peace with such a comical,
+grown-up air that the ladies in the hall giggled and nudged each other,
+and one of them ventured to ask, "Why?"
+
+"Just think of having to live here day after day without any butter on
+your bread, or gravy for your potatoes, or sugar in your oatmeal,
+without any pies or cakes or puddings 'cept on Sundays and special
+holidays,--with only mush, mush, mush all the time, and not even all the
+milk you wanted, maybe! Hm! I'm glad I live in a house where there ain't
+any Lady Boards to tell us what we have to do and what we can have to
+eat. Come to think of it, I'm part of a _norphan_ 'sylum, really.
+There's six of us at Grandpa Campbell's but he doesn't bring us up on
+mush. We have all the butter and sugar and gravy and pudding and sauce
+that we want--"
+
+"This isn't an orphan asylum," said the matron kindly, wondering what
+kind of a creature this queer child was, but already convinced that
+Bridget had blundered, in spite of her startling resemblance to Lottie.
+
+"It isn't? What do you call it then?"
+
+"It is a Home for the purpose of taking care of children who have one or
+both parents living, but who, for some reason, cannot be taken care of
+in their own homes for a time."
+
+"Oh! Then you take the place of mother to them?"
+
+"I try to."
+
+"Do you like your job?"
+
+"Very, very much!"
+
+"You do sound 'sif you did, but I sh'd think you'd hate to sit all those
+little children down to butterless bread and gravyless potato and
+sugarless mush. Oh, I forgot! That ain't your fault. It's the Lady Board
+which says what you have to feed your children. Did you ever ask
+them--the ladies, I mean--to be common visitors and eat just what the
+rest of you had? I bet if you'd just try that, they'd soon send you
+something different! I don't see how you stay so fat and rosy with--but
+then you've only just come, haven't you? I s'pose there's lots of time
+to get thin in. I wonder if that's what is the matter with Lottie,"
+Peace chattered relentlessly on. "She is awfully ugly today; but then
+I'd be, too, if I had to live on such grub. It's worse than we had at
+the little brown house in Parker--"
+
+"If you will slip off that apron and come with me," interrupted the
+matron desperately, not daring to look at the faces of her dismayed
+"Lady Board," "we will find Lottie and get your own clothes so you can
+go home. The next time you come, be sure to get a permit first. Then
+this trouble won't happen again."
+
+"Oh, will you let me come some more?"
+
+"Aren't you Dr. Campbell's granddaughter? Tony said you were."
+
+"Yes, he's my adopted grandpa now."
+
+"Mrs. Campbell is interested in the Home--"
+
+"Is she a splinter?"
+
+"A _what_?"
+
+Tony giggled and dodged behind the matron to hide his tell-tale face,
+and Peace, remembering Ethel's explanation, said hastily, "I mean a
+piece of the Lady's Board?"
+
+"No, she is not one of the Board of Directors, if that is what you mean;
+but she often sends the children little treats--candy and nuts at
+Christmas time, or flowers from the greenhouse after the summer blossoms
+are gone."
+
+"Oh, I see. She told me one time that she would take us to visit the
+Children's Home, but I didn't know it was this. We've got scarlet fever
+at our house--."
+
+"Child alive! What are you doing here?"
+
+"Oh, I ain't got it, and anyway, I haven't been home since our spring
+vacation in March. I am staying with Saint John, the new preacher at
+Hill Street Church, and I 'xpect if I don't get home pretty soon, he'll
+think I am lost, sure. I went down to the drug store to telephone
+grandma, and when Gussie told me they had gone to the Pine Woods, I was
+so mad for a time that I just boiled over. So I walked on and on till I
+came to this place. I never have been so far before, and I didn't know
+there was such a Home around here. I know they'll let me come often.
+There aren't many children up our way to play with and sometimes it gets
+lonesome. There's Lottie now! Cook must have found out that I knew what
+I was talking about. Here's your apron, Lottie; and say, I'm awful sorry
+I shook you. Will you pretend I didn't do it, and be friends with me
+again?"
+
+"I--I bit you," stammered the child, as much astonished at this greeting
+as were the matron and the "Lady Board," who still lingered in the hall,
+fascinated with this frank creature, who so fearlessly voiced her own
+opinions of their work.
+
+"So you did!" exclaimed Peace, in genuine surprise, glancing down at the
+ugly, purple bruise on her hand, which she had completely forgotten.
+"Well, I won't remember that any more, either. Two folks which look so
+much alike ought to be friends, and I want you to like me."
+
+"I--do--like you," faltered the embarrassed child. "I'm sorry I was
+hateful. Here are your apron and ribbon."
+
+"Keep the ribbon," responded Peace generously. "I s'pose I've got to
+take the apron back, 'cause grandpa says I mustn't give away my clothes
+without asking him or grandma about it, and I can't now, 'cause they are
+both gone away. But a hair-ribbon ain't clothes, and, anyway, that's one
+Frances Sherrar gave me, so I know you can have it." She pressed the
+pink bow back into Lottie's hand, and throwing both arms around her,
+kissed her fervently, saying, "I am coming again some time soon, and
+I'll bring you a bag of sugar and some real butter so's you can have it
+extra for once, even if the Lady Boards didn't order it for that
+p'tic'lar day. Good-bye, Mrs. Matron, and Tony, and--all the rest. I've
+had a good time here--till I run up against the cook, I mean. Mercy!
+She's strong! But I'm glad grandpa adopted us so's I didn't have to come
+here to live." She waved her hand gaily at them, and danced away down
+the walk, whistling cheerily.
+
+"She's a quaint child!" murmured the lady who had questioned her.
+
+"She's a trump!" declared Tony to Lottie, as they departed together for
+the playgrounds.
+
+And in her heart the matron whispered, "She's a darling!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM
+
+
+"Oh, Elspeth, you can't guess where I've been!" shrieked Peace, puffing
+with excitement as she stumbled up the steps after her long run home.
+
+"Why, I thought you were playing with Giuseppe and the Lilac Lady,"
+replied the young mother, looking up in surprise from the little white
+dress she was hemstitching.
+
+"But I went down to the drug store to telephone grandma!"
+
+"I know you did, but I thought you stopped to tell the news at the stone
+house on your way home."
+
+"What news?"
+
+"That the invalids have run away and left you."
+
+"How did you know that?"
+
+"The postman came just after you left, and he brought a letter from Dr.
+Campbell, explaining all about it."
+
+"Then he did take time to write, did he? I was pretty hot about it at
+first," Peace admitted candidly, "But I don't care at all now. I've had
+such a splendid time here with you all the while they've been shut up
+sick, that no matter how long they stay in the Pine Woods, it couldn't
+make up for all they've missed by not being me."
+
+"Do you really feel that way about it, dear?" cried Elizabeth, much
+pleased and touched at the child's unlooked-for declaration.
+
+"You just better b'lieve I do! Why, I've had just the nicest time! I
+'xpected I'd miss seeing the girls just dreadfully, but Gail and Faith
+have come up every single week, and I've telephoned home 'most every
+day, and the rest of the time has been filled so full that I haven't
+minded how long I've been away at all. This must be my other home, I
+guess."
+
+"You little sweetheart! I wonder if you have any idea how much we are
+going to miss you when grandpa takes you away again."
+
+"Oh, yes, I 'magine I do. I make such a racket wherever I go that when I
+leave, the stillness seems like a hole. But don't you fret! I'm coming
+up here real often--just as often as grandma will let me. 'Cause I've
+got not only you to visit now, but the Lilac Lady and Juiceharpie and
+the Home children--Oh, that's what I started to tell you about when I
+first came up.
+
+"I've just been there. I never knew there was a Home so near here, or
+I'd have been there before this. And what do you think? There's a girl
+living in it named Lottie, which looks so much like me that when we
+changed aprons the other children didn't know the difference at first.
+They think she must be my twin sister or some cousin I don't know
+anything about, though I kept telling them there weren't any cousins in
+our family, and if mother'd ever had twins, she'd have kept 'em both and
+not throwed one away to grow up without knowing who her people were.
+Don't you think so?"
+
+"I most assuredly do," Elizabeth answered promptly. "Gail has often told
+me that your papa was an only child, and the one brother your mamma had
+died when he was a little fellow. So there can't be any near cousins,
+and you are not a twin, so Lottie isn't your sister. How did it all come
+about?"
+
+The story was quickly told, to Elizabeth's mingled amusement and horror;
+and Peace ended by sagely remarking, "So I'm going to ask Allee if she's
+willing that we should use some of our Fourth of July money to buy them
+a treat of sugar and butter for a whole day--or a week, if it doesn't
+take too much, and grandpa don't sit down on the plan. I don't think he
+will, 'cause these children aren't fakes. They really d'serve having
+some good times 'casionally, and it did make them so happy to have
+someone extra to play with. I s'pose they get awfully tired of fighting
+the same children all the time. Besides, we've got lots of money in our
+bank, 'cause we used only about ten dollars of our furnishing money to
+dec'rate our room with, and the rest we saved for patriotism. I am awful
+glad there are such places for poor children to go to when their own
+people can't take care of 'em, but I do wish the Lady Boards weren't so
+stingy."
+
+Elizabeth knew it would do no good to argue the matter, and besides, she
+was not well posted concerning this particular Home, so she merely
+agreed that Peace's plan would no doubt make the little folks happy, but
+wisely suggested that she say no more about it until she had consulted
+with the family at home and received their consent. "Because, you see,
+dear, if you make some rash promises which you can't fulfill, it will
+only make the children unhappy, instead of bringing sunshine into their
+lives."
+
+"But isn't it a good way to spend money? They ain't beggars with bank
+accounts somewhere, like the old woman which got Gail's dollar last
+spring."
+
+"I think it is a very nice way, dearie, and I am sure grandpa will not
+object a mite; but the best way is not to make any promises that we
+don't intend to carry out, or that we are not sure we can fulfill. Then
+no one will be disappointed if our plans don't come through the way we
+hoped they would. Do you see what I mean?"
+
+"Yes; never promise to do _anything_ until you're sure you can. But that
+would keep me from doing lots of things, Elspeth. I could not ever
+promise to be good, or--"
+
+"Oh, Peace, I didn't mean that!" Elizabeth never could get accustomed to
+this literal streak in the small maiden's character; and, in
+consequence, her little preachments often received an unexpected
+shower-bath. "I meant not to promise to do favors for other folks unless
+we can and will see that they are done."
+
+"Ain't it a favor to be good when it's easier and naturaler to be
+bad--not really bad, either, but just yourself?"
+
+"No, dear. We ought to _try_ to be good without anyone's asking us to,
+and just because it is easier to do wrong than right is no excuse for us
+at all."
+
+Unconsciously she said this very severely, for she thought she heard
+Saint John chuckling behind the curtains of the study window; but Peace
+interpreted the lecture literally, and hastily jumping up from the step,
+said, "I think I'll go and tell the Lilac Lady about the children, and
+see if she hasn't got more roses than she knows what to do with, 'cause
+I know they'd like 'em at the Home. Do you care?"
+
+"No, Peace. Glen is asleep. But don't stay long, for it is nearly five
+o'clock now, and tea will soon be ready."
+
+"All right. I'll bring you some roses for the table if she has any to
+spare today, and she ought to, 'cause the pink and white bushes have
+just begun to open."
+
+She whisked out of sight around the corner in a twinkling, and was soon
+perched on the stool beside the lame girl's chair, regaling her with an
+account of the afternoon's adventures.
+
+The white signal fluttering from the lilac bushes had been discarded
+long ago, and Peace was welcome whenever she came now, for with her
+peculiar childish instinct, she seemed to know when the invalid found
+her chatter wearisome. At such times she would sit in the grass beside
+the chair, silently weaving clover chains, or wander quietly about the
+premises, revelling in the beauty and perfume of the garden flowers, or
+better still, whistling softly the sweet tunes which the pain-racked
+body always found so soothing.
+
+But this afternoon the young mistress of the stone house was lonely, for
+Aunt Pen and Giuseppe were in town shopping, and she wished to be
+amused; so Peace was doubly welcome, and felt very much flattered at the
+attention her lengthy story received. To tell the truth of the matter,
+the lame girl had just discovered how cunningly the small, round face
+was dimpled, and in watching these little Cupid's love kisses come and
+go with the child's different expressions and moods, she did not hear a
+word that was said until Peace heaved a great, sympathetic sigh, and
+closed her tale with the remark, "And so I'm going to see if I can't
+take them some--enough to last a week maybe--for it must be _dreadful_
+to eat bread and potatoes every day without any butter or gravy."
+
+The older girl roused herself with a start, and promptly began asking
+questions in such an adroit fashion that in a moment or two she had the
+gist of the whole story, and was much interested in the picture Peace
+drew of the Home children's life. "Why, do you know, I used to go there
+with Aunt Pen--years ago--to carry flowers and trinkets, and sometimes
+to sing. My! How glad they used to be! They would sit and listen with
+eyes and mouths wide open as if they simply couldn't get enough. Aunt
+Pen used to be quite interested in the Home. Poor Aunt Pen! She gave up
+all her pet hobbies when I was hurt."
+
+"Didn't you like to go?"
+
+"Oh, it was flattering to have such an appreciative audience, of course;
+but--my ambitions soared higher than that. They were as well satisfied
+with a hand-organ."
+
+"Oh, Tony ain't! And neither is Ethel! They both just _love_ music, and
+they kept me whistling until I was tired. And how they do love stories!
+I 'magined for them till my thinker ran empty. I couldn't help wishing I
+was you, so's I could tell them all the beau-ti-ful fancies you make up
+as you lie here under the trees day in and day out. I told 'em about
+you and pictured this garden for 'em, and the flowers which Hicks cuts
+by the _bushel-basket_, and Juiceharpie which plays the fiddle and
+dances and sings like a cheer-up--"
+
+"A cherub, do you mean? Giuseppe is inconsolable to think he can't teach
+you to say his name correctly."
+
+"Yes, and I'm the same thing to think he's got such a name that won't be
+said right. He doesn't like Jessup any better. But never mind, I know
+he'd like Tony and the other Home boys; and I thought maybe you would
+let him go some day and play for the children there. Miss Chase is
+awfully sweet and nice, even if she is fat, and she'd be tickled to
+pieces to give him a permit any time he could come."
+
+The lame girl laid a thin, waxen hand on the curly head bobbing so
+enthusiastically at her side, and murmured gently, "How do you think up
+so many beautiful things to do for other people?"
+
+"I don't," Peace frankly replied. "I guess they just think themselves.
+You see, I know what it is to be poor and not have nice things like
+other folks, and now that grandpa's taken us home to live with him in a
+great, big house where there's always plenty and enough to spare, seems
+like it was just the proper thing to give some of it away to make the
+less _forchinit_ a little happier. It takes _such_ a little to make
+folks smile!"
+
+"Indeed it does, little philosopher. Your name should have been Lady
+Bountiful. Giuseppe may go with you to the Home as often as he wishes
+with his violin, and help you make them happy."
+
+"Oh, you're such a darling!" cried Peace in ecstasy, hugging the hand
+between her own pink palms. "I wish you could go, too. Tony says they
+have song services every Sunday afternoon, and they are great! I'm to go
+next Sunday and hear them, but I wish you could, too."
+
+"You are very generous," murmured the lame girl a trifle huskily.
+Then--perhaps it was because Peace's enthusiasm was contagious, perhaps
+it was due to a growing desire in her own heart for the world from which
+she had shut herself so long ago--the older girl suddenly electrified
+her companion by adding, "I should like to hear them myself. Do you
+think the matron would allow them to visit me in my garden, seeing that
+I can't go to the Home as other folks do?"
+
+"Oh, do you mean that?"
+
+"Every word!"
+
+"Miss Chase couldn't say no to anything so beautiful, and I don't think
+the Lady Boards would object, either; but I'll find out. Saint John can
+tell me, I'm sure. Oh, I never dreamed of anything so lovely! I wouldn't
+have _dared_ dream it!" She hugged herself in rapture, and her eyes
+beamed like stars. How grand it was to have friends like the Lilac
+Lady!
+
+So it came about that a few days later fifty shining-faced, bright-eyed
+boys and girls from the Home marched proudly up Hill Street and in
+through the great iron gates to the Enchanted Garden, where the lame
+girl, with Aunt Pen and the parsonage household to assist her, waited to
+greet them.
+
+That was a gala day, talked about for weeks afterward, dreamed of in the
+silent watches of the night, and recorded in memory's treasure book to
+be lived over again and again in later years,--one of those heart's
+delights, the fragrance of which never dies.
+
+The Home children were charmed with the beautiful garden and its cool
+fountain, just as Peace had known they would be, and the frail young
+hostess was as charmed with her guests. They had games on the wide lawn,
+they sang their sweet, happy choruses, Giuseppe played and danced, Peace
+and the preacher whistled, Elizabeth told them stories, and Aunt Pen
+surprised them all by serving sparkling frappé with huge slices of fig
+cake, such as only Minnie, the cook, could make. Then, as the afternoon
+drew to a close, and the matron began lining up her charges for the
+homeward walk, Tony and Lottie stepped out of the ranks and sang a
+pretty little verse of thanks for the good time all had enjoyed.
+
+So surprised was the Lilac Lady at this unexpected little turn, that for
+an instant her eyes grew misty with unshed tears; then she smiled
+happily, and obeying a sudden impulse, she lifted her voice and
+carolled,
+
+    "Come again, my little friends,
+      You have brought me joy today;
+    In my heart you've left a hymn
+      That shall linger, live alway."
+
+"Oh, my!" cried Peace, squeezing Elizabeth's hand in her astonishment
+and pleasure, "is it an angel singing?"
+
+"Your Lilac Lady, dear. Didn't you know she could sing?"
+
+"She told me she used to once, but I never heard her before."
+
+"At college she was our lark. How we loved that voice! I think, little
+girl, you have saved a soul."
+
+But Peace did not hear the words. She was joining in the wild applause
+that greeted this burst of melody from the long silent throat. Everyone
+had been taken by surprise, the children were dancing with delight, the
+matron's homely face was beaming, Aunt Pen's lips worked pathetically,
+and Hicks, still busy filling small arms with the choicest flowers from
+the garden, could only whisper over and over again, "Praise be, praise
+be, she has found her voice!"
+
+The Lilac Lady herself seemed almost unconscious of the fact that she
+had torn down this last and strongest barrier between self and the
+world, and if she noticed the pathetic surprise on the loving faces
+hovering about her, she did not show it, but smiled serenely and
+naturally when the applause had died away. She would sing no more that
+afternoon, however, and the little visitors had to be contented with a
+promise of another song the next time they came. So they said good-bye
+to their charming hostess and filed happily down the walk to the street.
+
+As the iron gates closed behind the little company homeward bound, Peace
+turned to blow a good-night kiss between the high palings to the young
+mistress, lying in her chair where they had left her, but paused
+enraptured by the picture her eyes beheld. A rosy ray of the setting sun
+filtered through the oak boughs overhanging her couch and fell full upon
+the white face among the cushions, bringing out the rich auburn tints of
+the heavy hair till it almost seemed as if a crown of gleaming gold
+rested upon her head, and the wonderful blue eyes reflected the light
+like sea-water, clear and deep and--unfathomable.
+
+"Oh," whispered Peace, thrilling with delight, "I ought to have called
+her my _Angel_ Lady!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+CHILDREN'S DAY AT HILL STREET CHURCH
+
+
+"What do you think's happened now?" asked Peace, seating herself
+gloomily upon the footstool beside the invalid, and thrusting a long
+grass-blade between her teeth.
+
+"I am sure I don't know," smiled the older girl. "You look as if it were
+quite a calamity."
+
+"It's worse'n a c'lamity. It's a _capostrophe_. Glen's gone and got the
+croup--"
+
+"Yes, so his papa told Aunt Pen this morning. How is the poor little
+fellow now?"
+
+"He's better, doctor says; but his cold is dreadfully bad and may last
+for days, so Elspeth can't hear the children practise for next Sunday--I
+mean a week from tomorrow. That is Children's Day, you know. And Miss
+Kinney has ab-so-lute-ly refused to sing for us, 'cause Elspeth asked
+Mildred George to take a solo part, too, and Miss Kinney doesn't like
+Mildred. Why are huming beings so mean and horrid to each other? Now, I
+wouldn't care if I found someone which could sing better'n I,--s'posing
+I could sing at all. I'd just help her make all the music she could and
+be glad there was somebody who could beat me."
+
+"Would you really?" asked the lame girl with a queer little note of
+doubt in her voice.
+
+"Why, of course! I sh'd hate to think I was the best singer God knew how
+to make."
+
+This was an idea which the invalid had never heard expressed before; but
+still somewhat skeptical, she asked, "Do you feel that way about
+whistling, too?"
+
+"I sure do! I like to whistle, and it's nice to know I can beat all the
+boys that go to our school, and even Saint John. But you should hear
+Mike O'Hara! Oh, but he can whistle! It sounds like the woods full of
+birds. It's--it's--it's--" words failed her--"it's _heaven_ to listen to
+him. I'm glad I _know_ someone who whistles better than I can, 'cause
+there's that to work for, to aim at. But if I ever get so I can whistle
+as well as he does, I s'pose there will be lots better ones still. Miss
+Kinney wants to be the very best singer at Hill Street Church, though,
+and she's afraid if Mildred gets to taking solo parts in the exercises
+folks will want her all the time; so she's just trying to spoil the
+whole program that Saint Elspeth has worked so hard over."
+
+Peace's observations were sometimes positively uncanny, and as she
+voiced this sentiment, the Lilac Lady asked curiously, "How do you know
+that is her reason? Did she tell you, or did Mildred?"
+
+"Neither one. I heard Mrs. Porter tell Elspeth yesterday that Miss
+Kinney had cold feet; so after she was gone, I asked about it. Saint
+John was there, and Elspeth just laughed and said it was a remark I must
+forget, 'cause it wasn't real kind to speak so about anybody. But when I
+was in bed and they thought I'd gone to sleep, I heard Saint John ask
+Elizabeth about it, and she told him how Miss Kinney was acting, and how
+the program would all be spoiled, 'cause there isn't anyone to take her
+place in the solo parts, and it is too late now to drill the children
+for anything else. It's even worse now, with Glen down sick so's Elspeth
+can't help get up some other program."
+
+"What kind of exercises were you going to have, may I ask? You have had
+such hard work to keep from telling me at different times that I thought
+perhaps it was a secret."
+
+"Elspeth wanted it as a surprise, you know, so I thought it would be
+better not to talk about it even with you. Do you care?"
+
+"Not a bit, dearie, only I had an idea that possibly I might take
+Elizabeth's place for a few days, with Aunt Pen's help. She used to be a
+famous driller for children's entertainments, and I know she would be
+more than pleased to have her finger in this pie, for she admires your
+young preacher very much, while Beth is an old friend of hers. The
+children could come here to rehearse--"
+
+"Oh, but wouldn't that be fine! You do have the splendidest thinks!
+Who'd take Miss Kinney's part? That's the most important of all. Would
+you?"
+
+"I? Oh, Peace, how could _I_ take part--a cripple? I haven't been
+outside these gardens for years."
+
+"It's time you had a change, then. It wouldn't hurt you to be rolled
+down the street in your chair, would it?"
+
+"So everyone could see and pity me?" The voice was full of scathing
+bitterness.
+
+"So everyone could know and love you, my Lilac Lady! They couldn't
+_help_ loving you. I wanted to hug you the first time I ever laid eyes
+on you, and I don't feel any different yet."
+
+"All the world is not like you."
+
+"No, I reckon it ain't, 'cause there's millions and millions of
+pig-tailed Chinamen and little brown Japs, and Esquimeaux who take baths
+in whale oil 'stead of water, which ain't a bit like me. But I'm
+speaking of 'Merican children. They'd love you for the way you sing and
+tell stories first, most likely; but when they came to know you
+yourself, they'd like just the bare you. Tony and Ethel and Lottie and
+George and all the rest of the Home children can't talk enough about
+you, and Miss Chase says they're 'most wild to think you want 'em to
+come every week steady this summer. She says a person like you can do
+'em more good now than years of sermons after they are older. She calls
+you the children's 'good angel.' I meant to tell you before, 'cause I
+thought you'd like to know, but somehow this fuss of Elspeth's made me
+forget everything else. Say! Why couldn't we get the Home children to
+help us in our choruses? They usu'ly go to the church just across the
+street from there on account of it being nearer, but I'm sure the matron
+would let 'em help us this one time, 'specially as tomorrow is their
+Children's Sunday. Tony told me."
+
+"That is a splendid plan, Peace. If you think Aunt Pen and I can take
+Elizabeth's place until Glen is better, I'll send Hicks over to the Home
+with a note for Miss Chase, and we will have a rehearsal this very
+afternoon. Can you get me the music?"
+
+"Yes, Elspeth's got the song-books at the parsonage now. There was to be
+a practise this afternoon for the _corn-tatter_, but she thought she'd
+just have to send 'em home as fast as they came. I'll run right over and
+tell her your plans so's she'll have the children come over here
+instead. It will be ever so nice to have the boys and girls from the
+Home take part, 'cause there didn't begin to be enough lilies or poppies
+or vi'lets, and so many had dropped out of the rose chorus that only
+Mittie Cole is left. She's a good singer, though, if she doesn't get too
+scared."
+
+"Well, you run along and get me as many copies of the cantata as you
+can. Tell Elizabeth I will be very careful of them."
+
+"Shall I tell her you'll take Miss Kinney's part?"
+
+"No, indeed," was the hasty answer. "If she asks about it, you might say
+that it will be taken care of, so she need not fret the least little
+bit."
+
+"Oh, and say, what about the flowers for the Home children? I guess
+likely we can't have them after all, 'cause we're to be dressed up in
+flowers to represent our parts."
+
+"Flowers? Oh, I will attend to that. Our French maid is perfection when
+it comes to getting up costumes of any kind."
+
+"It ain't _costumes_. It's just our flowers, but there are daisies and
+poppies and vi'lets and maybe others that ain't in blossom yet or else
+are all done for; so's we would either have to buy them at the
+greenhouses or get artificial ones."
+
+"That is easily done, dear. Elise can do wonders with crêpe paper and
+the glue-pot. Don't you worry about the Home children if Miss Chase will
+let us borrow them."
+
+So Peace skipped joyously home to pour out the good news to the
+preacher's troubled little wife, who was worrying alternately over the
+hoarse, sick little man lying in her arms and the program for
+Children's Sunday, which now looked as if it must prove a failure in
+spite of all the time and hard work she had given it. So when the child
+explained the Lilac Lady's plans, Elizabeth gladly resigned the cantata
+music, expressed her sincere thanks by kissing Peace warmly--for she
+knew, of course, that whatever beautiful plans the young crippled
+neighbor might have, they were prompted by the active brain under the
+bobbing brown curls--and returned with a lighter heart to her vigil over
+Glen.
+
+Miss Chase was glad to lend the children to Hill Street Church, and they
+were overjoyed at the idea of being loaned. As they proved to be apt
+pupils, they were already quite familiar with the beautiful songs by the
+time the original chorus members put in appearance at the parsonage for
+the afternoon's rehearsal. At first, the regular scholars were inclined
+to criticize the new plans which dragged in the little Home waifs; but
+Aunt Pen, who had readily agreed to help, was very tactful, the lame
+girl very lovable, and in a few minutes all the objections had been
+swept aside and harmony reigned supreme. Then they settled down to hard
+work, and how they did practise! Aunt Pen played the piano, Giuseppe
+took up the refrain on his violin, and the great stone house fairly rang
+with the chorus of the hundred or more voices. Indifference melted into
+interest, and interest into enthusiasm. Before the afternoon had drawn
+to a close, every heart present was fairly aching for the coming of
+Children's Sunday with its beautiful service of song, and the Lilac Lady
+was triumphant.
+
+"But who will take Miss Kinney's part?" frowned Marjorie Hopper, the
+deacon's granddaughter. "She told papa last night that she simply
+washed her hands of the whole affair."
+
+"Never you fret," said Peace, nodding her head sagely. "Let her wash!
+We've got someone to take it who can sing lots prettier than she ever
+thought of doing."
+
+"Not Mildred--"
+
+"No, Mildred's got her own part, but--"
+
+There was a sudden movement in the invalid's chair, and the lame girl
+sat up with a most becoming blush tinting the waxen cheeks. "Can you
+keep a secret, children?" she asked.
+
+"Of course!" they shouted, gathering around her to hear what the secret
+might be.
+
+"Well, I am going to--"
+
+"Take Miss Kinney's place," finished Tony, with a deep sigh of
+anticipated pleasure.
+
+"I knew she'd do it!" crowed Peace, dancing a jig for pure joy.
+
+"Will you?" asked Marjorie.
+
+"Would you like it?"
+
+"Like it! Well, I guess yes!" they shouted again.
+
+"You can beat Miss Kinney all hollow," added George with blunt, boyish
+admiration.
+
+"I am not figuring on that," smiled the invalid, amused at the thought.
+"I don't care any more about being 'it,' as you children say. I just
+want to help Hill Street Church, for it has brought me the sun again
+when I thought I had lost it forever."
+
+They looked at her mystified, uncomprehending, but no one asked her to
+explain; they were content to know that she was to take the important
+solo part which Miss Kinney had thrown down.
+
+Thus the days flew by, and Children's Sunday dawned bright and cool.
+Glen was almost well, but Elizabeth did not feel that she could leave
+him in any other hands, and he was still too fretful to attend the
+service. In her quandary she flew to Aunt Pen, and that worthy lady
+smiled happily as she answered, "Of course, I can take charge if you
+wish, and I shall count it a privilege. You have done so much for
+Myra--"
+
+"Thank Peace for that. She is the one who found out her hiding-place."
+
+"I do thank Peace with all my heart, and it has been a pleasure to help
+her with her beautiful, generous, impulsive plans. She suggested--well,
+you must come this morning and hear the children. We simply can't let
+you off. Sit near the door if you like, so you can take the baby out if
+he frets,--but I don't think he will. He loves music, and we've quite a
+surprise in store for the congregation."
+
+And indeed, it proved a great surprise, for no one saw the wheel-chair
+which Hicks rolled stealthily into the tiny church early that morning
+and hid so skilfully behind tall banks of fern and great clusters of
+roses that only the lovely face of the lame girl could be seen by the
+congregation--she was still very sensitive concerning her sad
+affliction. And when the happy-hearted children, almost covered with the
+garlands of flowers they carried, took their places around their queen,
+the platform looked like some great, wonderful garden, where children's
+faces were the blossoms.
+
+And the music! How can words describe the joyous anthems which filled
+the sanctuary with praise and thanksgiving, or the gloriously sweet,
+silvery tones of the garden queen when she lifted her voice and poured
+out her soul in song that bright June morning. All the bitterness of the
+long months of anguish, despair and rebellion had been swept forever out
+of her heart, and in its place reigned the gladness, the rapture, the
+supreme joy which triumphs even over death. It seemed almost as if some
+angel choir had opened the gates of heaven and let the strains of
+celestial music flood the earth. It was inspiring, uplifting, sublime!
+
+But that was not all. When the beautiful service had ended, and the
+congregation was slowly filing out into the sunshine again, there stood
+the wheel-chair by the door, and the lame girl, her blue eyes alight
+with happiness, her face wreathed in smiles, greeted one by one the
+friends of the old days from whom she had so long hidden herself away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+HOW THE FOURTH OF JULY MONEY WAS SPENT
+
+
+"Just one week more and Fourth of July will be here," announced Peace
+from her seat on the grass, as she counted off the days on her fingers.
+They were all gathered under the trees that warm afternoon, Aunt Pen and
+Elizabeth with their sewing, the minister with a magazine from which he
+had been reading aloud, Giuseppe with his beloved violin, from which he
+was seldom separated, the lame girl lying in her accustomed place, and
+Peace and Glen gambolling in the grass at their feet.
+
+"Why, so it will," said the invalid in surprise.
+
+"Do you s'pose grandpa will get back by that time?"
+
+"Should you care if he did not?" asked preacher teasingly.
+
+"John!" reproved Elizabeth, tapping him gently on the head with her
+thimble. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself to ask such a question?"
+
+"No offense, ladies, no offense intended, I assure you! I merely
+wondered if Peace could be getting homesick."
+
+"Me homesick! Oh, no, I'm not _homesick_, but I'll bet the other folks
+are by this time. I've been gone so long. One week of March, all of
+April and May, and nearly all of June--that's three months already; and
+I've never been away from the girls more'n a night or two at a time
+before."
+
+There was a wistful look in the brown eyes in spite of her emphatic
+denial that she was homesick, and Elizabeth sought to turn the
+conversation by saying meditatively, "I wonder what Glen will think of
+the Fourth of July celebration? He was almost too young last year to
+notice anything of that sort, and besides, we had a very quiet day at
+Parker. Everyone had gone to the city for their fun."
+
+"Yes, it was quiet in Parker last year. Hec Abbott was away all day, and
+I didn't have any fire-crackers," Peace observed; then, noting the broad
+smile that bathed all the faces, she added hastily, "I s'pose it was
+just as well, 'cause it was an awful dry summer, and like enough we
+would have set the place on fire. That's why Gail wouldn't let us have
+any, but this year we're going to make up for all we've missed--if
+grandpa gets home in time. We've got dollars and dollars in our
+bank--Allee and me--left over from dec'rating our room, and we're going
+to blow it all up celebrating the Fourth, so's to be patriotic. Grandpa
+says love of country is something every 'Merican needs, so we're
+beginning young at our house. Grandpa says--"
+
+"What does grandpa say?" boomed a dear, familiar voice behind her, and
+she bounced to her feet with a wild shriek of joy, for leaning against
+the iron gates at the end of the walk stood the genial President, while
+in the carriage just beyond sat Grandma Campbell and the three younger
+sisters, all fidgeting with eagerness to meet the small maid whose face
+they had not seen for so long a time.
+
+"Oh, grandpa, grandma, girls, when did you get here? I never so much as
+heard you drive up!"
+
+Scarcely touching the gravel with her toes, she fairly flew through the
+gate into the five pair of arms reaching out to embrace her, hugging and
+kissing them impartially in her delight to be with them again, and
+asking questions as fast as her tongue could fly. "How did you like the
+Woods? Where are Gail and Faith? Haven't they come in from the Lake yet?
+I haven't seen them for _three weeks_ now. Are you perfectly well,
+Allee? What's the matter with Cherry's nose, grandma? It looks skinned.
+Does scarlet fever make people grow tall, or what has happened to Hope?
+My, but you've missed it, being _quadrupined_ up in the house all the
+spring! Yes, I'd like to have seen the Woods, too, but 's long as you
+didn't take me, I had a better time here. Oh, it's been jolly. There
+come Aunt Pen and Elspeth. I s'pose they think you've kissed me enough
+for one time and you better climb out and go speak to my Lilac Lady.
+She's been wanting to see you all, 'specially Gail and Faith which ain't
+here."
+
+They answered her questions as best they could--they had enjoyed their
+brief sojourn in the Pine Woods very much, for they had found it more
+than tiresome to be quarantined all those beautiful weeks, but Peace's
+telephone messages and queer adventures had helped brighten many an
+hour. They were particularly interested in the Lilac Lady and the little
+Italian musician, and were anxious to meet the big-hearted Aunt Pen. So
+they clambered out of the carriage and were properly introduced by the
+preacher and his wife, while Peace fluttered from one to another of the
+happy group, too excited to remember such things as introductions.
+
+The lame girl was very sorry to lose this little will-o'-wisp neighbor
+who had brought so much sunshine into her life during her short stay at
+the parsonage, but Elizabeth was to visit her every day, and the
+Campbells promised not only to lend Peace often to the stone house, but
+also to come with her; so they said good-bye at length, and the curly
+brown head bobbed out of sight down the long avenue, behind prancing
+Marmaduke and Charlemagne.
+
+Peace was glad to get home again, and spent the next few days renewing
+her acquaintance with the place, philosophizing with Gussie, Marie and
+Jud, and regaling family and servants alike with accounts of her long
+stay at the parsonage, for it seemed to her that she had been away three
+years instead of three months.
+
+On the third day she suddenly remembered the approaching Fourth and the
+generous bank account which she and Allee had kept for just that
+occasion. So she sat down on the stairs to plan out the list of
+fireworks that they should buy with their precious hoard, and was busy
+trying to add up a lengthy column of figures, when she heard Hope in the
+hall below say, "Yes, grandma, it's a letter from Gail. They aren't
+coming home for another week unless you want them particularly, because
+they have discovered a family of eight children out there by the lake
+who have never had a real Fourth of July celebration in their lives, and
+Frances is planning a picnic for them and wants the girls to help her
+out."
+
+Peace heard no more. Frances was planning a gala day for a family of
+eight children who would have no fireworks for the glorious Fourth. Why
+could she and Allee not do the same thing for the Home children? There
+were more than fifty little folks in that institution who would have no
+celebration either, unless some good fairy provided it. She and Allee
+would have more than enough fire-crackers for the whole family, even if
+grandpa did not buy a single bunch himself, and of course he would do
+his part to make the day a grand success.
+
+She went in search of Allee, unfolded her new plan, and as usual won her
+ready consent, for the smallest sister found this other child's quaint
+ideas delightfully thrilling, and was always willing to join her in any
+escapade, however daring.
+
+"I knew you'd say yes," Peace sighed with satisfaction, when they had
+agreed upon the list of fire-crackers, caps and torpedoes. "Now the thing
+of it is, will grandpa be as easy? He has such very queer thoughts on
+some things. Still, he's usu'ly right, too. I've found out that it is
+lots better to try to help such folks as the Home children 'stead of
+tramps and hand-organ men, who are only fakes or lazy-bones. There was
+Petri, now,--he made loads of money off of Juiceharpie and Jocko, but he
+was mean as dirt to both of them. The Home children are different.
+Anything nice you do for them makes them happy and they like you all the
+better. Well, we better go see grandpa about it first, so's he can't
+kick after we get started real well with our plans. Besides, I don't
+s'pose Miss Chase would listen to us if grandpa doesn't know what we are
+up to."
+
+Hand in hand they descended the stairs to the study and knocked, but the
+weary President was stretched on his couch fast asleep and did not hear
+their gentle tapping.
+
+"He's here, I know," Peace declared. "I saw him when he went in, and he
+told grandma that he should be home the rest of the day."
+
+"P'raps he's upstairs in his room."
+
+"But he ain't, I tell you! Didn't we just come from upstairs! We'd have
+heard him moving about if he'd been up there."
+
+"Maybe he's asleep."
+
+"I'm going to see."
+
+Cautiously she opened the door a little crack and peeped in. The west
+window curtains were drawn and the room was very dim, but after a few
+rapid blinks, Peace became accustomed to the subdued light, and saw the
+long figure lying on the davenport beside the fireplace, now filled with
+summer flowers.
+
+"There he is," she whispered triumphantly, and pushing the door further
+ajar, she stepped across the threshold.
+
+"Oh, we mustn't 'sturb him!" protested Allee, holding back; but Peace
+serenely assured her, "I ain't going to touch him. I'm just going to
+stay till he wakes up. Are you coming?"
+
+Allee, followed, still a little reluctant, and the door closed
+noiselessly behind them. With careful hands, they drew up a long Roman
+chair in front of the couch, and sat down together to await the
+President's awakening. The room was almost gloomy in its dimness, and
+so quiet that they could hear their own breathing. But not another sound
+broke the silence, save the ticking of the little French clock on the
+mantel, which drove Peace almost to distraction. Then she chanced to
+remember a discussion she had heard a long time before, and settling
+herself with elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, she fixed
+her somber eyes full upon the sleeping face before her, and stared with
+all her might.
+
+"Look at him," she commanded Allee in a stage whisper.
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Just 'cause. Glare for all you're worth!"
+
+"But why?"
+
+"I'll tell you byme-by."
+
+So dutiful Allee "glared for all she was worth," and soon the sleeper
+grew restless. Then he opened his eyes.
+
+"We did it!" crowed Peace shrilly, spatting her hands together so
+suddenly that he jumped.
+
+"Did what, you young jackanapes?" he growled, rubbing his sleepy eyes, a
+trifle vexed at having been disturbed before his nap was out.
+
+"Woke you up with just looking at you! We never touched you at all--just
+glared and glowered as hard as ever we could, and you woke up like Faith
+said you would."
+
+"Faith? Did she send you here to wake me up? Have she and Gail come
+home?"
+
+"Oh, no, they ain't coming till after the Fourth. They're going to stay
+and help Frances celebrate a family of eight children which have never
+had any fireworks in all their lives. That's what we came to see you
+about, but you were asleep and we got tired of waiting, so we tried to
+see if we could stare you awake, like the girls said folks could do if
+they looked long and hard enough. It worked."
+
+"Something did," he smiled grimly. "Was it so important that you had to
+tell it immediately? Couldn't it have kept until dinner hour?"
+
+"You and grandma are invited out for dinner this evening, and anyway, we
+wanted to have a private _conflab_ with you all by yourself before we
+told the others our plan."
+
+"Plan? Another plan! My sakes, Peace, where do you keep them all?"
+
+The round, eager face grew long. It wasn't like grandpa to make fun of
+her. What could be the matter?
+
+"I guess you're not int'rested," she said in heavy disappointment.
+"Come, Allee, we better be going."
+
+"Indeed you better not!" he cried, thoroughly aroused by her look and
+tone, and remembering that she was unaccountably sensitive to the moods
+of her loved ones. "I won't tease you another speck. Come and tell
+grandpa what it is now that you want me to help with."
+
+"We don't want your help at all," she answered gravely, letting him draw
+her down to one knee, while he enthroned Allee on the other. "All you've
+got to do is say yes."
+
+Knowing from experience what wild-cat schemes were often evolved by that
+tireless brain, he cautiously replied, "'Yes' is an easy word to speak,
+girlies, but sometimes 'no' is wisest, even if it is hard to learn."
+
+"Oh, I think you will like this plan, grandpa." Peace was warming up to
+the subject. "It hasn't anything to do with tramps or beggars, and I
+don't want to give away any more of my clo'es--'nless p'raps that white
+apron to Lottie, 'cause she likes it so well. This is about the Home
+children. You know our Fourth of July money?"
+
+"Did you think I had forgotten that?" Inwardly he was shaking with
+merriment. He never recalled the dedication of the flag room without
+wanting to shout.
+
+"No, but I did think maybe it had skipped your mind just for a minute."
+
+"Well, it hasn't. What does your Fourth of July money have to do with
+the Home children and white aprons?"
+
+"White aprons ain't in it--only that one I should like to give Lottie,
+but that can be any day. What we want to do is share our fire-crackers
+with the Home children, 'cause the Lady Boards don't allow for such
+things in raising money to take care of the Home, and so the children
+won't have any to celebrate with, 'nless their fathers bring them a few,
+and mostly the fathers are too hard up for that. Allee and me have
+dollars and dollars in our bank just to _cluttervate_ our love of
+country with, and we thought this would be a splendid chance to--"
+
+"Spread the d'sease," finished Allee, as Peace paused for want of words
+to express her ideas.
+
+"It ain't a _disease_, Allee Greenfield! To make 'em happy--that's what
+I meant to say."
+
+"A very worthy object, my dear."
+
+"Then you like it and won't kick?"
+
+"If you have considered the matter carefully and want to share your
+Fourth of July with the Home children, I am perfectly willing, girlies,
+and will do all I can to help you succeed."
+
+"That's what we wanted to know, grandpa," she cried gleefully. "You'll
+have all kinds of chances to help, too, 'cause I've just thought of
+ice-cream and watermelon--if they are ripe by that time--and ice-cream
+anyway, with a nice picnic dinner to go with the fire-crackers and
+_Roming_ candles. Some of 'em have never had but two or three dishes of
+ice-cream in all their lives. Think how tickled they will be! P'raps my
+Lilac Lady will invite them all over to her house to celebrate, 'cause
+it always seems so much nicer to go away somewhere for a picnic, even if
+'tis only a few blocks. And the stone house has great wide lawns,
+bigger'n ours, though I like ours best on account of the river, even if
+we haven't all the lovely flowers which Hicks has planted in his
+gardens."
+
+Thoughtfully the President lifted the shade behind the couch and looked
+out across the smooth velvet turf, sloping gently to the river bank in
+one long, even stretch, broken by an occasional posy-bed, and liberally
+dotted with giant oaks and stately lindens. It was an ideal spot for a
+picnic or lawn social such as Peace had described; and Japanese lanterns
+suspended among the branches and hung about the wide verandas would make
+it a veritable fairyland for the little folks of the Home, whose gala
+days were so few and far between.
+
+Unconsciously he spoke aloud: "The mis'es would enjoy it as much as the
+rest; that is the beauty of it."
+
+"What _are_ you talking about, grandpa?" cried the children, amazed at
+the remark which seemed to have no bearing whatever on the subject.
+
+"Did I speak?" he asked sheepishly. "I was just wondering how they would
+enjoy coming here for their celebration instead of going to the stone
+house--"
+
+"Oh, grandpa! That would be _splendid_! How did it happen that I never
+thought of it myself?" Peace exclaimed in comical surprise. "We'll ask
+Saint Elspeth and John and my Lilac Lady and Aunt Pen to come and help.
+Hicks took her to church for Children's Sunday. Don't you s'pose he
+could bring her down here, even if it is three miles?"
+
+"If she will come, dear, we will find a way of bringing her," he
+promised, drawing the little girls closer to him as if to shield them
+from such sorrow as had darkened that other young life.
+
+"And that will mean Juiceharpie and Glen will come, too," murmured
+Allee, who was much charmed with these two little gentlemen,
+particularly with the Italian waif, whose strange history still seemed
+like a story-book tale to her.
+
+"Yes, the children will come, too, of course, and we will even borrow
+the cook and Hicks, if the Lilac Lady will lend them. Do you suppose she
+will?"
+
+"Let's go and see this very minute," proposed Peace. "The Fourth is too
+near already to let it get any closer before we find out about these
+things. And we've still to see Miss Chase about the Home folks coming,
+you know."
+
+Thoroughly interested now in her project, the President drew forth his
+watch, glanced at the hour, and rang for Jud to harness the horses.
+
+Of course Miss Chase accepted the invitation at once, and the Home
+children were jubilant. The little parsonage family was equally charmed
+with the plan and agreed to help it along all they could. But at the
+stone house, when the matter was explained, it quite took Aunt Pen's
+breath away, and for a moment even the Lilac Lady looked as if she were
+about to refuse. But Giuseppe was radiant, and seizing his beloved
+violin, ha capered about the white-faced invalid, crying in delight,
+"An' I feedle an' ma angel seeng. Oh, eet be heaven!"
+
+Perhaps it was his happy face, perhaps it was Peace's wistful entreaty,
+but at any rate, the lame girl suddenly smiled up at the President
+beside her and answered heartily, "Tell Mrs. Campbell we shall all be
+there to help her if the day is clear, and it surely must be when the
+happiness of so many people depends upon it."
+
+The day _was_ clear and delightfully cool, Jud had accomplished wonders
+with flags, bunting and lanterns, and the place looked even more like
+the haunts of fairies than the girls had dared dream. Rustic benches and
+porch chairs were scattered about under the trees, two immense hammocks
+hung on the wide veranda, and a strong swing had been fastened among the
+branches of the tallest oak. The barn chamber, which Peace had planned
+on having for a playhouse, was swept and scrubbed, furbished up with old
+furniture from the garret, and stocked with toys of all sorts, that the
+children who might not care for games all day could find other amusement
+to fill the hours. The boat-house, too, was put in order and decorated
+with ferns and flowers, for Hope was to preside here behind great jars
+of lemonade and frappé, and it proved to be a very popular resort all
+day long. It is surprising how thirsty one does get at a picnic!
+
+Early in the morning, Hicks brought the preacher's family, Aunt Pen and
+his young mistress in the great red automobile, which was now used so
+seldom that Peace had not even discovered its existence; but when she
+saw it, she let out a whoop of surprise that startled the rest of the
+household, and dashed down the driveway to meet it, screaming shrilly,
+"When you've dumped out that load, Hicks, you better begin going after
+the Home children. It will take Duke and Charley a long time to bring
+them here alone; and besides, I'll bet none of the boys and girls there
+have ever ridden in an auto yet. I know I haven't."
+
+"That is a good idea, Peace," said the lame girl happily. "I never would
+have thought of it. Those who drive down in the carriage can go home in
+the auto, so they will all get a ride. Just put the baskets and traps on
+that table, Hicks, and start as soon as possible."
+
+An hour later all the guests had assembled, and the day's program was
+begun. Of course there were some mishaps. Was there ever a picnic
+without them? But no one was badly hurt. It was Giuseppe's first
+celebration of Independence Day with gunpowder and torpedoes, and in his
+excitement and delight at the noise he was making, he thoughtlessly
+thrust a stump of burning punk into his trousers' pocket along with a
+bunch of fire-crackers, and would have been seriously burned, no doubt,
+had not Cherry promptly turned the hose on him. As it was, he was nearly
+drowned, and very much frightened, but soon recovered from the shock,
+and returned with energy to his crackers again.
+
+Lottie fell through the hay-mow in the barn, trying to escape her
+pursuer in a lively game of tag. George tumbled into the river and was
+rescued just in time. Tony got hit by the swing-board and lost one tooth
+as a result. Allee sat down in a tub of lemonade, and Peace toppled out
+of a tree into a trayful of ice-cream which Jud had just dished up. But
+these were mere trifles, swallowed up in the greater events of the
+day--the boisterous games on the smooth lawn, the picnic dinner under
+the trees, the beautiful music made by the lame girl and the little
+songbird of Italy; the destruction of the sham fort built by the
+dignified doctor and sedate young minister; the row on the river in the
+late afternoon; the gorgeous beauty of the place when the lanterns were
+lighted at dusk; and, fitting climax of that wonderful day, the
+brilliant display of fireworks which Jud set off when finally darkness
+had fallen over the land.
+
+But like all happy days, this Fourth of July came to an end at last, the
+guests departed, and Peace, walking slowly up the path from the gate,
+felt suddenly tired. Slipping her hand into the doctor's big one, she
+sighed, "Well, it's all over with! Our flag room money has gone up in
+smoke and down in ice-cream."
+
+"Are you sorry?" asked the President, a little surprised at her
+long-drawn sigh and tone of regret.
+
+"Oh, no, I ain't sorry for that part of it. I'm sorry the day is gone.
+That's the trouble with having a good time. It always comes to an end."
+
+"But the memory of it still lives. Think how many hearts you have made
+happy today."
+
+"Yes, that's so," she answered, brightening visibly; "and the best of it
+is, there's at least one more _patriarch_. Juiceharpie has always been
+an Italian till today, but after this he's going to be an American. The
+fire-crackers did it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+PEACE GIVES THE LILAC LADY AN IDEA
+
+
+The Home Missionary Society of the South Avenue Church was holding its
+monthly meeting in the Campbell parlors, and Peace, feeling very forlorn
+and left out, because grandma had suggested that she better join the
+sisters in the barn playhouse, wandered down to the gate and stood
+looking up the street in search of something to occupy her attention.
+She was tired of playing games in the barn, she had read the latest St.
+Nicholas from cover to cover, and the postman had not yet brought the
+Youth's Companion, although this was the regular day for it. Anyway, she
+didn't care to read. She would rather stay and listen to what the women
+in the house were talking about, but if grandma did not want her, she
+certainly should not bother them with her presence. Likely the meeting
+would be very dry; it usually was when Mrs. Roberts stayed away, and she
+had not put in appearance yet.
+
+Grandma had half promised that she might visit the Lilac Lady that
+afternoon, but for some reason had changed her mind and put off the
+visit until the morrow. Ho, hum! What was a small girl to do to amuse
+herself this warm day, when she had already done everything she could
+think of, and had been forbidden to go where she most wanted to go?
+
+Slowly she unlatched the gate and strolled down the avenue, swinging her
+white sunbonnet by one string, and whistling plaintively under her
+breath. The wide street, shaded by immense oaks and maples, felt
+deliciously cool and restful, but it was also very quiet, and Peace had
+wandered several blocks without meeting a soul, when without warning she
+stumbled over two mites of tots, almost hidden in the rank grass and
+weeds in front of a ragged-looking unkempt little cabin of a house,
+which in its better days had evidently been used for a barn. The
+children were as much surprised as Peace, and after one frightened
+glance at the intruder, they both buried their heads in their patched
+aprons and cowered still lower among the weeds. But from the fleeting
+glimpse Peace had caught of the little faces, she knew they had been
+crying, and her first thought was, "They are lost."
+
+Impulsively she kneeled on the walk beside them and coaxingly asked,
+"What is the trouble, little girls? Have you run away?"
+
+"No, we ain't!" retorted the older child, lifting a streaked,
+tear-stained face to eye her questioner indignantly. "We ain't girls,
+either! I am, but he ain't!"
+
+"Oh," murmured Peace, much abashed by her fierce reception, "I took him
+for a girl on account of his clo'es. He's wearing dresses."
+
+"He ain't old enough for pants. He's only two."
+
+"Oh, mercy! He's lots bigger than Glen. But then Glen won't be two until
+next January."
+
+"Is Glen your brother?" asked the other girl, somewhat mollified by the
+friendliness of the stranger's voice.
+
+"No, he's the minister's little boy which we used to have in Parker
+where we lived 'fore we came here. What's your baby's name?"
+
+"Rivers."
+
+"His first name, I mean."
+
+"That's his first name. Rivers Dillon, and I'm Fern."
+
+"Oh! They're as bad as ours, ain't they? I'm always running up against
+horrid names. Gail says it's 'cause I am always looking for them--"
+
+"Our names ain't horrid!" Fern Dillon bounced off the grass like an
+angry hornet, then collapsed beside the baby brother, who evidently was
+not given much to talking, for he had not said a word, but simply stared
+in round-eyed surprise at the pretty stranger child. "Oh, dear,
+everybody is so mean!"
+
+"Fern, what have I done? I didn't mean to be hateful," cried Peace
+remorsefully. "Please, I'm sorry I've made you mad. Don't mind anything
+I said. I've always hated my own name so bad that I am always glad when
+I can find a worse one. That is all I meant."
+
+Strange to say, Fern's wrath was at once appeased, in spite of the
+explanation, and she smiled faintly as she brushed away the fresh tears.
+"I thought you was going to be just like Mrs. Burnett," she explained.
+"She's always scolding mamma 'cause she won't put Rivers and me in a
+Home--"
+
+"In a _Home_?" cried Peace in horrified accents. "What for?"
+
+"So's she can get more work to do. Lots of people won't give her their
+washing 'cause she has to take both of us with her, and folks think
+three is too many to feed, I guess."
+
+"Is your papa dead?"
+
+"He--he's gone. Mabel Cartwell says he's in jail," her voice dropped to
+an awed whisper; "but when I asked mamma, she just cried and cried. Now
+she's sick and they are going to take her to a hospital, and I don't
+know what Rivers and me'll do. Mrs. Burnett says of course we can't go
+with her, 'cause there ain't any sickness the matter with us,
+and--and--oh, we can't stay with _her_! She shakes Rivers for everything
+he touches. Oh dear, oh dear!"
+
+"Have they--taken your mamma--away yet?"
+
+"No, she's in there--"
+
+"In that barn?"
+
+"That's where we live since papa--went away."
+
+"I'm going to ask her if you can't go home with me. Grandma will know--"
+
+"You mustn't bother mamma," cried Fern, clutching Peace about the ankles
+as she started toward the sagging door of the ramshackle old house.
+"Mrs. Burnett will chase you out with the broom like she did us. And
+'sides, mamma won't know you. She doesn't even know Rivers and me--her
+own little children."
+
+Peace pondered. Here was an unlooked-for predicament. Would she be doing
+wrong if she took the brother and sister away without saying anything to
+the mother who did not know her own children any longer? She might speak
+to Mrs. Burnett, but how about that broomstick? For a moment she stood
+irresolute, scratching her head thoughtfully. Then with characteristic
+energy and decision, she grabbed Rivers with one hand and Fern with the
+other, and trotted off down the street, saying briefly, "I'm going to
+show you to grandma. She will know what to do."
+
+"Will you bring us back again?"
+
+"Course! You don't think I am a kidnapper, do you? That's what Mittie
+Cole called me when I thought I was going to adopt the twins that were
+only runaways. Mittie got to like me afterwards, though."
+
+"I like you now."
+
+"Of course. Most folks do, but it takes a longer time with some to make
+up their minds. I'm glad you are quick at d'ciding. We turn this
+corner."
+
+Hurrying them along as fast as Rivers' short legs could toddle, she at
+length reached the big, old-fashioned house, and burst in upon the
+Missionary Meeting with a torrent of jumbled explanation.
+
+"Here's two folks that need home missionarying if anybody does. Their
+mother is so sick she doesn't know people any more, and the father is
+either in jail or heaven. Mrs. Burnett chases 'em out of the house with
+the broomstick, and I borrowed them to show you just how ragged and
+dirty they really are, so's you will know I ain't got hold of a fake
+mistake again. They live in a horrid little barn of a house, quite a
+piece from here, and the hospital is coming after the mother any time.
+They won't take Fern and Rivers, of course, 'cause they are both well,
+but I thought likely Mrs. Burnett might begin to use the broomstick
+again if the children were left with her, so I brought 'em along with me
+until you could decide what to do with them. They don't want to go to a
+Home, and I don't want them to, either." Her breath gave out, and the
+astonished ladies recovered their poise sufficiently to ask questions
+until the whole pitiful tale had been unravelled.
+
+"We'll send a committee at once to investigate," proposed the fat
+secretary, whom Peace disliked for no reason whatever.
+
+"Then send somebody who's got a heart," suggested the little maid. "This
+is a truly sick woman which needs help. I'll show you the place. Fern,
+you and Rivers stay here with grandma till I get back. Ladies, who are
+the committee?"
+
+Spurred on by Peace's enthusiastic leadership, the society hastily
+appointed a committee, and they departed on their errand of mercy. The
+house was even more squalid than Peace had pictured it, and the woman's
+case more desperate. An hour later a subdued, sympathetic trio of
+ladies, with Peace in tow, returned to the Campbell residence with their
+report.
+
+"It is worse than we expected," said the chairman in a voice that
+trembled in spite of her efforts to speak naturally. "The father is
+in--Stillwater. Embezzlement. The mother, destitute, without relatives
+or friends, naturally a frail little woman, and now ill with typhoid,
+brought on by overwork and anxiety. These two children dependent upon
+her, and none of the neighbors really situated so they can take care of
+them. We secured a bed in Danbury Hospital for the mother, and told the
+authorities that we would be responsible for the babies. We simply
+could not think of leaving them there to be buffeted about by unwilling
+neighbors--no telling how long the mother will be unable to take care of
+them, if she ever is again. Now, the question is, what shall we do with
+these two tots?"
+
+Immediately there was a buzz of comment, and an avalanche of theory and
+advice began to flow from fifty tongues.
+
+Peace, interested in the controversy, had been banished to the
+dining-room to amuse Rivers, who had developed an unlimited propensity
+for mischief-making since his arrival at the big house, but through the
+open door she caught bits of the conversation, and her heart beat quick
+with fear.
+
+"They are trying to _passle_ Fern and Rivers off among different
+families," she said with bated breath. "What a shame that would be! Mr.
+Dillon in Stillwater, the mother in Danbury Hospital, Fern with Mrs.
+York, and Rivers at the Weston's. Oh, they mustn't part Fern from her
+baby! They can't get along without each other. Ain't it too bad we don't
+have a Home around here like they've got in Kentucky! Why didn't I think
+of that before?"
+
+She gathered Fern and Rivers under her wing once more, and noiselessly
+departed from the house by way of the kitchen.
+
+"Where are we going this time? Home?" questioned Fern, loath to leave
+the great house so full of beautiful things for one to admire.
+
+"Not yet. I've just got a think. I b'lieve I know a lady which'll take
+you both till your mother gets well. She's lame herself, but Aunt Pen
+isn't, and they both love children. You'll have to ride on the cars.
+Come on, don't be afraid. I've done it lots of times and I never get
+lost."
+
+Somewhat reluctantly, Fern allowed herself and brother to be lifted onto
+the car by the big conductor, who evidently knew Peace, for he greeted
+her with a cheery shout, "Hello, my hearty! Going to see your Lilac Lady
+again?"
+
+"Yes," Peace answered promptly. "I've got another bunch of orphans--that
+is, they will be until their mother gets well and the father comes back,
+if he can." She remembered at that moment that she did not yet
+understand what had actually happened to the breadwinner of this
+unfortunate family. "And I knew my Lilac Lady would be glad to take care
+of them for a little while, so's they wouldn't have to be sep'rated."
+
+With that, she ushered the children to seats inside the moving car, and
+they were quickly whirled away to the corner where stood Teeter's
+Pharmacy. Here they were helped off by the genial conductor, and Peace
+led the way up the hill to the beautiful stone house which could be
+plainly seen from the roadway now, because the thick cedar hedges had
+all been cut down, and only tall iron palings enclosed the lovely
+gardens.
+
+Under her favorite oak by the lilac hedge lay the lame girl in her
+prison-chair, looking whiter and frailer than ever before, and Peace
+stopped in the midst of a rapturous kiss to ask fearfully, "Have you
+been sick again?"
+
+"No, dear," smiled the marble lips. "I am a little tired these days, but
+perfectly well. Whom have you here?"
+
+"Fern and Rivers Dillon. Their mother is dreadfully sick with _tryfoid_
+fever and their father is in--well, it's either a jail or a graveyard. I
+found them crying 'cause Mrs. Burnett had driven them out of the house
+with the broomstick, and when I took them home to the lady missionaries
+who are meeting at our house this afternoon, they began planning right
+away to divide them up among some families of our church. I couldn't
+bear to think of that, so I brought them up to you. I knew you'd be glad
+to keep them till the mother gets well, and they don't want to go to the
+Children's Home a bit. Rivers can't keep still a minute, but I know how
+he feels. It's the same way with me. At first I couldn't see how any
+mother would name her little boy such a name as that, but now I know. He
+upset three vases of flowers in the reception hall, and spilled a glass
+of frappé down his dress when I tried to give him some to drink, and
+pulled over the bird-cage, so's the water was all spilled, and stepped
+into the dog's drinking trough at the back door while I was trying to
+get them out of the house without the ladies seeing me. He makes rivers
+out of every bit of water he comes near."
+
+"Doesn't your grandmother know where you have gone?" asked the invalid
+in surprise, not half understanding what Peace was trying to tell her.
+
+"Why, no! She's one of the missionaries herself. She might think I ought
+to let her s'ciety look after these children as long as they've got hold
+of the mother already; but I--they'd be sep'rated as sure as fits,
+and--just look how teenty Rivers is to be taken away from _all_ his
+folks at once."
+
+"I don't want him tookened away," Fern spoke up. "Mamma told me to stay
+with him all the time, and I said I would. He can't talk much yet and
+there ain't anybody else can tell what he wants, now that mamma is
+sick."
+
+"Come here, dear." The lame girl held out her thin, blue-veined hands,
+and little, homeless Fern ran to her with a desolate cry.
+
+Peace was satisfied, and dropping down cross-legged in the grass at
+their feet, she remarked thoughtfully, "I _had_ to bring them here, you
+see. Our house is full already, and grandpa says grandma has all she can
+'tend to with the six of us. The parsonage is too small to hold any
+more, and besides, Saint John is away on his vacation, so the house is
+shut up for a few days. I knew Aunt Pen could mother a dozen, and I knew
+you'd want her to if she got the chance, so I brought 'em along.
+
+"Isn't it too bad there isn't a nice Children's Home in this state like
+there is in Kentucky or some place down South, where one lady has forty
+daughters? They ain't any of 'em her very own. She's really just the
+matron of the Home, like Miss Chase is of our Children's Home, only they
+don't call the place a Home. The lady is just like a real mother to
+them, and she won't let any of her girls be adopted away from her. She
+just takes care of them until they are old enough to look out for
+themselves or get a husband to look out for them. Then she takes some
+more in their place and keeps on that way. And they just love her to
+pieces. They wear nice clothes and she teaches 'em music and manners and
+how to keep house and makes useful wives out of them. Oh, that's the
+kind of a Home I'd like to have here! Then Lottie could live there
+'stead of being sent to the 'sylum."
+
+"Lottie sent to the asylum? Why, what do you mean, Peace?" cried the
+startled invalid, sitting almost upright in her chair.
+
+"Haven't you heard?" It was Peace's turn to look surprised.
+
+"Not a word of that sort."
+
+"Why, you know Lottie is a _norphan_, and when she was a baby somebody
+adopted her, but her new mother died last winter, and her new father put
+her in the Home 'cause he couldn't take care of her himself. Now he's
+been killed on the railroad, and his people don't want to be bothered
+with her, so she's to be sent to a Norphan 'Sylum, 'cause the Home takes
+only children who have somebody who will look after them a little.
+Lottie feels dreadfully bad and has 'most cried her eyes out already. I
+couldn't get her even to smile when I was up there this week. She is
+going to leave next Wednesday."
+
+For a long moment the lame girl lay in deep thought, still holding
+Fern's chubby hand in hers, though she had evidently forgotten all about
+the little stranger children in her concern for the friendless orphan,
+Lottie. When she spoke, she asked absently, "What was that you were
+telling me about the Kentucky lady? Where did you hear about it?"
+
+"That girls' Home in Kentucky? Oh, grandma was reading about it in
+Blank's Magazine the other day, and grandpa said that's the way all
+children's Homes ought to be carried out. Then the boys and girls would
+be happier and grow up into better men and women. That's what I think,
+too."
+
+"We take Blank's Magazine," said the lame girl irrelevantly. "Here
+comes Aunt Pen. We must tell her about Fern and Rivers, and she will
+telephone the ladies that they are safe with us. Poor little waifs! You
+are home now--until the dear mother is able to care for you again. Then
+we'll see."
+
+That was the beginning of it, but the next time Peace visited the Lilac
+Lady, she found a crew of noisy carpenters at work on the stone house,
+and in answer to her surprised questions, the invalid said, "This is to
+be an Orphan Asylum, dear. We shall not call it by that ugly name, but
+that is what it is really to be, and we have already two real orphans,
+not counting Fern and Rivers, who may be here for only a few weeks or
+months."
+
+"Who are the orphans?"
+
+"Giuseppe and Lottie."
+
+"Oh, my Lilac Lady! How did you ever think of such a splendid plan?"
+
+"I didn't, Peace. It was you."
+
+"Me?"
+
+"Yes, dear. When you told me about that Kentucky Home which all the
+children love, I wondered why Aunt Pen would not make a good mother for
+such a place in this state, and when I asked her, she was _so_ happy!"
+
+"But you? Where will you live if you turn your lovely house into a
+_norphan_ 'sylum?"
+
+"Right here--till the time comes to go home. It won't be long now, but I
+shall be content if I know the fortune which failed to make me happy is
+bringing joy and sunshine into the lives of scores of homeless
+children--hundreds in time, perhaps--and is giving them the education
+and self-reliance and refinement and love which will make them noble
+citizens of a noble country."
+
+Peace only vaguely understood her words, but it was clear to her that
+the stone mansion was to become a home nest now for helpless little ones
+whose own parents had been taken from them, and the thought that she had
+had even a small share in bringing to pass this splendid plan sent a
+thrill of joy singing through her heart. Hugging her knees together with
+both lithe brown arms, she puckered her lips and began to whistle the
+refrain:
+
+    "'Sca-atter sunshine
+      All along the wa-ay;
+    Cheer and bless and bri-ighten
+      Every passing da-ay.'"
+
+The lame girl joined in with her rich, sweet tones, and they sang it
+through to the end. Then as silence once more fell upon them, the young
+mistress of the place dropped her waxen hand lightly upon the brown
+curls resting against the arm of her chair, and said musingly, "That is
+to be the motto of our Home, dear. The song has brought me more
+happiness than any other thing in my life, I think. I want to pass it
+on."
+
+"And let me help," eagerly put in Peace.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE LILAC LADY FALLS ASLEEP
+
+
+So the summer swept rapidly on. The remodelled stone mansion was
+finished at last and daintily furnished to meet every requirement. There
+were school-rooms and work-rooms and play-rooms. There were parlors and
+pianos and piazzas. There were long windows and wide doors everywhere.
+The whole place was filled with sunshine and fresh air. Rare flowers and
+ferns from the conservatory peeped out from every corner; the polished
+floors were covered with thick, soft carpets; easy chairs and tempting
+couches were harmoniously arranged about the rooms. A wing of the
+basement was converted into a gymnasium with a brave array of dumbbells,
+Indian clubs, trapezes and ladders. The great house was complete in
+every detail, and all Martindale was interested in this unique Home
+which the Lilac Lady was founding. But, though the offers to help were
+many, the lame girl refused them all and pushed the work with untiring
+energy.
+
+Lottie had joined the three waifs already in the Palace Beautiful, as
+the Greenfield girls called it, although its real name was to be Oak
+Knoll; and one other little orphan maid had slipped in through the open
+doors. Aunt Pen had been persuaded to take a flying trip to the southern
+Home which Peace had so enthusiastically described, and returned fired
+with zeal for the new work which held so many opportunities. Plans were
+discussed, a Board of Directors elected, the business routine adjusted,
+and everything legalized in order that there might be no hitch in
+proceedings after the institution had been opened to the public.
+
+The lame girl developed a surprising business ability, and insisted upon
+looking after all the details personally, seeming to grow stronger as
+the work progressed, and she saw her plans nearing completion. Even Aunt
+Pen was deceived by the delicate flush which tinted the once colorless
+cheeks, and the keen, alive look in the deep blue eyes; but the girl
+herself understood, and so hurried carpenters and lawyers alike, until
+at length everything was done, and Oak Knoll had been formally dedicated
+and opened for its noble work.
+
+Autumn lingered long that year, cool and calm, as if to make up for the
+fierce heat of the summer months. But at last the frosts came and tipped
+every leaf and flower with gorgeous colors; the grass grew brown on the
+hillside; the brilliant foliage of the trees fluttered down with every
+breath of wind that stirred; and the crisp, hazy air was filled with the
+smell of fall. Then, when the chill of winter seemed upon them, the warm
+days of Indian Summer again held it in check and revived the fading
+flowers for one last bloom before going to sleep under blankets of ice
+and snow.
+
+Such a day was it the Sunday following Gail's twentieth birthday; and
+after dinner had been served, the family repaired to the wide veranda
+with books and papers to enjoy the freshness of the air and drink in the
+glories of the autumn afternoon, while they read or talked together,
+feeling that this was the last time for many weeks that they could sit
+in this fashion out-of-doors.
+
+But Peace was restless. There was a subtle something in the smell of the
+hazy atmosphere which appealed to her forcefully, and leaving the family
+gathered about the President on the piazza, she wandered down the
+driveway to the great bed of chrysanthemums growing in a sheltered nook
+where the frosts had not yet found them, and stood gloating over their
+splendid blossoms.
+
+"Chrysanthemums, chrysanthemums, oh, you dear chrysanthemums," she
+hummed to herself, then stooped and plucked one long spray, another, a
+whole armful, and with shining eyes she returned to the porch.
+
+"My, what beauties!" exclaimed Faith, looking up from her book as Peace
+passed. "Why didn't you leave them in the garden? They look so cheerful
+growing, now that all the other flowers are gone."
+
+"Hicks is coming after me this afternoon to visit Palace Beautiful, and
+the Lilac Lady loves chrysanthemums."
+
+She thrust her head deep into her bouquet, and they laughed at the
+roguish, round face peeping from between the great yellow and white
+balls. It was indeed a pretty picture, for both flowers and face seemed
+radiating sunshine.
+
+The chug-chug of an approaching automobile drew their attention to the
+road, and Allee exclaimed, "There's Hicks now!"
+
+"It's Hicks' machine, but that ain't him driving," answered Peace,
+studying the car slowing up in front of the gate. "Hicks always comes up
+the driveway, too. Why, it's Saint John and Elspeth!" They waved their
+hands at the little group on the porch, and the doctor walked down to
+the gate to meet the minister, who had leaped to the ground from his
+place at the wheel.
+
+"Run, get your hat and jacket, Peace," called Mrs. Campbell, as the
+child started as if to join her friends in the street, so she darted
+into the house for her wraps, impatient to be off in the throbbing, red
+car. She was back in a moment, her jacket thrown over one arm and her
+hat dangling down her back, but as she leaped onto the step beside
+Elizabeth, she was vaguely conscious that both the preacher and his wife
+looked strangely exalted, and they greeted her more tenderly and with
+less boisterous fun than was usual. Indeed, Saint John hugged her so
+tightly that it hurt, but she could not rebuke him, because he was
+speaking to the family gathered at the gate, and she caught the words,
+"Only an hour ago. We have just come from there."
+
+She wondered a little what they were talking about, but before she could
+ask, the preacher sprang to his place, released the wheel, and the car
+leaped forward as if alive, toppling Peace into Elizabeth's arms. When
+she had righted herself, she demanded, "Where is Glen?"
+
+"We left him with Mrs. Lane."
+
+"That's queer. Is he sick?"
+
+"Oh, no, but we thought it best to leave him at the parsonage this
+time," she answered evasively. "Those are beautiful chrysanthemums you
+have."
+
+"Ain't they, though? Jud does have the best luck with his asters and
+chrysanthemums. These beat Hicks' all hollow. Where is Hicks? I 'xpected
+he'd come for me today. I didn't know Saint John could drive well enough
+yet."
+
+"Hicks was--busy. So we came."
+
+"I s'pose that's why you left Glen. You didn't want to take the chances
+with Saint John driving the car. Is that it?"
+
+Elizabeth smiled faintly. "No, we never once thought of that, Peace.
+Mrs. Lane offered to stay with him, and so we let her."
+
+"Oh! Well, I s'pose I would have too, if I'd been you, 'cause 'tain't
+often Mrs. Lane makes such an offer," Peace chattered on. "Allee wanted
+to come today, but grandma said the Lilac Lady had asked for only me, so
+she wouldn't listen to Allee's going, too, I should like to have had
+her."
+
+"She can come Tuesday."
+
+"What's going to happen Tuesday?" asked the child, surprised at having
+so definite a date named. Elizabeth caught her breath sharply, but at
+that moment the auto drew up in front of the iron gates, and there stood
+Aunt Pen on the walk waiting for them, smiling her gentle smile of
+welcome, a little sweeter, perhaps, and infinitely more tender, for,
+like Moses, she had just come from her Mount of Transfiguration.
+
+Peace spied her first. "How is my Lady, my Lilac Lady?" she cried,
+springing into her arms and hugging her warmly. "It's been _so_ long
+since I've seen her! Is she _lots_ better, Aunt Pen?"
+
+"She is perfectly well now, darling," the woman answered, closing her
+fingers tightly over the little brown hand in her own, and leading the
+way up the path to the house.
+
+"She's not under the trees, and--"
+
+"It is November, childie. Have you forgotten?" interrupted Elizabeth.
+
+"So it is! Winter is 'most here. But look at the lovely chrysanthemums
+I've brought her. It isn't too cold for them yet. Won't she be pleased?"
+
+"I am sure she will," smiled Aunt Pen, and involuntarily she lifted her
+eyes to the clear blue sky above.
+
+The hall, as they entered its dim coolness, was deserted, and though
+Peace looked inquiringly about her for her small playmates who usually
+rushed eagerly to meet her, not one was in sight. From the rooms above,
+however, floated the sweet strains of Giuseppe's violin and the
+unrestrained, riotous melody of the lame girl's pet canary, and Peace
+skipped lightly up the wide stairway, eager to greet each member of this
+happy family.
+
+The door of the invalid's chamber stood open, and beside the window,
+shaded by the great oak, still hung with autumn colors, lay the beloved
+form of the Lilac Lady among her silken cushions. She was clad in simple
+white, with the heavy bronze braids trailing across her shoulders, and
+the waxen fingers twined in a familiar pose upon her breast. A soft
+smile wreathed the colorless lips, but the beautiful blue eyes were
+closed in slumber, and she looked as if she were resting after a
+hard-fought battle. So lovely a picture did she present that Peace
+paused on the threshold, and the gay words of greeting bubbling up to
+her lips died away in a deep breath of awe.
+
+The room was flooded with autumn sunshine and banked with the flowers
+the invalid loved best; a plate of luscious fruit stood on the table
+beside the wheel-chair, a late magazine lay open on the floor close by,
+and Gypsy sang deliriously from his perch in the big bay window. All
+this Peace saw, and more. The thin fingers clasped a knot of the
+once-despised, bright-faced pansies, and a single white one nestled in
+the red-brown waves at the left temple.
+
+"Oh," breathed Peace, scarcely above a whisper, "isn't she beautiful?
+She got tired of watching and fell asleep while she was waiting for me!"
+
+Softly she tiptoed across the thick carpet and laid her burden of golden
+chrysanthemums in the arms of the sleeping girl, and once more repeated
+the words, "She fell asleep while she was waiting for me! My Lilac Lady
+has fallen asleep!"
+
+"Yes," said Aunt Pen softly. "'He giveth His beloved sleep.'"
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lilac Lady, by Ruth Alberta Brown
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lilac Lady, by Ruth Alberta Brown
+
+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: The Lilac Lady
+
+Author: Ruth Alberta Brown
+
+Release Date: December 9, 2007 [EBook #23782]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LILAC LADY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+<h1>THE LILAC LADY</h1>
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Second of the Peace Greenfield Books</span></h3>
+
+<h2>BY RUTH ALBERTA BROWN</h2>
+
+<h3>Author of "At The Little Brown House," "Tabitha At Ivy Hall,"
+"Tabitha's Glory," "Tabitha's Vacation," Etc.</h3>
+
+
+<h4>THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY<br />
+CHICAGO    AKRON, OHIO    NEW YORK</h4>
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, MCMXIV<br />
+By The Saalfield Publishing Co.</h4>
+
+<h4><span class="smcap">To<br />
+Edith Haserick McFarlane,<br />
+The Saint Elspeth of My Girlhood,<br />
+This Story is Affectionately Dedicated.</span></h4>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a>
+<img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt=""/>
+</div>
+
+<h3>"Oh," cried Gail in quick sympathy, "what a feeble old
+creature! It is a shame she has to beg her living. Where is my purse?"</h3>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. -->
+<p>
+<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. EXPLORING THE NEW HOME</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. THE FLAG ROOM</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. CHRISTMAS DAY WITH THE CAMPBELLS</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. A ZEALOUS LITTLE MISSIONARY</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. PEACE'S SPRING VACATION</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. A VOICE FROM THE LILAC BUSHES</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. A PICNIC IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. GIUSEPPE NICOLI AND THE MONKEY</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. PEACE FINDS NEW PLAYMATES</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. CHILDREN'S DAY AT HILL STREET CHURCH</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. HOW THE FOURTH OF JULY MONEY WAS SPENT</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. PEACE GIVES THE LILAC LADY AN IDEA</a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. THE LILAC LADY FALLS ASLEEP</a><br />
+</p>
+<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. -->
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>THE LILAC LADY</h2>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2>
+
+<h3>EXPLORING THE NEW HOME</h3>
+
+
+<p>Two days after the night of the memorable surprise party in the little
+brown house, the place stood dismantled and deserted under the naked,
+shivering trees, good-byes had been spoken, and the six smiling sisters
+had driven away from their Parker home amid much fluttering of
+handkerchiefs and waving of hands. Everyone was sorry to see them go,
+yet all rejoiced in the great good fortune which had befallen the little
+orphan brood. Even after the Judge's carriage, which was to take them to
+the station, disappeared around the bend of the creek road, the
+enthusiastic crowd of friends and neighbors clustered about the sagging
+gate continued to shout their joking warnings and happy wishes upon the
+crisp, frosty, morning air.</p>
+
+<p>"There," breathed Peace, grinning from ear to ear, as she slowly unwound
+from the corkscrew twist she had assumed in her attempt to catch the
+last glimpse of the old home. "They're all out of sight now. I can't
+even see Hec Abbott any longer up in the tree with his dirty
+handkerchief. Oh, Mr. Judge, I forgot you were our coachman this
+morning, but his handkerchief <i>is</i> awful dirty! It always is. I guess
+his mother doesn't chase him up like Gail does us with clean ones. Faith
+Greenfield, what do you mean by kicking me like that? Ain't there room
+enough on that back seat for your big feet?"</p>
+
+<p>"Little girls should be heard and not seen," quoted Cherry with her most
+sanctimonious air, noting the gathering frown on the older sister's
+face, and not quite understanding what had gone amiss.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that's just what Peace believes, too," cried Hope with her happy,
+contagious laugh in which Gail and the Judge and even Faith joined,
+making the sharp air ring with their hilarity.</p>
+
+<p>"Guess this ride must make you feel ticklish, too," suggested Peace,
+looking over her shoulder with a comical, self-complacent air at the
+crowded rear seat of the carryall. "I 'xpected to see some of you
+bawling about now&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Bawling!" echoed the girls in genuine surprise, while the old Judge
+chuckled to himself. "What for?"</p>
+
+<p>"'Cause we've left Parker for good and all. We're never going to live
+there any more."</p>
+
+<p>"But we shall visit there often. Grandpa said so," cried Hope, warmly.
+"It isn't as if we were bound for the poor-farm or some dreadful orphan
+home. We might have reason to cry then; but as it is, we're going to
+Martindale to live in a splendid great house with splendid, lovely
+people; and I can't help wanting to jump up and shout for gladness, even
+though we do love Parker and all the people there who have been so good
+to us&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Good for you, Miss Hope! Hip, hip, hurrah!" broke in the Judge,
+flapping the reins wildly as he doffed his hat and cheered heartily.
+"That's the proper spirit! We Parkerites don't expect you to break your
+hearts because you are going to a new home; we'd think it very queer
+indeed if you did. But we are glad to know this old town holds a tender
+spot in your memories. We shall miss you more than you will us, which is
+only natural; but as Hope says, you will be often among us as visitors,
+even though the little brown house will never be home to you again.
+Doctor and Mrs. Campbell have not only opened the door of their big
+house to you, but also the door of their hearts. Go in and take
+possession. You can make them the happiest people on earth if you want
+to&mdash;and I know you do. They intended to drive over after you this
+morning, but we villagers said no. They ought to be in Martindale to
+greet you, and we certainly deserved the privilege of escorting you
+to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't it nice to be pop'lar?" sighed Peace in ecstasy. "We're all bones
+of <i>condescension</i> today&mdash;now what are you laughing at?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we've reached the station already," chirped Allee with a suddenness
+which made everyone jump.</p>
+
+<p>"And if there isn't Mr. Strong!" cried the older girls in astonishment.
+"How did you ever get here ahead of us? We left you sitting on Peace's
+gate-post."</p>
+
+<p>"He sneaked," Peace declared without giving him a chance for reply. "He
+can sneak in anywhere. Oh, I didn't mean that as a <i>complimemp</i>, Mr.
+Preacher. You know I didn't! But you truly go so like a cat that people
+never know when you will jump out at them. Where is Elspeth&mdash;I mean
+Pet&mdash;I mean&mdash;Oh, there she is in the station house, and Miss Truesdale
+and Miss Dunbar and Dr. Bainbridge! We're much obliged that so many of
+you have come down to make sure we left town. Let me get out of here,
+Judge! I want to kiss Glen again." Scrambling excitedly out of her seat
+beside the dignified driver, she was over the wheels before he could
+stop her, and into the arms of the waiting friends.</p>
+
+<p>None of the orphan sisters had expected such a glorious send-off&mdash;nor,
+indeed, had the Parker friends planned it beforehand. It was just one of
+those acts of kindness born of the impulse of the moment and made
+possible because of a shortcut to the station and the grocer's wagon
+which stood hitched in front of Mr. Hartman's door. But the sight of the
+little group of neighbors on the station platform was very gratifying to
+every one of the youthful Greenfields, and each proceeded to show her
+pleasure in her own characteristic way. This second farewell-taking was
+very brief, however, for down the tracks came the puffing train,
+stopping at the narrow platform only long enough for the laughing,
+chattering girls to climb aboard, before it glided away again, with
+Peace's shrill protests trailing off into silence: "I don't see why we
+have to take the train when it is such a teeny short ride. I'd rather go
+by street-car. I didn't kiss Elspeth but once, and the Judge looked as
+if he was dying for another&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Silently, soberly, the gay little company at the railroad station
+dispersed to their various homes; but fortunately for the band of
+inexperienced travellers aboard the flying train, there was no time for
+serious thought, so brief was their journey. Scarcely were they settled
+with their hand-bags and grips when the brakeman threw open the door and
+strode down the aisle, bawling loudly, "Martindale, Martindale! Our next
+stop is Martindale Union Depot!" And before they could realize what was
+happening, the porter had bundled them off in the great, dark, noisy
+station-yard, filled with throngs of excited, hurrying people passing in
+and out of the heavy iron gates.</p>
+
+<p>Caught in the jam, there was a moment of breathless bewilderment; a
+frantic disentangling of themselves from the pushing, shoving crowd; a
+hurried, frightened survey of the sea of unfamiliar faces around them,
+and then straight into the arms of the smiling college President the
+anxious sextette walked.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well, well!" he cried with boyish eagerness, trying to gather
+them all in one embrace. "Here you are at last! I've waited one solid
+hour for this train. Those Parker people tried to tell me it was my
+place to stand in the doorway over at the house and welcome you there,
+but blessed if I could wait! Neither could Grandma. I thought I had
+stolen away without anyone seeing me, but before I had reached the
+car-tracks, there she was right at my heels. Here, mother, are
+your&mdash;own!"</p>
+
+<p>No welcome from the doorsteps of the great house could have warmed and
+thrilled those six hearts as did the husky, tremulous words of greeting
+in the dim, smoky station amid the clanging engines and shouted orders
+of trainmen. Home! Ah, what a glorious feeling of possession! The tears
+which had not come at thought of leaving the old home now welled up in
+the blue eyes and in the brown, but they were tears of joy and
+thanksgiving.</p>
+
+<p>"I knew someone would do some bawling before we got through with this,"
+sniffed Peace, searching in vain for the handkerchief which was never to
+be found in her pocket, and finally wiping her eyes on the august
+President's coat-sleeve. "Let's go home now. I want to see what it's
+like. You didn't bring the carriage, did you? It's just as well, I
+guess, for I s'pose we'll have lots of rides anyway. Only I wanted to
+see if the horses looked anything like Black Prince. Is this our car?
+Oak Street&mdash;I'll remember that; I may want to do some travelling all by
+myself some day. If you've got ten rooms in your house, how many are you
+going to turn over to us? For our very own, I mean. Three in a room
+makes things awfully crowded if the rooms are as teeny as they were in
+our house in Parker. 'Tisn't so bad in winter, but in summer we nearly
+roast to death nights. Do you have much comp'ny, and will we have to
+give up our rooms to them all the time? I forgot to ask you about these
+things before we said we'd come."</p>
+
+<p>"Peace!" reproved Gail in an undertone, trying to check the flow of
+questions and information pouring so rapidly from the lively tongue.
+"Don't talk all the time. Give grandpa a chance to say a few words."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I will," responded the child with angelic sweetness, in such loud
+tones that she could be heard all over the car. "I'm waiting for him to
+say a few words now. How about it, grandpa? Shall we each have a room or
+must we double up or thribble&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Peace!" called Allee in wild excitement, "there is Frances Sherrar's
+house!"</p>
+
+<p>"Where? Is it, grandpa?" asked Cherry, a little twinge of envy seizing
+her as she remembered her younger sisters' visit there a few weeks
+before.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he replied, glancing hastily out of the window, "I think very
+likely it was, as they live on the corner we have just passed, and the
+next street is where we get off. Press the button, Curlypate, or the
+conductor will carry us by. I didn't know you were acquainted with the
+Sherrars, Abigail. Frances is a student at the University; you will
+probably be in some of her classes. Give me your hand, Hope. There,
+mother, all our family are off. Right about face! One block west,
+and&mdash;here we are. Welcome home, my children! Peace, how do you like the
+looks of it?"</p>
+
+<p>They had paused in front of a great, rambling, old house, set in the
+midst of a wide lawn, brown and sere now with approaching winter, and
+surrounded by huge, knotted, gnarled, old oaks, whose dry leaves still
+clung to the twisted branches and rustled in the crisp air. A fat,
+sleek, black Tabby lay asleep on the warm porch-rail; a gaunt, ungainly
+greyhound lay sunning himself on the door mat, and from inside somewhere
+came the sound of a canary's riotous song. The whole place breathed of
+home, and with a deep sigh of content, Peace lifted her great, brown
+eyes to the President's face and whispered, "It seems 'sif I b'longed
+already."</p>
+
+<p>"You do," he murmured huskily. "This is home, dear."</p>
+
+<p>Hand in hand they walked up the path and through the door into the big
+hall, flooded with warm sunshine and sweet with the smell of roses. Up
+the stairway they marched, followed by the other sisters, all silent,
+wondering, but happy, and paused in the doorway of a large, airy room,
+furnished with easy-chairs and couches, a tempting array of late books,
+and a dainty sewing-table, heaped with pretty materials such as young
+girls love. "This is mother's domain," the President announced, stepping
+aside to let them enter. "Hang your wraps in that closet for the time
+being, make yourselves presentable&mdash;there is a mirror on purpose for
+prinking&mdash;and then get acquainted with your new home. There is still an
+hour and a half before luncheon will be served, and that ought to give
+you quite an opportunity to make discoveries. Now away with you!"</p>
+
+<p>"But&mdash;," "How," "What do you mean?" blurted out the astonished girls,
+wondering whether he was in earnest or just joking, for this seemed a
+queer way to introduce them to their new life.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what I say," he laughed. "Mother thought we ought to conduct you
+about the place and explain all the different phases of your new home,
+but I am inclined to believe you will like it better if you can make the
+tour all by yourselves. Young folks usually glory in unexplored fields.
+Now to it, for time is fleeting! I shall call for a report of your
+discoveries at luncheon. A prize for the one who has seen the most."</p>
+
+<p>"Do we have to go by ourselves?" Peace lingered to ask.</p>
+
+<p>"As you wish," was the brief response; and with his hat in his hand, the
+busy President descended the stairs, leaving a very bewildered group in
+the sewing-room behind him.</p>
+
+<p>"Well!" Gail ejaculated. "How shall we begin?"</p>
+
+<p>"I saw a piano as we came through the hall below," Faith half whispered.</p>
+
+<p>"And books! Everywhere!" cried Cherry, her eyes fastened longingly upon
+the little book-case in the corner. "Do they really belong to us now?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, of course," answered Peace in business-like tones. "Come on,
+Allee; let's get to work and see what we can find before lunch time.
+This is a pretty big house, and we've got to hustle if we get all around
+it in an hour and a half. Wonder where grandpa and grandma went. Shall
+we commence at the bottom and work up, or start in at the attic? I guess
+the attic first will be best, seeing we've come up one flight of stairs
+already, and it would be just a waste of time to go down and have to
+climb them all again." Answering her own question, she clutched Alice's
+hand and disappeared in one direction, as the sisters, following her
+example, scattered about the great house on their tours of inspection.</p>
+
+<p>The next ninety minutes were busy ones in the Campbell house, and it was
+necessary to ring the dinner bell twice before all members of the happy
+family were summoned to the table.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, how goes it?" smiled the President. "Judging from the time it
+took to gather the clans, some of you must have been pretty busy."</p>
+
+<p>"We were," dreamily murmured Cherry, who had been dragged bodily from
+the stacks of books in the library.</p>
+
+<p>"Made any great discoveries?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed!" they cried in unison.</p>
+
+<p>"Good! I'm all impatience! Relate your adventures. We are anxious to
+hear how you like your new home&mdash;mother and I. Abigail, you are the
+oldest; suppose you begin."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't get very far, I am afraid," said Gail modestly. "Just a peep
+into the rooms upstairs and a beginning down here when I found Gussie
+almost on the verge of tears because her dessert had burned black and
+she had no time to make any more; so I&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Bet our talking burned up her pies," Peace was heard to murmur
+remorsefully.</p>
+
+<p>"&mdash;helped her out a little," continued Gail, "and by that time the bell
+rang, so there was no opportunity for any further investigations."</p>
+
+<p>"Saint Elizabeth," said the President reverently, while the white-haired
+mistress of the house beamed her approval.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Faith,&mdash;but there is really no need of asking her about her
+discoveries. She got no further than the parlor with its piano. Now, did
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, grandpa," Faith confessed unblushingly. "I saw it when we came in,
+and I simply couldn't resist it a minute longer than was absolutely
+necessary. There will be lots of days for getting acquainted here, and
+besides, I knew Peace would carry off the prize&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Me carry off the prize!" Peace interrupted. "I've never got a prize for
+anything in my life&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Only because there never was one offered before for the person who
+could see the most or talk the longest," laughed Faith, and Peace
+subsided suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>"Saint Cecilia,&mdash;she could not get past the piano," teased Dr. Campbell,
+when the shout of laughter at Faith's sally had died away. "Hope, what
+have you to say for yourself?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not much. I visited all the rooms upstairs and down; fed the canary;
+got acquainted with Blinks, the cat, and Kyte, the hound; found Towzer
+and tried to make him be friends with Kyte, but he wouldn't be coaxed.
+Gussie said there were some kittens in the basement, so I went down
+there to find them, but the boy from the hardware store was there
+working on the furnace, and some way we fell to talking about studies,
+and he was so discouraged over his algebra lesson for night-school that
+I stopped to see if I could help him out a little, and the bell rang
+Just as we got the third problem worked."</p>
+
+<p>"My gentle Saint Lucia," he said in praise, as he turned from her to the
+next sister in age. "Cherry, give an account of your wanderings."</p>
+
+<p>"I wandered downstairs as far as the library&mdash;I guess that is what you
+call it."</p>
+
+<p>"And then what?" for she stopped as if her tale were told.</p>
+
+<p>"That's all. I stayed there."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" The President wilted, Mrs. Campbell stared, and for a moment even
+the sisters were silent in surprise at the matter-of-fact tone of the
+narrator; then the whole assembly burst into another merry shout, much
+to the disgust of poor Cherry, who could see no cause for amusement, and
+voiced her sentiments by saying petulantly, "I don't see anything the
+matter with that! What difference is there between playing the piano all
+the morning and reading books?"</p>
+
+<p>"It wasn't what you did that amused us," said Mrs. Campbell soothingly.
+"It was the way you told it. We won't laugh any more."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" breathed the ruffled damsel in relief, "if that's all, I don't
+care how much you laugh. But you'll have a better chance with Peace&mdash;she
+never can tell anything straight."</p>
+
+<p>"What kind of a saint is Cherry?" inquired the younger girl, ignoring
+the compliment she had just received. "If Gail is Saint 'Lizabeth and
+Faith is Saint Cecilia and Hope is Saint Lucy, what's Cherry?"</p>
+
+<p>"Saint Bookworm, I guess, Miss Curiosity-Box. What have you been doing
+this morning?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, lots of things," she sighed heavily. "Allee and me went together.
+We began with the attic, which is full of trunks of old clothes and
+battered-up furniture and cobwebs, and has two rooms for the hired girls
+to sleep in. Gussie's room is just <i>suburb</i>! It's dec'rated with the
+queerest looking old bird of a bedstead&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Peace! What slang!" cried Faith in genuine horror.</p>
+
+<p>"It's no such thing! It is a bird! She calls it a swan, for it's got a
+tall, crooked neck for the foot-board, and if I had it in my room, I'd
+hang curtains on its tail. It could be done just splendid! I'll show you
+after lunch if you don't b'lieve me."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we believe you! Go on. I'm interested in that room," begged Hope,
+wondering why she too had not begun with the attic.</p>
+
+<p>"Then on the wall she has a great fish-net full of the prettiest
+postcards of Norway and Sweden and De'mark. She's a Swede, you
+know,&mdash;Gussie is; and her married brother and two sisters and
+grandmother still live over there. That's where the fish-net came from.
+I didn't have time to stop long to look at the cards 'cause there was so
+much else to do 'fore lunch time, but she's invited us to come up some
+evening when she's through work and then she'll tell all about them.
+There's the loveliest green and yellow quilt on her bed that she made
+all herself. She said grandma had a red one for her to use, but it
+seemed more like home with her own things, so she uses them instead of
+those that b'long to the house. But the prettiest of everything is a
+queer little piece of glass hanging in the window which makes her room
+look like a real rainbow on sunny days, 'cause the <i>prison respects</i> the
+light and sorts out all the colors. Oh, you needn't laugh and think you
+know better! Gussie told us all about it, didn't she, Allee?"</p>
+
+<p>"Gussie did not call it a <i>prison</i>," Hope could not refrain from saying.
+"It is a prism, and it re&mdash;it isn't <i>respects</i> the light, grandpa&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"No. Refracts is the word she wants to use. Peace tries to drink in so
+much information that she can't digest it all."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe that is what's the matter," Peace agreed thoughtfully. "Anyway,
+her room is a beauty&mdash;lots prettier that Marie's, though Marie has the
+same chance of making hers look nice that Gussie has. There's the same
+difference in the girls themselves that there is in their rooms, too."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, what do you mean?" cried the astonished mistress of the house,
+while the President nodded his head in approval at the child's
+observations.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Gussie is good-natured and 'bliging, while Marie is cross and
+grouchy. We hadn't got the knob of her door turned before she ordered us
+out of her room and told us to mind our own business."</p>
+
+<p>"Poor childie, I ought to have cautioned you not to go into either of
+those attic rooms without the girls' permission. You see, while they
+work here, that is the one place in the house which is really theirs,
+and they don't want the rest of the family intruding."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know now. Gussie told me how it was when I spoke of Marie's
+being cross, but we never touched a thing; we just looked, didn't we,
+Allee? Marie had the tooth-ache, and that's enough to make anyone ugly.
+I got her some funny stuff that a shoemaker in Parker gave me once when
+I had the tooth-ache. After that she was a little pleasanter to us&mdash;that
+is, for a time. It did stop the aching right away, but it took all the
+skin off her cheek where she put the medicine&mdash;it is to be rubbed on
+outside. I forgot to tell her it would do that, so she didn't like it
+very well when her face began to peel off, 'cause she is going to the
+theatre tonight with her beau. But when she jawed about it, I told her
+I'd rather have a skinned face and a chance to go to the theatre, than
+an aching tooth any day of the week, and fin'ly she decided she would,
+too. I guess I'll like her in time, but I like Gussie better. Then we
+went on downstairs and 'xamined the rooms on that floor. The big front
+room is awfully pretty, and so is grandma's room where she sews, but the
+other three bedrooms are very bare and ugly-looking. Is that where
+you're going to put us, grandpa?"</p>
+
+<p>"Peace!" shrieked the sisters in horrified chorus.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes!" roared the delighted President, and even Mrs. Campbell joined in
+his merriment.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I s'pose it is healthy," Peace reluctantly admitted; then as if
+divining a joke somewhere, she smiled serenely and continued her
+recital. "We looked through the parlor and library and dining-room and
+where you put company when they come, and then we came to the kitchen.
+We got there ahead of Gail all right, for Gussie was just making some
+pies and reading a book at the same time."</p>
+
+<p>"A book!" echoed Mrs. Campbell, a slight frown gathering on the usually
+placid forehead.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it was a <i>pome</i> of some kind that she was trying to learn. She
+wants to be a <i>neducated</i> Swede. She got through High School, but she
+wants to know more'n that, so's she can be a teacher some day. That's
+how she comes to be cooking for other people. She is a good cook and can
+make pretty good money that way. She isn't a big spender, so every month
+she can put away 'most all of her wages towards going to Normal School.
+I always thought Normal School was where they sent bad boys and girls
+who couldn't be good at home, but she says I mean Reform School. I guess
+she'll get to Normal School all right. I told her Gail would help her
+with her lessons when they got too hard for her alone, 'cause Gail's to
+go to the University right away; but I didn't think Faith would be much
+good at that, as long's she isn't quite through High School herself. I
+told her Faith could make lovely fancy things to eat and would like
+awfully well to teach her when she had any spare time, and Gussie says
+she'll be tickled to learn, 'cause she is only a plain cook and not up
+on frills yet."</p>
+
+<p>Faith and the President exchanged comical glances across the table, but
+Peace was too much interested in her cake and fruit to notice what was
+going on around her, and blissfully continued, "We went down in the
+basement, too, and saw that boy from Benton's. His name is Caspar Dodds.
+His father is dead&mdash;what a lot of dead folks there are in this
+world!&mdash;and he has to earn money to take care of his mother and two
+sisters. She does plain sewing, and I promised you'd hire her sometimes,
+grandma. They live on Sixteenth Street, just at the corner where the
+Pendennis car turns off from the bridge. He told me how to get there.
+He's going to night-school so's he can learn the education he's missing
+daytimes, and says he gets along well in everything but algebra. I guess
+that's how he came to speak to Hope about it. I told him she'd be glad
+to help him with 'xamples he couldn't do, 'cause she was Professor
+Watson's star scholar in that. Gussie told <i>us</i> about the kittens, too,
+so I knew Hope would be down to find them, and that way she'd see
+Caspar. She must have come along right after us or she wouldn't have
+found him, 'cause he was 'most ready to go when we went out to the barn.</p>
+
+<p>"Jud had just brought in the horses from exercising them, and I told him
+I guessed likely we'd help him at that job after this, for all of us
+like to ride. At first he wasn't going to let us see the horses and we
+had to do a lot of talking 'fore he'd give in. He used awful poor
+grammar, and when he told us the stable wasn't the place for little
+girls and that we better go in the house and learn to cook like Gussie,
+I asked him why he didn't get some books and learn to speak right like
+Gussie, instead of sitting on an old box and reading yellow
+newspapers&mdash;well, it <i>was</i> yellow, just as yellow and musty and old as
+it could be! And he's too nice looking to be nothing but a horseman all
+his life. When I told him that, he got interested and fin'ly showed us
+some books he was trying to study, but he can't see sense in the
+grammar. Gussie promised to help him, but she never has much time for
+such things, and he thinks she thinks he's a plumb dunce. I promised to
+ask her if that's the way she felt, but he said I mustn't; so I did the
+next best I could think of&mdash;I told him Cherry would study grammar with
+him. She uses the same book he has in the barn, and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Peace Greenfield, did you really tell him that?" gasped poor frightened
+Cherry, looking as if she had just heard her death sentence pronounced.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes! I thought you'd be glad to help him out that much. I haven't
+got as far as grammar in school yet, or I'd teach him all myself; but I
+promised to <i>talk</i> proper grammar to him, so's to help all I could. What
+do you look so scared about, Cherry? He really wants to learn; he ain't
+fooling. And he's an awful nice man. He showed us the squirrels' hole in
+the vacant oak by the barn&mdash;I mean the hollow oak&mdash;and took us down to
+the boat-house on the river. You never told us anything about the river
+being so near here, grandpa. And he pointed out the University buildings
+through the trees, and promised to show us around the grounds right
+after lunch if you didn't have time to bother. He let us go up in the
+barn loft and says if you're willing, we can have a playhouse up there
+in the part with the window that looks out over the river. Then he
+pulled out his watch to let us know it was lunch time, but we told him
+right square out that there was one more thing we wanted to see, lunch
+time or no lunch time, and that was the horses. So after he grumbled
+some more about children being such nuisances, he took us downstairs
+again, and showed us your Marmalade and Champagne. Oh, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"What?" shouted the whole family in shocked amazement.</p>
+
+<p>"Marmalade and Champagne," Peace repeated more slowly. "That is what Jud
+called them. They aren't as pretty as our Black Prince, 'cause they are
+only red, and a red horse is never as nice as a black&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Horses! What funny names!" laughed Hope.</p>
+
+<p>"She has made a mistake," smiled Mrs. Campbell. "They are Marmaduke and
+Charlemagne. My nephew's children named them, which accounts for their
+high-sounding titles. I am glad you like Marmaduke and Charlemagne,
+Peace. We think they are very intelligent animals. Jud has succeeded in
+teaching them several rather clever tricks."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I like the horses and I like the people. It's going to be nice to
+live with such a <i>neducated</i> bunch. Marie's the only one that doesn't
+want to learn more, but p'raps she'll get over it. Who wins the prize,
+grandpa? That's all Allee and me saw. And what is the prize?"</p>
+
+<p>"After dinner in the den tonight I'll tell you the secret," the
+President promised. "I had no idea it would take so long to recount your
+adventures, but my time is up now. I must go back to the University at
+once. And by the way, Peace, I am afraid Jud will have to show you
+around the campus if you must see it this afternoon. I have an important
+meeting at two o'clock."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2>
+
+<h3>THE FLAG ROOM</h3>
+
+
+<p>Scarcely had the dinner hour ended that evening when the hilarious trio
+of younger girls, followed by the more sedate, but no less eager older
+sisters, scurried down the long corridor toward the den where the
+President had already intrenched himself, waiting for the promised
+visit.</p>
+
+<p>"Here we are, grandpa!" announced Allee, tumbling breathlessly through
+the doorway and into the nearest chair. "We raced and I beat."</p>
+
+<p>"'Cause Cherry tripped me up," exploded Peace wrathfully. "It's no
+fair&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Tut, tut, my children!" Dr. Campbell interposed. "No scrapping allowed
+here. This is a home, not a kennel."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we weren't scrapping," Peace hastily assured him, "but I'd have won
+if Cherry hadn't got her feet mixed up with mine, so's Allee got in
+ahead. I don't care, though. I can run the fastest of the bunch
+outdoors. Jud says I'm a racer, all right. <i>Did</i> I get the prize for
+talking the most this noon? Gail and Faith and all of them think I ought
+to have it&mdash;that is, Allee and me. We went together and saw the same
+things, though I did do all the telling."</p>
+
+<p>The President laughed. "Yes, I believe you and Allee won the prize all
+right. Grandma thinks so, too, but that is just where the hitch comes;
+because, you see, the prize was just to be your choice of rooms
+upstairs, and with Peace in one room and Allee in another, how are we
+going to settle the question as to who has first choice?"</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean that the winner can choose which of those three bare rooms
+she wants for her very own?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's it." His eyes twinkled merrily. Peace's untrammeled frankness
+furnished him much amusement.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, why is Allee going to be in one room and me in another?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why&mdash;why&mdash;why&mdash;" stammered the learned Doctor, at loss to know how to
+explain certain plans he and Mrs. Campbell had in mind. "We thought it
+would be best to pair you off so one of you younger girls roomed with
+one of the older sisters. Don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," was the emphatic reply. "It wouldn't do at all."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?" gently asked Mrs. Campbell, who had entered the room so
+quietly that none of the girls was aware of her presence.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, s'pose you paired us off 'cording to our looks," Peace explained,
+without waiting for any of the sisters to register objections; "there'd
+be Hope and Allee together, for they are the lightest; and Gail and
+Cherry would have a room by themselves, 'cause they aren't either light
+or dark; and that would leave Faith and me to each other, being the
+darkest of them all. Now, Faith and me can't get along together two
+minutes. Ask Gail, ask Hope. Any of them will tell you so. It ain't
+because we like to fight, either. We just ain't made to suit each other,
+that's all. Mother used to say there are lots of people in the world
+like that, and the only way to get along is to make the best of it and
+agree to disagree. But it would never do to put us in the same room.
+That's too close. We don't like the same things, even. Faith'd be cross
+'cause I'd want to put my b'longings certain places, and I'd get awful
+ugly if she took all the nice spots for her things.</p>
+
+<p>"Then, s'posing you paired us off by ages&mdash;the youngest with the oldest,
+and the next youngest with the next oldest,&mdash;that would still leave
+Faith and me together. It wouldn't do at all, you see."</p>
+
+<p>"How would you suggest dividing the rooms among you, then?" meekly
+inquired the President, casting a comical look of resignation at his
+puzzled wife.</p>
+
+<p>"Put the ones of us together that get along the best. Allee and me are
+chums, and Cherry and Hope, and Faith and Gail. Then we'd all be suited
+and there wouldn't be any fussing&mdash;'nless it was among the big girls."</p>
+
+<p>The President coughed gently behind his hand, Mrs. Campbell bent over to
+straighten an imaginary wrinkle in the rug at her feet, while Gail and
+Hope were industriously studying a picture on the wall. But Faith
+readily seconded Peace's proposition, saying heartily, "What she says is
+true, grandpa. She and I can't seem to get along together at all, though
+we do love each other dearly. We never have been interested in the same
+things, and I don't believe we ever will be. We have always paired off
+the way she says, and get along famously that way."</p>
+
+<p>"But how will you furnish the rooms that way?" wailed Mrs. Campbell
+suddenly. "I had planned it all out&mdash;the blondes together, the
+brunettes, and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"The blondes and brunettes?" repeated Cherry in bewilderment.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; fair-haired, blue-eyed people are blondes, while those with dark
+hair and eyes are brunettes," Hope explained.</p>
+
+<p>"It would be so much easier to carry out a color scheme in each room if
+you girls were paired off according to looks," sighed the woman in
+disappointment.</p>
+
+<p>"Colors wouldn't amount to much if we fought all the time," murmured
+Peace, trying hard to look cheerful even at the prospect of having to
+room with the one sister she could not understand or agree with.</p>
+
+<p>"That's so," agreed the President, chasing away the disfiguring frown on
+his forehead with a bright smile. "Besides, mother, the girls may have
+altogether different plans for decorating their rooms than&mdash;Well, Peace
+and Allee have first choice of room then. Which shall it be?"</p>
+
+<p>"The one with the teenty porch!" quickly responded the duet, as though
+the matter had already been privately discussed.</p>
+
+<p>"Aha, conspirators! Had your minds all made up, did you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, grandpa," Peace answered. "We have both slid down the pillar into
+the garden&mdash;what was the garden&mdash;and clum up the trellis as <i>easy</i>! Just
+think how much time we can save going in and out that way instead of
+having to run clear down the hall to the stairs every time&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Peace!" screamed Mrs. Campbell in horror.</p>
+
+<p>"Peace!" echoed the scandalized sisters.</p>
+
+<p>But for a long moment the President only stared. Then he spoke. "Now,
+see here, children, if you have that balcony room for your own, you must
+promise one thing. Don't <i>ever</i> use the porch pillars for a stairway
+again, either to get inside the house or out. Do you understand?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, grandpa," came the reluctant promise.</p>
+
+<p>"You will not forget?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, grandpa," with still more reluctance.</p>
+
+<p>"If you do, you will forfeit that room, remember. Porch pillars were
+never made for such purposes. They are not only hard on your clothes,
+but think what would happen if you should slip and fall."</p>
+
+<p>The whole group shuddered at this direful picture, and the chief culprit
+snuggled closer to this newly found guardian, and whispered contritely,
+"We didn't think of that before. We'll be good."</p>
+
+<p>"That's my girlie! Now for the other matters we must consider. When it
+was settled that you were to come here to live, mother and I talked over
+plans for refurnishing the rooms you are to occupy, but somehow we could
+not come to any satisfactory conclusions, and finally decided it would
+be best and wisest to let you select your own furniture and arrange it
+to suit yourselves."</p>
+
+<p>"Whee!" interrupted Peace with a delighted little hop. "Won't that be&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't say 'bully'," implored Cherry.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I won't. I'll say jolly. Won't that be jolly? Hooray!" Her shout of
+joy ended in such a queer, shrill squeak that the little company burst
+into a gale of laughter, and it was some minutes before order was
+restored, but when at last the merriment had subsided, each duet found
+themselves holding a small slip of paper which quite took their breath
+away.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" asked Allee, standing on tiptoe to get a better view of
+the yellow scrap in Peace's hand, though she could not read a word on
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"Grandpa! Is it to furnish our rooms with?" cried Hope, impulsively
+dropping a kiss on the tip of Mrs. Campbell's nose.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you precious people!" whispered Gail tremulously. "It is altogether
+too much. We ought not to spend all that just on our rooms."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, look here, my dearies," interposed Mrs. Campbell, beaming benignly
+at the flushed, surprised faces of the six girls, "father and I figured
+it all out carefully, and that is the amount we decided upon as
+necessary for all the fixings you would want to make you cosy. And you
+will find it won't go so far after all; but I know you can trim up some
+very dainty, pretty rooms with that amount. The beds we already had, so
+we left them there, but all the other furniture has been removed to the
+attic or disposed of in other ways, so you can follow your own
+inclinations in refurnishing your boudoirs. That is why I was so anxious
+to have the blondes together, but&mdash;I don't believe it will matter much.
+You will find some way of getting around that."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course they will, and the room that is fixed up the prettiest a week
+from today will be presented with an appropriate picture," declared the
+President, hugely enjoying the pleasure and surprise of his adopted
+family.</p>
+
+<p>Silence for a breathless moment fell upon the eager group, then with
+characteristic energy, Peace grabbed Allee's hand and started for the
+door, saying, "Come on, sister, let's get to work right away. We've got
+to win that picture to go with our porch." Just at the threshold another
+thought occurred to her, and she faced about with the remark, "Say,
+grandpa, do we have to spend <i>all</i> this money for dec'rations?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," he laughed. "If you can find anything in the attic which you can
+use, take possession of it."</p>
+
+<p>"And the money we don't spend is ours?"</p>
+
+<p>For a fraction of a second he hesitated, wondering what scheme was
+taking shape under the thatch of brown curls; then with a twinkle in his
+eyes he answered, "Yes, I reckon it is."</p>
+
+<p>"But, Donald," whispered Mrs. Campbell in his ear, "they are too young
+to be intrusted with such a sum."</p>
+
+<p>"Grandpa," Gail interrupted, looking thoughtfully at the check which
+Faith was still studying curiously; "must we do this without help from
+anyone else? Suppose we should all happen to choose the same plan?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, there is no danger of that at all because your tastes are not all
+the same, so far as I can discover; but I think it might be a good plan
+to consult with some older or more experienced person&mdash;some one outside
+the family. Grandma and I are to be the judges, you know; so it would
+not be fair for us to know beforehand what you were intending to do."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, how splendid to have it all a secret from you two!" cried Hope.
+"But who will help us?"</p>
+
+<p>"We shall ask Frances Sherrar," announced Gail after a whispered
+consultation with her room-mate. "She knows all about such things."</p>
+
+<p>"Then let's us ask Mrs. Sherrar," suggested Cherry, anxious to have as
+good authority to back them in their plans.</p>
+
+<p>"That's a good idea," Hope conceded readily. "Whom shall you choose,
+Peace?"</p>
+
+<p>They all expected to hear her name Mrs. Strong, her patron saint, but to
+their utter amazement she promptly retorted, "Gussie!"</p>
+
+<p>"But, Peace," they protested, "Gussie won't know&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Gussie thinks just like I do about colors and such things. That's why I
+chose her."</p>
+
+<p>Nor could the sisters change her decision in the matter, but as the time
+was short and there were many other affairs demanding their attention,
+the girls soon forgot their concern over Gussie's barbaric tastes, and
+Peace and Allee were left to their own devices.</p>
+
+<p>For the next three days they spent their leisure moments in wandering
+hand in hand about the house, looking very sober, and listening
+anxiously to the sound of hammers in the rooms adjoining theirs. Then a
+marked change came over them; there were many conferences with Gussie in
+the kitchen; much prowling about the attic in secret, and even two or
+three trips to the barn to interview Jud, the man of all work. The sound
+of hammer and saw could be heard at almost any hour of the day, hurried
+visits were made to the sewing-room when no one else was in sight, and
+the pungent smell of paint and paste filled the house.</p>
+
+<p>But at last all three rooms were in spick-and-span order, and the two
+judges were summoned to behold the result of the week's labor. At the
+first door they halted, and the President turned to his wife with a
+ludicrous grimace as he said, "Dora, I am afraid I've got us into
+trouble. How in this wide world are we going to be able to decide which
+is the prettiest room! And if it should be easy to decide that question,
+how shall we ever make our peace with the occupants of the other two?
+Oh, Dora!"</p>
+
+<p>"Open the door!" clamored the laughing girls. "You should have thought
+of these things before you made such a rash promise." And they pressed
+about him so relentlessly that he was forced to turn the knob and enter
+the first bower of loveliness.</p>
+
+<p>It was indeed a bower, so refreshingly cool and beautiful with its color
+scheme of pink and green and brown that it required very little
+imagination to transport one into the heart of some enchanted woods; and
+instinctively the four younger girls as well as the judges burst into a
+long-drawn exclamation of wonder and delight.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I can smell the flowers," cried Hope, sniffing the air hungrily as
+if expecting to find the woodland blossoms there.</p>
+
+<p>"And hear the creek," added Peace.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose they have won the prize," sighed Cherry disconsolately, while
+behind their backs Gail and Faith ecstatically hugged each other.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't decide the question until we have seen the other two," suggested
+Mrs. Campbell sagely, and the excited company flocked eagerly into the
+next room.</p>
+
+<p>Here everything was in blue and gold, even to the dainty curtains at the
+windows. The walls were covered with a delicate blue paper, dotted with
+sprays of cheerful goldenrod; the dresser and table were decorated with
+blue silk scarfs embroidered with the same flower; gilt-framed pictures
+hung upon the walls; and from the head of each narrow, gilded bedstead
+floated soft draperies of blue.</p>
+
+<p>"Sky and sunshine," murmured Gail, quick to feel the perfect harmony of
+the room. "Isn't it lovely?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and it is fully as pretty as ours," whispered Faith, "though I
+like ours best."</p>
+
+<p>"Now for the last," Cherry urged eagerly, well content with the
+rapturous exclamations her room and Hope's had brought forth. "This will
+have to be awfully good to beat the other two."</p>
+
+<p>"It <i>is</i> awfully good," Peace informed her. "<i>I</i> think it is the best."</p>
+
+<p>"So do I!" "And I!" came the chorus of surprised voices as the last door
+swung open and the beauties of the third chamber burst upon their view.</p>
+
+<p>"It makes me think of fire-crackers," Cherry pensively observed.</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody but Peace would ever have thought of such a thing," Faith put
+in.</p>
+
+<p>"A regular Fourth of July room," stuttered the President when he had
+recovered his voice enough to speak. "Girlies, how did you do it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well," confessed Peace, meditatively chewing her finger in her endeavor
+to appear modest in the midst of such unstinted praise, "at first we
+didn't know what to do. The other girls kept talking about 'propriate
+colors for their complexions. Faith is all <i>blunette</i> and she looks best
+in pink. Hope is all blonde and blue is her best color, while Gail and
+Cherry have <i>blunette</i> hair and blonde eyes, and they chose yellow and
+green. I didn't know it then, but that is what they did. Anyway, they
+talked about the different colors till I thought we ought to have our
+rooms fixed up in things that fitted us. That made it hard for Allee and
+me, you see, 'cause she is all blonde and I'm all <i>blunette</i>. To fit
+her, the room would have to be all blue, and to fit me it would be all
+red. Gussie said it wasn't stylish to use red and blue together any
+more, so we didn't know what to do until one day when we were
+<i>rummelging</i> through the attic we found heaps and heaps of perfectly
+whole bunting and two great, big flags. That decided us to make a flag
+room of ours, and Gussie said it was a <i>splen-did</i> idea. So that's how
+it happened.</p>
+
+<p>"Allee and me'd rather sleep together so's we can talk when we are
+awake, instead of having to holler our thoughts clear across the room
+from one bed to the other whenever we want to talk secrets; so we traded
+beds with Gussie. She said she was willing, and I always did want that
+bird of a bed after I saw it in her room. But the curtains wouldn't hang
+from its tail like I thought they would, and we&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Stole my Paris doll to hold 'em up with!" cried Cherry, spying for the
+first time the beautiful waxen image dressed to represent the Goddess of
+Liberty, which stood on a tiny mantel over the quaint little bed, and
+held the bunting curtains in one hand.</p>
+
+<p>"We <i>borrowed</i> it," Peace corrected. "We couldn't very well <i>ask</i> you
+'bout it without your teasing to know why, and Allee and me didn't have
+a decent doll among us. Besides, you never play with it any more, and
+like as not grandpa or some other person that's got money will give us
+one of our own for Christmas. Then you can have yours back again. I
+guess you can wait that long, can't you? We wanted the walls striped
+with red and white, but Gussie thought that would look too much like a
+barber shop, so we just had white paper. It doesn't much matter, for the
+flags cover most of that wall, and Martha and George&mdash;we found them in
+the attic&mdash;Washington take up all the space on that side under the
+eagle&mdash;we got that out of the glass case that stands in the barn loft.
+We were going to see if we couldn't find some rugs with flags in them,
+but Gussie said it wasn't nice to <i>walk</i> on our country's flag, so we
+chose this red carpet that used to be on this floor."</p>
+
+<p>"But where did you get such cute, quaint furniture?" asked Faith who was
+trying the white enameled chairs one after another.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that all came from the attic, too. Didn't cost us anything. It was
+a dull, ugly brown&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Mother's mahogany set," whispered Mrs. Campbell to the amused doctor
+standing at her side.</p>
+
+<p>"&mdash;but a little white varnish made it just what we wanted."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you do the painting?" asked Cherry, testing it with her finger to
+see if it stuck.</p>
+
+<p>"No; we tried, but it looked so streaked we thought we sure had spoiled
+it. Gussie didn't have time to do a good job on it, either; so we asked
+Jud to help us out, and he said he would if Gussie&mdash;" There was a
+movement at the door, and the company glanced over their shoulders just
+in time to see Gussie's dress whisk out of sight down the hall. "&mdash;would
+give him a kiss. So you see we got that work done dirt cheap, too.
+Altogether, we spent nine dollars and ninety-one cents of the money
+grandpa gave us. Gussie kept the list. That's what the paper and white
+paint and ribbons for tying back our curtains&mdash;oh, yes, and the curtains
+themselves came to. They are just dotted <i>Swish</i> and we got it at a
+sale, so it didn't cost us much. Mrs. Grinnell says always watch for
+sales, 'cause lots of bargains can be picked up that way, and we
+remembered it this time. We spent the extra nine cents&mdash;to make just an
+even ten dollars&mdash;for candy to treat Gussie and Jud, seeing they
+wouldn't take any money for their work, but they didn't eat it all; so
+Allee and me had the rest."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you make the curtains yourselves?" asked Cherry, the inquisitive.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, mostly. Gussie cut them for us, and I held them straight in the
+machine while Allee made the pedal go. The seams ain't <i>very</i> crooked,
+but sometimes the needle would hit a lump in the pattern and teeter out
+around it, in spite of all I could do. But the made-up curtains at the
+store cost lots more than the raw cloth and weren't half so pretty, so
+Gussie said she'd help us make our own. Didn't we do well?"</p>
+
+<p>"You certainly did," was the unanimous verdict. "The prize is yours."</p>
+
+<p>"And children," said the President impressively, as they still lingered
+in the quaintly furnished room; "I hope every time you enter this door,
+the spirit of patriotism, the love of country, will grow stronger and
+greater in your hearts."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, grandpa, I guess it will," answered Peace in all seriousness,
+"'cause we'll always be thinking of the rest of that check money which
+we've saved from dec'rating our room so's we could buy fire-crackers and
+rockets for next Fourth of July."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2>
+
+<h3>CHRISTMAS DAY WITH THE CAMPBELLS</h3>
+
+
+<p>The days which followed the advent of the orphan sisters in the great
+house were happy ones. Oh, so happy! How can they be described? The two
+lonely old hearts which had hungered all these long years for the little
+children who had so early left them thrilled with gladness at every
+sound of the eager, girlish voices. Boundless content reigned in their
+hearts as they watched each expressive face and studied each different
+character; and they wondered openly how they had ever managed to live
+without this precious band of granddaughters, as they insisted upon
+calling their charges.</p>
+
+<p>And the girls were equally happy. Gail felt as if a great weight had
+been lifted from her shoulders, as if her soul had been suddenly freed
+from a dark prison. The care-worn look vanished from the thin face; the
+big, gray-blue eyes sparkled with animation; her heart bubbled over with
+gratitude and love; and in every possible way she tried to show these
+new guardians how deeply and tenderly she loved them. And her attitude
+was that of the other sisters also, except that each took her own
+method of showing it. The Campbells were well satisfied with their
+experiment and were never tired of saying to each, other, "They are ours
+now."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," Peace had answered them once when she had overheard these words;
+"we are yours now, but it seems to me 'sif we had always belonged to
+you. Some way, we fit in just as slick! 'Sif we had only been away on a
+vacation and just got home again, and you're tickled to see us and we're
+tickled to see you. Only&mdash;s'posing we really had been your
+granddaughters, s'posing you had been our Grandpa Greenfield, I bet
+<i>you'd</i> never have named me Peace."</p>
+
+<p>"No," Dr. Campbell replied gravely, but with a quick thrill of
+tenderness in his heart for this little scapegrace who seemed to win
+from everyone an extra share of love; "no, I don't think I should have
+named you Peace&mdash;that is, if I could have foreseen what the blossom was
+to be when the bud unfolded. I should have called you Joy."</p>
+
+<p>"Joy?" repeated Peace. "Humph! That sounds like a heathen name. We've
+got a story book about Hop Loy, a Chinaman who was born on Christmas Day
+and never saw a Christmas tree until he was older'n Cherry. Why-ee!
+Ain't that terrible! I used to think I'd like to have my birthday come
+on Christmas, but now I'm glad it doesn't, for then everybody'd make one
+present do for the two days, and I'd get only half as many pretty
+things as other children have. It's bad enough as 'tis, being born on
+New Year's Day, for by that time most folks have spent all their money
+on Christmas doings."</p>
+
+<p>"Oho," he mocked, "is that what is bothering you? Well, now, don't you
+worry! You shall have your share of birthday gifts as well as heaps of
+Christmas presents as long as you live with us. This year Christmas will
+be doubly merry, for it is the first holiday season we have had any
+young folks to help us celebrate since the days when Dora's nephew used
+to spend his vacations with us."</p>
+
+<p>"Why doesn't he come any more?" asked Cherry curiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, he is a gray-haired man now with children of his own," laughed
+grandma, then sighed, for the rollicking Ned who had been the life of so
+many vacations with them had married a society dame whose one aim was to
+see how many social victories she could score, and the poor children of
+the family fared as best they could in the great, loveless palace which
+they called home.</p>
+
+<p>"Do they live in Martindale?" asked Hope, eager to add to her list of
+acquaintances any whom the Campbells loved.</p>
+
+<p>"No, their home is in Chicago now. That is a photograph of the
+children." She pointed to a group picture on the fireplace mantel, and
+the girls clustered about it with inquisitive eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"What a sad-faced child the smaller one is," observed Faith. "How old is
+she?"</p>
+
+<p>"Six or seven weeks younger than Peace, I believe. She was born on
+Valentine Day."</p>
+
+<p>"How lovely!" Peace cried joyfully. "But I'd like it better if it was
+the boy who was almost my age. He looks the nicest of the bunch. The big
+girl is homely&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Peace!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it ain't her fault, I know, and I wouldn't mind how homely she
+was if she looked <i>sweet</i>, but she doesn't. She looks 'sif she thought
+she owned the earth and I never did like a <i>darnimeering</i> person. Now
+Tom&mdash;his name is Tom, isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, dear, it is Henderson. Henderson Meadows."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! Why, I was sure it was Tom; he has such a Tom-ish look&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>A shout of derision interrupted her, but she stoutly declared, "Well, he
+has! Boys named Tom are always nice&mdash;all I ever knew. I'm sorry his name
+is Henderson. It doesn't sound a bit like him."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a queer chick," said the President indulgently, "but I quite
+agree with you in regard to Henderson. He is a splendid fellow, however,
+in spite of his long name. They ought to have called him Ned Junior. He
+is big Ned all over again, just as Belle the second is the counterpart
+of her mother. Lorene is the odd piece. Every family has one odd one, I
+believe. Lorene is like neither her father nor mother."</p>
+
+<p>"What funny names! They are as bad as ours. But I should like to know
+the children&mdash;the folks, I mean. I s'pose Belle is too old to be called
+a child any longer, ain't she?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Belle is sixteen and stylish," he answered grimly, as if that told
+the story, and it really did, for little more could be said of the
+frivolous, society-loving girl, brought up to follow in the footsteps of
+her worldly mother.</p>
+
+<p>"Do they come here often?" ventured Gail, still studying the group, none
+of whom looked really happy.</p>
+
+<p>"No, oh no," Mrs. Campbell answered hastily. "Martindale is too quiet
+for Mrs. Meadows. Ned sent Henderson and Lorene up here for a month last
+summer, but Belle has never been our guest. Grandpa and I have visited
+them twice in Chicago, but that is all we have ever seen them."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish they lived nearer," sighed Peace. "We never had any cousins of
+our own, but maybe they'd adopt us too, like you did; then we'd know
+what it feels like to have real relations."</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose you write Lorene. I think she would enjoy getting letters from
+a little girl so near her own age."</p>
+
+<p>"That <i>would</i> be nice, s'posing I liked to write letters," Peace
+assented, "but I don't. I'll send her a Christmas present, though; and
+a valentine when it comes time, and a birthday gift, too. She will like
+that, won't she? What street does she live on in Chicago? It'll have to
+go pretty soon if it gets there in time for Christmas. That's only a
+week off. Mercy! What a lot of work we'll have to do before then,
+getting ready for the parties. I do love parties! But I don't see what
+you wanted to make two for. One would have been a plenty, and not near
+so much work."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Campbell laughed comfortably. "The house isn't large enough to
+accommodate all we want to invite, so we had to make two parties.
+Besides, the evening party is a sort of 'coming out' affair for my older
+girls&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Coming out of what?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, introducing them into college society&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And we littler girls ain't worth coming out for? Is that it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh dear no! But <i>little</i> girls don't come out into society. They have
+to wait until they are grown up. Even Gail and Faith are too young for
+the social whirl as the world understands that phrase. They must wait
+until they are through with school and college life before they take up
+social duties. But they have met so very few of our young people since
+coming here to Martindale to live that we are giving this party to
+introduce them to their own classmates really. Do you understand now?"</p>
+
+<p>Peace did not, but she vaguely felt that she ought to, so she bobbed her
+head slowly and fell to puzzling over the queer ways of the world.
+Fortunately for the whole household, the last week of preparation for
+the holiday season was a very busy one, so Peace had little time to
+think of all these perplexing questions; and when Christmas Day dawned
+at length, everyone thought she had forgotten her grievance over not
+being invited to attend the evening party for the older sisters. But
+Peace remembered, and in the gray of the early dawn before anyone else
+was awake in the great house, the door of the flag room burst open with
+a jerk and a joyous voice shrieked through the gloom:</p>
+
+<p>"What have you got in your stockings, girls? Mine is stuffed so full it
+fell off the nail, and one chair and half the dresser is loaded with the
+left-over packages. And Allee's got as many as I have. There's a doll
+for each of us&mdash;they beat yours all hollow, Cherry. Now we've got a
+Goddess of Liberty all our own and you can have yours as soon as ever
+you want it. And I've got seven books. Guess Santa must have mixed me up
+with you again, Cherry. There are three puzzles and five games and a lot
+of handkerchiefs and ribbons, two sashes, and oh, the loveliest white
+dress for winter wear, all trimmed with the softest velvet&mdash;just the
+thing for your party tonight, Faith, s'posing I was invited. And
+there's a plaid dress and a plain red one and a brown one and a dark
+blue&mdash;six in all&mdash;and two coats. <i>Two!</i> Think of that! Mercy, ain't we
+rich now? Are you awake, all of you? Are you listening? Ain't this
+different from last year?"</p>
+
+<p>Ah, how well they all remembered that last Christmas, and what a hymn of
+praise and thanksgiving went up from each of those six hearts for the
+joy and good tidings this Christmas had brought them!</p>
+
+<p>Before Peace had finished shouting her catalog of gifts, the other
+sisters were awake&mdash;and indeed, the whole household was astir&mdash;examining
+the generous remembrances loving hands had heaped around their beds as
+they slept. And what a merry time they made of it! Gussie could scarcely
+prevail upon anyone to touch her tempting breakfast, for excitement had
+dulled the usually hearty appetites; the young folks found their
+treasures more alluring than any breakfast table could possibly be, and
+the President and his wife hovered over them to enjoy the sight of their
+joy.</p>
+
+<p>"A body'd think they had never seen a Christmas Day before," muttered
+Marie, waiting impatiently in her snowy cap and apron to serve the
+rapidly cooling breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>"It's many a long day since they have seen one like this," said Gussie
+loyally, smiling gratefully as she thought of the liberal number of
+packages old Santa had left hanging to her door during the night. But at
+length the meal was ended, Marie had carried the dishes away, Jud
+appeared with a step-ladder and hammer, and the younger trio were
+banished upstairs to amuse themselves until the last of the party
+decorations were put in place. This was not a hard thing to do,
+fortunately, and for once not one of them raised any objection to being
+exiled in this fashion.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I've enough things of my own to look at and think about to last me
+a week," Cherry breathed ecstatically.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and s'posing you did get tired of that," spoke up Peace, "there's
+all the rest of the girls' bundles to 'xamine. They've each got a
+hundred 'most near, I sh'd think."</p>
+
+<p>So for a long time they fluttered from room to room, admiring the pretty
+things that were now their own, nibbling chocolate drops, or discussing
+the party scheduled for two o'clock that afternoon. Then gradually
+conversation flagged; each girl sought a favorite retreat, and
+surrounded by her pile of belongings, sat down to gloat over them.
+Silence fell upon the rooms, broken only by the sound of rustling
+ribbons caressed by admiring hands, the opening and shutting of boxes,
+the fluttering of story-book leaves, the protesting squeak of Queen
+Helen's bisque arms and legs, and the rattle of mysterious puzzles.</p>
+
+<p>Cherry had retired to her own domain to regale herself with certain
+tempting volumes, and Peace and Allee were alone in the flag room when
+the older girl suddenly dropped the book in which she had been lost for
+a full half hour, and said eagerly, "Allee, this is the most interesting
+story I ever read. It tells how the little Swede children give the birds
+a Christmas. Think of that! The birds! We tried to make it happy for
+everyone we knew&mdash;Jud and Gussie and Marie and the flirty chimney-sweep
+who goes by here every morning, and the washwoman who lives in the
+alley, and the milk-boy who comes so far through the cold to bring us
+our milk, and Caspar Dodds' family&mdash;and&mdash;and&mdash;all of them; and we even
+remembered the canary and the dogs, but we never thought of the birds
+outdoors."</p>
+
+<p>"No, we didn't," Allee agreed, pausing in her occupation of undressing
+the gorgeous Queen Helen to stare fixedly at her sister as if trying to
+fathom her thoughts. "We might ask Gussie for some crumbs. It ain't too
+late yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Crumbs wouldn't do at all. The book says they tie a sheaf of wheat to a
+tall pole in the yard so the birds will see it and come down and eat.
+See, there is the picture."</p>
+
+<p>"Um-hm. But we haven't any tall pole in our yard, 'cept the flag-pole
+and that's on the roof."</p>
+
+<p>"No, we haven't any pole like the book shows, but we could hitch the
+wheat on our balcony-rail knobs and when the birds came down to get it,
+we could watch them from this window. See?"</p>
+
+<p>"Where'll you get the wheat?"</p>
+
+<p>"From the barn. Jud's got a lot of different kinds of grain out there."</p>
+
+<p>"But we can't go downstairs until party time. Even lunch is to be
+brought up here, grandma said."</p>
+
+<p>"That's so. But I don't think they'd care if we just slipped down the
+stairs and straight out of the front door. It wouldn't take us but a
+minute to get the wheat and come right back again."</p>
+
+<p>"Grandma said if we went downstairs before she gave us leave, we
+couldn't go to the party at all."</p>
+
+<p>"Then how can we feed those birds?"</p>
+
+<p>"I guess we can't feed them this year&mdash;'nless we do it tomorrow."</p>
+
+<p>"Tomorrow won't be Christmas. We've got to do it today. Just think how
+nice it will be to play we are little Swedes and how pleased Gussie'll
+be to think we did something her people do."</p>
+
+<p>"Why do just Swedes feed the birds?" inquired Allee, still a trifle
+dubious about entering into Peace's plan, in view of the risk involved.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I s'pose they thought of it first. Every kind of people do
+something queer at Christmas which they call a custom. The Holland
+children put out their shoes on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus to fill,
+instead of hanging up their stockings."</p>
+
+<p>"Their shoes?" Allee's eyes were as round as saucers with astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. They wear big, wooden boats for shoes. I guess their feet must be
+extra big&mdash;anyway, their shoes are simply <i>e-mense</i> and will hold a lot.
+Then there's the French people,&mdash;<i>they</i> always save up all the fusses
+and scraps they have had with other folks during the year, and on
+Christmas Day they go around and get forgiven. Wonder what Gail would
+think of that! And the Irish folks stay up all night to hear the horses
+talk."</p>
+
+<p>"Peace, you're fooling!"</p>
+
+<p>"Allee Greenfield, do I ever fool you?"</p>
+
+<p>"N&mdash;o, you never have."</p>
+
+<p>"And I ain't beginning now. That is just what this book says."</p>
+
+<p>"But horses don't talk!"</p>
+
+<p>"Only at Christmas time."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't b'lieve they do then. Did you ever hear them!"</p>
+
+<p>"N&mdash;o, but I'm going to stay up tonight and listen."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we can't. This is party night and what would grandma say?"</p>
+
+<p>"We'll never know if they talk unless we do stay up and listen&mdash;and I'd
+like to find out what they say. It's just at midnight. That ain't long.
+We go to bed at eight, and midnight is only twelve o'clock. We could
+stay awake easily till then, 'cause the people who are invited will be
+leaving just about that time. I heard grandma say so. We'll just skip
+away to the barn and see if Duke and Charley are talking, and then we'll
+come back before anyone knows we're gone."</p>
+
+<p>The plan was truly very fascinating, but Allee still looked very
+doubtful, and after a silent moment Peace broke out in an aggrieved
+tone, "I don't see what is the matter with you, Allee. You are getting
+to be just like Cherry. She always sets down on my plans. You won't help
+me hang up the wheat for the Swedes or listen to the Irish horses. You
+never used to be like that."</p>
+
+<p>"I will too help you!" cried Allee, hurt at her boon companion's words
+and tone. "I'll do anything you want me to, only I don't see how we can
+carry out either one of those. We'll surely get scolded if we go
+downstairs now, and it would be dreadful if we couldn't go to either
+party."</p>
+
+<p>Peace walked to the balcony window and threw up the sash, murmuring, "If
+only grandpa hadn't made us promise not to slide down the pillars! Oh,
+I've got it, Allee! Look here!"</p>
+
+<p>Allee scrambled up from the floor and hurried to her side, shivering in
+the cold blast that blew in through the open window, bearing with it a
+few feathery flakes, for it was trying hard to snow. "See that piece of
+the wall that sticks out there, and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But how can you walk on that little mite of a piece?" gasped Allee,
+growing pale at the very thought. "And how would you get down to the
+ground?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's easy! The rain-pipe is fastened just high enough for me to
+hang onto, and 'sides, the trellis goes part of the way to the porch
+roof, and Jud hasn't taken down the ladder he put up there yesterday."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but s'posing you should fall," wailed Allee in sudden terror, for
+the water-pipe looked like a very frail support even for a child as
+small and light of foot as was Peace, and the corner with the projecting
+porch roof seemed so far away.</p>
+
+<p>"There's snow on the ground. I wouldn't get hurt. But you needn't think
+I'm going to fall. I've clum lots harder places than that before. You
+stay here and when I get back you can tack up the wheat on the rail
+post."</p>
+
+<p>Carefully she stepped out on the balcony, slipped over the low railing
+and set out on her perilous journey along the narrow coping, clinging
+tightly to the rain-trough with one hand, and hanging onto the trellis
+supports with the other till at last she was safe on the porch roof at
+the corner. With an exultant shout she turned and waved her hand at
+rigid, white-lipped Allee in the window, then slid lightly down the
+ladder and out of sight. She was gone a long time, and the small watcher
+above was becoming alarmed at her stay, fearing that the daring acrobat
+had been caught at her pranks, and wondering what punishment would
+befall her in such an event, when the bare, brown head appeared over the
+low porch roof once more, and Peace inquired in a worried tone, "Do you
+know whether birds eat hay? 'Cause I can't find any whole wheat out
+there. It's all shocked."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I never watched them long enough to see," began Allee, eyeing the
+great twisted wisp the older child had in her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I brought some grain, too, but I don't know how we can tie that
+to a pole, 'nless we leave it in the bag, and then how can the birds get
+at it!"</p>
+
+<p>"We might throw it along the rail&mdash;it's wide enough to hold quite a
+little&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Course! What a <i>nijut</i> I am not to think of that myself!"</p>
+
+<p>Slinging the bag of grain over one arm, and still clutching the hay
+firmly in the other hand, she began her slow creeping along the coping
+back to the balcony window. The rain-pipe shook threateningly under her
+weight, and even the trellis supports swayed uncomfortably when once she
+slipped and almost lost her frail footing. Allee gave a low moan of
+horror and shut her eyes, but the daring climber did not fall, and when
+next the watcher looked, she beheld the curly, brown head bobbing over
+the balcony rail, as Peace swung up to safety beside her, and dropped
+the burden&mdash;the birds' Christmas dinner&mdash;into her trembling hands.</p>
+
+<p>Nor was Allee the only one who trembled. On the snowy walk below,
+approaching the house with rapid strides, came the dignified President,
+hand in hand with two children, a bright-eyed, black-haired boy of
+perhaps a dozen years, and an under-sized, gipsy-like little girl, both
+chattering like magpies as they raced along beside the tall, erect old
+man, when suddenly the girl screamed faintly, "Oh, Uncle Donald, look!"</p>
+
+<p>But he had caught sight of the apparition even before she spoke, and
+halted abruptly, breathlessly, terror clutching at his heart. The boy
+followed the gaze of his two petrified companions, and ejaculated in
+amazed admiration, "Golly, but she's got grit! Why, Uncle Donald, that's
+your house! That must be one of the girls you were telling us about. Is
+it Peace?"</p>
+
+<p>The President nodded his head mechanically, not knowing that he had
+heard the question, but the next moment the frozen horror of his face
+melted. The climber had reached the balcony and was unconcernedly
+scattering a handful of grain over the narrow railing, while Allee
+securely bound the wisp of hay to the balcony post. A great sigh of
+relief escaped the watchers below, their hearts began to beat once more
+and the red blood pounded through their veins.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," gasped the girl, "I thought sure she'd fall!"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't," declared the boy with a wise shake of his head. "She's a
+reg'lar cat. I believe she could climb a wall. She's like that 'human
+fly' the papers are always telling about. I'd like jolly well to see
+<i>him</i> do some of his stunts, you better believe!"</p>
+
+<p>The President said nothing, but his mouth set in grim lines and a look
+of determination replaced the fearful pallor of his face. Forgetful of
+the guests he had in tow, he marched into the house and straight up the
+stairway with the children still at his heels. At the door of the flag
+room he knocked, then without waiting for a summons from within, he
+entered.</p>
+
+<p>The two scatterers of Christmas cheer had finished their work by this
+time and were now gleefully watching the feathered folk of the air
+settling about the unexpected repast, so they scarcely heard the steps
+in the hall or the creak of the opening door. But at the peculiar sound
+of the voice speaking to them, both girls wheeled quickly, and Peace
+asked in guilty haste, "Did you want us, grandpa?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, come here, both of you."</p>
+
+<p>They went and stood at his knee, a secret fear tugging at each little
+heart as they saw the unusually stern look he bent upon them.</p>
+
+<p>"Is&mdash;is&mdash;what&mdash;why&mdash;," stammered Peace, wishing he would smile a little
+to relieve the keenness of his glance.</p>
+
+<p>"What were you doing just now?"</p>
+
+<p>"Feeding the birds like the Swedes do on Christmas Day, only we didn't
+have a pole to hitch our wheat to, and all our wheat was in kernels
+anyway, and we were told not to go downstairs until Jud and the girls
+were through dec'rating, so we clum out of the window and I got some hay
+and grain just as slick! Don't the birds look as if they were enjoying
+their Christmas dinner?" Peace rattled on, speaking so rapidly that the
+words fairly tumbled out of her mouth.</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't I tell you when you chose this room for your own that you would
+forfeit it the first time you used the window for the stairway?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, grandpa," came the astounding reply from both eager little girls.
+"You said <i>porch</i>, <i>pillars</i>, and we have <i>never</i> used them for
+stairways since the time we told you about. We 'membered that
+<i>carefully</i>, and this time we used that wide piece that sticks out of
+the wall, and then clum down Jud's ladder from the back porch roof. That
+ain't the balcony pillars, grandpa. You never said we couldn't go down
+that way."</p>
+
+<p>In absolute amazement the learned Doctor of Laws gazed long and
+silently into the anxious, upturned faces. Allee's lips began to
+tremble, and even Peace, remembering the Doctor's words in regard to
+lickings the night of the surprise party in the little brown house,
+shook in her shoes; but she steadfastly returned his gaze, and quietly
+repeated, "You know you didn't, grandpa!"</p>
+
+<p>"No," he said at last. "I did not forbid your going down that way, but
+it was only because I never dreamed you or anyone else would ever try
+such a feat." Suddenly his sternness vanished, he stooped quickly and
+gathered the scared little souls in his arms, choking huskily, "My
+little girlies, if you knew what a fright you have given your old
+grandpa&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, grandpa," quavered Allee from her retreat on his shoulder, "we'll
+never do it again, truly!"</p>
+
+<p>"And you won't take this darling room away from us this time, will you?"
+wheedled Peace, her equilibrium restored at sight of this unusual
+display of emotion.</p>
+
+<p>"No," he promised, "not this time. We'll try you again, but remember&mdash;no
+more window climbing of <i>any</i> kind."</p>
+
+<p>"Not even out onto the balcony?" wailed Peace in dismay.</p>
+
+<p>There was a sound of suppressed laughter from the hall, and as the girls
+in the flag room whirled about to discover the cause, the President
+suddenly remembered his new guests and rose hurriedly to his feet. But
+Peace had reached the door in a bound and with a cry of delight dragged
+forth the embarrassed strangers, exclaiming, "It's Henderson and Lorene,
+grandpa! They look 'xactly like their picture, don't they, only not
+quite so grumpy? Grandma said I better write Lorene and I did and I
+invited her to come up for my party. That's how they happen to be here.
+Now we'll get acquainted with our relations, won't we? I invited Belle,
+too. Why didn't she come?"</p>
+
+<p>"Belle and mamma went to Evanston last week," Lorene explained
+bashfully.</p>
+
+<p>"And they let you come all alone?"</p>
+
+<p>"They don't know yet that we aren't in Chicago," chuckled Henderson.
+"Dad let us come. It's only a twelve-hour ride and we don't change cars
+at all. Pooh! We've gone longer ways than that alone."</p>
+
+<p>"But not when mamma knew it," supplemented Lorene. "She'd have
+<i>insisted</i> upon sending Nurse with us&mdash;if she had let us come at all.
+Where shall we put our wraps? It's hot in here."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I forgot!" cried Peace, abruptly recalled to her duties as hostess,
+for dazed Dr. Campbell had gone in search of his wife the minute he saw
+that the children were sufficiently introduced.</p>
+
+<p>"Hang your coat on the hall-tree, Henderson; and Lorene, bring your
+things in here. It's pretty near lunch time already, and then we must
+dress for the party."</p>
+
+<p>So in spite of their very unexpected arrival, the two strangers received
+a royal welcome, and were soon very much at home with the six merry
+girls whom they promptly adopted as cousins, just as Peace had hoped
+they would. And how quickly the hours flew by! Before anyone realized
+it, the great clock in the hall struck two, and promptly the small
+guests began to arrive. Happy voices filled the house, happy faces
+beamed from every corner, happy hearts beat high with Christmas cheer;
+the very air seemed charged with happiness. The four younger sisters
+made charming hostesses, Grandma Campbell proved to be a rare
+entertainer, and the dignified President won everlasting fame as a
+story-teller and leader in games.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Everything</i> was a success," as Hope thankfully declared when the last
+guest had departed, and the happy group had congregated in grandma's
+room to talk things over while Jud and his corps of helpers were setting
+things to rights for the evening party.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," Peace reluctantly conceded, "but think how much nicer it would
+have been if we could have had it in the evening like grown-up folks."</p>
+
+<p>"Still harping about that?" laughed Faith, pausing in the doorway with
+her arms full of holly wreaths ready to be hung. "Daytime is made for
+children. Gail and I didn't intrude at your party."</p>
+
+<p>"That ain't 'cause you wasn't invited," Peace replied pointedly.</p>
+
+<p>"But we couldn't very well come," Faith answered hastily. "There were so
+many things we had to get ready for our tree tonight."</p>
+
+<p>"Getting things ready for a tree ain't like having to lie in bed and
+hear all the noise and music and know you can't have any share at <i>all</i>
+in them," Peace persisted; but Faith had already vanished down the
+stairway, and only a tantalizing laugh floated back in reply.</p>
+
+<p>A hush fell over the little company in the cosy room, each busy with
+happy thoughts or rosy day-dreams, as she stared at the glowing embers
+in the great fireplace or watched the white flakes drifting down through
+the early twilight outside. Then there was a firm step on the stair, a
+cheery voice from the hallway broke the spell, and six pair of eyes were
+lifted to greet the busy President as he briskly entered the room and
+paused to survey the pretty scene.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well," he said bluffly, "what's the difficulty? Quarrelling?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir!" they shouted emphatically.</p>
+
+<p>"We were just thinking&mdash;" Henderson began.</p>
+
+<p>"How nice it would be if little folks were invited to grown-up parties,"
+finished Peace, who seemed possessed of only that one idea.</p>
+
+<p>"That's just what I have been thinking, too," was the surprising
+confession from the tall man on the hearth rug.</p>
+
+<p>"Wh-at!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, when mother and I came to think over the subject seriously, we
+both agreed that it did not seem exactly fair to put three, no, four
+such charming little maids to bed&mdash;for of course Lorene would share your
+fate, too&mdash;when there were to be such festive doings downstairs,
+although neither one of us believes in late hours for children. I
+presume we are very old-fashioned in some things&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"No, you aren't," chorused the loyal girls.</p>
+
+<p>"No? True patriots! And yet didn't you think grandma and I were just the
+least teenty bit hard on you to make you go to bed at the regulation
+hours tonight when it is Christmas?"</p>
+
+<p>"W-e-ll, we would like awfully much to stay up and see if Gail and Faith
+do as good entertaining their comp'ny as we did," confessed Peace with
+unusual hesitation.</p>
+
+<p>"Supposing I should tell you that we have decided to let you stay up an
+hour or two longer?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, grandpa, what a darling you are!"</p>
+
+<p>"No, you must thank Faith. She begged so hard that we have had to give
+in to satisfy her."</p>
+
+<p>"Faith?" Peace was so completely dumbfounded that they had to laugh at
+her.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, dear, Faith. She says you are so dreadfully anxious to see what a
+grown-up Christmas party is like that she is afraid you will die of
+curiosity if you can't have that wish fulfilled."</p>
+
+<p>"Grandpa, you are just joking," Cherry reproved.</p>
+
+<p>"I am thoroughly in earnest, I assure you. To be sure, Faith used
+somewhat different words, but she sympathized so heartily with you that
+we decided to let you enjoy part of the evening's program. In fact, the
+only reason we planned <i>two</i> parties in the first place was because the
+old house wouldn't hold at one time all we wanted to invite; and we
+thought it would be a great deal easier to entertain our guests if we
+had the big folks at one party and the little people at another. Do you
+understand now?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and I'll bet you've been figuring on letting us go all the while
+we were stewing about it," cried Peace, the irrepressible.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe you are right," he chuckled.</p>
+
+<p>She bounced off the floor with a squeal of delight, clutched Allee with
+one hand and Lorene with the other, and rushed out of the room, calling
+back over her shoulder, "Now, I'm <i>surblimely</i> happy! You better go
+dress, Cherry! Dinner will soon be ready and there won't be much time
+after that before the party begins."</p>
+
+<p>They had been happy before, but the granting of this one dear wish
+transported them to such heights of bliss that they seemed to be walking
+on clouds, and went about in such a state of rapture that it was
+ludicrous as well as delightful to behold their antics.</p>
+
+<p>Evening came, the guests arrived, music sounded, carols were sung, and
+Peace, entranced, moved about through the gay, light-hearted throng like
+one in a dream. To be sure, it was just as the President had
+prophesied&mdash;little attention was paid to the children of the party, but
+it was glorious fun just to watch the changing scenes and be a part of
+them, instead of lying tucked away in bed upstairs listening with
+ever-increasing curiosity and longing to the sounds of merrymaking
+below.</p>
+
+<p>With a happy sigh of content at the realization of her great ambition,
+Peace dropped down upon a pile of cushions by one of the long French
+windows, leaned her forehead against the cool pane and looked out into
+the night, where by the flickering light of the street-lamps she could
+see the white snowflakes drifting slowly, lazily downward.</p>
+
+<p>"My, but hasn't this been a happy Christmas!" she said aloud, though no
+one was near enough to hear her words. "Who'd ever have thought last
+Christmas that we'd be here tonight? Do you s'pose the angels know we
+don't live in Parker any more? We might set a lamp in the window so's
+they'd see it and be sure. Gail says mother always did that when papa
+was out after night, so he could find his way home all right. I'll tell
+Allee and when we go to bed we'll just remind the angels that we don't
+need so much looking after now that we're living here. I'll never forget
+how s'prised Hec Abbott was when he found out that we'd all been 'dopted
+together. I wonder what Hec is doing about now? He can't brag any more
+about the good times they have at his house. We are just&mdash;what in the
+world is that coming up the steps?"</p>
+
+<p>Mechanically she rose to her feet, her nose still pressed flat against
+the window-pane as she studied the huge, misshapen figure already on the
+wide veranda. The footman who had ushered in the guests of the evening
+was at that moment occupied in fastening up a strand of evergreen which
+had fallen close above a gas-jet; the President was at the furthest
+corner of the great parlor engaged in an animated discussion with a
+pale-faced professor of Greek; and Mrs. Campbell was nowhere in sight.
+With a wildly beating heart, Peace seized the door-knob, and not waiting
+for the queer stranger outside to ring the bell, she flung wide the door
+and confronted him.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, it's Santa Claus!" they heard her say, for the sudden sharp blast
+of winter air had drawn a crowd to the door to see what had happened.
+"Don't you know, sir, that you can't come in this way? Go up to the roof
+and climb down the <i>chimbley</i>, like you do at other houses," she
+commanded, and in the face of the amazed Saint Nick she slammed the
+door.</p>
+
+<p>"Peace, what have you done?" cried Gail aghast, as she caught a glimpse
+of the fat, knobby pack disappearing down the steps.</p>
+
+<p>"It was just that Santa Claus forgot to go down the <i>chimbley</i>," she
+explained. "He ought to have remembered that!"</p>
+
+<p>A shout from the adjoining room cut short her defense, and as the crowd
+surged forward in that direction, she beheld the jolly old Saint
+shuffling across the floor dragging his heavy pack which certainly
+looked as sooty and dirty as if he had really plunged down the tall
+chimney and through the fireplace. Straight to her corner he came, and
+fumbling in his sack, drew forth a tiny statue of the Goddess of
+Liberty, which he presented with an elaborate bow, saying in a deep,
+rumbling voice, "To the defender of all childhood traditions&mdash;Liberty
+enlightening the world!" His words were greeted with mad applause, for
+by this time everyone had heard the story of the flag room and peeped at
+its quaint furnishings; but the laugh was quickly turned from one to
+another, for St. Nick had remembered well the pet foibles of each guest
+present, and had brought with him appropriate gifts for all.</p>
+
+<p>Much too soon the hands of the clock crept around to the hour of half
+past ten, and with sighs of resignation and disappointment, the four
+smaller girls, Cherry, Peace, Lorene and Allee, slipped quietly away to
+bed.</p>
+
+<p>"I did so want to hear the rest of the carols," murmured Cherry, yawning
+so widely that she nearly swallowed the rest of the exiled group.</p>
+
+<p>"We can hear them after we're in bed," said Peace, rubbing her eyes
+which were growing very heavy in spite of her efforts to stay awake.
+"Gussie promised to leave our doors open until time for the folks to go
+home. It's the charades I wanted to see."</p>
+
+<p>"Charades?" questioned Lorene. "Were they going to have charades, too?"</p>
+
+<p>"She means tableaux," explained Cherry. "She's crazy about them. They
+make me cough too much&mdash;the lights they use, I mean. Come on, Lorene,
+sleep with me tonight until Hope comes up to bed. Do, please! It isn't
+fair for you three to stick in here and leave me all by myself in the
+other room."</p>
+
+<p>Lorene glanced hesitatingly from one sister to the other, and seeing no
+opposition, answered, "All right, Cherry, I'll stay with you till the
+folks go. You don't care, do you, girls?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not for that long," Peace magnanimously replied, for a daring plan had
+just popped her eyes wide open, and Lorene might hinder its fulfillment.
+So they separated, and in a few short moments four white-robed figures
+were tucked snugly under the coverlets, the lights turned out, and the
+two doors left ajar that the sleepy exiles might hear the strains of
+music floating up the wide staircase. There was the soft sound of
+whispered words from bed to bed like the sleepy twitterings of birdlings
+in their nests, and then silence. Cherry and Lorene were fast asleep.
+Downstairs the carols ceased, the wail of violin and guitar died away,
+and the murmur of voices was again borne to the straining ears of the
+conspirators in the flag room.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you s'pose they have begun tableauing?" asked Allee, after what
+seemed an eternity of listening.</p>
+
+<p>"Not yet; they have lights. There, that must be one. See how queer the
+hall looks through the crack of the door? I guess it's time now. Come
+on, but be awful still."</p>
+
+<p>"It's cold after being in that warm bed," protested Allee as her bare
+feet touched the polished floor in the hall.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll get some wraps in here," Peace answered, inspired by a happy
+thought to seize upon two beautiful white opera robes belonging to some
+of the guests below, and with these heavy garments trailing behind them,
+they stole softly down the wide stairway almost to the landing, where,
+out of sight from the company massed in the parlor and adjoining rooms,
+they could still see the tableaux taking place in the reception hall
+below.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately for their health's sake, this part of the program was brief,
+and had it not been for the very last scene pictured, no one would have
+dreamed of their presence behind the palings. But it happened that the
+girls had chosen as a climax for the evening the tableau of the first
+Christmas Eve; and Hope, arrayed as the angel of good tidings, appeared
+on the stairs just as Jud touched off the weird red light on the
+landing,&mdash;for neither actor nor servant had discovered the hidden
+culprits until too late to utter any words of warning or reproof.
+Startled beyond measure at the sudden glow almost at their elbow, the
+two conspirators scrambled to their feet and vanished hastily up the
+stairway as the chorus below took up the song,</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Angels ascending and descending,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Chanted the wond'rous refrain,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">'Glory to God in the Highest,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Peace and good will toward men.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The long, fur-lined opera cloaks streamed out behind them like misty
+clouds in the unearthly glow of the sulphur light, and it seemed as if
+they were really a part of the beautiful tableau, which brought forth
+such thunderous applause from the delighted audience that it had to be
+repeated. This Peace and Allee did not know, however, for with
+chattering teeth and trembling limbs, they had fled to the refuge of
+their room, pausing only long enough to drop their borrowed finery where
+they had found it; and they were crawling underneath the covers once
+more when Peace hissed sharply in her sister's ear, "What about the
+horses?"</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter with them?" murmured Allee, too confused and sleepy
+to know what her companion was saying.</p>
+
+<p>"We were going out to hear them talk at midnight."</p>
+
+<p>"So we were! Well, I guess they'll have to talk all to themselves again
+tonight."</p>
+
+<p>"What? Ain't you going out with me to listen?"</p>
+
+<p>"We'd freeze in our nightgowns and we dahsent take those pussy-cat coats
+to the barn," protested the younger sister, aroused by Peace's surprised
+exclamation.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll dress."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Peace, and then have the fun of taking our clothes off again?"</p>
+
+<p>"We'll put on our stockings and overshoes and bundle up in grandma's
+shawls. How'll that do? But first, we better light that candle I told
+you about to let the angels know where we are tonight. There&mdash;I guess
+they'll see it, even if it isn't as big as a lamp. Come on, I heard the
+clock strike a long time ago."</p>
+
+<p>If Allee had not been so sleepy she might have remembered one other time
+just a year before when Peace had heard the clock strike; but being too
+near the land of Nod to realize anything but that Peace was calling her,
+she stumbled out of bed once more and allowed herself to be bundled up
+in wraps of all sorts until she was as shapeless as a mummy. In this
+fashion they slipped down the back stairs and out to the barn without
+betraying their presence, though the steps creaked under their weight,
+and every door they opened squeaked so alarmingly that Peace held her
+breath more than once for fear someone had heard.</p>
+
+<p>Once inside the dark barn, they had to feel their way about, for not a
+ray of light penetrated the blackness of the stormy night, and the grim
+silence of the place filled them with nameless terror. It was not so bad
+when they had finally found their way into Marmaduke's stall and cuddled
+close to the friendly beast, who nosed them inquiringly, but even there
+they did not dare speak above a whisper; and so they waited breathlessly
+for the mystic midnight hour when the animals should break their silence
+and talk, each secretly wishing she were safely back in bed again.</p>
+
+<p>Up at the house the merry evening had at length drawn to a close, and
+the guests had reluctantly departed. The President, returning from the
+gate where he had escorted the last guest to her sleigh, made a
+harrowing discovery. There was a light in the balcony window! Could it
+be that burglars had entered the house during the merrymaking and were
+even now ransacking the rooms? He looked again. It was such a tiny,
+steady light. Was it possible that one of the children was sick and
+Gussie had not told him? The last thought sent him flying up the stairs
+three steps at a time, and he reached the flag room door so breathless
+that he could scarcely turn the knob. The bed was empty. Only a wee
+taper from the Christmas tree burned faintly on the window sill.</p>
+
+<p>In frantic haste he called the family and they searched the house from
+garret to cellar, but the missing children were not to be found.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you suppose the tableau scared them to death?" asked Hope.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe they tried to see if Santa Claus really came down the chimney and
+got stuck there themselves," suggested Henderson, who regarded the
+disappearance of the duet as something of a lark.</p>
+
+<p>"Wake Jud," commanded Mrs. Campbell, and the worried Doctor hastily
+lighted a lantern and went down to the barn to rouse the man of all
+work, wondering as he did so what good that would do. The horses
+whinnied as he entered the stable, and in the dim light that flooded
+the place, the President saw that the door of Marmaduke's stall stood
+open.</p>
+
+<p>"What can Jud be thinking of?" he muttered somewhat testily, stepping
+along to slip the bolt in its place, but the next instant his eyes fell
+upon two dark bundles huddled at the horse's feet, and with a startled
+exclamation he bent over to examine his find, just as Faith burst in
+through the door behind him, crying, "They must have left the house,
+grandpa, because the back hall door is unlocked and the storm-door is
+swinging."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Faith, and here they are," he answered, tenderly lifting the
+smaller warm bundle and depositing it in the girl's arms. "What in
+creation do you suppose they were doing here?"</p>
+
+<p>As if in answer to his question, the brown eyes of the child he was just
+lifting fluttered slowly open, and Peace drowsily drawled, "We fed the
+Swede birds for Gussie, and got French forgiveness from grandpa for
+doing so, and had a German Christmas tree, and lots of Hung'ry company,
+and 'Merican stockings and a 'Merican Santa Claus, but we didn't hear
+the Irish horses talk, and I b'lieve it's all a joke."</p>
+
+<p>In spite of their anxiety, Faith and the President gave a boisterous
+shout, and Peace heard as in a dream her sister's voice saying, "It is
+Christmas Eve that the animals are supposed to talk. Poor Peace!"</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+
+<h3>A ZEALOUS LITTLE MISSIONARY</h3>
+
+
+<p>Strange as it may seem, neither child felt any ill effects from that
+midnight escapade, but the next morning they awoke as chipper and gay as
+if there were no such thing as after-Christmas feelings. They even
+forgot the lonely vigil in the stable in their dismay at the discovery
+that Lorene had slept all night with Cherry instead of returning to
+their room as she had promised to do. An after-breakfast summons to the
+President's study brought their pranks vividly to mind again, however,
+and with considerable trepidation they saw the heavy door close behind
+them, shutting them in alone with the grave-eyed man, for they stood
+much in awe of the learned Doctor when that stern look replaced the
+usual bluff kindliness of his face.</p>
+
+<p>The conference was exceedingly brief and to the point, judging from the
+sober, wilted little culprits who pattered up the stairway a few minutes
+later and silently sought the flag room. Henderson and the girls were
+consumed with curiosity to know the result of the interview, and their
+amazement knew no bounds when the disgraced duet vanished within their
+quiet retreat and turned the key in the lock. After waiting in vain
+fifteen minutes for them to reappear Lorene crossed the hall and knocked
+timidly at the closed door. There was no answer. She tried again, this
+time with more vim, but with no better success. Then she called, but not
+a sound from within greeted her straining ear. Cherry and Hope each took
+a turn, and Henderson pounded his fists sore without receiving a single
+word of reply from the prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe they have climbed out of the window," he cried at last in
+exasperation.</p>
+
+<p>"No, they promised grandpa not to. I guess maybe they've been sent to
+bed," said Cherry, inwardly thankful that she had not been in the latest
+scrapes.</p>
+
+<p>Neither was right. But after a time, tiring of their efforts to get some
+sign from the culprits, the quartette in the hall dispersed to amuse
+themselves in some more entertaining manner. No sooner had their
+footsteps died away on the stairs, and Peace was convinced in her own
+mind that they had really gone for good, than a change came over her.
+She was sitting erect in a stiff-backed chair in one corner of the room,
+while her companion in misery sat huddled in the opposite corner,
+staring at the fresco of flags above her head. Both looked dreadfully
+woe-begone, and as if the tears were very near the surface, for
+punishment sat heavily upon these two light-hearted spirits,
+particularly as such severe measures did not seem necessary or just to
+them in view of the smallness of their sin. However, when the racket
+outside their door finally fell away into silence, Peace suddenly gave a
+little jump of inspiration, twisted her feet about the legs of her
+chair, and began a slow, laborious hitching process across the red rug
+toward the tiny dresser. Reaching this goal, she jerked open a drawer,
+rummaged out paper and pencil and began a furious scratching.</p>
+
+<p>Allee watched with fascinated eyes, but true to her promise to the
+President in the den below, she never said a word, though she was nearly
+bursting with curiosity and it was so hard to keep still. After a few
+moments of rapid scribbling on a page of vivid pink stationery, the
+brown-eyed plotter again commenced her queer march across the room until
+she had reached the door, unlocked it, and after a hard struggle managed
+to pin the slip to the outside panel. Then with a sigh of mingled relief
+at having accomplished her object and resignation at her unjust fate,
+she closed the door once more, and wriggled back to her place opposite
+Allee, never so much as looking at the eager face questioning hers so
+mutely.</p>
+
+<p>Again silence reigned in the pretty room, and both girls fell to
+wondering what the other members of the household were doing. Suppose
+Cherry had taken Lorene down to the pond to skate. That was what Peace
+herself had been planning on ever since she had looked into the small
+dark face of the child who was only six weeks and two days younger than
+she was. Suppose Hope had gone with Henderson to coast on the hill. He
+had promised Allee the first ride just the night before. Suppose Jud
+should choose this morning to take the girls sleighing as he had said he
+would do when the first heavy snow fell.</p>
+
+<p>It had stormed all night and the deep mantle of white lay tempting and
+inviting in the bright winter sunshine. Oh, dear, what a queer world it
+seemed! Some people were in trouble all the time and some were never
+bothered with scrapes and punishments. There was Hope. Why was it Hope
+never did such outlandish things to cause anxiety and dismay to those
+around her? Hope never even <i>thought</i> of the freakish pranks that were
+constantly getting Peace into trouble.</p>
+
+<p>What was it grandma was always quoting? "Thoughtfulness seeks never to
+add to another's burdens, never to make extra work or care, but always
+to lighten loads." She said it was because Hope was always thinking of
+beautiful things that made folks love to have her near; that it was the
+mischievous thoughts which cause the misery of the world. She said&mdash;what
+did she say? The brown eyes winked slower and slower, the brown head
+bent lower and lower. Peace was asleep.</p>
+
+<p>An hour passed,&mdash;two. The luncheon bell tinkled, the family gathered
+about the table for the mid-day meal, but the chairs on either side of
+the President's place were vacant. Glances of inquiry flashed from face
+to face. Were the children to be kept in their room all day?</p>
+
+<p>"Where are Peace and Allee?" asked the Doctor, very much surprised at
+their absence.</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't seen them since you sent them upstairs this morning,"
+answered Mrs. Campbell, who had been occupied all the forenoon writing a
+paper for the Home Missionary Society which was to meet at the parsonage
+that afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>A guilty flush overspread the President's fine face, and forgetting to
+excuse himself from the table, he abruptly pushed back his chair and
+strode from the room, muttering remorsefully, "I deserve to be licked!
+That was three hours ago and I promised to call them in an hour." He
+returned shortly alone, looking very foolish, and holding in his hand a
+square of brilliant pink.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" asked his wife, surprised at the look on his face. "Where
+are the little folks?"</p>
+
+<p>"Asleep. They looked so worn out that I put them on the bed and left
+them to have their nap out. This is what I found on the door."</p>
+
+<p>He dropped the slip of paper into her hands as he resumed his seat, and
+she read in tipsy, scrawling letters Peace's poster: "It won't do enny
+good to raket or holler to us. We can't talk for an hour. If you want to
+ask queshuns go to grandpa he is boss of this roost."</p>
+
+<p>She smiled a little tremulously as she passed the pathetic scribble to
+Henderson, sitting at her right, but he, being a boy, saw only the funny
+side of the situation, and let out a lusty howl of joy as he read aloud
+the words with much gusto to his delighted audience.</p>
+
+<p>When the laughter had subsided somewhat, the President asked ruefully,
+"How can I make my peace with them? I sent them to their room for an
+hour and promptly forgot all about the affair."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll take them to the Missionary Meeting with me this afternoon,"
+suggested Mrs. Campbell, "and you can come for us with the sleigh. Peace
+has begged to go over ever since she has been here. It seems that Mrs.
+Strong is an enthusiastic missionary worker, and Peace's greatest
+ambition is to be like her Saint Elspeth."</p>
+
+<p>"So she can find another St. John and marry him," giggled Faith.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. I guess it is hard to decide which one of her saints she thinks
+the most of," Mrs. Campbell agreed; "but I am so glad she has chosen
+such a beautiful couple to pattern her own ideals after. Their
+friendship will do much for our little&mdash;" she intended to say
+"mischief-maker," but this white-haired woman with her mother instincts
+seemed to understand that Peace's mischief was never done for mischief's
+sake, so she changed the word to "sunshine-maker."</p>
+
+<p>Thus it happened that when the brown eyes and the blue unclosed after
+their long nap, they looked up into the dear face of their
+grandmother-by-adoption, and saw by her tender smile that their
+punishment was ended. They were surprised to find how long they had
+slept, but the delight at being allowed to attend a grown-up missionary
+meeting, as Allee called it, overshadowed whatever resentment they might
+have felt at having been forgotten for so long a time, and they danced
+away through the snow beside Mrs. Campbell as happy and carefree as the
+little birds which they had fed yesterday.</p>
+
+<p>The meeting was not as exciting as Peace had been led to expect from
+Mrs. Strong's enthusiastic recitals regarding missionary work, but some
+of the words spoken by the different ladies sank very deeply into the
+children's fertile brains, and both were so silent on the homeward
+journey behind the flying horses that finally Mrs. Campbell ventured to
+ask, "Are you tired, girlies? Was the meeting a disappointment to you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no," Peace hastened to assure her. "<i>I</i> liked it lots, and Allee
+likes the same things I do, don't you, Allee? The women were pretty slow
+about doing things&mdash;they talked so long each time before they could make
+up their minds about anything. But it's int'resting to know that at
+last they decided to send some barrels to the poor ministers in the
+little places who don't get enough to live on. 'Twould have been better
+if they had done it before Christmas, though, so's the children wouldn't
+have thought Santa Claus had forgotten them. Do&mdash;do you think like Mrs.
+McGowan&mdash;that if we have two coats and someone else hasn't any, we ought
+to give away one of ours? That's what she said, isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that is what she said," Mrs. Campbell agreed; "and in a large
+measure I believe her doctrine, too. If we have more than we need and
+there are others less fortunate, I think we ought to share our
+blessings. But it takes a lot of good sense and tact to do this
+judicially."</p>
+
+<p>"I think so, too," answered Peace with such a peculiar thrill in her
+voice that the President, at whose side she was sitting, turned and
+looked quizzically at the rapt face. "I don't b'lieve in talking a lot
+about giving and then when it comes to really <i>doing</i> it, to give just
+the left-over things that ain't any good to us any longer, and wouldn't
+be to anyone else, either."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, what do you mean, child?" the woman asked, taken by surprise at
+such quaint observations from the fly-away little maid, whose serious
+thoughts were regarded as jokes even by her own family.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, there was Mrs. Waddler in Parker. She always talked so big that
+folks who didn't know her thought she must have millions of money; but
+when she came to giving, it was usu'ly skim milk or some of her
+husband's worn-out pants."</p>
+
+<p>Here the President exploded, but at the same instant the horses turned
+in at the driveway; and in scrambling down from the sleigh Peace forgot
+to press her argument any further. Nor did the older folks remember it
+again for some days. Then Mrs. Campbell entered the doctor's study one
+afternoon with a deep frown on her forehead, and a little note in her
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>At the sound of her voice, the busy man paused in his writing and
+glanced up hastily, asking, "What seems to be the difficulty?"</p>
+
+<p>"This letter. I don't understand it. Mrs. Scofield writes a note of
+regrets because I found it impossible to be with them at the last
+missionary meeting, and closes by thanking me for my generous donation.
+Now, it happens that just before Christmas, I carefully went through all
+the closets of the house, sorted out and hunted up all the good,
+half-worn clothing that we could spare, and sent it to the Danbury
+Hospital for distribution among their poor families; so I simply had
+nothing of value to add to the barrels intended for the frontier
+ministers&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you buy something?"</p>
+
+<p>"I did; or, rather, I thought the poor preacher might find the money
+more acceptable than anything I could purchase, so I selected the family
+of Brother Bennet of Idaho, and sent him a check. I mailed it to him
+direct, not wanting to run the risk of the barrel being delayed or
+destroyed. I also neglected to inform the ladies of what I had done; so
+I am sure they know nothing about it, for it is yet too early to hear
+from Mr. Bennet himself."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe it is a case of a little bird's having told the story," laughed
+the doctor, taking up his pen to resume his writing, and his wife, still
+musing over the strange occurrence, went away to receive a caller who
+had just been announced.</p>
+
+<p>An hour later she returned to the study looking more perplexed than when
+she had left him before, and the President banteringly asked, "Haven't
+you found out yet about that generous donation?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Donald. Mrs. Haynes has just told me the whole story. It was not
+my donation at all."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, the worthy ladies just got mixed in their thanks&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all! It was Peace's work, and naturally they thought I had
+authorized it. That little rascal picked up about half her wardrobe, her
+Christmas doll, several games and story books, and goodness knows what
+all, and took them over to Mrs. Scofield's house to be packed in the
+missionary barrels. Not only that, she persuaded Allee to do the same
+with her treasures."</p>
+
+<p>"The little sinner!" ejaculated the startled President. "Without saying
+a word to anyone about her intentions?"</p>
+
+<p>"She never consulted <i>me</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"Nor me. Well, we must just send her back after them, and make her
+understand she must ask us when she wants to dispose of her belongings."</p>
+
+<p>"That is just the trouble. The barrels have already gone."</p>
+
+<p>"You don't say so! The monkey! Send Peace to me when she comes in, Dora.
+We must curb these philanthropic tendencies in their infancy and direct
+them in the right channels. There is the making of a wonderful woman in
+that small body."</p>
+
+<p>"With the right training."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. God grant that we may be able to give her the right training."</p>
+
+<p>Peace came radiantly in response to the message, dancing lightly down
+the hall as a hummingbird might flutter along, and the mere sight of her
+merry face as it popped through the study doorway was like a sudden
+shaft of sunlight in the great room. The President had determined to
+meet her gravely, even sternly, and show her that her uncalled-for
+generosity had displeased them, but in spite of himself, his eyes
+softened as they rested upon the sweet, round face upturned for a kiss,
+and he gently drew her into his lap before telling her why he had sent
+for her.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes, grandpa," she readily confessed. "I did give away some of my
+clothes and other things, and so did Allee, 'cause the children of the
+ministers on the frontier need them so much more than we do. Why, we're
+rich now and can have anything we want! You said so yourself, you know.
+We couldn't give the things we didn't want ourselves, grandpa, 'cause
+that wouldn't be a <i>sacrilege</i>; and the pretty lady who talked at the
+missionary meeting that day said it was the <i>sacrileges</i> we made in this
+world that put stars in our crowns in the next world."</p>
+
+<p>"Sacrifice, dear, not sacrilege."</p>
+
+<p>"Is it? Well, I knew it was some kind of a sack. I want lots of stars in
+my crown when I get to heaven. Just think how terrible you'd feel
+s'posing when St. Peter let you inside the Gates, he handed you just a
+plain, blank crown. Mercy! I know I'd bawl my eyes out even if it does
+say there aren't any tears in heaven. So I picked out the things I liked
+the very best of all I got on Christmas&mdash;that is, most of them were. I
+don't care much for dolls, so that wasn't any sacri-<i>fice</i> for me; but
+Allee likes them awfully much yet, and it was a big sacri-<i>fice</i> for her
+to let hers go. But I sent my dear, beautiful plaid dress that I thought
+was the prettiest of the bunch, though I let Allee keep the one she
+liked best, seeing she cried so hard about Queen Helen. She didn't seem
+to enjoy thinking about the big star she'll get in its place, so I told
+her I thought likely you or grandma would give her even a prettier doll
+for her birthday, which isn't very far off now. I sent the book which
+tells all about the way little children in other lands spend Christmas
+day, but it was pretty hard work to give that one up. I pulled it out of
+the heap three times, and fin'ly had to run like wild up to Mrs.
+Scofield's house with it, so's I wouldn't take it out and put it on the
+shelf to stay."</p>
+
+<p>"But why did you take so many things?" asked the Doctor lamely.</p>
+
+<p>"There are five children in the family we sent our stuff to, and three
+of them are girls. There are six girls in our family, and when we lived
+all alone in the little brown house with just ragged, faded dresses to
+wear and only plain things to eat, holidays and all, we'd have been
+tickled to death if someone had given us such pretty things all for our
+very own. Oh, wouldn't it have made <i>you</i> happy if you had been a little
+girl?"</p>
+
+<p>The great, brown eyes shone with such a glorified light and the small,
+round face looked so blissfully happy that the Doctor's lecture was
+wholly forgotten, and for a long time he held the little form close in
+his arms while his mind went backward over the long years to the time
+when he was a homeless orphan and Hi Allen&mdash;Hi Greenfield&mdash;had shared
+his treasures with him. They made a beautiful picture sitting there in
+the gathering dusk, the white head bending low over the riotous brown
+curls, the strong hands intertwined with the supple, childish fingers;
+and so completely had she captured the great heart of the man that when
+at length he set her on the floor and sent her away with a kiss, he
+spoke no chiding word. And Peace skipped off well content with the
+results of her first missionary efforts.</p>
+
+<p>A few days later she danced into the house one afternoon from school,
+wet from head to foot with a damp, clinging snow which was falling, and
+at sight of her, Mrs. Campbell threw up her hands and exclaimed, "Peace,
+my child, what have you been doing?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ted and Evelyn Smiley and Allee and me and some others had a snow-ball
+battle."</p>
+
+<p>"That is expressly forbidden by the school board&mdash;" began the gentle
+little grandmother reprovingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we didn't battle with the school board, grandma! We waited until we
+reached Evelyn's house and had it in their back yard. The snow is just
+right for dandy balls."</p>
+
+<p>"I should think as much. Come here!"</p>
+
+<p>Peace obeyed, glancing hastily at her feet as she guiltily remembered a
+certain pair of new shoes which she was wearing and saw the sharp, black
+eyes fixed searchingly upon them.</p>
+
+<p>"Peace Greenfield, what have you on your feet?"</p>
+
+<p>"Shoes."</p>
+
+<p>"Your new strapped shoes&mdash;slippers&mdash;for summer wear?"</p>
+
+<p>Peace nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"After I told you not to wear them until warmer weather!"</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't say that, grandma," Peace expostulated. "You said as long as
+I had any others, you guessed I had better put these away for party wear
+until it got warmer."</p>
+
+<p>As a rule, Peace's excuses rather amused the mistress of the house, but
+this time she looked sternly at the little culprit, and briefly
+commanded, "Go to your room and put on your other shoes immediately."</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't got any others."</p>
+
+<p>"No others? What do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I&mdash;gave mine all away."</p>
+
+<p>"To whom did you give them?" asked the President, who had entered the
+room unnoticed.</p>
+
+<p>"To a little girl I met on the hill yesterday. Her toes were sticking
+through hers and she looked dreadfully cold, and kept stamping her feet
+to keep them from freezing."</p>
+
+<p>The President swallowed a lump in his throat.</p>
+
+<p>"She did not need <i>two</i> pair to keep her feet warm, did she?"</p>
+
+<p>"She was twins."</p>
+
+<p>"Wh-at?"</p>
+
+<p>Peace jumped. "Well, she said she had a sister just her same age at
+home, who hadn't any shoes at all."</p>
+
+<p>He took her by the hand, led her to her room, and after seeing that the
+wet shoes and stockings were replaced with dry ones, he lectured her
+kindly about giving away her belongings in such a promiscuous manner
+without first consulting her elders. And having won her promise for
+future good behavior, he went down town to purchase new shoes for the
+shoeless culprit, satisfied that Peace would remember his words of
+caution, and that they should not again be disturbed by the too generous
+acts of this zealous little home missionary.</p>
+
+<p>And Peace did remember for a long time, but one day when the two younger
+children had been left alone with the servants, temptation again invaded
+this little Garden of Eden, and the brown-haired Eve yielded.</p>
+
+<p>It was late in the afternoon and Peace and Allee were standing by the
+window watching the sinking sun, when a ragged, stooped, old man trailed
+down the quiet street with a battered, wheezy, old hand-organ strapped
+to his back and a wizened, wistful-eyed, peaked-faced child at his
+heels. Seeing the two bright faces in the window and concluding that
+money was plentiful in that home, the vagabond slipped the organ from
+its supports, and began grinding out a discordant tune from the
+protesting instrument, sending the ragged, weary, little girl to the
+door with her tin cup for contributions.</p>
+
+<p>Peace saw her approaching, and opened the door before she had a chance
+to ring the bell, surprising the tiny ragamuffin so completely that she
+could only stand and mutely hold out her appealing dipper, having
+forgotten entirely the words she had been taught to speak on such
+occasions.</p>
+
+<p>"You're cold," said Peace, a great pity surging through her breast as
+she saw the swollen, purple hands trying to hide under ragged sleeves of
+a pitifully thin coat.</p>
+
+<p>"Ver' col'," repeated the beggar, finding her tongue.</p>
+
+<p>"And hungry?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not'ing to eat today."</p>
+
+<p>Peace made a sudden dive at the dirty, unkempt creature, jerked her into
+the warm hall, and calling over her shoulder to the organ-grinder on the
+walk, "Go on playing, old man, she'll be back pretty soon!" she slammed
+the door shut, pushed the child into a chair by the glowing grate, and
+turned to Allee with the command, "Go ask Gussie for something to eat.
+Tell her a lunch in a bag will do. She's always good to beggars."</p>
+
+<p>"No beggar," remonstrated the little foreigner. "Earn money. Some days
+much. Little this day. It so col'."</p>
+
+<p>"Is that all the coat you have?" Peace demanded, eyeing the scant attire
+with horrified eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"All," answered the child simply, and she sighed heavily.</p>
+
+<p>"I've got two. You can have one of mine," cried Peace, forgetting
+wisdom, discretion, everything, in her great pity for this hapless bit
+of humanity.</p>
+
+<p>"You mean it? No, you fool," was the disconcerting reply.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not a fool!"</p>
+
+<p>"No, no, not a fool. You jus' fool,&mdash;joke. You no mean it."</p>
+
+<p>"I do, too! Wait a minute till I get it, and see if it fits. You're
+thinner'n me, but you're about as tall."</p>
+
+<p>She rushed eagerly up the stairway, and soon returned with the pretty,
+brown coat which she had found on her bed Christmas morning. Into this
+she bundled the surprised beggar child, pleased to think it fitted so
+well, and explained rapidly, "I got two new coats for Christmas. Grandma
+said the red one was for best, so I kept that one, but you can have
+this. Keep it on outside your old rag. It will be just that much warmer,
+and tonight is awfully cold. Here's a pair of mittens, too. Wear 'em;
+they're nice and warm."</p>
+
+<p>Thrusting Allee's bag of lunch into the blue-mittened hands, Peace
+opened the door and let the newly-cloaked figure run down the walk to
+the impatient man stamping back and forth in the street. They watched
+him minutely examining the child's new treasures, but they could not see
+the avaricious gleam in his ugly eyes, nor did they dream that the
+precious brown coat would be stripped off the shivering little form just
+as soon as they were out of sight around the corner, and bartered for
+whiskey at the nearest saloon.</p>
+
+<p>So happy was Peace in thinking of this other child's happiness that she
+never once thought of her promise made to her grandfather until she saw
+Jud drive up the avenue and help the rest of the family out of the big
+sleigh. At sight of the erect figure striding up the walk with the
+gentle little grandmother on one arm and sister Gail on the other, she
+suddenly remembered that he had told her when she gave away her shoes
+that she must ask permission before disposing of her belongings, or he
+should be compelled to use drastic measures. "Brass-stick" measures, she
+called it, and visions of a certain brass rule on the desk in the
+library rose before her in a most disquieting fashion as she recalled
+that impressive interview.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't tell him what you have done," whispered a little evil voice in
+her ear.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell him at once," commanded her conscience; and acting upon the
+impulse of the moment, she flew into the old gentleman's arms almost
+before he had crossed the threshold and panted out, "I 'xpect you'll be
+<i>compendled</i> to use your <i>brass-stick</i> measures on me this time sure. I
+guv away my coat!"</p>
+
+<p>"You did what?" he cried, pushing her from him that he might look into
+her face.</p>
+
+<p>"Gave, I mean. I gave away my brown coat."</p>
+
+<p>"Peace!"</p>
+
+<p>The sorrowful tone of his voice cut her to the heart, but she flew to
+her own defense with oddly distorted words, "I couldn't help it,
+grandpa! She was so ragged and cold. S'posing <i>you</i> had to go around
+begging hand-organs for a squeaky old penny, without anything to eat on
+your back or vittles to wear. Wouldn't <i>you</i> like to have someone with
+two coats give you one?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very likely I should, my child. I am not blaming you for the unselfish
+feeling which prompted you to give away your coat to one more
+unfortunate than yourself, but you are not yet old enough to know how to
+give wisely. You will do more harm than good by such giving. No doubt
+your little brown coat is in the pawn-shop by this time."</p>
+
+<p>"But grandpa, she was in <i>rags</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and that is the way that brute of a man will keep her. Do you
+suppose he would get any money for his playing if he sent around a
+well-dressed child to collect the pennies? No, indeed! That is why he
+makes her wear rags. He will sell or pawn your coat for liquor, and
+neither you nor the beggar child will have it to wear."</p>
+
+<p>"But I have my red one."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't wear that to school."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is not suitable."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you'll get me another."</p>
+
+<p>"No, Peace."</p>
+
+<p>"You won't?" Her grieved surprise almost unmanned him.</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"But you've got plenty of money!"</p>
+
+<p>"I will not have it long if you are going to give it all away."</p>
+
+<p>"You bought me some more shoes."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"That took money."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I thought you'd give us anything we wanted."</p>
+
+<p>"I have tried to, dear."</p>
+
+<p>"But I shall want another coat."</p>
+
+<p>He shook his head. "You deliberately gave away the one you had without
+asking permission. I can't supply you with new clothes continually if
+that is what you intend to do with them."</p>
+
+<p>"Then how will I go to school any more?"</p>
+
+<p>"You must wear the coat you had when you came here to live."</p>
+
+<p>"So you hung onto that old gray Parker coat, did you?" she said
+bitterly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and now you will have to wear it until spring comes."</p>
+
+<p>She was silent a moment, then shrugged her shoulders and airily
+retorted, "I s'pose you know! But, anyway, it was worth giving the new
+coat away just to see how glad the Dago was to get it."</p>
+
+<p>It was the President's turn to look surprised, and for an instant he was
+at a loss to know what to say; then he took her hand and led her away to
+the study, with the grave command, "Come, Peace, I think we will have to
+see this out by ourselves."</p>
+
+<p>She caught her breath sharply, but never having questioned his authority
+since the days of the little brown house were over, she obediently
+followed him into the dim library and heard the door click behind them.
+As the gas flared up when he touched a match to the jet, she looked
+apprehensively about the room, and shuddered as she saw the brass ruler
+lying on top of a pile of papers on the desk. He even picked it up and
+toyed with it for a moment, and she thought her hour of reckoning had
+surely come. And it had, but not in the way she expected.</p>
+
+<p>Dropping the ruler at length, he abruptly ordered, "Sit down in my lap,
+Peace."</p>
+
+<p>Usually he lifted her to that throne of honor himself, but this time he
+made no effort to help her, and when she was seated with her face lifted
+expectantly toward his, he disengaged the warm arms from about his neck
+and turned her around on his knee until she was looking at the desk
+straight in front of them. Then he picked up a book and began reading
+silently.</p>
+
+<p>Peace was plainly puzzled, for each time she turned her head to look at
+him, he gently but firmly wheeled her about and went on reading. At last
+she could be patient no longer, and with an angry little hop, she
+demanded, "What's the fuss about, grandpa? What are you going to do?"</p>
+
+<p>Without looking up from his book he laid one finger on his lips and
+remained silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't I talk?"</p>
+
+<p>It was a terrible punishment for Peace to keep still, and knowing this,
+just the faintest glimmer of a smile twitched at his lips, but he merely
+nodded gravely.</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't you going to say anything?"</p>
+
+<p>Gravely he shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>Peace stared at the chandelier, then surreptitiously stole a peep at the
+face behind her. A big hand turned the curly head gently from him.</p>
+
+<p>She studied the green walls with their delicate frescoing, then
+cautiously leaned back against the President's broadcloth vest. Firmly
+he righted her. Dismay took possession of her. This was the worst
+punishment that ever had befallen her,&mdash;that ever could.</p>
+
+<p>She gulped down the big lump which was growing in her throat, and
+counted the books on the highest shelf around the wall.
+Fifty&mdash;sixty&mdash;seventy&mdash;her heart burst, and with a wail of anguish she
+kicked the book out of the President's hand and clutched him about the
+neck with a grip that nearly choked him, as she sobbed, "Oh, grandpa,
+I'll never, never, <i>never</i> forget again! I'll be the most un-missionary
+person you ever knew,&mdash;yes, I'll be a reg'lar heathen if you'll just
+speak to me! I didn't think I was being bad in trying to help others&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"My precious darling! I don't want you to be a heathen," he cried,
+straining her to his heart. "I want you to be the best and most
+enthusiastic little missionary it is possible for you to be, but in
+order to be a good missionary, one must first learn obedience, and
+cultivate good judgment. I wouldn't for all the world have my little
+girl grow up a stingy, miserly woman. I am proud of the sweet, generous,
+unselfish spirit which prompts you to try to make the burdens of others
+lighter, but you are too little a girl yet to know how and where to give
+money and clothes and such things so they will do good and not harm."</p>
+
+<p>"I see now what you mean, grandpa. I thought when I gave my coat to the
+little hand-organ beggar that she would keep it and use it. I never
+s'posed her father wouldn't let her have it, and now when he takes it
+away from her she will be sorrier'n she would have been if she had never
+had it."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, dear; and the money the old fellow gets from selling it will
+undoubtedly be spent for drink, or something equally as bad for him.
+Just out of curiosity, I traced the shoes you gave to the child on the
+hill not long ago, and I found that she had not told you the truth at
+all. She had no twin sister, nor did she even need the shoes herself."</p>
+
+<p>"Is&mdash;is&mdash;there no one that really is hungry and cold and needs things?"
+gulped the unhappy child after a long pause of serious thought.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, my dear! Thousands and thousands of them," he sighed
+sorrowfully; "and I am deeply thankful that my little girlie wants to
+make the old world happier. But after all, dear, the greatest need of
+this world of ours is love. It is not the <i>money</i> we give away which
+counts; it is the <i>love</i> we have for other people. I remember well a
+little couplet your great-grandmother was fond of quoting&mdash;and she
+practiced it every day of her life, too,&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">'Give, if thou canst, an alms; if not, afford<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Instead of that, a sweet and gentle word.'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"She had little of this world's goods to give away, but she was one of
+the greatest sunshine missionaries I ever knew. My, how every one loved
+her. And her son, Hi, was just like her&mdash;one of the biggest-hearted,
+most lovable people God ever created. He was certainly a power for good
+during his life, but his only riches were a great love for his fellowmen
+and his warm, sunny smile."</p>
+
+<p>Again a deep silence fell over the room, for Peace, cuddled in the
+strong man's arms, with the tears still glistening on the long, curved
+lashes, was thinking as she had never thought before. Suddenly the
+dinner bell pealed out its summons, and as the President stirred in his
+chair, the child lifted her head from his shoulder, and looking squarely
+into the strong, kindly face, she said simply, "I'm going to be like
+them and you, so's folks will love me, too. And I'm not going to give
+away any more coats or shoes without you say I can, until I am big
+enough to grow some sense. I'm just going to smile and talk."</p>
+
+<p>He did not laugh at her quaint phrasing of her intentions, but
+tightening his clasp upon the small body nestling within the circle of
+his arms, he quoted,</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Work a little, sing a little,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Whistle and be gay;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Read a little, play a little,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Busy every day.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Talk a little, laugh a little,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Don't forget to pray;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Be a bit of merry sunshine<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">All the blessed way.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2>
+
+<h3>AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION</h3>
+
+
+<p>Having a naturally light-hearted, merry disposition, Peace did not find
+it hard work to "smile and talk," but it was hard, very hard, to
+restrain her generous impulses to give away everything she possessed to
+those less fortunate than herself, and it soon became a familiar sight
+to see her fly excitedly into the house straight to the study where the
+busy President spent many hours each day, exclaiming breathlessly as she
+ran, "Oh, grandpa, there is a little beggar at the door in perfect rags
+and tatters! Just come and look if she doesn't need some clothes. And
+she is so cold and pinched up with being empty. Gussie has fed her, but
+can't I give her some things to wear? I've more than I need, truly!"</p>
+
+<p>Then the good man with a patient sigh would leave his work to
+investigate the case, spending many minutes of his precious time in
+satisfying himself as to whether or not Peace's newly found beggar was
+genuine and really in need of relief,&mdash;for this small maid's thirst for
+discovering vagabonds seemed insatiable, and the string of tramps which
+haunted the President's doorstep led poor Gussie a strenuous life for a
+time. But relief came from an unexpected source at length.</p>
+
+<p>Late one dull spring afternoon, as Gail sat with her chum, Frances
+Sherrar, in the cosy window-seat of the reception-hall, studying the
+next day's Latin lesson, a shadow fell across the page. Looking up in
+surprise, for neither girl had heard the sound of approaching footsteps,
+they beheld on the piazza the bent, shriveled, ragged form of what
+appeared to be a tiny, deformed, old woman. An ancient, faded shawl,
+patched and darned until it had almost lost its identity, enveloped her
+from head to foot, and she looked more like an Indian squaw than like a
+civilized white being. Her head and hands shook ceaselessly as with the
+palsy, and the way she tottered about made one fearful every minute last
+she fall.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," cried Gail in quick sympathy, "what a feeble old creature! It is a
+shame she has to beg her living. Where is my purse?"</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to give her money?" asked Frances in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"Doesn't she look as if she needed it?"</p>
+
+<p>"She is a fake. I've seen her ever since I can remember&mdash;always just
+like this. She wouldn't dare beg in town, but we are so far out&mdash;well,
+if you are really determined to do it, here's a quarter."</p>
+
+<p>Gail took the proffered coin, added a shining dollar to it, and
+stepping to the door where the palsied beggar stood mumbling and whining
+a pitiful hard luck tale, she pressed the silver into the leathery,
+claw-like hand, smiled a sympathetic smile and bade the old woman a
+God-speed.</p>
+
+<p>Frances stayed for dinner that evening, and as the family gathered
+around the table for this, the merriest hour of the whole day, the
+President suddenly clapped his hand against his pockets, searched
+rapidly through them, and finally brought forth a crumpled sheet of
+paper, daubed with many ink blots and tipsy hieroglyphics, which read,
+"No more beggars, tramps and vagabuns allowed on these promises. We have
+already given away enuf to keep a army. There are two dogs and two men
+in this family&mdash;so bewair!"</p>
+
+<p>Even the presence of Peace, the author, did not prevent an explosion of
+delighted shrieks from the little company, but the child merely fixed
+her brown eyes, somber with reproof, upon the perfectly grave face of
+the Doctor of Laws, and demanded, "Now, grandpa, what made you take it
+down?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't, child," he defended. "It had blown down, I think, and lodged
+about the door-knob. I thought it was a hand-bill, and rescued it as I
+came in."</p>
+
+<p>"Where had you put it?" asked Cherry, grinning superciliously at the
+distorted characters on the soiled paper.</p>
+
+<p>"On the side of the house by the front door," she confessed. "That's
+where I put that one."</p>
+
+<p>"That one! Are there more?" laughed Frances, whose affection for this
+original bit of femininity had only increased with the months of their
+acquaintance.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course! There had to be one for each door, 'cause the beggars don't
+all go the back way, and to be sure everyone saw the tag, I stuck one on
+the corner of the barn nearest the road, and another on each gate. That
+surely ought' to be enough, oughtn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I should think so," Mrs. Campbell agreed, making a wry face at thought
+of the queer-looking signs scattered so liberally about the property
+"How did you come to make them?"</p>
+
+<p>"'Cause of that beggar at the front door this afternoon," Allee
+volunteered unexpectedly.</p>
+
+<p>"What beggar?" asked the President with interest, while Gail and Frances
+exchanged knowing glances.</p>
+
+<p>"A teenty, crooked, old woman came to the house while grandma was out
+this afternoon," Peace began. "She looked as if she might be a witch or
+old Grandmother, Tipsy-toe&mdash;I never did like that game&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We thought she <i>was</i> a witch," again Allee spoke up, unmindful of the
+frown on her older sister's face; "and we hid."</p>
+
+<p>"But we watched her," Peace continued hastily, "and saw Gail give her
+some money. She did look awful forlorny and squizzled up as if she never
+had enough to eat to make any meat on her bones, and she nearly tumbled
+over, trying to kiss Gail's hand 'cause she gave her some money. So
+after she was gone, we ran down to the gate to watch her, and what do
+you think? Just as she turned the corner, there was a cop&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"A what, Peace?"</p>
+
+<p>"I mean a p'liceman, coming along with his club swinging around his
+hand, and when the beggar woman saw him, she straightened up as stiff
+and starchy as anybody could be, and hustled off down the street 'most
+as quick as I can walk. She was a&mdash;a fraud, and Gail got cheated just
+like I did when I gave that hole-y shoed girl on the hill my shoes."
+Here Frances shot a look of triumph at discomfited Gail. "So I made up
+my mind that grandpa is right&mdash;they are all frauds."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Peace, child, I never said that in the world," the President
+disclaimed, surprised out of his usual serenity by her words.</p>
+
+<p>"That's so,&mdash;you said only half were frauds. Well, I guess it's the
+fraud half that come here to beg of us. Gussie is tired of feeding them,
+Jud's getting ugly, and if they keep on coming I'm 'fraid they'll really
+eat grandpa out of house and home. Jud says they will. There were seven
+tramps last week, and already we have had two this week, and one beggar.
+So I made these signs and stuck them up where everybody'd see them and
+know they meant business, w'thout Jud's having to turn the dogs loose or
+get his shotgun like he said he ought to. He told me that all hoboes
+have some way of letting other hoboes know where they can get a square
+meal, and that's why we have so many. He says they never used to bother
+so until I came here to tow them along by coaxing Gussie to feed 'em. I
+thought I was being good to 'em. S'posing we had sent grandpa away when
+he came tramping around to our house in Parker&mdash;Faith wanted to&mdash;where
+would we be now? Still grubbing in Parker trying to get enough to eat,
+'most likely; or maybe in the poorhouse, for 'twas grandpa who paid the
+mortgage on the farm. I guess I must wait till I'm grown way up to have
+any missionary sense."</p>
+
+<p>She spoke so dejectedly and her face looked so pathetic and utterly
+discouraged that no one had the heart to laugh, but a sudden feeling of
+restraint fell upon the group. Even the President had no words in which
+to answer the poor, disheartened little missionary.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you belong to Miss Smiley's Gleaners?" It was Frances who spoke, and
+though the words themselves signified little, her tone of voice was like
+an electric thrill, and the faces of the whole company turned
+expectantly toward her as she waited for Peace's answer.</p>
+
+<p>"No, not yet. Evelyn has been after us ever since we came here to join
+them, but something has always kept us away from the meetings each
+month, so we haven't been 'lected yet. Evelyn says they don't do much
+but have a good time, anyway, though it is a missionary society. That's
+about all our Sunshine Club in Parker ever did, too, 'xcept make comfort
+powders for the sick and <i>mained</i> in the hospital."</p>
+
+<p>"Evelyn is right about what the Gleaners used to be, but since her aunt
+has taken up the work, they are doing lots of real missionary work. Why,
+since Christmas they have raised enough money to take care of two
+orphans in India for a year. Edith Smiley is such a beautiful girl&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't she, though!" Peace burst out with customary impetuosity. "I've
+wanted her for my Sunday School teacher ever since we began to go to
+South Avenue Church, but she's got a class of <i>boys</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"And don't they adore her!"</p>
+
+<p>"No more'n I would."</p>
+
+<p>"It is easier to get teachers for girls' classes; and besides, Miss
+Edith has had these boys from the time she started to teach. She
+certainly has her hands full with her Sunday School class, the Gleaners
+Missionary Band and the Young People's Society, for she is our president
+this term. There is no lag about her. She is always planning something
+beautiful for somebody. <i>Everyone</i> loves her. When Victor was in the
+hospital the time he was hurt by the runaway, Miss Edith took him
+flowers several times; and the nurse told us that she visits the
+children's ward twice a month regularly and takes them fruit or flowers
+or scrap-books or something nice. They always know when to expect her,
+and she never disappoints them."</p>
+
+<p>"She certainly knows how to make sunshine for those around her," said
+Mrs. Campbell warmly. "I am so pleased to think she could take charge of
+the Gleaners. We ladies were really afraid the society must die. Miss
+Hilliker had neither strength, time nor talent to do justice to the
+work; but, poor soul, she did try so hard, and she did give the children
+a good time, whether or not they ever accomplished anything else."</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad Miss Smiley has taken the Gleaners, too," said Peace
+meditatively. "Me and Allee 'xpect to join at next meeting. I guess
+maybe Cherry and Hope will, too, though I haven't asked them yet."</p>
+
+<p>"I think you have headed them in the right direction, Frances,"
+whispered the President in grateful tones, when at last the dinner was
+ended and the chattering group were filing out of the dining-room. "I
+was beginning to wonder what in the world to do with our little Peace,
+but I think perhaps Miss Smiley will help solve the problem for us."</p>
+
+<p>"I know she will," Frances replied confidently. "I can understand how
+discouraged poor Peace must feel. I've been there myself, only instead
+of giving away my own things as she does, I gave away other people's
+belongings. I can never forget the seance I had with mother the day I
+handed over father's best, go-to-meeting overcoat to a dirty,
+evil-looking tramp, and gave away Victor's velocipede to the ash-man's
+little boy. I came to the conclusion that the whole world was just a
+sham and all men&mdash;yes, and women&mdash;were liars. Mrs. Smiley came to my
+rescue, and what missionary spirit there is left in me is due to her
+good work and untiring efforts. Edith is a second edition of her
+mother."</p>
+
+<p>"And I think Frances must be second cousin at heart," said the Doctor,
+gently pressing her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't deserve such praise," she protested, blushing with pleasure at
+his compliment. "I have only tried to make the most of the best in me,
+remembering the little verse we had for a motto:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">'No robin but may thrill some heart,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">His dawnlight gladness voicing.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">God gives us all some small sweet way<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">To set the world rejoicing.'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"We were only children when we took that as our class motto, but we have
+kept it all these years, and I know there is not one of the girls who
+considers it childish sentiment even yet."</p>
+
+<p>"That is why I am particularly thankful for your words at the table
+tonight. I want my girls to meet and mingle with and be influenced by
+such people as Miss Edith and her mother&mdash;and Miss Frances!"</p>
+
+<p>"I shall work hard to keep the reputation you have given me," she
+laughed gayly, flitting away to join Gail in the Grove, as the pink and
+green and brown room was called; but she was secretly much touched and
+helped by the President's words, and rejoiced openly when a few days
+later the four younger Greenfield girls really did join the Gleaners
+Missionary Band and became active workers in that field.</p>
+
+<p>"It is kind of a queer missionary society," Peace reported after one of
+the meetings. "Sometimes we don't say hardly a word about heathen or
+poor ministers on the frontier all the time we are at the church. We
+talk about how we can help each other and our families and folks who
+live close by us. Miss Edith says first and foremost a good missionary
+must be cheerful and sunshiny. Our motto is "Scatter Sunshine," and our
+song is the prettiest music I ever heard. She says it isn't the music
+that counts, it's the words, but just s'posing we sang:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">'In a world where sorrow<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Ever will be known,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Where are found the needy,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And the sad and lone;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">How much joy and comfort<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">You can all bestow,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">If you scatter sunshine<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Everywhere you go.'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>to the tune of 'Go tell Aunt Rhody,' it wouldn't cheer <i>me</i> up very
+much. "Would it you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," laughed Mrs. Campbell, who chanced to be her confidante on this
+particular occasion, "I don't think it would; but on the other hand,
+meaningless words would not cheer anyone, either, no matter how pretty
+the tune. Is that not so?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I s'pose it is. I guess it takes both together to do the work.
+This week our verse is:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">'Can I help another<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">By some word or deed?<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Can I scatter blessings<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">O'er a soul's sore need?<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">If I can, then let me<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Now, within today,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Help the one who needs me<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">On a little way.'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"The next time we tell if we remembered the verse and worked it."</p>
+
+<p>"Worked it?" Mrs. Campbell was not yet accustomed to Peace's queer
+speeches, and often did not understand her meaning.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Miss Edith says just helping Gussie carry the dishes away nights,
+or buttoning Marie's dress when she is cross and in a hurry, or getting
+grandpa's slippers ready for him when he comes home from the University
+all cold and tired, or holding that squirmy yarn for you when you knit
+those ugly shawls, or talking nice to Jud when he makes me mad, is being
+a missionary. She says it is the little, everyday things that count; for
+some of us may never get a chance to do anything real big and splendid,
+and if we wait all our lives for such a time to come along, we will be
+just wasting our talents. But all of us have hundreds of little things
+each day to do, and if we do them cheerfully and sweetly, we are being
+sunshine missionaries and are making others happier all the time. She
+says Abr'am Lincoln's greatest wish was to have it said of him when he
+died that he had always tried to pull up a thistle and plant a flower
+wherever he got a chance. Thistles mean hard feelings and mean acts, and
+the flowers are kind words and deeds."</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Edith has found the key to true happiness," murmured Mrs.
+Campbell, glancing out of the window at a tall, slender, gray-eyed
+young lady hurrying down the street, surrounded by a bevy of
+bright-faced, adoring boys and girls.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, she's another Saint Elspeth, isn't she? How nice it is to have her
+here as long as I can't have my dear Mrs. Strong! And do you know,
+grandma, she and Mrs. Strong were chums when they went to college? Isn't
+that queer?"</p>
+
+<p>"How did you happen to find that out?"</p>
+
+<p>"'Cause on my list of missionary doings this week I had 'not getting mad
+when Gray chawed up St. Elspeth's letter 'fore I had read it more'n
+three times.' And she asked me who Saint Elspeth was."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you make out a list of missionary doings each week?" asked Mrs.
+Campbell, amused at Peace's version of the occurrence, for the child had
+been so angry at the destruction of the letter from this beloved friend
+that she had seized a heavy club and rushed at the cowering pup as if
+bent on crushing its skull. Before the blow descended, however, she
+dropped her weapon, bounced into a nearby chair, and glared wrathfully
+at poor Gray until he shrank from her almost as if she had struck him.
+Then suddenly the anger died from her eyes, and clutching the surprised
+animal about the neck she fell to petting him energetically, exclaiming
+in pitying tones, "Poor Gray, I don't s'pose you know how near I came to
+knocking your head off any more'n you know how much I wanted that
+letter you've just swallowed, but I'm sorry just the same. Shake hands
+and be friends!"</p>
+
+<p>Peace, not understanding the smile that crept over the gentle face of
+the dear old lady, hastened to explain, "We write them so's folks won't
+laugh. We don't mean to laugh at each other, but sometimes children do
+say the funniest things. There is Bernice Platte for one. She can't say
+anything the way she wants to, and it makes her feel bad when we giggle.
+So Miss Edith took to having us write our lists. I don't care how much
+they laugh at me, I get so much of that at home that I am used to it,
+but some folks ain't brought up that way and I s'pose it hurts."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Campbell caught her breath sharply. It had never occurred to her
+before that Peace was sensitive, but the gusty sigh with which these
+words were spoken told her companion much, and slipping her arm about
+the little figure crouched at her side, the woman said gently, "Would
+you mind telling grandma some of the bits of sunshine you have been
+scattering this week?"</p>
+
+<p>The wistful round face brightened quickly. "Would you care to hear?"</p>
+
+<p>"I should love to, dearie."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't <i>make</i> much sunshine, I guess, 'nless 'twas here at home where
+folks know me, but I tried. You know Hope has been taking flowers to
+one of her teachers at High School, and the other day Miss Pope told her
+that she gave them all to her brother who is lame and can't walk, and he
+spends all his days drawing and painting the pretty things he sees.
+Well, there is a teacher in our school who looks awful turned-down at
+the mouth, and kind of sour like, and last week Minnie Herbert told me
+that it was 'cause the woman had lost her brother in a wreck. So I
+thought maybe she'd like some flowers, and I took her some. I didn't
+know her name, but she was sitting in the hall to keep order during
+recess time, and I carried the bouquet right up to her and laid them in
+her lap. I 'xpected to see her smile, but instead, she picked them up
+and looked kind of red as she asked me what made me bring them to her. I
+meant to tell her I was sorry she looked so lonely and sad, but what I
+really said was 'homely and bad.' I don't see why it is I always twist
+things up so, but that made her mad and I couldn't explain it so's she
+would take the flowers again, and I had to give them to one of the girls
+whose mother has <i>delirious tremors</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Peace, you have made a mistake."</p>
+
+<p>"What is it, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"I presume the poor woman is delirious with a fever of some sort."</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Tryfoid</i>," supplied Peace. "Stella told teacher so. That same day on
+my way home from school I saw a little girl lugging a heavy pail, and
+the handle kept cutting her hands, so she had to set it down every few
+steps and change to the other side. When I asked her to let me help, she
+gave me hold, and we carried the bucket down the alley to a
+chicken-coop, where it had to be dumped, 'cause it was slops for the
+hens. There was a big box there to stand on, and I lifted the pail to
+the top of the fence and emptied it, but the woman which owns the
+chickens was right under where the stuff fell, and she didn't like it a
+bit, and scolded us both good.</p>
+
+<p>"Then there was Birdie Holden who wanted a bite of my apple, and when I
+turned it around to give her a good chance at it, she bit straight into
+a worm, and said I did it on purpose, though I never knew the worm was
+there any more'n she did.</p>
+
+<p>"But the worst of all was the day teacher sent me to the office for
+thumb tacks to fasten up our drawings around the room. She told me to
+see how quick I could get back, but she never counted on the principal's
+not being there, which she wasn't. So I had to wait. Then all at once I
+saw a big sign on the wall which said if Miss Lisk wasn't in and folks
+were in a hurry, to ring the bell twice.</p>
+
+<p>"I was in a <i>big</i> hurry for I had waited so long already that I thought
+sure Miss Allen would be after me in a minute to see if I was making the
+tacks; so I grabbed the cord and jerked the bell hard twice, and then
+twice again, and then twice the third time. I 'xpected she'd come
+a-running at that, but what do you think, grandma? Everyone in that
+schoolhouse just got up and hustled out of doors as fast as they could
+march. We never used to have fire drill in Parker and I hadn't heard of
+such a thing here, either, so I was dreadfully s'prised to find what my
+gong-ringing had done. Maybe Miss Lisk wasn't mad for a minute, when she
+saw me hanging out of the window yelling to know what was the matter,
+'cause I was in a hurry for my thumb-tacks! But afterwards she laughed
+like anything and said the children made record time in getting out,
+'cause no one, not even she herself, knew whether it was just a fire
+drill or whether the janitor had rung the gong on account of the
+school's really being burned up."</p>
+
+<p>No one could blame the good dame for smiling at the vivid pictures Peace
+had painted of her missionary efforts, but Mrs. Campbell knew how sore
+the little heart must be over these seeming failures, so she pressed the
+nestling head closer to her shoulder and said comfortingly, "But think
+of all the smiles you have won from the washerwoman. When I paid her
+last night, she showed me the big bunch of flowers you had cut from your
+hyacinths and lilies in the conservatory, and told me how eagerly her
+poor, sick little girl watched for her home-coming the days she washed
+here, knowing that you would never forget to send her something. And Jud
+was telling your grandpa only this morning how the ash-man's horse
+always whinnies when the team stops in the alley, because you never fail
+to be there with a lump of sugar or a handful of oats. Mrs. Dodds says
+it is a real pleasure to make dresses for you, just to hear you praise
+her work. I was in the kitchen this morning when the grocer brought our
+order, and after he was gone, Gussie showed me a sack of candy he had
+slipped in for you, because you are so kind to his little girl at
+school. I don't need Jud's words to tell me how the horses and other
+animals on the place love you. And why? Because you love them and never
+hurt them."</p>
+
+<p>"But, grandma," interrupted Peace, her eyes wide with amazement at this
+recital; "you don't call those things scattering sunshine, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"What would you call it, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"But&mdash;but&mdash;I didn't do those things on purpose, grandma. They&mdash;they just
+did themselves. I like to see Mrs. O'Flaherty's eyes shine and hear her
+say, 'May the saints in Hivin bliss ye, darlint,' when I give her
+anything for Maggie; and the ash-man's horse doesn't get enough to
+eat&mdash;really, it is 'most starved, I guess; and Mrs. Dodds does look so
+tickled when I say anything she makes is pretty. They <i>are</i> pretty, too.
+And the grocer's little girl is so scared if anyone speaks to her that
+a lot of the bigger girls got to teasing her dreadfully and I couldn't
+help lighting into them and telling them they ought to be ashamed of
+themselves; and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"That is what <i>I</i> call scattering sunshine, dear. It is these little
+acts of ours which count, these acts done unconsciously, without any
+thought of others seeing, done simply because our hearts are so full of
+love and sympathy that they bubble over without our knowing it, and
+others are made happy because of our unselfishness."</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you're right," said Peace thoughtfully; "'cause when folks are
+watching and I want to be 'specially sweet and nice and helpful, I just
+make a dreadful bungle of it, and everyone laughs. It's the things we do
+without thinking that make folks happiest. That is what Saint Elspeth
+used to tell me. Some way I could understand her better than Miss Edith,
+I guess; but maybe it was 'cause I knew her better. When do you s'pose
+we can go to see her, grandma? Saint Elspeth, I mean. It has been such a
+long time since&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"She wants you next week, you and Allee."</p>
+
+<p>It was the President who spoke, and with a startled cry, Peace leaped up
+to find him in the doorway behind them. "Why, Grandpa Campbell, how did
+you sneak in here so softly? I never heard you at all, you came so
+catty. Did you hear what we were talking about?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not much of it. I arrived just in time to catch your remarks about Mrs.
+Strong, and as I happen to have a note in my pocket this minute from
+your Saint John, I spoke right out without thinking. I was intending to
+make you and grandma jump a little."</p>
+
+<p>"You made me jump a lot," she retorted, throwing her arms about him and
+giving him a rapturous hug. "Did you really mean that Mrs. Strong wants
+me next week? That is our spring vacation here in Martindale."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, so the letter said. You see, the Strongs are living in Martindale
+now, too."</p>
+
+<p>"Grandpa! You're fooling!"</p>
+
+<p>"Not this time. I have known for a whole month that there was some
+prospect of their coming to the city, but I waited until I was sure
+before saying anything, because I knew you girls would be disappointed
+if they did not get the place."</p>
+
+<p>"What place? How did it happen? What will Parker do without him? Will he
+live near us? Can we see them often? Where did you get the note?"</p>
+
+<p>"One question at a time, please," he cried laughingly. "Mr. Strong
+dropped in at the University a minute this afternoon. He has been called
+to fill the vacancy at Hill Street Church, and has accepted, but as his
+pastorate is about three miles from this part of the city, he will not
+live very close to us. However, it will be possible for you to see each
+other more frequently than if they had remained at Parker. They moved
+yesterday into the new parsonage, and Mrs. Strong wants to borrow our
+two youngest next week to help her with the baby while they are getting
+settled. Do you want to go?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I can hardly wait! Can we really stay the whole week?"</p>
+
+<p>"You ungrateful little vagabond!" he thundered in pretended anger. "You
+want to leave your old grandpa for a whole week, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," she giggled. "A change would do us both good. Besides, we live
+with you all the time, and I don't get a chance to see Saint Elspeth and
+Glen very often&mdash;but I'd lots rather have my <i>home</i> with you, though I
+do like to go visiting once in a while, same as you do."</p>
+
+<p>"Teaser! Well, if grandma thinks it wise, you and Allee may go next week
+to visit your patron saints&mdash;What is the matter, Dora? Doesn't the plan
+please you?"</p>
+
+<p>For grandma looked unusually grave and thoughtful, but at his question
+she merely answered, "Peace may accept if she wishes, but unless Allee's
+cold is much better by Monday, I don't think it best for her to go. I
+kept her home from school today."</p>
+
+<p>For a moment the brown-haired child stood silent and hesitating on one
+foot in the middle of the floor. It would be hard to be separated from
+this golden-haired sister for a whole week, but&mdash;it had been <i>such</i> a
+long time since she had seen these other precious friends; and anyway,
+Elspeth needed someone to help her. Besides, Allee might be well enough
+to go by Monday, or perhaps she could come later in the week. It would
+be wisest to accept the invitation at once, so with a little hop of
+decision, she announced serenely, "Tell Saint John I'll come, and
+prob'ly Allee will, too. Her colds don't usu'ly last long, and she'll be
+all right by Monday."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+
+<h3>PEACE'S SPRING VACATION</h3>
+
+
+<p>Allee's cold was no better Monday morning, but it was decided that Peace
+should go alone to the new parsonage on Hill Street, with the promise
+that if possible the younger child should join her before the week's
+visit was ended. So Peace departed. But it was with a heavy heart that
+she went, for, much as she wanted to see her former pastor's family, she
+dreaded being separated from this dearest of sisters even for seven
+days; nor could she shake off the vague feeling of unrest which had
+gripped her when she saw the sick, sorrowful look in Allee's great blue
+eyes as they said good-bye.</p>
+
+<p>"Get well quick, dear," she whispered tenderly, holding the tiny, hot
+hand against her cheek after a quaint fashion they had of saying
+good-night to each other. "I can't have a good time even with Saint
+Elspeth and Glen if you are at home sick. Take your med'cine like a good
+girl, and about Wednesday I 'xpect Saint John will be coming after you
+if grandpa hasn't brought you before."</p>
+
+<p>And Allee had promised to do her best, but Peace could not forget her
+last glimpse of the wistful, flushed face, pressed against the
+window-pane to watch her out of sight around the corner. And so sober
+was she that Jud, who was driving her to the dovecote on the hill,
+looked around inquiringly more than once, and finally ventured to ask,
+"Have you caught cold, too?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed!" she flung back at him. "I'm never sick. Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Your eyes look pretty red."</p>
+
+<p>His ruse was effective, for in trying to see herself in a tiny scrap of
+a mirror which she carried in her satchel, she forgot her desire to cry,
+and looked as gay and chipper as usual when the carriage drew up at the
+parsonage curbing and Mr. Strong bounded boyishly down the walk to meet
+her, holding his beautiful year-old boy on one arm, and dragging the
+sweet girl wife by the other.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but it's good to see you again!" cried Peace, vaulting over the
+wheels to the ground before either Jud or the minister could lift her
+down. "It doesn't seem 'sif you'd really moved to Martindale to live.
+How did it happen? Grandpa couldn't make me understand about bishops and
+preachers and congregations, but I'm glad you've come. Did you have a
+hard time getting out of Parker and was there a farewell reception?
+Ain't it too bad Faith wasn't there to make you another cake? Mercy! How
+the baby has grown! Why, I b'lieve he knows me. He wants to come. Oh,
+he ain't too heavy and I won't break his precious neck, will I, Glen?
+How do you like my new dress and did you get my hand-satchel 'fore Jud
+drove off? I forgot all about it the minute I saw the baby. Grandpa was
+going to bring me, but the faculty had to plan a meeting for this
+morning, of course, and grandma couldn't come on account of Allee's
+cold. What a cute little house you've got! It looks wholer than the
+Parker parsonage. I'm just dying to see all the little cubby-holes and
+closets. How many rooms are there?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is the same old Peace, Elizabeth," laughed Mr. Strong, rescuing his
+boy and leading the way to the house. "Prosperity has not changed her a
+whit. She has hundreds of questions stored up under that curly wig
+waiting to be asked. I can see them sticking out all over her. My dear,
+you are here for a week's visit. Don't choke yourself trying to ask
+everything in one breath, but 'walk into our parlor' and we will show
+you all we have, and let you rummage to your heart's content."</p>
+
+<p>So they initiated her into the mysteries of the new parsonage with its
+pretty, cheerful rooms, unexpected cosy corners, tiny kitchen and
+cunning little cupboard, and for a week she fairly revelled in the
+playhouse, as she immediately named the spandy new cottage, amusing the
+baby, who promptly attached himself to her with the devotion of a
+lap-dog, dusting furniture, washing dishes, and causing her usual
+commotion trying to help where her presence was only a hindrance. But
+they enjoyed it! Oh, dear, yes! Her quaint speeches were a constant
+delight to them, and the sight of her somber brown eyes, so at odds with
+her merry disposition, and the sound of her gay whistle or rippling
+little giggle were like the breath of spring to these homesick hearts.</p>
+
+<p>So the days slipped happily by in the dovecote on the hill, in spite of
+Peace's vague fears for the little sister at home who did not get well
+enough to join them; and before anyone was aware of it, the whole week
+was gone and Sunday night had arrived. The evening service was over,
+Peace had said good-night to the pastor and his wife, and the house was
+in darkness when suddenly there was the sound of hurried steps on the
+walk, the door-bell jangled harshly, and the brown eyes in the room
+across the hall flew open just as the front door closed with a bang, and
+Mrs. Strong's frightened voice called through the darkness, "What is it,
+John? A telegram?"</p>
+
+<p>"A messenger boy."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, what is the trouble? Someone hurt or sick at home? Here is a light,
+dear."</p>
+
+<p>Flickering shadows danced across the walls of Peace's room, she heard
+the tearing of paper, and then Mr. Strong's quick exclamation,
+"Elizabeth! It is Allee!" "<i>What</i> is Allee?" A white gown shot out of
+the door opposite them, and terrified Peace threw herself into the
+woman's arms, demanding again, "What is Allee? Is she&mdash;dead?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, dear," he hastily assured her, provoked to think he had frightened
+the child so badly; "only ill&mdash;quarantined for scarlet fever."</p>
+
+<p>"Scarlet fever!" gasped the girl. "That's what killed Myrtle Perry. Oh,
+will Allee die, too? Why didn't I stay at home with her?"</p>
+
+<p>"There, there, little girlie, you mustn't cry about it like that," said
+Mrs. Strong, stroking the brown head in her arms with comforting
+touches. "Lots of people have scarlet fever and get over it. The letter
+says Allee's case is not at all severe, but she will be quarantined for
+some weeks and you can't go home until the house has been fumigated. You
+must be our girl for a month or two longer. Will that be hard work?"</p>
+
+<p>"N-o, but s'posing she <i>should</i> die! I ought to be there to have it,
+too."</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed! That would make it only harder for Grandma Campbell. You
+must stay here and keep well so they won't be worrying about you, too.
+Allee isn't going to die, but in a few weeks will be as well as ever."</p>
+
+<p>"S'posing I've caught it already and give it to Glen?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dr. Coates thinks you would have been sick by this time if you were
+going to have the disease, but he is taking no chances, and has sent
+some medicine as a preventive."</p>
+
+<p>"What about school?" The case was becoming interesting to Peace, now
+that she was assured that Allee would not die.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you can have another week of vacation from lessons, and then if
+everything is all right, you can finish your term at Chestnut School.
+That is only four blocks from here, and Miss Curtis is a splendid
+principal. I knew her when I went to college, and I am sure you will
+like her."</p>
+
+<p>This was not exactly what Peace had expected or hoped for. She would
+have preferred no more school at all, as long as the sisters at home
+were to have an enforced vacation of several weeks, and her face clouded
+again as she heard Elizabeth's plan. "But&mdash;I can't&mdash;I don't want&mdash;I
+would rather&mdash;" she stammered.</p>
+
+<p>"Remember your motto and 'scatter sunshine,' dear. It will help the home
+folks to know you are cheerful and happy here, and it will help us,
+too."</p>
+
+<p>She had touched the right chord. Peace slowly dried her tears, gave a
+final gulp or two, and lifted her face once more smiling and serene,
+saying gravely, "You can bet on me! I won't bawl any more. You folks
+better get to bed now and not stand here shivering until you catch cold.
+Good-night again!" With a hearty kiss for each, she trailed away to her
+tiny room and was soon fast asleep among the pillows.</p>
+
+<p>In spite of her determination to be brave, however, she often found it
+hard to wear a smiling face during the week which followed the
+messenger's coming, for much as she wanted a vacation from her books,
+time hung heavily on her hands. She could not help fretting about Allee
+lying ill at home, Glen took a sleepy spell and spent many hours each
+day napping when she wanted to play with him, the little house had soon
+been put in order, everything was unpacked and in its place, the
+minister and Elizabeth were compelled to devote much of their time to
+making the acquaintance of their new parishioners and becoming familiar
+with this new field of labor; so Peace was necessarily left to her own
+devices more than was good for her.</p>
+
+<p>To make a bad situation worse, a drizzly spring rain set in, which
+lasted for days and kept the freedom-loving child a prisoner indoors,
+when she longed to be dancing in the fresh air and exploring a certain
+inviting grove which she had discovered on the hillside behind the
+church.</p>
+
+<p>"I b'lieve it's raining just to spite me," she exclaimed crossly one
+afternoon as she stood drumming on the window-sill and watching the
+pearly drops course down the pane in zigzag rivulets. "It just knows how
+bad I want to get out to play."</p>
+
+<p>Elizabeth looked up from a tiny dress which she was mending carefully,
+and said in sprightly tones,</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Is it raining, little flower?<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Be glad of rain.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Too much sun would wither thee,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">'Twill shine again.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">The sky is very black, 'tis true,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">But just behind it shines the blue.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, you can say that all right," Peace snapped, "cause you ain't
+just a-dying to get out and dig. Why, Saint Elspeth, the air just fairly
+smells of angleworms and birds' nests, and I do want to make a garden so
+bad!"</p>
+
+<p>"Poor girlie," smiled the woman to herself, "what a hard time she would
+have in life if she could not run and romp all she wanted." But aloud
+she merely said, "It is too early to make a garden yet, dear. The ground
+is so cold that the seeds would rot instead of sprouting, and if any
+little shoots were brave enough to climb through the soil into open air,
+they probably would get frozen for their trouble. We are apt to have
+some hard frosts yet this spring. See, the leaves on the trees have
+scarcely begun to swell yet. They know it isn't time. Be patient a
+little longer; it can't rain forever."</p>
+
+<p>"It's hard to be patient with nothing to do," sighed the child, pressing
+her nose flatter and flatter against the glass as she looked up and
+down the dreary, deserted street, vainly hoping for something to
+distract her dismal thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you finished dressing the paper dolls for Allee?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I made ten different suits for every single doll, and there were
+fifteen, counting in the father and mother and grandma. Saint John has
+already mailed them. I've read till I'm tired and the back fell off of
+the book&mdash;it wasn't a nice story anyway, 'cause the good girl was always
+getting whaled for what the bad one did. I whistled Glen to sleep before
+I knew it and then couldn't wake him up, though I shook and shook him.
+I've sewed up all today's squares of patch-work and two of tomorrow's;
+but it isn't int'resting work when you ain't there to tell me stories
+about them. And anyway, I <i>hate</i> sewing&mdash;patch-work 'specially! When I
+grow up and get married, my husband will have to buy our quilts already
+made. I'll never waste my time sewing on little snips to hatch up some
+bed-clothes. They're always covered up with spreads anyway. Rainy days
+are the dismalest things I know!"</p>
+
+<p>"That is very true if we let it rain inside, too," Elizabeth agreed
+quietly.</p>
+
+<p>"Let it rain inside! Whoever heard tell of such a thing&mdash;'nless the roof
+was leaky." Peace giggled in spite of her gloom.</p>
+
+<p>"You are letting it rain inside now when you frown and sigh instead of
+trying to be cheerful and happy in spite of the storm outside. One of
+our poets says:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Whatever the weather may be,' says he,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">'Whatever the weather may be,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">It's the songs ye sing, and the smiles ye wear<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">That's a-making the sunshine everywhere!'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Peace abruptly ceased her drumming on the window-sill and stared
+thoughtfully through the wet pane at a row of draggled sparrows chirping
+blithely on a fence across the muddy street. Then she remarked, "What a
+lot of poetry you know! Seems 'sif I'd struck a poetic bunch since we
+left Parker. Grandma and grandpa and Miss Edith and Frances, and now you
+have taken to talking in rhymes&mdash;and they are mostly about sunshine,
+too."</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'When the days are gloomy<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Sing some happy song,'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>hummed Elizabeth, leaning suddenly forward and drawing out a drawer in
+her desk close by. She rummaged through its contents for a moment, and
+then laid a dainty brown and gold book in the girl's hands, saying,
+"That reminds me. When I was a little girl not much older than you are
+now, my mother was very ill for a long time, and my sister Esther and I
+were sent away from home to live with a lame old aunt in a lonely little
+house about a mile from the nearest neighbor's. Needless to say, we got
+very homesick with no one to play with or amuse us, and the days were
+often so long that we were glad when night came so we could sleep and
+forget our childish troubles. Though Aunt Nancy was not accustomed to
+children, she soon discovered our loneliness and set about to mend
+matters as best she could. But the old house had very little in it for
+us to play with, the books were all too old for us to understand, and
+like you, we were not overly fond of sewing. So poor old auntie was at
+her wit's end to know what to do with us when she happened to think of
+her diary."</p>
+
+<p>"Did she have many cows?"</p>
+
+<p>"Cows?"</p>
+
+<p>"In her diary."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, child, that is dairy you mean. A diary is a record of each day's
+events&mdash;all the little things that happen from week to week&mdash;sort of a
+written history of one's life."</p>
+
+<p>"H'm, I shouldn't think that would be fun," Peace commented candidly,
+still holding the unopened volume in her hand, thinking it was another
+uninteresting story-book. "I don't like writing any better than I do
+sewing."</p>
+
+<p>"Neither did I, but Esther was rather fond of scribbling, and Aunt
+Nancy's diary was one of the brightest, sprightliest histories of
+common, everyday affairs that we ever read, and we were both greatly
+amused over it. She had kept a faithful record for years&mdash;not every day,
+or even every week, but just when she happened to feel like writing, so
+it was no drudgery.</p>
+
+<p>"She was quite given to making rhymes, as you call it, and we were
+astonished to find several very beautiful little poems and stories that
+she had written just for her own enjoyment; for she had always lived
+alone a great deal, and these little blank books of hers held the
+thoughts that she could not speak to other folks because there were no
+folks to talk with. Esther was several years older than I, and she knew
+a lady who wrote for magazines. So, unbeknown to Aunt Nancy, she copied
+a number of the prettiest verses and sent them to this author, who not
+only had them printed, but begged for more. I never shall forget how
+pleased Aunt Nancy was, and I think it was that which decided us girls
+to try keeping a diary, too. We raced each other good-naturedly, to see
+who could write the queerest fancies or longest rhymes, and many an hour
+have we whiled away, scribbling in the dusty attic."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you ever get anything printed?" Peace was becoming interested, for
+Gail had secret ambitions along this line, and such matters as poems,
+stories and publishers were often discussed in the home circle.</p>
+
+<p>"No," sighed Elizabeth, a trifle wistfully, perhaps, as she thought of
+that dear dream of her girlhood days. "I soon came to the conclusion
+that poets are born and not made. But Esther has been quite successful
+in writing short stories for magazines, and she lays it all to the
+summer we spent with Aunt Nancy on that dreary farm."</p>
+
+<p>"How long did you write your dairy?"</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Diary</i>, Peace. I am still writing it&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't that book full yet?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, a dozen or more, but most of them were burned up in the fire
+at&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I thought maybe this was one of them." She held up the brown and gold
+volume, much disappointed to think it did not contain the record of
+those early attempts which Elizabeth had so charmingly described.</p>
+
+<p>"No, dear, that is a notebook which I was intending to send John's
+youngest brother, Jasper, who thinks he wants to be an author, so he
+might jot down bits of information or interesting anecdotes to help him
+in his work. However, it just occurred to me that perhaps Peace
+Greenfield would like such a book to gather up sunbeams in."</p>
+
+<p>"To gather up sunbeams?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, dear. Don't you think it would be a nice plan these rainy, dreary
+days to write down all the cheerful bits of poetry you know or happy
+thoughts that come to you, or the pretty little fairy tales you and
+Allee love to make up about the moon lady and the brownies in the dell?
+You see, I have painted little brownies all along the margins of the
+various pages&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And they are carrying sunflowers," Peace interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>"Sun-flowers if you wish," and Elizabeth made a wry face at her
+reflection in the mirror. "I called them black-eyed Susans, but
+sun-flower is a better name for them, because this is to be a sunshine
+book. Another coincidence&mdash;I have written on the fly-leaf the very verse
+I just quoted:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"It's the songs ye sing, and the smiles ye wear<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">That's a-makin' the sunshine everywhere!'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"And ain't the fly's leaf dec'rations cute!" Peace pointed a stubby
+forefinger at the painted brownie chorus, armed with open song-books and
+broad grins, who seemed waiting only for the signal of the leader facing
+them with baton raised and arms extended, to burst into rollicking
+melody. "I think it's a splendid book and you're a <i>nangel</i> to give it
+to me when you meant it for someone else. But it ought to have a name.
+Just <i>dairy</i> sounds so milky and barnlike; and I don't like 'sunbeam
+book' real well, either. What did you call yours?"</p>
+
+<p>Elizabeth laughed. "Esther's was 'Happy Moments,' but I was more
+ambitious, and called mine 'Golden Thoughts.' How would 'Sunbeams,' or
+'Gleams of Sunshine' do for yours?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I like that last one! That's what I'll call it, and I'll begin
+writing now. Shall I use pen and ink?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ink would be best, wouldn't it? Pencil marks soon get rubbed and
+dingy."</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I was thinking," Peace answered promptly, for the
+possibilities of the ink-pot always had held a great charm for her, and
+at home her privileges in this direction were considerably curtailed,
+ever since she had dyed Tabby's white kittens black to match their
+mother. So she drew up her chair before the orderly desk, and began her
+first literary efforts, having first sorted out five blotters, six
+pen-holders, two erasers, a knife and a whole box of pen-points to
+assist her.</p>
+
+<p>It was a little hard at first to know just what to write, but after a
+few nibbles at the end of her pen, she seemed to collect her thoughts,
+and commenced scratching away so busily on the clean, white page that
+Elizabeth smiled and congratulated herself on having so easily solved
+the problem of what to do with the restless, little chatter-box until
+she could go back to school the following Monday. There were only three
+days of that week remaining, and if the book would just hold the child's
+attention until these were ended, she should count her scheme
+successful, even though she did have to find another present for
+Jasper's birthday.</p>
+
+<p>So she smiled with satisfaction, for Peace had become so engrossed with
+her new amusement that she never heard the door-bell ring, nor the voice
+of the visitor in the adjoining room, but scribbled away energetically
+until words failed her, and she paused to think of something to rhyme
+with "bird." Then her revery came to a sudden end, for through the open
+door of the parlor floated the words, "And so we decided to adopt her
+resolutions."</p>
+
+<p>"Poor thing," murmured Peace under her breath. "I s'pose it's another
+orphan. Beats all how many there are in this world! I am glad she's
+going to be adopted, though; but if she was mine, I'd change her name to
+something besides Resolutions. That's a whole lot worse'n Peace. It
+sounds like war."</p>
+
+<p>She glanced out of the window, and with a subdued shout dropped her pen
+and rushed for her coat and rubbers. The rain had ceased and the sun was
+shining! Not only that, but trudging down the muddy hill, hand-in-hand
+and tearful, were two small, fat cherubs, the first children Peace had
+seen while she had been visiting the parsonage, except as she met the
+boys and girls of the Sunday School. Elizabeth had told her that this
+part of the city was still new, and consequently few families had
+settled there as yet; but she had longed for other companionship than
+Glen could give her, and this was too good an opportunity to miss. So,
+flinging on her wraps, she hurried out of the back door, so as not to
+disturb Elizabeth and her caller, and ran after the children already at
+the street crossing, preparing to wade into the rushing torrent of muddy
+water coursing down the hillside.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, wait!" she cried breathlessly, but at the sound of her voice both
+children started guiltily, and with a snarl of anger and defiance,
+plunged boldly into the flood, not even glancing behind them at the
+flying, gray-coated figure in pursuit. However, the water was swift in
+the gutter, the mud very slippery, and the little tots in too great a
+hurry. So without any warning, two pair of feet shot out from under
+their owners, two frightened babies plumped flat in the dirty stream,
+and two voices rose in protest against such an unhappy fate.
+Nevertheless, when Peace waded in to their rescue, they fought and bit
+like wild-cats, till she dragged them howling back to the sidewalk and
+safety. Then abruptly the wails ceased, two pair of round gray eyes
+stared blankly up at their rescuer, and two voices demanded
+aggressively, "Who's you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Are you twins?" asked Peace in turn, noticing for the first time how
+very much alike were the small, snub-nosed, freckled faces of the dirty
+duet.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"What are your names?"</p>
+
+<p>"Lewie and Loie."</p>
+
+<p>"Lewie and Loie what?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's all."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but you must have another name."</p>
+
+<p>"That's all," they stubbornly insisted.</p>
+
+<p>"Where do you live?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nowhere."</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't you any mamma?"</p>
+
+<p>"She's gone."</p>
+
+<p>"But who takes care of you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody," gulped the one called Loie.</p>
+
+<p>"Mittie did, but she runned away and lef' us," added Lewie.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are you going now?"</p>
+
+<p>"To fin' mamma."</p>
+
+<p>"But you said she was dead."</p>
+
+<p>"She just goned away and lef' us, too," murmured Loie, looking very much
+puzzled.</p>
+
+<p>Peace was delighted. Years and years ago, when her grandfather was a
+boy, he had adopted a little, homeless orphan and kept him from being
+taken to the poor-farm. Here were two waifs needing love and care. Who
+had a better right to adopt them than she who had found them? Grandpa
+Campbell surely would not turn them away, for did he not know what it
+was to be homeless and friendless? But she could not take them home
+while Allee was in bed with scarlet fever, and perhaps the Strongs would
+not feel that they could open the parsonage doors to two more children,
+seeing that the house was so very tiny. What could she do with her
+charges?</p>
+
+<p>There was a rush of feet on the walk behind her, someone gave her a
+violent push, and she sprawled full length in the gutter. Surprised,
+drenched to the skin and dazed by her fall, she staggered to her feet
+only to be knocked down the second time, while a jeering, mocking voice
+from the sidewalk taunted, "You're a pretty sight now, you nigger-wool
+kidnapper! Get up and take another dose! I'll teach you to steal
+children!"</p>
+
+<p>Blind with rage and half choked with mud, Peace shook the water from her
+eyes and flew at her assailant with vengeance in her heart, pounding
+right and left with relentless fists wherever she could hit. But the
+enemy was a larger and stronger child, and it would have gone hard with
+the brown-eyed maid had not the minister himself arrived unexpectedly
+upon the scene and separated the two young pugilists, demanding in
+shocked tones, "Why, Peace, what does this mean? I thought you were
+above fighting."</p>
+
+<p>"She hit me first!" sputtered Peace, trying to wipe the blood from a
+long scratch on her cheek.</p>
+
+<p>"She stole my kids!"</p>
+
+<p>"They are orphans, Saint John, and I was going to adopt them like my
+grandfather did Grandpa Campbell."</p>
+
+<p>"They ain't either orphans!" shouted the other.</p>
+
+<p>"They said their mother was dead and they had no home."</p>
+
+<p>"Mamma goned away and locked up the house," volunteered Lewie from the
+parsonage porch where he had taken refuge with his twin sister at the
+first sign of the fray.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you their sister?" sternly demanded Mr. Strong of the older girl.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I ain't! They live next door and Mrs. Hoyt left the kids with me
+till she got back."</p>
+
+<p>"Where is your house?"</p>
+
+<p>"On top of the hill," she muttered sullenly.</p>
+
+<p>"Then how does it come they are so far from home?"</p>
+
+<p>"They ran away."</p>
+
+<p>"She shut us out of hern house," said Loie, "and we went to fin' mamma."</p>
+
+<p>Just at this moment the parsonage door opened, and Elizabeth's visitor
+stepped out on the piazza, almost stumbling over the crouching twins;
+and at sight of them she exclaimed in surprise, "Why, Lewis and Lois
+Hoyt, what are you doing down here? Does your mother know where you
+are?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, Mrs. Lane, how do you do?" said the minister, extending his hand in
+greeting. "Are these tots neighbors of yours?"</p>
+
+<p>"They live just across the street from us. I often take care of them
+when the mother is away." Then her eye chanced to fall upon the
+shrinking figure of Mittie, and she demanded wrathfully, "Have you been
+up to your tricks again, Mittie Cole? I shall certainly report you to
+your father this time sure. I will take the twins home, Mr. Strong. It
+is too bad your little guest has been hurt, but you can mark my words,
+she was not to blame. There is trouble wherever Mittie goes. I don't see
+why Mrs. Hoyt ever left the children with her in the first place. She
+might have known what would happen."</p>
+
+<p>Shooing the little brood ahead of her, she marched out of sight up the
+hill, and Peace followed the minister into the house, wailing
+disconsolately, "I thought they were orphans and I could adopt them like
+grandpa did."</p>
+
+<p>"But think how nice it is that they have a mother and father and a nice
+home of their own. Aren't you glad they are not friendless waifs?"</p>
+
+<p>It was a new thought. Peace paused in her lament, and then with a bright
+smile answered, "It is nicer that way, ain't it? 'Cause even if they had
+been orphans, maybe grandpa would think he had his hands full with the
+six of us, and couldn't make room for any more. Lewie can bite like a
+badger and I 'magine grandpa wouldn't stand for much of that. Anyway <i>I</i>
+wouldn't. When I grow bigger and have a house of my own, then I can
+adopt all the children I want to, can't I? Just like that lady that was
+here a minute ago."</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Lane? Why, she has no adopted children!" exclaimed Elizabeth, who
+had been a silent spectator of part of the scene.</p>
+
+<p>"But I heard her tell you so myself," insisted Peace.</p>
+
+<p>"When?"</p>
+
+<p>"This afternoon while I was writing in my book. She said they decided to
+adopt Resol&mdash;Resol&mdash;something."</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately the minister was lighting the fire in the kitchen stove, so
+Peace could not see the laughter in his face, and Elizabeth had long
+since learned to hide her mirth from the keen childish eyes, so she
+explained, "It was not a child, Peace, which she was talking about.
+Doesn't your Missionary Band ever adopt resolutions of any sort in their
+business meetings?"</p>
+
+<p>"I never saw any they adopted, though we're s'porting two orphan heathen
+in India."</p>
+
+<p>Elizabeth could not refrain from smiling slightly, but she carefully
+explained to Peace the meaning of the perplexing phrase, as she bustled
+about her preparations for supper, and the incident was apparently
+forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>While she was putting things to rights for the night, long after the
+children had been tucked away in their beds, she found the preacher
+seated by her desk chuckling over a little book among the papers before
+him, and peeping over his shoulder she saw it was the brown and gold
+volume which she had given Peace that afternoon. On the fly-leaf, just
+above the quaint brownie chorus, in straggling inky letters, Peace had
+penned the title, "Glimmers of Gladness," this being as near as she
+could recall the name Elizabeth had suggested. Then followed the most
+extraordinarily original diary the woman had ever seen, and she laughed
+till the tears ran down her cheeks, as she read the words written with
+such painstaking care and plenty of ink:</p>
+
+<p>"This is the first dairy I ever kept. Saint Elspeth gave me the book
+which she ment for Jasper Strong, St. John's brother who wood rather be
+a writer than a huming boy. He ought to change places with me, cause I'd
+rather be a live girl any day than a norther which is what Gale wants to
+be and that is one reason I am going to keep a dairy as she may find it
+usful when she gets to be famus like St. Elspeth's sister Ester. I
+should not want to keep a dairy if I had to tend to it every day, but
+St. Elspeth says just to rite when I feel like it which I don't s'pose
+will be offen as there is usuly something to do which I like better. I
+am riting today becaus it rains and I cant go out doors.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"The sparrow is playing in the mud<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Don't I wish I could, too.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">He don't need rubbers on his feet,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Behind the clouds it's blue.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">He wears feathers stead of close<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And to him the rain aint wet.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">I wisht that I wore feathers, too,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Then I'd stay out doors you bet.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"The raindrop fairy is my newest fairy. I'll tell Allee all about it
+when she gets well enough so's I can go home. They are very wet but it
+aint their fault. If they wuz dry they wouldnt be water. They go about
+doing lots of good to the trees and flowers which couldnt grow without
+water, and we mustn't fuss cause there is always sun somewhere and its a
+cumfert to no it wont rain all the time. When the storm is over the
+raindrop faries strech a net of red and blue and green and yellow
+akros the sky which means it wont rain any more until the next time.
+Thats the way with huming beings. If we skowl and growl we're making a
+huming thunder-storm, but just as soon as the smile comes out thats the
+rainbow and shows the sun is shining, 'cause there is never a rainbow
+without the sun is in the clouds behind it. I'm going to smile and smile
+after this and be a reglar sunflour all myself."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear little Peace," murmured Elizabeth, as she closed the book and laid
+it back on the desk. "It's mean to laugh at her precious diary,
+particularly when she has taken such pains with it and tried her best to
+please."</p>
+
+<p>"She'll make an author yet," chuckled the minister. "I am proud of our
+little philosopher. She is scattering more sunshine than she dreams of,
+and some day will harvest a big crop of sunflowers."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+
+<h3>A VOICE FROM THE LILAC BUSHES</h3>
+
+
+<p>It was a glorious morning in May. Spring had really come at last with
+its warm, life-giving sunshine, and the air was heavy with the smell of
+growing things. Overhead the blue sky was clear and cloudless, underfoot
+the new grass made a thick carpet invitingly cool and refreshing. The
+trees were sporting fresh garlands of leaves, and in woods and gardens
+the bright-colored blossoms glowed and blushed. How beautiful it all
+was!</p>
+
+<p>Peace paused at Elizabeth's side in the open doorway to drink in the
+rich fragrance of the lilacs, whose purple plumes nodded so temptingly
+from the hedge across the way. For days it had been part of her morning
+program to rush out of doors as soon as she was dressed to sniff
+hungrily at the lilac-laden air, but never before had they smelled so
+sweet nor looked so beautiful and feathery as they did this morning, for
+now they had reached the height of their perfection. Tomorrow some of
+their beauty would be gone; they would be growing old.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Elspeth, ain't they lovely?" she sighed. "Don't they make you feel
+like heaven? Wouldn't you like a great, big bunch of them under your
+nose always? I wonder why the folks who live there don't give them away.
+I should if they b'longed to me. Think how many people would be glad to
+get them. May I go over in the field to play? I won't break one of Saint
+John's plants or touch a single lilac, truly, if I can just play where I
+can smell their smell as it comes fresh from the bush. We only get the
+wee, ragged edges of it over here."</p>
+
+<p>Elizabeth came out of her own revery at the sound of Peace's gusty sigh
+of longing, and readily gave her consent, as this was Saturday morning
+and school did not keep. So, like a bird trying its wings after a long
+imprisonment, the brown-eyed maid with arms flapping and curls bobbing,
+skipped happily across the road to the field where she had helped the
+minister plant a little vegetable garden, and which already was lined
+with irregular rows of pale green shoots where beans and potatoes,
+turnips and cabbages, had pushed their way up through the black earth.</p>
+
+<p>Peace was even prouder of the small truck patch than the preacher
+himself, if such a thing were possible, and it was a favorite pastime of
+both these gardeners to walk back and forth between the rows each day
+and count the tender sprouts which had appeared during the night. So
+this morning from force of habit, Peace strolled up and down the length
+of the garden, counting in a sing-song fashion as she greedily filled
+nostrils and lungs with the sweet scent of the lilac bushes just beyond,
+drawing nearer and nearer the hedge with its delicate, dainty sprays.</p>
+
+<p>Unconsciously her counting changed into the humming refrain of the
+Gleaner's motto song, and she danced lightly down the last row of crisp
+cornblades, joyously chanting words which fitted into the happy music:
+"Oh, you pretty lilacs, growing by the wall! How I'd like to have you
+for my very own. I would pick your blossoms, lavender and white, and
+give them all to sick folks, shut in from the light.&mdash;Why, that rhymed
+all of its own self!"</p>
+
+<p>She paused abruptly beside the lilac bushes, her arms still uplifted and
+fingers outstretched as if beckoning to the plumy sprays above her Head.
+"Isn't it queer how such things will happen when if I'd been trying to
+make poetry in my dairy I couldn't have thought of those words for an
+hour? I guess it was the lilacs that did it. Oh, you are so beautiful!
+You'd make anything rhyme, wouldn't you? What is it that gives you your
+sweetness? I wish you could tell me the secret. Oh, you lovely lilacs,
+growing up so high; swinging in the sunshine&mdash;" Again her made-up words
+came to a sudden end, and she stood motionless, her head cocked to one
+side, listening intently to a brilliant trill of melody from the other
+side of the hedge.</p>
+
+<p>"There goes my bird again! Saint John says it must be a canary which
+b'longs to the stone house that owns these lilacs, but I don't b'lieve
+it would sing like that if it was shut up in a cage."</p>
+
+<p>She held her breath again to harken to the music, then puckered her lips
+and mocked its song. The feathered musician broke off in the midst of
+his rhapsody, surprised at the strange echo of his own notes. There was
+a moment of silence; then he began again, and once more Peace mimicked
+the warbler. This time there was a stir on the other side of the bushes,
+and the purple-tasseled branches were cautiously parted where the
+foliage was thinnest, but Peace was too much absorbed in watching the
+topmost boughs&mdash;for the music seemed to come from overhead somewhere&mdash;to
+see the startled eyes looking at her through the tangle of leaves and
+blossoms. All unconscious of her hidden audience, she joyously trilled
+the canary bird's chorus.</p>
+
+<p>Then miracle of miracles&mdash;or so it seemed to Peace&mdash;there was a whir of
+wings, and a bright-eyed, yellow-coated, saucy, little bird perched on a
+twig just above her head. Peace gasped and was silent.</p>
+
+<p>The bird chirped a note of defiance and hopped to the branch below.
+Peace advanced a cautious step; the canary did not retreat, but tipped
+its dainty head sidewise and eyed the child curiously. A small brown
+hand shot out unexpectedly, dexterously, and the yellow songster found
+itself a helpless prisoner in the child's tight grasp.</p>
+
+<p>Peace was almost as surprised as the bird. She had not really thought to
+capture the creature so easily, and to find it in her hand sent a thrill
+of delight through her whole being. She snuggled it close in her neck
+and crooned:</p>
+
+<p>"You little darling! Saint John was right, you <i>are</i> a canary! But I was
+right, too. You ain't caged. I'm mighty glad I've caught you. I always
+did like pets. I wonder what you will think of Muffet, grandma's canary?
+If I just had these lovely lilacs now, little birdie, I'd be perfectly
+happy. But a bird in the hand is worth&mdash;a whole bushel of blossoms. I
+guess I'll take you home to Elspeth&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you mustn't!" cried a distressed voice behind the purple tassels.
+"That is my bird, Gypsy. I just let him loose to see if it was really
+you mocking him. Bring him home, won't you? And I'll give you all the
+lilacs you want."</p>
+
+<p>Startled at the sound of a human voice almost at her elbow when she
+could see no sign of the speaker, Peace let go her hold on the
+frightened captive, and with a relieved chirp, it flew out of sight
+among the thick branches. But she made no attempt to follow its flight,
+she was too scared. "Are&mdash;are&mdash;was it a real woman which did that
+talking?" chattered Peace, wetting her lips with her tongue.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," answered the voice, with just the tinge of a laugh in it. "I live
+in the stone house this side of the lilac bushes. I saw you through the
+leaves and heard what you said, but won't you please bring my little
+Gypsy home? I'll give you all the flowers you want. Go down to the road
+and come in through the front gate. I am here in my chair."</p>
+
+<p>"Your bird has gone home already," Peace answered, reassured by this
+explanation. "But I'll come and get those lilacs you spoke about."</p>
+
+<p>She ran nimbly down the length of the lilac hedge, dodged out of sight
+around the corner, and appeared the next moment at the iron gate which
+shut out the street from the grand stone house with its wide lawns,
+great oaks, smooth, flower-bordered walks, and splashing fountain.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, how beau-ti-ful!" cried the child in delight, as the gate swung
+shut behind her. "I've always wanted to know what this place looked
+like, but the tall hedge all along the fence is too thick to see through
+and one can get only a teenty peek through the gate. There is your bird
+on top of its cage now. See, I didn't keep him, though I'd like to. He
+is a splendid singer. I sh'd think you'd be the happiest lady in the
+whole world with all these lovely flowers and&mdash;are you a lady?"</p>
+
+<p>For the first time since entering the great gate, Peace turned her big,
+brown eyes full upon the occupant of the reclining chair in the shade
+of the lilac bushes, and her lively chatter faltered, for the face
+pillowed among the silken cushions seemed neither a child's nor yet a
+woman's. The eyes, intensely blue and clear, the broad, high forehead,
+the thin cheeks and colorless lips, even the heavy braids of brown hair
+with their auburn lights, did not seem to belong to a mere mortal. And
+yet she could not be an angel, for even Peace's youthful, untrained mind
+swiftly read the bitterness and rebellion which lurked in those deep,
+wonderful eyes. It was as if some doomed soul were looking out through
+the bars of a prison fortress, without a single ray of hope to break the
+gloom, without a single thought to cheer or comfort. And so Peace, in
+her childish ignorance, asked, "Are you a lady?"</p>
+
+<p>"A woman grown," the sweet voice answered, and a faint smile of
+amusement flitted across the marble-white face.</p>
+
+<p>"Your&mdash;your hair is in braids," stammered Peace, unable to put her
+subtle feelings into words.</p>
+
+<p>"It is more restful that way," the speaker sighed; then again that
+fleeting smile lighted up the beautiful features, and holding out her
+hand to the puzzled child, she said coaxingly, "Tell me about yourself.
+Is it really you who whistles so divinely in the garden each morning? I
+have heard it so often but never could locate it before. Aunt Pen
+thought it must be another canary at the parsonage. It always seemed to
+come from that direction."</p>
+
+<p>"That's 'cause Saint John and I live there. He whistles, too, though I
+do it the best."</p>
+
+<p>"Saint John?" The flicker of amusement became a genuine smile.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the new preacher of Hill Street Church. He used to be our
+minister in Parker and he lets me call him by his front name when we are
+alone, but it was so easy to forget and do it when we weren't alone that
+I named him <i>Saint</i> John, 'cause Faith says he is my pattern&mdash;no patron
+saint. I call Elizabeth Saint Elspeth, too, for the same reason. She is
+his wife."</p>
+
+<p>"But I thought you were their little girl."</p>
+
+<p>"Mercy, no! They ain't old enough to have a little girl my age yet. Glen
+is their only children. I'm just visiting."</p>
+
+<p>"You have been with them ever since they came here, haven't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Almost. They were a week ahead of me. They moved in from Parker last
+March, the very week before our spring vacation from school, and they
+begged grandpa so hard to let me come and help them settle that he said
+I might. Then Allee got the scarlet fever, so I had to stay for a time.
+Just as she was getting well so they 'xpected to <i>fumergate</i> 'most any
+day, Cherry went to work and caught it, and now Hope is in bed. There
+are two more yet to have it, 'nless you count me, and I ain't going to
+get it. I don't think Gail and Faith will, either, 'cause they have been
+staying with Frances Sherrar ever since the doctor decided he knew what
+ailed Allee. Anyway, they had it when they were little."</p>
+
+<p>"What quaint names!" murmured the lady, softly repeating them one by
+one.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they are, but as it ain't our fault, we've quit fretting about
+'em. Our grandfather was a minister, and he named us&mdash;all but Gail and
+Allee. Papa named the oldest, and mamma named the youngest. Grandpa
+fixed up all the rest."</p>
+
+<p>The ludicrous look of resignation in the small round face was too much
+for the questioner, and she burst into a rippling peal of laughter, so
+hearty that a much older woman popped a surprised face out of the door
+to see what was the matter. Peace caught a glimpse of her as she
+vanished within doors once more, and demanded, "Who is that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Pen."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a quaint name, too. I'd as soon be called 'pencil'," she
+retaliated.</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't very common these days," smiled the woman. "The real name is
+Penelope, but I shortened it to 'Pen.' Poor Aunt Pen, she has a hard
+time of it."</p>
+
+<p>"Why? I sh'd think it would be easy work living in such a beautiful
+place as this."</p>
+
+<p>"A beautiful place isn't everything in life," came the bitter retort,
+and the rebellious look clouded the lovely eyes once more.</p>
+
+<p>"No, it ain't," Peace acknowledged; "but it's a whole lot. Just s'posing
+you had to live in a mite of an ugly house without nice things to eat or
+wear and with no father or mother to take care of you, and a mortgage
+you couldn't pay, and an old skinflint of a man ready to slam you
+outdoors and gobble up the farm, furniture and everything, the minute
+the mortgage was due. How'd you like that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Have you no father or mother?" The voice was very soft and sweet again,
+and the blue eyes glowed tenderly.</p>
+
+<p>Peace shook her head. "They are both inside the gates."</p>
+
+<p>"Then who takes care of you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Grandpa Campbell, what was adopted by my own grandpa when he was a
+boy."</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me about it, won't you, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>So Peace related the pathetic story of the two souls who had gone into
+the Great Beyond, leaving the helpless orphan band to battle by
+themselves; of the struggle the little brown house had witnessed; of the
+tramp who came begging his breakfast, and afterwards proved to be the
+beloved President of the University; and of the beautiful change which
+had come in their fortunes when he had adopted the whole flock.</p>
+
+<p>When she had finished her recital there were tears in the blue eyes, and
+the white-faced lady murmured compassionately, "Poor little sisters!
+There are so many orphans in this big world."</p>
+
+<p>Something in her tone and the far-away expression of her eyes impelled
+Peace to say with conviction, "You are an orphan, too."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, child."</p>
+
+<p>"Since you were a little girl?"</p>
+
+<p>"Since I was five years old."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, as little as Allee when mamma died! Wasn't there anyone to take
+care of you? Did your Aunt Pen adopt you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Pen has always lived with us. I don't remember any other mother."</p>
+
+<p>"And did you always live here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I was born here. It wasn't part of the city then."</p>
+
+<p>"But you don't look real old."</p>
+
+<p>"I am not <i>real</i> old. I was twenty-four last November."</p>
+
+<p>"And Gail was nineteen the same month! You're only four, five years
+older than she is. That's not much&mdash;but there's a bigger difference."</p>
+
+<p>"How, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, she looks 'sif she liked to live better'n you do."</p>
+
+<p>The woman drew a long, shivering breath and closed her eyes as if a
+spasm of pain had seized her; and Peace, frightened at the death-like
+pallor of the face, quavered, "Oh, don't faint! What is the matter? Are
+you sick? Or is it just a chill? Maybe you better run around a bit until
+you get warm."</p>
+
+<p>The deep, unfathomable blue eyes opened, and the voice said bitterly, "I
+can <i>never</i> run again. I must lie in this chair all the rest of my life
+with nothing to do but think, think, think! Do you wonder now that I am
+not happy? Do you understand now why Aunt Pen has a hard time? Do you
+see the reason for that tall, thick hedge all around the yard?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," Peace replied bluntly. "I can't see a mite of sense in it! If I
+had to live in a chair all my days, I'd want it where I could watch the
+world go by. I'd cut down all the hedges and let the sun shine in. If I
+couldn't run about myself, I'd just watch the folks that did have good
+feet. I'd wave my hands at the children and give 'em flowers, and they'd
+come and talk to me when I was tired of reading. I'd have a bird like
+you've got, and I'd make a pet of it, too. I'd have more'n one; I'd have
+a whole m'nagerie of dogs and cats and rabbits and squirrels and&mdash;and
+ponies, maybe, and a monkey or two. And I'd teach them to do tricks, and
+then I'd call all the poor little children who can't go to the circus to
+see my animals perform. I'd have gardens of flowers for the sick people
+and vegetables for those who haven't any place to raise their own and
+no money to buy them. That's what Saint John is going to do with all
+they don't use at the parsonage. I'd make a park of my back yard and let
+dirty children play there so's they would not get run over in the
+street; I'd&mdash;oh, there are so many things I'd do to enjoy myself!"</p>
+
+<p>Peace paused for breath, the well of her imagination run dry, but her
+face was so radiant that instinctively her listener knew these were not
+idle words, though she could not keep the hard tone out of her voice as
+she answered, "Ah, that is easy enough to say, but&mdash;wait until you are
+where I am now, and I think you will find it lots harder to practice
+what you preach. You will turn your face to the wall, say good-bye to
+those who you thought were your friends, build a high fence around
+yourself and hide&mdash;<i>hide</i> from the world and everything!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no," Peace protested, shuddering at the picture she had drawn. "I
+should <i>die</i> if I couldn't see the sun and flowers and kind faces of the
+folks I love. But&mdash;it&mdash;would be&mdash;awfully hard <i>never</i> to walk again."</p>
+
+<p>"Hard? It is <i>torture</i>!" She had forgotten that she was talking to a
+mere child, one who could not understand what it was to have dearest
+ambitions thwarted, one who could not even know yet what it was to have
+ambitions. "I had dreamed of being a great singer some day&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, do you sing?" cried Peace, who was passionately fond of music in
+whatever guise it came.</p>
+
+<p>"Masters said I could&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Then please sing for me. I can only whistle, and then folks say,</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Whistling girls and crowing hens<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Always come to some bad ends.'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"I'd like awfully much to hear you sing."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't sing any more! That is all past now; but oh, how I loved
+it! We were going to Europe, Aunt Pen and I, and when we came back after
+months and years of study, I thought I should be a&mdash;Jenny Lind, perhaps.
+I thought of it by day, I dreamed of it by night. It was <i>everything</i> to
+me. And then&mdash;my horse fell&mdash;and here I am."</p>
+
+<p>"Was it long ago?" whispered Peace, strangely stirred by the passionate
+words of the girl before her.</p>
+
+<p>"Five years."</p>
+
+<p>"And you've been here ever since?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ever since."</p>
+
+<p>Oh, the hopelessness of the words, the bitterness of the face!</p>
+
+<p>Involuntarily Peace turned her eyes away, and as her glance fell upon
+the delicate bloom of the lilac bushes beside her, she began to hum
+under her breath, "Oh, you lovely lilacs, growing up so high."</p>
+
+<p>"Sing to me," commanded the lame girl imperiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Sing? I can't sing! All I can do is whistle."</p>
+
+<p>"But you were singing just now."</p>
+
+<p>"I was humming."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't quibble!" A faint smile smoothed away the hard lines about the
+young mouth. "Please sing that little tune for me. I have heard you so
+often in the garden and that seems quite a favorite of yours, but I can
+never make out the words."</p>
+
+<p>"That's 'cause the words ain't usu'ly alike."</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Allee and me have always fitted talking words into our song music
+and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't understand, I am afraid."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, we just sing things instead of talking them like other folks
+would. They don't rhyme, but they fit into tunes which we like, and our
+Gleaners' motto song is our favorite, so that's the one we usu'ly hum,
+and that's how you hear it so much."</p>
+
+<p>"Then sing the motto song. The tune is very pretty."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it is pretty, but the reason we like it so well is 'cause it
+sounds glad. We never can sing it when we're cross or bad. It's made
+just for sunshine."</p>
+
+<p>Softly she began to chant the words:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'In a world where sorrow<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Ever will be known<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Where are found the needy<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And the sad and lone.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Peace was right in saying that she could not sing, and yet her happy
+voice, warbling out those joyous words, made very sweet music that
+bright May morning. The lines of weariness gradually left the invalid's
+face, a feeling of rest stole over her, and with a tired little sigh,
+she closed her eyes.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'When the days are gloomy,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Sing some happy song,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Meet the world's repining<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">With a courage strong;<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Go with faith undaunted<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Thro' the ills of life,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Scatter smiles and sunshine<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">O'er its toil and strife,'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>piped Peace, staring at the waving plumes of lavender above her head.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Sca-atter sunshine all along your wa-ay,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Cheer and bless and bri-ighten&mdash;'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The song ceased in the midst of the chorus.</p>
+
+<p>The big blue eyes flashed open and the lame girl demanded in surprise.
+"Why did you stop?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," breathed Peace, a look of great relief passing over her face, "I
+thought sure you'd gone to sleep and I wouldn't get my lilacs after
+all."</p>
+
+<p>"You little goosie! I don't go to sleep that easily. Sing the chorus
+again for me, and then Hicks shall cut all the flowers you can carry."</p>
+
+<p>"He better begin now, then, 'cause the chorus ain't long and it sounds
+'sif Elspeth was calling me. I've been out of sight from the parsonage
+quite a spell and likely she's getting anxious. Besides, Glen may be
+awake and wanting me."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well," she laughed. "Hicks shall begin right away. See, there he
+comes with his basket and scissors. Now sing."</p>
+
+<p>So Peace repeated the sprightly chorus with a vim, and was rewarded with
+such a huge bouquet of the fragrant blossoms that she was almost hidden
+from sight as she stood clasping them tightly in her arms, and
+exclaiming in rapture, "All for me? Oh, dear Lilac Lady, I didn't 'xpect
+that many! You better have Aunt Pen put some of these in the house for
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't want them in my house!" exclaimed the girl fiercely. "They
+are all for you&mdash;and Saint Elspeth."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, she'll love you for sending them. Can I bring her over to see you?
+Her and Saint John?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't care to meet them. Saint John has already called, but&mdash;I
+sent him away again."</p>
+
+<p>"Then&mdash;I s'pose&mdash;you won't care to have me call again either."</p>
+
+<p>This beautiful garden seemed like the Promised Land to Peace's childish
+eyes, and the thought of never being allowed to enter it again was
+dreadful.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, <i>do</i> come again! You <i>must</i> come again! Come every day. No,
+not every day, some days I couldn't see you if you came. I will hang a
+white cloth on the lilac bushes&mdash;see,&mdash;on the other side, where you can
+see it from the parsonage, and you will come then, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, if Elspeth doesn't need me and Glen is asleep. He likes flowers,
+too, even if he is just a baby, and he never tears them to pieces."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll have Hicks cut you some tulips&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"You better not today. I'll get them next time I come. These are all I
+can carry now, and they are a lot too many for our little parsonage. But
+I'm awful glad you gave me such a big bunch, 'cause there are ever so
+many of the church people sick, and Elspeth will be so pleased to have
+me <i>distribit</i> bouquets amongst 'em. Some of 'em it will be like
+slinging coals of fire at their heads, too. There's old Deacon Hopper
+for one. He doesn't like Saint John and calls him a meddlesome monkey of
+a minister. Now he's sick, I'll take him a bunch of lilacs and tell him
+the meddlesome monkey's minister has sent him some flowers and hopes he
+soon gets onto his feet again.</p>
+
+<p>"Mittie Cole is another that needs some fire on her head. She pushed me
+into the gutter three times the day I tried to adopt the runaway twins,
+and we'd have had a grand scrimmage if Saint John hadn't happened along
+to stop it. But she's got lung fever now, and there was days the doctor
+said she wouldn't live. I reckon she doesn't feel much like fighting any
+more, but likely she'll enjoy the smell of these lovely lilacs. She
+seemed awful glad to see me the day I carried her some chicken broth.</p>
+
+<p>"The Foster baby is sick, and Grandma Deane, and little Freddie James,
+and Mrs. Hoover, and Dan'l Fielding. You see that's quite a bunch, and
+it will take a big lot of flowers to go around. I'll tell 'em all that
+you sent 'em&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed!" There was real alarm in her voice. "Because I did not send
+them. I gave them to you."</p>
+
+<p>"But if you hadn't given them to me, I couldn't share 'em with other
+folks, so it's really you who is to blame. You&mdash;you don't care if I give
+some away, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly not, dear. You may give them all away if it will make you any
+happier."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it does! I just love to see sick faces smile when someone brings in
+flowers to smell or nice things to eat. Miss Edith sometimes takes us to
+the hospital with bouquets to <i>distribit</i>, and my! how glad the patients
+are to get them. They say it is almost as good as a breath of real,
+genuine air. I'm going with Saint Elspeth tomorrow afternoon&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Then you must come over here and get some more lilacs. Hicks will cut
+all you can carry."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, do you mean it? You darling Lilac Lady&mdash;that's what I mean to call
+you always, 'cause you give away so many lilacs to make other folks
+happy. I'll bring the biggest basket I can find. There is Elspeth
+calling again. I must hurry home."</p>
+
+<p>"You haven't told me your name yet. I forgot to ask it before, but if I
+am to be your Lilac Lady, I must know what to call you, too."</p>
+
+<p>"Peace&mdash;Peace Greenfield. Good-bye. I'll be here tomorrow just the
+minute dinner is over."</p>
+
+<p>The blue eyes followed her longingly as she danced away through the
+fresh clover and disappeared beyond the heavy gates. Then the lame girl
+turned in her chair,&mdash;almost against her will, it seemed&mdash;and looked up
+at the fragrant purple plumes nodding above her head. "Peace," she
+murmured. "How odd! 'The peace which passeth understanding.'"</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+
+<h3>A PICNIC IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN</h3>
+
+
+<p>After that Peace came often to the handsome stone house, half hidden
+from the road by its thick hedges and giant trees. Almost daily the
+white cloth fluttered its summons from the lilac bushes, and Elizabeth,
+having heard the sad story of the young girl mistress, rejoiced that the
+tumble-haired, merry-hearted little romp could bring even a gleam of
+sunshine into that darkened life.</p>
+
+<p>At first it was the great, beautiful gardens which lured the child
+through the iron gates, for she could not understand the different moods
+of the imperious young invalid, and secretly stood somewhat in awe of
+her. But gradually the natural childish vivacity and quaint philosophy
+of the smaller maid tore down the barriers behind which the older girl
+had so long screened herself, and Peace found to her great amazement
+that the white-faced invalid, who could never leave her chair again, was
+a wonderful story-teller and a perfect witch at inventing new games and
+planning delightful surprises to make each visit a real event for this
+guest. So the calls grew more and more frequent and the chance
+acquaintance blossomed into a deep, tender friendship.</p>
+
+<p>Of course, Peace did not realize how much sweetness and sunshine she was
+bringing into the garden with her, but in her ignorance supposed that
+the many visits were all for her own happiness. How could she know that
+her lively prattle was making the weary days bearable for the frail
+sufferer? And had anyone tried to tell her what an important part she
+was playing in that life drama, she would not have believed it. Perhaps
+it was the very unconsciousness of her power which made her such a
+beautiful comrade for the aching heart imprisoned in the garden. At any
+rate, Peace not only made friends with the lonely Lilac Lady, but she
+also captivated gentle Aunt Pen and the adoring Hicks, who met her with
+beaming faces whenever she entered the garden, and sighed when the brief
+hours were over. But none of them would listen to her bringing Elspeth
+or the minister, much to her bewilderment.</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't because <i>I</i> don't want them," explained Aunt Pen one day when
+Peace had pleaded with her and had been grieved at her refusal. "Your
+Lilac Lady isn't ready to receive other callers yet. You can't
+understand now, dearie. God grant you may <i>never</i> understand. She shut
+herself up four years ago when she found out that she would never get
+well enough to walk again, and you are the first person she has ever
+seen since that time, except her own household and the physician.
+Perhaps you are the opening wedge, child. Oh, I trust it may be so!"</p>
+
+<p>Peace did not understand what an opening wedge was, but it did not sound
+very appetizing, and she had grave doubts as to whether she had better
+continue her visits under such conditions. But when she went to
+Elizabeth with the story, that wise little woman answered her by
+singing:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Slightest actions often<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Meet the sorest needs,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For the world wants daily,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Little kindly deeds;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Oh, what care and sorrow<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">You may help remove,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">With your songs and courage,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Sympathy and love.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Peace was comforted and went back to the shady garden with a deeper
+desire to brighten the long, dreary, aimless days of the helpless
+invalid. She said no more about introducing her beloved minister's
+family, but in secret she still mourned because the lame girl so
+steadfastly refused to welcome her dearest friends.</p>
+
+<p>So the days flew swiftly by and the month of May was gone. Summer was
+early that year, and the first day of June dawned sultry and still over
+the sweltering city. It was a half-holiday at the Chestnut School, so
+Peace returned home at noon, hot, perspiring, but radiant at the thought
+of no more lessons till the morrow. She came a round-about way in order
+to pass the great gates of the stone mansion, hoping to catch a glimpse
+of the well-known chair under the lilac bushes; but the lawn was
+deserted, and she was disappointed, for she had counted much on spending
+these unexpected leisure hours in the cool garden with the lame girl.</p>
+
+<p>To add to her woe, she found Elizabeth lying on the couch in the
+darkened study, suffering from a nerve-racking headache, and the
+preacher, looking very droll togged out in his little wife's
+kitchen-apron, was flying about serving up the scorched, unseasoned
+dinner for the forlorn family. He was too much concerned over the
+illness of the mistress and the unfinished condition of his next
+Sunday's sermon to sample his own cooking, and as Glen fell asleep over
+his bowl of bread and milk, Peace was left entirely to her own devices
+when the meal was ended.</p>
+
+<p>It was too hot to romp, it was too hot to read, and there was no one to
+play with. She swung idly in the hammock until the very motion was
+maddening. She prowled through the grove behind the church, she dug
+industriously in the small flower garden under the east window, she did
+everything she could think of to make the time pass quickly, but at
+length threw herself once more into the hammock with a discouraged sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"School might better have kept all day. It is horrid to stay home with
+nothing to do that's int'resting. I've watched all the afternoon for the
+Lilac Lady's table-cloth and haven't had a peek of it yet. But there&mdash;I
+don't s'pose she'd know there was only one session today, so she ain't
+apt to hang it out until time for school to let out, like she usu'ly
+does. Guess I'll just walk over in that d'rection and see if she ain't
+under the trees yet. It's been two days since I've seen a glimpse of
+her. Hicks says she's been dreadful bad again. P'raps I better take her
+some flowers this time&mdash;and there is that little strawberry pie Elspeth
+made for my very own. I might take her some sandwiches, too,&mdash;yes, I'll
+do it!"</p>
+
+<p>She tiptoed softly into the house, so as not to disturb the two
+slumberers, and went in search of the minister in order to lay her plan
+before him; but he, too, had fallen asleep and lay sprawled full length
+by the open window, beside his half-written manuscript.</p>
+
+<p>"If that ain't just the way!" spluttered Peace under her breath. "I
+never did go to tell anyone nice plans but they went to sleep or were
+too busy to be disturbed. Well, I'll do it anyway. I know they won't
+care a single speck. I'll ask 'em when I get home and they are awake."</p>
+
+<p>Back to the kitchen she stole, and into the tiny pantry, where for the
+next few minutes she industriously cut and buttered bread, made
+sandwiches, sliced cake and packed lunch enough for a dozen in the
+picnic hamper which she found hanging on a nail in the shed. With this
+on her arm, she returned to the little garden under the window and dug
+up her choicest flowers, stacked them in an old shoe-box with plenty of
+black dirt, as she had often seen Hicks do, and departed with her
+luggage for the stone house across the corner.</p>
+
+<p>She paused at the heavy gates, wondering for the first time whether or
+not she would be welcome at this time, when no signal had fluttered from
+the lilac bushes, but at sight of the motionless figure under the
+largest oak, her doubts vanished, and, boldly opening the gate, she
+marched up the gravel path and across the lawn toward the familiar
+chair, bearing the lunch-basket on one arm and a huge box of
+cheerful-faced pansies on the other.</p>
+
+<p>Hearing the click of the latch and the sound of steps on the walk, the
+lame girl frowned impatiently, and without opening her eyes, said
+peevishly, "If you have any errand here, go on to the house. I won't be
+bothered."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm sorry," cried Peace in mournful tones. "I brought a picnic with
+me, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>The big blue eyes flashed wide in surprise, and their owner demanded
+sharply, "Why did you come this time of day? I have not sent for you."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't say you had. I came 'cause I thought you'd be glad to see me,
+but if you ain't, I'll go straight home again and eat my picnic all
+alone, and plant my flowers in my garden again. You don't have to have
+them if you don't want 'em."</p>
+
+<p>She whirled on her heel and stamped angrily across the grass toward the
+gate, too hurt to keep the tears from her eyes, and too proud to let her
+companion see how deeply wounded she was.</p>
+
+<p>Astonished at this flash of gunpowder, the lame girl cried contritely,
+"Oh, don't go away, Peace! I didn't mean to be cross to you. This has
+been <i>such</i> a hard week, dear, I hardly know what I am doing half the
+time."</p>
+
+<p>"Is the pain so bad?" whispered Peace tenderly, dropping on her knees
+before the sufferer, having already forgotten her own grievance in her
+longing to ease and comfort the poor, aching back.</p>
+
+<p>"It is better now," answered the girl, smiling wanly at the sympathetic
+face bending over her. "The heat always makes it worse, but I do believe
+it is growing cooler now. Feel the breeze? What have you brought me? A
+picnic lunch!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes&mdash;my strawberry pie&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Did Mrs. Strong know?"</p>
+
+<p>"She made the pie all for my very own self to do just what I please
+with. Don't you like strawberry pie?" Peace paused in her task of
+unpacking the basket to look up questioningly at the face among the
+pillows.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, dear, I am very fond of it, and it is sweet of you to share
+yours with me. I shall put my half away for tea."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you mustn't do that," protested the ardent little picnicker,
+passing her a plate of generously thick, ragged looking sandwiches,
+spread with great chunks of butter fresh from the ice-box, and filled
+with delicate slices of pink ham. "I want you to eat it with me. This is
+a 'specially good pie, and Elspeth can 'most beat Faith when it comes to
+dough. Mrs. Deacon Hopper sent us the ham&mdash;a whole one, all boiled and
+baked with sugar and cloves. It's simply <i>fine</i>! The lilacs I took the
+deacon did the work all right. He was so tickled that he got over being
+grumpy, and calls Saint John a promising preacher now. Please taste the
+sandwiches. I know you'll like them even if I didn't get the bread cut
+real even and nice. Then after we get through eating, I'll plant the
+pansies."</p>
+
+<p>"Pansies!" She stared past the brown head bobbing over the hamper, to
+the box of nodding blossoms in the grass. "What made you bring me
+pansies?"</p>
+
+<p>"'Cause you ain't got any, and no garden looks quite finished without
+some of those flowers in it. Don't you think so?"</p>
+
+<p>"I <i>de-spise</i> pansies!"</p>
+
+<p>Peace eyed her in horrified amazement an instant, then swept the
+rejected blossoms out of sight beneath the basket cover, saying tartly,
+"You needn't be ugly about it! I can take them home again. I s'posed of
+course you liked them. I didn't know the garden was empty of them 'cause
+you <i>wouldn't</i> have them. <i>I</i> think they are the prettiest flower
+growing, next to lilacs and roses."</p>
+
+<p>"Those mocking little faces?"</p>
+
+<p>"Those darling, giggly smiles!"</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't you ever see a giggling pansy?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I can't say I ever did." A faint trace of amusement stole around
+the corners of the white lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, here's one. Oh, I forgot! You <i>de-spise</i> them!" She had half
+lifted a gorgeous yellow blossom from the hidden box, but at second
+thought dropped it back in the loose earth.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me see it!" The Lilac Lady extended one blue-veined hand with the
+imperious gesture which Peace had learned to know and obey. Silently she
+thrust the moist plant into the outstretched fingers, and gravely
+watched while the keen blue eyes studied the golden petals which, as
+Peace had declared, seemed fairly teeming with sunshine and laughter.
+"It does&mdash;look rather&mdash;cheerful," she conceded at length.</p>
+
+<p>"That is just what I thought. I named it Hope."</p>
+
+<p>"Hope! The name is appropriate."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it is very 'propriate. Hope is always so sunshiny and smily&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you named it for your sister."</p>
+
+<p>"Who did you think it was named for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't understand. Is it a habit of yours to name all your flowers?"</p>
+
+<p>"N-o, not all. But we gener'ly name our pansies, Allee and me. See, this
+beautiful white one with just a tiny speck of yellow in the middle I
+called my Lilac Lady."</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" A queer little choke came in her throat at these unexpected
+words, and she turned her eyes away that Peace might not see the tears
+which dimmed her sight.</p>
+
+<p>"You looked so sweet and like a <i>nangel</i> the first time I saw you, and
+this pansy has a reg'lar angel face."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't I look sweet and like an angel any more?"</p>
+
+<p>"Some days&mdash;whenever you want to. But lots of times I guess you don't
+care how you look," was the reply, as the busy fingers sorted out the
+different colored blossoms from the box, all unconscious of the stinging
+arrow she had just shot into the heart of her friend. "This blue one's
+Allee. Blue means truth, grandma says, and Allee is true blue. Red in
+our flag stands for valor. Cherry ain't very brave, but I named this
+for her anyway, in hopes she'd ask why and I could tell her. Then maybe
+when she found out that folks thought she was a 'fraid cat, she'd get
+over it. Don't you think she would?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps&mdash;if you were her teacher," the older girl answered absently.
+"Who is the black one?"</p>
+
+<p>"Grandpa. Isn't it a whopper? He is real tall but not fat like the
+flower. He always wears black at the University&mdash;that's why I picked
+that one for him. This one is grandma and here is Gail. The striped one
+is Faith. She is good in streaks, but she can be awful cross sometimes,
+too,&mdash;like you. This tiny one is Glen, and the big, brown, spotted
+feller is Aunt Pen. It makes me think of old Cockletop, a mother hen we
+used to have in Parker, which 'dopted everything it could find wandering
+around loose. That's what Aunt Pen looks as if she'd like to do."</p>
+
+<p>This was too much for the lame girl's risibles, and she laughed
+outright, long and loud, to Peace's secret delight, for when the Lilac
+Lady laughed it was a sure sign that she was feeling better.</p>
+
+<p>When she had recovered her composure, she said gravely, "Speaking of
+Aunt Pen reminds me that she told me this morning the cook had made some
+chicken patties for my special benefit and was hurt to think I refused
+them. You might run up to the house and ask for them now to go with our
+picnic lunch. Minnie will give them to you&mdash;cold, please. Some lemonade
+would taste good, too. Aunt Pen knows how to make it to perfection."</p>
+
+<p>Peace was gone almost before she had finished giving her directions, and
+as she watched the nimble feet skimming through the clover, she smiled
+tenderly, then sighed and looked sadly down at her own useless limbs
+which would never bear her weight again. How many years of existence
+must she endure in her crippled helplessness? Oh, the bitterness of it!
+And yet as she gazed at the slippers which never wore out, and compared
+her lot with that of the dancing, curly-haired sprite, tumbling eagerly
+up the kitchen steps after the promised goodies, the old, weary look of
+utter despair did not quite come back into the deep blue eyes; but
+through the bitterness of her rebellion flashed a faint gleam of
+something akin to hope. She was thinking of Peace's latest sunshine
+quotation which had been laboriously entered in the little brown and
+gold volume and brought to her for her inspection:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'To live in hope, to trust in right,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">To smile when shadows start,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">To walk through darkness as through light,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">With sunshine in the heart.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Below the little stanza, Peace had penned her own version of the words
+in her quaint language: "This means to smile no matter how bad the
+world goes round and to keep on smiling till the hurt is gone. It don't
+cost any more to smile than it does to be uggly, and it pays a heep site
+better."</p>
+
+<p>What a dear little philosopher the child was! A sudden desire to meet
+the other sisters of that happy family sprang up within her heart. Why
+should she stay shut away from the world like a nun in her cloister?
+What had she gained by it? Nothing but bitterness! And think of the joys
+she had missed!</p>
+
+<p>An insistent rustling of the lilac bushes behind her caught her
+attention, and by carefully raising her head she could see the thick
+branches close to the ground bending and giving, as a small, dark object
+twisted and grunted and wriggled its way through the tiny opening it had
+managed to find in the hedge.</p>
+
+<p>The girl's first impulse was to scream for help, but a second glance
+told her that it was not an animal pushing its way through the twigs,
+for animals do not wear blue gingham rompers. So she held her breath and
+waited, and at last she was rewarded by seeing a round, flushed,
+inquisitive baby face peeping through the leaves at her. She smiled and
+held out her hands, and with a gurgle of gladness, the little fellow
+gave a final struggle, scrambled to his feet and toddled unsteadily
+across the lawn to her chair, jabbering baby lingo, the only word of
+which she could understand was, "Peace."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you Glen?" she demanded, smoothing the soft black hair so like his
+father's.</p>
+
+<p>"G'en," he repeated, parrot fashion.</p>
+
+<p>"Where is your mamma?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mamma." He pointed in the direction he had come, and gurgled, "S'eep.
+Papa s'eep. All gone."</p>
+
+<p>The baby himself looked as if he had just awakened from a nap. One cheek
+was rosier than the other, his hair lay in damp rings all over his head,
+and his feet were bare and earth-stained from his scramble through the
+vegetable garden on the other side of the hedge.</p>
+
+<p>A sudden gust of cool wind blew through the trees overhead, a rattling
+peal of thunder jarred the earth, a blinding flash of lightning startled
+both girl and baby, and before either knew what had happened, a torrent
+of rain dashed down upon them. The storm which had been brewing all that
+sultry day broke in its fury. Hicks came running from the stable to the
+rescue of his helpless young mistress, Aunt Pen flew out of the house
+like a distracted hen, and Peace rushed frantically to the garden to
+save the precious picnic lunch and the box of pansies which were to be
+planted under the gnarled old oak nearest the lame girl's window.</p>
+
+<p>So it happened that baby Glen was borne away into the great house to
+wait until the deluge of rain and hail should cease. In the flurry of
+getting everything under shelter, no one thought of the mother at home,
+crazed with anxiety and fright; and the whole group was startled a few
+moments later to behold a bare-headed, wild-eyed woman, drenched to the
+skin, dash through the iron gates, up the walk, and straight into the
+house itself, without ever stopping to knock.</p>
+
+<p>"It's Elspeth!" cried Peace, first to find her voice.</p>
+
+<p>"Glen, where's Glen?" was all the frantic mother could gasp as she stood
+tottering and dripping in the doorway.</p>
+
+<p>"Ma-ma," lisped the little runaway, struggling down from Aunt Pen's lap,
+where he had been cuddling, and running into Elizabeth's arms.</p>
+
+<p>"Peace, why did you take him without saying a word?" she reproached,
+sinking into the nearest chair, and hugging her small son close to her
+breast.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't&mdash;" Peace began.</p>
+
+<p>"I think he must have run away," volunteered the Lilac Lady, staring
+fixedly at Elizabeth's face with almost frightened eyes. "He squirmed
+through the hedge while I was alone in the garden. I had not seen the
+storm approaching, and it broke before I could call Peace or&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>At the sound of the sweet voice, Elizabeth had abruptly risen to her
+feet, and after one searching glance at the white face among the
+cushions, cried out with girlish glee, "Myra! Can it be that Peace's
+Lilac Lady is my dear old chum?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are the same darling Beth!" cried the lame girl hysterically,
+clinging to the wet hand outstretched to hers. "Why didn't I guess it
+before? Oh, I have wanted you <i>so</i> often&mdash;but I never dreamed of finding
+you here. And to think I have refused all this while to let Peace bring
+you!"</p>
+
+<p>"No, don't think about that. Her desire is accomplished, however it came
+about&mdash;and you are going to let me stay?"</p>
+
+<p>"I would keep you with me always if I could. I have been learning
+Peace's philosophy and find it very&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Peaceful?" They laughed together, and in that laugh sounded the doom of
+the hedges which Peace had lamented so long.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+
+<h3>GIUSEPPE NICOLI AND THE MONKEY</h3>
+
+
+<p>The next morning dawned bright and clear and cool, and Peace, hurrying
+to school with her nose buried in a great bunch of early roses from the
+stone house, pranced gaily down the hill chanting under her breath,
+"Roses, roses, yellow, red and white, you are surely lovely, sweet and
+bright&mdash;another rhyme! They always come when I ain't trying to make 'em.
+I wonder if I'll ever be a big poet like Longfellow was. It must be nice
+to have folks learn the things you write and speak 'em at concerts and
+school exercises like I'm going to do his 'Children's Hour' next Friday.
+I've got it so I can say it backwards almost. Elizabeth says I know it
+perfectly. I hope Miss Peyton will think the same way. She is lots
+harder to please and I 'most never can do anything to suit her."</p>
+
+<p>She sighed dolefully, for her ludicrous mistakes and blunt remarks were
+the bane of her new teacher's methodical life, and many an hour she had
+been kept after school as a punishment for her unruly tongue.</p>
+
+<p>Unfortunately, Miss Peyton belonged to that great army of teachers who
+teach because they must, and not because they love the work. To be
+sure, she was most just and impartial in her treatment of the fifty
+scholars under her supervision, but, possessed of about as much
+imagination as a cat, she failed to analyze or understand the
+dispositions of her charges; and well-meaning Peace was usually in
+disgrace.</p>
+
+<p>But her sunny nature could not stay unhappy long, and as she thrust her
+small nose deeper among the fragrant blossoms, she smilingly added, "I
+guess she'll like these roses, anyway. They are the prettiest I ever
+saw, even in greenhouses. There goes the first bell. I 'xpected to be
+there early this morning, but likely Annie Simms has beat me again.
+Well, I don't care, there is only one more week of school and then
+vacation&mdash;and p'raps I can go home. Why, what a crowd there is on the
+walk! I wonder if someone is hurt again. Where can the principal be?"</p>
+
+<p>She broke into a run, forgetful of her cherished bouquet, and dashed
+heedlessly across the school-grounds to the group of excited, shouting
+boys and girls, gathered around the tallest linden, throwing stones and
+missiles of all sorts up into the branches at some object which Peace
+could not see. But as she drew near, she could hear a queer, distressed
+chattering, which reminded her of the monkeys in the park zoo, and
+turning to one of her mates, she demanded, "What is it the boys have got
+treed there?"</p>
+
+<p>"A monkey."</p>
+
+<p>"A monkey?" shrieked Peace in real surprise. "Where did they get him?"</p>
+
+<p>"I guess he b'longs to a hand-organ man. He's dressed in funny little
+pants and a red cap. Thad DePugh found him on his way to school and
+tried to catch him, but he run up the tree."</p>
+
+<p>"And you stand there without saying a word and let them stone a poor
+little helpless monkey!"</p>
+
+<p>"It don't b'long to me," muttered the child, angered by the indignant
+flash of the brown eyes and the scathing rebuke which seemed directed
+against her alone. "Anyway, I ain't stoning it."</p>
+
+<p>"You ain't helping, either. Let me through here!" She pushed and elbowed
+her way into the midst of the throng and boldly confronted the
+ringleaders of the tormentors, screaming in protest, "Don't you throw
+another stone, you big bullies! Ain't you ashamed of yourself, trying to
+kill that poor little thing!"</p>
+
+<p>"We ain't trying to kill it," retorted the nearest chap, pausing with
+his arm uplifted ready to pitch another pebble.</p>
+
+<p>"You mind your own business!" growled another. "This monkey isn't yours.
+We're trying to make it come down so we can catch it."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll quit throwing things at it, or I'll tell Miss Curtis."</p>
+
+<p>"Tattle-tale, tattle-tale!" mocked the throng, and another handful of
+rocks flew up among the branches.</p>
+
+<p>"O-h-h-h-h!" shrieked Peace, beside herself with rage. "You d'serve to
+have the stuffing whaled out of you for that!"</p>
+
+<p>Flinging aside the treasured roses, she seized the biggest boy by the
+hair and jerked him mercilessly back and forth across the yard, while he
+sought in vain to loosen the supple fingers, and bawled loudly for help.</p>
+
+<p>"Teacher, teacher! Miss Curtis, oh teacher!" shouted the excited
+children; and at these sounds of strife from the playgrounds, the
+principal and half a dozen of her staff rushed out of the building to
+quell the riot. But even then Peace did not release her grip on the
+lad's thick topknot.</p>
+
+<p>Pulled forcibly from her victim by the long-suffering Miss Peyton, she
+collapsed in the middle of the walk and sobbed convulsively, while the
+rest of the scholars huddled around in scared silence, eager to see what
+punishment was to be meted out to this small offender, for it was a
+great disgrace at Chestnut School to be caught fighting.</p>
+
+<p>The grave-faced principal looked from the pitiful heap of misery at her
+feet to the blubbering bully who had retreated to a safe distance and
+stood ruefully rubbing his smarting cranium, minus several tufts of
+hair; and though inwardly smiling at the spectacle, she demanded
+sternly, "Peace Greenfield, aren't you ashamed of yourself for fighting
+Thad&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," hiccoughed Peace with amazing promptness and candor; "I'm
+terribly ashamed to think I <i>touched</i> him&mdash;he's so dirty. But I ain't
+half as ashamed of <i>myself</i> as I am of him."</p>
+
+<p>Even Miss Peyton caught her breath in dismay. But the principal had not
+forgotten her own childhood days, and being still a girl at heart, and
+secretly in sympathy with the small maid on the ground, she only said,
+"Explain yourself, Peace."</p>
+
+<p>"It ain't half as bad for a little girl like me to fight a big bully
+like him, as it is for a big bully like him to fight a little monkey&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I wasn't fighting the monkey," sullenly muttered the boy, hanging his
+head in shame.</p>
+
+<p>"You were stoning him, and he couldn't hit back, so there!"</p>
+
+<p>"What monkey?" demanded the principal, glancing swiftly around the yard
+for any evidence of such a creature.</p>
+
+<p>A dozen hands pointed toward the linden tree, and one small voice piped,
+"He's up there!"</p>
+
+<p>"A real monkey?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, dressed up in hand-organ pants," Peace explained, scrambling to
+her feet and peering up among the thick leaves for a glimpse of the
+frightened animal, which had ceased its wild chattering and sat huddled
+close against the tree trunk almost within reach. "See it? Poor little
+Jocko, I won't hurt you!" She stretched out her hands at the same moment
+that unknowingly she had spoken its name, and to the intense amazement
+of teachers and pupils, the tiny, trembling creature unhesitatingly
+dropped upon her shoulder, threw its claw-like arms about her neck and
+hid its face in her curls.</p>
+
+<p>"Whose monkey is it?" gently asked Miss Curtis, breaking the silence
+which fell upon the group watching the strange sight.</p>
+
+<p>"I never saw it before," Peace answered.</p>
+
+<p>"But you called it by name," chorused the children, crowding closer
+about her.</p>
+
+<p>"That was just a guess. There's a story in our reader about Jocko, and I
+happened to think of it. I didn't know it was this monkey's name."</p>
+
+<p>"How odd!" murmured the primary teacher.</p>
+
+<p>"She's the queerest child I ever saw," confided Miss Peyton; but the
+principal had seen the janitor approaching the open door to ring the
+last bell, and being at loss to know what to do with the unwelcome
+little animal in Peace's arms, she suggested that the child take it home
+and put it in a box until the owner could be found. This Peace was only
+too delighted to do, for as no one in the neighborhood seemed to know
+where it came from or whose it was, she had fond hopes that no one would
+inquire for it, and that she might keep it for a pet.</p>
+
+<p>So she joyfully carried it back to the parsonage, and burst in upon the
+little household with the jumbled explanation, "Here's a stone I found
+monkeying up a tree and Miss Curtis asked me to bring it home and box it
+till the owner comes around after it. And if he doesn't come, I can keep
+it myself, can't I, Saint John? He jumped right into my arms and won't
+let go, but just shakes and shakes 'sif he was still getting hit by
+those rocks. I pulled Thad DePugh 'most bald headed, and didn't get
+scolded a bit hardly. She made him go to the office, though, and I hope
+he gets licked the way I couldn't do but wanted to."</p>
+
+<p>"Here, here," laughed the minister, looking much bewildered at the
+twisted story. "Just say that again, please, and say it straight. I
+haven't the faintest idea yet how you got hold of that little reptile or
+what Thad's hair had to do with it."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't a reptile!" Peace indignantly denied. "It's a monkey which hid
+in the linden tree at the schoolhouse to get away from the boys and they
+stoned it."</p>
+
+<p>Little by little the story was untangled, while the monkey still
+tenaciously clung to Peace's neck and wide-eyed Glen hung onto her
+skirts.</p>
+
+<p>"So you think there is a chance of your keeping him for a pet?" said the
+preacher, when at length the tale was ended.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't I?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are hoping too much, little girl. If this animal belongs to an
+organ-grinder, he will be around for him very soon, you may be sure. It
+is the monkey's antics that bring in the pennies. He can't afford to
+lose such a valuable. Besides, Peace, the poor little thing is almost
+dead now."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Saint John, he is only scared. S'posing you were a monkey and
+hateful boys stoned you, wouldn't you tremble and shake?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't doubt it, girlie, but it isn't only fear that ails that animal.
+Look here at his back&mdash;just a solid mass of sores. Elizabeth, isn't that
+shocking? This is surely a case for the Humane Society. It is a shame to
+let the creature live, suffering as it must be suffering from those
+cruel wounds. His owner ought to be jailed."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Saint John, you aren't going to kill Jocko, are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, dear, he is not my property, and I have no legal right to put him
+out of his misery, but we must call up the Humane Society and notify
+them at once. They will be merciful. It is better to have him die now
+than live and suffer at the hands of a brutal owner, Peace. You must not
+cry."</p>
+
+<p>For great tears of pity were coursing down the rosy cheeks, and Glen was
+trying his best to wipe them away with his fat little fists. Elizabeth
+supplied the missing handkerchief, and as Peace raised it to her face,
+the monkey gave a sudden convulsive shudder, the tiny paws loosed their
+grasp about the warm neck, and Jocko lay dead in the child's arms.</p>
+
+<p>For a full moment she stared at the pitiful form, and Elizabeth expected
+a storm of grief and protest; but instead, the little maid drew a long,
+deep breath as of relief, and said soberly, "Saint John is right. Jocko
+is better off dead, but I'm glad he died in my arms, knowing I was good
+to him, 'stead of being stoned to death by those cruel boys in the tree.
+Where is Saint John? Has he already gone to telephone the Human Society?
+He needn't to now. The monkey is dead. I'll run and catch him on my way
+back to school. Good-bye."</p>
+
+<p>She was off like a flash down the hill once more, but the preacher had
+either taken a different route or already reached his goal, for he was
+nowhere in sight. So Peace continued her way to the schoolhouse, racing
+like mad to make up lost time. As she panted up the steps into the
+dimness of the cool hall, she stumbled over a trembling figure crouching
+in the darkest corner by the stairway, and drew back with a startled
+cry, which was echoed by her victim, a frail, ragged, young urchin with
+a thatch of jet black curls and great, hollow, dusky eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Who are you?" demanded Peace, not recognizing him as one of the regular
+pupils at Chestnut School. "And what are you doing here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Giuseppe Nicoli," answered the elf, looking terribly frightened and
+shrinking further into his corner. "Me losa monk'. He come here but gona
+way. W'en Petri fin', he keel me." The thin face worked pathetically as
+the little fellow bravely tried to stifle the sobs which shook his
+feeble body; and Peace, with childish instinct, understood what the
+waif's queer, broken English failed to tell her.</p>
+
+<p>"Is Petri your father?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No, no, no!" He shook his head vehemently to emphasize his words.</p>
+
+<p>"Then why are you afraid of him?"</p>
+
+<p>"He playa de organ, me seeng, me feedle, de monk' he dance and bring in
+mon'. Monk' los', Petri keel me."</p>
+
+<p>"The monkey is dead." The words escaped her lips before she thought, but
+the frozen horror on the boy's face brought her to her senses, and she
+hastily cried, "But he was <i>so</i> sick and hurt! His back was just a mess
+of solid sores. It is better that he is dead!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but Petri keel me!"</p>
+
+<p>"Sh! The teachers will hear you if you screech so loud. Come upstairs
+with me. Miss Curtis will know what to do. She won't let Petri get you.
+Don't be afraid, Jessup. I wouldn't hurt you for the world."</p>
+
+<p>He did not understand half that she said, but the great brown eyes were
+filled with sympathy, and with the same instinct which had led the
+monkey to leap into her arms a few moments before, the ragamuffin laid
+his grimy fists into hers, and she led him up the winding stairs to the
+principal's office.</p>
+
+<p>When the worthy lady had heard the queer story, she could only stare
+from one child to the other and gasp for breath. Peace was noted for
+finding all sorts of maimed birds or sick animals on her way to school,
+but never before had she appeared with a human being, and Miss Curtis
+almost doubted now that little Giuseppe was a real human. He looked so
+pitifully like a scarecrow. What could she do with him? It would be
+criminal to let the brutal organ-player get him again if the lad's story
+were true, and she did not doubt its truth after the waif had slipped
+back his ragged sleeves and showed great, ugly, purple welts across his
+naked arms.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor little chap," she murmured. "Poor little chap!" As she gingerly
+touched the bony hands, she was seized with a happy inspiration, and
+bidding the children sit down till she returned, she entered a little
+inner office, and Peace heard her at the telephone. "Give me 9275."</p>
+
+<p>There was a pause; then the child grew rigid with horror. The voice from
+the adjoining room was saying, "Is this the Humane Society?"</p>
+
+<p>It was to the Humane Society that Saint John had intended telephoning,
+in order that they might come up and kill the poor monkey. Was Miss
+Curtis a murderer? Surely Giuseppe was not to be killed, too. Then why
+had she telephoned the Humane Society?</p>
+
+<p>Tiptoeing across the floor to the Italian waif's chair, she clutched him
+by the hand, dragged him to his feet, and signalling him to be quiet,
+she stole cautiously from the room with him in tow. Down the long stairs
+they hurried, and out into the bright sunshine, though poor, frightened
+Giuseppe protested volubly in his own tongue and the little broken
+English which he knew, for once on the streets, he feared that the bold,
+bad Petri would find him and drag him away to dreadful punishments
+again. But the harder he protested, the faster Peace jerked him along,
+repeating over and over in her frantic efforts to make him understand,
+"Petri shan't get you, Jessup. But if we stay there the Human Society
+will, and that's just as bad. They killed Deacon Skinner's old horse in
+Parker, and Tim Shandy's lame cow, and were coming to finish Jocko when
+he died of his own self. You don't want to go the same way, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>Poor Peace did not know the real mission of the Humane Society, or she
+would not have been so shocked at the idea of little Giuseppe's falling
+into their hands; but her fear had its effect upon the struggling
+urchin, and his feet fairly flew over the ground, as he tried to keep
+pace with his leader. When only half a block from the parsonage, Peace
+abruptly halted, and the boy's dark eyes looked into hers inquiringly,
+fearfully. What was the matter now? This was certainly a queer child at
+his side. Perhaps it would have been wiser had he stayed with the
+gentle-faced lady in the schoolhouse.</p>
+
+<p>"Run," he urged, tugging at her hand when she continued to stand
+motionless in the middle of the walk. "Petri geta me."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no, Petri shan't have you, I say!" Peace declared savagely. "But if
+I take you home to Saint Elspeth, like as not the Human Society will be
+right there to nab you; and if they ain't now, Miss Curtis will send 'em
+along as soon as she finds we've run away. Where can I take you?"</p>
+
+<p>Anxiously she looked about her for a hiding place, and as if in answer
+to her question, her glance rested upon the stone house, surrounded by
+its tall hedges. "Sure enough! Why didn't I think of that before? My
+Lilac Lady will take care of you, I know, until Saint John can find some
+nice place for you to live always. Come on this way."</p>
+
+<p>She whisked around the corner, threw open the gate, and ushered the
+trembling waif into the splendid garden, with the announcement, "Here is
+the place I mean, and there is the Lilac Lady under the trees."</p>
+
+<p>The boy surveyed the masses of brilliant flowers, the sparkling
+fountain, the shifting shadows of the great oaks above him where birds
+were singing. Then he turned and scanned the white, sweet face among the
+pillows, and clasping his thin hands in rapture, he breathed, "Italy!
+Oh, eet iss Paradise!" And as if unable to restrain his joy any longer,
+he burst into a wild, plaintive song, with a voice silvery toned and
+clear as a bell. Peace paused in the midst of a turbulent explanation to
+listen; Aunt Pen came to the door with her sewing in her hand; Hicks
+stole around the corner of the house, thinking perhaps the young
+mistress had broken her long silence; and the lame girl herself lay with
+parted lips, charmed by the glorious burst of melody.</p>
+
+<p>The song won her heart, even before she heard the pitiful story of the
+wretched little musician, and when Peace had finished recounting the
+morning's events, the mistress of the stone house turned toward her aunt
+with blazing, wrathful eyes, exclaiming impetuously, "Isn't that
+shocking? Oh, how dreadful! We must help him, Aunt Pen. Poor little
+Giuseppe! See the Humane Society about him at once&mdash;Now don't look so
+horrified, Peace. They don't kill little boys and girls. They take good
+care of just such waifs as this, and provide nice homes for them. Even
+if Giuseppe were related to Petri, the Humane Society would take the
+child away from him on account of his brutality. He is worse than a
+beast to treat the boy so, and Giuseppe shall never go back to him as
+long as I can do anything. He shall go to school like other children and
+get an education. Then we'll make a splendid musician of him; and who
+knows, Peace, but some day he will be a second Campanini?"</p>
+
+<p>Peace had not the faintest idea of what a Campanini was, but she did
+understand that Giuseppe Nicoli had found a home and friends, and she
+was content.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2>
+
+<h3>THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL</h3>
+
+
+<p>Peace was panic stricken. Almost at the last minute Miss Peyton had
+changed her mind about the poem which she was to speak, and had given
+her instead of "The Children's Hour" which she had so carefully learned,
+those other lines called "Children"; and there were only five days in
+which to learn them. Memorizing poetry, particularly when she could not
+quite understand its meaning, was not Peace's strong forte, and it was
+small wonder that she was dismayed at this change of program; but it was
+useless to protest. When Miss Peyton decided to do a certain thing, "all
+the king's horses and all the king's men" could not alter her decision.
+Peace had learned this from bitter experience and many hours in the dark
+closet behind the teacher's desk. So, inwardly raging, though outwardly
+calm, she accepted her fate, and marched home to air her outraged sense
+of justice before the little parsonage family, sure of sympathy and help
+in that quarter. Nor was she disappointed.</p>
+
+<p>Elizabeth recognized the small maid's failings as a student, and was
+much provoked at Miss Peyton's want of understanding, but very wisely
+kept these sentiments to herself, and set about to help Peace in her
+difficult task. At her suggestion, the young elocutionist waited until
+the following morning before beginning her study of the new lines, and
+with the teacher's copied words in her hand, went out to the hammock
+under the trees to be alone with her work. There she sat swinging
+violently to and fro, gabbling the stanzas line by line, while she
+ferociously jerked the short curls on her forehead and frowned so
+fiercely that Elizabeth, busy with her Saturday baking, could not resist
+smiling whenever she chanced to pass the door, through which she could
+see the familiar figure.</p>
+
+<p>Slower and slower the red lips moved, lower and lower the hammock swung,
+and finally with a gesture of utter despair, Peace cast the paper from
+her, and dropped her head dejectedly into her hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor youngster," murmured the flushed cook from the window where she
+sat picking over berries. "John, have you a minute to spare? Peace is in
+trouble&mdash;Oh, nothing but that new poem, but I thought perhaps you might
+invent some easy way for her to memorize it. You were always good at
+such things, and I can't stop until my cake is out of the oven and the
+pies are made."</p>
+
+<p>He assented promptly, and strolling out of the door as if for a breath
+of fresh air, wandered across the grass to the motionless figure in the
+hammock. "What seems to be the matter, chick?" he inquired cheerfully,
+rescuing the discarded paper from the dirt and handing it back to its
+owner.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Saint John, this is a perfectly <i>dreadful</i> poem! I don't b'lieve
+Longfellow ever wrote it, and even if he did, I know I can <i>never</i> learn
+it. The verses haven't <i>any</i> sense at <i>all</i>. Just listen to this!" She
+seized the sheet with an angry little flirt, and read to the amazed man:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Ye open the eastern windows,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">That look toward the sun,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Where shots are stinging swallows<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And the brooks in mourning run.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'What the leaves are to the forest,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Where light and air are stewed,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Ere their feet and slender juices<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Have been buttoned into food,&mdash;<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'That to the world are children;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Through them it feels the glow<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Of a brighter and stunnier slimate<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Than scratches the trunks below.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Ye are better than all the ballots<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">That ever were snug and dead;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For ye are living poets,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And all the blest ate bread.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>With difficulty the preacher controlled his desire to shout, and mutely
+held out his hand for the paper, which he studied long and carefully,
+for even to his experienced eyes, the hastily scribbled words were hard
+to decipher. But when he had finished, all he said was, "You have
+misread the lines, Peace. Wait and I will get you the book from the
+library. Then you will see your mistake."</p>
+
+<p>Shaking with suppressed mirth he went back to his study, found the
+volume in question, and returned to the discouraged student with it open
+in his hands. Half-heartedly Peace reached up for it, but he shook his
+head, knowing how easy it was for her to misread even printed words and
+what ludicrous blunders it often led to, and gravely suggested, "Suppose
+I read it to you first. Then if there is anything you do not understand,
+perhaps I can explain it so it will be easier to memorize."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, if you just would!" Peace exclaimed gratefully. "I never could read
+Miss Peyton's writing, and then she marks me down for her own mistakes."</p>
+
+<p>So in sonorous tones, the preacher read the poet's beautiful tribute to
+childhood:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Come to me, O ye children!<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">For I hear you at your play,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And the questions that perplexed me<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Have vanished quite away.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Ye open the eastern windows,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">That look towards the sun,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Where thoughts are singing swallows<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And the brooks of morning run.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">In your thoughts the brooklet's flow,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">But in mine is the wind of Autumn<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And the first fall of the snow.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Ah! what would the world be to us<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">If the children were no more?<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We should dread the desert behind us<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Worse than the dark before.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'What the leaves are to the forest,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">With light and air for food,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Ere their sweet and tender juices<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Have been hardened into wood,&mdash;<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'That to the world are children;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Through them it feels the glow<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Of a brighter and sunnier climate<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Than reaches the trunks below.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Come to me, O ye children!<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And whisper in my ear<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">What the birds and the winds are singing<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">In your sunny atmosphere.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'For what are all our contrivings,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And the wisdom of our books,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">When compared with your caresses,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And the gladness of your looks?<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Ye are better than all the ballads<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">That ever were sung or said;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For ye are living poems,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And all the rest are dead.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Well," breathed Peace in evident relief, as he lingeringly repeated the
+last stanza, "that sounds a little more like it. Maybe with that book I
+can learn her old poem now."</p>
+
+<p>"Those are beautiful verses, Peace," he rebuked her.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I 'xpect they are. I haven't got any grudge against the verses,
+but it takes a beautifully long time for me to learn anything like that,
+too." She seized the fat volume with both hands, tipped back among the
+hammock cushions, and with her feet swinging idly back and forth, began
+an animated study of the right version of the words, while the minister
+strolled back to the house to enjoy the joke with Elizabeth.</p>
+
+<p>But though Peace studied industriously and faithfully during the
+remaining days, she could not seem to master the lines in spite of all
+the minister's coaching, and in spite of Miss Peyton's struggle with her
+after school each day.</p>
+
+<p>"There is no sense in making such hard work of a simple little poem like
+that," declared the teacher, closing her lips in a straight line and
+looking very much exasperated after an hour's battle with the child
+Tuesday afternoon. "You have just made up your mind that you will learn
+it, and that is where the whole trouble lies."</p>
+
+<p>"That's where you are mistaken," sobbed Peace forlornly, though her eyes
+flashed with indignation as she wiped away her tears. "It's you which
+has got her mind made up, and you and me ain't the same people. I just
+can't seem to make those words stick, and I might as well give up trying
+right now."</p>
+
+<p>"You will have that poem perfectly learned tomorrow afternoon, or I
+shall know the reason why."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I 'xpect you'll have to know the reason why," gulped the unhappy
+little scholar, who found the hill of knowledge very steep to climb.
+"You can't make a frog fly if you tried all your life. It takes me a
+<i>month</i> to learn as big a poem as that, and you never gave it to me
+until Friday afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>"Nine four-line stanzas!" snapped the weary instructor, privately
+thinking Peace the greatest, trial she had ever had to endure.</p>
+
+<p>"It might as well be ninety," sighed the child. "If Elizabeth was my
+teacher, or the Lilac Lady, I could get it in no time, but I never could
+learn anything for some people. Just the sight of them knocks everything
+I know clean out of my head."</p>
+
+<p>Longfellow slammed shut with a terrific bang, and Miss Peyton rose from
+her chair, choking with indignation. "You may go now, Peace
+Greenfield," she said icily, "but that poem must be perfect by tomorrow
+afternoon, remember."</p>
+
+<p>So with a heavy heart Peace trudged home and took up her struggle once
+more in the hammock; but was at last rewarded by being able to say every
+line perfectly and without much hesitation. Elizabeth and her spouse
+both heard her repeat it many times that evening and again the next
+morning, and sent her on her way rejoicing to think the task was
+conquered.</p>
+
+<p>But when it came to the afternoon's rehearsal, poor Peace could only
+stare at the ceiling, and open and shut her lips in agony, waiting for
+the words which would not come, while Miss Peyton impatiently tapped the
+floor with her slippered toe and frowned angrily at the miserable
+figure. Finally Peace blurted out, "P'raps if you'd go out of the room,
+I could say it all right."</p>
+
+<p>"You will say it all right with me in the room!" retorted the woman
+grimly.</p>
+
+<p>"Then s'posing you look out of the window and quit staring so hard at
+me. All I can think of is that scowl, and it doesn't help a bit."</p>
+
+<p>The dazed teacher shifted her gaze, and Peace slowly began, "'Come to
+me, O ye children!'" speaking very distinctly and with more expression
+than Miss Peyton had thought possible.</p>
+
+<p>"There!" exclaimed the woman, much mollified, when the child had
+finished. "I knew you could say it if you wanted to. Now try it again."</p>
+
+<p>So with the teacher staring out of the window, and Peace gazing at the
+ceiling, the poem was recited without a flaw six times in succession,
+and she was finally excused to put in some more practice at home.</p>
+
+<p>Elizabeth thought the day was won, but poor Peace took little comfort in
+the knowledge that she had acquitted herself creditably at the last
+rehearsal. "It would be different if that was tomorrow afternoon," she
+sighed. "But I just know she'll look at me when I get up to speak, and
+with her eyes boring holes through me, I'll be sure to forget some part
+of it. None of my other teachers were like her a bit. Miss Truesdale and
+Miss Olney and Miss Allen all liked children; but I don't b'lieve Miss
+Peyton does. There's lots of the scholars that she ain't going to let
+pass, and the only reason they didn't have better lessons is 'cause she
+scares it out of 'em. Oh, dear, school is such a funny thing!"</p>
+
+<p>"Would you like to have me come to visit you tomorrow?" suggested
+Elizabeth, who dreaded the ordeal almost as much as did Peace.</p>
+
+<p>"No, you needn't mind. S'posing I should make a <i>frizzle</i> of everything,
+you'd feel just terribly, I know, and I should, too. I guess it will be
+bad enough with all the other mothers there. But I wish there wasn't
+<i>going</i> to be any exercises. I'm sick of 'em already. And what do you
+think now! She told us only this afternoon that we must all have an
+<i>antidote</i> for some of the Presidents to tell tomorrow for General
+Lesson."</p>
+
+<p>"A what!"</p>
+
+<p>"An <i>antidote</i>. A short story about some of the Presidents of the United
+States."</p>
+
+<p>"You mean anecdote, child. I didn't suppose you were old enough to be
+studying history in your room."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, this ain't hist'ry! We have a calendar each month telling what big
+men or women were born and why. Then teacher tells us something about
+their lives. Lots of 'em are very int'resting, but I can't remember
+which were Presidents and which were only <i>manner-fracturers</i>. That's my
+trouble."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it just happens that I can help you out there, my girlie," smiled
+Elizabeth, smoothing the damp curls back from the flushed cheeks. "John
+has a book in his library of just such things as that. We'll get it and
+hunt up some nice, new stories that aren't hoary with age."</p>
+
+<p>The volume was quickly found, and several quaint anecdotes were selected
+for the next day's program, so if by chance other pupils had come
+prepared with some of them, there would be still others for Peace to
+choose from. And when school-time came the next day, she departed almost
+happily, with the Presidential book tucked under one arm and the
+well-fingered Longfellow under the other; for she meant to make sure
+that the words were fresh in her mind before her turn came to recite.</p>
+
+<p>The session began very auspiciously with some happy songs, and Peace's
+spirits rose. Then came the drawing lesson. Peace was no more of an
+artist than she was an elocutionist, but she tried hard, and was working
+away industriously trying to paint the group of grape leaves Miss Peyton
+had arranged on her desk, when one of the little visitors slipped from
+his seat in his mother's lap and wandered across the room to his
+sister's desk, which chanced to be directly in front of Peace; so he
+could easily see what she was doing. He watched her in silence a moment,
+and then demanded in a stage whisper, "What you d'awing?"</p>
+
+<p>"Grape leaves," Peace stopped chewing her tongue long enough to answer.</p>
+
+<p>"No, they ain't neither. They's piggies."</p>
+
+<p>The brown head was quickly raised from her task, and the would-be artist
+studied her work critically. The boy was right. They did look somewhat
+like a litter of curly-tailed pigs. All they needed were eyes and
+pointed ears. Mechanically Peace added these little touches, made the
+snouts a little sharper, drew in two or three legs to make them
+complete, and sat back in her seat to admire the result of her work.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah," simpered Miss Peyton, who had chanced to look up just that
+minute, "Peace has finished her sketch. Bring it to the desk, please, so
+we may all criticize it."</p>
+
+<p>Peace had just dipped her brush into the hollow of her cake of red
+paint, intending to make the piggies' noses pink, but at this startling
+command from the teacher, she seemed suddenly turned to an icicle. What
+could she do? She glanced around her in an agony of despair, saw no
+loophole of escape, and gathering up the unlucky sketch, she stumbled up
+the aisle to the desk, still holding her scarlet-tipped paint brush in
+her hand.</p>
+
+<p>Usually Miss Peyton examined the drawings herself before calling upon
+the scholars to criticise; but this was the last day of school, and the
+program was long; so she smiled her prettiest, and said sweetly, "Hold
+it up for inspection, Peace."</p>
+
+<p>Miserably Peace faced the roomful of scholars and parents, and extended
+the drawing with a trembling hand. There was an ominous hush, and then
+the whole audience broke into a yell of laughter. Miss Peyton's face
+flushed scarlet, and holding out her hand she said sharply, "Give it to
+me."</p>
+
+<p>Peace wheeled about and dropped the sheet of pigs upon the desk, but at
+that unfortunate moment, the paint-brush slipped from her grasp and
+spilled a great, scarlet blot on the teacher's fresh white waist.
+Dismayed, Peace could only stare at the ruin she had wrought, having
+forgotten all about her drawing in wondering what punishment would
+follow this second calamity; and Miss Peyton had to speak twice before
+she came to her senses enough to know that she was being ordered to her
+seat.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," she gasped in mingled surprise and relief, "lemon juice and salt
+will take that stain out, if it won't fade away with just washing."</p>
+
+<p>Again an audible titter ran around the room, and the teacher, furiously
+red, repeated for the third time, "Take your seat, Peace Greenfield!"</p>
+
+<p>Much mortified and confused, the child subsided in her place and tried
+to hide her burning cheeks behind the covers of her volume of anecdotes,
+but fate seemed against her, for Miss Peyton promptly ordered the paint
+boxes put away, the desks cleared, and the scholars to be prepared to
+tell the stories they had found. Now it happened that generous-hearted
+Peace had lent her book of Presidential reminiscences to several of her
+less lucky mates that noon, and as she was one of the last to be called
+upon, she listened with dismay as one after another of the tales she had
+taken so much pains to learn were repeated by other scholars.</p>
+
+<p>In order that all might hear what was said, each pupil marched to the
+front of the room, told his little story and returned noiselessly to
+his seat; so when it came Peace's turn, she stalked bravely up the
+aisle, faced the throng of scared, perspiring children and beaming
+mothers, made a profound bow, and said, "George Washington was
+pock-marked."</p>
+
+<p>She was well on her way to her seat again, when Miss Peyton's crisp
+tones halted her: "Peace, you surely have something more than that. Have
+you forgotten?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, ma'am. I lent my stories to the rest of the scholars this noon and
+they have already spoke all I knew, 'xcept those that are <i>hairy</i> with
+age. Everyone knows that George Washington was bled to death by
+over-<i>jealous</i> doctors."</p>
+
+<p>The harder Peace tried to do her best, the more blundering she became;
+and now, feeling that the visitors were having great fun at her expense,
+she sank into her seat and buried her face in her arms, swallowing hard
+to keep back the tears that stung her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Directly, she heard Patty Fellows reciting, "The Psalm of Life," and
+Sara Gray answer to her name with, "The Castle-Builder." Next, the
+children sang another song, and then&mdash;horror of horrors!&mdash;Miss Peyton
+called her name. It was too bad! Any other teacher would have excused
+her, but she knew Miss Peyton never would. So with a final gulp, she
+struggled to her feet and advanced once more to the platform.</p>
+
+<p>Her heart beat like a trip-hammer, her breath came in gasps, and her
+mind seemed an utter blank. "'Come to me,'" prompted the teacher,
+perceiving for the first time the child's panic and distress; but Peace
+did not understand that this was her cue, and with a despairing glance
+at the immovable face behind the desk, she cried hastily, "Oh, not this
+time! I've thunk of it now. Here goes!</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Between the dark and the daylight<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">When the night is beginning to lower,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Comes a pause in the day's occupation,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">That is known as the Children's Hour.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Verse after verse she repeated glibly, racing so rapidly that the words
+fairly tumbled out of her mouth. Suddenly the dreadful thought came to
+her. She had begun the wrong poem! Her voice faltered; she turned
+pleading, glassy eyes toward the teacher; and Miss Peyton,
+misunderstanding the cause of her hesitation, again prompted, "'They
+climb&mdash;'"</p>
+
+<p>Peace was hopelessly lost.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'They climb up onto the target,'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>She recited in feverish tones:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'O'er my arms and the back of my hair;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">If I try to e-scrape, they surround me;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">They scream to me everywhere,'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Someone tittered; the ripple of mirth broke into a peal of laughter; and
+with a despairing sob, Peace cried, "Oh, teacher, I've got the
+stage-<i>strike</i>! I can't say another word!" And out of the room she
+rushed like a wounded bird.</p>
+
+<p>Usually Elizabeth was her comforter, but this day some blind instinct
+led her to take refuge in the Enchanted Garden, and she sobbed out her
+sorrow and humiliation in the skirts of her beloved Lilac Lady.</p>
+
+<p>Peace in tears was a new sight for the invalid, and she was alarmed at
+the wild tempest of grief. But the small philosopher could not be
+unhappy long, and after a few moments the tears ceased, the storm was
+spent, a flushed, swollen face peeped up at the anxious eyes above her,
+and with a familiar, queer little grimace, she giggled, "I made 'em all
+laugh, anyway, and they did look awful solemn and <i>funerally</i> lined up
+there against the wall. But I s'pose teacher won't let me pass now, and
+I'll have to take this term all over again."</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me about it," said the lame girl gently, stroking the damp curls
+on the round, brown head in her lap.</p>
+
+<p>So Peace faithfully recounted the day's events to the amusement and
+indignation of her lone audience; but when she had finished, she sighed
+dolefully. "The worst of it is, I've got to go back to school tomorrow
+for my books and dismissal card. Oh, mercy, yes! And Miss Peyton has
+got my Longfellow. I don't b'lieve I can ever ask her for it, even if
+it is Saint John's."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, you can," assured the Lilac Lady. "By the time tomorrow comes,
+the teacher will have forgotten all about the mistakes of today."</p>
+
+<p>"It's very plain that you don't know Miss Peyton," was the disconcerting
+reply. "There's nothing she ever forgets. My one comfort is I won't have
+to go to school to her next year even if she doesn't let me pass now,
+'cause by that time the girls will all be well and I can go home again.
+There's always a grain of comfort in every bit of trouble, grandma
+says."</p>
+
+<p>"Sca-atter sunshine, all along the wa-ay," sang the lame girl, surprised
+out of her long silence in her anxiety to cajole her little playmate
+into her happy self again; but Peace did not even hear the rich
+sweetness of the voice, so surprised was she to have her motto turned
+upon her in that manner, and for a few moments she sat so lost in
+thought that the lame girl feared she had offended her, and was about to
+beg her forgiveness when the round face lifted itself again, and Peace
+exclaimed, "That's what I'll do! Tomorrow, when I have to go back for my
+card, I'll offer to kiss her good-bye, and I'll tell her I'm sorry I've
+been such a bother to her all these weeks. I never thought about it
+before, but I s'pose she's just been in <i>ag-o-ny</i> over having me upset
+all her plans like I've managed to do, though I never meant to. The
+worse I try to follow what she tells us to do, the bigger chase I lead
+her. My, what a time she must have had! Do you think she she'd like to
+hear I'm sorry?"</p>
+
+<p>"What a darling you are!" thought the lame girl. "I don't wonder
+everyone loves you so much." But aloud she merely answered heartily, "I
+think it is a beautiful plan, dear. When she understands that you have
+tried your best to please her, I am sure she will be kind to my little
+curly-head."</p>
+
+<p>So it happened that when Peace received her dismissal card from Miss
+Peyton the next morning, she lifted her rosy mouth for a kiss, and
+murmured contritely, "I'm very sorry you have caused me so much bother
+since I came here to school, but next term I won't be here, for which
+you bet I'm thankful." She had rehearsed that little speech over and
+over on her way to school; but, as usual, when she came to say it to
+this argus-eyed teacher, she juggled her pronouns so thoroughly that no
+one could have been sure just what she did mean.</p>
+
+<p>However, Miss Peyton had done some hard thinking since the previous
+afternoon, and a little glimmer of understanding was beginning to
+penetrate her methodical, order-loving soul, so she stooped and kissed
+the forgiving lips raised to hers, as she said heartily, "That is all
+right, my child. I wish I could erase all the troubles that have marred
+these days for you. I am sorry I did not know as much three months ago
+as I do now."</p>
+
+<p>"I am, too, but folks are never too old to learn, grandpa says," Peace
+answered happily, and departed with beaming countenance, for Miss Peyton
+had "passed her" after all.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+
+<h3>PEACE FINDS NEW PLAYMATES</h3>
+
+
+<p>It had been decided that Giuseppe Nicoli was to live at the stone house
+and be educated as the Lilac Lady's prot&eacute;g&eacute;.</p>
+
+<p>The Humane Society had thoroughly investigated the case and found that
+the poor little waif was an orphan, whom greedy-eyed Petri had taken in
+charge on account of his unusual musical talent. There were no relatives
+on this side of the water to claim the homeless lad, and those in old
+Italy were too poor to be burdened with his keep; so the Society gladly
+listened to the lame girl's plea, and gave Giuseppe into her keeping.</p>
+
+<p>It would be hard to tell which was the more jubilant over his good
+fortune, the child himself, or Peace, who was never tired of rehearsing
+the story of his rescue from the brutal organ-grinder's clutches. So the
+minute she knew that the big house was to be his future home, she raced
+off to the corner drug store to telephone the good news to Allee and the
+rest at home, who were much interested in the doings at the little
+parsonage, and only regretted that the Hill Street Church was not yet
+able to afford a telephone of its own, for Peace could make only one
+trip daily to the drug store, and often the girls thought of something
+else they wanted to ask her after she had rung off. Also, the drug clerk
+was sometimes impolite enough to tell Peace that she was talking too
+long, and that does leave one so embarrassed.</p>
+
+<p>This day, however, he had no occasion for uttering a word of complaint,
+for after a surprised exclamation and three or four rapid questions of
+the speaker at the other end of the line, Peace banged the receiver on
+its hook, and turned rebellious eyes on the idle clerk lolling behind
+the counter, saying, "Now, what do you think of that?"</p>
+
+<p>"What?" drawled the man, who was in his element when he could tease
+someone. "Do you take me for a mind reader?"</p>
+
+<p>"I sh'd say not!" she answered crossly. "It takes folks with brains to
+read other folks' minds."</p>
+
+<p>"Whew!" he whistled, delighted with the encounter. "Your claws are out
+today. What seems to be the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Grandpa has taken grandma and the little girls to the Pine Woods
+without so much as saying a word to me about it; and Gail and Faith have
+gone to the lake with the Sherrars and never invited me."</p>
+
+<p>"If the whole family is away, who is keeping house?"</p>
+
+<p>"Gussie and Marie, of course. Who'd you s'pose? Grandma told Gussie that
+when I called up she was to 'xplain matters to me so's I'd understand
+how it all happened and not feel bad about their going off. Gail and
+Faith went first. I 'xpected that part of it, but none of 'em ever
+hinted a word to me about the Pine Woods. I s'pose they've lived so long
+without me at home that they've got used to it and so don't care any
+more about me."</p>
+
+<p>Two tears stole out from under the twitching lids and rolled down the
+chubby cheeks. The clerk moved uneasily. He did hate to see anyone cry,
+but had not the slightest idea how to avert the threatened deluge. As
+his eye roved about the small store for something to divert her
+attention, it chanced to rest upon the candy cabinet, and hastily diving
+into the case, he brought forth a handful of tempting chocolates, and
+presented them with the tactful remark, "Aw, you're cross; have some
+candy to sweeten you up!"</p>
+
+<p>The brown eyes winked away the tears and blazed scornfully up at the
+face above her. "Keep it yourself! You need it!" she growled savagely,
+pushing the extended hand away from her so fiercely that the candy was
+scattered all about the floor, and without a backward glance, she
+flounced out of the store.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I vum!" exclaimed the astonished clerk. "Next time I'll let her
+bawl." Stooping over to collect the hapless chocolate drops before they
+should be tramped upon, he began to whistle, and the notes followed
+Peace out on the street&mdash;just a bar of her sunshine song, but the
+woe-begone face brightened a bit, although the girl said to herself,
+"Oh, dear, seems 'sif that song chases me wherever I go. I get it sung
+or whistled or spoke at me a dozen times a day. And it's hard work
+always to remember it, 'specially when folks go off and forget all about
+you when you've just been counting the <i>days</i> till 'twas time to go home
+and see Allee and grandpa after being away so long. S'posing I should
+die 'fore they get back, I wonder how they'll feel. Why, Peace
+Greenfield, you hateful little tike! Ain't you ashamed of yourself? Yes,
+I am. Of course they didn't run away a-purpose. Grandpa didn't know he
+had to go until an hour 'fore the train went, and there wasn't time to
+send for me and get my clo'es ready to go, too. It was awful nice of him
+to think of taking the girls and grandma to the Pine Woods to get real
+well and rested while he did up his business in Dolliver. They'll come
+back lots better than they'd be if they had to stay here through all
+this hot.</p>
+
+<p>"Think of being shut up three months in the house so's they couldn't
+plant gardens or go flower-hunting, or have picnics, or even go to
+school! I've been doing all those things while they've been sick. I'm
+truly 'shamed of myself to be so cross about their going off. Elizabeth
+and Saint John are just the dearest people to me, and the Lilac Lady
+really cried tears in her eyes when she thought I was going to leave
+here Monday. She'll be glad to know that I am to stay two or three weeks
+longer. And it will be such fun to get letters from the girls in the
+woods all the while they are gone. After all, I b'lieve I'll have a
+better time here anyway."</p>
+
+<p>The cloud had passed over without the threatened storm, and the round
+face, though still a little sober, looked quite contented again. But
+during this silent soliloquy, the young philosopher had been wandering
+aimlessly through the streets, without any thought of the direction she
+was taking, and was suddenly roused from her revery by the mingled
+shouts and laughter of a throng of boys and girls playing noisily in a
+great yard fenced in by tall iron pickets.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, school is closed for the summer!" murmured Peace to herself,
+pressing her face against the iron bars in order that she might watch
+the lively games on the other side of the palings. "Elizabeth says all
+the Martindale schools close at the same time. What can these children
+be doing here then? P'raps this is where the old lady who lived in a
+shoe had to move to when the shoe got too small for her fambly. Do you
+s'pose it is?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yup, I guess that's how it happened," answered a voice close beside
+her, and she jumped almost out of her shoes in her surprise, for
+unconsciously she had spoken her thoughts aloud, and a merry-faced
+urchin, sprawled in the shade of a low-limbed box-elder, had answered
+her. His peal of delight at having startled her so brought another lad
+and two girls to see the cause of his glee, and Peace was shocked to
+behold in the smaller of the girls her own double, only the stranger
+child was dressed in a long blue apron, which made her look much older
+than she really was. As the children stood staring at each other through
+the close-set pickets, the boy in the grass discovered the likeness of
+the two faces, and with a startled whoop sat up to ask excitedly of
+Peace, "Did you ever have a twin?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dear, I was sure you must have! You're just the <i>yimage</i> of Lottie.
+She's a <i>norphan</i>, and the folks that brought her here didn't even know
+what her real name was or anything about her, and we've always 'magined
+that some day her truly people would come and find her and she'd have a
+mother of her own."</p>
+
+<p>"Is this a&mdash;a school?" asked Peace. She wanted to say orphan asylum, but
+was afraid it would be impolite, and she did not wish to offend any of
+these friendly appearing children.</p>
+
+<p>"It's the Children's Home."</p>
+
+<p>"Who owns it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why&mdash;er&mdash;I don't know," stammered the second youth, who seemed the
+oldest of the quartette inside the fence.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess the splintered ladies do," remarked the cherub in the grass.</p>
+
+<p>"The wh-at?"</p>
+
+<p>"Tony's trying to be smart now," said the larger girl scornfully. "The
+Lady Board is meeting today, and he always calls them the splintered
+ladies."</p>
+
+<p>"What is a Lady Board?" inquired mystified Peace, thinking this was the
+queerest home she had ever heard tell of.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, they are the ladies who say how things shall be done here&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"The number of times we can have butter each week and how much milk each
+of us can drink, and the number of potatoes the cook shall fix," put in
+the boy called Tony.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you have butter every day!" cried Peace in shocked surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I guess not! We have it Sunday noons and sometimes holiday
+nights."</p>
+
+<p>"And we never have sugar on our oatmeal, or sauce to eat with our
+bread," added Lottie, shaking her curls dolefully.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you eat, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, bread and milk, and mush of some kind, or rice, and potatoes and
+vegetables and meat once a week and pie or pudding real seldom."</p>
+
+<p>"Who takes care of you?" asked Peace again after a slight pause.</p>
+
+<p>"The matron and nurses."</p>
+
+<p>"What's a matron?"</p>
+
+<p>"The boss of the caboose," grinned Tony irreverently.</p>
+
+<p>"Is she nice?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's what we're waiting to find out. She's just come, you see, and we
+don't know her real well yet. The other one was a holy fright."</p>
+
+<p>"But the new one <i>looks</i> nice," said Lottie loyally. "She smiles all the
+time, and Miss Cooper never did. She always looked froze."</p>
+
+<p>"She must be like Miss Peyton. She was my teacher at Chestnut School and
+I didn't like her a bit till the day school ended. She did get thawed
+out then, though, and I b'lieve she'll be nicer after this."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you live near here?" asked Tony, thinking it was their turn to ask
+questions of this debonair little stranger, who evidently belonged to
+rich people, because her brown curls were tied back with a huge pink
+ribbon, a dainty white pinafore covered her pretty gingham dress, and
+her feet were shod in patent leather slippers.</p>
+
+<p>"No, grandpa's house is three miles away, but I am staying at the Hill
+Street parsonage." Briefly she explained how it had all come about, and
+the story seemed like a fairy tale to the four eager listeners.</p>
+
+<p>"Then you are an orphan, too," cried Tony triumphantly, when she had
+finished. "How do you know Lottie ain't your twin sister?"</p>
+
+<p>"'Cause there never were any twins in our family, and if there had been,
+do you s'pose mother'd have let one loose like that, to get put in a
+Children's Home? I guess not!"</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe she's a cousin, then."</p>
+
+<p>"We haven't got any. Papa was the only child Grandpa Greenfield had, and
+mother's only brother died when he was little."</p>
+
+<p>"But Lottie's just the <i>yimage</i> of you," insisted Tony, bent on
+discovering some tie of relationship between the two.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't help that. I guess it's just a queerity, though I'd like to
+find out I had some sure-enough cousins which I didn't know anything
+about. Besides, Lottie is lots darker than me. Her hair is black and so
+are her eyes. Least I guess they are what you'd call black. Mine are
+only brown."</p>
+
+<p>"You're the same size. Ain't they, Ethel?" asked the older lad.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that was what I was thinking. I don't believe many folks would
+know them apart if they changed clothes."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, let's do it!" cried Peace, charmed with the suggestion. "We've got
+a book at home that tells how a little beggar boy changed places with a
+prince, and they had the strangest 'xperiences! It'll be lots of fun to
+fool the others. They haven't been paying any 'tention to our talking
+here. Where's the gate?"</p>
+
+<p>"At the other side of the yard. There's only one&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But visitors aren't allowed to come and play with us without a permit
+from the matron," began the larger boy, cautiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, bother, George," Tony cried impatiently. "We can't get a permit now
+with all the Lady Boards here, and you know it."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?" asked Peace.</p>
+
+<p>"'Cause Miss Chase is busy with them in the parlors and we can't see her
+till they are gone."</p>
+
+<p>"How long will that be?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, hours, maybe."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll come in now and get my permit later."</p>
+
+<p>Without waiting to hear what comments they might have to make about this
+plan, she flew around the corner Tony had indicated a moment before, and
+in through the great iron gates, standing slightly ajar. Following the
+wide walks leading from the front yard to the back, she came to another
+lower gate, where Ethel and Lottie met her; and in a jiffy the white
+apron was exchanged for the long, blue pinafore of the black-eyed child.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll have to give her your hair-ribbon, too," said Ethel, surveying
+the two figures critically. "We don't wear ribbons here on common days,
+and that would give away that you weren't really Lottie."</p>
+
+<p>Peace gleefully jerked off her rampant pink bow, and the older girl
+deftly tied it among the raven locks of the other orphan.</p>
+
+<p>Tony and George now came slowly around the corner of the building, to
+discover whether the visitor had really kept her promise, and were
+themselves puzzled to know which was their mate and which the stranger
+child until Peace laughed. "That's where you are different," said
+George, critically. "You don't sound a bit alike. Come on and see who
+will be first to find out the secret."</p>
+
+<p>So the masqueraders were led laughingly away to meet the other children,
+still boisterously playing at games under the trees. It did not take the
+fifty pair of sharp eyes as long to discover the difference as the five
+plotters had hoped, but they were all just as charmed with the result,
+and gave Peace a royal time. She was a natural leader and her lively
+imagination delighted her new playmates. But Lottie, in her borrowed
+finery, received scant attention, and being, unfortunately, rather a
+spoiled child, she resented the fact that Peace had usurped her place.
+So she retired to the fence and pouted. At first no one noticed her
+sullen looks, but finally Ethel missed her, and finding her standing
+cross and glum in the corner, she tried to draw her into the lively
+game of last couple out, which the stranger had organized.</p>
+
+<p>"I won't play at all," declared the jealous girl. "No one cares whether
+I'm here or not, and 's long as you'd rather have <i>her</i>, you can just
+have her!"</p>
+
+<p>"But we wouldn't rather," fibbed the older girl. "She's our comp'ny and
+we have to be nice to her."</p>
+
+<p>"'Cause you like her better'n you do me," insisted the other.</p>
+
+<p>"No such thing! Come on and see!"</p>
+
+<p>"I won't, either!"</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" asked Peace, hearing the excited voices and
+stepping out of line to learn the cause.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Lottie's spunky," answered Ethel carelessly, turning back to join
+her companions.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not! You horrid thing, take that!" Out shot one little hand and the
+sharp nails dug vicious, cruel scratches down Ethel's cheek.</p>
+
+<p>"You cat!" cried Peace, horrified at the uncalled-for act, and springing
+at the white-aproned figure, she caught her by the shoulder, and shook
+her till her teeth rattled. Lottie doubled up like a jack-knife and
+buried her sharp teeth in the brown hand gripping her so tightly, biting
+so viciously that the blood ran and Peace screamed with pain.</p>
+
+<p>Frightened at the sight of the two girls clinched in battle, the other
+children danced excitedly about the yard and shrieked wildly. Tony even
+started for the matron, but remembered the Lady Board meeting, and flew
+instead for the new cook, busy preparing refreshments for the
+distinguished visitors, gasping out as he stumbled into the kitchen,
+"Oh, come quick! There's a strange girl in the yard and Lottie's chewing
+her into shoe-strings!"</p>
+
+<p>Bridget was new at the business, or she would never have meddled in the
+affair. Glancing out of the window, she saw what looked to be a small
+riot in the corner, and knowing that the matron and her assistants were
+engaged with their visitors in the other wing of the building, she
+dropped her plate of sandwiches, and rushed to the rescue as fast as her
+avoirdupois would permit. She was familiar enough with the rules of the
+institution to know that the Home children did not wear white aprons and
+pink hair-ribbons except on special occasions, and also that fighting
+was severely punished. It never occurred to her that the matron was the
+proper authority to whom to report trouble. She made a lunge for the two
+struggling children, jerked them apart, shook them impartially, and
+blazed out in rich, Irish brogue, "Ye dirty spalpeens, phwat d'ye mane
+by sich disorderly conduct? It'll be a long toime afore ye'll iver git
+inside this fince again to play, ye black-eyed miss! Make tracks now or
+I'll call the p'lice! You, ye little beggar, march straight inter the
+house! The matron'll settle with ye good and plenty whin she gits
+toime!"</p>
+
+<p>Both girls tried to explain, and the frightened, excited Home children
+shouted in vain. Irish Bridget seized the resisting Lottie, thrust her
+forcibly out through the gate, and hustled poor Peace into the dark
+entry, in spite of her protests and frantic kicking. "I'm not Lottie,
+I'm not Lottie!" she wailed. "I don't b'long here, I tell you!"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care if ye're Lottie or Lillie," screamed the angry cook,
+pinioning the struggling child and carrying her bodily up a short flight
+of stairs into a wide hall. "Ye've been breaking the rules by fightin'
+and in that room ye go! The matron'll settle with ye afther a bit. An'
+ye'll catch it good, too, if ye kape on screeching loike that."</p>
+
+<p>Peace was dumped into a small, office-like apartment, the key turned in
+the lock, and she was left alone. Frantic with excitement and fear, she
+let out three or four piercing screams, rattled the knob, and pounded
+the door until her fists were sore, but no one came to release her, and
+after a few moments she seemed to realize how useless it was to expect
+help from that quarter. She looked around her prison hopefully,
+curiously, for some other avenue of escape. A window stood open across
+the room, but the screen was fastened so tightly that she could not
+move it even when she threw her whole weight upon it. Besides, it was a
+long way to the ground below. Would she dare jump if the screen were not
+in her way?</p>
+
+<p>Then her restless eyes spied the telephone on the desk behind her, and
+with a shriek of triumph she seized the receiver and called breathlessly
+over the wire, "Hello, central! Give me the drug store where I telephone
+every day. Number? I don't know the number. It's on Hill Street and
+Twenty-ninth Avenue. What information do you want? Well, I've thunk of
+the drug store's name now. It's Teeter's Pharmacy, and it's on the
+corner&mdash;Well, I'm giving you the information 's fast as I can. My name
+is Peace Greenfield, and the crazy cook's taken me for someone else and
+shut me in when I don't b'long to this Home at all. I changed clothes
+with&mdash;well, what is the matter now? If you'll give me that drug
+store&mdash;Teeter's Pharmacy, corner of Hill Street and Twenty-ninth
+Avenue,&mdash;I'll have them go after Saint John, so's he can come and get me
+out of here. A&mdash;what? Policeman? Are you a p'liceman? No, I ain't one,
+and I don't want one! Do you s'pose I want to be 'rested for getting
+bit? Oh, dear, I don't know what you are trying to say! Ain't you
+central? Then why don't you give me Teeter's Pharmacy, corner of Hill
+Street and&mdash;now she's clicked her old machine up! Oh, how will I ever
+get out of here?"</p>
+
+<p>Dismayed to find that central had deserted her, she puckered her face to
+cry, but at that moment there were hasty steps in the hall, a key grated
+in the lock, and the door flew open, showing a startled, white-faced
+woman and frightened Tony in the doorway, while a whole string of
+curious-eyed ladies were gathered in the hall behind them.</p>
+
+<p>Silently Peace stared from one to another, and then as no one offered to
+speak, she asked, "Where's the cook? Have you seen her lately?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," laughed the matron, very evidently relieved at her reception.
+"Tony tells me that a mistake has been made and that you don't belong to
+the Home."</p>
+
+<p>"He is right, I'm thankful to say," returned Peace with such a comical,
+grown-up air that the ladies in the hall giggled and nudged each other,
+and one of them ventured to ask, "Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just think of having to live here day after day without any butter on
+your bread, or gravy for your potatoes, or sugar in your oatmeal,
+without any pies or cakes or puddings 'cept on Sundays and special
+holidays,&mdash;with only mush, mush, mush all the time, and not even all the
+milk you wanted, maybe! Hm! I'm glad I live in a house where there ain't
+any Lady Boards to tell us what we have to do and what we can have to
+eat. Come to think of it, I'm part of a <i>norphan</i> 'sylum, really.
+There's six of us at Grandpa Campbell's but he doesn't bring us up on
+mush. We have all the butter and sugar and gravy and pudding and sauce
+that we want&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"This isn't an orphan asylum," said the matron kindly, wondering what
+kind of a creature this queer child was, but already convinced that
+Bridget had blundered, in spite of her startling resemblance to Lottie.</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't? What do you call it then?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is a Home for the purpose of taking care of children who have one or
+both parents living, but who, for some reason, cannot be taken care of
+in their own homes for a time."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! Then you take the place of mother to them?"</p>
+
+<p>"I try to."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you like your job?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very, very much!"</p>
+
+<p>"You do sound 'sif you did, but I sh'd think you'd hate to sit all those
+little children down to butterless bread and gravyless potato and
+sugarless mush. Oh, I forgot! That ain't your fault. It's the Lady Board
+which says what you have to feed your children. Did you ever ask
+them&mdash;the ladies, I mean&mdash;to be common visitors and eat just what the
+rest of you had? I bet if you'd just try that, they'd soon send you
+something different! I don't see how you stay so fat and rosy with&mdash;but
+then you've only just come, haven't you? I s'pose there's lots of time
+to get thin in. I wonder if that's what is the matter with Lottie,"
+Peace chattered relentlessly on. "She is awfully ugly today; but then
+I'd be, too, if I had to live on such grub. It's worse than we had at
+the little brown house in Parker&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"If you will slip off that apron and come with me," interrupted the
+matron desperately, not daring to look at the faces of her dismayed
+"Lady Board," "we will find Lottie and get your own clothes so you can
+go home. The next time you come, be sure to get a permit first. Then
+this trouble won't happen again."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, will you let me come some more?"</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't you Dr. Campbell's granddaughter? Tony said you were."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he's my adopted grandpa now."</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Campbell is interested in the Home&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Is she a splinter?"</p>
+
+<p>"A <i>what</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>Tony giggled and dodged behind the matron to hide his tell-tale face,
+and Peace, remembering Ethel's explanation, said hastily, "I mean a
+piece of the Lady's Board?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, she is not one of the Board of Directors, if that is what you mean;
+but she often sends the children little treats&mdash;candy and nuts at
+Christmas time, or flowers from the greenhouse after the summer blossoms
+are gone."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I see. She told me one time that she would take us to visit the
+Children's Home, but I didn't know it was this. We've got scarlet fever
+at our house&mdash;."</p>
+
+<p>"Child alive! What are you doing here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I ain't got it, and anyway, I haven't been home since our spring
+vacation in March. I am staying with Saint John, the new preacher at
+Hill Street Church, and I 'xpect if I don't get home pretty soon, he'll
+think I am lost, sure. I went down to the drug store to telephone
+grandma, and when Gussie told me they had gone to the Pine Woods, I was
+so mad for a time that I just boiled over. So I walked on and on till I
+came to this place. I never have been so far before, and I didn't know
+there was such a Home around here. I know they'll let me come often.
+There aren't many children up our way to play with and sometimes it gets
+lonesome. There's Lottie now! Cook must have found out that I knew what
+I was talking about. Here's your apron, Lottie; and say, I'm awful sorry
+I shook you. Will you pretend I didn't do it, and be friends with me
+again?"</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I bit you," stammered the child, as much astonished at this greeting
+as were the matron and the "Lady Board," who still lingered in the hall,
+fascinated with this frank creature, who so fearlessly voiced her own
+opinions of their work.</p>
+
+<p>"So you did!" exclaimed Peace, in genuine surprise, glancing down at the
+ugly, purple bruise on her hand, which she had completely forgotten.
+"Well, I won't remember that any more, either. Two folks which look so
+much alike ought to be friends, and I want you to like me."</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;do&mdash;like you," faltered the embarrassed child. "I'm sorry I was
+hateful. Here are your apron and ribbon."</p>
+
+<p>"Keep the ribbon," responded Peace generously. "I s'pose I've got to
+take the apron back, 'cause grandpa says I mustn't give away my clothes
+without asking him or grandma about it, and I can't now, 'cause they are
+both gone away. But a hair-ribbon ain't clothes, and, anyway, that's one
+Frances Sherrar gave me, so I know you can have it." She pressed the
+pink bow back into Lottie's hand, and throwing both arms around her,
+kissed her fervently, saying, "I am coming again some time soon, and
+I'll bring you a bag of sugar and some real butter so's you can have it
+extra for once, even if the Lady Boards didn't order it for that
+p'tic'lar day. Good-bye, Mrs. Matron, and Tony, and&mdash;all the rest. I've
+had a good time here&mdash;till I run up against the cook, I mean. Mercy!
+She's strong! But I'm glad grandpa adopted us so's I didn't have to come
+here to live." She waved her hand gaily at them, and danced away down
+the walk, whistling cheerily.</p>
+
+<p>"She's a quaint child!" murmured the lady who had questioned her.</p>
+
+<p>"She's a trump!" declared Tony to Lottie, as they departed together for
+the playgrounds.</p>
+
+<p>And in her heart the matron whispered, "She's a darling!"</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+
+<h3>A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Oh, Elspeth, you can't guess where I've been!" shrieked Peace, puffing
+with excitement as she stumbled up the steps after her long run home.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I thought you were playing with Giuseppe and the Lilac Lady,"
+replied the young mother, looking up in surprise from the little white
+dress she was hemstitching.</p>
+
+<p>"But I went down to the drug store to telephone grandma!"</p>
+
+<p>"I know you did, but I thought you stopped to tell the news at the stone
+house on your way home."</p>
+
+<p>"What news?"</p>
+
+<p>"That the invalids have run away and left you."</p>
+
+<p>"How did you know that?"</p>
+
+<p>"The postman came just after you left, and he brought a letter from Dr.
+Campbell, explaining all about it."</p>
+
+<p>"Then he did take time to write, did he? I was pretty hot about it at
+first," Peace admitted candidly, "But I don't care at all now. I've had
+such a splendid time here with you all the while they've been shut up
+sick, that no matter how long they stay in the Pine Woods, it couldn't
+make up for all they've missed by not being me."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you really feel that way about it, dear?" cried Elizabeth, much
+pleased and touched at the child's unlooked-for declaration.</p>
+
+<p>"You just better b'lieve I do! Why, I've had just the nicest time! I
+'xpected I'd miss seeing the girls just dreadfully, but Gail and Faith
+have come up every single week, and I've telephoned home 'most every
+day, and the rest of the time has been filled so full that I haven't
+minded how long I've been away at all. This must be my other home, I
+guess."</p>
+
+<p>"You little sweetheart! I wonder if you have any idea how much we are
+going to miss you when grandpa takes you away again."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, I 'magine I do. I make such a racket wherever I go that when I
+leave, the stillness seems like a hole. But don't you fret! I'm coming
+up here real often&mdash;just as often as grandma will let me. 'Cause I've
+got not only you to visit now, but the Lilac Lady and Juiceharpie and
+the Home children&mdash;Oh, that's what I started to tell you about when I
+first came up.</p>
+
+<p>"I've just been there. I never knew there was a Home so near here, or
+I'd have been there before this. And what do you think? There's a girl
+living in it named Lottie, which looks so much like me that when we
+changed aprons the other children didn't know the difference at first.
+They think she must be my twin sister or some cousin I don't know
+anything about, though I kept telling them there weren't any cousins in
+our family, and if mother'd ever had twins, she'd have kept 'em both and
+not throwed one away to grow up without knowing who her people were.
+Don't you think so?"</p>
+
+<p>"I most assuredly do," Elizabeth answered promptly. "Gail has often told
+me that your papa was an only child, and the one brother your mamma had
+died when he was a little fellow. So there can't be any near cousins,
+and you are not a twin, so Lottie isn't your sister. How did it all come
+about?"</p>
+
+<p>The story was quickly told, to Elizabeth's mingled amusement and horror;
+and Peace ended by sagely remarking, "So I'm going to ask Allee if she's
+willing that we should use some of our Fourth of July money to buy them
+a treat of sugar and butter for a whole day&mdash;or a week, if it doesn't
+take too much, and grandpa don't sit down on the plan. I don't think he
+will, 'cause these children aren't fakes. They really d'serve having
+some good times 'casionally, and it did make them so happy to have
+someone extra to play with. I s'pose they get awfully tired of fighting
+the same children all the time. Besides, we've got lots of money in our
+bank, 'cause we used only about ten dollars of our furnishing money to
+dec'rate our room with, and the rest we saved for patriotism. I am awful
+glad there are such places for poor children to go to when their own
+people can't take care of 'em, but I do wish the Lady Boards weren't so
+stingy."</p>
+
+<p>Elizabeth knew it would do no good to argue the matter, and besides, she
+was not well posted concerning this particular Home, so she merely
+agreed that Peace's plan would no doubt make the little folks happy, but
+wisely suggested that she say no more about it until she had consulted
+with the family at home and received their consent. "Because, you see,
+dear, if you make some rash promises which you can't fulfill, it will
+only make the children unhappy, instead of bringing sunshine into their
+lives."</p>
+
+<p>"But isn't it a good way to spend money? They ain't beggars with bank
+accounts somewhere, like the old woman which got Gail's dollar last
+spring."</p>
+
+<p>"I think it is a very nice way, dearie, and I am sure grandpa will not
+object a mite; but the best way is not to make any promises that we
+don't intend to carry out, or that we are not sure we can fulfill. Then
+no one will be disappointed if our plans don't come through the way we
+hoped they would. Do you see what I mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; never promise to do <i>anything</i> until you're sure you can. But that
+would keep me from doing lots of things, Elspeth. I could not ever
+promise to be good, or&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Peace, I didn't mean that!" Elizabeth never could get accustomed to
+this literal streak in the small maiden's character; and, in
+consequence, her little preachments often received an unexpected
+shower-bath. "I meant not to promise to do favors for other folks unless
+we can and will see that they are done."</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't it a favor to be good when it's easier and naturaler to be
+bad&mdash;not really bad, either, but just yourself?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, dear. We ought to <i>try</i> to be good without anyone's asking us to,
+and just because it is easier to do wrong than right is no excuse for us
+at all."</p>
+
+<p>Unconsciously she said this very severely, for she thought she heard
+Saint John chuckling behind the curtains of the study window; but Peace
+interpreted the lecture literally, and hastily jumping up from the step,
+said, "I think I'll go and tell the Lilac Lady about the children, and
+see if she hasn't got more roses than she knows what to do with, 'cause
+I know they'd like 'em at the Home. Do you care?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, Peace. Glen is asleep. But don't stay long, for it is nearly five
+o'clock now, and tea will soon be ready."</p>
+
+<p>"All right. I'll bring you some roses for the table if she has any to
+spare today, and she ought to, 'cause the pink and white bushes have
+just begun to open."</p>
+
+<p>She whisked out of sight around the corner in a twinkling, and was soon
+perched on the stool beside the lame girl's chair, regaling her with an
+account of the afternoon's adventures.</p>
+
+<p>The white signal fluttering from the lilac bushes had been discarded
+long ago, and Peace was welcome whenever she came now, for with her
+peculiar childish instinct, she seemed to know when the invalid found
+her chatter wearisome. At such times she would sit in the grass beside
+the chair, silently weaving clover chains, or wander quietly about the
+premises, revelling in the beauty and perfume of the garden flowers, or
+better still, whistling softly the sweet tunes which the pain-racked
+body always found so soothing.</p>
+
+<p>But this afternoon the young mistress of the stone house was lonely, for
+Aunt Pen and Giuseppe were in town shopping, and she wished to be
+amused; so Peace was doubly welcome, and felt very much flattered at the
+attention her lengthy story received. To tell the truth of the matter,
+the lame girl had just discovered how cunningly the small, round face
+was dimpled, and in watching these little Cupid's love kisses come and
+go with the child's different expressions and moods, she did not hear a
+word that was said until Peace heaved a great, sympathetic sigh, and
+closed her tale with the remark, "And so I'm going to see if I can't
+take them some&mdash;enough to last a week maybe&mdash;for it must be <i>dreadful</i>
+to eat bread and potatoes every day without any butter or gravy."</p>
+
+<p>The older girl roused herself with a start, and promptly began asking
+questions in such an adroit fashion that in a moment or two she had the
+gist of the whole story, and was much interested in the picture Peace
+drew of the Home children's life. "Why, do you know, I used to go there
+with Aunt Pen&mdash;years ago&mdash;to carry flowers and trinkets, and sometimes
+to sing. My! How glad they used to be! They would sit and listen with
+eyes and mouths wide open as if they simply couldn't get enough. Aunt
+Pen used to be quite interested in the Home. Poor Aunt Pen! She gave up
+all her pet hobbies when I was hurt."</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't you like to go?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it was flattering to have such an appreciative audience, of course;
+but&mdash;my ambitions soared higher than that. They were as well satisfied
+with a hand-organ."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Tony ain't! And neither is Ethel! They both just <i>love</i> music, and
+they kept me whistling until I was tired. And how they do love stories!
+I 'magined for them till my thinker ran empty. I couldn't help wishing I
+was you, so's I could tell them all the beau-ti-ful fancies you make up
+as you lie here under the trees day in and day out. I told 'em about
+you and pictured this garden for 'em, and the flowers which Hicks cuts
+by the <i>bushel-basket</i>, and Juiceharpie which plays the fiddle and
+dances and sings like a cheer-up&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"A cherub, do you mean? Giuseppe is inconsolable to think he can't teach
+you to say his name correctly."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and I'm the same thing to think he's got such a name that won't be
+said right. He doesn't like Jessup any better. But never mind, I know
+he'd like Tony and the other Home boys; and I thought maybe you would
+let him go some day and play for the children there. Miss Chase is
+awfully sweet and nice, even if she is fat, and she'd be tickled to
+pieces to give him a permit any time he could come."</p>
+
+<p>The lame girl laid a thin, waxen hand on the curly head bobbing so
+enthusiastically at her side, and murmured gently, "How do you think up
+so many beautiful things to do for other people?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't," Peace frankly replied. "I guess they just think themselves.
+You see, I know what it is to be poor and not have nice things like
+other folks, and now that grandpa's taken us home to live with him in a
+great, big house where there's always plenty and enough to spare, seems
+like it was just the proper thing to give some of it away to make the
+less <i>forchinit</i> a little happier. It takes <i>such</i> a little to make
+folks smile!"</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed it does, little philosopher. Your name should have been Lady
+Bountiful. Giuseppe may go with you to the Home as often as he wishes
+with his violin, and help you make them happy."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you're such a darling!" cried Peace in ecstasy, hugging the hand
+between her own pink palms. "I wish you could go, too. Tony says they
+have song services every Sunday afternoon, and they are great! I'm to go
+next Sunday and hear them, but I wish you could, too."</p>
+
+<p>"You are very generous," murmured the lame girl a trifle huskily.
+Then&mdash;perhaps it was because Peace's enthusiasm was contagious, perhaps
+it was due to a growing desire in her own heart for the world from which
+she had shut herself so long ago&mdash;the older girl suddenly electrified
+her companion by adding, "I should like to hear them myself. Do you
+think the matron would allow them to visit me in my garden, seeing that
+I can't go to the Home as other folks do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, do you mean that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Every word!"</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Chase couldn't say no to anything so beautiful, and I don't think
+the Lady Boards would object, either; but I'll find out. Saint John can
+tell me, I'm sure. Oh, I never dreamed of anything so lovely! I wouldn't
+have <i>dared</i> dream it!" She hugged herself in rapture, and her eyes
+beamed like stars. How grand it was to have friends like the Lilac
+Lady!</p>
+
+<p>So it came about that a few days later fifty shining-faced, bright-eyed
+boys and girls from the Home marched proudly up Hill Street and in
+through the great iron gates to the Enchanted Garden, where the lame
+girl, with Aunt Pen and the parsonage household to assist her, waited to
+greet them.</p>
+
+<p>That was a gala day, talked about for weeks afterward, dreamed of in the
+silent watches of the night, and recorded in memory's treasure book to
+be lived over again and again in later years,&mdash;one of those heart's
+delights, the fragrance of which never dies.</p>
+
+<p>The Home children were charmed with the beautiful garden and its cool
+fountain, just as Peace had known they would be, and the frail young
+hostess was as charmed with her guests. They had games on the wide lawn,
+they sang their sweet, happy choruses, Giuseppe played and danced, Peace
+and the preacher whistled, Elizabeth told them stories, and Aunt Pen
+surprised them all by serving sparkling frapp&eacute; with huge slices of fig
+cake, such as only Minnie, the cook, could make. Then, as the afternoon
+drew to a close, and the matron began lining up her charges for the
+homeward walk, Tony and Lottie stepped out of the ranks and sang a
+pretty little verse of thanks for the good time all had enjoyed.</p>
+
+<p>So surprised was the Lilac Lady at this unexpected little turn, that for
+an instant her eyes grew misty with unshed tears; then she smiled
+happily, and obeying a sudden impulse, she lifted her voice and
+carolled,</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Come again, my little friends,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">You have brought me joy today;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">In my heart you've left a hymn<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">That shall linger, live alway."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Oh, my!" cried Peace, squeezing Elizabeth's hand in her astonishment
+and pleasure, "is it an angel singing?"</p>
+
+<p>"Your Lilac Lady, dear. Didn't you know she could sing?"</p>
+
+<p>"She told me she used to once, but I never heard her before."</p>
+
+<p>"At college she was our lark. How we loved that voice! I think, little
+girl, you have saved a soul."</p>
+
+<p>But Peace did not hear the words. She was joining in the wild applause
+that greeted this burst of melody from the long silent throat. Everyone
+had been taken by surprise, the children were dancing with delight, the
+matron's homely face was beaming, Aunt Pen's lips worked pathetically,
+and Hicks, still busy filling small arms with the choicest flowers from
+the garden, could only whisper over and over again, "Praise be, praise
+be, she has found her voice!"</p>
+
+<p>The Lilac Lady herself seemed almost unconscious of the fact that she
+had torn down this last and strongest barrier between self and the
+world, and if she noticed the pathetic surprise on the loving faces
+hovering about her, she did not show it, but smiled serenely and
+naturally when the applause had died away. She would sing no more that
+afternoon, however, and the little visitors had to be contented with a
+promise of another song the next time they came. So they said good-bye
+to their charming hostess and filed happily down the walk to the street.</p>
+
+<p>As the iron gates closed behind the little company homeward bound, Peace
+turned to blow a good-night kiss between the high palings to the young
+mistress, lying in her chair where they had left her, but paused
+enraptured by the picture her eyes beheld. A rosy ray of the setting sun
+filtered through the oak boughs overhanging her couch and fell full upon
+the white face among the cushions, bringing out the rich auburn tints of
+the heavy hair till it almost seemed as if a crown of gleaming gold
+rested upon her head, and the wonderful blue eyes reflected the light
+like sea-water, clear and deep and&mdash;unfathomable.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," whispered Peace, thrilling with delight, "I ought to have called
+her my <i>Angel</i> Lady!"</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+
+<h3>CHILDREN'S DAY AT HILL STREET CHURCH</h3>
+
+
+<p>"What do you think's happened now?" asked Peace, seating herself
+gloomily upon the footstool beside the invalid, and thrusting a long
+grass-blade between her teeth.</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure I don't know," smiled the older girl. "You look as if it were
+quite a calamity."</p>
+
+<p>"It's worse'n a c'lamity. It's a <i>capostrophe</i>. Glen's gone and got the
+croup&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, so his papa told Aunt Pen this morning. How is the poor little
+fellow now?"</p>
+
+<p>"He's better, doctor says; but his cold is dreadfully bad and may last
+for days, so Elspeth can't hear the children practise for next Sunday&mdash;I
+mean a week from tomorrow. That is Children's Day, you know. And Miss
+Kinney has ab-so-lute-ly refused to sing for us, 'cause Elspeth asked
+Mildred George to take a solo part, too, and Miss Kinney doesn't like
+Mildred. Why are huming beings so mean and horrid to each other? Now, I
+wouldn't care if I found someone which could sing better'n I,&mdash;s'posing
+I could sing at all. I'd just help her make all the music she could and
+be glad there was somebody who could beat me."</p>
+
+<p>"Would you really?" asked the lame girl with a queer little note of
+doubt in her voice.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, of course! I sh'd hate to think I was the best singer God knew how
+to make."</p>
+
+<p>This was an idea which the invalid had never heard expressed before; but
+still somewhat skeptical, she asked, "Do you feel that way about
+whistling, too?"</p>
+
+<p>"I sure do! I like to whistle, and it's nice to know I can beat all the
+boys that go to our school, and even Saint John. But you should hear
+Mike O'Hara! Oh, but he can whistle! It sounds like the woods full of
+birds. It's&mdash;it's&mdash;it's&mdash;" words failed her&mdash;"it's <i>heaven</i> to listen to
+him. I'm glad I <i>know</i> someone who whistles better than I can, 'cause
+there's that to work for, to aim at. But if I ever get so I can whistle
+as well as he does, I s'pose there will be lots better ones still. Miss
+Kinney wants to be the very best singer at Hill Street Church, though,
+and she's afraid if Mildred gets to taking solo parts in the exercises
+folks will want her all the time; so she's just trying to spoil the
+whole program that Saint Elspeth has worked so hard over."</p>
+
+<p>Peace's observations were sometimes positively uncanny, and as she
+voiced this sentiment, the Lilac Lady asked curiously, "How do you know
+that is her reason? Did she tell you, or did Mildred?"</p>
+
+<p>"Neither one. I heard Mrs. Porter tell Elspeth yesterday that Miss
+Kinney had cold feet; so after she was gone, I asked about it. Saint
+John was there, and Elspeth just laughed and said it was a remark I must
+forget, 'cause it wasn't real kind to speak so about anybody. But when I
+was in bed and they thought I'd gone to sleep, I heard Saint John ask
+Elizabeth about it, and she told him how Miss Kinney was acting, and how
+the program would all be spoiled, 'cause there isn't anyone to take her
+place in the solo parts, and it is too late now to drill the children
+for anything else. It's even worse now, with Glen down sick so's Elspeth
+can't help get up some other program."</p>
+
+<p>"What kind of exercises were you going to have, may I ask? You have had
+such hard work to keep from telling me at different times that I thought
+perhaps it was a secret."</p>
+
+<p>"Elspeth wanted it as a surprise, you know, so I thought it would be
+better not to talk about it even with you. Do you care?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not a bit, dearie, only I had an idea that possibly I might take
+Elizabeth's place for a few days, with Aunt Pen's help. She used to be a
+famous driller for children's entertainments, and I know she would be
+more than pleased to have her finger in this pie, for she admires your
+young preacher very much, while Beth is an old friend of hers. The
+children could come here to rehearse&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but wouldn't that be fine! You do have the splendidest thinks!
+Who'd take Miss Kinney's part? That's the most important of all. Would
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I? Oh, Peace, how could <i>I</i> take part&mdash;a cripple? I haven't been
+outside these gardens for years."</p>
+
+<p>"It's time you had a change, then. It wouldn't hurt you to be rolled
+down the street in your chair, would it?"</p>
+
+<p>"So everyone could see and pity me?" The voice was full of scathing
+bitterness.</p>
+
+<p>"So everyone could know and love you, my Lilac Lady! They couldn't
+<i>help</i> loving you. I wanted to hug you the first time I ever laid eyes
+on you, and I don't feel any different yet."</p>
+
+<p>"All the world is not like you."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I reckon it ain't, 'cause there's millions and millions of
+pig-tailed Chinamen and little brown Japs, and Esquimeaux who take baths
+in whale oil 'stead of water, which ain't a bit like me. But I'm
+speaking of 'Merican children. They'd love you for the way you sing and
+tell stories first, most likely; but when they came to know you
+yourself, they'd like just the bare you. Tony and Ethel and Lottie and
+George and all the rest of the Home children can't talk enough about
+you, and Miss Chase says they're 'most wild to think you want 'em to
+come every week steady this summer. She says a person like you can do
+'em more good now than years of sermons after they are older. She calls
+you the children's 'good angel.' I meant to tell you before, 'cause I
+thought you'd like to know, but somehow this fuss of Elspeth's made me
+forget everything else. Say! Why couldn't we get the Home children to
+help us in our choruses? They usu'ly go to the church just across the
+street from there on account of it being nearer, but I'm sure the matron
+would let 'em help us this one time, 'specially as tomorrow is their
+Children's Sunday. Tony told me."</p>
+
+<p>"That is a splendid plan, Peace. If you think Aunt Pen and I can take
+Elizabeth's place until Glen is better, I'll send Hicks over to the Home
+with a note for Miss Chase, and we will have a rehearsal this very
+afternoon. Can you get me the music?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Elspeth's got the song-books at the parsonage now. There was to be
+a practise this afternoon for the <i>corn-tatter</i>, but she thought she'd
+just have to send 'em home as fast as they came. I'll run right over and
+tell her your plans so's she'll have the children come over here
+instead. It will be ever so nice to have the boys and girls from the
+Home take part, 'cause there didn't begin to be enough lilies or poppies
+or vi'lets, and so many had dropped out of the rose chorus that only
+Mittie Cole is left. She's a good singer, though, if she doesn't get too
+scared."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you run along and get me as many copies of the cantata as you
+can. Tell Elizabeth I will be very careful of them."</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I tell her you'll take Miss Kinney's part?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed," was the hasty answer. "If she asks about it, you might say
+that it will be taken care of, so she need not fret the least little
+bit."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, and say, what about the flowers for the Home children? I guess
+likely we can't have them after all, 'cause we're to be dressed up in
+flowers to represent our parts."</p>
+
+<p>"Flowers? Oh, I will attend to that. Our French maid is perfection when
+it comes to getting up costumes of any kind."</p>
+
+<p>"It ain't <i>costumes</i>. It's just our flowers, but there are daisies and
+poppies and vi'lets and maybe others that ain't in blossom yet or else
+are all done for; so's we would either have to buy them at the
+greenhouses or get artificial ones."</p>
+
+<p>"That is easily done, dear. Elise can do wonders with cr&ecirc;pe paper and
+the glue-pot. Don't you worry about the Home children if Miss Chase will
+let us borrow them."</p>
+
+<p>So Peace skipped joyously home to pour out the good news to the
+preacher's troubled little wife, who was worrying alternately over the
+hoarse, sick little man lying in her arms and the program for
+Children's Sunday, which now looked as if it must prove a failure in
+spite of all the time and hard work she had given it. So when the child
+explained the Lilac Lady's plans, Elizabeth gladly resigned the cantata
+music, expressed her sincere thanks by kissing Peace warmly&mdash;for she
+knew, of course, that whatever beautiful plans the young crippled
+neighbor might have, they were prompted by the active brain under the
+bobbing brown curls&mdash;and returned with a lighter heart to her vigil over
+Glen.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Chase was glad to lend the children to Hill Street Church, and they
+were overjoyed at the idea of being loaned. As they proved to be apt
+pupils, they were already quite familiar with the beautiful songs by the
+time the original chorus members put in appearance at the parsonage for
+the afternoon's rehearsal. At first, the regular scholars were inclined
+to criticize the new plans which dragged in the little Home waifs; but
+Aunt Pen, who had readily agreed to help, was very tactful, the lame
+girl very lovable, and in a few minutes all the objections had been
+swept aside and harmony reigned supreme. Then they settled down to hard
+work, and how they did practise! Aunt Pen played the piano, Giuseppe
+took up the refrain on his violin, and the great stone house fairly rang
+with the chorus of the hundred or more voices. Indifference melted into
+interest, and interest into enthusiasm. Before the afternoon had drawn
+to a close, every heart present was fairly aching for the coming of
+Children's Sunday with its beautiful service of song, and the Lilac Lady
+was triumphant.</p>
+
+<p>"But who will take Miss Kinney's part?" frowned Marjorie Hopper, the
+deacon's granddaughter. "She told papa last night that she simply
+washed her hands of the whole affair."</p>
+
+<p>"Never you fret," said Peace, nodding her head sagely. "Let her wash!
+We've got someone to take it who can sing lots prettier than she ever
+thought of doing."</p>
+
+<p>"Not Mildred&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"No, Mildred's got her own part, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>There was a sudden movement in the invalid's chair, and the lame girl
+sat up with a most becoming blush tinting the waxen cheeks. "Can you
+keep a secret, children?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course!" they shouted, gathering around her to hear what the secret
+might be.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I am going to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Take Miss Kinney's place," finished Tony, with a deep sigh of
+anticipated pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>"I knew she'd do it!" crowed Peace, dancing a jig for pure joy.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you?" asked Marjorie.</p>
+
+<p>"Would you like it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Like it! Well, I guess yes!" they shouted again.</p>
+
+<p>"You can beat Miss Kinney all hollow," added George with blunt, boyish
+admiration.</p>
+
+<p>"I am not figuring on that," smiled the invalid, amused at the thought.
+"I don't care any more about being 'it,' as you children say. I just
+want to help Hill Street Church, for it has brought me the sun again
+when I thought I had lost it forever."</p>
+
+<p>They looked at her mystified, uncomprehending, but no one asked her to
+explain; they were content to know that she was to take the important
+solo part which Miss Kinney had thrown down.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the days flew by, and Children's Sunday dawned bright and cool.
+Glen was almost well, but Elizabeth did not feel that she could leave
+him in any other hands, and he was still too fretful to attend the
+service. In her quandary she flew to Aunt Pen, and that worthy lady
+smiled happily as she answered, "Of course, I can take charge if you
+wish, and I shall count it a privilege. You have done so much for
+Myra&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank Peace for that. She is the one who found out her hiding-place."</p>
+
+<p>"I do thank Peace with all my heart, and it has been a pleasure to help
+her with her beautiful, generous, impulsive plans. She suggested&mdash;well,
+you must come this morning and hear the children. We simply can't let
+you off. Sit near the door if you like, so you can take the baby out if
+he frets,&mdash;but I don't think he will. He loves music, and we've quite a
+surprise in store for the congregation."</p>
+
+<p>And indeed, it proved a great surprise, for no one saw the wheel-chair
+which Hicks rolled stealthily into the tiny church early that morning
+and hid so skilfully behind tall banks of fern and great clusters of
+roses that only the lovely face of the lame girl could be seen by the
+congregation&mdash;she was still very sensitive concerning her sad
+affliction. And when the happy-hearted children, almost covered with the
+garlands of flowers they carried, took their places around their queen,
+the platform looked like some great, wonderful garden, where children's
+faces were the blossoms.</p>
+
+<p>And the music! How can words describe the joyous anthems which filled
+the sanctuary with praise and thanksgiving, or the gloriously sweet,
+silvery tones of the garden queen when she lifted her voice and poured
+out her soul in song that bright June morning. All the bitterness of the
+long months of anguish, despair and rebellion had been swept forever out
+of her heart, and in its place reigned the gladness, the rapture, the
+supreme joy which triumphs even over death. It seemed almost as if some
+angel choir had opened the gates of heaven and let the strains of
+celestial music flood the earth. It was inspiring, uplifting, sublime!</p>
+
+<p>But that was not all. When the beautiful service had ended, and the
+congregation was slowly filing out into the sunshine again, there stood
+the wheel-chair by the door, and the lame girl, her blue eyes alight
+with happiness, her face wreathed in smiles, greeted one by one the
+friends of the old days from whom she had so long hidden herself away.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+
+<h3>HOW THE FOURTH OF JULY MONEY WAS SPENT</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Just one week more and Fourth of July will be here," announced Peace
+from her seat on the grass, as she counted off the days on her fingers.
+They were all gathered under the trees that warm afternoon, Aunt Pen and
+Elizabeth with their sewing, the minister with a magazine from which he
+had been reading aloud, Giuseppe with his beloved violin, from which he
+was seldom separated, the lame girl lying in her accustomed place, and
+Peace and Glen gambolling in the grass at their feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, so it will," said the invalid in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you s'pose grandpa will get back by that time?"</p>
+
+<p>"Should you care if he did not?" asked preacher teasingly.</p>
+
+<p>"John!" reproved Elizabeth, tapping him gently on the head with her
+thimble. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself to ask such a question?"</p>
+
+<p>"No offense, ladies, no offense intended, I assure you! I merely
+wondered if Peace could be getting homesick."</p>
+
+<p>"Me homesick! Oh, no, I'm not <i>homesick</i>, but I'll bet the other folks
+are by this time. I've been gone so long. One week of March, all of
+April and May, and nearly all of June&mdash;that's three months already; and
+I've never been away from the girls more'n a night or two at a time
+before."</p>
+
+<p>There was a wistful look in the brown eyes in spite of her emphatic
+denial that she was homesick, and Elizabeth sought to turn the
+conversation by saying meditatively, "I wonder what Glen will think of
+the Fourth of July celebration? He was almost too young last year to
+notice anything of that sort, and besides, we had a very quiet day at
+Parker. Everyone had gone to the city for their fun."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it was quiet in Parker last year. Hec Abbott was away all day, and
+I didn't have any fire-crackers," Peace observed; then, noting the broad
+smile that bathed all the faces, she added hastily, "I s'pose it was
+just as well, 'cause it was an awful dry summer, and like enough we
+would have set the place on fire. That's why Gail wouldn't let us have
+any, but this year we're going to make up for all we've missed&mdash;if
+grandpa gets home in time. We've got dollars and dollars in our
+bank&mdash;Allee and me&mdash;left over from dec'rating our room, and we're going
+to blow it all up celebrating the Fourth, so's to be patriotic. Grandpa
+says love of country is something every 'Merican needs, so we're
+beginning young at our house. Grandpa says&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"What does grandpa say?" boomed a dear, familiar voice behind her, and
+she bounced to her feet with a wild shriek of joy, for leaning against
+the iron gates at the end of the walk stood the genial President, while
+in the carriage just beyond sat Grandma Campbell and the three younger
+sisters, all fidgeting with eagerness to meet the small maid whose face
+they had not seen for so long a time.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, grandpa, grandma, girls, when did you get here? I never so much as
+heard you drive up!"</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely touching the gravel with her toes, she fairly flew through the
+gate into the five pair of arms reaching out to embrace her, hugging and
+kissing them impartially in her delight to be with them again, and
+asking questions as fast as her tongue could fly. "How did you like the
+Woods? Where are Gail and Faith? Haven't they come in from the Lake yet?
+I haven't seen them for <i>three weeks</i> now. Are you perfectly well,
+Allee? What's the matter with Cherry's nose, grandma? It looks skinned.
+Does scarlet fever make people grow tall, or what has happened to Hope?
+My, but you've missed it, being <i>quadrupined</i> up in the house all the
+spring! Yes, I'd like to have seen the Woods, too, but 's long as you
+didn't take me, I had a better time here. Oh, it's been jolly. There
+come Aunt Pen and Elspeth. I s'pose they think you've kissed me enough
+for one time and you better climb out and go speak to my Lilac Lady.
+She's been wanting to see you all, 'specially Gail and Faith which ain't
+here."</p>
+
+<p>They answered her questions as best they could&mdash;they had enjoyed their
+brief sojourn in the Pine Woods very much, for they had found it more
+than tiresome to be quarantined all those beautiful weeks, but Peace's
+telephone messages and queer adventures had helped brighten many an
+hour. They were particularly interested in the Lilac Lady and the little
+Italian musician, and were anxious to meet the big-hearted Aunt Pen. So
+they clambered out of the carriage and were properly introduced by the
+preacher and his wife, while Peace fluttered from one to another of the
+happy group, too excited to remember such things as introductions.</p>
+
+<p>The lame girl was very sorry to lose this little will-o'-wisp neighbor
+who had brought so much sunshine into her life during her short stay at
+the parsonage, but Elizabeth was to visit her every day, and the
+Campbells promised not only to lend Peace often to the stone house, but
+also to come with her; so they said good-bye at length, and the curly
+brown head bobbed out of sight down the long avenue, behind prancing
+Marmaduke and Charlemagne.</p>
+
+<p>Peace was glad to get home again, and spent the next few days renewing
+her acquaintance with the place, philosophizing with Gussie, Marie and
+Jud, and regaling family and servants alike with accounts of her long
+stay at the parsonage, for it seemed to her that she had been away three
+years instead of three months.</p>
+
+<p>On the third day she suddenly remembered the approaching Fourth and the
+generous bank account which she and Allee had kept for just that
+occasion. So she sat down on the stairs to plan out the list of
+fireworks that they should buy with their precious hoard, and was busy
+trying to add up a lengthy column of figures, when she heard Hope in the
+hall below say, "Yes, grandma, it's a letter from Gail. They aren't
+coming home for another week unless you want them particularly, because
+they have discovered a family of eight children out there by the lake
+who have never had a real Fourth of July celebration in their lives, and
+Frances is planning a picnic for them and wants the girls to help her
+out."</p>
+
+<p>Peace heard no more. Frances was planning a gala day for a family of
+eight children who would have no fireworks for the glorious Fourth. Why
+could she and Allee not do the same thing for the Home children? There
+were more than fifty little folks in that institution who would have no
+celebration either, unless some good fairy provided it. She and Allee
+would have more than enough fire-crackers for the whole family, even if
+grandpa did not buy a single bunch himself, and of course he would do
+his part to make the day a grand success.</p>
+
+<p>She went in search of Allee, unfolded her new plan, and as usual won her
+ready consent, for the smallest sister found this other child's quaint
+ideas delightfully thrilling, and was always willing to join her in any
+escapade, however daring.</p>
+
+<p>"I knew you'd say yes," Peace sighed with satisfaction, when they had
+agreed upon the list of fire-crackers, caps and torpedoes. "Now the thing
+of it is, will grandpa be as easy? He has such very queer thoughts on
+some things. Still, he's usu'ly right, too. I've found out that it is
+lots better to try to help such folks as the Home children 'stead of
+tramps and hand-organ men, who are only fakes or lazy-bones. There was
+Petri, now,&mdash;he made loads of money off of Juiceharpie and Jocko, but he
+was mean as dirt to both of them. The Home children are different.
+Anything nice you do for them makes them happy and they like you all the
+better. Well, we better go see grandpa about it first, so's he can't
+kick after we get started real well with our plans. Besides, I don't
+s'pose Miss Chase would listen to us if grandpa doesn't know what we are
+up to."</p>
+
+<p>Hand in hand they descended the stairs to the study and knocked, but the
+weary President was stretched on his couch fast asleep and did not hear
+their gentle tapping.</p>
+
+<p>"He's here, I know," Peace declared. "I saw him when he went in, and he
+told grandma that he should be home the rest of the day."</p>
+
+<p>"P'raps he's upstairs in his room."</p>
+
+<p>"But he ain't, I tell you! Didn't we just come from upstairs! We'd have
+heard him moving about if he'd been up there."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe he's asleep."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to see."</p>
+
+<p>Cautiously she opened the door a little crack and peeped in. The west
+window curtains were drawn and the room was very dim, but after a few
+rapid blinks, Peace became accustomed to the subdued light, and saw the
+long figure lying on the davenport beside the fireplace, now filled with
+summer flowers.</p>
+
+<p>"There he is," she whispered triumphantly, and pushing the door further
+ajar, she stepped across the threshold.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we mustn't 'sturb him!" protested Allee, holding back; but Peace
+serenely assured her, "I ain't going to touch him. I'm just going to
+stay till he wakes up. Are you coming?"</p>
+
+<p>Allee, followed, still a little reluctant, and the door closed
+noiselessly behind them. With careful hands, they drew up a long Roman
+chair in front of the couch, and sat down together to await the
+President's awakening. The room was almost gloomy in its dimness, and
+so quiet that they could hear their own breathing. But not another sound
+broke the silence, save the ticking of the little French clock on the
+mantel, which drove Peace almost to distraction. Then she chanced to
+remember a discussion she had heard a long time before, and settling
+herself with elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, she fixed
+her somber eyes full upon the sleeping face before her, and stared with
+all her might.</p>
+
+<p>"Look at him," she commanded Allee in a stage whisper.</p>
+
+<p>"What for?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just 'cause. Glare for all you're worth!"</p>
+
+<p>"But why?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you byme-by."</p>
+
+<p>So dutiful Allee "glared for all she was worth," and soon the sleeper
+grew restless. Then he opened his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"We did it!" crowed Peace shrilly, spatting her hands together so
+suddenly that he jumped.</p>
+
+<p>"Did what, you young jackanapes?" he growled, rubbing his sleepy eyes, a
+trifle vexed at having been disturbed before his nap was out.</p>
+
+<p>"Woke you up with just looking at you! We never touched you at all&mdash;just
+glared and glowered as hard as ever we could, and you woke up like Faith
+said you would."</p>
+
+<p>"Faith? Did she send you here to wake me up? Have she and Gail come
+home?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, they ain't coming till after the Fourth. They're going to stay
+and help Frances celebrate a family of eight children which have never
+had any fireworks in all their lives. That's what we came to see you
+about, but you were asleep and we got tired of waiting, so we tried to
+see if we could stare you awake, like the girls said folks could do if
+they looked long and hard enough. It worked."</p>
+
+<p>"Something did," he smiled grimly. "Was it so important that you had to
+tell it immediately? Couldn't it have kept until dinner hour?"</p>
+
+<p>"You and grandma are invited out for dinner this evening, and anyway, we
+wanted to have a private <i>conflab</i> with you all by yourself before we
+told the others our plan."</p>
+
+<p>"Plan? Another plan! My sakes, Peace, where do you keep them all?"</p>
+
+<p>The round, eager face grew long. It wasn't like grandpa to make fun of
+her. What could be the matter?</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you're not int'rested," she said in heavy disappointment.
+"Come, Allee, we better be going."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed you better not!" he cried, thoroughly aroused by her look and
+tone, and remembering that she was unaccountably sensitive to the moods
+of her loved ones. "I won't tease you another speck. Come and tell
+grandpa what it is now that you want me to help with."</p>
+
+<p>"We don't want your help at all," she answered gravely, letting him draw
+her down to one knee, while he enthroned Allee on the other. "All you've
+got to do is say yes."</p>
+
+<p>Knowing from experience what wild-cat schemes were often evolved by that
+tireless brain, he cautiously replied, "'Yes' is an easy word to speak,
+girlies, but sometimes 'no' is wisest, even if it is hard to learn."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I think you will like this plan, grandpa." Peace was warming up to
+the subject. "It hasn't anything to do with tramps or beggars, and I
+don't want to give away any more of my clo'es&mdash;'nless p'raps that white
+apron to Lottie, 'cause she likes it so well. This is about the Home
+children. You know our Fourth of July money?"</p>
+
+<p>"Did you think I had forgotten that?" Inwardly he was shaking with
+merriment. He never recalled the dedication of the flag room without
+wanting to shout.</p>
+
+<p>"No, but I did think maybe it had skipped your mind just for a minute."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it hasn't. What does your Fourth of July money have to do with
+the Home children and white aprons?"</p>
+
+<p>"White aprons ain't in it&mdash;only that one I should like to give Lottie,
+but that can be any day. What we want to do is share our fire-crackers
+with the Home children, 'cause the Lady Boards don't allow for such
+things in raising money to take care of the Home, and so the children
+won't have any to celebrate with, 'nless their fathers bring them a few,
+and mostly the fathers are too hard up for that. Allee and me have
+dollars and dollars in our bank just to <i>cluttervate</i> our love of
+country with, and we thought this would be a splendid chance to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Spread the d'sease," finished Allee, as Peace paused for want of words
+to express her ideas.</p>
+
+<p>"It ain't a <i>disease</i>, Allee Greenfield! To make 'em happy&mdash;that's what
+I meant to say."</p>
+
+<p>"A very worthy object, my dear."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you like it and won't kick?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you have considered the matter carefully and want to share your
+Fourth of July with the Home children, I am perfectly willing, girlies,
+and will do all I can to help you succeed."</p>
+
+<p>"That's what we wanted to know, grandpa," she cried gleefully. "You'll
+have all kinds of chances to help, too, 'cause I've just thought of
+ice-cream and watermelon&mdash;if they are ripe by that time&mdash;and ice-cream
+anyway, with a nice picnic dinner to go with the fire-crackers and
+<i>Roming</i> candles. Some of 'em have never had but two or three dishes of
+ice-cream in all their lives. Think how tickled they will be! P'raps my
+Lilac Lady will invite them all over to her house to celebrate, 'cause
+it always seems so much nicer to go away somewhere for a picnic, even if
+'tis only a few blocks. And the stone house has great wide lawns,
+bigger'n ours, though I like ours best on account of the river, even if
+we haven't all the lovely flowers which Hicks has planted in his
+gardens."</p>
+
+<p>Thoughtfully the President lifted the shade behind the couch and looked
+out across the smooth velvet turf, sloping gently to the river bank in
+one long, even stretch, broken by an occasional posy-bed, and liberally
+dotted with giant oaks and stately lindens. It was an ideal spot for a
+picnic or lawn social such as Peace had described; and Japanese lanterns
+suspended among the branches and hung about the wide verandas would make
+it a veritable fairyland for the little folks of the Home, whose gala
+days were so few and far between.</p>
+
+<p>Unconsciously he spoke aloud: "The mis'es would enjoy it as much as the
+rest; that is the beauty of it."</p>
+
+<p>"What <i>are</i> you talking about, grandpa?" cried the children, amazed at
+the remark which seemed to have no bearing whatever on the subject.</p>
+
+<p>"Did I speak?" he asked sheepishly. "I was just wondering how they would
+enjoy coming here for their celebration instead of going to the stone
+house&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, grandpa! That would be <i>splendid</i>! How did it happen that I never
+thought of it myself?" Peace exclaimed in comical surprise. "We'll ask
+Saint Elspeth and John and my Lilac Lady and Aunt Pen to come and help.
+Hicks took her to church for Children's Sunday. Don't you s'pose he
+could bring her down here, even if it is three miles?"</p>
+
+<p>"If she will come, dear, we will find a way of bringing her," he
+promised, drawing the little girls closer to him as if to shield them
+from such sorrow as had darkened that other young life.</p>
+
+<p>"And that will mean Juiceharpie and Glen will come, too," murmured
+Allee, who was much charmed with these two little gentlemen,
+particularly with the Italian waif, whose strange history still seemed
+like a story-book tale to her.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, the children will come, too, of course, and we will even borrow
+the cook and Hicks, if the Lilac Lady will lend them. Do you suppose she
+will?"</p>
+
+<p>"Let's go and see this very minute," proposed Peace. "The Fourth is too
+near already to let it get any closer before we find out about these
+things. And we've still to see Miss Chase about the Home folks coming,
+you know."</p>
+
+<p>Thoroughly interested now in her project, the President drew forth his
+watch, glanced at the hour, and rang for Jud to harness the horses.</p>
+
+<p>Of course Miss Chase accepted the invitation at once, and the Home
+children were jubilant. The little parsonage family was equally charmed
+with the plan and agreed to help it along all they could. But at the
+stone house, when the matter was explained, it quite took Aunt Pen's
+breath away, and for a moment even the Lilac Lady looked as if she were
+about to refuse. But Giuseppe was radiant, and seizing his beloved
+violin, ha capered about the white-faced invalid, crying in delight,
+"An' I feedle an' ma angel seeng. Oh, eet be heaven!"</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps it was his happy face, perhaps it was Peace's wistful entreaty,
+but at any rate, the lame girl suddenly smiled up at the President
+beside her and answered heartily, "Tell Mrs. Campbell we shall all be
+there to help her if the day is clear, and it surely must be when the
+happiness of so many people depends upon it."</p>
+
+<p>The day <i>was</i> clear and delightfully cool, Jud had accomplished wonders
+with flags, bunting and lanterns, and the place looked even more like
+the haunts of fairies than the girls had dared dream. Rustic benches and
+porch chairs were scattered about under the trees, two immense hammocks
+hung on the wide veranda, and a strong swing had been fastened among the
+branches of the tallest oak. The barn chamber, which Peace had planned
+on having for a playhouse, was swept and scrubbed, furbished up with old
+furniture from the garret, and stocked with toys of all sorts, that the
+children who might not care for games all day could find other amusement
+to fill the hours. The boat-house, too, was put in order and decorated
+with ferns and flowers, for Hope was to preside here behind great jars
+of lemonade and frapp&eacute;, and it proved to be a very popular resort all
+day long. It is surprising how thirsty one does get at a picnic!</p>
+
+<p>Early in the morning, Hicks brought the preacher's family, Aunt Pen and
+his young mistress in the great red automobile, which was now used so
+seldom that Peace had not even discovered its existence; but when she
+saw it, she let out a whoop of surprise that startled the rest of the
+household, and dashed down the driveway to meet it, screaming shrilly,
+"When you've dumped out that load, Hicks, you better begin going after
+the Home children. It will take Duke and Charley a long time to bring
+them here alone; and besides, I'll bet none of the boys and girls there
+have ever ridden in an auto yet. I know I haven't."</p>
+
+<p>"That is a good idea, Peace," said the lame girl happily. "I never would
+have thought of it. Those who drive down in the carriage can go home in
+the auto, so they will all get a ride. Just put the baskets and traps on
+that table, Hicks, and start as soon as possible."</p>
+
+<p>An hour later all the guests had assembled, and the day's program was
+begun. Of course there were some mishaps. Was there ever a picnic
+without them? But no one was badly hurt. It was Giuseppe's first
+celebration of Independence Day with gunpowder and torpedoes, and in his
+excitement and delight at the noise he was making, he thoughtlessly
+thrust a stump of burning punk into his trousers' pocket along with a
+bunch of fire-crackers, and would have been seriously burned, no doubt,
+had not Cherry promptly turned the hose on him. As it was, he was nearly
+drowned, and very much frightened, but soon recovered from the shock,
+and returned with energy to his crackers again.</p>
+
+<p>Lottie fell through the hay-mow in the barn, trying to escape her
+pursuer in a lively game of tag. George tumbled into the river and was
+rescued just in time. Tony got hit by the swing-board and lost one tooth
+as a result. Allee sat down in a tub of lemonade, and Peace toppled out
+of a tree into a trayful of ice-cream which Jud had just dished up. But
+these were mere trifles, swallowed up in the greater events of the
+day&mdash;the boisterous games on the smooth lawn, the picnic dinner under
+the trees, the beautiful music made by the lame girl and the little
+songbird of Italy; the destruction of the sham fort built by the
+dignified doctor and sedate young minister; the row on the river in the
+late afternoon; the gorgeous beauty of the place when the lanterns were
+lighted at dusk; and, fitting climax of that wonderful day, the
+brilliant display of fireworks which Jud set off when finally darkness
+had fallen over the land.</p>
+
+<p>But like all happy days, this Fourth of July came to an end at last, the
+guests departed, and Peace, walking slowly up the path from the gate,
+felt suddenly tired. Slipping her hand into the doctor's big one, she
+sighed, "Well, it's all over with! Our flag room money has gone up in
+smoke and down in ice-cream."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you sorry?" asked the President, a little surprised at her
+long-drawn sigh and tone of regret.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, I ain't sorry for that part of it. I'm sorry the day is gone.
+That's the trouble with having a good time. It always comes to an end."</p>
+
+<p>"But the memory of it still lives. Think how many hearts you have made
+happy today."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that's so," she answered, brightening visibly; "and the best of it
+is, there's at least one more <i>patriarch</i>. Juiceharpie has always been
+an Italian till today, but after this he's going to be an American. The
+fire-crackers did it."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+
+<h3>PEACE GIVES THE LILAC LADY AN IDEA</h3>
+
+
+<p>The Home Missionary Society of the South Avenue Church was holding its
+monthly meeting in the Campbell parlors, and Peace, feeling very forlorn
+and left out, because grandma had suggested that she better join the
+sisters in the barn playhouse, wandered down to the gate and stood
+looking up the street in search of something to occupy her attention.
+She was tired of playing games in the barn, she had read the latest St.
+Nicholas from cover to cover, and the postman had not yet brought the
+Youth's Companion, although this was the regular day for it. Anyway, she
+didn't care to read. She would rather stay and listen to what the women
+in the house were talking about, but if grandma did not want her, she
+certainly should not bother them with her presence. Likely the meeting
+would be very dry; it usually was when Mrs. Roberts stayed away, and she
+had not put in appearance yet.</p>
+
+<p>Grandma had half promised that she might visit the Lilac Lady that
+afternoon, but for some reason had changed her mind and put off the
+visit until the morrow. Ho, hum! What was a small girl to do to amuse
+herself this warm day, when she had already done everything she could
+think of, and had been forbidden to go where she most wanted to go?</p>
+
+<p>Slowly she unlatched the gate and strolled down the avenue, swinging her
+white sunbonnet by one string, and whistling plaintively under her
+breath. The wide street, shaded by immense oaks and maples, felt
+deliciously cool and restful, but it was also very quiet, and Peace had
+wandered several blocks without meeting a soul, when without warning she
+stumbled over two mites of tots, almost hidden in the rank grass and
+weeds in front of a ragged-looking unkempt little cabin of a house,
+which in its better days had evidently been used for a barn. The
+children were as much surprised as Peace, and after one frightened
+glance at the intruder, they both buried their heads in their patched
+aprons and cowered still lower among the weeds. But from the fleeting
+glimpse Peace had caught of the little faces, she knew they had been
+crying, and her first thought was, "They are lost."</p>
+
+<p>Impulsively she kneeled on the walk beside them and coaxingly asked,
+"What is the trouble, little girls? Have you run away?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, we ain't!" retorted the older child, lifting a streaked,
+tear-stained face to eye her questioner indignantly. "We ain't girls,
+either! I am, but he ain't!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," murmured Peace, much abashed by her fierce reception, "I took him
+for a girl on account of his clo'es. He's wearing dresses."</p>
+
+<p>"He ain't old enough for pants. He's only two."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mercy! He's lots bigger than Glen. But then Glen won't be two until
+next January."</p>
+
+<p>"Is Glen your brother?" asked the other girl, somewhat mollified by the
+friendliness of the stranger's voice.</p>
+
+<p>"No, he's the minister's little boy which we used to have in Parker
+where we lived 'fore we came here. What's your baby's name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Rivers."</p>
+
+<p>"His first name, I mean."</p>
+
+<p>"That's his first name. Rivers Dillon, and I'm Fern."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! They're as bad as ours, ain't they? I'm always running up against
+horrid names. Gail says it's 'cause I am always looking for them&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Our names ain't horrid!" Fern Dillon bounced off the grass like an
+angry hornet, then collapsed beside the baby brother, who evidently was
+not given much to talking, for he had not said a word, but simply stared
+in round-eyed surprise at the pretty stranger child. "Oh, dear,
+everybody is so mean!"</p>
+
+<p>"Fern, what have I done? I didn't mean to be hateful," cried Peace
+remorsefully. "Please, I'm sorry I've made you mad. Don't mind anything
+I said. I've always hated my own name so bad that I am always glad when
+I can find a worse one. That is all I meant."</p>
+
+<p>Strange to say, Fern's wrath was at once appeased, in spite of the
+explanation, and she smiled faintly as she brushed away the fresh tears.
+"I thought you was going to be just like Mrs. Burnett," she explained.
+"She's always scolding mamma 'cause she won't put Rivers and me in a
+Home&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"In a <i>Home</i>?" cried Peace in horrified accents. "What for?"</p>
+
+<p>"So's she can get more work to do. Lots of people won't give her their
+washing 'cause she has to take both of us with her, and folks think
+three is too many to feed, I guess."</p>
+
+<p>"Is your papa dead?"</p>
+
+<p>"He&mdash;he's gone. Mabel Cartwell says he's in jail," her voice dropped to
+an awed whisper; "but when I asked mamma, she just cried and cried. Now
+she's sick and they are going to take her to a hospital, and I don't
+know what Rivers and me'll do. Mrs. Burnett says of course we can't go
+with her, 'cause there ain't any sickness the matter with us,
+and&mdash;and&mdash;oh, we can't stay with <i>her</i>! She shakes Rivers for everything
+he touches. Oh dear, oh dear!"</p>
+
+<p>"Have they&mdash;taken your mamma&mdash;away yet?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, she's in there&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"In that barn?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's where we live since papa&mdash;went away."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to ask her if you can't go home with me. Grandma will know&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"You mustn't bother mamma," cried Fern, clutching Peace about the ankles
+as she started toward the sagging door of the ramshackle old house.
+"Mrs. Burnett will chase you out with the broom like she did us. And
+'sides, mamma won't know you. She doesn't even know Rivers and me&mdash;her
+own little children."</p>
+
+<p>Peace pondered. Here was an unlooked-for predicament. Would she be doing
+wrong if she took the brother and sister away without saying anything to
+the mother who did not know her own children any longer? She might speak
+to Mrs. Burnett, but how about that broomstick? For a moment she stood
+irresolute, scratching her head thoughtfully. Then with characteristic
+energy and decision, she grabbed Rivers with one hand and Fern with the
+other, and trotted off down the street, saying briefly, "I'm going to
+show you to grandma. She will know what to do."</p>
+
+<p>"Will you bring us back again?"</p>
+
+<p>"Course! You don't think I am a kidnapper, do you? That's what Mittie
+Cole called me when I thought I was going to adopt the twins that were
+only runaways. Mittie got to like me afterwards, though."</p>
+
+<p>"I like you now."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course. Most folks do, but it takes a longer time with some to make
+up their minds. I'm glad you are quick at d'ciding. We turn this
+corner."</p>
+
+<p>Hurrying them along as fast as Rivers' short legs could toddle, she at
+length reached the big, old-fashioned house, and burst in upon the
+Missionary Meeting with a torrent of jumbled explanation.</p>
+
+<p>"Here's two folks that need home missionarying if anybody does. Their
+mother is so sick she doesn't know people any more, and the father is
+either in jail or heaven. Mrs. Burnett chases 'em out of the house with
+the broomstick, and I borrowed them to show you just how ragged and
+dirty they really are, so's you will know I ain't got hold of a fake
+mistake again. They live in a horrid little barn of a house, quite a
+piece from here, and the hospital is coming after the mother any time.
+They won't take Fern and Rivers, of course, 'cause they are both well,
+but I thought likely Mrs. Burnett might begin to use the broomstick
+again if the children were left with her, so I brought 'em along with me
+until you could decide what to do with them. They don't want to go to a
+Home, and I don't want them to, either." Her breath gave out, and the
+astonished ladies recovered their poise sufficiently to ask questions
+until the whole pitiful tale had been unravelled.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll send a committee at once to investigate," proposed the fat
+secretary, whom Peace disliked for no reason whatever.</p>
+
+<p>"Then send somebody who's got a heart," suggested the little maid. "This
+is a truly sick woman which needs help. I'll show you the place. Fern,
+you and Rivers stay here with grandma till I get back. Ladies, who are
+the committee?"</p>
+
+<p>Spurred on by Peace's enthusiastic leadership, the society hastily
+appointed a committee, and they departed on their errand of mercy. The
+house was even more squalid than Peace had pictured it, and the woman's
+case more desperate. An hour later a subdued, sympathetic trio of
+ladies, with Peace in tow, returned to the Campbell residence with their
+report.</p>
+
+<p>"It is worse than we expected," said the chairman in a voice that
+trembled in spite of her efforts to speak naturally. "The father is
+in&mdash;Stillwater. Embezzlement. The mother, destitute, without relatives
+or friends, naturally a frail little woman, and now ill with typhoid,
+brought on by overwork and anxiety. These two children dependent upon
+her, and none of the neighbors really situated so they can take care of
+them. We secured a bed in Danbury Hospital for the mother, and told the
+authorities that we would be responsible for the babies. We simply
+could not think of leaving them there to be buffeted about by unwilling
+neighbors&mdash;no telling how long the mother will be unable to take care of
+them, if she ever is again. Now, the question is, what shall we do with
+these two tots?"</p>
+
+<p>Immediately there was a buzz of comment, and an avalanche of theory and
+advice began to flow from fifty tongues.</p>
+
+<p>Peace, interested in the controversy, had been banished to the
+dining-room to amuse Rivers, who had developed an unlimited propensity
+for mischief-making since his arrival at the big house, but through the
+open door she caught bits of the conversation, and her heart beat quick
+with fear.</p>
+
+<p>"They are trying to <i>passle</i> Fern and Rivers off among different
+families," she said with bated breath. "What a shame that would be! Mr.
+Dillon in Stillwater, the mother in Danbury Hospital, Fern with Mrs.
+York, and Rivers at the Weston's. Oh, they mustn't part Fern from her
+baby! They can't get along without each other. Ain't it too bad we don't
+have a Home around here like they've got in Kentucky! Why didn't I think
+of that before?"</p>
+
+<p>She gathered Fern and Rivers under her wing once more, and noiselessly
+departed from the house by way of the kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are we going this time? Home?" questioned Fern, loath to leave
+the great house so full of beautiful things for one to admire.</p>
+
+<p>"Not yet. I've just got a think. I b'lieve I know a lady which'll take
+you both till your mother gets well. She's lame herself, but Aunt Pen
+isn't, and they both love children. You'll have to ride on the cars.
+Come on, don't be afraid. I've done it lots of times and I never get
+lost."</p>
+
+<p>Somewhat reluctantly, Fern allowed herself and brother to be lifted onto
+the car by the big conductor, who evidently knew Peace, for he greeted
+her with a cheery shout, "Hello, my hearty! Going to see your Lilac Lady
+again?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," Peace answered promptly. "I've got another bunch of orphans&mdash;that
+is, they will be until their mother gets well and the father comes back,
+if he can." She remembered at that moment that she did not yet
+understand what had actually happened to the breadwinner of this
+unfortunate family. "And I knew my Lilac Lady would be glad to take care
+of them for a little while, so's they wouldn't have to be sep'rated."</p>
+
+<p>With that, she ushered the children to seats inside the moving car, and
+they were quickly whirled away to the corner where stood Teeter's
+Pharmacy. Here they were helped off by the genial conductor, and Peace
+led the way up the hill to the beautiful stone house which could be
+plainly seen from the roadway now, because the thick cedar hedges had
+all been cut down, and only tall iron palings enclosed the lovely
+gardens.</p>
+
+<p>Under her favorite oak by the lilac hedge lay the lame girl in her
+prison-chair, looking whiter and frailer than ever before, and Peace
+stopped in the midst of a rapturous kiss to ask fearfully, "Have you
+been sick again?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, dear," smiled the marble lips. "I am a little tired these days, but
+perfectly well. Whom have you here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Fern and Rivers Dillon. Their mother is dreadfully sick with <i>tryfoid</i>
+fever and their father is in&mdash;well, it's either a jail or a graveyard. I
+found them crying 'cause Mrs. Burnett had driven them out of the house
+with the broomstick, and when I took them home to the lady missionaries
+who are meeting at our house this afternoon, they began planning right
+away to divide them up among some families of our church. I couldn't
+bear to think of that, so I brought them up to you. I knew you'd be glad
+to keep them till the mother gets well, and they don't want to go to the
+Children's Home a bit. Rivers can't keep still a minute, but I know how
+he feels. It's the same way with me. At first I couldn't see how any
+mother would name her little boy such a name as that, but now I know. He
+upset three vases of flowers in the reception hall, and spilled a glass
+of frapp&eacute; down his dress when I tried to give him some to drink, and
+pulled over the bird-cage, so's the water was all spilled, and stepped
+into the dog's drinking trough at the back door while I was trying to
+get them out of the house without the ladies seeing me. He makes rivers
+out of every bit of water he comes near."</p>
+
+<p>"Doesn't your grandmother know where you have gone?" asked the invalid
+in surprise, not half understanding what Peace was trying to tell her.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, no! She's one of the missionaries herself. She might think I ought
+to let her s'ciety look after these children as long as they've got hold
+of the mother already; but I&mdash;they'd be sep'rated as sure as fits,
+and&mdash;just look how teenty Rivers is to be taken away from <i>all</i> his
+folks at once."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want him tookened away," Fern spoke up. "Mamma told me to stay
+with him all the time, and I said I would. He can't talk much yet and
+there ain't anybody else can tell what he wants, now that mamma is
+sick."</p>
+
+<p>"Come here, dear." The lame girl held out her thin, blue-veined hands,
+and little, homeless Fern ran to her with a desolate cry.</p>
+
+<p>Peace was satisfied, and dropping down cross-legged in the grass at
+their feet, she remarked thoughtfully, "I <i>had</i> to bring them here, you
+see. Our house is full already, and grandpa says grandma has all she can
+'tend to with the six of us. The parsonage is too small to hold any
+more, and besides, Saint John is away on his vacation, so the house is
+shut up for a few days. I knew Aunt Pen could mother a dozen, and I knew
+you'd want her to if she got the chance, so I brought 'em along.</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't it too bad there isn't a nice Children's Home in this state like
+there is in Kentucky or some place down South, where one lady has forty
+daughters? They ain't any of 'em her very own. She's really just the
+matron of the Home, like Miss Chase is of our Children's Home, only they
+don't call the place a Home. The lady is just like a real mother to
+them, and she won't let any of her girls be adopted away from her. She
+just takes care of them until they are old enough to look out for
+themselves or get a husband to look out for them. Then she takes some
+more in their place and keeps on that way. And they just love her to
+pieces. They wear nice clothes and she teaches 'em music and manners and
+how to keep house and makes useful wives out of them. Oh, that's the
+kind of a Home I'd like to have here! Then Lottie could live there
+'stead of being sent to the 'sylum."</p>
+
+<p>"Lottie sent to the asylum? Why, what do you mean, Peace?" cried the
+startled invalid, sitting almost upright in her chair.</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't you heard?" It was Peace's turn to look surprised.</p>
+
+<p>"Not a word of that sort."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you know Lottie is a <i>norphan</i>, and when she was a baby somebody
+adopted her, but her new mother died last winter, and her new father put
+her in the Home 'cause he couldn't take care of her himself. Now he's
+been killed on the railroad, and his people don't want to be bothered
+with her, so she's to be sent to a Norphan 'Sylum, 'cause the Home takes
+only children who have somebody who will look after them a little.
+Lottie feels dreadfully bad and has 'most cried her eyes out already. I
+couldn't get her even to smile when I was up there this week. She is
+going to leave next Wednesday."</p>
+
+<p>For a long moment the lame girl lay in deep thought, still holding
+Fern's chubby hand in hers, though she had evidently forgotten all about
+the little stranger children in her concern for the friendless orphan,
+Lottie. When she spoke, she asked absently, "What was that you were
+telling me about the Kentucky lady? Where did you hear about it?"</p>
+
+<p>"That girls' Home in Kentucky? Oh, grandma was reading about it in
+Blank's Magazine the other day, and grandpa said that's the way all
+children's Homes ought to be carried out. Then the boys and girls would
+be happier and grow up into better men and women. That's what I think,
+too."</p>
+
+<p>"We take Blank's Magazine," said the lame girl irrelevantly. "Here
+comes Aunt Pen. We must tell her about Fern and Rivers, and she will
+telephone the ladies that they are safe with us. Poor little waifs! You
+are home now&mdash;until the dear mother is able to care for you again. Then
+we'll see."</p>
+
+<p>That was the beginning of it, but the next time Peace visited the Lilac
+Lady, she found a crew of noisy carpenters at work on the stone house,
+and in answer to her surprised questions, the invalid said, "This is to
+be an Orphan Asylum, dear. We shall not call it by that ugly name, but
+that is what it is really to be, and we have already two real orphans,
+not counting Fern and Rivers, who may be here for only a few weeks or
+months."</p>
+
+<p>"Who are the orphans?"</p>
+
+<p>"Giuseppe and Lottie."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my Lilac Lady! How did you ever think of such a splendid plan?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't, Peace. It was you."</p>
+
+<p>"Me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, dear. When you told me about that Kentucky Home which all the
+children love, I wondered why Aunt Pen would not make a good mother for
+such a place in this state, and when I asked her, she was <i>so</i> happy!"</p>
+
+<p>"But you? Where will you live if you turn your lovely house into a
+<i>norphan</i> 'sylum?"</p>
+
+<p>"Right here&mdash;till the time comes to go home. It won't be long now, but I
+shall be content if I know the fortune which failed to make me happy is
+bringing joy and sunshine into the lives of scores of homeless
+children&mdash;hundreds in time, perhaps&mdash;and is giving them the education
+and self-reliance and refinement and love which will make them noble
+citizens of a noble country."</p>
+
+<p>Peace only vaguely understood her words, but it was clear to her that
+the stone mansion was to become a home nest now for helpless little ones
+whose own parents had been taken from them, and the thought that she had
+had even a small share in bringing to pass this splendid plan sent a
+thrill of joy singing through her heart. Hugging her knees together with
+both lithe brown arms, she puckered her lips and began to whistle the
+refrain:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Sca-atter sunshine<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">All along the wa-ay;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Cheer and bless and bri-ighten<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Every passing da-ay.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The lame girl joined in with her rich, sweet tones, and they sang it
+through to the end. Then as silence once more fell upon them, the young
+mistress of the place dropped her waxen hand lightly upon the brown
+curls resting against the arm of her chair, and said musingly, "That is
+to be the motto of our Home, dear. The song has brought me more
+happiness than any other thing in my life, I think. I want to pass it
+on."</p>
+
+<p>"And let me help," eagerly put in Peace.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+
+<h3>THE LILAC LADY FALLS ASLEEP</h3>
+
+
+<p>So the summer swept rapidly on. The remodelled stone mansion was
+finished at last and daintily furnished to meet every requirement. There
+were school-rooms and work-rooms and play-rooms. There were parlors and
+pianos and piazzas. There were long windows and wide doors everywhere.
+The whole place was filled with sunshine and fresh air. Rare flowers and
+ferns from the conservatory peeped out from every corner; the polished
+floors were covered with thick, soft carpets; easy chairs and tempting
+couches were harmoniously arranged about the rooms. A wing of the
+basement was converted into a gymnasium with a brave array of dumbbells,
+Indian clubs, trapezes and ladders. The great house was complete in
+every detail, and all Martindale was interested in this unique Home
+which the Lilac Lady was founding. But, though the offers to help were
+many, the lame girl refused them all and pushed the work with untiring
+energy.</p>
+
+<p>Lottie had joined the three waifs already in the Palace Beautiful, as
+the Greenfield girls called it, although its real name was to be Oak
+Knoll; and one other little orphan maid had slipped in through the open
+doors. Aunt Pen had been persuaded to take a flying trip to the southern
+Home which Peace had so enthusiastically described, and returned fired
+with zeal for the new work which held so many opportunities. Plans were
+discussed, a Board of Directors elected, the business routine adjusted,
+and everything legalized in order that there might be no hitch in
+proceedings after the institution had been opened to the public.</p>
+
+<p>The lame girl developed a surprising business ability, and insisted upon
+looking after all the details personally, seeming to grow stronger as
+the work progressed, and she saw her plans nearing completion. Even Aunt
+Pen was deceived by the delicate flush which tinted the once colorless
+cheeks, and the keen, alive look in the deep blue eyes; but the girl
+herself understood, and so hurried carpenters and lawyers alike, until
+at length everything was done, and Oak Knoll had been formally dedicated
+and opened for its noble work.</p>
+
+<p>Autumn lingered long that year, cool and calm, as if to make up for the
+fierce heat of the summer months. But at last the frosts came and tipped
+every leaf and flower with gorgeous colors; the grass grew brown on the
+hillside; the brilliant foliage of the trees fluttered down with every
+breath of wind that stirred; and the crisp, hazy air was filled with the
+smell of fall. Then, when the chill of winter seemed upon them, the warm
+days of Indian Summer again held it in check and revived the fading
+flowers for one last bloom before going to sleep under blankets of ice
+and snow.</p>
+
+<p>Such a day was it the Sunday following Gail's twentieth birthday; and
+after dinner had been served, the family repaired to the wide veranda
+with books and papers to enjoy the freshness of the air and drink in the
+glories of the autumn afternoon, while they read or talked together,
+feeling that this was the last time for many weeks that they could sit
+in this fashion out-of-doors.</p>
+
+<p>But Peace was restless. There was a subtle something in the smell of the
+hazy atmosphere which appealed to her forcefully, and leaving the family
+gathered about the President on the piazza, she wandered down the
+driveway to the great bed of chrysanthemums growing in a sheltered nook
+where the frosts had not yet found them, and stood gloating over their
+splendid blossoms.</p>
+
+<p>"Chrysanthemums, chrysanthemums, oh, you dear chrysanthemums," she
+hummed to herself, then stooped and plucked one long spray, another, a
+whole armful, and with shining eyes she returned to the porch.</p>
+
+<p>"My, what beauties!" exclaimed Faith, looking up from her book as Peace
+passed. "Why didn't you leave them in the garden? They look so cheerful
+growing, now that all the other flowers are gone."</p>
+
+<p>"Hicks is coming after me this afternoon to visit Palace Beautiful, and
+the Lilac Lady loves chrysanthemums."</p>
+
+<p>She thrust her head deep into her bouquet, and they laughed at the
+roguish, round face peeping from between the great yellow and white
+balls. It was indeed a pretty picture, for both flowers and face seemed
+radiating sunshine.</p>
+
+<p>The chug-chug of an approaching automobile drew their attention to the
+road, and Allee exclaimed, "There's Hicks now!"</p>
+
+<p>"It's Hicks' machine, but that ain't him driving," answered Peace,
+studying the car slowing up in front of the gate. "Hicks always comes up
+the driveway, too. Why, it's Saint John and Elspeth!" They waved their
+hands at the little group on the porch, and the doctor walked down to
+the gate to meet the minister, who had leaped to the ground from his
+place at the wheel.</p>
+
+<p>"Run, get your hat and jacket, Peace," called Mrs. Campbell, as the
+child started as if to join her friends in the street, so she darted
+into the house for her wraps, impatient to be off in the throbbing, red
+car. She was back in a moment, her jacket thrown over one arm and her
+hat dangling down her back, but as she leaped onto the step beside
+Elizabeth, she was vaguely conscious that both the preacher and his wife
+looked strangely exalted, and they greeted her more tenderly and with
+less boisterous fun than was usual. Indeed, Saint John hugged her so
+tightly that it hurt, but she could not rebuke him, because he was
+speaking to the family gathered at the gate, and she caught the words,
+"Only an hour ago. We have just come from there."</p>
+
+<p>She wondered a little what they were talking about, but before she could
+ask, the preacher sprang to his place, released the wheel, and the car
+leaped forward as if alive, toppling Peace into Elizabeth's arms. When
+she had righted herself, she demanded, "Where is Glen?"</p>
+
+<p>"We left him with Mrs. Lane."</p>
+
+<p>"That's queer. Is he sick?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, but we thought it best to leave him at the parsonage this
+time," she answered evasively. "Those are beautiful chrysanthemums you
+have."</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't they, though? Jud does have the best luck with his asters and
+chrysanthemums. These beat Hicks' all hollow. Where is Hicks? I 'xpected
+he'd come for me today. I didn't know Saint John could drive well enough
+yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Hicks was&mdash;busy. So we came."</p>
+
+<p>"I s'pose that's why you left Glen. You didn't want to take the chances
+with Saint John driving the car. Is that it?"</p>
+
+<p>Elizabeth smiled faintly. "No, we never once thought of that, Peace.
+Mrs. Lane offered to stay with him, and so we let her."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! Well, I s'pose I would have too, if I'd been you, 'cause 'tain't
+often Mrs. Lane makes such an offer," Peace chattered on. "Allee wanted
+to come today, but grandma said the Lilac Lady had asked for only me, so
+she wouldn't listen to Allee's going, too, I should like to have had
+her."</p>
+
+<p>"She can come Tuesday."</p>
+
+<p>"What's going to happen Tuesday?" asked the child, surprised at having
+so definite a date named. Elizabeth caught her breath sharply, but at
+that moment the auto drew up in front of the iron gates, and there stood
+Aunt Pen on the walk waiting for them, smiling her gentle smile of
+welcome, a little sweeter, perhaps, and infinitely more tender, for,
+like Moses, she had just come from her Mount of Transfiguration.</p>
+
+<p>Peace spied her first. "How is my Lady, my Lilac Lady?" she cried,
+springing into her arms and hugging her warmly. "It's been <i>so</i> long
+since I've seen her! Is she <i>lots</i> better, Aunt Pen?"</p>
+
+<p>"She is perfectly well now, darling," the woman answered, closing her
+fingers tightly over the little brown hand in her own, and leading the
+way up the path to the house.</p>
+
+<p>"She's not under the trees, and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"It is November, childie. Have you forgotten?" interrupted Elizabeth.</p>
+
+<p>"So it is! Winter is 'most here. But look at the lovely chrysanthemums
+I've brought her. It isn't too cold for them yet. Won't she be pleased?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure she will," smiled Aunt Pen, and involuntarily she lifted her
+eyes to the clear blue sky above.</p>
+
+<p>The hall, as they entered its dim coolness, was deserted, and though
+Peace looked inquiringly about her for her small playmates who usually
+rushed eagerly to meet her, not one was in sight. From the rooms above,
+however, floated the sweet strains of Giuseppe's violin and the
+unrestrained, riotous melody of the lame girl's pet canary, and Peace
+skipped lightly up the wide stairway, eager to greet each member of this
+happy family.</p>
+
+<p>The door of the invalid's chamber stood open, and beside the window,
+shaded by the great oak, still hung with autumn colors, lay the beloved
+form of the Lilac Lady among her silken cushions. She was clad in simple
+white, with the heavy bronze braids trailing across her shoulders, and
+the waxen fingers twined in a familiar pose upon her breast. A soft
+smile wreathed the colorless lips, but the beautiful blue eyes were
+closed in slumber, and she looked as if she were resting after a
+hard-fought battle. So lovely a picture did she present that Peace
+paused on the threshold, and the gay words of greeting bubbling up to
+her lips died away in a deep breath of awe.</p>
+
+<p>The room was flooded with autumn sunshine and banked with the flowers
+the invalid loved best; a plate of luscious fruit stood on the table
+beside the wheel-chair, a late magazine lay open on the floor close by,
+and Gypsy sang deliriously from his perch in the big bay window. All
+this Peace saw, and more. The thin fingers clasped a knot of the
+once-despised, bright-faced pansies, and a single white one nestled in
+the red-brown waves at the left temple.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," breathed Peace, scarcely above a whisper, "isn't she beautiful?
+She got tired of watching and fell asleep while she was waiting for me!"</p>
+
+<p>Softly she tiptoed across the thick carpet and laid her burden of golden
+chrysanthemums in the arms of the sleeping girl, and once more repeated
+the words, "She fell asleep while she was waiting for me! My Lilac Lady
+has fallen asleep!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Aunt Pen softly. "'He giveth His beloved sleep.'"</p>
+
+
+<p>THE END</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
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+</pre>
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+</body>
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@@ -0,0 +1,8160 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lilac Lady, by Ruth Alberta Brown
+
+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: The Lilac Lady
+
+Author: Ruth Alberta Brown
+
+Release Date: December 9, 2007 [EBook #23782]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LILAC LADY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                             THE LILAC LADY
+
+                THE SECOND OF THE PEACE GREENFIELD BOOKS
+
+                          BY RUTH ALBERTA BROWN
+
+     Author of "At The Little Brown House," "Tabitha At Ivy Hall,"
+            "Tabitha's Glory," "Tabitha's Vacation," Etc.
+
+
+
+
+THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY
+CHICAGO    AKRON, OHIO    NEW YORK
+
+COPYRIGHT, MCMXIV
+By The Saalfield Publishing Co.
+
+
+TO
+EDITH HASERICK MCFARLANE,
+THE SAINT ELSPETH OF MY GIRLHOOD,
+THIS STORY IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Oh," cried Gail in quick sympathy, "what a feeble old
+creature! It is a shame she has to beg her living. Where is my purse?"]
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+       I. EXPLORING THE NEW HOME
+
+      II. THE FLAG ROOM
+
+     III. CHRISTMAS DAY WITH THE CAMPBELLS
+
+      IV. A ZEALOUS LITTLE MISSIONARY
+
+       V. AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION
+
+      VI. PEACE'S SPRING VACATION
+
+     VII. A VOICE FROM THE LILAC BUSHES
+
+    VIII. A PICNIC IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN
+
+      IX. GIUSEPPE NICOLI AND THE MONKEY
+
+       X. THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
+
+      XI. PEACE FINDS NEW PLAYMATES
+
+     XII. A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM
+
+    XIII. CHILDREN'S DAY AT HILL STREET CHURCH
+
+     XIV. HOW THE FOURTH OF JULY MONEY WAS SPENT
+
+      XV. PEACE GIVES THE LILAC LADY AN IDEA
+
+     XVI. THE LILAC LADY FALLS ASLEEP
+
+
+
+
+THE LILAC LADY
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+EXPLORING THE NEW HOME
+
+
+Two days after the night of the memorable surprise party in the little
+brown house, the place stood dismantled and deserted under the naked,
+shivering trees, good-byes had been spoken, and the six smiling sisters
+had driven away from their Parker home amid much fluttering of
+handkerchiefs and waving of hands. Everyone was sorry to see them go,
+yet all rejoiced in the great good fortune which had befallen the little
+orphan brood. Even after the Judge's carriage, which was to take them to
+the station, disappeared around the bend of the creek road, the
+enthusiastic crowd of friends and neighbors clustered about the sagging
+gate continued to shout their joking warnings and happy wishes upon the
+crisp, frosty, morning air.
+
+"There," breathed Peace, grinning from ear to ear, as she slowly unwound
+from the corkscrew twist she had assumed in her attempt to catch the
+last glimpse of the old home. "They're all out of sight now. I can't
+even see Hec Abbott any longer up in the tree with his dirty
+handkerchief. Oh, Mr. Judge, I forgot you were our coachman this
+morning, but his handkerchief _is_ awful dirty! It always is. I guess
+his mother doesn't chase him up like Gail does us with clean ones. Faith
+Greenfield, what do you mean by kicking me like that? Ain't there room
+enough on that back seat for your big feet?"
+
+"Little girls should be heard and not seen," quoted Cherry with her most
+sanctimonious air, noting the gathering frown on the older sister's
+face, and not quite understanding what had gone amiss.
+
+"Yes, that's just what Peace believes, too," cried Hope with her happy,
+contagious laugh in which Gail and the Judge and even Faith joined,
+making the sharp air ring with their hilarity.
+
+"Guess this ride must make you feel ticklish, too," suggested Peace,
+looking over her shoulder with a comical, self-complacent air at the
+crowded rear seat of the carryall. "I 'xpected to see some of you
+bawling about now--"
+
+"Bawling!" echoed the girls in genuine surprise, while the old Judge
+chuckled to himself. "What for?"
+
+"'Cause we've left Parker for good and all. We're never going to live
+there any more."
+
+"But we shall visit there often. Grandpa said so," cried Hope, warmly.
+"It isn't as if we were bound for the poor-farm or some dreadful orphan
+home. We might have reason to cry then; but as it is, we're going to
+Martindale to live in a splendid great house with splendid, lovely
+people; and I can't help wanting to jump up and shout for gladness, even
+though we do love Parker and all the people there who have been so good
+to us--"
+
+"Good for you, Miss Hope! Hip, hip, hurrah!" broke in the Judge,
+flapping the reins wildly as he doffed his hat and cheered heartily.
+"That's the proper spirit! We Parkerites don't expect you to break your
+hearts because you are going to a new home; we'd think it very queer
+indeed if you did. But we are glad to know this old town holds a tender
+spot in your memories. We shall miss you more than you will us, which is
+only natural; but as Hope says, you will be often among us as visitors,
+even though the little brown house will never be home to you again.
+Doctor and Mrs. Campbell have not only opened the door of their big
+house to you, but also the door of their hearts. Go in and take
+possession. You can make them the happiest people on earth if you want
+to--and I know you do. They intended to drive over after you this
+morning, but we villagers said no. They ought to be in Martindale to
+greet you, and we certainly deserved the privilege of escorting you
+to--"
+
+"Ain't it nice to be pop'lar?" sighed Peace in ecstasy. "We're all bones
+of _condescension_ today--now what are you laughing at?"
+
+"Oh, we've reached the station already," chirped Allee with a suddenness
+which made everyone jump.
+
+"And if there isn't Mr. Strong!" cried the older girls in astonishment.
+"How did you ever get here ahead of us? We left you sitting on Peace's
+gate-post."
+
+"He sneaked," Peace declared without giving him a chance for reply. "He
+can sneak in anywhere. Oh, I didn't mean that as a _complimemp_, Mr.
+Preacher. You know I didn't! But you truly go so like a cat that people
+never know when you will jump out at them. Where is Elspeth--I mean
+Pet--I mean--Oh, there she is in the station house, and Miss Truesdale
+and Miss Dunbar and Dr. Bainbridge! We're much obliged that so many of
+you have come down to make sure we left town. Let me get out of here,
+Judge! I want to kiss Glen again." Scrambling excitedly out of her seat
+beside the dignified driver, she was over the wheels before he could
+stop her, and into the arms of the waiting friends.
+
+None of the orphan sisters had expected such a glorious send-off--nor,
+indeed, had the Parker friends planned it beforehand. It was just one of
+those acts of kindness born of the impulse of the moment and made
+possible because of a shortcut to the station and the grocer's wagon
+which stood hitched in front of Mr. Hartman's door. But the sight of the
+little group of neighbors on the station platform was very gratifying to
+every one of the youthful Greenfields, and each proceeded to show her
+pleasure in her own characteristic way. This second farewell-taking was
+very brief, however, for down the tracks came the puffing train,
+stopping at the narrow platform only long enough for the laughing,
+chattering girls to climb aboard, before it glided away again, with
+Peace's shrill protests trailing off into silence: "I don't see why we
+have to take the train when it is such a teeny short ride. I'd rather go
+by street-car. I didn't kiss Elspeth but once, and the Judge looked as
+if he was dying for another--"
+
+Silently, soberly, the gay little company at the railroad station
+dispersed to their various homes; but fortunately for the band of
+inexperienced travellers aboard the flying train, there was no time for
+serious thought, so brief was their journey. Scarcely were they settled
+with their hand-bags and grips when the brakeman threw open the door and
+strode down the aisle, bawling loudly, "Martindale, Martindale! Our next
+stop is Martindale Union Depot!" And before they could realize what was
+happening, the porter had bundled them off in the great, dark, noisy
+station-yard, filled with throngs of excited, hurrying people passing in
+and out of the heavy iron gates.
+
+Caught in the jam, there was a moment of breathless bewilderment; a
+frantic disentangling of themselves from the pushing, shoving crowd; a
+hurried, frightened survey of the sea of unfamiliar faces around them,
+and then straight into the arms of the smiling college President the
+anxious sextette walked.
+
+"Well, well, well!" he cried with boyish eagerness, trying to gather
+them all in one embrace. "Here you are at last! I've waited one solid
+hour for this train. Those Parker people tried to tell me it was my
+place to stand in the doorway over at the house and welcome you there,
+but blessed if I could wait! Neither could Grandma. I thought I had
+stolen away without anyone seeing me, but before I had reached the
+car-tracks, there she was right at my heels. Here, mother, are
+your--own!"
+
+No welcome from the doorsteps of the great house could have warmed and
+thrilled those six hearts as did the husky, tremulous words of greeting
+in the dim, smoky station amid the clanging engines and shouted orders
+of trainmen. Home! Ah, what a glorious feeling of possession! The tears
+which had not come at thought of leaving the old home now welled up in
+the blue eyes and in the brown, but they were tears of joy and
+thanksgiving.
+
+"I knew someone would do some bawling before we got through with this,"
+sniffed Peace, searching in vain for the handkerchief which was never to
+be found in her pocket, and finally wiping her eyes on the august
+President's coat-sleeve. "Let's go home now. I want to see what it's
+like. You didn't bring the carriage, did you? It's just as well, I
+guess, for I s'pose we'll have lots of rides anyway. Only I wanted to
+see if the horses looked anything like Black Prince. Is this our car?
+Oak Street--I'll remember that; I may want to do some travelling all by
+myself some day. If you've got ten rooms in your house, how many are you
+going to turn over to us? For our very own, I mean. Three in a room
+makes things awfully crowded if the rooms are as teeny as they were in
+our house in Parker. 'Tisn't so bad in winter, but in summer we nearly
+roast to death nights. Do you have much comp'ny, and will we have to
+give up our rooms to them all the time? I forgot to ask you about these
+things before we said we'd come."
+
+"Peace!" reproved Gail in an undertone, trying to check the flow of
+questions and information pouring so rapidly from the lively tongue.
+"Don't talk all the time. Give grandpa a chance to say a few words."
+
+"Yes, I will," responded the child with angelic sweetness, in such loud
+tones that she could be heard all over the car. "I'm waiting for him to
+say a few words now. How about it, grandpa? Shall we each have a room or
+must we double up or thribble--"
+
+"Peace!" called Allee in wild excitement, "there is Frances Sherrar's
+house!"
+
+"Where? Is it, grandpa?" asked Cherry, a little twinge of envy seizing
+her as she remembered her younger sisters' visit there a few weeks
+before.
+
+"Yes," he replied, glancing hastily out of the window, "I think very
+likely it was, as they live on the corner we have just passed, and the
+next street is where we get off. Press the button, Curlypate, or the
+conductor will carry us by. I didn't know you were acquainted with the
+Sherrars, Abigail. Frances is a student at the University; you will
+probably be in some of her classes. Give me your hand, Hope. There,
+mother, all our family are off. Right about face! One block west,
+and--here we are. Welcome home, my children! Peace, how do you like the
+looks of it?"
+
+They had paused in front of a great, rambling, old house, set in the
+midst of a wide lawn, brown and sere now with approaching winter, and
+surrounded by huge, knotted, gnarled, old oaks, whose dry leaves still
+clung to the twisted branches and rustled in the crisp air. A fat,
+sleek, black Tabby lay asleep on the warm porch-rail; a gaunt, ungainly
+greyhound lay sunning himself on the door mat, and from inside somewhere
+came the sound of a canary's riotous song. The whole place breathed of
+home, and with a deep sigh of content, Peace lifted her great, brown
+eyes to the President's face and whispered, "It seems 'sif I b'longed
+already."
+
+"You do," he murmured huskily. "This is home, dear."
+
+Hand in hand they walked up the path and through the door into the big
+hall, flooded with warm sunshine and sweet with the smell of roses. Up
+the stairway they marched, followed by the other sisters, all silent,
+wondering, but happy, and paused in the doorway of a large, airy room,
+furnished with easy-chairs and couches, a tempting array of late books,
+and a dainty sewing-table, heaped with pretty materials such as young
+girls love. "This is mother's domain," the President announced, stepping
+aside to let them enter. "Hang your wraps in that closet for the time
+being, make yourselves presentable--there is a mirror on purpose for
+prinking--and then get acquainted with your new home. There is still an
+hour and a half before luncheon will be served, and that ought to give
+you quite an opportunity to make discoveries. Now away with you!"
+
+"But--," "How," "What do you mean?" blurted out the astonished girls,
+wondering whether he was in earnest or just joking, for this seemed a
+queer way to introduce them to their new life.
+
+"Just what I say," he laughed. "Mother thought we ought to conduct you
+about the place and explain all the different phases of your new home,
+but I am inclined to believe you will like it better if you can make the
+tour all by yourselves. Young folks usually glory in unexplored fields.
+Now to it, for time is fleeting! I shall call for a report of your
+discoveries at luncheon. A prize for the one who has seen the most."
+
+"Do we have to go by ourselves?" Peace lingered to ask.
+
+"As you wish," was the brief response; and with his hat in his hand, the
+busy President descended the stairs, leaving a very bewildered group in
+the sewing-room behind him.
+
+"Well!" Gail ejaculated. "How shall we begin?"
+
+"I saw a piano as we came through the hall below," Faith half whispered.
+
+"And books! Everywhere!" cried Cherry, her eyes fastened longingly upon
+the little book-case in the corner. "Do they really belong to us now?"
+
+"Yes, of course," answered Peace in business-like tones. "Come on,
+Allee; let's get to work and see what we can find before lunch time.
+This is a pretty big house, and we've got to hustle if we get all around
+it in an hour and a half. Wonder where grandpa and grandma went. Shall
+we commence at the bottom and work up, or start in at the attic? I guess
+the attic first will be best, seeing we've come up one flight of stairs
+already, and it would be just a waste of time to go down and have to
+climb them all again." Answering her own question, she clutched Alice's
+hand and disappeared in one direction, as the sisters, following her
+example, scattered about the great house on their tours of inspection.
+
+The next ninety minutes were busy ones in the Campbell house, and it was
+necessary to ring the dinner bell twice before all members of the happy
+family were summoned to the table.
+
+"Well, how goes it?" smiled the President. "Judging from the time it
+took to gather the clans, some of you must have been pretty busy."
+
+"We were," dreamily murmured Cherry, who had been dragged bodily from
+the stacks of books in the library.
+
+"Made any great discoveries?"
+
+"Yes, indeed!" they cried in unison.
+
+"Good! I'm all impatience! Relate your adventures. We are anxious to
+hear how you like your new home--mother and I. Abigail, you are the
+oldest; suppose you begin."
+
+"I didn't get very far, I am afraid," said Gail modestly. "Just a peep
+into the rooms upstairs and a beginning down here when I found Gussie
+almost on the verge of tears because her dessert had burned black and
+she had no time to make any more; so I--"
+
+"Bet our talking burned up her pies," Peace was heard to murmur
+remorsefully.
+
+"--helped her out a little," continued Gail, "and by that time the bell
+rang, so there was no opportunity for any further investigations."
+
+"Saint Elizabeth," said the President reverently, while the white-haired
+mistress of the house beamed her approval.
+
+"Now, Faith,--but there is really no need of asking her about her
+discoveries. She got no further than the parlor with its piano. Now, did
+you?"
+
+"No, grandpa," Faith confessed unblushingly. "I saw it when we came in,
+and I simply couldn't resist it a minute longer than was absolutely
+necessary. There will be lots of days for getting acquainted here, and
+besides, I knew Peace would carry off the prize--"
+
+"Me carry off the prize!" Peace interrupted. "I've never got a prize for
+anything in my life--"
+
+"Only because there never was one offered before for the person who
+could see the most or talk the longest," laughed Faith, and Peace
+subsided suddenly.
+
+"Saint Cecilia,--she could not get past the piano," teased Dr. Campbell,
+when the shout of laughter at Faith's sally had died away. "Hope, what
+have you to say for yourself?"
+
+"Not much. I visited all the rooms upstairs and down; fed the canary;
+got acquainted with Blinks, the cat, and Kyte, the hound; found Towzer
+and tried to make him be friends with Kyte, but he wouldn't be coaxed.
+Gussie said there were some kittens in the basement, so I went down
+there to find them, but the boy from the hardware store was there
+working on the furnace, and some way we fell to talking about studies,
+and he was so discouraged over his algebra lesson for night-school that
+I stopped to see if I could help him out a little, and the bell rang
+Just as we got the third problem worked."
+
+"My gentle Saint Lucia," he said in praise, as he turned from her to the
+next sister in age. "Cherry, give an account of your wanderings."
+
+"I wandered downstairs as far as the library--I guess that is what you
+call it."
+
+"And then what?" for she stopped as if her tale were told.
+
+"That's all. I stayed there."
+
+"Oh!" The President wilted, Mrs. Campbell stared, and for a moment even
+the sisters were silent in surprise at the matter-of-fact tone of the
+narrator; then the whole assembly burst into another merry shout, much
+to the disgust of poor Cherry, who could see no cause for amusement, and
+voiced her sentiments by saying petulantly, "I don't see anything the
+matter with that! What difference is there between playing the piano all
+the morning and reading books?"
+
+"It wasn't what you did that amused us," said Mrs. Campbell soothingly.
+"It was the way you told it. We won't laugh any more."
+
+"Oh!" breathed the ruffled damsel in relief, "if that's all, I don't
+care how much you laugh. But you'll have a better chance with Peace--she
+never can tell anything straight."
+
+"What kind of a saint is Cherry?" inquired the younger girl, ignoring
+the compliment she had just received. "If Gail is Saint 'Lizabeth and
+Faith is Saint Cecilia and Hope is Saint Lucy, what's Cherry?"
+
+"Saint Bookworm, I guess, Miss Curiosity-Box. What have you been doing
+this morning?"
+
+"Oh, lots of things," she sighed heavily. "Allee and me went together.
+We began with the attic, which is full of trunks of old clothes and
+battered-up furniture and cobwebs, and has two rooms for the hired girls
+to sleep in. Gussie's room is just _suburb_! It's dec'rated with the
+queerest looking old bird of a bedstead--"
+
+"Peace! What slang!" cried Faith in genuine horror.
+
+"It's no such thing! It is a bird! She calls it a swan, for it's got a
+tall, crooked neck for the foot-board, and if I had it in my room, I'd
+hang curtains on its tail. It could be done just splendid! I'll show you
+after lunch if you don't b'lieve me."
+
+"Oh, we believe you! Go on. I'm interested in that room," begged Hope,
+wondering why she too had not begun with the attic.
+
+"Then on the wall she has a great fish-net full of the prettiest
+postcards of Norway and Sweden and De'mark. She's a Swede, you
+know,--Gussie is; and her married brother and two sisters and
+grandmother still live over there. That's where the fish-net came from.
+I didn't have time to stop long to look at the cards 'cause there was so
+much else to do 'fore lunch time, but she's invited us to come up some
+evening when she's through work and then she'll tell all about them.
+There's the loveliest green and yellow quilt on her bed that she made
+all herself. She said grandma had a red one for her to use, but it
+seemed more like home with her own things, so she uses them instead of
+those that b'long to the house. But the prettiest of everything is a
+queer little piece of glass hanging in the window which makes her room
+look like a real rainbow on sunny days, 'cause the _prison respects_ the
+light and sorts out all the colors. Oh, you needn't laugh and think you
+know better! Gussie told us all about it, didn't she, Allee?"
+
+"Gussie did not call it a _prison_," Hope could not refrain from saying.
+"It is a prism, and it re--it isn't _respects_ the light, grandpa--"
+
+"No. Refracts is the word she wants to use. Peace tries to drink in so
+much information that she can't digest it all."
+
+"Maybe that is what's the matter," Peace agreed thoughtfully. "Anyway,
+her room is a beauty--lots prettier that Marie's, though Marie has the
+same chance of making hers look nice that Gussie has. There's the same
+difference in the girls themselves that there is in their rooms, too."
+
+"Why, what do you mean?" cried the astonished mistress of the house,
+while the President nodded his head in approval at the child's
+observations.
+
+"Well, Gussie is good-natured and 'bliging, while Marie is cross and
+grouchy. We hadn't got the knob of her door turned before she ordered us
+out of her room and told us to mind our own business."
+
+"Poor childie, I ought to have cautioned you not to go into either of
+those attic rooms without the girls' permission. You see, while they
+work here, that is the one place in the house which is really theirs,
+and they don't want the rest of the family intruding."
+
+"Yes, I know now. Gussie told me how it was when I spoke of Marie's
+being cross, but we never touched a thing; we just looked, didn't we,
+Allee? Marie had the tooth-ache, and that's enough to make anyone ugly.
+I got her some funny stuff that a shoemaker in Parker gave me once when
+I had the tooth-ache. After that she was a little pleasanter to us--that
+is, for a time. It did stop the aching right away, but it took all the
+skin off her cheek where she put the medicine--it is to be rubbed on
+outside. I forgot to tell her it would do that, so she didn't like it
+very well when her face began to peel off, 'cause she is going to the
+theatre tonight with her beau. But when she jawed about it, I told her
+I'd rather have a skinned face and a chance to go to the theatre, than
+an aching tooth any day of the week, and fin'ly she decided she would,
+too. I guess I'll like her in time, but I like Gussie better. Then we
+went on downstairs and 'xamined the rooms on that floor. The big front
+room is awfully pretty, and so is grandma's room where she sews, but the
+other three bedrooms are very bare and ugly-looking. Is that where
+you're going to put us, grandpa?"
+
+"Peace!" shrieked the sisters in horrified chorus.
+
+"Yes!" roared the delighted President, and even Mrs. Campbell joined in
+his merriment.
+
+"Well, I s'pose it is healthy," Peace reluctantly admitted; then as if
+divining a joke somewhere, she smiled serenely and continued her
+recital. "We looked through the parlor and library and dining-room and
+where you put company when they come, and then we came to the kitchen.
+We got there ahead of Gail all right, for Gussie was just making some
+pies and reading a book at the same time."
+
+"A book!" echoed Mrs. Campbell, a slight frown gathering on the usually
+placid forehead.
+
+"Yes, it was a _pome_ of some kind that she was trying to learn. She
+wants to be a _neducated_ Swede. She got through High School, but she
+wants to know more'n that, so's she can be a teacher some day. That's
+how she comes to be cooking for other people. She is a good cook and can
+make pretty good money that way. She isn't a big spender, so every month
+she can put away 'most all of her wages towards going to Normal School.
+I always thought Normal School was where they sent bad boys and girls
+who couldn't be good at home, but she says I mean Reform School. I guess
+she'll get to Normal School all right. I told her Gail would help her
+with her lessons when they got too hard for her alone, 'cause Gail's to
+go to the University right away; but I didn't think Faith would be much
+good at that, as long's she isn't quite through High School herself. I
+told her Faith could make lovely fancy things to eat and would like
+awfully well to teach her when she had any spare time, and Gussie says
+she'll be tickled to learn, 'cause she is only a plain cook and not up
+on frills yet."
+
+Faith and the President exchanged comical glances across the table, but
+Peace was too much interested in her cake and fruit to notice what was
+going on around her, and blissfully continued, "We went down in the
+basement, too, and saw that boy from Benton's. His name is Caspar Dodds.
+His father is dead--what a lot of dead folks there are in this
+world!--and he has to earn money to take care of his mother and two
+sisters. She does plain sewing, and I promised you'd hire her sometimes,
+grandma. They live on Sixteenth Street, just at the corner where the
+Pendennis car turns off from the bridge. He told me how to get there.
+He's going to night-school so's he can learn the education he's missing
+daytimes, and says he gets along well in everything but algebra. I guess
+that's how he came to speak to Hope about it. I told him she'd be glad
+to help him with 'xamples he couldn't do, 'cause she was Professor
+Watson's star scholar in that. Gussie told _us_ about the kittens, too,
+so I knew Hope would be down to find them, and that way she'd see
+Caspar. She must have come along right after us or she wouldn't have
+found him, 'cause he was 'most ready to go when we went out to the barn.
+
+"Jud had just brought in the horses from exercising them, and I told him
+I guessed likely we'd help him at that job after this, for all of us
+like to ride. At first he wasn't going to let us see the horses and we
+had to do a lot of talking 'fore he'd give in. He used awful poor
+grammar, and when he told us the stable wasn't the place for little
+girls and that we better go in the house and learn to cook like Gussie,
+I asked him why he didn't get some books and learn to speak right like
+Gussie, instead of sitting on an old box and reading yellow
+newspapers--well, it _was_ yellow, just as yellow and musty and old as
+it could be! And he's too nice looking to be nothing but a horseman all
+his life. When I told him that, he got interested and fin'ly showed us
+some books he was trying to study, but he can't see sense in the
+grammar. Gussie promised to help him, but she never has much time for
+such things, and he thinks she thinks he's a plumb dunce. I promised to
+ask her if that's the way she felt, but he said I mustn't; so I did the
+next best I could think of--I told him Cherry would study grammar with
+him. She uses the same book he has in the barn, and--"
+
+"Peace Greenfield, did you really tell him that?" gasped poor frightened
+Cherry, looking as if she had just heard her death sentence pronounced.
+
+"Why, yes! I thought you'd be glad to help him out that much. I haven't
+got as far as grammar in school yet, or I'd teach him all myself; but I
+promised to _talk_ proper grammar to him, so's to help all I could. What
+do you look so scared about, Cherry? He really wants to learn; he ain't
+fooling. And he's an awful nice man. He showed us the squirrels' hole in
+the vacant oak by the barn--I mean the hollow oak--and took us down to
+the boat-house on the river. You never told us anything about the river
+being so near here, grandpa. And he pointed out the University buildings
+through the trees, and promised to show us around the grounds right
+after lunch if you didn't have time to bother. He let us go up in the
+barn loft and says if you're willing, we can have a playhouse up there
+in the part with the window that looks out over the river. Then he
+pulled out his watch to let us know it was lunch time, but we told him
+right square out that there was one more thing we wanted to see, lunch
+time or no lunch time, and that was the horses. So after he grumbled
+some more about children being such nuisances, he took us downstairs
+again, and showed us your Marmalade and Champagne. Oh, but--"
+
+"What?" shouted the whole family in shocked amazement.
+
+"Marmalade and Champagne," Peace repeated more slowly. "That is what Jud
+called them. They aren't as pretty as our Black Prince, 'cause they are
+only red, and a red horse is never as nice as a black--"
+
+"Horses! What funny names!" laughed Hope.
+
+"She has made a mistake," smiled Mrs. Campbell. "They are Marmaduke and
+Charlemagne. My nephew's children named them, which accounts for their
+high-sounding titles. I am glad you like Marmaduke and Charlemagne,
+Peace. We think they are very intelligent animals. Jud has succeeded in
+teaching them several rather clever tricks."
+
+"Yes, I like the horses and I like the people. It's going to be nice to
+live with such a _neducated_ bunch. Marie's the only one that doesn't
+want to learn more, but p'raps she'll get over it. Who wins the prize,
+grandpa? That's all Allee and me saw. And what is the prize?"
+
+"After dinner in the den tonight I'll tell you the secret," the
+President promised. "I had no idea it would take so long to recount your
+adventures, but my time is up now. I must go back to the University at
+once. And by the way, Peace, I am afraid Jud will have to show you
+around the campus if you must see it this afternoon. I have an important
+meeting at two o'clock."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE FLAG ROOM
+
+
+Scarcely had the dinner hour ended that evening when the hilarious trio
+of younger girls, followed by the more sedate, but no less eager older
+sisters, scurried down the long corridor toward the den where the
+President had already intrenched himself, waiting for the promised
+visit.
+
+"Here we are, grandpa!" announced Allee, tumbling breathlessly through
+the doorway and into the nearest chair. "We raced and I beat."
+
+"'Cause Cherry tripped me up," exploded Peace wrathfully. "It's no
+fair--"
+
+"Tut, tut, my children!" Dr. Campbell interposed. "No scrapping allowed
+here. This is a home, not a kennel."
+
+"Oh, we weren't scrapping," Peace hastily assured him, "but I'd have won
+if Cherry hadn't got her feet mixed up with mine, so's Allee got in
+ahead. I don't care, though. I can run the fastest of the bunch
+outdoors. Jud says I'm a racer, all right. _Did_ I get the prize for
+talking the most this noon? Gail and Faith and all of them think I ought
+to have it--that is, Allee and me. We went together and saw the same
+things, though I did do all the telling."
+
+The President laughed. "Yes, I believe you and Allee won the prize all
+right. Grandma thinks so, too, but that is just where the hitch comes;
+because, you see, the prize was just to be your choice of rooms
+upstairs, and with Peace in one room and Allee in another, how are we
+going to settle the question as to who has first choice?"
+
+"Do you mean that the winner can choose which of those three bare rooms
+she wants for her very own?"
+
+"That's it." His eyes twinkled merrily. Peace's untrammeled frankness
+furnished him much amusement.
+
+"Well, then, why is Allee going to be in one room and me in another?"
+
+"Why--why--why--" stammered the learned Doctor, at loss to know how to
+explain certain plans he and Mrs. Campbell had in mind. "We thought it
+would be best to pair you off so one of you younger girls roomed with
+one of the older sisters. Don't you?"
+
+"No," was the emphatic reply. "It wouldn't do at all."
+
+"Why not?" gently asked Mrs. Campbell, who had entered the room so
+quietly that none of the girls was aware of her presence.
+
+"Well, s'pose you paired us off 'cording to our looks," Peace explained,
+without waiting for any of the sisters to register objections; "there'd
+be Hope and Allee together, for they are the lightest; and Gail and
+Cherry would have a room by themselves, 'cause they aren't either light
+or dark; and that would leave Faith and me to each other, being the
+darkest of them all. Now, Faith and me can't get along together two
+minutes. Ask Gail, ask Hope. Any of them will tell you so. It ain't
+because we like to fight, either. We just ain't made to suit each other,
+that's all. Mother used to say there are lots of people in the world
+like that, and the only way to get along is to make the best of it and
+agree to disagree. But it would never do to put us in the same room.
+That's too close. We don't like the same things, even. Faith'd be cross
+'cause I'd want to put my b'longings certain places, and I'd get awful
+ugly if she took all the nice spots for her things.
+
+"Then, s'posing you paired us off by ages--the youngest with the oldest,
+and the next youngest with the next oldest,--that would still leave
+Faith and me together. It wouldn't do at all, you see."
+
+"How would you suggest dividing the rooms among you, then?" meekly
+inquired the President, casting a comical look of resignation at his
+puzzled wife.
+
+"Put the ones of us together that get along the best. Allee and me are
+chums, and Cherry and Hope, and Faith and Gail. Then we'd all be suited
+and there wouldn't be any fussing--'nless it was among the big girls."
+
+The President coughed gently behind his hand, Mrs. Campbell bent over to
+straighten an imaginary wrinkle in the rug at her feet, while Gail and
+Hope were industriously studying a picture on the wall. But Faith
+readily seconded Peace's proposition, saying heartily, "What she says is
+true, grandpa. She and I can't seem to get along together at all, though
+we do love each other dearly. We never have been interested in the same
+things, and I don't believe we ever will be. We have always paired off
+the way she says, and get along famously that way."
+
+"But how will you furnish the rooms that way?" wailed Mrs. Campbell
+suddenly. "I had planned it all out--the blondes together, the
+brunettes, and--"
+
+"The blondes and brunettes?" repeated Cherry in bewilderment.
+
+"Yes; fair-haired, blue-eyed people are blondes, while those with dark
+hair and eyes are brunettes," Hope explained.
+
+"It would be so much easier to carry out a color scheme in each room if
+you girls were paired off according to looks," sighed the woman in
+disappointment.
+
+"Colors wouldn't amount to much if we fought all the time," murmured
+Peace, trying hard to look cheerful even at the prospect of having to
+room with the one sister she could not understand or agree with.
+
+"That's so," agreed the President, chasing away the disfiguring frown on
+his forehead with a bright smile. "Besides, mother, the girls may have
+altogether different plans for decorating their rooms than--Well, Peace
+and Allee have first choice of room then. Which shall it be?"
+
+"The one with the teenty porch!" quickly responded the duet, as though
+the matter had already been privately discussed.
+
+"Aha, conspirators! Had your minds all made up, did you?"
+
+"Yes, grandpa," Peace answered. "We have both slid down the pillar into
+the garden--what was the garden--and clum up the trellis as _easy_! Just
+think how much time we can save going in and out that way instead of
+having to run clear down the hall to the stairs every time--"
+
+"Peace!" screamed Mrs. Campbell in horror.
+
+"Peace!" echoed the scandalized sisters.
+
+But for a long moment the President only stared. Then he spoke. "Now,
+see here, children, if you have that balcony room for your own, you must
+promise one thing. Don't _ever_ use the porch pillars for a stairway
+again, either to get inside the house or out. Do you understand?"
+
+"Yes, grandpa," came the reluctant promise.
+
+"You will not forget?"
+
+"No, grandpa," with still more reluctance.
+
+"If you do, you will forfeit that room, remember. Porch pillars were
+never made for such purposes. They are not only hard on your clothes,
+but think what would happen if you should slip and fall."
+
+The whole group shuddered at this direful picture, and the chief culprit
+snuggled closer to this newly found guardian, and whispered contritely,
+"We didn't think of that before. We'll be good."
+
+"That's my girlie! Now for the other matters we must consider. When it
+was settled that you were to come here to live, mother and I talked over
+plans for refurnishing the rooms you are to occupy, but somehow we could
+not come to any satisfactory conclusions, and finally decided it would
+be best and wisest to let you select your own furniture and arrange it
+to suit yourselves."
+
+"Whee!" interrupted Peace with a delighted little hop. "Won't that be--"
+
+"Don't say 'bully'," implored Cherry.
+
+"No, I won't. I'll say jolly. Won't that be jolly? Hooray!" Her shout of
+joy ended in such a queer, shrill squeak that the little company burst
+into a gale of laughter, and it was some minutes before order was
+restored, but when at last the merriment had subsided, each duet found
+themselves holding a small slip of paper which quite took their breath
+away.
+
+"What is it?" asked Allee, standing on tiptoe to get a better view of
+the yellow scrap in Peace's hand, though she could not read a word on
+it.
+
+"Grandpa! Is it to furnish our rooms with?" cried Hope, impulsively
+dropping a kiss on the tip of Mrs. Campbell's nose.
+
+"Oh, you precious people!" whispered Gail tremulously. "It is altogether
+too much. We ought not to spend all that just on our rooms."
+
+"Now, look here, my dearies," interposed Mrs. Campbell, beaming benignly
+at the flushed, surprised faces of the six girls, "father and I figured
+it all out carefully, and that is the amount we decided upon as
+necessary for all the fixings you would want to make you cosy. And you
+will find it won't go so far after all; but I know you can trim up some
+very dainty, pretty rooms with that amount. The beds we already had, so
+we left them there, but all the other furniture has been removed to the
+attic or disposed of in other ways, so you can follow your own
+inclinations in refurnishing your boudoirs. That is why I was so anxious
+to have the blondes together, but--I don't believe it will matter much.
+You will find some way of getting around that."
+
+"Of course they will, and the room that is fixed up the prettiest a week
+from today will be presented with an appropriate picture," declared the
+President, hugely enjoying the pleasure and surprise of his adopted
+family.
+
+Silence for a breathless moment fell upon the eager group, then with
+characteristic energy, Peace grabbed Allee's hand and started for the
+door, saying, "Come on, sister, let's get to work right away. We've got
+to win that picture to go with our porch." Just at the threshold another
+thought occurred to her, and she faced about with the remark, "Say,
+grandpa, do we have to spend _all_ this money for dec'rations?"
+
+"No," he laughed. "If you can find anything in the attic which you can
+use, take possession of it."
+
+"And the money we don't spend is ours?"
+
+For a fraction of a second he hesitated, wondering what scheme was
+taking shape under the thatch of brown curls; then with a twinkle in his
+eyes he answered, "Yes, I reckon it is."
+
+"But, Donald," whispered Mrs. Campbell in his ear, "they are too young
+to be intrusted with such a sum."
+
+"Grandpa," Gail interrupted, looking thoughtfully at the check which
+Faith was still studying curiously; "must we do this without help from
+anyone else? Suppose we should all happen to choose the same plan?"
+
+"Oh, there is no danger of that at all because your tastes are not all
+the same, so far as I can discover; but I think it might be a good plan
+to consult with some older or more experienced person--some one outside
+the family. Grandma and I are to be the judges, you know; so it would
+not be fair for us to know beforehand what you were intending to do."
+
+"Oh, how splendid to have it all a secret from you two!" cried Hope.
+"But who will help us?"
+
+"We shall ask Frances Sherrar," announced Gail after a whispered
+consultation with her room-mate. "She knows all about such things."
+
+"Then let's us ask Mrs. Sherrar," suggested Cherry, anxious to have as
+good authority to back them in their plans.
+
+"That's a good idea," Hope conceded readily. "Whom shall you choose,
+Peace?"
+
+They all expected to hear her name Mrs. Strong, her patron saint, but to
+their utter amazement she promptly retorted, "Gussie!"
+
+"But, Peace," they protested, "Gussie won't know--"
+
+"Gussie thinks just like I do about colors and such things. That's why I
+chose her."
+
+Nor could the sisters change her decision in the matter, but as the time
+was short and there were many other affairs demanding their attention,
+the girls soon forgot their concern over Gussie's barbaric tastes, and
+Peace and Allee were left to their own devices.
+
+For the next three days they spent their leisure moments in wandering
+hand in hand about the house, looking very sober, and listening
+anxiously to the sound of hammers in the rooms adjoining theirs. Then a
+marked change came over them; there were many conferences with Gussie in
+the kitchen; much prowling about the attic in secret, and even two or
+three trips to the barn to interview Jud, the man of all work. The sound
+of hammer and saw could be heard at almost any hour of the day, hurried
+visits were made to the sewing-room when no one else was in sight, and
+the pungent smell of paint and paste filled the house.
+
+But at last all three rooms were in spick-and-span order, and the two
+judges were summoned to behold the result of the week's labor. At the
+first door they halted, and the President turned to his wife with a
+ludicrous grimace as he said, "Dora, I am afraid I've got us into
+trouble. How in this wide world are we going to be able to decide which
+is the prettiest room! And if it should be easy to decide that question,
+how shall we ever make our peace with the occupants of the other two?
+Oh, Dora!"
+
+"Open the door!" clamored the laughing girls. "You should have thought
+of these things before you made such a rash promise." And they pressed
+about him so relentlessly that he was forced to turn the knob and enter
+the first bower of loveliness.
+
+It was indeed a bower, so refreshingly cool and beautiful with its color
+scheme of pink and green and brown that it required very little
+imagination to transport one into the heart of some enchanted woods; and
+instinctively the four younger girls as well as the judges burst into a
+long-drawn exclamation of wonder and delight.
+
+"Oh, I can smell the flowers," cried Hope, sniffing the air hungrily as
+if expecting to find the woodland blossoms there.
+
+"And hear the creek," added Peace.
+
+"I suppose they have won the prize," sighed Cherry disconsolately, while
+behind their backs Gail and Faith ecstatically hugged each other.
+
+"Don't decide the question until we have seen the other two," suggested
+Mrs. Campbell sagely, and the excited company flocked eagerly into the
+next room.
+
+Here everything was in blue and gold, even to the dainty curtains at the
+windows. The walls were covered with a delicate blue paper, dotted with
+sprays of cheerful goldenrod; the dresser and table were decorated with
+blue silk scarfs embroidered with the same flower; gilt-framed pictures
+hung upon the walls; and from the head of each narrow, gilded bedstead
+floated soft draperies of blue.
+
+"Sky and sunshine," murmured Gail, quick to feel the perfect harmony of
+the room. "Isn't it lovely?"
+
+"Yes, and it is fully as pretty as ours," whispered Faith, "though I
+like ours best."
+
+"Now for the last," Cherry urged eagerly, well content with the
+rapturous exclamations her room and Hope's had brought forth. "This will
+have to be awfully good to beat the other two."
+
+"It _is_ awfully good," Peace informed her. "_I_ think it is the best."
+
+"So do I!" "And I!" came the chorus of surprised voices as the last door
+swung open and the beauties of the third chamber burst upon their view.
+
+"It makes me think of fire-crackers," Cherry pensively observed.
+
+"Nobody but Peace would ever have thought of such a thing," Faith put
+in.
+
+"A regular Fourth of July room," stuttered the President when he had
+recovered his voice enough to speak. "Girlies, how did you do it?"
+
+"Well," confessed Peace, meditatively chewing her finger in her endeavor
+to appear modest in the midst of such unstinted praise, "at first we
+didn't know what to do. The other girls kept talking about 'propriate
+colors for their complexions. Faith is all _blunette_ and she looks best
+in pink. Hope is all blonde and blue is her best color, while Gail and
+Cherry have _blunette_ hair and blonde eyes, and they chose yellow and
+green. I didn't know it then, but that is what they did. Anyway, they
+talked about the different colors till I thought we ought to have our
+rooms fixed up in things that fitted us. That made it hard for Allee and
+me, you see, 'cause she is all blonde and I'm all _blunette_. To fit
+her, the room would have to be all blue, and to fit me it would be all
+red. Gussie said it wasn't stylish to use red and blue together any
+more, so we didn't know what to do until one day when we were
+_rummelging_ through the attic we found heaps and heaps of perfectly
+whole bunting and two great, big flags. That decided us to make a flag
+room of ours, and Gussie said it was a _splen-did_ idea. So that's how
+it happened.
+
+"Allee and me'd rather sleep together so's we can talk when we are
+awake, instead of having to holler our thoughts clear across the room
+from one bed to the other whenever we want to talk secrets; so we traded
+beds with Gussie. She said she was willing, and I always did want that
+bird of a bed after I saw it in her room. But the curtains wouldn't hang
+from its tail like I thought they would, and we--"
+
+"Stole my Paris doll to hold 'em up with!" cried Cherry, spying for the
+first time the beautiful waxen image dressed to represent the Goddess of
+Liberty, which stood on a tiny mantel over the quaint little bed, and
+held the bunting curtains in one hand.
+
+"We _borrowed_ it," Peace corrected. "We couldn't very well _ask_ you
+'bout it without your teasing to know why, and Allee and me didn't have
+a decent doll among us. Besides, you never play with it any more, and
+like as not grandpa or some other person that's got money will give us
+one of our own for Christmas. Then you can have yours back again. I
+guess you can wait that long, can't you? We wanted the walls striped
+with red and white, but Gussie thought that would look too much like a
+barber shop, so we just had white paper. It doesn't much matter, for the
+flags cover most of that wall, and Martha and George--we found them in
+the attic--Washington take up all the space on that side under the
+eagle--we got that out of the glass case that stands in the barn loft.
+We were going to see if we couldn't find some rugs with flags in them,
+but Gussie said it wasn't nice to _walk_ on our country's flag, so we
+chose this red carpet that used to be on this floor."
+
+"But where did you get such cute, quaint furniture?" asked Faith who was
+trying the white enameled chairs one after another.
+
+"Oh, that all came from the attic, too. Didn't cost us anything. It was
+a dull, ugly brown--"
+
+"Mother's mahogany set," whispered Mrs. Campbell to the amused doctor
+standing at her side.
+
+"--but a little white varnish made it just what we wanted."
+
+"Did you do the painting?" asked Cherry, testing it with her finger to
+see if it stuck.
+
+"No; we tried, but it looked so streaked we thought we sure had spoiled
+it. Gussie didn't have time to do a good job on it, either; so we asked
+Jud to help us out, and he said he would if Gussie--" There was a
+movement at the door, and the company glanced over their shoulders just
+in time to see Gussie's dress whisk out of sight down the hall. "--would
+give him a kiss. So you see we got that work done dirt cheap, too.
+Altogether, we spent nine dollars and ninety-one cents of the money
+grandpa gave us. Gussie kept the list. That's what the paper and white
+paint and ribbons for tying back our curtains--oh, yes, and the curtains
+themselves came to. They are just dotted _Swish_ and we got it at a
+sale, so it didn't cost us much. Mrs. Grinnell says always watch for
+sales, 'cause lots of bargains can be picked up that way, and we
+remembered it this time. We spent the extra nine cents--to make just an
+even ten dollars--for candy to treat Gussie and Jud, seeing they
+wouldn't take any money for their work, but they didn't eat it all; so
+Allee and me had the rest."
+
+"Did you make the curtains yourselves?" asked Cherry, the inquisitive.
+
+"Well, mostly. Gussie cut them for us, and I held them straight in the
+machine while Allee made the pedal go. The seams ain't _very_ crooked,
+but sometimes the needle would hit a lump in the pattern and teeter out
+around it, in spite of all I could do. But the made-up curtains at the
+store cost lots more than the raw cloth and weren't half so pretty, so
+Gussie said she'd help us make our own. Didn't we do well?"
+
+"You certainly did," was the unanimous verdict. "The prize is yours."
+
+"And children," said the President impressively, as they still lingered
+in the quaintly furnished room; "I hope every time you enter this door,
+the spirit of patriotism, the love of country, will grow stronger and
+greater in your hearts."
+
+"Yes, grandpa, I guess it will," answered Peace in all seriousness,
+"'cause we'll always be thinking of the rest of that check money which
+we've saved from dec'rating our room so's we could buy fire-crackers and
+rockets for next Fourth of July."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+CHRISTMAS DAY WITH THE CAMPBELLS
+
+
+The days which followed the advent of the orphan sisters in the great
+house were happy ones. Oh, so happy! How can they be described? The two
+lonely old hearts which had hungered all these long years for the little
+children who had so early left them thrilled with gladness at every
+sound of the eager, girlish voices. Boundless content reigned in their
+hearts as they watched each expressive face and studied each different
+character; and they wondered openly how they had ever managed to live
+without this precious band of granddaughters, as they insisted upon
+calling their charges.
+
+And the girls were equally happy. Gail felt as if a great weight had
+been lifted from her shoulders, as if her soul had been suddenly freed
+from a dark prison. The care-worn look vanished from the thin face; the
+big, gray-blue eyes sparkled with animation; her heart bubbled over with
+gratitude and love; and in every possible way she tried to show these
+new guardians how deeply and tenderly she loved them. And her attitude
+was that of the other sisters also, except that each took her own
+method of showing it. The Campbells were well satisfied with their
+experiment and were never tired of saying to each, other, "They are ours
+now."
+
+"Yes," Peace had answered them once when she had overheard these words;
+"we are yours now, but it seems to me 'sif we had always belonged to
+you. Some way, we fit in just as slick! 'Sif we had only been away on a
+vacation and just got home again, and you're tickled to see us and we're
+tickled to see you. Only--s'posing we really had been your
+granddaughters, s'posing you had been our Grandpa Greenfield, I bet
+_you'd_ never have named me Peace."
+
+"No," Dr. Campbell replied gravely, but with a quick thrill of
+tenderness in his heart for this little scapegrace who seemed to win
+from everyone an extra share of love; "no, I don't think I should have
+named you Peace--that is, if I could have foreseen what the blossom was
+to be when the bud unfolded. I should have called you Joy."
+
+"Joy?" repeated Peace. "Humph! That sounds like a heathen name. We've
+got a story book about Hop Loy, a Chinaman who was born on Christmas Day
+and never saw a Christmas tree until he was older'n Cherry. Why-ee!
+Ain't that terrible! I used to think I'd like to have my birthday come
+on Christmas, but now I'm glad it doesn't, for then everybody'd make one
+present do for the two days, and I'd get only half as many pretty
+things as other children have. It's bad enough as 'tis, being born on
+New Year's Day, for by that time most folks have spent all their money
+on Christmas doings."
+
+"Oho," he mocked, "is that what is bothering you? Well, now, don't you
+worry! You shall have your share of birthday gifts as well as heaps of
+Christmas presents as long as you live with us. This year Christmas will
+be doubly merry, for it is the first holiday season we have had any
+young folks to help us celebrate since the days when Dora's nephew used
+to spend his vacations with us."
+
+"Why doesn't he come any more?" asked Cherry curiously.
+
+"Oh, he is a gray-haired man now with children of his own," laughed
+grandma, then sighed, for the rollicking Ned who had been the life of so
+many vacations with them had married a society dame whose one aim was to
+see how many social victories she could score, and the poor children of
+the family fared as best they could in the great, loveless palace which
+they called home.
+
+"Do they live in Martindale?" asked Hope, eager to add to her list of
+acquaintances any whom the Campbells loved.
+
+"No, their home is in Chicago now. That is a photograph of the
+children." She pointed to a group picture on the fireplace mantel, and
+the girls clustered about it with inquisitive eyes.
+
+"What a sad-faced child the smaller one is," observed Faith. "How old is
+she?"
+
+"Six or seven weeks younger than Peace, I believe. She was born on
+Valentine Day."
+
+"How lovely!" Peace cried joyfully. "But I'd like it better if it was
+the boy who was almost my age. He looks the nicest of the bunch. The big
+girl is homely--"
+
+"Peace!"
+
+"Well, it ain't her fault, I know, and I wouldn't mind how homely she
+was if she looked _sweet_, but she doesn't. She looks 'sif she thought
+she owned the earth and I never did like a _darnimeering_ person. Now
+Tom--his name is Tom, isn't it?"
+
+"No, dear, it is Henderson. Henderson Meadows."
+
+"Oh! Why, I was sure it was Tom; he has such a Tom-ish look--"
+
+A shout of derision interrupted her, but she stoutly declared, "Well, he
+has! Boys named Tom are always nice--all I ever knew. I'm sorry his name
+is Henderson. It doesn't sound a bit like him."
+
+"You are a queer chick," said the President indulgently, "but I quite
+agree with you in regard to Henderson. He is a splendid fellow, however,
+in spite of his long name. They ought to have called him Ned Junior. He
+is big Ned all over again, just as Belle the second is the counterpart
+of her mother. Lorene is the odd piece. Every family has one odd one, I
+believe. Lorene is like neither her father nor mother."
+
+"What funny names! They are as bad as ours. But I should like to know
+the children--the folks, I mean. I s'pose Belle is too old to be called
+a child any longer, ain't she?"
+
+"Yes, Belle is sixteen and stylish," he answered grimly, as if that told
+the story, and it really did, for little more could be said of the
+frivolous, society-loving girl, brought up to follow in the footsteps of
+her worldly mother.
+
+"Do they come here often?" ventured Gail, still studying the group, none
+of whom looked really happy.
+
+"No, oh no," Mrs. Campbell answered hastily. "Martindale is too quiet
+for Mrs. Meadows. Ned sent Henderson and Lorene up here for a month last
+summer, but Belle has never been our guest. Grandpa and I have visited
+them twice in Chicago, but that is all we have ever seen them."
+
+"I wish they lived nearer," sighed Peace. "We never had any cousins of
+our own, but maybe they'd adopt us too, like you did; then we'd know
+what it feels like to have real relations."
+
+"Suppose you write Lorene. I think she would enjoy getting letters from
+a little girl so near her own age."
+
+"That _would_ be nice, s'posing I liked to write letters," Peace
+assented, "but I don't. I'll send her a Christmas present, though; and
+a valentine when it comes time, and a birthday gift, too. She will like
+that, won't she? What street does she live on in Chicago? It'll have to
+go pretty soon if it gets there in time for Christmas. That's only a
+week off. Mercy! What a lot of work we'll have to do before then,
+getting ready for the parties. I do love parties! But I don't see what
+you wanted to make two for. One would have been a plenty, and not near
+so much work."
+
+Mrs. Campbell laughed comfortably. "The house isn't large enough to
+accommodate all we want to invite, so we had to make two parties.
+Besides, the evening party is a sort of 'coming out' affair for my older
+girls--"
+
+"Coming out of what?"
+
+"Oh, introducing them into college society--"
+
+"And we littler girls ain't worth coming out for? Is that it?"
+
+"Oh dear no! But _little_ girls don't come out into society. They have
+to wait until they are grown up. Even Gail and Faith are too young for
+the social whirl as the world understands that phrase. They must wait
+until they are through with school and college life before they take up
+social duties. But they have met so very few of our young people since
+coming here to Martindale to live that we are giving this party to
+introduce them to their own classmates really. Do you understand now?"
+
+Peace did not, but she vaguely felt that she ought to, so she bobbed her
+head slowly and fell to puzzling over the queer ways of the world.
+Fortunately for the whole household, the last week of preparation for
+the holiday season was a very busy one, so Peace had little time to
+think of all these perplexing questions; and when Christmas Day dawned
+at length, everyone thought she had forgotten her grievance over not
+being invited to attend the evening party for the older sisters. But
+Peace remembered, and in the gray of the early dawn before anyone else
+was awake in the great house, the door of the flag room burst open with
+a jerk and a joyous voice shrieked through the gloom:
+
+"What have you got in your stockings, girls? Mine is stuffed so full it
+fell off the nail, and one chair and half the dresser is loaded with the
+left-over packages. And Allee's got as many as I have. There's a doll
+for each of us--they beat yours all hollow, Cherry. Now we've got a
+Goddess of Liberty all our own and you can have yours as soon as ever
+you want it. And I've got seven books. Guess Santa must have mixed me up
+with you again, Cherry. There are three puzzles and five games and a lot
+of handkerchiefs and ribbons, two sashes, and oh, the loveliest white
+dress for winter wear, all trimmed with the softest velvet--just the
+thing for your party tonight, Faith, s'posing I was invited. And
+there's a plaid dress and a plain red one and a brown one and a dark
+blue--six in all--and two coats. _Two!_ Think of that! Mercy, ain't we
+rich now? Are you awake, all of you? Are you listening? Ain't this
+different from last year?"
+
+Ah, how well they all remembered that last Christmas, and what a hymn of
+praise and thanksgiving went up from each of those six hearts for the
+joy and good tidings this Christmas had brought them!
+
+Before Peace had finished shouting her catalog of gifts, the other
+sisters were awake--and indeed, the whole household was astir--examining
+the generous remembrances loving hands had heaped around their beds as
+they slept. And what a merry time they made of it! Gussie could scarcely
+prevail upon anyone to touch her tempting breakfast, for excitement had
+dulled the usually hearty appetites; the young folks found their
+treasures more alluring than any breakfast table could possibly be, and
+the President and his wife hovered over them to enjoy the sight of their
+joy.
+
+"A body'd think they had never seen a Christmas Day before," muttered
+Marie, waiting impatiently in her snowy cap and apron to serve the
+rapidly cooling breakfast.
+
+"It's many a long day since they have seen one like this," said Gussie
+loyally, smiling gratefully as she thought of the liberal number of
+packages old Santa had left hanging to her door during the night. But at
+length the meal was ended, Marie had carried the dishes away, Jud
+appeared with a step-ladder and hammer, and the younger trio were
+banished upstairs to amuse themselves until the last of the party
+decorations were put in place. This was not a hard thing to do,
+fortunately, and for once not one of them raised any objection to being
+exiled in this fashion.
+
+"Why, I've enough things of my own to look at and think about to last me
+a week," Cherry breathed ecstatically.
+
+"Yes, and s'posing you did get tired of that," spoke up Peace, "there's
+all the rest of the girls' bundles to 'xamine. They've each got a
+hundred 'most near, I sh'd think."
+
+So for a long time they fluttered from room to room, admiring the pretty
+things that were now their own, nibbling chocolate drops, or discussing
+the party scheduled for two o'clock that afternoon. Then gradually
+conversation flagged; each girl sought a favorite retreat, and
+surrounded by her pile of belongings, sat down to gloat over them.
+Silence fell upon the rooms, broken only by the sound of rustling
+ribbons caressed by admiring hands, the opening and shutting of boxes,
+the fluttering of story-book leaves, the protesting squeak of Queen
+Helen's bisque arms and legs, and the rattle of mysterious puzzles.
+
+Cherry had retired to her own domain to regale herself with certain
+tempting volumes, and Peace and Allee were alone in the flag room when
+the older girl suddenly dropped the book in which she had been lost for
+a full half hour, and said eagerly, "Allee, this is the most interesting
+story I ever read. It tells how the little Swede children give the birds
+a Christmas. Think of that! The birds! We tried to make it happy for
+everyone we knew--Jud and Gussie and Marie and the flirty chimney-sweep
+who goes by here every morning, and the washwoman who lives in the
+alley, and the milk-boy who comes so far through the cold to bring us
+our milk, and Caspar Dodds' family--and--and--all of them; and we even
+remembered the canary and the dogs, but we never thought of the birds
+outdoors."
+
+"No, we didn't," Allee agreed, pausing in her occupation of undressing
+the gorgeous Queen Helen to stare fixedly at her sister as if trying to
+fathom her thoughts. "We might ask Gussie for some crumbs. It ain't too
+late yet."
+
+"Crumbs wouldn't do at all. The book says they tie a sheaf of wheat to a
+tall pole in the yard so the birds will see it and come down and eat.
+See, there is the picture."
+
+"Um-hm. But we haven't any tall pole in our yard, 'cept the flag-pole
+and that's on the roof."
+
+"No, we haven't any pole like the book shows, but we could hitch the
+wheat on our balcony-rail knobs and when the birds came down to get it,
+we could watch them from this window. See?"
+
+"Where'll you get the wheat?"
+
+"From the barn. Jud's got a lot of different kinds of grain out there."
+
+"But we can't go downstairs until party time. Even lunch is to be
+brought up here, grandma said."
+
+"That's so. But I don't think they'd care if we just slipped down the
+stairs and straight out of the front door. It wouldn't take us but a
+minute to get the wheat and come right back again."
+
+"Grandma said if we went downstairs before she gave us leave, we
+couldn't go to the party at all."
+
+"Then how can we feed those birds?"
+
+"I guess we can't feed them this year--'nless we do it tomorrow."
+
+"Tomorrow won't be Christmas. We've got to do it today. Just think how
+nice it will be to play we are little Swedes and how pleased Gussie'll
+be to think we did something her people do."
+
+"Why do just Swedes feed the birds?" inquired Allee, still a trifle
+dubious about entering into Peace's plan, in view of the risk involved.
+
+"Oh, I s'pose they thought of it first. Every kind of people do
+something queer at Christmas which they call a custom. The Holland
+children put out their shoes on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus to fill,
+instead of hanging up their stockings."
+
+"Their shoes?" Allee's eyes were as round as saucers with astonishment.
+
+"Yes. They wear big, wooden boats for shoes. I guess their feet must be
+extra big--anyway, their shoes are simply _e-mense_ and will hold a lot.
+Then there's the French people,--_they_ always save up all the fusses
+and scraps they have had with other folks during the year, and on
+Christmas Day they go around and get forgiven. Wonder what Gail would
+think of that! And the Irish folks stay up all night to hear the horses
+talk."
+
+"Peace, you're fooling!"
+
+"Allee Greenfield, do I ever fool you?"
+
+"N--o, you never have."
+
+"And I ain't beginning now. That is just what this book says."
+
+"But horses don't talk!"
+
+"Only at Christmas time."
+
+"I don't b'lieve they do then. Did you ever hear them!"
+
+"N--o, but I'm going to stay up tonight and listen."
+
+"Oh, we can't. This is party night and what would grandma say?"
+
+"We'll never know if they talk unless we do stay up and listen--and I'd
+like to find out what they say. It's just at midnight. That ain't long.
+We go to bed at eight, and midnight is only twelve o'clock. We could
+stay awake easily till then, 'cause the people who are invited will be
+leaving just about that time. I heard grandma say so. We'll just skip
+away to the barn and see if Duke and Charley are talking, and then we'll
+come back before anyone knows we're gone."
+
+The plan was truly very fascinating, but Allee still looked very
+doubtful, and after a silent moment Peace broke out in an aggrieved
+tone, "I don't see what is the matter with you, Allee. You are getting
+to be just like Cherry. She always sets down on my plans. You won't help
+me hang up the wheat for the Swedes or listen to the Irish horses. You
+never used to be like that."
+
+"I will too help you!" cried Allee, hurt at her boon companion's words
+and tone. "I'll do anything you want me to, only I don't see how we can
+carry out either one of those. We'll surely get scolded if we go
+downstairs now, and it would be dreadful if we couldn't go to either
+party."
+
+Peace walked to the balcony window and threw up the sash, murmuring, "If
+only grandpa hadn't made us promise not to slide down the pillars! Oh,
+I've got it, Allee! Look here!"
+
+Allee scrambled up from the floor and hurried to her side, shivering in
+the cold blast that blew in through the open window, bearing with it a
+few feathery flakes, for it was trying hard to snow. "See that piece of
+the wall that sticks out there, and--"
+
+"But how can you walk on that little mite of a piece?" gasped Allee,
+growing pale at the very thought. "And how would you get down to the
+ground?"
+
+"Oh, that's easy! The rain-pipe is fastened just high enough for me to
+hang onto, and 'sides, the trellis goes part of the way to the porch
+roof, and Jud hasn't taken down the ladder he put up there yesterday."
+
+"Yes, but s'posing you should fall," wailed Allee in sudden terror, for
+the water-pipe looked like a very frail support even for a child as
+small and light of foot as was Peace, and the corner with the projecting
+porch roof seemed so far away.
+
+"There's snow on the ground. I wouldn't get hurt. But you needn't think
+I'm going to fall. I've clum lots harder places than that before. You
+stay here and when I get back you can tack up the wheat on the rail
+post."
+
+Carefully she stepped out on the balcony, slipped over the low railing
+and set out on her perilous journey along the narrow coping, clinging
+tightly to the rain-trough with one hand, and hanging onto the trellis
+supports with the other till at last she was safe on the porch roof at
+the corner. With an exultant shout she turned and waved her hand at
+rigid, white-lipped Allee in the window, then slid lightly down the
+ladder and out of sight. She was gone a long time, and the small watcher
+above was becoming alarmed at her stay, fearing that the daring acrobat
+had been caught at her pranks, and wondering what punishment would
+befall her in such an event, when the bare, brown head appeared over the
+low porch roof once more, and Peace inquired in a worried tone, "Do you
+know whether birds eat hay? 'Cause I can't find any whole wheat out
+there. It's all shocked."
+
+"Why, I never watched them long enough to see," began Allee, eyeing the
+great twisted wisp the older child had in her hand.
+
+"Well, I brought some grain, too, but I don't know how we can tie that
+to a pole, 'nless we leave it in the bag, and then how can the birds get
+at it!"
+
+"We might throw it along the rail--it's wide enough to hold quite a
+little--"
+
+"Course! What a _nijut_ I am not to think of that myself!"
+
+Slinging the bag of grain over one arm, and still clutching the hay
+firmly in the other hand, she began her slow creeping along the coping
+back to the balcony window. The rain-pipe shook threateningly under her
+weight, and even the trellis supports swayed uncomfortably when once she
+slipped and almost lost her frail footing. Allee gave a low moan of
+horror and shut her eyes, but the daring climber did not fall, and when
+next the watcher looked, she beheld the curly, brown head bobbing over
+the balcony rail, as Peace swung up to safety beside her, and dropped
+the burden--the birds' Christmas dinner--into her trembling hands.
+
+Nor was Allee the only one who trembled. On the snowy walk below,
+approaching the house with rapid strides, came the dignified President,
+hand in hand with two children, a bright-eyed, black-haired boy of
+perhaps a dozen years, and an under-sized, gipsy-like little girl, both
+chattering like magpies as they raced along beside the tall, erect old
+man, when suddenly the girl screamed faintly, "Oh, Uncle Donald, look!"
+
+But he had caught sight of the apparition even before she spoke, and
+halted abruptly, breathlessly, terror clutching at his heart. The boy
+followed the gaze of his two petrified companions, and ejaculated in
+amazed admiration, "Golly, but she's got grit! Why, Uncle Donald, that's
+your house! That must be one of the girls you were telling us about. Is
+it Peace?"
+
+The President nodded his head mechanically, not knowing that he had
+heard the question, but the next moment the frozen horror of his face
+melted. The climber had reached the balcony and was unconcernedly
+scattering a handful of grain over the narrow railing, while Allee
+securely bound the wisp of hay to the balcony post. A great sigh of
+relief escaped the watchers below, their hearts began to beat once more
+and the red blood pounded through their veins.
+
+"Oh," gasped the girl, "I thought sure she'd fall!"
+
+"I didn't," declared the boy with a wise shake of his head. "She's a
+reg'lar cat. I believe she could climb a wall. She's like that 'human
+fly' the papers are always telling about. I'd like jolly well to see
+_him_ do some of his stunts, you better believe!"
+
+The President said nothing, but his mouth set in grim lines and a look
+of determination replaced the fearful pallor of his face. Forgetful of
+the guests he had in tow, he marched into the house and straight up the
+stairway with the children still at his heels. At the door of the flag
+room he knocked, then without waiting for a summons from within, he
+entered.
+
+The two scatterers of Christmas cheer had finished their work by this
+time and were now gleefully watching the feathered folk of the air
+settling about the unexpected repast, so they scarcely heard the steps
+in the hall or the creak of the opening door. But at the peculiar sound
+of the voice speaking to them, both girls wheeled quickly, and Peace
+asked in guilty haste, "Did you want us, grandpa?"
+
+"Yes, come here, both of you."
+
+They went and stood at his knee, a secret fear tugging at each little
+heart as they saw the unusually stern look he bent upon them.
+
+"Is--is--what--why--," stammered Peace, wishing he would smile a little
+to relieve the keenness of his glance.
+
+"What were you doing just now?"
+
+"Feeding the birds like the Swedes do on Christmas Day, only we didn't
+have a pole to hitch our wheat to, and all our wheat was in kernels
+anyway, and we were told not to go downstairs until Jud and the girls
+were through dec'rating, so we clum out of the window and I got some hay
+and grain just as slick! Don't the birds look as if they were enjoying
+their Christmas dinner?" Peace rattled on, speaking so rapidly that the
+words fairly tumbled out of her mouth.
+
+"Didn't I tell you when you chose this room for your own that you would
+forfeit it the first time you used the window for the stairway?"
+
+"No, grandpa," came the astounding reply from both eager little girls.
+"You said _porch_, _pillars_, and we have _never_ used them for
+stairways since the time we told you about. We 'membered that
+_carefully_, and this time we used that wide piece that sticks out of
+the wall, and then clum down Jud's ladder from the back porch roof. That
+ain't the balcony pillars, grandpa. You never said we couldn't go down
+that way."
+
+In absolute amazement the learned Doctor of Laws gazed long and
+silently into the anxious, upturned faces. Allee's lips began to
+tremble, and even Peace, remembering the Doctor's words in regard to
+lickings the night of the surprise party in the little brown house,
+shook in her shoes; but she steadfastly returned his gaze, and quietly
+repeated, "You know you didn't, grandpa!"
+
+"No," he said at last. "I did not forbid your going down that way, but
+it was only because I never dreamed you or anyone else would ever try
+such a feat." Suddenly his sternness vanished, he stooped quickly and
+gathered the scared little souls in his arms, choking huskily, "My
+little girlies, if you knew what a fright you have given your old
+grandpa--"
+
+"Oh, grandpa," quavered Allee from her retreat on his shoulder, "we'll
+never do it again, truly!"
+
+"And you won't take this darling room away from us this time, will you?"
+wheedled Peace, her equilibrium restored at sight of this unusual
+display of emotion.
+
+"No," he promised, "not this time. We'll try you again, but remember--no
+more window climbing of _any_ kind."
+
+"Not even out onto the balcony?" wailed Peace in dismay.
+
+There was a sound of suppressed laughter from the hall, and as the girls
+in the flag room whirled about to discover the cause, the President
+suddenly remembered his new guests and rose hurriedly to his feet. But
+Peace had reached the door in a bound and with a cry of delight dragged
+forth the embarrassed strangers, exclaiming, "It's Henderson and Lorene,
+grandpa! They look 'xactly like their picture, don't they, only not
+quite so grumpy? Grandma said I better write Lorene and I did and I
+invited her to come up for my party. That's how they happen to be here.
+Now we'll get acquainted with our relations, won't we? I invited Belle,
+too. Why didn't she come?"
+
+"Belle and mamma went to Evanston last week," Lorene explained
+bashfully.
+
+"And they let you come all alone?"
+
+"They don't know yet that we aren't in Chicago," chuckled Henderson.
+"Dad let us come. It's only a twelve-hour ride and we don't change cars
+at all. Pooh! We've gone longer ways than that alone."
+
+"But not when mamma knew it," supplemented Lorene. "She'd have
+_insisted_ upon sending Nurse with us--if she had let us come at all.
+Where shall we put our wraps? It's hot in here."
+
+"Oh, I forgot!" cried Peace, abruptly recalled to her duties as hostess,
+for dazed Dr. Campbell had gone in search of his wife the minute he saw
+that the children were sufficiently introduced.
+
+"Hang your coat on the hall-tree, Henderson; and Lorene, bring your
+things in here. It's pretty near lunch time already, and then we must
+dress for the party."
+
+So in spite of their very unexpected arrival, the two strangers received
+a royal welcome, and were soon very much at home with the six merry
+girls whom they promptly adopted as cousins, just as Peace had hoped
+they would. And how quickly the hours flew by! Before anyone realized
+it, the great clock in the hall struck two, and promptly the small
+guests began to arrive. Happy voices filled the house, happy faces
+beamed from every corner, happy hearts beat high with Christmas cheer;
+the very air seemed charged with happiness. The four younger sisters
+made charming hostesses, Grandma Campbell proved to be a rare
+entertainer, and the dignified President won everlasting fame as a
+story-teller and leader in games.
+
+"_Everything_ was a success," as Hope thankfully declared when the last
+guest had departed, and the happy group had congregated in grandma's
+room to talk things over while Jud and his corps of helpers were setting
+things to rights for the evening party.
+
+"Yes," Peace reluctantly conceded, "but think how much nicer it would
+have been if we could have had it in the evening like grown-up folks."
+
+"Still harping about that?" laughed Faith, pausing in the doorway with
+her arms full of holly wreaths ready to be hung. "Daytime is made for
+children. Gail and I didn't intrude at your party."
+
+"That ain't 'cause you wasn't invited," Peace replied pointedly.
+
+"But we couldn't very well come," Faith answered hastily. "There were so
+many things we had to get ready for our tree tonight."
+
+"Getting things ready for a tree ain't like having to lie in bed and
+hear all the noise and music and know you can't have any share at _all_
+in them," Peace persisted; but Faith had already vanished down the
+stairway, and only a tantalizing laugh floated back in reply.
+
+A hush fell over the little company in the cosy room, each busy with
+happy thoughts or rosy day-dreams, as she stared at the glowing embers
+in the great fireplace or watched the white flakes drifting down through
+the early twilight outside. Then there was a firm step on the stair, a
+cheery voice from the hallway broke the spell, and six pair of eyes were
+lifted to greet the busy President as he briskly entered the room and
+paused to survey the pretty scene.
+
+"Well, well," he said bluffly, "what's the difficulty? Quarrelling?"
+
+"No, sir!" they shouted emphatically.
+
+"We were just thinking--" Henderson began.
+
+"How nice it would be if little folks were invited to grown-up parties,"
+finished Peace, who seemed possessed of only that one idea.
+
+"That's just what I have been thinking, too," was the surprising
+confession from the tall man on the hearth rug.
+
+"Wh-at!"
+
+"Well, when mother and I came to think over the subject seriously, we
+both agreed that it did not seem exactly fair to put three, no, four
+such charming little maids to bed--for of course Lorene would share your
+fate, too--when there were to be such festive doings downstairs,
+although neither one of us believes in late hours for children. I
+presume we are very old-fashioned in some things--"
+
+"No, you aren't," chorused the loyal girls.
+
+"No? True patriots! And yet didn't you think grandma and I were just the
+least teenty bit hard on you to make you go to bed at the regulation
+hours tonight when it is Christmas?"
+
+"W-e-ll, we would like awfully much to stay up and see if Gail and Faith
+do as good entertaining their comp'ny as we did," confessed Peace with
+unusual hesitation.
+
+"Supposing I should tell you that we have decided to let you stay up an
+hour or two longer?"
+
+"Oh, grandpa, what a darling you are!"
+
+"No, you must thank Faith. She begged so hard that we have had to give
+in to satisfy her."
+
+"Faith?" Peace was so completely dumbfounded that they had to laugh at
+her.
+
+"Yes, dear, Faith. She says you are so dreadfully anxious to see what a
+grown-up Christmas party is like that she is afraid you will die of
+curiosity if you can't have that wish fulfilled."
+
+"Grandpa, you are just joking," Cherry reproved.
+
+"I am thoroughly in earnest, I assure you. To be sure, Faith used
+somewhat different words, but she sympathized so heartily with you that
+we decided to let you enjoy part of the evening's program. In fact, the
+only reason we planned _two_ parties in the first place was because the
+old house wouldn't hold at one time all we wanted to invite; and we
+thought it would be a great deal easier to entertain our guests if we
+had the big folks at one party and the little people at another. Do you
+understand now?"
+
+"Yes, and I'll bet you've been figuring on letting us go all the while
+we were stewing about it," cried Peace, the irrepressible.
+
+"Maybe you are right," he chuckled.
+
+She bounced off the floor with a squeal of delight, clutched Allee with
+one hand and Lorene with the other, and rushed out of the room, calling
+back over her shoulder, "Now, I'm _surblimely_ happy! You better go
+dress, Cherry! Dinner will soon be ready and there won't be much time
+after that before the party begins."
+
+They had been happy before, but the granting of this one dear wish
+transported them to such heights of bliss that they seemed to be walking
+on clouds, and went about in such a state of rapture that it was
+ludicrous as well as delightful to behold their antics.
+
+Evening came, the guests arrived, music sounded, carols were sung, and
+Peace, entranced, moved about through the gay, light-hearted throng like
+one in a dream. To be sure, it was just as the President had
+prophesied--little attention was paid to the children of the party, but
+it was glorious fun just to watch the changing scenes and be a part of
+them, instead of lying tucked away in bed upstairs listening with
+ever-increasing curiosity and longing to the sounds of merrymaking
+below.
+
+With a happy sigh of content at the realization of her great ambition,
+Peace dropped down upon a pile of cushions by one of the long French
+windows, leaned her forehead against the cool pane and looked out into
+the night, where by the flickering light of the street-lamps she could
+see the white snowflakes drifting slowly, lazily downward.
+
+"My, but hasn't this been a happy Christmas!" she said aloud, though no
+one was near enough to hear her words. "Who'd ever have thought last
+Christmas that we'd be here tonight? Do you s'pose the angels know we
+don't live in Parker any more? We might set a lamp in the window so's
+they'd see it and be sure. Gail says mother always did that when papa
+was out after night, so he could find his way home all right. I'll tell
+Allee and when we go to bed we'll just remind the angels that we don't
+need so much looking after now that we're living here. I'll never forget
+how s'prised Hec Abbott was when he found out that we'd all been 'dopted
+together. I wonder what Hec is doing about now? He can't brag any more
+about the good times they have at his house. We are just--what in the
+world is that coming up the steps?"
+
+Mechanically she rose to her feet, her nose still pressed flat against
+the window-pane as she studied the huge, misshapen figure already on the
+wide veranda. The footman who had ushered in the guests of the evening
+was at that moment occupied in fastening up a strand of evergreen which
+had fallen close above a gas-jet; the President was at the furthest
+corner of the great parlor engaged in an animated discussion with a
+pale-faced professor of Greek; and Mrs. Campbell was nowhere in sight.
+With a wildly beating heart, Peace seized the door-knob, and not waiting
+for the queer stranger outside to ring the bell, she flung wide the door
+and confronted him.
+
+"Why, it's Santa Claus!" they heard her say, for the sudden sharp blast
+of winter air had drawn a crowd to the door to see what had happened.
+"Don't you know, sir, that you can't come in this way? Go up to the roof
+and climb down the _chimbley_, like you do at other houses," she
+commanded, and in the face of the amazed Saint Nick she slammed the
+door.
+
+"Peace, what have you done?" cried Gail aghast, as she caught a glimpse
+of the fat, knobby pack disappearing down the steps.
+
+"It was just that Santa Claus forgot to go down the _chimbley_," she
+explained. "He ought to have remembered that!"
+
+A shout from the adjoining room cut short her defense, and as the crowd
+surged forward in that direction, she beheld the jolly old Saint
+shuffling across the floor dragging his heavy pack which certainly
+looked as sooty and dirty as if he had really plunged down the tall
+chimney and through the fireplace. Straight to her corner he came, and
+fumbling in his sack, drew forth a tiny statue of the Goddess of
+Liberty, which he presented with an elaborate bow, saying in a deep,
+rumbling voice, "To the defender of all childhood traditions--Liberty
+enlightening the world!" His words were greeted with mad applause, for
+by this time everyone had heard the story of the flag room and peeped at
+its quaint furnishings; but the laugh was quickly turned from one to
+another, for St. Nick had remembered well the pet foibles of each guest
+present, and had brought with him appropriate gifts for all.
+
+Much too soon the hands of the clock crept around to the hour of half
+past ten, and with sighs of resignation and disappointment, the four
+smaller girls, Cherry, Peace, Lorene and Allee, slipped quietly away to
+bed.
+
+"I did so want to hear the rest of the carols," murmured Cherry, yawning
+so widely that she nearly swallowed the rest of the exiled group.
+
+"We can hear them after we're in bed," said Peace, rubbing her eyes
+which were growing very heavy in spite of her efforts to stay awake.
+"Gussie promised to leave our doors open until time for the folks to go
+home. It's the charades I wanted to see."
+
+"Charades?" questioned Lorene. "Were they going to have charades, too?"
+
+"She means tableaux," explained Cherry. "She's crazy about them. They
+make me cough too much--the lights they use, I mean. Come on, Lorene,
+sleep with me tonight until Hope comes up to bed. Do, please! It isn't
+fair for you three to stick in here and leave me all by myself in the
+other room."
+
+Lorene glanced hesitatingly from one sister to the other, and seeing no
+opposition, answered, "All right, Cherry, I'll stay with you till the
+folks go. You don't care, do you, girls?"
+
+"Not for that long," Peace magnanimously replied, for a daring plan had
+just popped her eyes wide open, and Lorene might hinder its fulfillment.
+So they separated, and in a few short moments four white-robed figures
+were tucked snugly under the coverlets, the lights turned out, and the
+two doors left ajar that the sleepy exiles might hear the strains of
+music floating up the wide staircase. There was the soft sound of
+whispered words from bed to bed like the sleepy twitterings of birdlings
+in their nests, and then silence. Cherry and Lorene were fast asleep.
+Downstairs the carols ceased, the wail of violin and guitar died away,
+and the murmur of voices was again borne to the straining ears of the
+conspirators in the flag room.
+
+"Do you s'pose they have begun tableauing?" asked Allee, after what
+seemed an eternity of listening.
+
+"Not yet; they have lights. There, that must be one. See how queer the
+hall looks through the crack of the door? I guess it's time now. Come
+on, but be awful still."
+
+"It's cold after being in that warm bed," protested Allee as her bare
+feet touched the polished floor in the hall.
+
+"We'll get some wraps in here," Peace answered, inspired by a happy
+thought to seize upon two beautiful white opera robes belonging to some
+of the guests below, and with these heavy garments trailing behind them,
+they stole softly down the wide stairway almost to the landing, where,
+out of sight from the company massed in the parlor and adjoining rooms,
+they could still see the tableaux taking place in the reception hall
+below.
+
+Fortunately for their health's sake, this part of the program was brief,
+and had it not been for the very last scene pictured, no one would have
+dreamed of their presence behind the palings. But it happened that the
+girls had chosen as a climax for the evening the tableau of the first
+Christmas Eve; and Hope, arrayed as the angel of good tidings, appeared
+on the stairs just as Jud touched off the weird red light on the
+landing,--for neither actor nor servant had discovered the hidden
+culprits until too late to utter any words of warning or reproof.
+Startled beyond measure at the sudden glow almost at their elbow, the
+two conspirators scrambled to their feet and vanished hastily up the
+stairway as the chorus below took up the song,
+
+    "Angels ascending and descending,
+      Chanted the wond'rous refrain,
+    'Glory to God in the Highest,
+      Peace and good will toward men.'"
+
+The long, fur-lined opera cloaks streamed out behind them like misty
+clouds in the unearthly glow of the sulphur light, and it seemed as if
+they were really a part of the beautiful tableau, which brought forth
+such thunderous applause from the delighted audience that it had to be
+repeated. This Peace and Allee did not know, however, for with
+chattering teeth and trembling limbs, they had fled to the refuge of
+their room, pausing only long enough to drop their borrowed finery where
+they had found it; and they were crawling underneath the covers once
+more when Peace hissed sharply in her sister's ear, "What about the
+horses?"
+
+"What's the matter with them?" murmured Allee, too confused and sleepy
+to know what her companion was saying.
+
+"We were going out to hear them talk at midnight."
+
+"So we were! Well, I guess they'll have to talk all to themselves again
+tonight."
+
+"What? Ain't you going out with me to listen?"
+
+"We'd freeze in our nightgowns and we dahsent take those pussy-cat coats
+to the barn," protested the younger sister, aroused by Peace's surprised
+exclamation.
+
+"We'll dress."
+
+"Oh, Peace, and then have the fun of taking our clothes off again?"
+
+"We'll put on our stockings and overshoes and bundle up in grandma's
+shawls. How'll that do? But first, we better light that candle I told
+you about to let the angels know where we are tonight. There--I guess
+they'll see it, even if it isn't as big as a lamp. Come on, I heard the
+clock strike a long time ago."
+
+If Allee had not been so sleepy she might have remembered one other time
+just a year before when Peace had heard the clock strike; but being too
+near the land of Nod to realize anything but that Peace was calling her,
+she stumbled out of bed once more and allowed herself to be bundled up
+in wraps of all sorts until she was as shapeless as a mummy. In this
+fashion they slipped down the back stairs and out to the barn without
+betraying their presence, though the steps creaked under their weight,
+and every door they opened squeaked so alarmingly that Peace held her
+breath more than once for fear someone had heard.
+
+Once inside the dark barn, they had to feel their way about, for not a
+ray of light penetrated the blackness of the stormy night, and the grim
+silence of the place filled them with nameless terror. It was not so bad
+when they had finally found their way into Marmaduke's stall and cuddled
+close to the friendly beast, who nosed them inquiringly, but even there
+they did not dare speak above a whisper; and so they waited breathlessly
+for the mystic midnight hour when the animals should break their silence
+and talk, each secretly wishing she were safely back in bed again.
+
+Up at the house the merry evening had at length drawn to a close, and
+the guests had reluctantly departed. The President, returning from the
+gate where he had escorted the last guest to her sleigh, made a
+harrowing discovery. There was a light in the balcony window! Could it
+be that burglars had entered the house during the merrymaking and were
+even now ransacking the rooms? He looked again. It was such a tiny,
+steady light. Was it possible that one of the children was sick and
+Gussie had not told him? The last thought sent him flying up the stairs
+three steps at a time, and he reached the flag room door so breathless
+that he could scarcely turn the knob. The bed was empty. Only a wee
+taper from the Christmas tree burned faintly on the window sill.
+
+In frantic haste he called the family and they searched the house from
+garret to cellar, but the missing children were not to be found.
+
+"Do you suppose the tableau scared them to death?" asked Hope.
+
+"Maybe they tried to see if Santa Claus really came down the chimney and
+got stuck there themselves," suggested Henderson, who regarded the
+disappearance of the duet as something of a lark.
+
+"Wake Jud," commanded Mrs. Campbell, and the worried Doctor hastily
+lighted a lantern and went down to the barn to rouse the man of all
+work, wondering as he did so what good that would do. The horses
+whinnied as he entered the stable, and in the dim light that flooded
+the place, the President saw that the door of Marmaduke's stall stood
+open.
+
+"What can Jud be thinking of?" he muttered somewhat testily, stepping
+along to slip the bolt in its place, but the next instant his eyes fell
+upon two dark bundles huddled at the horse's feet, and with a startled
+exclamation he bent over to examine his find, just as Faith burst in
+through the door behind him, crying, "They must have left the house,
+grandpa, because the back hall door is unlocked and the storm-door is
+swinging."
+
+"Yes, Faith, and here they are," he answered, tenderly lifting the
+smaller warm bundle and depositing it in the girl's arms. "What in
+creation do you suppose they were doing here?"
+
+As if in answer to his question, the brown eyes of the child he was just
+lifting fluttered slowly open, and Peace drowsily drawled, "We fed the
+Swede birds for Gussie, and got French forgiveness from grandpa for
+doing so, and had a German Christmas tree, and lots of Hung'ry company,
+and 'Merican stockings and a 'Merican Santa Claus, but we didn't hear
+the Irish horses talk, and I b'lieve it's all a joke."
+
+In spite of their anxiety, Faith and the President gave a boisterous
+shout, and Peace heard as in a dream her sister's voice saying, "It is
+Christmas Eve that the animals are supposed to talk. Poor Peace!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A ZEALOUS LITTLE MISSIONARY
+
+
+Strange as it may seem, neither child felt any ill effects from that
+midnight escapade, but the next morning they awoke as chipper and gay as
+if there were no such thing as after-Christmas feelings. They even
+forgot the lonely vigil in the stable in their dismay at the discovery
+that Lorene had slept all night with Cherry instead of returning to
+their room as she had promised to do. An after-breakfast summons to the
+President's study brought their pranks vividly to mind again, however,
+and with considerable trepidation they saw the heavy door close behind
+them, shutting them in alone with the grave-eyed man, for they stood
+much in awe of the learned Doctor when that stern look replaced the
+usual bluff kindliness of his face.
+
+The conference was exceedingly brief and to the point, judging from the
+sober, wilted little culprits who pattered up the stairway a few minutes
+later and silently sought the flag room. Henderson and the girls were
+consumed with curiosity to know the result of the interview, and their
+amazement knew no bounds when the disgraced duet vanished within their
+quiet retreat and turned the key in the lock. After waiting in vain
+fifteen minutes for them to reappear Lorene crossed the hall and knocked
+timidly at the closed door. There was no answer. She tried again, this
+time with more vim, but with no better success. Then she called, but not
+a sound from within greeted her straining ear. Cherry and Hope each took
+a turn, and Henderson pounded his fists sore without receiving a single
+word of reply from the prisoners.
+
+"I believe they have climbed out of the window," he cried at last in
+exasperation.
+
+"No, they promised grandpa not to. I guess maybe they've been sent to
+bed," said Cherry, inwardly thankful that she had not been in the latest
+scrapes.
+
+Neither was right. But after a time, tiring of their efforts to get some
+sign from the culprits, the quartette in the hall dispersed to amuse
+themselves in some more entertaining manner. No sooner had their
+footsteps died away on the stairs, and Peace was convinced in her own
+mind that they had really gone for good, than a change came over her.
+She was sitting erect in a stiff-backed chair in one corner of the room,
+while her companion in misery sat huddled in the opposite corner,
+staring at the fresco of flags above her head. Both looked dreadfully
+woe-begone, and as if the tears were very near the surface, for
+punishment sat heavily upon these two light-hearted spirits,
+particularly as such severe measures did not seem necessary or just to
+them in view of the smallness of their sin. However, when the racket
+outside their door finally fell away into silence, Peace suddenly gave a
+little jump of inspiration, twisted her feet about the legs of her
+chair, and began a slow, laborious hitching process across the red rug
+toward the tiny dresser. Reaching this goal, she jerked open a drawer,
+rummaged out paper and pencil and began a furious scratching.
+
+Allee watched with fascinated eyes, but true to her promise to the
+President in the den below, she never said a word, though she was nearly
+bursting with curiosity and it was so hard to keep still. After a few
+moments of rapid scribbling on a page of vivid pink stationery, the
+brown-eyed plotter again commenced her queer march across the room until
+she had reached the door, unlocked it, and after a hard struggle managed
+to pin the slip to the outside panel. Then with a sigh of mingled relief
+at having accomplished her object and resignation at her unjust fate,
+she closed the door once more, and wriggled back to her place opposite
+Allee, never so much as looking at the eager face questioning hers so
+mutely.
+
+Again silence reigned in the pretty room, and both girls fell to
+wondering what the other members of the household were doing. Suppose
+Cherry had taken Lorene down to the pond to skate. That was what Peace
+herself had been planning on ever since she had looked into the small
+dark face of the child who was only six weeks and two days younger than
+she was. Suppose Hope had gone with Henderson to coast on the hill. He
+had promised Allee the first ride just the night before. Suppose Jud
+should choose this morning to take the girls sleighing as he had said he
+would do when the first heavy snow fell.
+
+It had stormed all night and the deep mantle of white lay tempting and
+inviting in the bright winter sunshine. Oh, dear, what a queer world it
+seemed! Some people were in trouble all the time and some were never
+bothered with scrapes and punishments. There was Hope. Why was it Hope
+never did such outlandish things to cause anxiety and dismay to those
+around her? Hope never even _thought_ of the freakish pranks that were
+constantly getting Peace into trouble.
+
+What was it grandma was always quoting? "Thoughtfulness seeks never to
+add to another's burdens, never to make extra work or care, but always
+to lighten loads." She said it was because Hope was always thinking of
+beautiful things that made folks love to have her near; that it was the
+mischievous thoughts which cause the misery of the world. She said--what
+did she say? The brown eyes winked slower and slower, the brown head
+bent lower and lower. Peace was asleep.
+
+An hour passed,--two. The luncheon bell tinkled, the family gathered
+about the table for the mid-day meal, but the chairs on either side of
+the President's place were vacant. Glances of inquiry flashed from face
+to face. Were the children to be kept in their room all day?
+
+"Where are Peace and Allee?" asked the Doctor, very much surprised at
+their absence.
+
+"I haven't seen them since you sent them upstairs this morning,"
+answered Mrs. Campbell, who had been occupied all the forenoon writing a
+paper for the Home Missionary Society which was to meet at the parsonage
+that afternoon.
+
+A guilty flush overspread the President's fine face, and forgetting to
+excuse himself from the table, he abruptly pushed back his chair and
+strode from the room, muttering remorsefully, "I deserve to be licked!
+That was three hours ago and I promised to call them in an hour." He
+returned shortly alone, looking very foolish, and holding in his hand a
+square of brilliant pink.
+
+"What is it?" asked his wife, surprised at the look on his face. "Where
+are the little folks?"
+
+"Asleep. They looked so worn out that I put them on the bed and left
+them to have their nap out. This is what I found on the door."
+
+He dropped the slip of paper into her hands as he resumed his seat, and
+she read in tipsy, scrawling letters Peace's poster: "It won't do enny
+good to raket or holler to us. We can't talk for an hour. If you want to
+ask queshuns go to grandpa he is boss of this roost."
+
+She smiled a little tremulously as she passed the pathetic scribble to
+Henderson, sitting at her right, but he, being a boy, saw only the funny
+side of the situation, and let out a lusty howl of joy as he read aloud
+the words with much gusto to his delighted audience.
+
+When the laughter had subsided somewhat, the President asked ruefully,
+"How can I make my peace with them? I sent them to their room for an
+hour and promptly forgot all about the affair."
+
+"I'll take them to the Missionary Meeting with me this afternoon,"
+suggested Mrs. Campbell, "and you can come for us with the sleigh. Peace
+has begged to go over ever since she has been here. It seems that Mrs.
+Strong is an enthusiastic missionary worker, and Peace's greatest
+ambition is to be like her Saint Elspeth."
+
+"So she can find another St. John and marry him," giggled Faith.
+
+"Yes. I guess it is hard to decide which one of her saints she thinks
+the most of," Mrs. Campbell agreed; "but I am so glad she has chosen
+such a beautiful couple to pattern her own ideals after. Their
+friendship will do much for our little--" she intended to say
+"mischief-maker," but this white-haired woman with her mother instincts
+seemed to understand that Peace's mischief was never done for mischief's
+sake, so she changed the word to "sunshine-maker."
+
+Thus it happened that when the brown eyes and the blue unclosed after
+their long nap, they looked up into the dear face of their
+grandmother-by-adoption, and saw by her tender smile that their
+punishment was ended. They were surprised to find how long they had
+slept, but the delight at being allowed to attend a grown-up missionary
+meeting, as Allee called it, overshadowed whatever resentment they might
+have felt at having been forgotten for so long a time, and they danced
+away through the snow beside Mrs. Campbell as happy and carefree as the
+little birds which they had fed yesterday.
+
+The meeting was not as exciting as Peace had been led to expect from
+Mrs. Strong's enthusiastic recitals regarding missionary work, but some
+of the words spoken by the different ladies sank very deeply into the
+children's fertile brains, and both were so silent on the homeward
+journey behind the flying horses that finally Mrs. Campbell ventured to
+ask, "Are you tired, girlies? Was the meeting a disappointment to you?"
+
+"Oh, no," Peace hastened to assure her. "_I_ liked it lots, and Allee
+likes the same things I do, don't you, Allee? The women were pretty slow
+about doing things--they talked so long each time before they could make
+up their minds about anything. But it's int'resting to know that at
+last they decided to send some barrels to the poor ministers in the
+little places who don't get enough to live on. 'Twould have been better
+if they had done it before Christmas, though, so's the children wouldn't
+have thought Santa Claus had forgotten them. Do--do you think like Mrs.
+McGowan--that if we have two coats and someone else hasn't any, we ought
+to give away one of ours? That's what she said, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes, that is what she said," Mrs. Campbell agreed; "and in a large
+measure I believe her doctrine, too. If we have more than we need and
+there are others less fortunate, I think we ought to share our
+blessings. But it takes a lot of good sense and tact to do this
+judicially."
+
+"I think so, too," answered Peace with such a peculiar thrill in her
+voice that the President, at whose side she was sitting, turned and
+looked quizzically at the rapt face. "I don't b'lieve in talking a lot
+about giving and then when it comes to really _doing_ it, to give just
+the left-over things that ain't any good to us any longer, and wouldn't
+be to anyone else, either."
+
+"Why, what do you mean, child?" the woman asked, taken by surprise at
+such quaint observations from the fly-away little maid, whose serious
+thoughts were regarded as jokes even by her own family.
+
+"Well, there was Mrs. Waddler in Parker. She always talked so big that
+folks who didn't know her thought she must have millions of money; but
+when she came to giving, it was usu'ly skim milk or some of her
+husband's worn-out pants."
+
+Here the President exploded, but at the same instant the horses turned
+in at the driveway; and in scrambling down from the sleigh Peace forgot
+to press her argument any further. Nor did the older folks remember it
+again for some days. Then Mrs. Campbell entered the doctor's study one
+afternoon with a deep frown on her forehead, and a little note in her
+hand.
+
+At the sound of her voice, the busy man paused in his writing and
+glanced up hastily, asking, "What seems to be the difficulty?"
+
+"This letter. I don't understand it. Mrs. Scofield writes a note of
+regrets because I found it impossible to be with them at the last
+missionary meeting, and closes by thanking me for my generous donation.
+Now, it happens that just before Christmas, I carefully went through all
+the closets of the house, sorted out and hunted up all the good,
+half-worn clothing that we could spare, and sent it to the Danbury
+Hospital for distribution among their poor families; so I simply had
+nothing of value to add to the barrels intended for the frontier
+ministers--"
+
+"Why didn't you buy something?"
+
+"I did; or, rather, I thought the poor preacher might find the money
+more acceptable than anything I could purchase, so I selected the family
+of Brother Bennet of Idaho, and sent him a check. I mailed it to him
+direct, not wanting to run the risk of the barrel being delayed or
+destroyed. I also neglected to inform the ladies of what I had done; so
+I am sure they know nothing about it, for it is yet too early to hear
+from Mr. Bennet himself."
+
+"Maybe it is a case of a little bird's having told the story," laughed
+the doctor, taking up his pen to resume his writing, and his wife, still
+musing over the strange occurrence, went away to receive a caller who
+had just been announced.
+
+An hour later she returned to the study looking more perplexed than when
+she had left him before, and the President banteringly asked, "Haven't
+you found out yet about that generous donation?"
+
+"Yes, Donald. Mrs. Haynes has just told me the whole story. It was not
+my donation at all."
+
+"Ah, the worthy ladies just got mixed in their thanks--"
+
+"Not at all! It was Peace's work, and naturally they thought I had
+authorized it. That little rascal picked up about half her wardrobe, her
+Christmas doll, several games and story books, and goodness knows what
+all, and took them over to Mrs. Scofield's house to be packed in the
+missionary barrels. Not only that, she persuaded Allee to do the same
+with her treasures."
+
+"The little sinner!" ejaculated the startled President. "Without saying
+a word to anyone about her intentions?"
+
+"She never consulted _me_."
+
+"Nor me. Well, we must just send her back after them, and make her
+understand she must ask us when she wants to dispose of her belongings."
+
+"That is just the trouble. The barrels have already gone."
+
+"You don't say so! The monkey! Send Peace to me when she comes in, Dora.
+We must curb these philanthropic tendencies in their infancy and direct
+them in the right channels. There is the making of a wonderful woman in
+that small body."
+
+"With the right training."
+
+"Yes. God grant that we may be able to give her the right training."
+
+Peace came radiantly in response to the message, dancing lightly down
+the hall as a hummingbird might flutter along, and the mere sight of her
+merry face as it popped through the study doorway was like a sudden
+shaft of sunlight in the great room. The President had determined to
+meet her gravely, even sternly, and show her that her uncalled-for
+generosity had displeased them, but in spite of himself, his eyes
+softened as they rested upon the sweet, round face upturned for a kiss,
+and he gently drew her into his lap before telling her why he had sent
+for her.
+
+"Why, yes, grandpa," she readily confessed. "I did give away some of my
+clothes and other things, and so did Allee, 'cause the children of the
+ministers on the frontier need them so much more than we do. Why, we're
+rich now and can have anything we want! You said so yourself, you know.
+We couldn't give the things we didn't want ourselves, grandpa, 'cause
+that wouldn't be a _sacrilege_; and the pretty lady who talked at the
+missionary meeting that day said it was the _sacrileges_ we made in this
+world that put stars in our crowns in the next world."
+
+"Sacrifice, dear, not sacrilege."
+
+"Is it? Well, I knew it was some kind of a sack. I want lots of stars in
+my crown when I get to heaven. Just think how terrible you'd feel
+s'posing when St. Peter let you inside the Gates, he handed you just a
+plain, blank crown. Mercy! I know I'd bawl my eyes out even if it does
+say there aren't any tears in heaven. So I picked out the things I liked
+the very best of all I got on Christmas--that is, most of them were. I
+don't care much for dolls, so that wasn't any sacri-_fice_ for me; but
+Allee likes them awfully much yet, and it was a big sacri-_fice_ for her
+to let hers go. But I sent my dear, beautiful plaid dress that I thought
+was the prettiest of the bunch, though I let Allee keep the one she
+liked best, seeing she cried so hard about Queen Helen. She didn't seem
+to enjoy thinking about the big star she'll get in its place, so I told
+her I thought likely you or grandma would give her even a prettier doll
+for her birthday, which isn't very far off now. I sent the book which
+tells all about the way little children in other lands spend Christmas
+day, but it was pretty hard work to give that one up. I pulled it out of
+the heap three times, and fin'ly had to run like wild up to Mrs.
+Scofield's house with it, so's I wouldn't take it out and put it on the
+shelf to stay."
+
+"But why did you take so many things?" asked the Doctor lamely.
+
+"There are five children in the family we sent our stuff to, and three
+of them are girls. There are six girls in our family, and when we lived
+all alone in the little brown house with just ragged, faded dresses to
+wear and only plain things to eat, holidays and all, we'd have been
+tickled to death if someone had given us such pretty things all for our
+very own. Oh, wouldn't it have made _you_ happy if you had been a little
+girl?"
+
+The great, brown eyes shone with such a glorified light and the small,
+round face looked so blissfully happy that the Doctor's lecture was
+wholly forgotten, and for a long time he held the little form close in
+his arms while his mind went backward over the long years to the time
+when he was a homeless orphan and Hi Allen--Hi Greenfield--had shared
+his treasures with him. They made a beautiful picture sitting there in
+the gathering dusk, the white head bending low over the riotous brown
+curls, the strong hands intertwined with the supple, childish fingers;
+and so completely had she captured the great heart of the man that when
+at length he set her on the floor and sent her away with a kiss, he
+spoke no chiding word. And Peace skipped off well content with the
+results of her first missionary efforts.
+
+A few days later she danced into the house one afternoon from school,
+wet from head to foot with a damp, clinging snow which was falling, and
+at sight of her, Mrs. Campbell threw up her hands and exclaimed, "Peace,
+my child, what have you been doing?"
+
+"Ted and Evelyn Smiley and Allee and me and some others had a snow-ball
+battle."
+
+"That is expressly forbidden by the school board--" began the gentle
+little grandmother reprovingly.
+
+"Oh, we didn't battle with the school board, grandma! We waited until we
+reached Evelyn's house and had it in their back yard. The snow is just
+right for dandy balls."
+
+"I should think as much. Come here!"
+
+Peace obeyed, glancing hastily at her feet as she guiltily remembered a
+certain pair of new shoes which she was wearing and saw the sharp, black
+eyes fixed searchingly upon them.
+
+"Peace Greenfield, what have you on your feet?"
+
+"Shoes."
+
+"Your new strapped shoes--slippers--for summer wear?"
+
+Peace nodded.
+
+"After I told you not to wear them until warmer weather!"
+
+"You didn't say that, grandma," Peace expostulated. "You said as long as
+I had any others, you guessed I had better put these away for party wear
+until it got warmer."
+
+As a rule, Peace's excuses rather amused the mistress of the house, but
+this time she looked sternly at the little culprit, and briefly
+commanded, "Go to your room and put on your other shoes immediately."
+
+"I haven't got any others."
+
+"No others? What do you mean?"
+
+"I--I--gave mine all away."
+
+"To whom did you give them?" asked the President, who had entered the
+room unnoticed.
+
+"To a little girl I met on the hill yesterday. Her toes were sticking
+through hers and she looked dreadfully cold, and kept stamping her feet
+to keep them from freezing."
+
+The President swallowed a lump in his throat.
+
+"She did not need _two_ pair to keep her feet warm, did she?"
+
+"She was twins."
+
+"Wh-at?"
+
+Peace jumped. "Well, she said she had a sister just her same age at
+home, who hadn't any shoes at all."
+
+He took her by the hand, led her to her room, and after seeing that the
+wet shoes and stockings were replaced with dry ones, he lectured her
+kindly about giving away her belongings in such a promiscuous manner
+without first consulting her elders. And having won her promise for
+future good behavior, he went down town to purchase new shoes for the
+shoeless culprit, satisfied that Peace would remember his words of
+caution, and that they should not again be disturbed by the too generous
+acts of this zealous little home missionary.
+
+And Peace did remember for a long time, but one day when the two younger
+children had been left alone with the servants, temptation again invaded
+this little Garden of Eden, and the brown-haired Eve yielded.
+
+It was late in the afternoon and Peace and Allee were standing by the
+window watching the sinking sun, when a ragged, stooped, old man trailed
+down the quiet street with a battered, wheezy, old hand-organ strapped
+to his back and a wizened, wistful-eyed, peaked-faced child at his
+heels. Seeing the two bright faces in the window and concluding that
+money was plentiful in that home, the vagabond slipped the organ from
+its supports, and began grinding out a discordant tune from the
+protesting instrument, sending the ragged, weary, little girl to the
+door with her tin cup for contributions.
+
+Peace saw her approaching, and opened the door before she had a chance
+to ring the bell, surprising the tiny ragamuffin so completely that she
+could only stand and mutely hold out her appealing dipper, having
+forgotten entirely the words she had been taught to speak on such
+occasions.
+
+"You're cold," said Peace, a great pity surging through her breast as
+she saw the swollen, purple hands trying to hide under ragged sleeves of
+a pitifully thin coat.
+
+"Ver' col'," repeated the beggar, finding her tongue.
+
+"And hungry?"
+
+"Not'ing to eat today."
+
+Peace made a sudden dive at the dirty, unkempt creature, jerked her into
+the warm hall, and calling over her shoulder to the organ-grinder on the
+walk, "Go on playing, old man, she'll be back pretty soon!" she slammed
+the door shut, pushed the child into a chair by the glowing grate, and
+turned to Allee with the command, "Go ask Gussie for something to eat.
+Tell her a lunch in a bag will do. She's always good to beggars."
+
+"No beggar," remonstrated the little foreigner. "Earn money. Some days
+much. Little this day. It so col'."
+
+"Is that all the coat you have?" Peace demanded, eyeing the scant attire
+with horrified eyes.
+
+"All," answered the child simply, and she sighed heavily.
+
+"I've got two. You can have one of mine," cried Peace, forgetting
+wisdom, discretion, everything, in her great pity for this hapless bit
+of humanity.
+
+"You mean it? No, you fool," was the disconcerting reply.
+
+"I'm not a fool!"
+
+"No, no, not a fool. You jus' fool,--joke. You no mean it."
+
+"I do, too! Wait a minute till I get it, and see if it fits. You're
+thinner'n me, but you're about as tall."
+
+She rushed eagerly up the stairway, and soon returned with the pretty,
+brown coat which she had found on her bed Christmas morning. Into this
+she bundled the surprised beggar child, pleased to think it fitted so
+well, and explained rapidly, "I got two new coats for Christmas. Grandma
+said the red one was for best, so I kept that one, but you can have
+this. Keep it on outside your old rag. It will be just that much warmer,
+and tonight is awfully cold. Here's a pair of mittens, too. Wear 'em;
+they're nice and warm."
+
+Thrusting Allee's bag of lunch into the blue-mittened hands, Peace
+opened the door and let the newly-cloaked figure run down the walk to
+the impatient man stamping back and forth in the street. They watched
+him minutely examining the child's new treasures, but they could not see
+the avaricious gleam in his ugly eyes, nor did they dream that the
+precious brown coat would be stripped off the shivering little form just
+as soon as they were out of sight around the corner, and bartered for
+whiskey at the nearest saloon.
+
+So happy was Peace in thinking of this other child's happiness that she
+never once thought of her promise made to her grandfather until she saw
+Jud drive up the avenue and help the rest of the family out of the big
+sleigh. At sight of the erect figure striding up the walk with the
+gentle little grandmother on one arm and sister Gail on the other, she
+suddenly remembered that he had told her when she gave away her shoes
+that she must ask permission before disposing of her belongings, or he
+should be compelled to use drastic measures. "Brass-stick" measures, she
+called it, and visions of a certain brass rule on the desk in the
+library rose before her in a most disquieting fashion as she recalled
+that impressive interview.
+
+"Don't tell him what you have done," whispered a little evil voice in
+her ear.
+
+"Tell him at once," commanded her conscience; and acting upon the
+impulse of the moment, she flew into the old gentleman's arms almost
+before he had crossed the threshold and panted out, "I 'xpect you'll be
+_compendled_ to use your _brass-stick_ measures on me this time sure. I
+guv away my coat!"
+
+"You did what?" he cried, pushing her from him that he might look into
+her face.
+
+"Gave, I mean. I gave away my brown coat."
+
+"Peace!"
+
+The sorrowful tone of his voice cut her to the heart, but she flew to
+her own defense with oddly distorted words, "I couldn't help it,
+grandpa! She was so ragged and cold. S'posing _you_ had to go around
+begging hand-organs for a squeaky old penny, without anything to eat on
+your back or vittles to wear. Wouldn't _you_ like to have someone with
+two coats give you one?"
+
+"Very likely I should, my child. I am not blaming you for the unselfish
+feeling which prompted you to give away your coat to one more
+unfortunate than yourself, but you are not yet old enough to know how to
+give wisely. You will do more harm than good by such giving. No doubt
+your little brown coat is in the pawn-shop by this time."
+
+"But grandpa, she was in _rags_!"
+
+"Yes, and that is the way that brute of a man will keep her. Do you
+suppose he would get any money for his playing if he sent around a
+well-dressed child to collect the pennies? No, indeed! That is why he
+makes her wear rags. He will sell or pawn your coat for liquor, and
+neither you nor the beggar child will have it to wear."
+
+"But I have my red one."
+
+"You can't wear that to school."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"It is not suitable."
+
+"Then you'll get me another."
+
+"No, Peace."
+
+"You won't?" Her grieved surprise almost unmanned him.
+
+"No."
+
+"But you've got plenty of money!"
+
+"I will not have it long if you are going to give it all away."
+
+"You bought me some more shoes."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That took money."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I--I thought you'd give us anything we wanted."
+
+"I have tried to, dear."
+
+"But I shall want another coat."
+
+He shook his head. "You deliberately gave away the one you had without
+asking permission. I can't supply you with new clothes continually if
+that is what you intend to do with them."
+
+"Then how will I go to school any more?"
+
+"You must wear the coat you had when you came here to live."
+
+"So you hung onto that old gray Parker coat, did you?" she said
+bitterly.
+
+"Yes, and now you will have to wear it until spring comes."
+
+She was silent a moment, then shrugged her shoulders and airily
+retorted, "I s'pose you know! But, anyway, it was worth giving the new
+coat away just to see how glad the Dago was to get it."
+
+It was the President's turn to look surprised, and for an instant he was
+at a loss to know what to say; then he took her hand and led her away to
+the study, with the grave command, "Come, Peace, I think we will have to
+see this out by ourselves."
+
+She caught her breath sharply, but never having questioned his authority
+since the days of the little brown house were over, she obediently
+followed him into the dim library and heard the door click behind them.
+As the gas flared up when he touched a match to the jet, she looked
+apprehensively about the room, and shuddered as she saw the brass ruler
+lying on top of a pile of papers on the desk. He even picked it up and
+toyed with it for a moment, and she thought her hour of reckoning had
+surely come. And it had, but not in the way she expected.
+
+Dropping the ruler at length, he abruptly ordered, "Sit down in my lap,
+Peace."
+
+Usually he lifted her to that throne of honor himself, but this time he
+made no effort to help her, and when she was seated with her face lifted
+expectantly toward his, he disengaged the warm arms from about his neck
+and turned her around on his knee until she was looking at the desk
+straight in front of them. Then he picked up a book and began reading
+silently.
+
+Peace was plainly puzzled, for each time she turned her head to look at
+him, he gently but firmly wheeled her about and went on reading. At last
+she could be patient no longer, and with an angry little hop, she
+demanded, "What's the fuss about, grandpa? What are you going to do?"
+
+Without looking up from his book he laid one finger on his lips and
+remained silent.
+
+"Can't I talk?"
+
+It was a terrible punishment for Peace to keep still, and knowing this,
+just the faintest glimmer of a smile twitched at his lips, but he merely
+nodded gravely.
+
+"Aren't you going to say anything?"
+
+Gravely he shook his head.
+
+Peace stared at the chandelier, then surreptitiously stole a peep at the
+face behind her. A big hand turned the curly head gently from him.
+
+She studied the green walls with their delicate frescoing, then
+cautiously leaned back against the President's broadcloth vest. Firmly
+he righted her. Dismay took possession of her. This was the worst
+punishment that ever had befallen her,--that ever could.
+
+She gulped down the big lump which was growing in her throat, and
+counted the books on the highest shelf around the wall.
+Fifty--sixty--seventy--her heart burst, and with a wail of anguish she
+kicked the book out of the President's hand and clutched him about the
+neck with a grip that nearly choked him, as she sobbed, "Oh, grandpa,
+I'll never, never, _never_ forget again! I'll be the most un-missionary
+person you ever knew,--yes, I'll be a reg'lar heathen if you'll just
+speak to me! I didn't think I was being bad in trying to help others--"
+
+"My precious darling! I don't want you to be a heathen," he cried,
+straining her to his heart. "I want you to be the best and most
+enthusiastic little missionary it is possible for you to be, but in
+order to be a good missionary, one must first learn obedience, and
+cultivate good judgment. I wouldn't for all the world have my little
+girl grow up a stingy, miserly woman. I am proud of the sweet, generous,
+unselfish spirit which prompts you to try to make the burdens of others
+lighter, but you are too little a girl yet to know how and where to give
+money and clothes and such things so they will do good and not harm."
+
+"I see now what you mean, grandpa. I thought when I gave my coat to the
+little hand-organ beggar that she would keep it and use it. I never
+s'posed her father wouldn't let her have it, and now when he takes it
+away from her she will be sorrier'n she would have been if she had never
+had it."
+
+"Yes, dear; and the money the old fellow gets from selling it will
+undoubtedly be spent for drink, or something equally as bad for him.
+Just out of curiosity, I traced the shoes you gave to the child on the
+hill not long ago, and I found that she had not told you the truth at
+all. She had no twin sister, nor did she even need the shoes herself."
+
+"Is--is--there no one that really is hungry and cold and needs things?"
+gulped the unhappy child after a long pause of serious thought.
+
+"Oh, yes, my dear! Thousands and thousands of them," he sighed
+sorrowfully; "and I am deeply thankful that my little girlie wants to
+make the old world happier. But after all, dear, the greatest need of
+this world of ours is love. It is not the _money_ we give away which
+counts; it is the _love_ we have for other people. I remember well a
+little couplet your great-grandmother was fond of quoting--and she
+practiced it every day of her life, too,--
+
+    'Give, if thou canst, an alms; if not, afford
+    Instead of that, a sweet and gentle word.'
+
+"She had little of this world's goods to give away, but she was one of
+the greatest sunshine missionaries I ever knew. My, how every one loved
+her. And her son, Hi, was just like her--one of the biggest-hearted,
+most lovable people God ever created. He was certainly a power for good
+during his life, but his only riches were a great love for his fellowmen
+and his warm, sunny smile."
+
+Again a deep silence fell over the room, for Peace, cuddled in the
+strong man's arms, with the tears still glistening on the long, curved
+lashes, was thinking as she had never thought before. Suddenly the
+dinner bell pealed out its summons, and as the President stirred in his
+chair, the child lifted her head from his shoulder, and looking squarely
+into the strong, kindly face, she said simply, "I'm going to be like
+them and you, so's folks will love me, too. And I'm not going to give
+away any more coats or shoes without you say I can, until I am big
+enough to grow some sense. I'm just going to smile and talk."
+
+He did not laugh at her quaint phrasing of her intentions, but
+tightening his clasp upon the small body nestling within the circle of
+his arms, he quoted,
+
+    "'Work a little, sing a little,
+      Whistle and be gay;
+    Read a little, play a little,
+      Busy every day.
+    Talk a little, laugh a little,
+      Don't forget to pray;
+    Be a bit of merry sunshine
+      All the blessed way.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION
+
+
+Having a naturally light-hearted, merry disposition, Peace did not find
+it hard work to "smile and talk," but it was hard, very hard, to
+restrain her generous impulses to give away everything she possessed to
+those less fortunate than herself, and it soon became a familiar sight
+to see her fly excitedly into the house straight to the study where the
+busy President spent many hours each day, exclaiming breathlessly as she
+ran, "Oh, grandpa, there is a little beggar at the door in perfect rags
+and tatters! Just come and look if she doesn't need some clothes. And
+she is so cold and pinched up with being empty. Gussie has fed her, but
+can't I give her some things to wear? I've more than I need, truly!"
+
+Then the good man with a patient sigh would leave his work to
+investigate the case, spending many minutes of his precious time in
+satisfying himself as to whether or not Peace's newly found beggar was
+genuine and really in need of relief,--for this small maid's thirst for
+discovering vagabonds seemed insatiable, and the string of tramps which
+haunted the President's doorstep led poor Gussie a strenuous life for a
+time. But relief came from an unexpected source at length.
+
+Late one dull spring afternoon, as Gail sat with her chum, Frances
+Sherrar, in the cosy window-seat of the reception-hall, studying the
+next day's Latin lesson, a shadow fell across the page. Looking up in
+surprise, for neither girl had heard the sound of approaching footsteps,
+they beheld on the piazza the bent, shriveled, ragged form of what
+appeared to be a tiny, deformed, old woman. An ancient, faded shawl,
+patched and darned until it had almost lost its identity, enveloped her
+from head to foot, and she looked more like an Indian squaw than like a
+civilized white being. Her head and hands shook ceaselessly as with the
+palsy, and the way she tottered about made one fearful every minute last
+she fall.
+
+"Oh," cried Gail in quick sympathy, "what a feeble old creature! It is a
+shame she has to beg her living. Where is my purse?"
+
+"Are you going to give her money?" asked Frances in surprise.
+
+"Doesn't she look as if she needed it?"
+
+"She is a fake. I've seen her ever since I can remember--always just
+like this. She wouldn't dare beg in town, but we are so far out--well,
+if you are really determined to do it, here's a quarter."
+
+Gail took the proffered coin, added a shining dollar to it, and
+stepping to the door where the palsied beggar stood mumbling and whining
+a pitiful hard luck tale, she pressed the silver into the leathery,
+claw-like hand, smiled a sympathetic smile and bade the old woman a
+God-speed.
+
+Frances stayed for dinner that evening, and as the family gathered
+around the table for this, the merriest hour of the whole day, the
+President suddenly clapped his hand against his pockets, searched
+rapidly through them, and finally brought forth a crumpled sheet of
+paper, daubed with many ink blots and tipsy hieroglyphics, which read,
+"No more beggars, tramps and vagabuns allowed on these promises. We have
+already given away enuf to keep a army. There are two dogs and two men
+in this family--so bewair!"
+
+Even the presence of Peace, the author, did not prevent an explosion of
+delighted shrieks from the little company, but the child merely fixed
+her brown eyes, somber with reproof, upon the perfectly grave face of
+the Doctor of Laws, and demanded, "Now, grandpa, what made you take it
+down?"
+
+"I didn't, child," he defended. "It had blown down, I think, and lodged
+about the door-knob. I thought it was a hand-bill, and rescued it as I
+came in."
+
+"Where had you put it?" asked Cherry, grinning superciliously at the
+distorted characters on the soiled paper.
+
+"On the side of the house by the front door," she confessed. "That's
+where I put that one."
+
+"That one! Are there more?" laughed Frances, whose affection for this
+original bit of femininity had only increased with the months of their
+acquaintance.
+
+"Of course! There had to be one for each door, 'cause the beggars don't
+all go the back way, and to be sure everyone saw the tag, I stuck one on
+the corner of the barn nearest the road, and another on each gate. That
+surely ought' to be enough, oughtn't it?"
+
+"I should think so," Mrs. Campbell agreed, making a wry face at thought
+of the queer-looking signs scattered so liberally about the property
+"How did you come to make them?"
+
+"'Cause of that beggar at the front door this afternoon," Allee
+volunteered unexpectedly.
+
+"What beggar?" asked the President with interest, while Gail and Frances
+exchanged knowing glances.
+
+"A teenty, crooked, old woman came to the house while grandma was out
+this afternoon," Peace began. "She looked as if she might be a witch or
+old Grandmother, Tipsy-toe--I never did like that game--"
+
+"We thought she _was_ a witch," again Allee spoke up, unmindful of the
+frown on her older sister's face; "and we hid."
+
+"But we watched her," Peace continued hastily, "and saw Gail give her
+some money. She did look awful forlorny and squizzled up as if she never
+had enough to eat to make any meat on her bones, and she nearly tumbled
+over, trying to kiss Gail's hand 'cause she gave her some money. So
+after she was gone, we ran down to the gate to watch her, and what do
+you think? Just as she turned the corner, there was a cop--"
+
+"A what, Peace?"
+
+"I mean a p'liceman, coming along with his club swinging around his
+hand, and when the beggar woman saw him, she straightened up as stiff
+and starchy as anybody could be, and hustled off down the street 'most
+as quick as I can walk. She was a--a fraud, and Gail got cheated just
+like I did when I gave that hole-y shoed girl on the hill my shoes."
+Here Frances shot a look of triumph at discomfited Gail. "So I made up
+my mind that grandpa is right--they are all frauds."
+
+"Why, Peace, child, I never said that in the world," the President
+disclaimed, surprised out of his usual serenity by her words.
+
+"That's so,--you said only half were frauds. Well, I guess it's the
+fraud half that come here to beg of us. Gussie is tired of feeding them,
+Jud's getting ugly, and if they keep on coming I'm 'fraid they'll really
+eat grandpa out of house and home. Jud says they will. There were seven
+tramps last week, and already we have had two this week, and one beggar.
+So I made these signs and stuck them up where everybody'd see them and
+know they meant business, w'thout Jud's having to turn the dogs loose or
+get his shotgun like he said he ought to. He told me that all hoboes
+have some way of letting other hoboes know where they can get a square
+meal, and that's why we have so many. He says they never used to bother
+so until I came here to tow them along by coaxing Gussie to feed 'em. I
+thought I was being good to 'em. S'posing we had sent grandpa away when
+he came tramping around to our house in Parker--Faith wanted to--where
+would we be now? Still grubbing in Parker trying to get enough to eat,
+'most likely; or maybe in the poorhouse, for 'twas grandpa who paid the
+mortgage on the farm. I guess I must wait till I'm grown way up to have
+any missionary sense."
+
+She spoke so dejectedly and her face looked so pathetic and utterly
+discouraged that no one had the heart to laugh, but a sudden feeling of
+restraint fell upon the group. Even the President had no words in which
+to answer the poor, disheartened little missionary.
+
+"Do you belong to Miss Smiley's Gleaners?" It was Frances who spoke, and
+though the words themselves signified little, her tone of voice was like
+an electric thrill, and the faces of the whole company turned
+expectantly toward her as she waited for Peace's answer.
+
+"No, not yet. Evelyn has been after us ever since we came here to join
+them, but something has always kept us away from the meetings each
+month, so we haven't been 'lected yet. Evelyn says they don't do much
+but have a good time, anyway, though it is a missionary society. That's
+about all our Sunshine Club in Parker ever did, too, 'xcept make comfort
+powders for the sick and _mained_ in the hospital."
+
+"Evelyn is right about what the Gleaners used to be, but since her aunt
+has taken up the work, they are doing lots of real missionary work. Why,
+since Christmas they have raised enough money to take care of two
+orphans in India for a year. Edith Smiley is such a beautiful girl--"
+
+"Ain't she, though!" Peace burst out with customary impetuosity. "I've
+wanted her for my Sunday School teacher ever since we began to go to
+South Avenue Church, but she's got a class of _boys_."
+
+"And don't they adore her!"
+
+"No more'n I would."
+
+"It is easier to get teachers for girls' classes; and besides, Miss
+Edith has had these boys from the time she started to teach. She
+certainly has her hands full with her Sunday School class, the Gleaners
+Missionary Band and the Young People's Society, for she is our president
+this term. There is no lag about her. She is always planning something
+beautiful for somebody. _Everyone_ loves her. When Victor was in the
+hospital the time he was hurt by the runaway, Miss Edith took him
+flowers several times; and the nurse told us that she visits the
+children's ward twice a month regularly and takes them fruit or flowers
+or scrap-books or something nice. They always know when to expect her,
+and she never disappoints them."
+
+"She certainly knows how to make sunshine for those around her," said
+Mrs. Campbell warmly. "I am so pleased to think she could take charge of
+the Gleaners. We ladies were really afraid the society must die. Miss
+Hilliker had neither strength, time nor talent to do justice to the
+work; but, poor soul, she did try so hard, and she did give the children
+a good time, whether or not they ever accomplished anything else."
+
+"I am glad Miss Smiley has taken the Gleaners, too," said Peace
+meditatively. "Me and Allee 'xpect to join at next meeting. I guess
+maybe Cherry and Hope will, too, though I haven't asked them yet."
+
+"I think you have headed them in the right direction, Frances,"
+whispered the President in grateful tones, when at last the dinner was
+ended and the chattering group were filing out of the dining-room. "I
+was beginning to wonder what in the world to do with our little Peace,
+but I think perhaps Miss Smiley will help solve the problem for us."
+
+"I know she will," Frances replied confidently. "I can understand how
+discouraged poor Peace must feel. I've been there myself, only instead
+of giving away my own things as she does, I gave away other people's
+belongings. I can never forget the seance I had with mother the day I
+handed over father's best, go-to-meeting overcoat to a dirty,
+evil-looking tramp, and gave away Victor's velocipede to the ash-man's
+little boy. I came to the conclusion that the whole world was just a
+sham and all men--yes, and women--were liars. Mrs. Smiley came to my
+rescue, and what missionary spirit there is left in me is due to her
+good work and untiring efforts. Edith is a second edition of her
+mother."
+
+"And I think Frances must be second cousin at heart," said the Doctor,
+gently pressing her hand.
+
+"I don't deserve such praise," she protested, blushing with pleasure at
+his compliment. "I have only tried to make the most of the best in me,
+remembering the little verse we had for a motto:
+
+    'No robin but may thrill some heart,
+      His dawnlight gladness voicing.
+    God gives us all some small sweet way
+      To set the world rejoicing.'
+
+"We were only children when we took that as our class motto, but we have
+kept it all these years, and I know there is not one of the girls who
+considers it childish sentiment even yet."
+
+"That is why I am particularly thankful for your words at the table
+tonight. I want my girls to meet and mingle with and be influenced by
+such people as Miss Edith and her mother--and Miss Frances!"
+
+"I shall work hard to keep the reputation you have given me," she
+laughed gayly, flitting away to join Gail in the Grove, as the pink and
+green and brown room was called; but she was secretly much touched and
+helped by the President's words, and rejoiced openly when a few days
+later the four younger Greenfield girls really did join the Gleaners
+Missionary Band and became active workers in that field.
+
+"It is kind of a queer missionary society," Peace reported after one of
+the meetings. "Sometimes we don't say hardly a word about heathen or
+poor ministers on the frontier all the time we are at the church. We
+talk about how we can help each other and our families and folks who
+live close by us. Miss Edith says first and foremost a good missionary
+must be cheerful and sunshiny. Our motto is "Scatter Sunshine," and our
+song is the prettiest music I ever heard. She says it isn't the music
+that counts, it's the words, but just s'posing we sang:
+
+    'In a world where sorrow
+      Ever will be known,
+    Where are found the needy,
+      And the sad and lone;
+    How much joy and comfort
+      You can all bestow,
+    If you scatter sunshine
+      Everywhere you go.'
+
+to the tune of 'Go tell Aunt Rhody,' it wouldn't cheer _me_ up very
+much. "Would it you?"
+
+"No," laughed Mrs. Campbell, who chanced to be her confidante on this
+particular occasion, "I don't think it would; but on the other hand,
+meaningless words would not cheer anyone, either, no matter how pretty
+the tune. Is that not so?"
+
+"Yes, I s'pose it is. I guess it takes both together to do the work.
+This week our verse is:
+
+    'Can I help another
+      By some word or deed?
+    Can I scatter blessings
+      O'er a soul's sore need?
+    If I can, then let me
+      Now, within today,
+    Help the one who needs me
+      On a little way.'
+
+"The next time we tell if we remembered the verse and worked it."
+
+"Worked it?" Mrs. Campbell was not yet accustomed to Peace's queer
+speeches, and often did not understand her meaning.
+
+"Yes. Miss Edith says just helping Gussie carry the dishes away nights,
+or buttoning Marie's dress when she is cross and in a hurry, or getting
+grandpa's slippers ready for him when he comes home from the University
+all cold and tired, or holding that squirmy yarn for you when you knit
+those ugly shawls, or talking nice to Jud when he makes me mad, is being
+a missionary. She says it is the little, everyday things that count; for
+some of us may never get a chance to do anything real big and splendid,
+and if we wait all our lives for such a time to come along, we will be
+just wasting our talents. But all of us have hundreds of little things
+each day to do, and if we do them cheerfully and sweetly, we are being
+sunshine missionaries and are making others happier all the time. She
+says Abr'am Lincoln's greatest wish was to have it said of him when he
+died that he had always tried to pull up a thistle and plant a flower
+wherever he got a chance. Thistles mean hard feelings and mean acts, and
+the flowers are kind words and deeds."
+
+"Miss Edith has found the key to true happiness," murmured Mrs.
+Campbell, glancing out of the window at a tall, slender, gray-eyed
+young lady hurrying down the street, surrounded by a bevy of
+bright-faced, adoring boys and girls.
+
+"Yes, she's another Saint Elspeth, isn't she? How nice it is to have her
+here as long as I can't have my dear Mrs. Strong! And do you know,
+grandma, she and Mrs. Strong were chums when they went to college? Isn't
+that queer?"
+
+"How did you happen to find that out?"
+
+"'Cause on my list of missionary doings this week I had 'not getting mad
+when Gray chawed up St. Elspeth's letter 'fore I had read it more'n
+three times.' And she asked me who Saint Elspeth was."
+
+"Do you make out a list of missionary doings each week?" asked Mrs.
+Campbell, amused at Peace's version of the occurrence, for the child had
+been so angry at the destruction of the letter from this beloved friend
+that she had seized a heavy club and rushed at the cowering pup as if
+bent on crushing its skull. Before the blow descended, however, she
+dropped her weapon, bounced into a nearby chair, and glared wrathfully
+at poor Gray until he shrank from her almost as if she had struck him.
+Then suddenly the anger died from her eyes, and clutching the surprised
+animal about the neck she fell to petting him energetically, exclaiming
+in pitying tones, "Poor Gray, I don't s'pose you know how near I came to
+knocking your head off any more'n you know how much I wanted that
+letter you've just swallowed, but I'm sorry just the same. Shake hands
+and be friends!"
+
+Peace, not understanding the smile that crept over the gentle face of
+the dear old lady, hastened to explain, "We write them so's folks won't
+laugh. We don't mean to laugh at each other, but sometimes children do
+say the funniest things. There is Bernice Platte for one. She can't say
+anything the way she wants to, and it makes her feel bad when we giggle.
+So Miss Edith took to having us write our lists. I don't care how much
+they laugh at me, I get so much of that at home that I am used to it,
+but some folks ain't brought up that way and I s'pose it hurts."
+
+Mrs. Campbell caught her breath sharply. It had never occurred to her
+before that Peace was sensitive, but the gusty sigh with which these
+words were spoken told her companion much, and slipping her arm about
+the little figure crouched at her side, the woman said gently, "Would
+you mind telling grandma some of the bits of sunshine you have been
+scattering this week?"
+
+The wistful round face brightened quickly. "Would you care to hear?"
+
+"I should love to, dearie."
+
+"I didn't _make_ much sunshine, I guess, 'nless 'twas here at home where
+folks know me, but I tried. You know Hope has been taking flowers to
+one of her teachers at High School, and the other day Miss Pope told her
+that she gave them all to her brother who is lame and can't walk, and he
+spends all his days drawing and painting the pretty things he sees.
+Well, there is a teacher in our school who looks awful turned-down at
+the mouth, and kind of sour like, and last week Minnie Herbert told me
+that it was 'cause the woman had lost her brother in a wreck. So I
+thought maybe she'd like some flowers, and I took her some. I didn't
+know her name, but she was sitting in the hall to keep order during
+recess time, and I carried the bouquet right up to her and laid them in
+her lap. I 'xpected to see her smile, but instead, she picked them up
+and looked kind of red as she asked me what made me bring them to her. I
+meant to tell her I was sorry she looked so lonely and sad, but what I
+really said was 'homely and bad.' I don't see why it is I always twist
+things up so, but that made her mad and I couldn't explain it so's she
+would take the flowers again, and I had to give them to one of the girls
+whose mother has _delirious tremors_."
+
+"Oh, Peace, you have made a mistake."
+
+"What is it, then?"
+
+"I presume the poor woman is delirious with a fever of some sort."
+
+"_Tryfoid_," supplied Peace. "Stella told teacher so. That same day on
+my way home from school I saw a little girl lugging a heavy pail, and
+the handle kept cutting her hands, so she had to set it down every few
+steps and change to the other side. When I asked her to let me help, she
+gave me hold, and we carried the bucket down the alley to a
+chicken-coop, where it had to be dumped, 'cause it was slops for the
+hens. There was a big box there to stand on, and I lifted the pail to
+the top of the fence and emptied it, but the woman which owns the
+chickens was right under where the stuff fell, and she didn't like it a
+bit, and scolded us both good.
+
+"Then there was Birdie Holden who wanted a bite of my apple, and when I
+turned it around to give her a good chance at it, she bit straight into
+a worm, and said I did it on purpose, though I never knew the worm was
+there any more'n she did.
+
+"But the worst of all was the day teacher sent me to the office for
+thumb tacks to fasten up our drawings around the room. She told me to
+see how quick I could get back, but she never counted on the principal's
+not being there, which she wasn't. So I had to wait. Then all at once I
+saw a big sign on the wall which said if Miss Lisk wasn't in and folks
+were in a hurry, to ring the bell twice.
+
+"I was in a _big_ hurry for I had waited so long already that I thought
+sure Miss Allen would be after me in a minute to see if I was making the
+tacks; so I grabbed the cord and jerked the bell hard twice, and then
+twice again, and then twice the third time. I 'xpected she'd come
+a-running at that, but what do you think, grandma? Everyone in that
+schoolhouse just got up and hustled out of doors as fast as they could
+march. We never used to have fire drill in Parker and I hadn't heard of
+such a thing here, either, so I was dreadfully s'prised to find what my
+gong-ringing had done. Maybe Miss Lisk wasn't mad for a minute, when she
+saw me hanging out of the window yelling to know what was the matter,
+'cause I was in a hurry for my thumb-tacks! But afterwards she laughed
+like anything and said the children made record time in getting out,
+'cause no one, not even she herself, knew whether it was just a fire
+drill or whether the janitor had rung the gong on account of the
+school's really being burned up."
+
+No one could blame the good dame for smiling at the vivid pictures Peace
+had painted of her missionary efforts, but Mrs. Campbell knew how sore
+the little heart must be over these seeming failures, so she pressed the
+nestling head closer to her shoulder and said comfortingly, "But think
+of all the smiles you have won from the washerwoman. When I paid her
+last night, she showed me the big bunch of flowers you had cut from your
+hyacinths and lilies in the conservatory, and told me how eagerly her
+poor, sick little girl watched for her home-coming the days she washed
+here, knowing that you would never forget to send her something. And Jud
+was telling your grandpa only this morning how the ash-man's horse
+always whinnies when the team stops in the alley, because you never fail
+to be there with a lump of sugar or a handful of oats. Mrs. Dodds says
+it is a real pleasure to make dresses for you, just to hear you praise
+her work. I was in the kitchen this morning when the grocer brought our
+order, and after he was gone, Gussie showed me a sack of candy he had
+slipped in for you, because you are so kind to his little girl at
+school. I don't need Jud's words to tell me how the horses and other
+animals on the place love you. And why? Because you love them and never
+hurt them."
+
+"But, grandma," interrupted Peace, her eyes wide with amazement at this
+recital; "you don't call those things scattering sunshine, do you?"
+
+"What would you call it, dear?"
+
+"But--but--I didn't do those things on purpose, grandma. They--they just
+did themselves. I like to see Mrs. O'Flaherty's eyes shine and hear her
+say, 'May the saints in Hivin bliss ye, darlint,' when I give her
+anything for Maggie; and the ash-man's horse doesn't get enough to
+eat--really, it is 'most starved, I guess; and Mrs. Dodds does look so
+tickled when I say anything she makes is pretty. They _are_ pretty, too.
+And the grocer's little girl is so scared if anyone speaks to her that
+a lot of the bigger girls got to teasing her dreadfully and I couldn't
+help lighting into them and telling them they ought to be ashamed of
+themselves; and--"
+
+"That is what _I_ call scattering sunshine, dear. It is these little
+acts of ours which count, these acts done unconsciously, without any
+thought of others seeing, done simply because our hearts are so full of
+love and sympathy that they bubble over without our knowing it, and
+others are made happy because of our unselfishness."
+
+"I guess you're right," said Peace thoughtfully; "'cause when folks are
+watching and I want to be 'specially sweet and nice and helpful, I just
+make a dreadful bungle of it, and everyone laughs. It's the things we do
+without thinking that make folks happiest. That is what Saint Elspeth
+used to tell me. Some way I could understand her better than Miss Edith,
+I guess; but maybe it was 'cause I knew her better. When do you s'pose
+we can go to see her, grandma? Saint Elspeth, I mean. It has been such a
+long time since--"
+
+"She wants you next week, you and Allee."
+
+It was the President who spoke, and with a startled cry, Peace leaped up
+to find him in the doorway behind them. "Why, Grandpa Campbell, how did
+you sneak in here so softly? I never heard you at all, you came so
+catty. Did you hear what we were talking about?"
+
+"Not much of it. I arrived just in time to catch your remarks about Mrs.
+Strong, and as I happen to have a note in my pocket this minute from
+your Saint John, I spoke right out without thinking. I was intending to
+make you and grandma jump a little."
+
+"You made me jump a lot," she retorted, throwing her arms about him and
+giving him a rapturous hug. "Did you really mean that Mrs. Strong wants
+me next week? That is our spring vacation here in Martindale."
+
+"Yes, so the letter said. You see, the Strongs are living in Martindale
+now, too."
+
+"Grandpa! You're fooling!"
+
+"Not this time. I have known for a whole month that there was some
+prospect of their coming to the city, but I waited until I was sure
+before saying anything, because I knew you girls would be disappointed
+if they did not get the place."
+
+"What place? How did it happen? What will Parker do without him? Will he
+live near us? Can we see them often? Where did you get the note?"
+
+"One question at a time, please," he cried laughingly. "Mr. Strong
+dropped in at the University a minute this afternoon. He has been called
+to fill the vacancy at Hill Street Church, and has accepted, but as his
+pastorate is about three miles from this part of the city, he will not
+live very close to us. However, it will be possible for you to see each
+other more frequently than if they had remained at Parker. They moved
+yesterday into the new parsonage, and Mrs. Strong wants to borrow our
+two youngest next week to help her with the baby while they are getting
+settled. Do you want to go?"
+
+"Oh, I can hardly wait! Can we really stay the whole week?"
+
+"You ungrateful little vagabond!" he thundered in pretended anger. "You
+want to leave your old grandpa for a whole week, do you?"
+
+"Yes," she giggled. "A change would do us both good. Besides, we live
+with you all the time, and I don't get a chance to see Saint Elspeth and
+Glen very often--but I'd lots rather have my _home_ with you, though I
+do like to go visiting once in a while, same as you do."
+
+"Teaser! Well, if grandma thinks it wise, you and Allee may go next week
+to visit your patron saints--What is the matter, Dora? Doesn't the plan
+please you?"
+
+For grandma looked unusually grave and thoughtful, but at his question
+she merely answered, "Peace may accept if she wishes, but unless Allee's
+cold is much better by Monday, I don't think it best for her to go. I
+kept her home from school today."
+
+For a moment the brown-haired child stood silent and hesitating on one
+foot in the middle of the floor. It would be hard to be separated from
+this golden-haired sister for a whole week, but--it had been _such_ a
+long time since she had seen these other precious friends; and anyway,
+Elspeth needed someone to help her. Besides, Allee might be well enough
+to go by Monday, or perhaps she could come later in the week. It would
+be wisest to accept the invitation at once, so with a little hop of
+decision, she announced serenely, "Tell Saint John I'll come, and
+prob'ly Allee will, too. Her colds don't usu'ly last long, and she'll be
+all right by Monday."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+PEACE'S SPRING VACATION
+
+
+Allee's cold was no better Monday morning, but it was decided that Peace
+should go alone to the new parsonage on Hill Street, with the promise
+that if possible the younger child should join her before the week's
+visit was ended. So Peace departed. But it was with a heavy heart that
+she went, for, much as she wanted to see her former pastor's family, she
+dreaded being separated from this dearest of sisters even for seven
+days; nor could she shake off the vague feeling of unrest which had
+gripped her when she saw the sick, sorrowful look in Allee's great blue
+eyes as they said good-bye.
+
+"Get well quick, dear," she whispered tenderly, holding the tiny, hot
+hand against her cheek after a quaint fashion they had of saying
+good-night to each other. "I can't have a good time even with Saint
+Elspeth and Glen if you are at home sick. Take your med'cine like a good
+girl, and about Wednesday I 'xpect Saint John will be coming after you
+if grandpa hasn't brought you before."
+
+And Allee had promised to do her best, but Peace could not forget her
+last glimpse of the wistful, flushed face, pressed against the
+window-pane to watch her out of sight around the corner. And so sober
+was she that Jud, who was driving her to the dovecote on the hill,
+looked around inquiringly more than once, and finally ventured to ask,
+"Have you caught cold, too?"
+
+"No, indeed!" she flung back at him. "I'm never sick. Why?"
+
+"Your eyes look pretty red."
+
+His ruse was effective, for in trying to see herself in a tiny scrap of
+a mirror which she carried in her satchel, she forgot her desire to cry,
+and looked as gay and chipper as usual when the carriage drew up at the
+parsonage curbing and Mr. Strong bounded boyishly down the walk to meet
+her, holding his beautiful year-old boy on one arm, and dragging the
+sweet girl wife by the other.
+
+"Oh, but it's good to see you again!" cried Peace, vaulting over the
+wheels to the ground before either Jud or the minister could lift her
+down. "It doesn't seem 'sif you'd really moved to Martindale to live.
+How did it happen? Grandpa couldn't make me understand about bishops and
+preachers and congregations, but I'm glad you've come. Did you have a
+hard time getting out of Parker and was there a farewell reception?
+Ain't it too bad Faith wasn't there to make you another cake? Mercy! How
+the baby has grown! Why, I b'lieve he knows me. He wants to come. Oh,
+he ain't too heavy and I won't break his precious neck, will I, Glen?
+How do you like my new dress and did you get my hand-satchel 'fore Jud
+drove off? I forgot all about it the minute I saw the baby. Grandpa was
+going to bring me, but the faculty had to plan a meeting for this
+morning, of course, and grandma couldn't come on account of Allee's
+cold. What a cute little house you've got! It looks wholer than the
+Parker parsonage. I'm just dying to see all the little cubby-holes and
+closets. How many rooms are there?"
+
+"It is the same old Peace, Elizabeth," laughed Mr. Strong, rescuing his
+boy and leading the way to the house. "Prosperity has not changed her a
+whit. She has hundreds of questions stored up under that curly wig
+waiting to be asked. I can see them sticking out all over her. My dear,
+you are here for a week's visit. Don't choke yourself trying to ask
+everything in one breath, but 'walk into our parlor' and we will show
+you all we have, and let you rummage to your heart's content."
+
+So they initiated her into the mysteries of the new parsonage with its
+pretty, cheerful rooms, unexpected cosy corners, tiny kitchen and
+cunning little cupboard, and for a week she fairly revelled in the
+playhouse, as she immediately named the spandy new cottage, amusing the
+baby, who promptly attached himself to her with the devotion of a
+lap-dog, dusting furniture, washing dishes, and causing her usual
+commotion trying to help where her presence was only a hindrance. But
+they enjoyed it! Oh, dear, yes! Her quaint speeches were a constant
+delight to them, and the sight of her somber brown eyes, so at odds with
+her merry disposition, and the sound of her gay whistle or rippling
+little giggle were like the breath of spring to these homesick hearts.
+
+So the days slipped happily by in the dovecote on the hill, in spite of
+Peace's vague fears for the little sister at home who did not get well
+enough to join them; and before anyone was aware of it, the whole week
+was gone and Sunday night had arrived. The evening service was over,
+Peace had said good-night to the pastor and his wife, and the house was
+in darkness when suddenly there was the sound of hurried steps on the
+walk, the door-bell jangled harshly, and the brown eyes in the room
+across the hall flew open just as the front door closed with a bang, and
+Mrs. Strong's frightened voice called through the darkness, "What is it,
+John? A telegram?"
+
+"A messenger boy."
+
+"Oh, what is the trouble? Someone hurt or sick at home? Here is a light,
+dear."
+
+Flickering shadows danced across the walls of Peace's room, she heard
+the tearing of paper, and then Mr. Strong's quick exclamation,
+"Elizabeth! It is Allee!" "_What_ is Allee?" A white gown shot out of
+the door opposite them, and terrified Peace threw herself into the
+woman's arms, demanding again, "What is Allee? Is she--dead?"
+
+"No, dear," he hastily assured her, provoked to think he had frightened
+the child so badly; "only ill--quarantined for scarlet fever."
+
+"Scarlet fever!" gasped the girl. "That's what killed Myrtle Perry. Oh,
+will Allee die, too? Why didn't I stay at home with her?"
+
+"There, there, little girlie, you mustn't cry about it like that," said
+Mrs. Strong, stroking the brown head in her arms with comforting
+touches. "Lots of people have scarlet fever and get over it. The letter
+says Allee's case is not at all severe, but she will be quarantined for
+some weeks and you can't go home until the house has been fumigated. You
+must be our girl for a month or two longer. Will that be hard work?"
+
+"N-o, but s'posing she _should_ die! I ought to be there to have it,
+too."
+
+"No, indeed! That would make it only harder for Grandma Campbell. You
+must stay here and keep well so they won't be worrying about you, too.
+Allee isn't going to die, but in a few weeks will be as well as ever."
+
+"S'posing I've caught it already and give it to Glen?"
+
+"Dr. Coates thinks you would have been sick by this time if you were
+going to have the disease, but he is taking no chances, and has sent
+some medicine as a preventive."
+
+"What about school?" The case was becoming interesting to Peace, now
+that she was assured that Allee would not die.
+
+"Oh, you can have another week of vacation from lessons, and then if
+everything is all right, you can finish your term at Chestnut School.
+That is only four blocks from here, and Miss Curtis is a splendid
+principal. I knew her when I went to college, and I am sure you will
+like her."
+
+This was not exactly what Peace had expected or hoped for. She would
+have preferred no more school at all, as long as the sisters at home
+were to have an enforced vacation of several weeks, and her face clouded
+again as she heard Elizabeth's plan. "But--I can't--I don't want--I
+would rather--" she stammered.
+
+"Remember your motto and 'scatter sunshine,' dear. It will help the home
+folks to know you are cheerful and happy here, and it will help us,
+too."
+
+She had touched the right chord. Peace slowly dried her tears, gave a
+final gulp or two, and lifted her face once more smiling and serene,
+saying gravely, "You can bet on me! I won't bawl any more. You folks
+better get to bed now and not stand here shivering until you catch cold.
+Good-night again!" With a hearty kiss for each, she trailed away to her
+tiny room and was soon fast asleep among the pillows.
+
+In spite of her determination to be brave, however, she often found it
+hard to wear a smiling face during the week which followed the
+messenger's coming, for much as she wanted a vacation from her books,
+time hung heavily on her hands. She could not help fretting about Allee
+lying ill at home, Glen took a sleepy spell and spent many hours each
+day napping when she wanted to play with him, the little house had soon
+been put in order, everything was unpacked and in its place, the
+minister and Elizabeth were compelled to devote much of their time to
+making the acquaintance of their new parishioners and becoming familiar
+with this new field of labor; so Peace was necessarily left to her own
+devices more than was good for her.
+
+To make a bad situation worse, a drizzly spring rain set in, which
+lasted for days and kept the freedom-loving child a prisoner indoors,
+when she longed to be dancing in the fresh air and exploring a certain
+inviting grove which she had discovered on the hillside behind the
+church.
+
+"I b'lieve it's raining just to spite me," she exclaimed crossly one
+afternoon as she stood drumming on the window-sill and watching the
+pearly drops course down the pane in zigzag rivulets. "It just knows how
+bad I want to get out to play."
+
+Elizabeth looked up from a tiny dress which she was mending carefully,
+and said in sprightly tones,
+
+    "'Is it raining, little flower?
+      Be glad of rain.
+    Too much sun would wither thee,
+      'Twill shine again.
+    The sky is very black, 'tis true,
+    But just behind it shines the blue.'"
+
+"Oh, yes, you can say that all right," Peace snapped, "cause you ain't
+just a-dying to get out and dig. Why, Saint Elspeth, the air just fairly
+smells of angleworms and birds' nests, and I do want to make a garden so
+bad!"
+
+"Poor girlie," smiled the woman to herself, "what a hard time she would
+have in life if she could not run and romp all she wanted." But aloud
+she merely said, "It is too early to make a garden yet, dear. The ground
+is so cold that the seeds would rot instead of sprouting, and if any
+little shoots were brave enough to climb through the soil into open air,
+they probably would get frozen for their trouble. We are apt to have
+some hard frosts yet this spring. See, the leaves on the trees have
+scarcely begun to swell yet. They know it isn't time. Be patient a
+little longer; it can't rain forever."
+
+"It's hard to be patient with nothing to do," sighed the child, pressing
+her nose flatter and flatter against the glass as she looked up and
+down the dreary, deserted street, vainly hoping for something to
+distract her dismal thoughts.
+
+"Have you finished dressing the paper dolls for Allee?"
+
+"Yes, I made ten different suits for every single doll, and there were
+fifteen, counting in the father and mother and grandma. Saint John has
+already mailed them. I've read till I'm tired and the back fell off of
+the book--it wasn't a nice story anyway, 'cause the good girl was always
+getting whaled for what the bad one did. I whistled Glen to sleep before
+I knew it and then couldn't wake him up, though I shook and shook him.
+I've sewed up all today's squares of patch-work and two of tomorrow's;
+but it isn't int'resting work when you ain't there to tell me stories
+about them. And anyway, I _hate_ sewing--patch-work 'specially! When I
+grow up and get married, my husband will have to buy our quilts already
+made. I'll never waste my time sewing on little snips to hatch up some
+bed-clothes. They're always covered up with spreads anyway. Rainy days
+are the dismalest things I know!"
+
+"That is very true if we let it rain inside, too," Elizabeth agreed
+quietly.
+
+"Let it rain inside! Whoever heard tell of such a thing--'nless the roof
+was leaky." Peace giggled in spite of her gloom.
+
+"You are letting it rain inside now when you frown and sigh instead of
+trying to be cheerful and happy in spite of the storm outside. One of
+our poets says:
+
+    "'Whatever the weather may be,' says he,
+    'Whatever the weather may be,
+    It's the songs ye sing, and the smiles ye wear
+    That's a-making the sunshine everywhere!'"
+
+Peace abruptly ceased her drumming on the window-sill and stared
+thoughtfully through the wet pane at a row of draggled sparrows chirping
+blithely on a fence across the muddy street. Then she remarked, "What a
+lot of poetry you know! Seems 'sif I'd struck a poetic bunch since we
+left Parker. Grandma and grandpa and Miss Edith and Frances, and now you
+have taken to talking in rhymes--and they are mostly about sunshine,
+too."
+
+    "'When the days are gloomy
+    Sing some happy song,'"
+
+hummed Elizabeth, leaning suddenly forward and drawing out a drawer in
+her desk close by. She rummaged through its contents for a moment, and
+then laid a dainty brown and gold book in the girl's hands, saying,
+"That reminds me. When I was a little girl not much older than you are
+now, my mother was very ill for a long time, and my sister Esther and I
+were sent away from home to live with a lame old aunt in a lonely little
+house about a mile from the nearest neighbor's. Needless to say, we got
+very homesick with no one to play with or amuse us, and the days were
+often so long that we were glad when night came so we could sleep and
+forget our childish troubles. Though Aunt Nancy was not accustomed to
+children, she soon discovered our loneliness and set about to mend
+matters as best she could. But the old house had very little in it for
+us to play with, the books were all too old for us to understand, and
+like you, we were not overly fond of sewing. So poor old auntie was at
+her wit's end to know what to do with us when she happened to think of
+her diary."
+
+"Did she have many cows?"
+
+"Cows?"
+
+"In her diary."
+
+"Oh, child, that is dairy you mean. A diary is a record of each day's
+events--all the little things that happen from week to week--sort of a
+written history of one's life."
+
+"H'm, I shouldn't think that would be fun," Peace commented candidly,
+still holding the unopened volume in her hand, thinking it was another
+uninteresting story-book. "I don't like writing any better than I do
+sewing."
+
+"Neither did I, but Esther was rather fond of scribbling, and Aunt
+Nancy's diary was one of the brightest, sprightliest histories of
+common, everyday affairs that we ever read, and we were both greatly
+amused over it. She had kept a faithful record for years--not every day,
+or even every week, but just when she happened to feel like writing, so
+it was no drudgery.
+
+"She was quite given to making rhymes, as you call it, and we were
+astonished to find several very beautiful little poems and stories that
+she had written just for her own enjoyment; for she had always lived
+alone a great deal, and these little blank books of hers held the
+thoughts that she could not speak to other folks because there were no
+folks to talk with. Esther was several years older than I, and she knew
+a lady who wrote for magazines. So, unbeknown to Aunt Nancy, she copied
+a number of the prettiest verses and sent them to this author, who not
+only had them printed, but begged for more. I never shall forget how
+pleased Aunt Nancy was, and I think it was that which decided us girls
+to try keeping a diary, too. We raced each other good-naturedly, to see
+who could write the queerest fancies or longest rhymes, and many an hour
+have we whiled away, scribbling in the dusty attic."
+
+"Did you ever get anything printed?" Peace was becoming interested, for
+Gail had secret ambitions along this line, and such matters as poems,
+stories and publishers were often discussed in the home circle.
+
+"No," sighed Elizabeth, a trifle wistfully, perhaps, as she thought of
+that dear dream of her girlhood days. "I soon came to the conclusion
+that poets are born and not made. But Esther has been quite successful
+in writing short stories for magazines, and she lays it all to the
+summer we spent with Aunt Nancy on that dreary farm."
+
+"How long did you write your dairy?"
+
+"_Diary_, Peace. I am still writing it--"
+
+"Ain't that book full yet?"
+
+"Oh, yes, a dozen or more, but most of them were burned up in the fire
+at--"
+
+"I thought maybe this was one of them." She held up the brown and gold
+volume, much disappointed to think it did not contain the record of
+those early attempts which Elizabeth had so charmingly described.
+
+"No, dear, that is a notebook which I was intending to send John's
+youngest brother, Jasper, who thinks he wants to be an author, so he
+might jot down bits of information or interesting anecdotes to help him
+in his work. However, it just occurred to me that perhaps Peace
+Greenfield would like such a book to gather up sunbeams in."
+
+"To gather up sunbeams?"
+
+"Yes, dear. Don't you think it would be a nice plan these rainy, dreary
+days to write down all the cheerful bits of poetry you know or happy
+thoughts that come to you, or the pretty little fairy tales you and
+Allee love to make up about the moon lady and the brownies in the dell?
+You see, I have painted little brownies all along the margins of the
+various pages--"
+
+"And they are carrying sunflowers," Peace interrupted.
+
+"Sun-flowers if you wish," and Elizabeth made a wry face at her
+reflection in the mirror. "I called them black-eyed Susans, but
+sun-flower is a better name for them, because this is to be a sunshine
+book. Another coincidence--I have written on the fly-leaf the very verse
+I just quoted:
+
+    "It's the songs ye sing, and the smiles ye wear
+    That's a-makin' the sunshine everywhere!'"
+
+"And ain't the fly's leaf dec'rations cute!" Peace pointed a stubby
+forefinger at the painted brownie chorus, armed with open song-books and
+broad grins, who seemed waiting only for the signal of the leader facing
+them with baton raised and arms extended, to burst into rollicking
+melody. "I think it's a splendid book and you're a _nangel_ to give it
+to me when you meant it for someone else. But it ought to have a name.
+Just _dairy_ sounds so milky and barnlike; and I don't like 'sunbeam
+book' real well, either. What did you call yours?"
+
+Elizabeth laughed. "Esther's was 'Happy Moments,' but I was more
+ambitious, and called mine 'Golden Thoughts.' How would 'Sunbeams,' or
+'Gleams of Sunshine' do for yours?"
+
+"Oh, I like that last one! That's what I'll call it, and I'll begin
+writing now. Shall I use pen and ink?"
+
+"Ink would be best, wouldn't it? Pencil marks soon get rubbed and
+dingy."
+
+"That's what I was thinking," Peace answered promptly, for the
+possibilities of the ink-pot always had held a great charm for her, and
+at home her privileges in this direction were considerably curtailed,
+ever since she had dyed Tabby's white kittens black to match their
+mother. So she drew up her chair before the orderly desk, and began her
+first literary efforts, having first sorted out five blotters, six
+pen-holders, two erasers, a knife and a whole box of pen-points to
+assist her.
+
+It was a little hard at first to know just what to write, but after a
+few nibbles at the end of her pen, she seemed to collect her thoughts,
+and commenced scratching away so busily on the clean, white page that
+Elizabeth smiled and congratulated herself on having so easily solved
+the problem of what to do with the restless, little chatter-box until
+she could go back to school the following Monday. There were only three
+days of that week remaining, and if the book would just hold the child's
+attention until these were ended, she should count her scheme
+successful, even though she did have to find another present for
+Jasper's birthday.
+
+So she smiled with satisfaction, for Peace had become so engrossed with
+her new amusement that she never heard the door-bell ring, nor the voice
+of the visitor in the adjoining room, but scribbled away energetically
+until words failed her, and she paused to think of something to rhyme
+with "bird." Then her revery came to a sudden end, for through the open
+door of the parlor floated the words, "And so we decided to adopt her
+resolutions."
+
+"Poor thing," murmured Peace under her breath. "I s'pose it's another
+orphan. Beats all how many there are in this world! I am glad she's
+going to be adopted, though; but if she was mine, I'd change her name to
+something besides Resolutions. That's a whole lot worse'n Peace. It
+sounds like war."
+
+She glanced out of the window, and with a subdued shout dropped her pen
+and rushed for her coat and rubbers. The rain had ceased and the sun was
+shining! Not only that, but trudging down the muddy hill, hand-in-hand
+and tearful, were two small, fat cherubs, the first children Peace had
+seen while she had been visiting the parsonage, except as she met the
+boys and girls of the Sunday School. Elizabeth had told her that this
+part of the city was still new, and consequently few families had
+settled there as yet; but she had longed for other companionship than
+Glen could give her, and this was too good an opportunity to miss. So,
+flinging on her wraps, she hurried out of the back door, so as not to
+disturb Elizabeth and her caller, and ran after the children already at
+the street crossing, preparing to wade into the rushing torrent of muddy
+water coursing down the hillside.
+
+"Oh, wait!" she cried breathlessly, but at the sound of her voice both
+children started guiltily, and with a snarl of anger and defiance,
+plunged boldly into the flood, not even glancing behind them at the
+flying, gray-coated figure in pursuit. However, the water was swift in
+the gutter, the mud very slippery, and the little tots in too great a
+hurry. So without any warning, two pair of feet shot out from under
+their owners, two frightened babies plumped flat in the dirty stream,
+and two voices rose in protest against such an unhappy fate.
+Nevertheless, when Peace waded in to their rescue, they fought and bit
+like wild-cats, till she dragged them howling back to the sidewalk and
+safety. Then abruptly the wails ceased, two pair of round gray eyes
+stared blankly up at their rescuer, and two voices demanded
+aggressively, "Who's you?"
+
+"Are you twins?" asked Peace in turn, noticing for the first time how
+very much alike were the small, snub-nosed, freckled faces of the dirty
+duet.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What are your names?"
+
+"Lewie and Loie."
+
+"Lewie and Loie what?"
+
+"That's all."
+
+"Oh, but you must have another name."
+
+"That's all," they stubbornly insisted.
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+"Nowhere."
+
+"Haven't you any mamma?"
+
+"She's gone."
+
+"But who takes care of you?"
+
+"Nobody," gulped the one called Loie.
+
+"Mittie did, but she runned away and lef' us," added Lewie.
+
+"Where are you going now?"
+
+"To fin' mamma."
+
+"But you said she was dead."
+
+"She just goned away and lef' us, too," murmured Loie, looking very much
+puzzled.
+
+Peace was delighted. Years and years ago, when her grandfather was a
+boy, he had adopted a little, homeless orphan and kept him from being
+taken to the poor-farm. Here were two waifs needing love and care. Who
+had a better right to adopt them than she who had found them? Grandpa
+Campbell surely would not turn them away, for did he not know what it
+was to be homeless and friendless? But she could not take them home
+while Allee was in bed with scarlet fever, and perhaps the Strongs would
+not feel that they could open the parsonage doors to two more children,
+seeing that the house was so very tiny. What could she do with her
+charges?
+
+There was a rush of feet on the walk behind her, someone gave her a
+violent push, and she sprawled full length in the gutter. Surprised,
+drenched to the skin and dazed by her fall, she staggered to her feet
+only to be knocked down the second time, while a jeering, mocking voice
+from the sidewalk taunted, "You're a pretty sight now, you nigger-wool
+kidnapper! Get up and take another dose! I'll teach you to steal
+children!"
+
+Blind with rage and half choked with mud, Peace shook the water from her
+eyes and flew at her assailant with vengeance in her heart, pounding
+right and left with relentless fists wherever she could hit. But the
+enemy was a larger and stronger child, and it would have gone hard with
+the brown-eyed maid had not the minister himself arrived unexpectedly
+upon the scene and separated the two young pugilists, demanding in
+shocked tones, "Why, Peace, what does this mean? I thought you were
+above fighting."
+
+"She hit me first!" sputtered Peace, trying to wipe the blood from a
+long scratch on her cheek.
+
+"She stole my kids!"
+
+"They are orphans, Saint John, and I was going to adopt them like my
+grandfather did Grandpa Campbell."
+
+"They ain't either orphans!" shouted the other.
+
+"They said their mother was dead and they had no home."
+
+"Mamma goned away and locked up the house," volunteered Lewie from the
+parsonage porch where he had taken refuge with his twin sister at the
+first sign of the fray.
+
+"Are you their sister?" sternly demanded Mr. Strong of the older girl.
+
+"No, I ain't! They live next door and Mrs. Hoyt left the kids with me
+till she got back."
+
+"Where is your house?"
+
+"On top of the hill," she muttered sullenly.
+
+"Then how does it come they are so far from home?"
+
+"They ran away."
+
+"She shut us out of hern house," said Loie, "and we went to fin' mamma."
+
+Just at this moment the parsonage door opened, and Elizabeth's visitor
+stepped out on the piazza, almost stumbling over the crouching twins;
+and at sight of them she exclaimed in surprise, "Why, Lewis and Lois
+Hoyt, what are you doing down here? Does your mother know where you
+are?"
+
+"Ah, Mrs. Lane, how do you do?" said the minister, extending his hand in
+greeting. "Are these tots neighbors of yours?"
+
+"They live just across the street from us. I often take care of them
+when the mother is away." Then her eye chanced to fall upon the
+shrinking figure of Mittie, and she demanded wrathfully, "Have you been
+up to your tricks again, Mittie Cole? I shall certainly report you to
+your father this time sure. I will take the twins home, Mr. Strong. It
+is too bad your little guest has been hurt, but you can mark my words,
+she was not to blame. There is trouble wherever Mittie goes. I don't see
+why Mrs. Hoyt ever left the children with her in the first place. She
+might have known what would happen."
+
+Shooing the little brood ahead of her, she marched out of sight up the
+hill, and Peace followed the minister into the house, wailing
+disconsolately, "I thought they were orphans and I could adopt them like
+grandpa did."
+
+"But think how nice it is that they have a mother and father and a nice
+home of their own. Aren't you glad they are not friendless waifs?"
+
+It was a new thought. Peace paused in her lament, and then with a bright
+smile answered, "It is nicer that way, ain't it? 'Cause even if they had
+been orphans, maybe grandpa would think he had his hands full with the
+six of us, and couldn't make room for any more. Lewie can bite like a
+badger and I 'magine grandpa wouldn't stand for much of that. Anyway _I_
+wouldn't. When I grow bigger and have a house of my own, then I can
+adopt all the children I want to, can't I? Just like that lady that was
+here a minute ago."
+
+"Mrs. Lane? Why, she has no adopted children!" exclaimed Elizabeth, who
+had been a silent spectator of part of the scene.
+
+"But I heard her tell you so myself," insisted Peace.
+
+"When?"
+
+"This afternoon while I was writing in my book. She said they decided to
+adopt Resol--Resol--something."
+
+Fortunately the minister was lighting the fire in the kitchen stove, so
+Peace could not see the laughter in his face, and Elizabeth had long
+since learned to hide her mirth from the keen childish eyes, so she
+explained, "It was not a child, Peace, which she was talking about.
+Doesn't your Missionary Band ever adopt resolutions of any sort in their
+business meetings?"
+
+"I never saw any they adopted, though we're s'porting two orphan heathen
+in India."
+
+Elizabeth could not refrain from smiling slightly, but she carefully
+explained to Peace the meaning of the perplexing phrase, as she bustled
+about her preparations for supper, and the incident was apparently
+forgotten.
+
+While she was putting things to rights for the night, long after the
+children had been tucked away in their beds, she found the preacher
+seated by her desk chuckling over a little book among the papers before
+him, and peeping over his shoulder she saw it was the brown and gold
+volume which she had given Peace that afternoon. On the fly-leaf, just
+above the quaint brownie chorus, in straggling inky letters, Peace had
+penned the title, "Glimmers of Gladness," this being as near as she
+could recall the name Elizabeth had suggested. Then followed the most
+extraordinarily original diary the woman had ever seen, and she laughed
+till the tears ran down her cheeks, as she read the words written with
+such painstaking care and plenty of ink:
+
+"This is the first dairy I ever kept. Saint Elspeth gave me the book
+which she ment for Jasper Strong, St. John's brother who wood rather be
+a writer than a huming boy. He ought to change places with me, cause I'd
+rather be a live girl any day than a norther which is what Gale wants to
+be and that is one reason I am going to keep a dairy as she may find it
+usful when she gets to be famus like St. Elspeth's sister Ester. I
+should not want to keep a dairy if I had to tend to it every day, but
+St. Elspeth says just to rite when I feel like it which I don't s'pose
+will be offen as there is usuly something to do which I like better. I
+am riting today becaus it rains and I cant go out doors.
+
+    "The sparrow is playing in the mud
+      Don't I wish I could, too.
+    He don't need rubbers on his feet,
+      Behind the clouds it's blue.
+    He wears feathers stead of close
+      And to him the rain aint wet.
+    I wisht that I wore feathers, too,
+      Then I'd stay out doors you bet.
+
+"The raindrop fairy is my newest fairy. I'll tell Allee all about it
+when she gets well enough so's I can go home. They are very wet but it
+aint their fault. If they wuz dry they wouldnt be water. They go about
+doing lots of good to the trees and flowers which couldnt grow without
+water, and we mustn't fuss cause there is always sun somewhere and its a
+cumfert to no it wont rain all the time. When the storm is over the
+raindrop faries strech a net of red and blue and green and yellow &C
+akros the sky which means it wont rain any more until the next time.
+Thats the way with huming beings. If we skowl and growl we're making a
+huming thunder-storm, but just as soon as the smile comes out thats the
+rainbow and shows the sun is shining, 'cause there is never a rainbow
+without the sun is in the clouds behind it. I'm going to smile and smile
+after this and be a reglar sunflour all myself."
+
+"Dear little Peace," murmured Elizabeth, as she closed the book and laid
+it back on the desk. "It's mean to laugh at her precious diary,
+particularly when she has taken such pains with it and tried her best to
+please."
+
+"She'll make an author yet," chuckled the minister. "I am proud of our
+little philosopher. She is scattering more sunshine than she dreams of,
+and some day will harvest a big crop of sunflowers."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A VOICE FROM THE LILAC BUSHES
+
+
+It was a glorious morning in May. Spring had really come at last with
+its warm, life-giving sunshine, and the air was heavy with the smell of
+growing things. Overhead the blue sky was clear and cloudless, underfoot
+the new grass made a thick carpet invitingly cool and refreshing. The
+trees were sporting fresh garlands of leaves, and in woods and gardens
+the bright-colored blossoms glowed and blushed. How beautiful it all
+was!
+
+Peace paused at Elizabeth's side in the open doorway to drink in the
+rich fragrance of the lilacs, whose purple plumes nodded so temptingly
+from the hedge across the way. For days it had been part of her morning
+program to rush out of doors as soon as she was dressed to sniff
+hungrily at the lilac-laden air, but never before had they smelled so
+sweet nor looked so beautiful and feathery as they did this morning, for
+now they had reached the height of their perfection. Tomorrow some of
+their beauty would be gone; they would be growing old.
+
+"Oh, Elspeth, ain't they lovely?" she sighed. "Don't they make you feel
+like heaven? Wouldn't you like a great, big bunch of them under your
+nose always? I wonder why the folks who live there don't give them away.
+I should if they b'longed to me. Think how many people would be glad to
+get them. May I go over in the field to play? I won't break one of Saint
+John's plants or touch a single lilac, truly, if I can just play where I
+can smell their smell as it comes fresh from the bush. We only get the
+wee, ragged edges of it over here."
+
+Elizabeth came out of her own revery at the sound of Peace's gusty sigh
+of longing, and readily gave her consent, as this was Saturday morning
+and school did not keep. So, like a bird trying its wings after a long
+imprisonment, the brown-eyed maid with arms flapping and curls bobbing,
+skipped happily across the road to the field where she had helped the
+minister plant a little vegetable garden, and which already was lined
+with irregular rows of pale green shoots where beans and potatoes,
+turnips and cabbages, had pushed their way up through the black earth.
+
+Peace was even prouder of the small truck patch than the preacher
+himself, if such a thing were possible, and it was a favorite pastime of
+both these gardeners to walk back and forth between the rows each day
+and count the tender sprouts which had appeared during the night. So
+this morning from force of habit, Peace strolled up and down the length
+of the garden, counting in a sing-song fashion as she greedily filled
+nostrils and lungs with the sweet scent of the lilac bushes just beyond,
+drawing nearer and nearer the hedge with its delicate, dainty sprays.
+
+Unconsciously her counting changed into the humming refrain of the
+Gleaner's motto song, and she danced lightly down the last row of crisp
+cornblades, joyously chanting words which fitted into the happy music:
+"Oh, you pretty lilacs, growing by the wall! How I'd like to have you
+for my very own. I would pick your blossoms, lavender and white, and
+give them all to sick folks, shut in from the light.--Why, that rhymed
+all of its own self!"
+
+She paused abruptly beside the lilac bushes, her arms still uplifted and
+fingers outstretched as if beckoning to the plumy sprays above her Head.
+"Isn't it queer how such things will happen when if I'd been trying to
+make poetry in my dairy I couldn't have thought of those words for an
+hour? I guess it was the lilacs that did it. Oh, you are so beautiful!
+You'd make anything rhyme, wouldn't you? What is it that gives you your
+sweetness? I wish you could tell me the secret. Oh, you lovely lilacs,
+growing up so high; swinging in the sunshine--" Again her made-up words
+came to a sudden end, and she stood motionless, her head cocked to one
+side, listening intently to a brilliant trill of melody from the other
+side of the hedge.
+
+"There goes my bird again! Saint John says it must be a canary which
+b'longs to the stone house that owns these lilacs, but I don't b'lieve
+it would sing like that if it was shut up in a cage."
+
+She held her breath again to harken to the music, then puckered her lips
+and mocked its song. The feathered musician broke off in the midst of
+his rhapsody, surprised at the strange echo of his own notes. There was
+a moment of silence; then he began again, and once more Peace mimicked
+the warbler. This time there was a stir on the other side of the bushes,
+and the purple-tasseled branches were cautiously parted where the
+foliage was thinnest, but Peace was too much absorbed in watching the
+topmost boughs--for the music seemed to come from overhead somewhere--to
+see the startled eyes looking at her through the tangle of leaves and
+blossoms. All unconscious of her hidden audience, she joyously trilled
+the canary bird's chorus.
+
+Then miracle of miracles--or so it seemed to Peace--there was a whir of
+wings, and a bright-eyed, yellow-coated, saucy, little bird perched on a
+twig just above her head. Peace gasped and was silent.
+
+The bird chirped a note of defiance and hopped to the branch below.
+Peace advanced a cautious step; the canary did not retreat, but tipped
+its dainty head sidewise and eyed the child curiously. A small brown
+hand shot out unexpectedly, dexterously, and the yellow songster found
+itself a helpless prisoner in the child's tight grasp.
+
+Peace was almost as surprised as the bird. She had not really thought to
+capture the creature so easily, and to find it in her hand sent a thrill
+of delight through her whole being. She snuggled it close in her neck
+and crooned:
+
+"You little darling! Saint John was right, you _are_ a canary! But I was
+right, too. You ain't caged. I'm mighty glad I've caught you. I always
+did like pets. I wonder what you will think of Muffet, grandma's canary?
+If I just had these lovely lilacs now, little birdie, I'd be perfectly
+happy. But a bird in the hand is worth--a whole bushel of blossoms. I
+guess I'll take you home to Elspeth--"
+
+"Oh, you mustn't!" cried a distressed voice behind the purple tassels.
+"That is my bird, Gypsy. I just let him loose to see if it was really
+you mocking him. Bring him home, won't you? And I'll give you all the
+lilacs you want."
+
+Startled at the sound of a human voice almost at her elbow when she
+could see no sign of the speaker, Peace let go her hold on the
+frightened captive, and with a relieved chirp, it flew out of sight
+among the thick branches. But she made no attempt to follow its flight,
+she was too scared. "Are--are--was it a real woman which did that
+talking?" chattered Peace, wetting her lips with her tongue.
+
+"Yes," answered the voice, with just the tinge of a laugh in it. "I live
+in the stone house this side of the lilac bushes. I saw you through the
+leaves and heard what you said, but won't you please bring my little
+Gypsy home? I'll give you all the flowers you want. Go down to the road
+and come in through the front gate. I am here in my chair."
+
+"Your bird has gone home already," Peace answered, reassured by this
+explanation. "But I'll come and get those lilacs you spoke about."
+
+She ran nimbly down the length of the lilac hedge, dodged out of sight
+around the corner, and appeared the next moment at the iron gate which
+shut out the street from the grand stone house with its wide lawns,
+great oaks, smooth, flower-bordered walks, and splashing fountain.
+
+"Oh, how beau-ti-ful!" cried the child in delight, as the gate swung
+shut behind her. "I've always wanted to know what this place looked
+like, but the tall hedge all along the fence is too thick to see through
+and one can get only a teenty peek through the gate. There is your bird
+on top of its cage now. See, I didn't keep him, though I'd like to. He
+is a splendid singer. I sh'd think you'd be the happiest lady in the
+whole world with all these lovely flowers and--are you a lady?"
+
+For the first time since entering the great gate, Peace turned her big,
+brown eyes full upon the occupant of the reclining chair in the shade
+of the lilac bushes, and her lively chatter faltered, for the face
+pillowed among the silken cushions seemed neither a child's nor yet a
+woman's. The eyes, intensely blue and clear, the broad, high forehead,
+the thin cheeks and colorless lips, even the heavy braids of brown hair
+with their auburn lights, did not seem to belong to a mere mortal. And
+yet she could not be an angel, for even Peace's youthful, untrained mind
+swiftly read the bitterness and rebellion which lurked in those deep,
+wonderful eyes. It was as if some doomed soul were looking out through
+the bars of a prison fortress, without a single ray of hope to break the
+gloom, without a single thought to cheer or comfort. And so Peace, in
+her childish ignorance, asked, "Are you a lady?"
+
+"A woman grown," the sweet voice answered, and a faint smile of
+amusement flitted across the marble-white face.
+
+"Your--your hair is in braids," stammered Peace, unable to put her
+subtle feelings into words.
+
+"It is more restful that way," the speaker sighed; then again that
+fleeting smile lighted up the beautiful features, and holding out her
+hand to the puzzled child, she said coaxingly, "Tell me about yourself.
+Is it really you who whistles so divinely in the garden each morning? I
+have heard it so often but never could locate it before. Aunt Pen
+thought it must be another canary at the parsonage. It always seemed to
+come from that direction."
+
+"That's 'cause Saint John and I live there. He whistles, too, though I
+do it the best."
+
+"Saint John?" The flicker of amusement became a genuine smile.
+
+"That's the new preacher of Hill Street Church. He used to be our
+minister in Parker and he lets me call him by his front name when we are
+alone, but it was so easy to forget and do it when we weren't alone that
+I named him _Saint_ John, 'cause Faith says he is my pattern--no patron
+saint. I call Elizabeth Saint Elspeth, too, for the same reason. She is
+his wife."
+
+"But I thought you were their little girl."
+
+"Mercy, no! They ain't old enough to have a little girl my age yet. Glen
+is their only children. I'm just visiting."
+
+"You have been with them ever since they came here, haven't you?"
+
+"Almost. They were a week ahead of me. They moved in from Parker last
+March, the very week before our spring vacation from school, and they
+begged grandpa so hard to let me come and help them settle that he said
+I might. Then Allee got the scarlet fever, so I had to stay for a time.
+Just as she was getting well so they 'xpected to _fumergate_ 'most any
+day, Cherry went to work and caught it, and now Hope is in bed. There
+are two more yet to have it, 'nless you count me, and I ain't going to
+get it. I don't think Gail and Faith will, either, 'cause they have been
+staying with Frances Sherrar ever since the doctor decided he knew what
+ailed Allee. Anyway, they had it when they were little."
+
+"What quaint names!" murmured the lady, softly repeating them one by
+one.
+
+"Yes, they are, but as it ain't our fault, we've quit fretting about
+'em. Our grandfather was a minister, and he named us--all but Gail and
+Allee. Papa named the oldest, and mamma named the youngest. Grandpa
+fixed up all the rest."
+
+The ludicrous look of resignation in the small round face was too much
+for the questioner, and she burst into a rippling peal of laughter, so
+hearty that a much older woman popped a surprised face out of the door
+to see what was the matter. Peace caught a glimpse of her as she
+vanished within doors once more, and demanded, "Who is that?"
+
+"Aunt Pen."
+
+"That's a quaint name, too. I'd as soon be called 'pencil'," she
+retaliated.
+
+"It isn't very common these days," smiled the woman. "The real name is
+Penelope, but I shortened it to 'Pen.' Poor Aunt Pen, she has a hard
+time of it."
+
+"Why? I sh'd think it would be easy work living in such a beautiful
+place as this."
+
+"A beautiful place isn't everything in life," came the bitter retort,
+and the rebellious look clouded the lovely eyes once more.
+
+"No, it ain't," Peace acknowledged; "but it's a whole lot. Just s'posing
+you had to live in a mite of an ugly house without nice things to eat or
+wear and with no father or mother to take care of you, and a mortgage
+you couldn't pay, and an old skinflint of a man ready to slam you
+outdoors and gobble up the farm, furniture and everything, the minute
+the mortgage was due. How'd you like that?"
+
+"Have you no father or mother?" The voice was very soft and sweet again,
+and the blue eyes glowed tenderly.
+
+Peace shook her head. "They are both inside the gates."
+
+"Then who takes care of you?"
+
+"Grandpa Campbell, what was adopted by my own grandpa when he was a
+boy."
+
+"Tell me about it, won't you, dear?"
+
+So Peace related the pathetic story of the two souls who had gone into
+the Great Beyond, leaving the helpless orphan band to battle by
+themselves; of the struggle the little brown house had witnessed; of the
+tramp who came begging his breakfast, and afterwards proved to be the
+beloved President of the University; and of the beautiful change which
+had come in their fortunes when he had adopted the whole flock.
+
+When she had finished her recital there were tears in the blue eyes, and
+the white-faced lady murmured compassionately, "Poor little sisters!
+There are so many orphans in this big world."
+
+Something in her tone and the far-away expression of her eyes impelled
+Peace to say with conviction, "You are an orphan, too."
+
+"Yes, child."
+
+"Since you were a little girl?"
+
+"Since I was five years old."
+
+"Oh, as little as Allee when mamma died! Wasn't there anyone to take
+care of you? Did your Aunt Pen adopt you?"
+
+"Aunt Pen has always lived with us. I don't remember any other mother."
+
+"And did you always live here?"
+
+"Yes, I was born here. It wasn't part of the city then."
+
+"But you don't look real old."
+
+"I am not _real_ old. I was twenty-four last November."
+
+"And Gail was nineteen the same month! You're only four, five years
+older than she is. That's not much--but there's a bigger difference."
+
+"How, dear?"
+
+"Oh, she looks 'sif she liked to live better'n you do."
+
+The woman drew a long, shivering breath and closed her eyes as if a
+spasm of pain had seized her; and Peace, frightened at the death-like
+pallor of the face, quavered, "Oh, don't faint! What is the matter? Are
+you sick? Or is it just a chill? Maybe you better run around a bit until
+you get warm."
+
+The deep, unfathomable blue eyes opened, and the voice said bitterly, "I
+can _never_ run again. I must lie in this chair all the rest of my life
+with nothing to do but think, think, think! Do you wonder now that I am
+not happy? Do you understand now why Aunt Pen has a hard time? Do you
+see the reason for that tall, thick hedge all around the yard?"
+
+"No," Peace replied bluntly. "I can't see a mite of sense in it! If I
+had to live in a chair all my days, I'd want it where I could watch the
+world go by. I'd cut down all the hedges and let the sun shine in. If I
+couldn't run about myself, I'd just watch the folks that did have good
+feet. I'd wave my hands at the children and give 'em flowers, and they'd
+come and talk to me when I was tired of reading. I'd have a bird like
+you've got, and I'd make a pet of it, too. I'd have more'n one; I'd have
+a whole m'nagerie of dogs and cats and rabbits and squirrels and--and
+ponies, maybe, and a monkey or two. And I'd teach them to do tricks, and
+then I'd call all the poor little children who can't go to the circus to
+see my animals perform. I'd have gardens of flowers for the sick people
+and vegetables for those who haven't any place to raise their own and
+no money to buy them. That's what Saint John is going to do with all
+they don't use at the parsonage. I'd make a park of my back yard and let
+dirty children play there so's they would not get run over in the
+street; I'd--oh, there are so many things I'd do to enjoy myself!"
+
+Peace paused for breath, the well of her imagination run dry, but her
+face was so radiant that instinctively her listener knew these were not
+idle words, though she could not keep the hard tone out of her voice as
+she answered, "Ah, that is easy enough to say, but--wait until you are
+where I am now, and I think you will find it lots harder to practice
+what you preach. You will turn your face to the wall, say good-bye to
+those who you thought were your friends, build a high fence around
+yourself and hide--_hide_ from the world and everything!"
+
+"Oh, no," Peace protested, shuddering at the picture she had drawn. "I
+should _die_ if I couldn't see the sun and flowers and kind faces of the
+folks I love. But--it--would be--awfully hard _never_ to walk again."
+
+"Hard? It is _torture_!" She had forgotten that she was talking to a
+mere child, one who could not understand what it was to have dearest
+ambitions thwarted, one who could not even know yet what it was to have
+ambitions. "I had dreamed of being a great singer some day--"
+
+"Oh, do you sing?" cried Peace, who was passionately fond of music in
+whatever guise it came.
+
+"Masters said I could--"
+
+"Then please sing for me. I can only whistle, and then folks say,
+
+    "'Whistling girls and crowing hens
+    Always come to some bad ends.'
+
+"I'd like awfully much to hear you sing."
+
+"Oh, I don't sing any more! That is all past now; but oh, how I loved
+it! We were going to Europe, Aunt Pen and I, and when we came back after
+months and years of study, I thought I should be a--Jenny Lind, perhaps.
+I thought of it by day, I dreamed of it by night. It was _everything_ to
+me. And then--my horse fell--and here I am."
+
+"Was it long ago?" whispered Peace, strangely stirred by the passionate
+words of the girl before her.
+
+"Five years."
+
+"And you've been here ever since?"
+
+"Ever since."
+
+Oh, the hopelessness of the words, the bitterness of the face!
+
+Involuntarily Peace turned her eyes away, and as her glance fell upon
+the delicate bloom of the lilac bushes beside her, she began to hum
+under her breath, "Oh, you lovely lilacs, growing up so high."
+
+"Sing to me," commanded the lame girl imperiously.
+
+"Sing? I can't sing! All I can do is whistle."
+
+"But you were singing just now."
+
+"I was humming."
+
+"Don't quibble!" A faint smile smoothed away the hard lines about the
+young mouth. "Please sing that little tune for me. I have heard you so
+often in the garden and that seems quite a favorite of yours, but I can
+never make out the words."
+
+"That's 'cause the words ain't usu'ly alike."
+
+"What?"
+
+"Why, Allee and me have always fitted talking words into our song music
+and--"
+
+"I don't understand, I am afraid."
+
+"Why, we just sing things instead of talking them like other folks
+would. They don't rhyme, but they fit into tunes which we like, and our
+Gleaners' motto song is our favorite, so that's the one we usu'ly hum,
+and that's how you hear it so much."
+
+"Then sing the motto song. The tune is very pretty."
+
+"Yes, it is pretty, but the reason we like it so well is 'cause it
+sounds glad. We never can sing it when we're cross or bad. It's made
+just for sunshine."
+
+Softly she began to chant the words:
+
+    "'In a world where sorrow
+      Ever will be known
+    Where are found the needy
+      And the sad and lone.'"
+
+Peace was right in saying that she could not sing, and yet her happy
+voice, warbling out those joyous words, made very sweet music that
+bright May morning. The lines of weariness gradually left the invalid's
+face, a feeling of rest stole over her, and with a tired little sigh,
+she closed her eyes.
+
+    "'When the days are gloomy,
+      Sing some happy song,
+    Meet the world's repining
+      With a courage strong;
+
+    "'Go with faith undaunted
+      Thro' the ills of life,
+    Scatter smiles and sunshine
+      O'er its toil and strife,'"
+
+piped Peace, staring at the waving plumes of lavender above her head.
+
+    "'Sca-atter sunshine all along your wa-ay,
+    Cheer and bless and bri-ighten--'"
+
+The song ceased in the midst of the chorus.
+
+The big blue eyes flashed open and the lame girl demanded in surprise.
+"Why did you stop?"
+
+"Oh," breathed Peace, a look of great relief passing over her face, "I
+thought sure you'd gone to sleep and I wouldn't get my lilacs after
+all."
+
+"You little goosie! I don't go to sleep that easily. Sing the chorus
+again for me, and then Hicks shall cut all the flowers you can carry."
+
+"He better begin now, then, 'cause the chorus ain't long and it sounds
+'sif Elspeth was calling me. I've been out of sight from the parsonage
+quite a spell and likely she's getting anxious. Besides, Glen may be
+awake and wanting me."
+
+"Very well," she laughed. "Hicks shall begin right away. See, there he
+comes with his basket and scissors. Now sing."
+
+So Peace repeated the sprightly chorus with a vim, and was rewarded with
+such a huge bouquet of the fragrant blossoms that she was almost hidden
+from sight as she stood clasping them tightly in her arms, and
+exclaiming in rapture, "All for me? Oh, dear Lilac Lady, I didn't 'xpect
+that many! You better have Aunt Pen put some of these in the house for
+you."
+
+"No, I don't want them in my house!" exclaimed the girl fiercely. "They
+are all for you--and Saint Elspeth."
+
+"Oh, she'll love you for sending them. Can I bring her over to see you?
+Her and Saint John?"
+
+"No, I don't care to meet them. Saint John has already called, but--I
+sent him away again."
+
+"Then--I s'pose--you won't care to have me call again either."
+
+This beautiful garden seemed like the Promised Land to Peace's childish
+eyes, and the thought of never being allowed to enter it again was
+dreadful.
+
+"Oh, yes, _do_ come again! You _must_ come again! Come every day. No,
+not every day, some days I couldn't see you if you came. I will hang a
+white cloth on the lilac bushes--see,--on the other side, where you can
+see it from the parsonage, and you will come then, won't you?"
+
+"Yes, if Elspeth doesn't need me and Glen is asleep. He likes flowers,
+too, even if he is just a baby, and he never tears them to pieces."
+
+"I'll have Hicks cut you some tulips--"
+
+"You better not today. I'll get them next time I come. These are all I
+can carry now, and they are a lot too many for our little parsonage. But
+I'm awful glad you gave me such a big bunch, 'cause there are ever so
+many of the church people sick, and Elspeth will be so pleased to have
+me _distribit_ bouquets amongst 'em. Some of 'em it will be like
+slinging coals of fire at their heads, too. There's old Deacon Hopper
+for one. He doesn't like Saint John and calls him a meddlesome monkey of
+a minister. Now he's sick, I'll take him a bunch of lilacs and tell him
+the meddlesome monkey's minister has sent him some flowers and hopes he
+soon gets onto his feet again.
+
+"Mittie Cole is another that needs some fire on her head. She pushed me
+into the gutter three times the day I tried to adopt the runaway twins,
+and we'd have had a grand scrimmage if Saint John hadn't happened along
+to stop it. But she's got lung fever now, and there was days the doctor
+said she wouldn't live. I reckon she doesn't feel much like fighting any
+more, but likely she'll enjoy the smell of these lovely lilacs. She
+seemed awful glad to see me the day I carried her some chicken broth.
+
+"The Foster baby is sick, and Grandma Deane, and little Freddie James,
+and Mrs. Hoover, and Dan'l Fielding. You see that's quite a bunch, and
+it will take a big lot of flowers to go around. I'll tell 'em all that
+you sent 'em--"
+
+"No, indeed!" There was real alarm in her voice. "Because I did not send
+them. I gave them to you."
+
+"But if you hadn't given them to me, I couldn't share 'em with other
+folks, so it's really you who is to blame. You--you don't care if I give
+some away, do you?"
+
+"Certainly not, dear. You may give them all away if it will make you any
+happier."
+
+"Oh, it does! I just love to see sick faces smile when someone brings in
+flowers to smell or nice things to eat. Miss Edith sometimes takes us to
+the hospital with bouquets to _distribit_, and my! how glad the patients
+are to get them. They say it is almost as good as a breath of real,
+genuine air. I'm going with Saint Elspeth tomorrow afternoon--"
+
+"Then you must come over here and get some more lilacs. Hicks will cut
+all you can carry."
+
+"Oh, do you mean it? You darling Lilac Lady--that's what I mean to call
+you always, 'cause you give away so many lilacs to make other folks
+happy. I'll bring the biggest basket I can find. There is Elspeth
+calling again. I must hurry home."
+
+"You haven't told me your name yet. I forgot to ask it before, but if I
+am to be your Lilac Lady, I must know what to call you, too."
+
+"Peace--Peace Greenfield. Good-bye. I'll be here tomorrow just the
+minute dinner is over."
+
+The blue eyes followed her longingly as she danced away through the
+fresh clover and disappeared beyond the heavy gates. Then the lame girl
+turned in her chair,--almost against her will, it seemed--and looked up
+at the fragrant purple plumes nodding above her head. "Peace," she
+murmured. "How odd! 'The peace which passeth understanding.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A PICNIC IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN
+
+
+After that Peace came often to the handsome stone house, half hidden
+from the road by its thick hedges and giant trees. Almost daily the
+white cloth fluttered its summons from the lilac bushes, and Elizabeth,
+having heard the sad story of the young girl mistress, rejoiced that the
+tumble-haired, merry-hearted little romp could bring even a gleam of
+sunshine into that darkened life.
+
+At first it was the great, beautiful gardens which lured the child
+through the iron gates, for she could not understand the different moods
+of the imperious young invalid, and secretly stood somewhat in awe of
+her. But gradually the natural childish vivacity and quaint philosophy
+of the smaller maid tore down the barriers behind which the older girl
+had so long screened herself, and Peace found to her great amazement
+that the white-faced invalid, who could never leave her chair again, was
+a wonderful story-teller and a perfect witch at inventing new games and
+planning delightful surprises to make each visit a real event for this
+guest. So the calls grew more and more frequent and the chance
+acquaintance blossomed into a deep, tender friendship.
+
+Of course, Peace did not realize how much sweetness and sunshine she was
+bringing into the garden with her, but in her ignorance supposed that
+the many visits were all for her own happiness. How could she know that
+her lively prattle was making the weary days bearable for the frail
+sufferer? And had anyone tried to tell her what an important part she
+was playing in that life drama, she would not have believed it. Perhaps
+it was the very unconsciousness of her power which made her such a
+beautiful comrade for the aching heart imprisoned in the garden. At any
+rate, Peace not only made friends with the lonely Lilac Lady, but she
+also captivated gentle Aunt Pen and the adoring Hicks, who met her with
+beaming faces whenever she entered the garden, and sighed when the brief
+hours were over. But none of them would listen to her bringing Elspeth
+or the minister, much to her bewilderment.
+
+"It isn't because _I_ don't want them," explained Aunt Pen one day when
+Peace had pleaded with her and had been grieved at her refusal. "Your
+Lilac Lady isn't ready to receive other callers yet. You can't
+understand now, dearie. God grant you may _never_ understand. She shut
+herself up four years ago when she found out that she would never get
+well enough to walk again, and you are the first person she has ever
+seen since that time, except her own household and the physician.
+Perhaps you are the opening wedge, child. Oh, I trust it may be so!"
+
+Peace did not understand what an opening wedge was, but it did not sound
+very appetizing, and she had grave doubts as to whether she had better
+continue her visits under such conditions. But when she went to
+Elizabeth with the story, that wise little woman answered her by
+singing:
+
+    "'Slightest actions often
+      Meet the sorest needs,
+    For the world wants daily,
+      Little kindly deeds;
+    Oh, what care and sorrow
+      You may help remove,
+    With your songs and courage,
+      Sympathy and love.'"
+
+Peace was comforted and went back to the shady garden with a deeper
+desire to brighten the long, dreary, aimless days of the helpless
+invalid. She said no more about introducing her beloved minister's
+family, but in secret she still mourned because the lame girl so
+steadfastly refused to welcome her dearest friends.
+
+So the days flew swiftly by and the month of May was gone. Summer was
+early that year, and the first day of June dawned sultry and still over
+the sweltering city. It was a half-holiday at the Chestnut School, so
+Peace returned home at noon, hot, perspiring, but radiant at the thought
+of no more lessons till the morrow. She came a round-about way in order
+to pass the great gates of the stone mansion, hoping to catch a glimpse
+of the well-known chair under the lilac bushes; but the lawn was
+deserted, and she was disappointed, for she had counted much on spending
+these unexpected leisure hours in the cool garden with the lame girl.
+
+To add to her woe, she found Elizabeth lying on the couch in the
+darkened study, suffering from a nerve-racking headache, and the
+preacher, looking very droll togged out in his little wife's
+kitchen-apron, was flying about serving up the scorched, unseasoned
+dinner for the forlorn family. He was too much concerned over the
+illness of the mistress and the unfinished condition of his next
+Sunday's sermon to sample his own cooking, and as Glen fell asleep over
+his bowl of bread and milk, Peace was left entirely to her own devices
+when the meal was ended.
+
+It was too hot to romp, it was too hot to read, and there was no one to
+play with. She swung idly in the hammock until the very motion was
+maddening. She prowled through the grove behind the church, she dug
+industriously in the small flower garden under the east window, she did
+everything she could think of to make the time pass quickly, but at
+length threw herself once more into the hammock with a discouraged sigh.
+
+"School might better have kept all day. It is horrid to stay home with
+nothing to do that's int'resting. I've watched all the afternoon for the
+Lilac Lady's table-cloth and haven't had a peek of it yet. But there--I
+don't s'pose she'd know there was only one session today, so she ain't
+apt to hang it out until time for school to let out, like she usu'ly
+does. Guess I'll just walk over in that d'rection and see if she ain't
+under the trees yet. It's been two days since I've seen a glimpse of
+her. Hicks says she's been dreadful bad again. P'raps I better take her
+some flowers this time--and there is that little strawberry pie Elspeth
+made for my very own. I might take her some sandwiches, too,--yes, I'll
+do it!"
+
+She tiptoed softly into the house, so as not to disturb the two
+slumberers, and went in search of the minister in order to lay her plan
+before him; but he, too, had fallen asleep and lay sprawled full length
+by the open window, beside his half-written manuscript.
+
+"If that ain't just the way!" spluttered Peace under her breath. "I
+never did go to tell anyone nice plans but they went to sleep or were
+too busy to be disturbed. Well, I'll do it anyway. I know they won't
+care a single speck. I'll ask 'em when I get home and they are awake."
+
+Back to the kitchen she stole, and into the tiny pantry, where for the
+next few minutes she industriously cut and buttered bread, made
+sandwiches, sliced cake and packed lunch enough for a dozen in the
+picnic hamper which she found hanging on a nail in the shed. With this
+on her arm, she returned to the little garden under the window and dug
+up her choicest flowers, stacked them in an old shoe-box with plenty of
+black dirt, as she had often seen Hicks do, and departed with her
+luggage for the stone house across the corner.
+
+She paused at the heavy gates, wondering for the first time whether or
+not she would be welcome at this time, when no signal had fluttered from
+the lilac bushes, but at sight of the motionless figure under the
+largest oak, her doubts vanished, and, boldly opening the gate, she
+marched up the gravel path and across the lawn toward the familiar
+chair, bearing the lunch-basket on one arm and a huge box of
+cheerful-faced pansies on the other.
+
+Hearing the click of the latch and the sound of steps on the walk, the
+lame girl frowned impatiently, and without opening her eyes, said
+peevishly, "If you have any errand here, go on to the house. I won't be
+bothered."
+
+"Oh, I'm sorry," cried Peace in mournful tones. "I brought a picnic with
+me, but--"
+
+The big blue eyes flashed wide in surprise, and their owner demanded
+sharply, "Why did you come this time of day? I have not sent for you."
+
+"I didn't say you had. I came 'cause I thought you'd be glad to see me,
+but if you ain't, I'll go straight home again and eat my picnic all
+alone, and plant my flowers in my garden again. You don't have to have
+them if you don't want 'em."
+
+She whirled on her heel and stamped angrily across the grass toward the
+gate, too hurt to keep the tears from her eyes, and too proud to let her
+companion see how deeply wounded she was.
+
+Astonished at this flash of gunpowder, the lame girl cried contritely,
+"Oh, don't go away, Peace! I didn't mean to be cross to you. This has
+been _such_ a hard week, dear, I hardly know what I am doing half the
+time."
+
+"Is the pain so bad?" whispered Peace tenderly, dropping on her knees
+before the sufferer, having already forgotten her own grievance in her
+longing to ease and comfort the poor, aching back.
+
+"It is better now," answered the girl, smiling wanly at the sympathetic
+face bending over her. "The heat always makes it worse, but I do believe
+it is growing cooler now. Feel the breeze? What have you brought me? A
+picnic lunch!"
+
+"Yes--my strawberry pie--"
+
+"Did Mrs. Strong know?"
+
+"She made the pie all for my very own self to do just what I please
+with. Don't you like strawberry pie?" Peace paused in her task of
+unpacking the basket to look up questioningly at the face among the
+pillows.
+
+"Oh, yes, dear, I am very fond of it, and it is sweet of you to share
+yours with me. I shall put my half away for tea."
+
+"Oh, you mustn't do that," protested the ardent little picnicker,
+passing her a plate of generously thick, ragged looking sandwiches,
+spread with great chunks of butter fresh from the ice-box, and filled
+with delicate slices of pink ham. "I want you to eat it with me. This is
+a 'specially good pie, and Elspeth can 'most beat Faith when it comes to
+dough. Mrs. Deacon Hopper sent us the ham--a whole one, all boiled and
+baked with sugar and cloves. It's simply _fine_! The lilacs I took the
+deacon did the work all right. He was so tickled that he got over being
+grumpy, and calls Saint John a promising preacher now. Please taste the
+sandwiches. I know you'll like them even if I didn't get the bread cut
+real even and nice. Then after we get through eating, I'll plant the
+pansies."
+
+"Pansies!" She stared past the brown head bobbing over the hamper, to
+the box of nodding blossoms in the grass. "What made you bring me
+pansies?"
+
+"'Cause you ain't got any, and no garden looks quite finished without
+some of those flowers in it. Don't you think so?"
+
+"I _de-spise_ pansies!"
+
+Peace eyed her in horrified amazement an instant, then swept the
+rejected blossoms out of sight beneath the basket cover, saying tartly,
+"You needn't be ugly about it! I can take them home again. I s'posed of
+course you liked them. I didn't know the garden was empty of them 'cause
+you _wouldn't_ have them. _I_ think they are the prettiest flower
+growing, next to lilacs and roses."
+
+"Those mocking little faces?"
+
+"Those darling, giggly smiles!"
+
+"What?"
+
+"Didn't you ever see a giggling pansy?"
+
+"No, I can't say I ever did." A faint trace of amusement stole around
+the corners of the white lips.
+
+"Well, here's one. Oh, I forgot! You _de-spise_ them!" She had half
+lifted a gorgeous yellow blossom from the hidden box, but at second
+thought dropped it back in the loose earth.
+
+"Let me see it!" The Lilac Lady extended one blue-veined hand with the
+imperious gesture which Peace had learned to know and obey. Silently she
+thrust the moist plant into the outstretched fingers, and gravely
+watched while the keen blue eyes studied the golden petals which, as
+Peace had declared, seemed fairly teeming with sunshine and laughter.
+"It does--look rather--cheerful," she conceded at length.
+
+"That is just what I thought. I named it Hope."
+
+"Hope! The name is appropriate."
+
+"Yes, it is very 'propriate. Hope is always so sunshiny and smily--"
+
+"Oh, you named it for your sister."
+
+"Who did you think it was named for?"
+
+"I didn't understand. Is it a habit of yours to name all your flowers?"
+
+"N-o, not all. But we gener'ly name our pansies, Allee and me. See, this
+beautiful white one with just a tiny speck of yellow in the middle I
+called my Lilac Lady."
+
+"Why?" A queer little choke came in her throat at these unexpected
+words, and she turned her eyes away that Peace might not see the tears
+which dimmed her sight.
+
+"You looked so sweet and like a _nangel_ the first time I saw you, and
+this pansy has a reg'lar angel face."
+
+"Don't I look sweet and like an angel any more?"
+
+"Some days--whenever you want to. But lots of times I guess you don't
+care how you look," was the reply, as the busy fingers sorted out the
+different colored blossoms from the box, all unconscious of the stinging
+arrow she had just shot into the heart of her friend. "This blue one's
+Allee. Blue means truth, grandma says, and Allee is true blue. Red in
+our flag stands for valor. Cherry ain't very brave, but I named this
+for her anyway, in hopes she'd ask why and I could tell her. Then maybe
+when she found out that folks thought she was a 'fraid cat, she'd get
+over it. Don't you think she would?"
+
+"Perhaps--if you were her teacher," the older girl answered absently.
+"Who is the black one?"
+
+"Grandpa. Isn't it a whopper? He is real tall but not fat like the
+flower. He always wears black at the University--that's why I picked
+that one for him. This one is grandma and here is Gail. The striped one
+is Faith. She is good in streaks, but she can be awful cross sometimes,
+too,--like you. This tiny one is Glen, and the big, brown, spotted
+feller is Aunt Pen. It makes me think of old Cockletop, a mother hen we
+used to have in Parker, which 'dopted everything it could find wandering
+around loose. That's what Aunt Pen looks as if she'd like to do."
+
+This was too much for the lame girl's risibles, and she laughed
+outright, long and loud, to Peace's secret delight, for when the Lilac
+Lady laughed it was a sure sign that she was feeling better.
+
+When she had recovered her composure, she said gravely, "Speaking of
+Aunt Pen reminds me that she told me this morning the cook had made some
+chicken patties for my special benefit and was hurt to think I refused
+them. You might run up to the house and ask for them now to go with our
+picnic lunch. Minnie will give them to you--cold, please. Some lemonade
+would taste good, too. Aunt Pen knows how to make it to perfection."
+
+Peace was gone almost before she had finished giving her directions, and
+as she watched the nimble feet skimming through the clover, she smiled
+tenderly, then sighed and looked sadly down at her own useless limbs
+which would never bear her weight again. How many years of existence
+must she endure in her crippled helplessness? Oh, the bitterness of it!
+And yet as she gazed at the slippers which never wore out, and compared
+her lot with that of the dancing, curly-haired sprite, tumbling eagerly
+up the kitchen steps after the promised goodies, the old, weary look of
+utter despair did not quite come back into the deep blue eyes; but
+through the bitterness of her rebellion flashed a faint gleam of
+something akin to hope. She was thinking of Peace's latest sunshine
+quotation which had been laboriously entered in the little brown and
+gold volume and brought to her for her inspection:
+
+    "'To live in hope, to trust in right,
+      To smile when shadows start,
+    To walk through darkness as through light,
+      With sunshine in the heart.'"
+
+Below the little stanza, Peace had penned her own version of the words
+in her quaint language: "This means to smile no matter how bad the
+world goes round and to keep on smiling till the hurt is gone. It don't
+cost any more to smile than it does to be uggly, and it pays a heep site
+better."
+
+What a dear little philosopher the child was! A sudden desire to meet
+the other sisters of that happy family sprang up within her heart. Why
+should she stay shut away from the world like a nun in her cloister?
+What had she gained by it? Nothing but bitterness! And think of the joys
+she had missed!
+
+An insistent rustling of the lilac bushes behind her caught her
+attention, and by carefully raising her head she could see the thick
+branches close to the ground bending and giving, as a small, dark object
+twisted and grunted and wriggled its way through the tiny opening it had
+managed to find in the hedge.
+
+The girl's first impulse was to scream for help, but a second glance
+told her that it was not an animal pushing its way through the twigs,
+for animals do not wear blue gingham rompers. So she held her breath and
+waited, and at last she was rewarded by seeing a round, flushed,
+inquisitive baby face peeping through the leaves at her. She smiled and
+held out her hands, and with a gurgle of gladness, the little fellow
+gave a final struggle, scrambled to his feet and toddled unsteadily
+across the lawn to her chair, jabbering baby lingo, the only word of
+which she could understand was, "Peace."
+
+"Are you Glen?" she demanded, smoothing the soft black hair so like his
+father's.
+
+"G'en," he repeated, parrot fashion.
+
+"Where is your mamma?"
+
+"Mamma." He pointed in the direction he had come, and gurgled, "S'eep.
+Papa s'eep. All gone."
+
+The baby himself looked as if he had just awakened from a nap. One cheek
+was rosier than the other, his hair lay in damp rings all over his head,
+and his feet were bare and earth-stained from his scramble through the
+vegetable garden on the other side of the hedge.
+
+A sudden gust of cool wind blew through the trees overhead, a rattling
+peal of thunder jarred the earth, a blinding flash of lightning startled
+both girl and baby, and before either knew what had happened, a torrent
+of rain dashed down upon them. The storm which had been brewing all that
+sultry day broke in its fury. Hicks came running from the stable to the
+rescue of his helpless young mistress, Aunt Pen flew out of the house
+like a distracted hen, and Peace rushed frantically to the garden to
+save the precious picnic lunch and the box of pansies which were to be
+planted under the gnarled old oak nearest the lame girl's window.
+
+So it happened that baby Glen was borne away into the great house to
+wait until the deluge of rain and hail should cease. In the flurry of
+getting everything under shelter, no one thought of the mother at home,
+crazed with anxiety and fright; and the whole group was startled a few
+moments later to behold a bare-headed, wild-eyed woman, drenched to the
+skin, dash through the iron gates, up the walk, and straight into the
+house itself, without ever stopping to knock.
+
+"It's Elspeth!" cried Peace, first to find her voice.
+
+"Glen, where's Glen?" was all the frantic mother could gasp as she stood
+tottering and dripping in the doorway.
+
+"Ma-ma," lisped the little runaway, struggling down from Aunt Pen's lap,
+where he had been cuddling, and running into Elizabeth's arms.
+
+"Peace, why did you take him without saying a word?" she reproached,
+sinking into the nearest chair, and hugging her small son close to her
+breast.
+
+"I didn't--" Peace began.
+
+"I think he must have run away," volunteered the Lilac Lady, staring
+fixedly at Elizabeth's face with almost frightened eyes. "He squirmed
+through the hedge while I was alone in the garden. I had not seen the
+storm approaching, and it broke before I could call Peace or--"
+
+At the sound of the sweet voice, Elizabeth had abruptly risen to her
+feet, and after one searching glance at the white face among the
+cushions, cried out with girlish glee, "Myra! Can it be that Peace's
+Lilac Lady is my dear old chum?"
+
+"You are the same darling Beth!" cried the lame girl hysterically,
+clinging to the wet hand outstretched to hers. "Why didn't I guess it
+before? Oh, I have wanted you _so_ often--but I never dreamed of finding
+you here. And to think I have refused all this while to let Peace bring
+you!"
+
+"No, don't think about that. Her desire is accomplished, however it came
+about--and you are going to let me stay?"
+
+"I would keep you with me always if I could. I have been learning
+Peace's philosophy and find it very--"
+
+"Peaceful?" They laughed together, and in that laugh sounded the doom of
+the hedges which Peace had lamented so long.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+GIUSEPPE NICOLI AND THE MONKEY
+
+
+The next morning dawned bright and clear and cool, and Peace, hurrying
+to school with her nose buried in a great bunch of early roses from the
+stone house, pranced gaily down the hill chanting under her breath,
+"Roses, roses, yellow, red and white, you are surely lovely, sweet and
+bright--another rhyme! They always come when I ain't trying to make 'em.
+I wonder if I'll ever be a big poet like Longfellow was. It must be nice
+to have folks learn the things you write and speak 'em at concerts and
+school exercises like I'm going to do his 'Children's Hour' next Friday.
+I've got it so I can say it backwards almost. Elizabeth says I know it
+perfectly. I hope Miss Peyton will think the same way. She is lots
+harder to please and I 'most never can do anything to suit her."
+
+She sighed dolefully, for her ludicrous mistakes and blunt remarks were
+the bane of her new teacher's methodical life, and many an hour she had
+been kept after school as a punishment for her unruly tongue.
+
+Unfortunately, Miss Peyton belonged to that great army of teachers who
+teach because they must, and not because they love the work. To be
+sure, she was most just and impartial in her treatment of the fifty
+scholars under her supervision, but, possessed of about as much
+imagination as a cat, she failed to analyze or understand the
+dispositions of her charges; and well-meaning Peace was usually in
+disgrace.
+
+But her sunny nature could not stay unhappy long, and as she thrust her
+small nose deeper among the fragrant blossoms, she smilingly added, "I
+guess she'll like these roses, anyway. They are the prettiest I ever
+saw, even in greenhouses. There goes the first bell. I 'xpected to be
+there early this morning, but likely Annie Simms has beat me again.
+Well, I don't care, there is only one more week of school and then
+vacation--and p'raps I can go home. Why, what a crowd there is on the
+walk! I wonder if someone is hurt again. Where can the principal be?"
+
+She broke into a run, forgetful of her cherished bouquet, and dashed
+heedlessly across the school-grounds to the group of excited, shouting
+boys and girls, gathered around the tallest linden, throwing stones and
+missiles of all sorts up into the branches at some object which Peace
+could not see. But as she drew near, she could hear a queer, distressed
+chattering, which reminded her of the monkeys in the park zoo, and
+turning to one of her mates, she demanded, "What is it the boys have got
+treed there?"
+
+"A monkey."
+
+"A monkey?" shrieked Peace in real surprise. "Where did they get him?"
+
+"I guess he b'longs to a hand-organ man. He's dressed in funny little
+pants and a red cap. Thad DePugh found him on his way to school and
+tried to catch him, but he run up the tree."
+
+"And you stand there without saying a word and let them stone a poor
+little helpless monkey!"
+
+"It don't b'long to me," muttered the child, angered by the indignant
+flash of the brown eyes and the scathing rebuke which seemed directed
+against her alone. "Anyway, I ain't stoning it."
+
+"You ain't helping, either. Let me through here!" She pushed and elbowed
+her way into the midst of the throng and boldly confronted the
+ringleaders of the tormentors, screaming in protest, "Don't you throw
+another stone, you big bullies! Ain't you ashamed of yourself, trying to
+kill that poor little thing!"
+
+"We ain't trying to kill it," retorted the nearest chap, pausing with
+his arm uplifted ready to pitch another pebble.
+
+"You mind your own business!" growled another. "This monkey isn't yours.
+We're trying to make it come down so we can catch it."
+
+"You'll quit throwing things at it, or I'll tell Miss Curtis."
+
+"Tattle-tale, tattle-tale!" mocked the throng, and another handful of
+rocks flew up among the branches.
+
+"O-h-h-h-h!" shrieked Peace, beside herself with rage. "You d'serve to
+have the stuffing whaled out of you for that!"
+
+Flinging aside the treasured roses, she seized the biggest boy by the
+hair and jerked him mercilessly back and forth across the yard, while he
+sought in vain to loosen the supple fingers, and bawled loudly for help.
+
+"Teacher, teacher! Miss Curtis, oh teacher!" shouted the excited
+children; and at these sounds of strife from the playgrounds, the
+principal and half a dozen of her staff rushed out of the building to
+quell the riot. But even then Peace did not release her grip on the
+lad's thick topknot.
+
+Pulled forcibly from her victim by the long-suffering Miss Peyton, she
+collapsed in the middle of the walk and sobbed convulsively, while the
+rest of the scholars huddled around in scared silence, eager to see what
+punishment was to be meted out to this small offender, for it was a
+great disgrace at Chestnut School to be caught fighting.
+
+The grave-faced principal looked from the pitiful heap of misery at her
+feet to the blubbering bully who had retreated to a safe distance and
+stood ruefully rubbing his smarting cranium, minus several tufts of
+hair; and though inwardly smiling at the spectacle, she demanded
+sternly, "Peace Greenfield, aren't you ashamed of yourself for fighting
+Thad--"
+
+"Yes," hiccoughed Peace with amazing promptness and candor; "I'm
+terribly ashamed to think I _touched_ him--he's so dirty. But I ain't
+half as ashamed of _myself_ as I am of him."
+
+Even Miss Peyton caught her breath in dismay. But the principal had not
+forgotten her own childhood days, and being still a girl at heart, and
+secretly in sympathy with the small maid on the ground, she only said,
+"Explain yourself, Peace."
+
+"It ain't half as bad for a little girl like me to fight a big bully
+like him, as it is for a big bully like him to fight a little monkey--"
+
+"I wasn't fighting the monkey," sullenly muttered the boy, hanging his
+head in shame.
+
+"You were stoning him, and he couldn't hit back, so there!"
+
+"What monkey?" demanded the principal, glancing swiftly around the yard
+for any evidence of such a creature.
+
+A dozen hands pointed toward the linden tree, and one small voice piped,
+"He's up there!"
+
+"A real monkey?"
+
+"Yes, dressed up in hand-organ pants," Peace explained, scrambling to
+her feet and peering up among the thick leaves for a glimpse of the
+frightened animal, which had ceased its wild chattering and sat huddled
+close against the tree trunk almost within reach. "See it? Poor little
+Jocko, I won't hurt you!" She stretched out her hands at the same moment
+that unknowingly she had spoken its name, and to the intense amazement
+of teachers and pupils, the tiny, trembling creature unhesitatingly
+dropped upon her shoulder, threw its claw-like arms about her neck and
+hid its face in her curls.
+
+"Whose monkey is it?" gently asked Miss Curtis, breaking the silence
+which fell upon the group watching the strange sight.
+
+"I never saw it before," Peace answered.
+
+"But you called it by name," chorused the children, crowding closer
+about her.
+
+"That was just a guess. There's a story in our reader about Jocko, and I
+happened to think of it. I didn't know it was this monkey's name."
+
+"How odd!" murmured the primary teacher.
+
+"She's the queerest child I ever saw," confided Miss Peyton; but the
+principal had seen the janitor approaching the open door to ring the
+last bell, and being at loss to know what to do with the unwelcome
+little animal in Peace's arms, she suggested that the child take it home
+and put it in a box until the owner could be found. This Peace was only
+too delighted to do, for as no one in the neighborhood seemed to know
+where it came from or whose it was, she had fond hopes that no one would
+inquire for it, and that she might keep it for a pet.
+
+So she joyfully carried it back to the parsonage, and burst in upon the
+little household with the jumbled explanation, "Here's a stone I found
+monkeying up a tree and Miss Curtis asked me to bring it home and box it
+till the owner comes around after it. And if he doesn't come, I can keep
+it myself, can't I, Saint John? He jumped right into my arms and won't
+let go, but just shakes and shakes 'sif he was still getting hit by
+those rocks. I pulled Thad DePugh 'most bald headed, and didn't get
+scolded a bit hardly. She made him go to the office, though, and I hope
+he gets licked the way I couldn't do but wanted to."
+
+"Here, here," laughed the minister, looking much bewildered at the
+twisted story. "Just say that again, please, and say it straight. I
+haven't the faintest idea yet how you got hold of that little reptile or
+what Thad's hair had to do with it."
+
+"It isn't a reptile!" Peace indignantly denied. "It's a monkey which hid
+in the linden tree at the schoolhouse to get away from the boys and they
+stoned it."
+
+Little by little the story was untangled, while the monkey still
+tenaciously clung to Peace's neck and wide-eyed Glen hung onto her
+skirts.
+
+"So you think there is a chance of your keeping him for a pet?" said the
+preacher, when at length the tale was ended.
+
+"Can't I?"
+
+"You are hoping too much, little girl. If this animal belongs to an
+organ-grinder, he will be around for him very soon, you may be sure. It
+is the monkey's antics that bring in the pennies. He can't afford to
+lose such a valuable. Besides, Peace, the poor little thing is almost
+dead now."
+
+"Oh, Saint John, he is only scared. S'posing you were a monkey and
+hateful boys stoned you, wouldn't you tremble and shake?"
+
+"I don't doubt it, girlie, but it isn't only fear that ails that animal.
+Look here at his back--just a solid mass of sores. Elizabeth, isn't that
+shocking? This is surely a case for the Humane Society. It is a shame to
+let the creature live, suffering as it must be suffering from those
+cruel wounds. His owner ought to be jailed."
+
+"Oh, Saint John, you aren't going to kill Jocko, are you?"
+
+"No, dear, he is not my property, and I have no legal right to put him
+out of his misery, but we must call up the Humane Society and notify
+them at once. They will be merciful. It is better to have him die now
+than live and suffer at the hands of a brutal owner, Peace. You must not
+cry."
+
+For great tears of pity were coursing down the rosy cheeks, and Glen was
+trying his best to wipe them away with his fat little fists. Elizabeth
+supplied the missing handkerchief, and as Peace raised it to her face,
+the monkey gave a sudden convulsive shudder, the tiny paws loosed their
+grasp about the warm neck, and Jocko lay dead in the child's arms.
+
+For a full moment she stared at the pitiful form, and Elizabeth expected
+a storm of grief and protest; but instead, the little maid drew a long,
+deep breath as of relief, and said soberly, "Saint John is right. Jocko
+is better off dead, but I'm glad he died in my arms, knowing I was good
+to him, 'stead of being stoned to death by those cruel boys in the tree.
+Where is Saint John? Has he already gone to telephone the Human Society?
+He needn't to now. The monkey is dead. I'll run and catch him on my way
+back to school. Good-bye."
+
+She was off like a flash down the hill once more, but the preacher had
+either taken a different route or already reached his goal, for he was
+nowhere in sight. So Peace continued her way to the schoolhouse, racing
+like mad to make up lost time. As she panted up the steps into the
+dimness of the cool hall, she stumbled over a trembling figure crouching
+in the darkest corner by the stairway, and drew back with a startled
+cry, which was echoed by her victim, a frail, ragged, young urchin with
+a thatch of jet black curls and great, hollow, dusky eyes.
+
+"Who are you?" demanded Peace, not recognizing him as one of the regular
+pupils at Chestnut School. "And what are you doing here?"
+
+"Giuseppe Nicoli," answered the elf, looking terribly frightened and
+shrinking further into his corner. "Me losa monk'. He come here but gona
+way. W'en Petri fin', he keel me." The thin face worked pathetically as
+the little fellow bravely tried to stifle the sobs which shook his
+feeble body; and Peace, with childish instinct, understood what the
+waif's queer, broken English failed to tell her.
+
+"Is Petri your father?" she asked.
+
+"No, no, no!" He shook his head vehemently to emphasize his words.
+
+"Then why are you afraid of him?"
+
+"He playa de organ, me seeng, me feedle, de monk' he dance and bring in
+mon'. Monk' los', Petri keel me."
+
+"The monkey is dead." The words escaped her lips before she thought, but
+the frozen horror on the boy's face brought her to her senses, and she
+hastily cried, "But he was _so_ sick and hurt! His back was just a mess
+of solid sores. It is better that he is dead!"
+
+"Oh, but Petri keel me!"
+
+"Sh! The teachers will hear you if you screech so loud. Come upstairs
+with me. Miss Curtis will know what to do. She won't let Petri get you.
+Don't be afraid, Jessup. I wouldn't hurt you for the world."
+
+He did not understand half that she said, but the great brown eyes were
+filled with sympathy, and with the same instinct which had led the
+monkey to leap into her arms a few moments before, the ragamuffin laid
+his grimy fists into hers, and she led him up the winding stairs to the
+principal's office.
+
+When the worthy lady had heard the queer story, she could only stare
+from one child to the other and gasp for breath. Peace was noted for
+finding all sorts of maimed birds or sick animals on her way to school,
+but never before had she appeared with a human being, and Miss Curtis
+almost doubted now that little Giuseppe was a real human. He looked so
+pitifully like a scarecrow. What could she do with him? It would be
+criminal to let the brutal organ-player get him again if the lad's story
+were true, and she did not doubt its truth after the waif had slipped
+back his ragged sleeves and showed great, ugly, purple welts across his
+naked arms.
+
+"Poor little chap," she murmured. "Poor little chap!" As she gingerly
+touched the bony hands, she was seized with a happy inspiration, and
+bidding the children sit down till she returned, she entered a little
+inner office, and Peace heard her at the telephone. "Give me 9275."
+
+There was a pause; then the child grew rigid with horror. The voice from
+the adjoining room was saying, "Is this the Humane Society?"
+
+It was to the Humane Society that Saint John had intended telephoning,
+in order that they might come up and kill the poor monkey. Was Miss
+Curtis a murderer? Surely Giuseppe was not to be killed, too. Then why
+had she telephoned the Humane Society?
+
+Tiptoeing across the floor to the Italian waif's chair, she clutched him
+by the hand, dragged him to his feet, and signalling him to be quiet,
+she stole cautiously from the room with him in tow. Down the long stairs
+they hurried, and out into the bright sunshine, though poor, frightened
+Giuseppe protested volubly in his own tongue and the little broken
+English which he knew, for once on the streets, he feared that the bold,
+bad Petri would find him and drag him away to dreadful punishments
+again. But the harder he protested, the faster Peace jerked him along,
+repeating over and over in her frantic efforts to make him understand,
+"Petri shan't get you, Jessup. But if we stay there the Human Society
+will, and that's just as bad. They killed Deacon Skinner's old horse in
+Parker, and Tim Shandy's lame cow, and were coming to finish Jocko when
+he died of his own self. You don't want to go the same way, do you?"
+
+Poor Peace did not know the real mission of the Humane Society, or she
+would not have been so shocked at the idea of little Giuseppe's falling
+into their hands; but her fear had its effect upon the struggling
+urchin, and his feet fairly flew over the ground, as he tried to keep
+pace with his leader. When only half a block from the parsonage, Peace
+abruptly halted, and the boy's dark eyes looked into hers inquiringly,
+fearfully. What was the matter now? This was certainly a queer child at
+his side. Perhaps it would have been wiser had he stayed with the
+gentle-faced lady in the schoolhouse.
+
+"Run," he urged, tugging at her hand when she continued to stand
+motionless in the middle of the walk. "Petri geta me."
+
+"No, no, Petri shan't have you, I say!" Peace declared savagely. "But if
+I take you home to Saint Elspeth, like as not the Human Society will be
+right there to nab you; and if they ain't now, Miss Curtis will send 'em
+along as soon as she finds we've run away. Where can I take you?"
+
+Anxiously she looked about her for a hiding place, and as if in answer
+to her question, her glance rested upon the stone house, surrounded by
+its tall hedges. "Sure enough! Why didn't I think of that before? My
+Lilac Lady will take care of you, I know, until Saint John can find some
+nice place for you to live always. Come on this way."
+
+She whisked around the corner, threw open the gate, and ushered the
+trembling waif into the splendid garden, with the announcement, "Here is
+the place I mean, and there is the Lilac Lady under the trees."
+
+The boy surveyed the masses of brilliant flowers, the sparkling
+fountain, the shifting shadows of the great oaks above him where birds
+were singing. Then he turned and scanned the white, sweet face among the
+pillows, and clasping his thin hands in rapture, he breathed, "Italy!
+Oh, eet iss Paradise!" And as if unable to restrain his joy any longer,
+he burst into a wild, plaintive song, with a voice silvery toned and
+clear as a bell. Peace paused in the midst of a turbulent explanation to
+listen; Aunt Pen came to the door with her sewing in her hand; Hicks
+stole around the corner of the house, thinking perhaps the young
+mistress had broken her long silence; and the lame girl herself lay with
+parted lips, charmed by the glorious burst of melody.
+
+The song won her heart, even before she heard the pitiful story of the
+wretched little musician, and when Peace had finished recounting the
+morning's events, the mistress of the stone house turned toward her aunt
+with blazing, wrathful eyes, exclaiming impetuously, "Isn't that
+shocking? Oh, how dreadful! We must help him, Aunt Pen. Poor little
+Giuseppe! See the Humane Society about him at once--Now don't look so
+horrified, Peace. They don't kill little boys and girls. They take good
+care of just such waifs as this, and provide nice homes for them. Even
+if Giuseppe were related to Petri, the Humane Society would take the
+child away from him on account of his brutality. He is worse than a
+beast to treat the boy so, and Giuseppe shall never go back to him as
+long as I can do anything. He shall go to school like other children and
+get an education. Then we'll make a splendid musician of him; and who
+knows, Peace, but some day he will be a second Campanini?"
+
+Peace had not the faintest idea of what a Campanini was, but she did
+understand that Giuseppe Nicoli had found a home and friends, and she
+was content.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
+
+
+Peace was panic stricken. Almost at the last minute Miss Peyton had
+changed her mind about the poem which she was to speak, and had given
+her instead of "The Children's Hour" which she had so carefully learned,
+those other lines called "Children"; and there were only five days in
+which to learn them. Memorizing poetry, particularly when she could not
+quite understand its meaning, was not Peace's strong forte, and it was
+small wonder that she was dismayed at this change of program; but it was
+useless to protest. When Miss Peyton decided to do a certain thing, "all
+the king's horses and all the king's men" could not alter her decision.
+Peace had learned this from bitter experience and many hours in the dark
+closet behind the teacher's desk. So, inwardly raging, though outwardly
+calm, she accepted her fate, and marched home to air her outraged sense
+of justice before the little parsonage family, sure of sympathy and help
+in that quarter. Nor was she disappointed.
+
+Elizabeth recognized the small maid's failings as a student, and was
+much provoked at Miss Peyton's want of understanding, but very wisely
+kept these sentiments to herself, and set about to help Peace in her
+difficult task. At her suggestion, the young elocutionist waited until
+the following morning before beginning her study of the new lines, and
+with the teacher's copied words in her hand, went out to the hammock
+under the trees to be alone with her work. There she sat swinging
+violently to and fro, gabbling the stanzas line by line, while she
+ferociously jerked the short curls on her forehead and frowned so
+fiercely that Elizabeth, busy with her Saturday baking, could not resist
+smiling whenever she chanced to pass the door, through which she could
+see the familiar figure.
+
+Slower and slower the red lips moved, lower and lower the hammock swung,
+and finally with a gesture of utter despair, Peace cast the paper from
+her, and dropped her head dejectedly into her hands.
+
+"Poor youngster," murmured the flushed cook from the window where she
+sat picking over berries. "John, have you a minute to spare? Peace is in
+trouble--Oh, nothing but that new poem, but I thought perhaps you might
+invent some easy way for her to memorize it. You were always good at
+such things, and I can't stop until my cake is out of the oven and the
+pies are made."
+
+He assented promptly, and strolling out of the door as if for a breath
+of fresh air, wandered across the grass to the motionless figure in the
+hammock. "What seems to be the matter, chick?" he inquired cheerfully,
+rescuing the discarded paper from the dirt and handing it back to its
+owner.
+
+"Oh, Saint John, this is a perfectly _dreadful_ poem! I don't b'lieve
+Longfellow ever wrote it, and even if he did, I know I can _never_ learn
+it. The verses haven't _any_ sense at _all_. Just listen to this!" She
+seized the sheet with an angry little flirt, and read to the amazed man:
+
+    "'Ye open the eastern windows,
+      That look toward the sun,
+    Where shots are stinging swallows
+      And the brooks in mourning run.
+
+    "'What the leaves are to the forest,
+      Where light and air are stewed,
+    Ere their feet and slender juices
+      Have been buttoned into food,--
+
+    "'That to the world are children;
+      Through them it feels the glow
+    Of a brighter and stunnier slimate
+      Than scratches the trunks below.
+
+    "'Ye are better than all the ballots
+      That ever were snug and dead;
+    For ye are living poets,
+      And all the blest ate bread.'"
+
+With difficulty the preacher controlled his desire to shout, and mutely
+held out his hand for the paper, which he studied long and carefully,
+for even to his experienced eyes, the hastily scribbled words were hard
+to decipher. But when he had finished, all he said was, "You have
+misread the lines, Peace. Wait and I will get you the book from the
+library. Then you will see your mistake."
+
+Shaking with suppressed mirth he went back to his study, found the
+volume in question, and returned to the discouraged student with it open
+in his hands. Half-heartedly Peace reached up for it, but he shook his
+head, knowing how easy it was for her to misread even printed words and
+what ludicrous blunders it often led to, and gravely suggested, "Suppose
+I read it to you first. Then if there is anything you do not understand,
+perhaps I can explain it so it will be easier to memorize."
+
+"Oh, if you just would!" Peace exclaimed gratefully. "I never could read
+Miss Peyton's writing, and then she marks me down for her own mistakes."
+
+So in sonorous tones, the preacher read the poet's beautiful tribute to
+childhood:
+
+    "'Come to me, O ye children!
+      For I hear you at your play,
+    And the questions that perplexed me
+      Have vanished quite away.
+
+    "'Ye open the eastern windows,
+      That look towards the sun,
+    Where thoughts are singing swallows
+      And the brooks of morning run.
+
+    "'In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine,
+      In your thoughts the brooklet's flow,
+    But in mine is the wind of Autumn
+      And the first fall of the snow.
+
+    "'Ah! what would the world be to us
+      If the children were no more?
+    We should dread the desert behind us
+      Worse than the dark before.
+
+    "'What the leaves are to the forest,
+      With light and air for food,
+    Ere their sweet and tender juices
+      Have been hardened into wood,--
+
+    "'That to the world are children;
+      Through them it feels the glow
+    Of a brighter and sunnier climate
+      Than reaches the trunks below.
+
+    "'Come to me, O ye children!
+      And whisper in my ear
+    What the birds and the winds are singing
+      In your sunny atmosphere.
+
+    "'For what are all our contrivings,
+      And the wisdom of our books,
+    When compared with your caresses,
+      And the gladness of your looks?
+
+    "'Ye are better than all the ballads
+      That ever were sung or said;
+    For ye are living poems,
+      And all the rest are dead.'"
+
+"Well," breathed Peace in evident relief, as he lingeringly repeated the
+last stanza, "that sounds a little more like it. Maybe with that book I
+can learn her old poem now."
+
+"Those are beautiful verses, Peace," he rebuked her.
+
+"Yes, I 'xpect they are. I haven't got any grudge against the verses,
+but it takes a beautifully long time for me to learn anything like that,
+too." She seized the fat volume with both hands, tipped back among the
+hammock cushions, and with her feet swinging idly back and forth, began
+an animated study of the right version of the words, while the minister
+strolled back to the house to enjoy the joke with Elizabeth.
+
+But though Peace studied industriously and faithfully during the
+remaining days, she could not seem to master the lines in spite of all
+the minister's coaching, and in spite of Miss Peyton's struggle with her
+after school each day.
+
+"There is no sense in making such hard work of a simple little poem like
+that," declared the teacher, closing her lips in a straight line and
+looking very much exasperated after an hour's battle with the child
+Tuesday afternoon. "You have just made up your mind that you will learn
+it, and that is where the whole trouble lies."
+
+"That's where you are mistaken," sobbed Peace forlornly, though her eyes
+flashed with indignation as she wiped away her tears. "It's you which
+has got her mind made up, and you and me ain't the same people. I just
+can't seem to make those words stick, and I might as well give up trying
+right now."
+
+"You will have that poem perfectly learned tomorrow afternoon, or I
+shall know the reason why."
+
+"Then I 'xpect you'll have to know the reason why," gulped the unhappy
+little scholar, who found the hill of knowledge very steep to climb.
+"You can't make a frog fly if you tried all your life. It takes me a
+_month_ to learn as big a poem as that, and you never gave it to me
+until Friday afternoon."
+
+"Nine four-line stanzas!" snapped the weary instructor, privately
+thinking Peace the greatest, trial she had ever had to endure.
+
+"It might as well be ninety," sighed the child. "If Elizabeth was my
+teacher, or the Lilac Lady, I could get it in no time, but I never could
+learn anything for some people. Just the sight of them knocks everything
+I know clean out of my head."
+
+Longfellow slammed shut with a terrific bang, and Miss Peyton rose from
+her chair, choking with indignation. "You may go now, Peace
+Greenfield," she said icily, "but that poem must be perfect by tomorrow
+afternoon, remember."
+
+So with a heavy heart Peace trudged home and took up her struggle once
+more in the hammock; but was at last rewarded by being able to say every
+line perfectly and without much hesitation. Elizabeth and her spouse
+both heard her repeat it many times that evening and again the next
+morning, and sent her on her way rejoicing to think the task was
+conquered.
+
+But when it came to the afternoon's rehearsal, poor Peace could only
+stare at the ceiling, and open and shut her lips in agony, waiting for
+the words which would not come, while Miss Peyton impatiently tapped the
+floor with her slippered toe and frowned angrily at the miserable
+figure. Finally Peace blurted out, "P'raps if you'd go out of the room,
+I could say it all right."
+
+"You will say it all right with me in the room!" retorted the woman
+grimly.
+
+"Then s'posing you look out of the window and quit staring so hard at
+me. All I can think of is that scowl, and it doesn't help a bit."
+
+The dazed teacher shifted her gaze, and Peace slowly began, "'Come to
+me, O ye children!'" speaking very distinctly and with more expression
+than Miss Peyton had thought possible.
+
+"There!" exclaimed the woman, much mollified, when the child had
+finished. "I knew you could say it if you wanted to. Now try it again."
+
+So with the teacher staring out of the window, and Peace gazing at the
+ceiling, the poem was recited without a flaw six times in succession,
+and she was finally excused to put in some more practice at home.
+
+Elizabeth thought the day was won, but poor Peace took little comfort in
+the knowledge that she had acquitted herself creditably at the last
+rehearsal. "It would be different if that was tomorrow afternoon," she
+sighed. "But I just know she'll look at me when I get up to speak, and
+with her eyes boring holes through me, I'll be sure to forget some part
+of it. None of my other teachers were like her a bit. Miss Truesdale and
+Miss Olney and Miss Allen all liked children; but I don't b'lieve Miss
+Peyton does. There's lots of the scholars that she ain't going to let
+pass, and the only reason they didn't have better lessons is 'cause she
+scares it out of 'em. Oh, dear, school is such a funny thing!"
+
+"Would you like to have me come to visit you tomorrow?" suggested
+Elizabeth, who dreaded the ordeal almost as much as did Peace.
+
+"No, you needn't mind. S'posing I should make a _frizzle_ of everything,
+you'd feel just terribly, I know, and I should, too. I guess it will be
+bad enough with all the other mothers there. But I wish there wasn't
+_going_ to be any exercises. I'm sick of 'em already. And what do you
+think now! She told us only this afternoon that we must all have an
+_antidote_ for some of the Presidents to tell tomorrow for General
+Lesson."
+
+"A what!"
+
+"An _antidote_. A short story about some of the Presidents of the United
+States."
+
+"You mean anecdote, child. I didn't suppose you were old enough to be
+studying history in your room."
+
+"Oh, this ain't hist'ry! We have a calendar each month telling what big
+men or women were born and why. Then teacher tells us something about
+their lives. Lots of 'em are very int'resting, but I can't remember
+which were Presidents and which were only _manner-fracturers_. That's my
+trouble."
+
+"Well, it just happens that I can help you out there, my girlie," smiled
+Elizabeth, smoothing the damp curls back from the flushed cheeks. "John
+has a book in his library of just such things as that. We'll get it and
+hunt up some nice, new stories that aren't hoary with age."
+
+The volume was quickly found, and several quaint anecdotes were selected
+for the next day's program, so if by chance other pupils had come
+prepared with some of them, there would be still others for Peace to
+choose from. And when school-time came the next day, she departed almost
+happily, with the Presidential book tucked under one arm and the
+well-fingered Longfellow under the other; for she meant to make sure
+that the words were fresh in her mind before her turn came to recite.
+
+The session began very auspiciously with some happy songs, and Peace's
+spirits rose. Then came the drawing lesson. Peace was no more of an
+artist than she was an elocutionist, but she tried hard, and was working
+away industriously trying to paint the group of grape leaves Miss Peyton
+had arranged on her desk, when one of the little visitors slipped from
+his seat in his mother's lap and wandered across the room to his
+sister's desk, which chanced to be directly in front of Peace; so he
+could easily see what she was doing. He watched her in silence a moment,
+and then demanded in a stage whisper, "What you d'awing?"
+
+"Grape leaves," Peace stopped chewing her tongue long enough to answer.
+
+"No, they ain't neither. They's piggies."
+
+The brown head was quickly raised from her task, and the would-be artist
+studied her work critically. The boy was right. They did look somewhat
+like a litter of curly-tailed pigs. All they needed were eyes and
+pointed ears. Mechanically Peace added these little touches, made the
+snouts a little sharper, drew in two or three legs to make them
+complete, and sat back in her seat to admire the result of her work.
+
+"Ah," simpered Miss Peyton, who had chanced to look up just that
+minute, "Peace has finished her sketch. Bring it to the desk, please, so
+we may all criticize it."
+
+Peace had just dipped her brush into the hollow of her cake of red
+paint, intending to make the piggies' noses pink, but at this startling
+command from the teacher, she seemed suddenly turned to an icicle. What
+could she do? She glanced around her in an agony of despair, saw no
+loophole of escape, and gathering up the unlucky sketch, she stumbled up
+the aisle to the desk, still holding her scarlet-tipped paint brush in
+her hand.
+
+Usually Miss Peyton examined the drawings herself before calling upon
+the scholars to criticise; but this was the last day of school, and the
+program was long; so she smiled her prettiest, and said sweetly, "Hold
+it up for inspection, Peace."
+
+Miserably Peace faced the roomful of scholars and parents, and extended
+the drawing with a trembling hand. There was an ominous hush, and then
+the whole audience broke into a yell of laughter. Miss Peyton's face
+flushed scarlet, and holding out her hand she said sharply, "Give it to
+me."
+
+Peace wheeled about and dropped the sheet of pigs upon the desk, but at
+that unfortunate moment, the paint-brush slipped from her grasp and
+spilled a great, scarlet blot on the teacher's fresh white waist.
+Dismayed, Peace could only stare at the ruin she had wrought, having
+forgotten all about her drawing in wondering what punishment would
+follow this second calamity; and Miss Peyton had to speak twice before
+she came to her senses enough to know that she was being ordered to her
+seat.
+
+"Oh," she gasped in mingled surprise and relief, "lemon juice and salt
+will take that stain out, if it won't fade away with just washing."
+
+Again an audible titter ran around the room, and the teacher, furiously
+red, repeated for the third time, "Take your seat, Peace Greenfield!"
+
+Much mortified and confused, the child subsided in her place and tried
+to hide her burning cheeks behind the covers of her volume of anecdotes,
+but fate seemed against her, for Miss Peyton promptly ordered the paint
+boxes put away, the desks cleared, and the scholars to be prepared to
+tell the stories they had found. Now it happened that generous-hearted
+Peace had lent her book of Presidential reminiscences to several of her
+less lucky mates that noon, and as she was one of the last to be called
+upon, she listened with dismay as one after another of the tales she had
+taken so much pains to learn were repeated by other scholars.
+
+In order that all might hear what was said, each pupil marched to the
+front of the room, told his little story and returned noiselessly to
+his seat; so when it came Peace's turn, she stalked bravely up the
+aisle, faced the throng of scared, perspiring children and beaming
+mothers, made a profound bow, and said, "George Washington was
+pock-marked."
+
+She was well on her way to her seat again, when Miss Peyton's crisp
+tones halted her: "Peace, you surely have something more than that. Have
+you forgotten?"
+
+"No, ma'am. I lent my stories to the rest of the scholars this noon and
+they have already spoke all I knew, 'xcept those that are _hairy_ with
+age. Everyone knows that George Washington was bled to death by
+over-_jealous_ doctors."
+
+The harder Peace tried to do her best, the more blundering she became;
+and now, feeling that the visitors were having great fun at her expense,
+she sank into her seat and buried her face in her arms, swallowing hard
+to keep back the tears that stung her eyes.
+
+Directly, she heard Patty Fellows reciting, "The Psalm of Life," and
+Sara Gray answer to her name with, "The Castle-Builder." Next, the
+children sang another song, and then--horror of horrors!--Miss Peyton
+called her name. It was too bad! Any other teacher would have excused
+her, but she knew Miss Peyton never would. So with a final gulp, she
+struggled to her feet and advanced once more to the platform.
+
+Her heart beat like a trip-hammer, her breath came in gasps, and her
+mind seemed an utter blank. "'Come to me,'" prompted the teacher,
+perceiving for the first time the child's panic and distress; but Peace
+did not understand that this was her cue, and with a despairing glance
+at the immovable face behind the desk, she cried hastily, "Oh, not this
+time! I've thunk of it now. Here goes!
+
+    "'Between the dark and the daylight
+      When the night is beginning to lower,
+    Comes a pause in the day's occupation,
+      That is known as the Children's Hour.'"
+
+Verse after verse she repeated glibly, racing so rapidly that the words
+fairly tumbled out of her mouth. Suddenly the dreadful thought came to
+her. She had begun the wrong poem! Her voice faltered; she turned
+pleading, glassy eyes toward the teacher; and Miss Peyton,
+misunderstanding the cause of her hesitation, again prompted, "'They
+climb--'"
+
+Peace was hopelessly lost.
+
+    "'They climb up onto the target,'"
+
+She recited in feverish tones:
+
+    "'O'er my arms and the back of my hair;
+    If I try to e-scrape, they surround me;
+      They scream to me everywhere,'"
+
+Someone tittered; the ripple of mirth broke into a peal of laughter; and
+with a despairing sob, Peace cried, "Oh, teacher, I've got the
+stage-_strike_! I can't say another word!" And out of the room she
+rushed like a wounded bird.
+
+Usually Elizabeth was her comforter, but this day some blind instinct
+led her to take refuge in the Enchanted Garden, and she sobbed out her
+sorrow and humiliation in the skirts of her beloved Lilac Lady.
+
+Peace in tears was a new sight for the invalid, and she was alarmed at
+the wild tempest of grief. But the small philosopher could not be
+unhappy long, and after a few moments the tears ceased, the storm was
+spent, a flushed, swollen face peeped up at the anxious eyes above her,
+and with a familiar, queer little grimace, she giggled, "I made 'em all
+laugh, anyway, and they did look awful solemn and _funerally_ lined up
+there against the wall. But I s'pose teacher won't let me pass now, and
+I'll have to take this term all over again."
+
+"Tell me about it," said the lame girl gently, stroking the damp curls
+on the round, brown head in her lap.
+
+So Peace faithfully recounted the day's events to the amusement and
+indignation of her lone audience; but when she had finished, she sighed
+dolefully. "The worst of it is, I've got to go back to school tomorrow
+for my books and dismissal card. Oh, mercy, yes! And Miss Peyton has
+got my Longfellow. I don't b'lieve I can ever ask her for it, even if
+it is Saint John's."
+
+"Oh, yes, you can," assured the Lilac Lady. "By the time tomorrow comes,
+the teacher will have forgotten all about the mistakes of today."
+
+"It's very plain that you don't know Miss Peyton," was the disconcerting
+reply. "There's nothing she ever forgets. My one comfort is I won't have
+to go to school to her next year even if she doesn't let me pass now,
+'cause by that time the girls will all be well and I can go home again.
+There's always a grain of comfort in every bit of trouble, grandma
+says."
+
+"Sca-atter sunshine, all along the wa-ay," sang the lame girl, surprised
+out of her long silence in her anxiety to cajole her little playmate
+into her happy self again; but Peace did not even hear the rich
+sweetness of the voice, so surprised was she to have her motto turned
+upon her in that manner, and for a few moments she sat so lost in
+thought that the lame girl feared she had offended her, and was about to
+beg her forgiveness when the round face lifted itself again, and Peace
+exclaimed, "That's what I'll do! Tomorrow, when I have to go back for my
+card, I'll offer to kiss her good-bye, and I'll tell her I'm sorry I've
+been such a bother to her all these weeks. I never thought about it
+before, but I s'pose she's just been in _ag-o-ny_ over having me upset
+all her plans like I've managed to do, though I never meant to. The
+worse I try to follow what she tells us to do, the bigger chase I lead
+her. My, what a time she must have had! Do you think she she'd like to
+hear I'm sorry?"
+
+"What a darling you are!" thought the lame girl. "I don't wonder
+everyone loves you so much." But aloud she merely answered heartily, "I
+think it is a beautiful plan, dear. When she understands that you have
+tried your best to please her, I am sure she will be kind to my little
+curly-head."
+
+So it happened that when Peace received her dismissal card from Miss
+Peyton the next morning, she lifted her rosy mouth for a kiss, and
+murmured contritely, "I'm very sorry you have caused me so much bother
+since I came here to school, but next term I won't be here, for which
+you bet I'm thankful." She had rehearsed that little speech over and
+over on her way to school; but, as usual, when she came to say it to
+this argus-eyed teacher, she juggled her pronouns so thoroughly that no
+one could have been sure just what she did mean.
+
+However, Miss Peyton had done some hard thinking since the previous
+afternoon, and a little glimmer of understanding was beginning to
+penetrate her methodical, order-loving soul, so she stooped and kissed
+the forgiving lips raised to hers, as she said heartily, "That is all
+right, my child. I wish I could erase all the troubles that have marred
+these days for you. I am sorry I did not know as much three months ago
+as I do now."
+
+"I am, too, but folks are never too old to learn, grandpa says," Peace
+answered happily, and departed with beaming countenance, for Miss Peyton
+had "passed her" after all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+PEACE FINDS NEW PLAYMATES
+
+
+It had been decided that Giuseppe Nicoli was to live at the stone house
+and be educated as the Lilac Lady's protege.
+
+The Humane Society had thoroughly investigated the case and found that
+the poor little waif was an orphan, whom greedy-eyed Petri had taken in
+charge on account of his unusual musical talent. There were no relatives
+on this side of the water to claim the homeless lad, and those in old
+Italy were too poor to be burdened with his keep; so the Society gladly
+listened to the lame girl's plea, and gave Giuseppe into her keeping.
+
+It would be hard to tell which was the more jubilant over his good
+fortune, the child himself, or Peace, who was never tired of rehearsing
+the story of his rescue from the brutal organ-grinder's clutches. So the
+minute she knew that the big house was to be his future home, she raced
+off to the corner drug store to telephone the good news to Allee and the
+rest at home, who were much interested in the doings at the little
+parsonage, and only regretted that the Hill Street Church was not yet
+able to afford a telephone of its own, for Peace could make only one
+trip daily to the drug store, and often the girls thought of something
+else they wanted to ask her after she had rung off. Also, the drug clerk
+was sometimes impolite enough to tell Peace that she was talking too
+long, and that does leave one so embarrassed.
+
+This day, however, he had no occasion for uttering a word of complaint,
+for after a surprised exclamation and three or four rapid questions of
+the speaker at the other end of the line, Peace banged the receiver on
+its hook, and turned rebellious eyes on the idle clerk lolling behind
+the counter, saying, "Now, what do you think of that?"
+
+"What?" drawled the man, who was in his element when he could tease
+someone. "Do you take me for a mind reader?"
+
+"I sh'd say not!" she answered crossly. "It takes folks with brains to
+read other folks' minds."
+
+"Whew!" he whistled, delighted with the encounter. "Your claws are out
+today. What seems to be the matter?"
+
+"Grandpa has taken grandma and the little girls to the Pine Woods
+without so much as saying a word to me about it; and Gail and Faith have
+gone to the lake with the Sherrars and never invited me."
+
+"If the whole family is away, who is keeping house?"
+
+"Gussie and Marie, of course. Who'd you s'pose? Grandma told Gussie that
+when I called up she was to 'xplain matters to me so's I'd understand
+how it all happened and not feel bad about their going off. Gail and
+Faith went first. I 'xpected that part of it, but none of 'em ever
+hinted a word to me about the Pine Woods. I s'pose they've lived so long
+without me at home that they've got used to it and so don't care any
+more about me."
+
+Two tears stole out from under the twitching lids and rolled down the
+chubby cheeks. The clerk moved uneasily. He did hate to see anyone cry,
+but had not the slightest idea how to avert the threatened deluge. As
+his eye roved about the small store for something to divert her
+attention, it chanced to rest upon the candy cabinet, and hastily diving
+into the case, he brought forth a handful of tempting chocolates, and
+presented them with the tactful remark, "Aw, you're cross; have some
+candy to sweeten you up!"
+
+The brown eyes winked away the tears and blazed scornfully up at the
+face above her. "Keep it yourself! You need it!" she growled savagely,
+pushing the extended hand away from her so fiercely that the candy was
+scattered all about the floor, and without a backward glance, she
+flounced out of the store.
+
+"Well, I vum!" exclaimed the astonished clerk. "Next time I'll let her
+bawl." Stooping over to collect the hapless chocolate drops before they
+should be tramped upon, he began to whistle, and the notes followed
+Peace out on the street--just a bar of her sunshine song, but the
+woe-begone face brightened a bit, although the girl said to herself,
+"Oh, dear, seems 'sif that song chases me wherever I go. I get it sung
+or whistled or spoke at me a dozen times a day. And it's hard work
+always to remember it, 'specially when folks go off and forget all about
+you when you've just been counting the _days_ till 'twas time to go home
+and see Allee and grandpa after being away so long. S'posing I should
+die 'fore they get back, I wonder how they'll feel. Why, Peace
+Greenfield, you hateful little tike! Ain't you ashamed of yourself? Yes,
+I am. Of course they didn't run away a-purpose. Grandpa didn't know he
+had to go until an hour 'fore the train went, and there wasn't time to
+send for me and get my clo'es ready to go, too. It was awful nice of him
+to think of taking the girls and grandma to the Pine Woods to get real
+well and rested while he did up his business in Dolliver. They'll come
+back lots better than they'd be if they had to stay here through all
+this hot.
+
+"Think of being shut up three months in the house so's they couldn't
+plant gardens or go flower-hunting, or have picnics, or even go to
+school! I've been doing all those things while they've been sick. I'm
+truly 'shamed of myself to be so cross about their going off. Elizabeth
+and Saint John are just the dearest people to me, and the Lilac Lady
+really cried tears in her eyes when she thought I was going to leave
+here Monday. She'll be glad to know that I am to stay two or three weeks
+longer. And it will be such fun to get letters from the girls in the
+woods all the while they are gone. After all, I b'lieve I'll have a
+better time here anyway."
+
+The cloud had passed over without the threatened storm, and the round
+face, though still a little sober, looked quite contented again. But
+during this silent soliloquy, the young philosopher had been wandering
+aimlessly through the streets, without any thought of the direction she
+was taking, and was suddenly roused from her revery by the mingled
+shouts and laughter of a throng of boys and girls playing noisily in a
+great yard fenced in by tall iron pickets.
+
+"Why, school is closed for the summer!" murmured Peace to herself,
+pressing her face against the iron bars in order that she might watch
+the lively games on the other side of the palings. "Elizabeth says all
+the Martindale schools close at the same time. What can these children
+be doing here then? P'raps this is where the old lady who lived in a
+shoe had to move to when the shoe got too small for her fambly. Do you
+s'pose it is?"
+
+"Yup, I guess that's how it happened," answered a voice close beside
+her, and she jumped almost out of her shoes in her surprise, for
+unconsciously she had spoken her thoughts aloud, and a merry-faced
+urchin, sprawled in the shade of a low-limbed box-elder, had answered
+her. His peal of delight at having startled her so brought another lad
+and two girls to see the cause of his glee, and Peace was shocked to
+behold in the smaller of the girls her own double, only the stranger
+child was dressed in a long blue apron, which made her look much older
+than she really was. As the children stood staring at each other through
+the close-set pickets, the boy in the grass discovered the likeness of
+the two faces, and with a startled whoop sat up to ask excitedly of
+Peace, "Did you ever have a twin?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Oh, dear, I was sure you must have! You're just the _yimage_ of Lottie.
+She's a _norphan_, and the folks that brought her here didn't even know
+what her real name was or anything about her, and we've always 'magined
+that some day her truly people would come and find her and she'd have a
+mother of her own."
+
+"Is this a--a school?" asked Peace. She wanted to say orphan asylum, but
+was afraid it would be impolite, and she did not wish to offend any of
+these friendly appearing children.
+
+"It's the Children's Home."
+
+"Who owns it?"
+
+"Why--er--I don't know," stammered the second youth, who seemed the
+oldest of the quartette inside the fence.
+
+"I guess the splintered ladies do," remarked the cherub in the grass.
+
+"The wh-at?"
+
+"Tony's trying to be smart now," said the larger girl scornfully. "The
+Lady Board is meeting today, and he always calls them the splintered
+ladies."
+
+"What is a Lady Board?" inquired mystified Peace, thinking this was the
+queerest home she had ever heard tell of.
+
+"Why, they are the ladies who say how things shall be done here--"
+
+"The number of times we can have butter each week and how much milk each
+of us can drink, and the number of potatoes the cook shall fix," put in
+the boy called Tony.
+
+"Don't you have butter every day!" cried Peace in shocked surprise.
+
+"Well, I guess not! We have it Sunday noons and sometimes holiday
+nights."
+
+"And we never have sugar on our oatmeal, or sauce to eat with our
+bread," added Lottie, shaking her curls dolefully.
+
+"What do you eat, then?"
+
+"Oh, bread and milk, and mush of some kind, or rice, and potatoes and
+vegetables and meat once a week and pie or pudding real seldom."
+
+"Who takes care of you?" asked Peace again after a slight pause.
+
+"The matron and nurses."
+
+"What's a matron?"
+
+"The boss of the caboose," grinned Tony irreverently.
+
+"Is she nice?"
+
+"That's what we're waiting to find out. She's just come, you see, and we
+don't know her real well yet. The other one was a holy fright."
+
+"But the new one _looks_ nice," said Lottie loyally. "She smiles all the
+time, and Miss Cooper never did. She always looked froze."
+
+"She must be like Miss Peyton. She was my teacher at Chestnut School and
+I didn't like her a bit till the day school ended. She did get thawed
+out then, though, and I b'lieve she'll be nicer after this."
+
+"Do you live near here?" asked Tony, thinking it was their turn to ask
+questions of this debonair little stranger, who evidently belonged to
+rich people, because her brown curls were tied back with a huge pink
+ribbon, a dainty white pinafore covered her pretty gingham dress, and
+her feet were shod in patent leather slippers.
+
+"No, grandpa's house is three miles away, but I am staying at the Hill
+Street parsonage." Briefly she explained how it had all come about, and
+the story seemed like a fairy tale to the four eager listeners.
+
+"Then you are an orphan, too," cried Tony triumphantly, when she had
+finished. "How do you know Lottie ain't your twin sister?"
+
+"'Cause there never were any twins in our family, and if there had been,
+do you s'pose mother'd have let one loose like that, to get put in a
+Children's Home? I guess not!"
+
+"Maybe she's a cousin, then."
+
+"We haven't got any. Papa was the only child Grandpa Greenfield had, and
+mother's only brother died when he was little."
+
+"But Lottie's just the _yimage_ of you," insisted Tony, bent on
+discovering some tie of relationship between the two.
+
+"I can't help that. I guess it's just a queerity, though I'd like to
+find out I had some sure-enough cousins which I didn't know anything
+about. Besides, Lottie is lots darker than me. Her hair is black and so
+are her eyes. Least I guess they are what you'd call black. Mine are
+only brown."
+
+"You're the same size. Ain't they, Ethel?" asked the older lad.
+
+"Yes, that was what I was thinking. I don't believe many folks would
+know them apart if they changed clothes."
+
+"Oh, let's do it!" cried Peace, charmed with the suggestion. "We've got
+a book at home that tells how a little beggar boy changed places with a
+prince, and they had the strangest 'xperiences! It'll be lots of fun to
+fool the others. They haven't been paying any 'tention to our talking
+here. Where's the gate?"
+
+"At the other side of the yard. There's only one--"
+
+"But visitors aren't allowed to come and play with us without a permit
+from the matron," began the larger boy, cautiously.
+
+"Oh, bother, George," Tony cried impatiently. "We can't get a permit now
+with all the Lady Boards here, and you know it."
+
+"Why not?" asked Peace.
+
+"'Cause Miss Chase is busy with them in the parlors and we can't see her
+till they are gone."
+
+"How long will that be?"
+
+"Oh, hours, maybe."
+
+"Then I'll come in now and get my permit later."
+
+Without waiting to hear what comments they might have to make about this
+plan, she flew around the corner Tony had indicated a moment before, and
+in through the great iron gates, standing slightly ajar. Following the
+wide walks leading from the front yard to the back, she came to another
+lower gate, where Ethel and Lottie met her; and in a jiffy the white
+apron was exchanged for the long, blue pinafore of the black-eyed child.
+
+"You'll have to give her your hair-ribbon, too," said Ethel, surveying
+the two figures critically. "We don't wear ribbons here on common days,
+and that would give away that you weren't really Lottie."
+
+Peace gleefully jerked off her rampant pink bow, and the older girl
+deftly tied it among the raven locks of the other orphan.
+
+Tony and George now came slowly around the corner of the building, to
+discover whether the visitor had really kept her promise, and were
+themselves puzzled to know which was their mate and which the stranger
+child until Peace laughed. "That's where you are different," said
+George, critically. "You don't sound a bit alike. Come on and see who
+will be first to find out the secret."
+
+So the masqueraders were led laughingly away to meet the other children,
+still boisterously playing at games under the trees. It did not take the
+fifty pair of sharp eyes as long to discover the difference as the five
+plotters had hoped, but they were all just as charmed with the result,
+and gave Peace a royal time. She was a natural leader and her lively
+imagination delighted her new playmates. But Lottie, in her borrowed
+finery, received scant attention, and being, unfortunately, rather a
+spoiled child, she resented the fact that Peace had usurped her place.
+So she retired to the fence and pouted. At first no one noticed her
+sullen looks, but finally Ethel missed her, and finding her standing
+cross and glum in the corner, she tried to draw her into the lively
+game of last couple out, which the stranger had organized.
+
+"I won't play at all," declared the jealous girl. "No one cares whether
+I'm here or not, and 's long as you'd rather have _her_, you can just
+have her!"
+
+"But we wouldn't rather," fibbed the older girl. "She's our comp'ny and
+we have to be nice to her."
+
+"'Cause you like her better'n you do me," insisted the other.
+
+"No such thing! Come on and see!"
+
+"I won't, either!"
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Peace, hearing the excited voices and
+stepping out of line to learn the cause.
+
+"Oh, Lottie's spunky," answered Ethel carelessly, turning back to join
+her companions.
+
+"I'm not! You horrid thing, take that!" Out shot one little hand and the
+sharp nails dug vicious, cruel scratches down Ethel's cheek.
+
+"You cat!" cried Peace, horrified at the uncalled-for act, and springing
+at the white-aproned figure, she caught her by the shoulder, and shook
+her till her teeth rattled. Lottie doubled up like a jack-knife and
+buried her sharp teeth in the brown hand gripping her so tightly, biting
+so viciously that the blood ran and Peace screamed with pain.
+
+Frightened at the sight of the two girls clinched in battle, the other
+children danced excitedly about the yard and shrieked wildly. Tony even
+started for the matron, but remembered the Lady Board meeting, and flew
+instead for the new cook, busy preparing refreshments for the
+distinguished visitors, gasping out as he stumbled into the kitchen,
+"Oh, come quick! There's a strange girl in the yard and Lottie's chewing
+her into shoe-strings!"
+
+Bridget was new at the business, or she would never have meddled in the
+affair. Glancing out of the window, she saw what looked to be a small
+riot in the corner, and knowing that the matron and her assistants were
+engaged with their visitors in the other wing of the building, she
+dropped her plate of sandwiches, and rushed to the rescue as fast as her
+avoirdupois would permit. She was familiar enough with the rules of the
+institution to know that the Home children did not wear white aprons and
+pink hair-ribbons except on special occasions, and also that fighting
+was severely punished. It never occurred to her that the matron was the
+proper authority to whom to report trouble. She made a lunge for the two
+struggling children, jerked them apart, shook them impartially, and
+blazed out in rich, Irish brogue, "Ye dirty spalpeens, phwat d'ye mane
+by sich disorderly conduct? It'll be a long toime afore ye'll iver git
+inside this fince again to play, ye black-eyed miss! Make tracks now or
+I'll call the p'lice! You, ye little beggar, march straight inter the
+house! The matron'll settle with ye good and plenty whin she gits
+toime!"
+
+Both girls tried to explain, and the frightened, excited Home children
+shouted in vain. Irish Bridget seized the resisting Lottie, thrust her
+forcibly out through the gate, and hustled poor Peace into the dark
+entry, in spite of her protests and frantic kicking. "I'm not Lottie,
+I'm not Lottie!" she wailed. "I don't b'long here, I tell you!"
+
+"I don't care if ye're Lottie or Lillie," screamed the angry cook,
+pinioning the struggling child and carrying her bodily up a short flight
+of stairs into a wide hall. "Ye've been breaking the rules by fightin'
+and in that room ye go! The matron'll settle with ye afther a bit. An'
+ye'll catch it good, too, if ye kape on screeching loike that."
+
+Peace was dumped into a small, office-like apartment, the key turned in
+the lock, and she was left alone. Frantic with excitement and fear, she
+let out three or four piercing screams, rattled the knob, and pounded
+the door until her fists were sore, but no one came to release her, and
+after a few moments she seemed to realize how useless it was to expect
+help from that quarter. She looked around her prison hopefully,
+curiously, for some other avenue of escape. A window stood open across
+the room, but the screen was fastened so tightly that she could not
+move it even when she threw her whole weight upon it. Besides, it was a
+long way to the ground below. Would she dare jump if the screen were not
+in her way?
+
+Then her restless eyes spied the telephone on the desk behind her, and
+with a shriek of triumph she seized the receiver and called breathlessly
+over the wire, "Hello, central! Give me the drug store where I telephone
+every day. Number? I don't know the number. It's on Hill Street and
+Twenty-ninth Avenue. What information do you want? Well, I've thunk of
+the drug store's name now. It's Teeter's Pharmacy, and it's on the
+corner--Well, I'm giving you the information 's fast as I can. My name
+is Peace Greenfield, and the crazy cook's taken me for someone else and
+shut me in when I don't b'long to this Home at all. I changed clothes
+with--well, what is the matter now? If you'll give me that drug
+store--Teeter's Pharmacy, corner of Hill Street and Twenty-ninth
+Avenue,--I'll have them go after Saint John, so's he can come and get me
+out of here. A--what? Policeman? Are you a p'liceman? No, I ain't one,
+and I don't want one! Do you s'pose I want to be 'rested for getting
+bit? Oh, dear, I don't know what you are trying to say! Ain't you
+central? Then why don't you give me Teeter's Pharmacy, corner of Hill
+Street and--now she's clicked her old machine up! Oh, how will I ever
+get out of here?"
+
+Dismayed to find that central had deserted her, she puckered her face to
+cry, but at that moment there were hasty steps in the hall, a key grated
+in the lock, and the door flew open, showing a startled, white-faced
+woman and frightened Tony in the doorway, while a whole string of
+curious-eyed ladies were gathered in the hall behind them.
+
+Silently Peace stared from one to another, and then as no one offered to
+speak, she asked, "Where's the cook? Have you seen her lately?"
+
+"No," laughed the matron, very evidently relieved at her reception.
+"Tony tells me that a mistake has been made and that you don't belong to
+the Home."
+
+"He is right, I'm thankful to say," returned Peace with such a comical,
+grown-up air that the ladies in the hall giggled and nudged each other,
+and one of them ventured to ask, "Why?"
+
+"Just think of having to live here day after day without any butter on
+your bread, or gravy for your potatoes, or sugar in your oatmeal,
+without any pies or cakes or puddings 'cept on Sundays and special
+holidays,--with only mush, mush, mush all the time, and not even all the
+milk you wanted, maybe! Hm! I'm glad I live in a house where there ain't
+any Lady Boards to tell us what we have to do and what we can have to
+eat. Come to think of it, I'm part of a _norphan_ 'sylum, really.
+There's six of us at Grandpa Campbell's but he doesn't bring us up on
+mush. We have all the butter and sugar and gravy and pudding and sauce
+that we want--"
+
+"This isn't an orphan asylum," said the matron kindly, wondering what
+kind of a creature this queer child was, but already convinced that
+Bridget had blundered, in spite of her startling resemblance to Lottie.
+
+"It isn't? What do you call it then?"
+
+"It is a Home for the purpose of taking care of children who have one or
+both parents living, but who, for some reason, cannot be taken care of
+in their own homes for a time."
+
+"Oh! Then you take the place of mother to them?"
+
+"I try to."
+
+"Do you like your job?"
+
+"Very, very much!"
+
+"You do sound 'sif you did, but I sh'd think you'd hate to sit all those
+little children down to butterless bread and gravyless potato and
+sugarless mush. Oh, I forgot! That ain't your fault. It's the Lady Board
+which says what you have to feed your children. Did you ever ask
+them--the ladies, I mean--to be common visitors and eat just what the
+rest of you had? I bet if you'd just try that, they'd soon send you
+something different! I don't see how you stay so fat and rosy with--but
+then you've only just come, haven't you? I s'pose there's lots of time
+to get thin in. I wonder if that's what is the matter with Lottie,"
+Peace chattered relentlessly on. "She is awfully ugly today; but then
+I'd be, too, if I had to live on such grub. It's worse than we had at
+the little brown house in Parker--"
+
+"If you will slip off that apron and come with me," interrupted the
+matron desperately, not daring to look at the faces of her dismayed
+"Lady Board," "we will find Lottie and get your own clothes so you can
+go home. The next time you come, be sure to get a permit first. Then
+this trouble won't happen again."
+
+"Oh, will you let me come some more?"
+
+"Aren't you Dr. Campbell's granddaughter? Tony said you were."
+
+"Yes, he's my adopted grandpa now."
+
+"Mrs. Campbell is interested in the Home--"
+
+"Is she a splinter?"
+
+"A _what_?"
+
+Tony giggled and dodged behind the matron to hide his tell-tale face,
+and Peace, remembering Ethel's explanation, said hastily, "I mean a
+piece of the Lady's Board?"
+
+"No, she is not one of the Board of Directors, if that is what you mean;
+but she often sends the children little treats--candy and nuts at
+Christmas time, or flowers from the greenhouse after the summer blossoms
+are gone."
+
+"Oh, I see. She told me one time that she would take us to visit the
+Children's Home, but I didn't know it was this. We've got scarlet fever
+at our house--."
+
+"Child alive! What are you doing here?"
+
+"Oh, I ain't got it, and anyway, I haven't been home since our spring
+vacation in March. I am staying with Saint John, the new preacher at
+Hill Street Church, and I 'xpect if I don't get home pretty soon, he'll
+think I am lost, sure. I went down to the drug store to telephone
+grandma, and when Gussie told me they had gone to the Pine Woods, I was
+so mad for a time that I just boiled over. So I walked on and on till I
+came to this place. I never have been so far before, and I didn't know
+there was such a Home around here. I know they'll let me come often.
+There aren't many children up our way to play with and sometimes it gets
+lonesome. There's Lottie now! Cook must have found out that I knew what
+I was talking about. Here's your apron, Lottie; and say, I'm awful sorry
+I shook you. Will you pretend I didn't do it, and be friends with me
+again?"
+
+"I--I bit you," stammered the child, as much astonished at this greeting
+as were the matron and the "Lady Board," who still lingered in the hall,
+fascinated with this frank creature, who so fearlessly voiced her own
+opinions of their work.
+
+"So you did!" exclaimed Peace, in genuine surprise, glancing down at the
+ugly, purple bruise on her hand, which she had completely forgotten.
+"Well, I won't remember that any more, either. Two folks which look so
+much alike ought to be friends, and I want you to like me."
+
+"I--do--like you," faltered the embarrassed child. "I'm sorry I was
+hateful. Here are your apron and ribbon."
+
+"Keep the ribbon," responded Peace generously. "I s'pose I've got to
+take the apron back, 'cause grandpa says I mustn't give away my clothes
+without asking him or grandma about it, and I can't now, 'cause they are
+both gone away. But a hair-ribbon ain't clothes, and, anyway, that's one
+Frances Sherrar gave me, so I know you can have it." She pressed the
+pink bow back into Lottie's hand, and throwing both arms around her,
+kissed her fervently, saying, "I am coming again some time soon, and
+I'll bring you a bag of sugar and some real butter so's you can have it
+extra for once, even if the Lady Boards didn't order it for that
+p'tic'lar day. Good-bye, Mrs. Matron, and Tony, and--all the rest. I've
+had a good time here--till I run up against the cook, I mean. Mercy!
+She's strong! But I'm glad grandpa adopted us so's I didn't have to come
+here to live." She waved her hand gaily at them, and danced away down
+the walk, whistling cheerily.
+
+"She's a quaint child!" murmured the lady who had questioned her.
+
+"She's a trump!" declared Tony to Lottie, as they departed together for
+the playgrounds.
+
+And in her heart the matron whispered, "She's a darling!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM
+
+
+"Oh, Elspeth, you can't guess where I've been!" shrieked Peace, puffing
+with excitement as she stumbled up the steps after her long run home.
+
+"Why, I thought you were playing with Giuseppe and the Lilac Lady,"
+replied the young mother, looking up in surprise from the little white
+dress she was hemstitching.
+
+"But I went down to the drug store to telephone grandma!"
+
+"I know you did, but I thought you stopped to tell the news at the stone
+house on your way home."
+
+"What news?"
+
+"That the invalids have run away and left you."
+
+"How did you know that?"
+
+"The postman came just after you left, and he brought a letter from Dr.
+Campbell, explaining all about it."
+
+"Then he did take time to write, did he? I was pretty hot about it at
+first," Peace admitted candidly, "But I don't care at all now. I've had
+such a splendid time here with you all the while they've been shut up
+sick, that no matter how long they stay in the Pine Woods, it couldn't
+make up for all they've missed by not being me."
+
+"Do you really feel that way about it, dear?" cried Elizabeth, much
+pleased and touched at the child's unlooked-for declaration.
+
+"You just better b'lieve I do! Why, I've had just the nicest time! I
+'xpected I'd miss seeing the girls just dreadfully, but Gail and Faith
+have come up every single week, and I've telephoned home 'most every
+day, and the rest of the time has been filled so full that I haven't
+minded how long I've been away at all. This must be my other home, I
+guess."
+
+"You little sweetheart! I wonder if you have any idea how much we are
+going to miss you when grandpa takes you away again."
+
+"Oh, yes, I 'magine I do. I make such a racket wherever I go that when I
+leave, the stillness seems like a hole. But don't you fret! I'm coming
+up here real often--just as often as grandma will let me. 'Cause I've
+got not only you to visit now, but the Lilac Lady and Juiceharpie and
+the Home children--Oh, that's what I started to tell you about when I
+first came up.
+
+"I've just been there. I never knew there was a Home so near here, or
+I'd have been there before this. And what do you think? There's a girl
+living in it named Lottie, which looks so much like me that when we
+changed aprons the other children didn't know the difference at first.
+They think she must be my twin sister or some cousin I don't know
+anything about, though I kept telling them there weren't any cousins in
+our family, and if mother'd ever had twins, she'd have kept 'em both and
+not throwed one away to grow up without knowing who her people were.
+Don't you think so?"
+
+"I most assuredly do," Elizabeth answered promptly. "Gail has often told
+me that your papa was an only child, and the one brother your mamma had
+died when he was a little fellow. So there can't be any near cousins,
+and you are not a twin, so Lottie isn't your sister. How did it all come
+about?"
+
+The story was quickly told, to Elizabeth's mingled amusement and horror;
+and Peace ended by sagely remarking, "So I'm going to ask Allee if she's
+willing that we should use some of our Fourth of July money to buy them
+a treat of sugar and butter for a whole day--or a week, if it doesn't
+take too much, and grandpa don't sit down on the plan. I don't think he
+will, 'cause these children aren't fakes. They really d'serve having
+some good times 'casionally, and it did make them so happy to have
+someone extra to play with. I s'pose they get awfully tired of fighting
+the same children all the time. Besides, we've got lots of money in our
+bank, 'cause we used only about ten dollars of our furnishing money to
+dec'rate our room with, and the rest we saved for patriotism. I am awful
+glad there are such places for poor children to go to when their own
+people can't take care of 'em, but I do wish the Lady Boards weren't so
+stingy."
+
+Elizabeth knew it would do no good to argue the matter, and besides, she
+was not well posted concerning this particular Home, so she merely
+agreed that Peace's plan would no doubt make the little folks happy, but
+wisely suggested that she say no more about it until she had consulted
+with the family at home and received their consent. "Because, you see,
+dear, if you make some rash promises which you can't fulfill, it will
+only make the children unhappy, instead of bringing sunshine into their
+lives."
+
+"But isn't it a good way to spend money? They ain't beggars with bank
+accounts somewhere, like the old woman which got Gail's dollar last
+spring."
+
+"I think it is a very nice way, dearie, and I am sure grandpa will not
+object a mite; but the best way is not to make any promises that we
+don't intend to carry out, or that we are not sure we can fulfill. Then
+no one will be disappointed if our plans don't come through the way we
+hoped they would. Do you see what I mean?"
+
+"Yes; never promise to do _anything_ until you're sure you can. But that
+would keep me from doing lots of things, Elspeth. I could not ever
+promise to be good, or--"
+
+"Oh, Peace, I didn't mean that!" Elizabeth never could get accustomed to
+this literal streak in the small maiden's character; and, in
+consequence, her little preachments often received an unexpected
+shower-bath. "I meant not to promise to do favors for other folks unless
+we can and will see that they are done."
+
+"Ain't it a favor to be good when it's easier and naturaler to be
+bad--not really bad, either, but just yourself?"
+
+"No, dear. We ought to _try_ to be good without anyone's asking us to,
+and just because it is easier to do wrong than right is no excuse for us
+at all."
+
+Unconsciously she said this very severely, for she thought she heard
+Saint John chuckling behind the curtains of the study window; but Peace
+interpreted the lecture literally, and hastily jumping up from the step,
+said, "I think I'll go and tell the Lilac Lady about the children, and
+see if she hasn't got more roses than she knows what to do with, 'cause
+I know they'd like 'em at the Home. Do you care?"
+
+"No, Peace. Glen is asleep. But don't stay long, for it is nearly five
+o'clock now, and tea will soon be ready."
+
+"All right. I'll bring you some roses for the table if she has any to
+spare today, and she ought to, 'cause the pink and white bushes have
+just begun to open."
+
+She whisked out of sight around the corner in a twinkling, and was soon
+perched on the stool beside the lame girl's chair, regaling her with an
+account of the afternoon's adventures.
+
+The white signal fluttering from the lilac bushes had been discarded
+long ago, and Peace was welcome whenever she came now, for with her
+peculiar childish instinct, she seemed to know when the invalid found
+her chatter wearisome. At such times she would sit in the grass beside
+the chair, silently weaving clover chains, or wander quietly about the
+premises, revelling in the beauty and perfume of the garden flowers, or
+better still, whistling softly the sweet tunes which the pain-racked
+body always found so soothing.
+
+But this afternoon the young mistress of the stone house was lonely, for
+Aunt Pen and Giuseppe were in town shopping, and she wished to be
+amused; so Peace was doubly welcome, and felt very much flattered at the
+attention her lengthy story received. To tell the truth of the matter,
+the lame girl had just discovered how cunningly the small, round face
+was dimpled, and in watching these little Cupid's love kisses come and
+go with the child's different expressions and moods, she did not hear a
+word that was said until Peace heaved a great, sympathetic sigh, and
+closed her tale with the remark, "And so I'm going to see if I can't
+take them some--enough to last a week maybe--for it must be _dreadful_
+to eat bread and potatoes every day without any butter or gravy."
+
+The older girl roused herself with a start, and promptly began asking
+questions in such an adroit fashion that in a moment or two she had the
+gist of the whole story, and was much interested in the picture Peace
+drew of the Home children's life. "Why, do you know, I used to go there
+with Aunt Pen--years ago--to carry flowers and trinkets, and sometimes
+to sing. My! How glad they used to be! They would sit and listen with
+eyes and mouths wide open as if they simply couldn't get enough. Aunt
+Pen used to be quite interested in the Home. Poor Aunt Pen! She gave up
+all her pet hobbies when I was hurt."
+
+"Didn't you like to go?"
+
+"Oh, it was flattering to have such an appreciative audience, of course;
+but--my ambitions soared higher than that. They were as well satisfied
+with a hand-organ."
+
+"Oh, Tony ain't! And neither is Ethel! They both just _love_ music, and
+they kept me whistling until I was tired. And how they do love stories!
+I 'magined for them till my thinker ran empty. I couldn't help wishing I
+was you, so's I could tell them all the beau-ti-ful fancies you make up
+as you lie here under the trees day in and day out. I told 'em about
+you and pictured this garden for 'em, and the flowers which Hicks cuts
+by the _bushel-basket_, and Juiceharpie which plays the fiddle and
+dances and sings like a cheer-up--"
+
+"A cherub, do you mean? Giuseppe is inconsolable to think he can't teach
+you to say his name correctly."
+
+"Yes, and I'm the same thing to think he's got such a name that won't be
+said right. He doesn't like Jessup any better. But never mind, I know
+he'd like Tony and the other Home boys; and I thought maybe you would
+let him go some day and play for the children there. Miss Chase is
+awfully sweet and nice, even if she is fat, and she'd be tickled to
+pieces to give him a permit any time he could come."
+
+The lame girl laid a thin, waxen hand on the curly head bobbing so
+enthusiastically at her side, and murmured gently, "How do you think up
+so many beautiful things to do for other people?"
+
+"I don't," Peace frankly replied. "I guess they just think themselves.
+You see, I know what it is to be poor and not have nice things like
+other folks, and now that grandpa's taken us home to live with him in a
+great, big house where there's always plenty and enough to spare, seems
+like it was just the proper thing to give some of it away to make the
+less _forchinit_ a little happier. It takes _such_ a little to make
+folks smile!"
+
+"Indeed it does, little philosopher. Your name should have been Lady
+Bountiful. Giuseppe may go with you to the Home as often as he wishes
+with his violin, and help you make them happy."
+
+"Oh, you're such a darling!" cried Peace in ecstasy, hugging the hand
+between her own pink palms. "I wish you could go, too. Tony says they
+have song services every Sunday afternoon, and they are great! I'm to go
+next Sunday and hear them, but I wish you could, too."
+
+"You are very generous," murmured the lame girl a trifle huskily.
+Then--perhaps it was because Peace's enthusiasm was contagious, perhaps
+it was due to a growing desire in her own heart for the world from which
+she had shut herself so long ago--the older girl suddenly electrified
+her companion by adding, "I should like to hear them myself. Do you
+think the matron would allow them to visit me in my garden, seeing that
+I can't go to the Home as other folks do?"
+
+"Oh, do you mean that?"
+
+"Every word!"
+
+"Miss Chase couldn't say no to anything so beautiful, and I don't think
+the Lady Boards would object, either; but I'll find out. Saint John can
+tell me, I'm sure. Oh, I never dreamed of anything so lovely! I wouldn't
+have _dared_ dream it!" She hugged herself in rapture, and her eyes
+beamed like stars. How grand it was to have friends like the Lilac
+Lady!
+
+So it came about that a few days later fifty shining-faced, bright-eyed
+boys and girls from the Home marched proudly up Hill Street and in
+through the great iron gates to the Enchanted Garden, where the lame
+girl, with Aunt Pen and the parsonage household to assist her, waited to
+greet them.
+
+That was a gala day, talked about for weeks afterward, dreamed of in the
+silent watches of the night, and recorded in memory's treasure book to
+be lived over again and again in later years,--one of those heart's
+delights, the fragrance of which never dies.
+
+The Home children were charmed with the beautiful garden and its cool
+fountain, just as Peace had known they would be, and the frail young
+hostess was as charmed with her guests. They had games on the wide lawn,
+they sang their sweet, happy choruses, Giuseppe played and danced, Peace
+and the preacher whistled, Elizabeth told them stories, and Aunt Pen
+surprised them all by serving sparkling frappe with huge slices of fig
+cake, such as only Minnie, the cook, could make. Then, as the afternoon
+drew to a close, and the matron began lining up her charges for the
+homeward walk, Tony and Lottie stepped out of the ranks and sang a
+pretty little verse of thanks for the good time all had enjoyed.
+
+So surprised was the Lilac Lady at this unexpected little turn, that for
+an instant her eyes grew misty with unshed tears; then she smiled
+happily, and obeying a sudden impulse, she lifted her voice and
+carolled,
+
+    "Come again, my little friends,
+      You have brought me joy today;
+    In my heart you've left a hymn
+      That shall linger, live alway."
+
+"Oh, my!" cried Peace, squeezing Elizabeth's hand in her astonishment
+and pleasure, "is it an angel singing?"
+
+"Your Lilac Lady, dear. Didn't you know she could sing?"
+
+"She told me she used to once, but I never heard her before."
+
+"At college she was our lark. How we loved that voice! I think, little
+girl, you have saved a soul."
+
+But Peace did not hear the words. She was joining in the wild applause
+that greeted this burst of melody from the long silent throat. Everyone
+had been taken by surprise, the children were dancing with delight, the
+matron's homely face was beaming, Aunt Pen's lips worked pathetically,
+and Hicks, still busy filling small arms with the choicest flowers from
+the garden, could only whisper over and over again, "Praise be, praise
+be, she has found her voice!"
+
+The Lilac Lady herself seemed almost unconscious of the fact that she
+had torn down this last and strongest barrier between self and the
+world, and if she noticed the pathetic surprise on the loving faces
+hovering about her, she did not show it, but smiled serenely and
+naturally when the applause had died away. She would sing no more that
+afternoon, however, and the little visitors had to be contented with a
+promise of another song the next time they came. So they said good-bye
+to their charming hostess and filed happily down the walk to the street.
+
+As the iron gates closed behind the little company homeward bound, Peace
+turned to blow a good-night kiss between the high palings to the young
+mistress, lying in her chair where they had left her, but paused
+enraptured by the picture her eyes beheld. A rosy ray of the setting sun
+filtered through the oak boughs overhanging her couch and fell full upon
+the white face among the cushions, bringing out the rich auburn tints of
+the heavy hair till it almost seemed as if a crown of gleaming gold
+rested upon her head, and the wonderful blue eyes reflected the light
+like sea-water, clear and deep and--unfathomable.
+
+"Oh," whispered Peace, thrilling with delight, "I ought to have called
+her my _Angel_ Lady!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+CHILDREN'S DAY AT HILL STREET CHURCH
+
+
+"What do you think's happened now?" asked Peace, seating herself
+gloomily upon the footstool beside the invalid, and thrusting a long
+grass-blade between her teeth.
+
+"I am sure I don't know," smiled the older girl. "You look as if it were
+quite a calamity."
+
+"It's worse'n a c'lamity. It's a _capostrophe_. Glen's gone and got the
+croup--"
+
+"Yes, so his papa told Aunt Pen this morning. How is the poor little
+fellow now?"
+
+"He's better, doctor says; but his cold is dreadfully bad and may last
+for days, so Elspeth can't hear the children practise for next Sunday--I
+mean a week from tomorrow. That is Children's Day, you know. And Miss
+Kinney has ab-so-lute-ly refused to sing for us, 'cause Elspeth asked
+Mildred George to take a solo part, too, and Miss Kinney doesn't like
+Mildred. Why are huming beings so mean and horrid to each other? Now, I
+wouldn't care if I found someone which could sing better'n I,--s'posing
+I could sing at all. I'd just help her make all the music she could and
+be glad there was somebody who could beat me."
+
+"Would you really?" asked the lame girl with a queer little note of
+doubt in her voice.
+
+"Why, of course! I sh'd hate to think I was the best singer God knew how
+to make."
+
+This was an idea which the invalid had never heard expressed before; but
+still somewhat skeptical, she asked, "Do you feel that way about
+whistling, too?"
+
+"I sure do! I like to whistle, and it's nice to know I can beat all the
+boys that go to our school, and even Saint John. But you should hear
+Mike O'Hara! Oh, but he can whistle! It sounds like the woods full of
+birds. It's--it's--it's--" words failed her--"it's _heaven_ to listen to
+him. I'm glad I _know_ someone who whistles better than I can, 'cause
+there's that to work for, to aim at. But if I ever get so I can whistle
+as well as he does, I s'pose there will be lots better ones still. Miss
+Kinney wants to be the very best singer at Hill Street Church, though,
+and she's afraid if Mildred gets to taking solo parts in the exercises
+folks will want her all the time; so she's just trying to spoil the
+whole program that Saint Elspeth has worked so hard over."
+
+Peace's observations were sometimes positively uncanny, and as she
+voiced this sentiment, the Lilac Lady asked curiously, "How do you know
+that is her reason? Did she tell you, or did Mildred?"
+
+"Neither one. I heard Mrs. Porter tell Elspeth yesterday that Miss
+Kinney had cold feet; so after she was gone, I asked about it. Saint
+John was there, and Elspeth just laughed and said it was a remark I must
+forget, 'cause it wasn't real kind to speak so about anybody. But when I
+was in bed and they thought I'd gone to sleep, I heard Saint John ask
+Elizabeth about it, and she told him how Miss Kinney was acting, and how
+the program would all be spoiled, 'cause there isn't anyone to take her
+place in the solo parts, and it is too late now to drill the children
+for anything else. It's even worse now, with Glen down sick so's Elspeth
+can't help get up some other program."
+
+"What kind of exercises were you going to have, may I ask? You have had
+such hard work to keep from telling me at different times that I thought
+perhaps it was a secret."
+
+"Elspeth wanted it as a surprise, you know, so I thought it would be
+better not to talk about it even with you. Do you care?"
+
+"Not a bit, dearie, only I had an idea that possibly I might take
+Elizabeth's place for a few days, with Aunt Pen's help. She used to be a
+famous driller for children's entertainments, and I know she would be
+more than pleased to have her finger in this pie, for she admires your
+young preacher very much, while Beth is an old friend of hers. The
+children could come here to rehearse--"
+
+"Oh, but wouldn't that be fine! You do have the splendidest thinks!
+Who'd take Miss Kinney's part? That's the most important of all. Would
+you?"
+
+"I? Oh, Peace, how could _I_ take part--a cripple? I haven't been
+outside these gardens for years."
+
+"It's time you had a change, then. It wouldn't hurt you to be rolled
+down the street in your chair, would it?"
+
+"So everyone could see and pity me?" The voice was full of scathing
+bitterness.
+
+"So everyone could know and love you, my Lilac Lady! They couldn't
+_help_ loving you. I wanted to hug you the first time I ever laid eyes
+on you, and I don't feel any different yet."
+
+"All the world is not like you."
+
+"No, I reckon it ain't, 'cause there's millions and millions of
+pig-tailed Chinamen and little brown Japs, and Esquimeaux who take baths
+in whale oil 'stead of water, which ain't a bit like me. But I'm
+speaking of 'Merican children. They'd love you for the way you sing and
+tell stories first, most likely; but when they came to know you
+yourself, they'd like just the bare you. Tony and Ethel and Lottie and
+George and all the rest of the Home children can't talk enough about
+you, and Miss Chase says they're 'most wild to think you want 'em to
+come every week steady this summer. She says a person like you can do
+'em more good now than years of sermons after they are older. She calls
+you the children's 'good angel.' I meant to tell you before, 'cause I
+thought you'd like to know, but somehow this fuss of Elspeth's made me
+forget everything else. Say! Why couldn't we get the Home children to
+help us in our choruses? They usu'ly go to the church just across the
+street from there on account of it being nearer, but I'm sure the matron
+would let 'em help us this one time, 'specially as tomorrow is their
+Children's Sunday. Tony told me."
+
+"That is a splendid plan, Peace. If you think Aunt Pen and I can take
+Elizabeth's place until Glen is better, I'll send Hicks over to the Home
+with a note for Miss Chase, and we will have a rehearsal this very
+afternoon. Can you get me the music?"
+
+"Yes, Elspeth's got the song-books at the parsonage now. There was to be
+a practise this afternoon for the _corn-tatter_, but she thought she'd
+just have to send 'em home as fast as they came. I'll run right over and
+tell her your plans so's she'll have the children come over here
+instead. It will be ever so nice to have the boys and girls from the
+Home take part, 'cause there didn't begin to be enough lilies or poppies
+or vi'lets, and so many had dropped out of the rose chorus that only
+Mittie Cole is left. She's a good singer, though, if she doesn't get too
+scared."
+
+"Well, you run along and get me as many copies of the cantata as you
+can. Tell Elizabeth I will be very careful of them."
+
+"Shall I tell her you'll take Miss Kinney's part?"
+
+"No, indeed," was the hasty answer. "If she asks about it, you might say
+that it will be taken care of, so she need not fret the least little
+bit."
+
+"Oh, and say, what about the flowers for the Home children? I guess
+likely we can't have them after all, 'cause we're to be dressed up in
+flowers to represent our parts."
+
+"Flowers? Oh, I will attend to that. Our French maid is perfection when
+it comes to getting up costumes of any kind."
+
+"It ain't _costumes_. It's just our flowers, but there are daisies and
+poppies and vi'lets and maybe others that ain't in blossom yet or else
+are all done for; so's we would either have to buy them at the
+greenhouses or get artificial ones."
+
+"That is easily done, dear. Elise can do wonders with crepe paper and
+the glue-pot. Don't you worry about the Home children if Miss Chase will
+let us borrow them."
+
+So Peace skipped joyously home to pour out the good news to the
+preacher's troubled little wife, who was worrying alternately over the
+hoarse, sick little man lying in her arms and the program for
+Children's Sunday, which now looked as if it must prove a failure in
+spite of all the time and hard work she had given it. So when the child
+explained the Lilac Lady's plans, Elizabeth gladly resigned the cantata
+music, expressed her sincere thanks by kissing Peace warmly--for she
+knew, of course, that whatever beautiful plans the young crippled
+neighbor might have, they were prompted by the active brain under the
+bobbing brown curls--and returned with a lighter heart to her vigil over
+Glen.
+
+Miss Chase was glad to lend the children to Hill Street Church, and they
+were overjoyed at the idea of being loaned. As they proved to be apt
+pupils, they were already quite familiar with the beautiful songs by the
+time the original chorus members put in appearance at the parsonage for
+the afternoon's rehearsal. At first, the regular scholars were inclined
+to criticize the new plans which dragged in the little Home waifs; but
+Aunt Pen, who had readily agreed to help, was very tactful, the lame
+girl very lovable, and in a few minutes all the objections had been
+swept aside and harmony reigned supreme. Then they settled down to hard
+work, and how they did practise! Aunt Pen played the piano, Giuseppe
+took up the refrain on his violin, and the great stone house fairly rang
+with the chorus of the hundred or more voices. Indifference melted into
+interest, and interest into enthusiasm. Before the afternoon had drawn
+to a close, every heart present was fairly aching for the coming of
+Children's Sunday with its beautiful service of song, and the Lilac Lady
+was triumphant.
+
+"But who will take Miss Kinney's part?" frowned Marjorie Hopper, the
+deacon's granddaughter. "She told papa last night that she simply
+washed her hands of the whole affair."
+
+"Never you fret," said Peace, nodding her head sagely. "Let her wash!
+We've got someone to take it who can sing lots prettier than she ever
+thought of doing."
+
+"Not Mildred--"
+
+"No, Mildred's got her own part, but--"
+
+There was a sudden movement in the invalid's chair, and the lame girl
+sat up with a most becoming blush tinting the waxen cheeks. "Can you
+keep a secret, children?" she asked.
+
+"Of course!" they shouted, gathering around her to hear what the secret
+might be.
+
+"Well, I am going to--"
+
+"Take Miss Kinney's place," finished Tony, with a deep sigh of
+anticipated pleasure.
+
+"I knew she'd do it!" crowed Peace, dancing a jig for pure joy.
+
+"Will you?" asked Marjorie.
+
+"Would you like it?"
+
+"Like it! Well, I guess yes!" they shouted again.
+
+"You can beat Miss Kinney all hollow," added George with blunt, boyish
+admiration.
+
+"I am not figuring on that," smiled the invalid, amused at the thought.
+"I don't care any more about being 'it,' as you children say. I just
+want to help Hill Street Church, for it has brought me the sun again
+when I thought I had lost it forever."
+
+They looked at her mystified, uncomprehending, but no one asked her to
+explain; they were content to know that she was to take the important
+solo part which Miss Kinney had thrown down.
+
+Thus the days flew by, and Children's Sunday dawned bright and cool.
+Glen was almost well, but Elizabeth did not feel that she could leave
+him in any other hands, and he was still too fretful to attend the
+service. In her quandary she flew to Aunt Pen, and that worthy lady
+smiled happily as she answered, "Of course, I can take charge if you
+wish, and I shall count it a privilege. You have done so much for
+Myra--"
+
+"Thank Peace for that. She is the one who found out her hiding-place."
+
+"I do thank Peace with all my heart, and it has been a pleasure to help
+her with her beautiful, generous, impulsive plans. She suggested--well,
+you must come this morning and hear the children. We simply can't let
+you off. Sit near the door if you like, so you can take the baby out if
+he frets,--but I don't think he will. He loves music, and we've quite a
+surprise in store for the congregation."
+
+And indeed, it proved a great surprise, for no one saw the wheel-chair
+which Hicks rolled stealthily into the tiny church early that morning
+and hid so skilfully behind tall banks of fern and great clusters of
+roses that only the lovely face of the lame girl could be seen by the
+congregation--she was still very sensitive concerning her sad
+affliction. And when the happy-hearted children, almost covered with the
+garlands of flowers they carried, took their places around their queen,
+the platform looked like some great, wonderful garden, where children's
+faces were the blossoms.
+
+And the music! How can words describe the joyous anthems which filled
+the sanctuary with praise and thanksgiving, or the gloriously sweet,
+silvery tones of the garden queen when she lifted her voice and poured
+out her soul in song that bright June morning. All the bitterness of the
+long months of anguish, despair and rebellion had been swept forever out
+of her heart, and in its place reigned the gladness, the rapture, the
+supreme joy which triumphs even over death. It seemed almost as if some
+angel choir had opened the gates of heaven and let the strains of
+celestial music flood the earth. It was inspiring, uplifting, sublime!
+
+But that was not all. When the beautiful service had ended, and the
+congregation was slowly filing out into the sunshine again, there stood
+the wheel-chair by the door, and the lame girl, her blue eyes alight
+with happiness, her face wreathed in smiles, greeted one by one the
+friends of the old days from whom she had so long hidden herself away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+HOW THE FOURTH OF JULY MONEY WAS SPENT
+
+
+"Just one week more and Fourth of July will be here," announced Peace
+from her seat on the grass, as she counted off the days on her fingers.
+They were all gathered under the trees that warm afternoon, Aunt Pen and
+Elizabeth with their sewing, the minister with a magazine from which he
+had been reading aloud, Giuseppe with his beloved violin, from which he
+was seldom separated, the lame girl lying in her accustomed place, and
+Peace and Glen gambolling in the grass at their feet.
+
+"Why, so it will," said the invalid in surprise.
+
+"Do you s'pose grandpa will get back by that time?"
+
+"Should you care if he did not?" asked preacher teasingly.
+
+"John!" reproved Elizabeth, tapping him gently on the head with her
+thimble. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself to ask such a question?"
+
+"No offense, ladies, no offense intended, I assure you! I merely
+wondered if Peace could be getting homesick."
+
+"Me homesick! Oh, no, I'm not _homesick_, but I'll bet the other folks
+are by this time. I've been gone so long. One week of March, all of
+April and May, and nearly all of June--that's three months already; and
+I've never been away from the girls more'n a night or two at a time
+before."
+
+There was a wistful look in the brown eyes in spite of her emphatic
+denial that she was homesick, and Elizabeth sought to turn the
+conversation by saying meditatively, "I wonder what Glen will think of
+the Fourth of July celebration? He was almost too young last year to
+notice anything of that sort, and besides, we had a very quiet day at
+Parker. Everyone had gone to the city for their fun."
+
+"Yes, it was quiet in Parker last year. Hec Abbott was away all day, and
+I didn't have any fire-crackers," Peace observed; then, noting the broad
+smile that bathed all the faces, she added hastily, "I s'pose it was
+just as well, 'cause it was an awful dry summer, and like enough we
+would have set the place on fire. That's why Gail wouldn't let us have
+any, but this year we're going to make up for all we've missed--if
+grandpa gets home in time. We've got dollars and dollars in our
+bank--Allee and me--left over from dec'rating our room, and we're going
+to blow it all up celebrating the Fourth, so's to be patriotic. Grandpa
+says love of country is something every 'Merican needs, so we're
+beginning young at our house. Grandpa says--"
+
+"What does grandpa say?" boomed a dear, familiar voice behind her, and
+she bounced to her feet with a wild shriek of joy, for leaning against
+the iron gates at the end of the walk stood the genial President, while
+in the carriage just beyond sat Grandma Campbell and the three younger
+sisters, all fidgeting with eagerness to meet the small maid whose face
+they had not seen for so long a time.
+
+"Oh, grandpa, grandma, girls, when did you get here? I never so much as
+heard you drive up!"
+
+Scarcely touching the gravel with her toes, she fairly flew through the
+gate into the five pair of arms reaching out to embrace her, hugging and
+kissing them impartially in her delight to be with them again, and
+asking questions as fast as her tongue could fly. "How did you like the
+Woods? Where are Gail and Faith? Haven't they come in from the Lake yet?
+I haven't seen them for _three weeks_ now. Are you perfectly well,
+Allee? What's the matter with Cherry's nose, grandma? It looks skinned.
+Does scarlet fever make people grow tall, or what has happened to Hope?
+My, but you've missed it, being _quadrupined_ up in the house all the
+spring! Yes, I'd like to have seen the Woods, too, but 's long as you
+didn't take me, I had a better time here. Oh, it's been jolly. There
+come Aunt Pen and Elspeth. I s'pose they think you've kissed me enough
+for one time and you better climb out and go speak to my Lilac Lady.
+She's been wanting to see you all, 'specially Gail and Faith which ain't
+here."
+
+They answered her questions as best they could--they had enjoyed their
+brief sojourn in the Pine Woods very much, for they had found it more
+than tiresome to be quarantined all those beautiful weeks, but Peace's
+telephone messages and queer adventures had helped brighten many an
+hour. They were particularly interested in the Lilac Lady and the little
+Italian musician, and were anxious to meet the big-hearted Aunt Pen. So
+they clambered out of the carriage and were properly introduced by the
+preacher and his wife, while Peace fluttered from one to another of the
+happy group, too excited to remember such things as introductions.
+
+The lame girl was very sorry to lose this little will-o'-wisp neighbor
+who had brought so much sunshine into her life during her short stay at
+the parsonage, but Elizabeth was to visit her every day, and the
+Campbells promised not only to lend Peace often to the stone house, but
+also to come with her; so they said good-bye at length, and the curly
+brown head bobbed out of sight down the long avenue, behind prancing
+Marmaduke and Charlemagne.
+
+Peace was glad to get home again, and spent the next few days renewing
+her acquaintance with the place, philosophizing with Gussie, Marie and
+Jud, and regaling family and servants alike with accounts of her long
+stay at the parsonage, for it seemed to her that she had been away three
+years instead of three months.
+
+On the third day she suddenly remembered the approaching Fourth and the
+generous bank account which she and Allee had kept for just that
+occasion. So she sat down on the stairs to plan out the list of
+fireworks that they should buy with their precious hoard, and was busy
+trying to add up a lengthy column of figures, when she heard Hope in the
+hall below say, "Yes, grandma, it's a letter from Gail. They aren't
+coming home for another week unless you want them particularly, because
+they have discovered a family of eight children out there by the lake
+who have never had a real Fourth of July celebration in their lives, and
+Frances is planning a picnic for them and wants the girls to help her
+out."
+
+Peace heard no more. Frances was planning a gala day for a family of
+eight children who would have no fireworks for the glorious Fourth. Why
+could she and Allee not do the same thing for the Home children? There
+were more than fifty little folks in that institution who would have no
+celebration either, unless some good fairy provided it. She and Allee
+would have more than enough fire-crackers for the whole family, even if
+grandpa did not buy a single bunch himself, and of course he would do
+his part to make the day a grand success.
+
+She went in search of Allee, unfolded her new plan, and as usual won her
+ready consent, for the smallest sister found this other child's quaint
+ideas delightfully thrilling, and was always willing to join her in any
+escapade, however daring.
+
+"I knew you'd say yes," Peace sighed with satisfaction, when they had
+agreed upon the list of fire-crackers, caps and torpedoes. "Now the thing
+of it is, will grandpa be as easy? He has such very queer thoughts on
+some things. Still, he's usu'ly right, too. I've found out that it is
+lots better to try to help such folks as the Home children 'stead of
+tramps and hand-organ men, who are only fakes or lazy-bones. There was
+Petri, now,--he made loads of money off of Juiceharpie and Jocko, but he
+was mean as dirt to both of them. The Home children are different.
+Anything nice you do for them makes them happy and they like you all the
+better. Well, we better go see grandpa about it first, so's he can't
+kick after we get started real well with our plans. Besides, I don't
+s'pose Miss Chase would listen to us if grandpa doesn't know what we are
+up to."
+
+Hand in hand they descended the stairs to the study and knocked, but the
+weary President was stretched on his couch fast asleep and did not hear
+their gentle tapping.
+
+"He's here, I know," Peace declared. "I saw him when he went in, and he
+told grandma that he should be home the rest of the day."
+
+"P'raps he's upstairs in his room."
+
+"But he ain't, I tell you! Didn't we just come from upstairs! We'd have
+heard him moving about if he'd been up there."
+
+"Maybe he's asleep."
+
+"I'm going to see."
+
+Cautiously she opened the door a little crack and peeped in. The west
+window curtains were drawn and the room was very dim, but after a few
+rapid blinks, Peace became accustomed to the subdued light, and saw the
+long figure lying on the davenport beside the fireplace, now filled with
+summer flowers.
+
+"There he is," she whispered triumphantly, and pushing the door further
+ajar, she stepped across the threshold.
+
+"Oh, we mustn't 'sturb him!" protested Allee, holding back; but Peace
+serenely assured her, "I ain't going to touch him. I'm just going to
+stay till he wakes up. Are you coming?"
+
+Allee, followed, still a little reluctant, and the door closed
+noiselessly behind them. With careful hands, they drew up a long Roman
+chair in front of the couch, and sat down together to await the
+President's awakening. The room was almost gloomy in its dimness, and
+so quiet that they could hear their own breathing. But not another sound
+broke the silence, save the ticking of the little French clock on the
+mantel, which drove Peace almost to distraction. Then she chanced to
+remember a discussion she had heard a long time before, and settling
+herself with elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, she fixed
+her somber eyes full upon the sleeping face before her, and stared with
+all her might.
+
+"Look at him," she commanded Allee in a stage whisper.
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Just 'cause. Glare for all you're worth!"
+
+"But why?"
+
+"I'll tell you byme-by."
+
+So dutiful Allee "glared for all she was worth," and soon the sleeper
+grew restless. Then he opened his eyes.
+
+"We did it!" crowed Peace shrilly, spatting her hands together so
+suddenly that he jumped.
+
+"Did what, you young jackanapes?" he growled, rubbing his sleepy eyes, a
+trifle vexed at having been disturbed before his nap was out.
+
+"Woke you up with just looking at you! We never touched you at all--just
+glared and glowered as hard as ever we could, and you woke up like Faith
+said you would."
+
+"Faith? Did she send you here to wake me up? Have she and Gail come
+home?"
+
+"Oh, no, they ain't coming till after the Fourth. They're going to stay
+and help Frances celebrate a family of eight children which have never
+had any fireworks in all their lives. That's what we came to see you
+about, but you were asleep and we got tired of waiting, so we tried to
+see if we could stare you awake, like the girls said folks could do if
+they looked long and hard enough. It worked."
+
+"Something did," he smiled grimly. "Was it so important that you had to
+tell it immediately? Couldn't it have kept until dinner hour?"
+
+"You and grandma are invited out for dinner this evening, and anyway, we
+wanted to have a private _conflab_ with you all by yourself before we
+told the others our plan."
+
+"Plan? Another plan! My sakes, Peace, where do you keep them all?"
+
+The round, eager face grew long. It wasn't like grandpa to make fun of
+her. What could be the matter?
+
+"I guess you're not int'rested," she said in heavy disappointment.
+"Come, Allee, we better be going."
+
+"Indeed you better not!" he cried, thoroughly aroused by her look and
+tone, and remembering that she was unaccountably sensitive to the moods
+of her loved ones. "I won't tease you another speck. Come and tell
+grandpa what it is now that you want me to help with."
+
+"We don't want your help at all," she answered gravely, letting him draw
+her down to one knee, while he enthroned Allee on the other. "All you've
+got to do is say yes."
+
+Knowing from experience what wild-cat schemes were often evolved by that
+tireless brain, he cautiously replied, "'Yes' is an easy word to speak,
+girlies, but sometimes 'no' is wisest, even if it is hard to learn."
+
+"Oh, I think you will like this plan, grandpa." Peace was warming up to
+the subject. "It hasn't anything to do with tramps or beggars, and I
+don't want to give away any more of my clo'es--'nless p'raps that white
+apron to Lottie, 'cause she likes it so well. This is about the Home
+children. You know our Fourth of July money?"
+
+"Did you think I had forgotten that?" Inwardly he was shaking with
+merriment. He never recalled the dedication of the flag room without
+wanting to shout.
+
+"No, but I did think maybe it had skipped your mind just for a minute."
+
+"Well, it hasn't. What does your Fourth of July money have to do with
+the Home children and white aprons?"
+
+"White aprons ain't in it--only that one I should like to give Lottie,
+but that can be any day. What we want to do is share our fire-crackers
+with the Home children, 'cause the Lady Boards don't allow for such
+things in raising money to take care of the Home, and so the children
+won't have any to celebrate with, 'nless their fathers bring them a few,
+and mostly the fathers are too hard up for that. Allee and me have
+dollars and dollars in our bank just to _cluttervate_ our love of
+country with, and we thought this would be a splendid chance to--"
+
+"Spread the d'sease," finished Allee, as Peace paused for want of words
+to express her ideas.
+
+"It ain't a _disease_, Allee Greenfield! To make 'em happy--that's what
+I meant to say."
+
+"A very worthy object, my dear."
+
+"Then you like it and won't kick?"
+
+"If you have considered the matter carefully and want to share your
+Fourth of July with the Home children, I am perfectly willing, girlies,
+and will do all I can to help you succeed."
+
+"That's what we wanted to know, grandpa," she cried gleefully. "You'll
+have all kinds of chances to help, too, 'cause I've just thought of
+ice-cream and watermelon--if they are ripe by that time--and ice-cream
+anyway, with a nice picnic dinner to go with the fire-crackers and
+_Roming_ candles. Some of 'em have never had but two or three dishes of
+ice-cream in all their lives. Think how tickled they will be! P'raps my
+Lilac Lady will invite them all over to her house to celebrate, 'cause
+it always seems so much nicer to go away somewhere for a picnic, even if
+'tis only a few blocks. And the stone house has great wide lawns,
+bigger'n ours, though I like ours best on account of the river, even if
+we haven't all the lovely flowers which Hicks has planted in his
+gardens."
+
+Thoughtfully the President lifted the shade behind the couch and looked
+out across the smooth velvet turf, sloping gently to the river bank in
+one long, even stretch, broken by an occasional posy-bed, and liberally
+dotted with giant oaks and stately lindens. It was an ideal spot for a
+picnic or lawn social such as Peace had described; and Japanese lanterns
+suspended among the branches and hung about the wide verandas would make
+it a veritable fairyland for the little folks of the Home, whose gala
+days were so few and far between.
+
+Unconsciously he spoke aloud: "The mis'es would enjoy it as much as the
+rest; that is the beauty of it."
+
+"What _are_ you talking about, grandpa?" cried the children, amazed at
+the remark which seemed to have no bearing whatever on the subject.
+
+"Did I speak?" he asked sheepishly. "I was just wondering how they would
+enjoy coming here for their celebration instead of going to the stone
+house--"
+
+"Oh, grandpa! That would be _splendid_! How did it happen that I never
+thought of it myself?" Peace exclaimed in comical surprise. "We'll ask
+Saint Elspeth and John and my Lilac Lady and Aunt Pen to come and help.
+Hicks took her to church for Children's Sunday. Don't you s'pose he
+could bring her down here, even if it is three miles?"
+
+"If she will come, dear, we will find a way of bringing her," he
+promised, drawing the little girls closer to him as if to shield them
+from such sorrow as had darkened that other young life.
+
+"And that will mean Juiceharpie and Glen will come, too," murmured
+Allee, who was much charmed with these two little gentlemen,
+particularly with the Italian waif, whose strange history still seemed
+like a story-book tale to her.
+
+"Yes, the children will come, too, of course, and we will even borrow
+the cook and Hicks, if the Lilac Lady will lend them. Do you suppose she
+will?"
+
+"Let's go and see this very minute," proposed Peace. "The Fourth is too
+near already to let it get any closer before we find out about these
+things. And we've still to see Miss Chase about the Home folks coming,
+you know."
+
+Thoroughly interested now in her project, the President drew forth his
+watch, glanced at the hour, and rang for Jud to harness the horses.
+
+Of course Miss Chase accepted the invitation at once, and the Home
+children were jubilant. The little parsonage family was equally charmed
+with the plan and agreed to help it along all they could. But at the
+stone house, when the matter was explained, it quite took Aunt Pen's
+breath away, and for a moment even the Lilac Lady looked as if she were
+about to refuse. But Giuseppe was radiant, and seizing his beloved
+violin, ha capered about the white-faced invalid, crying in delight,
+"An' I feedle an' ma angel seeng. Oh, eet be heaven!"
+
+Perhaps it was his happy face, perhaps it was Peace's wistful entreaty,
+but at any rate, the lame girl suddenly smiled up at the President
+beside her and answered heartily, "Tell Mrs. Campbell we shall all be
+there to help her if the day is clear, and it surely must be when the
+happiness of so many people depends upon it."
+
+The day _was_ clear and delightfully cool, Jud had accomplished wonders
+with flags, bunting and lanterns, and the place looked even more like
+the haunts of fairies than the girls had dared dream. Rustic benches and
+porch chairs were scattered about under the trees, two immense hammocks
+hung on the wide veranda, and a strong swing had been fastened among the
+branches of the tallest oak. The barn chamber, which Peace had planned
+on having for a playhouse, was swept and scrubbed, furbished up with old
+furniture from the garret, and stocked with toys of all sorts, that the
+children who might not care for games all day could find other amusement
+to fill the hours. The boat-house, too, was put in order and decorated
+with ferns and flowers, for Hope was to preside here behind great jars
+of lemonade and frappe, and it proved to be a very popular resort all
+day long. It is surprising how thirsty one does get at a picnic!
+
+Early in the morning, Hicks brought the preacher's family, Aunt Pen and
+his young mistress in the great red automobile, which was now used so
+seldom that Peace had not even discovered its existence; but when she
+saw it, she let out a whoop of surprise that startled the rest of the
+household, and dashed down the driveway to meet it, screaming shrilly,
+"When you've dumped out that load, Hicks, you better begin going after
+the Home children. It will take Duke and Charley a long time to bring
+them here alone; and besides, I'll bet none of the boys and girls there
+have ever ridden in an auto yet. I know I haven't."
+
+"That is a good idea, Peace," said the lame girl happily. "I never would
+have thought of it. Those who drive down in the carriage can go home in
+the auto, so they will all get a ride. Just put the baskets and traps on
+that table, Hicks, and start as soon as possible."
+
+An hour later all the guests had assembled, and the day's program was
+begun. Of course there were some mishaps. Was there ever a picnic
+without them? But no one was badly hurt. It was Giuseppe's first
+celebration of Independence Day with gunpowder and torpedoes, and in his
+excitement and delight at the noise he was making, he thoughtlessly
+thrust a stump of burning punk into his trousers' pocket along with a
+bunch of fire-crackers, and would have been seriously burned, no doubt,
+had not Cherry promptly turned the hose on him. As it was, he was nearly
+drowned, and very much frightened, but soon recovered from the shock,
+and returned with energy to his crackers again.
+
+Lottie fell through the hay-mow in the barn, trying to escape her
+pursuer in a lively game of tag. George tumbled into the river and was
+rescued just in time. Tony got hit by the swing-board and lost one tooth
+as a result. Allee sat down in a tub of lemonade, and Peace toppled out
+of a tree into a trayful of ice-cream which Jud had just dished up. But
+these were mere trifles, swallowed up in the greater events of the
+day--the boisterous games on the smooth lawn, the picnic dinner under
+the trees, the beautiful music made by the lame girl and the little
+songbird of Italy; the destruction of the sham fort built by the
+dignified doctor and sedate young minister; the row on the river in the
+late afternoon; the gorgeous beauty of the place when the lanterns were
+lighted at dusk; and, fitting climax of that wonderful day, the
+brilliant display of fireworks which Jud set off when finally darkness
+had fallen over the land.
+
+But like all happy days, this Fourth of July came to an end at last, the
+guests departed, and Peace, walking slowly up the path from the gate,
+felt suddenly tired. Slipping her hand into the doctor's big one, she
+sighed, "Well, it's all over with! Our flag room money has gone up in
+smoke and down in ice-cream."
+
+"Are you sorry?" asked the President, a little surprised at her
+long-drawn sigh and tone of regret.
+
+"Oh, no, I ain't sorry for that part of it. I'm sorry the day is gone.
+That's the trouble with having a good time. It always comes to an end."
+
+"But the memory of it still lives. Think how many hearts you have made
+happy today."
+
+"Yes, that's so," she answered, brightening visibly; "and the best of it
+is, there's at least one more _patriarch_. Juiceharpie has always been
+an Italian till today, but after this he's going to be an American. The
+fire-crackers did it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+PEACE GIVES THE LILAC LADY AN IDEA
+
+
+The Home Missionary Society of the South Avenue Church was holding its
+monthly meeting in the Campbell parlors, and Peace, feeling very forlorn
+and left out, because grandma had suggested that she better join the
+sisters in the barn playhouse, wandered down to the gate and stood
+looking up the street in search of something to occupy her attention.
+She was tired of playing games in the barn, she had read the latest St.
+Nicholas from cover to cover, and the postman had not yet brought the
+Youth's Companion, although this was the regular day for it. Anyway, she
+didn't care to read. She would rather stay and listen to what the women
+in the house were talking about, but if grandma did not want her, she
+certainly should not bother them with her presence. Likely the meeting
+would be very dry; it usually was when Mrs. Roberts stayed away, and she
+had not put in appearance yet.
+
+Grandma had half promised that she might visit the Lilac Lady that
+afternoon, but for some reason had changed her mind and put off the
+visit until the morrow. Ho, hum! What was a small girl to do to amuse
+herself this warm day, when she had already done everything she could
+think of, and had been forbidden to go where she most wanted to go?
+
+Slowly she unlatched the gate and strolled down the avenue, swinging her
+white sunbonnet by one string, and whistling plaintively under her
+breath. The wide street, shaded by immense oaks and maples, felt
+deliciously cool and restful, but it was also very quiet, and Peace had
+wandered several blocks without meeting a soul, when without warning she
+stumbled over two mites of tots, almost hidden in the rank grass and
+weeds in front of a ragged-looking unkempt little cabin of a house,
+which in its better days had evidently been used for a barn. The
+children were as much surprised as Peace, and after one frightened
+glance at the intruder, they both buried their heads in their patched
+aprons and cowered still lower among the weeds. But from the fleeting
+glimpse Peace had caught of the little faces, she knew they had been
+crying, and her first thought was, "They are lost."
+
+Impulsively she kneeled on the walk beside them and coaxingly asked,
+"What is the trouble, little girls? Have you run away?"
+
+"No, we ain't!" retorted the older child, lifting a streaked,
+tear-stained face to eye her questioner indignantly. "We ain't girls,
+either! I am, but he ain't!"
+
+"Oh," murmured Peace, much abashed by her fierce reception, "I took him
+for a girl on account of his clo'es. He's wearing dresses."
+
+"He ain't old enough for pants. He's only two."
+
+"Oh, mercy! He's lots bigger than Glen. But then Glen won't be two until
+next January."
+
+"Is Glen your brother?" asked the other girl, somewhat mollified by the
+friendliness of the stranger's voice.
+
+"No, he's the minister's little boy which we used to have in Parker
+where we lived 'fore we came here. What's your baby's name?"
+
+"Rivers."
+
+"His first name, I mean."
+
+"That's his first name. Rivers Dillon, and I'm Fern."
+
+"Oh! They're as bad as ours, ain't they? I'm always running up against
+horrid names. Gail says it's 'cause I am always looking for them--"
+
+"Our names ain't horrid!" Fern Dillon bounced off the grass like an
+angry hornet, then collapsed beside the baby brother, who evidently was
+not given much to talking, for he had not said a word, but simply stared
+in round-eyed surprise at the pretty stranger child. "Oh, dear,
+everybody is so mean!"
+
+"Fern, what have I done? I didn't mean to be hateful," cried Peace
+remorsefully. "Please, I'm sorry I've made you mad. Don't mind anything
+I said. I've always hated my own name so bad that I am always glad when
+I can find a worse one. That is all I meant."
+
+Strange to say, Fern's wrath was at once appeased, in spite of the
+explanation, and she smiled faintly as she brushed away the fresh tears.
+"I thought you was going to be just like Mrs. Burnett," she explained.
+"She's always scolding mamma 'cause she won't put Rivers and me in a
+Home--"
+
+"In a _Home_?" cried Peace in horrified accents. "What for?"
+
+"So's she can get more work to do. Lots of people won't give her their
+washing 'cause she has to take both of us with her, and folks think
+three is too many to feed, I guess."
+
+"Is your papa dead?"
+
+"He--he's gone. Mabel Cartwell says he's in jail," her voice dropped to
+an awed whisper; "but when I asked mamma, she just cried and cried. Now
+she's sick and they are going to take her to a hospital, and I don't
+know what Rivers and me'll do. Mrs. Burnett says of course we can't go
+with her, 'cause there ain't any sickness the matter with us,
+and--and--oh, we can't stay with _her_! She shakes Rivers for everything
+he touches. Oh dear, oh dear!"
+
+"Have they--taken your mamma--away yet?"
+
+"No, she's in there--"
+
+"In that barn?"
+
+"That's where we live since papa--went away."
+
+"I'm going to ask her if you can't go home with me. Grandma will know--"
+
+"You mustn't bother mamma," cried Fern, clutching Peace about the ankles
+as she started toward the sagging door of the ramshackle old house.
+"Mrs. Burnett will chase you out with the broom like she did us. And
+'sides, mamma won't know you. She doesn't even know Rivers and me--her
+own little children."
+
+Peace pondered. Here was an unlooked-for predicament. Would she be doing
+wrong if she took the brother and sister away without saying anything to
+the mother who did not know her own children any longer? She might speak
+to Mrs. Burnett, but how about that broomstick? For a moment she stood
+irresolute, scratching her head thoughtfully. Then with characteristic
+energy and decision, she grabbed Rivers with one hand and Fern with the
+other, and trotted off down the street, saying briefly, "I'm going to
+show you to grandma. She will know what to do."
+
+"Will you bring us back again?"
+
+"Course! You don't think I am a kidnapper, do you? That's what Mittie
+Cole called me when I thought I was going to adopt the twins that were
+only runaways. Mittie got to like me afterwards, though."
+
+"I like you now."
+
+"Of course. Most folks do, but it takes a longer time with some to make
+up their minds. I'm glad you are quick at d'ciding. We turn this
+corner."
+
+Hurrying them along as fast as Rivers' short legs could toddle, she at
+length reached the big, old-fashioned house, and burst in upon the
+Missionary Meeting with a torrent of jumbled explanation.
+
+"Here's two folks that need home missionarying if anybody does. Their
+mother is so sick she doesn't know people any more, and the father is
+either in jail or heaven. Mrs. Burnett chases 'em out of the house with
+the broomstick, and I borrowed them to show you just how ragged and
+dirty they really are, so's you will know I ain't got hold of a fake
+mistake again. They live in a horrid little barn of a house, quite a
+piece from here, and the hospital is coming after the mother any time.
+They won't take Fern and Rivers, of course, 'cause they are both well,
+but I thought likely Mrs. Burnett might begin to use the broomstick
+again if the children were left with her, so I brought 'em along with me
+until you could decide what to do with them. They don't want to go to a
+Home, and I don't want them to, either." Her breath gave out, and the
+astonished ladies recovered their poise sufficiently to ask questions
+until the whole pitiful tale had been unravelled.
+
+"We'll send a committee at once to investigate," proposed the fat
+secretary, whom Peace disliked for no reason whatever.
+
+"Then send somebody who's got a heart," suggested the little maid. "This
+is a truly sick woman which needs help. I'll show you the place. Fern,
+you and Rivers stay here with grandma till I get back. Ladies, who are
+the committee?"
+
+Spurred on by Peace's enthusiastic leadership, the society hastily
+appointed a committee, and they departed on their errand of mercy. The
+house was even more squalid than Peace had pictured it, and the woman's
+case more desperate. An hour later a subdued, sympathetic trio of
+ladies, with Peace in tow, returned to the Campbell residence with their
+report.
+
+"It is worse than we expected," said the chairman in a voice that
+trembled in spite of her efforts to speak naturally. "The father is
+in--Stillwater. Embezzlement. The mother, destitute, without relatives
+or friends, naturally a frail little woman, and now ill with typhoid,
+brought on by overwork and anxiety. These two children dependent upon
+her, and none of the neighbors really situated so they can take care of
+them. We secured a bed in Danbury Hospital for the mother, and told the
+authorities that we would be responsible for the babies. We simply
+could not think of leaving them there to be buffeted about by unwilling
+neighbors--no telling how long the mother will be unable to take care of
+them, if she ever is again. Now, the question is, what shall we do with
+these two tots?"
+
+Immediately there was a buzz of comment, and an avalanche of theory and
+advice began to flow from fifty tongues.
+
+Peace, interested in the controversy, had been banished to the
+dining-room to amuse Rivers, who had developed an unlimited propensity
+for mischief-making since his arrival at the big house, but through the
+open door she caught bits of the conversation, and her heart beat quick
+with fear.
+
+"They are trying to _passle_ Fern and Rivers off among different
+families," she said with bated breath. "What a shame that would be! Mr.
+Dillon in Stillwater, the mother in Danbury Hospital, Fern with Mrs.
+York, and Rivers at the Weston's. Oh, they mustn't part Fern from her
+baby! They can't get along without each other. Ain't it too bad we don't
+have a Home around here like they've got in Kentucky! Why didn't I think
+of that before?"
+
+She gathered Fern and Rivers under her wing once more, and noiselessly
+departed from the house by way of the kitchen.
+
+"Where are we going this time? Home?" questioned Fern, loath to leave
+the great house so full of beautiful things for one to admire.
+
+"Not yet. I've just got a think. I b'lieve I know a lady which'll take
+you both till your mother gets well. She's lame herself, but Aunt Pen
+isn't, and they both love children. You'll have to ride on the cars.
+Come on, don't be afraid. I've done it lots of times and I never get
+lost."
+
+Somewhat reluctantly, Fern allowed herself and brother to be lifted onto
+the car by the big conductor, who evidently knew Peace, for he greeted
+her with a cheery shout, "Hello, my hearty! Going to see your Lilac Lady
+again?"
+
+"Yes," Peace answered promptly. "I've got another bunch of orphans--that
+is, they will be until their mother gets well and the father comes back,
+if he can." She remembered at that moment that she did not yet
+understand what had actually happened to the breadwinner of this
+unfortunate family. "And I knew my Lilac Lady would be glad to take care
+of them for a little while, so's they wouldn't have to be sep'rated."
+
+With that, she ushered the children to seats inside the moving car, and
+they were quickly whirled away to the corner where stood Teeter's
+Pharmacy. Here they were helped off by the genial conductor, and Peace
+led the way up the hill to the beautiful stone house which could be
+plainly seen from the roadway now, because the thick cedar hedges had
+all been cut down, and only tall iron palings enclosed the lovely
+gardens.
+
+Under her favorite oak by the lilac hedge lay the lame girl in her
+prison-chair, looking whiter and frailer than ever before, and Peace
+stopped in the midst of a rapturous kiss to ask fearfully, "Have you
+been sick again?"
+
+"No, dear," smiled the marble lips. "I am a little tired these days, but
+perfectly well. Whom have you here?"
+
+"Fern and Rivers Dillon. Their mother is dreadfully sick with _tryfoid_
+fever and their father is in--well, it's either a jail or a graveyard. I
+found them crying 'cause Mrs. Burnett had driven them out of the house
+with the broomstick, and when I took them home to the lady missionaries
+who are meeting at our house this afternoon, they began planning right
+away to divide them up among some families of our church. I couldn't
+bear to think of that, so I brought them up to you. I knew you'd be glad
+to keep them till the mother gets well, and they don't want to go to the
+Children's Home a bit. Rivers can't keep still a minute, but I know how
+he feels. It's the same way with me. At first I couldn't see how any
+mother would name her little boy such a name as that, but now I know. He
+upset three vases of flowers in the reception hall, and spilled a glass
+of frappe down his dress when I tried to give him some to drink, and
+pulled over the bird-cage, so's the water was all spilled, and stepped
+into the dog's drinking trough at the back door while I was trying to
+get them out of the house without the ladies seeing me. He makes rivers
+out of every bit of water he comes near."
+
+"Doesn't your grandmother know where you have gone?" asked the invalid
+in surprise, not half understanding what Peace was trying to tell her.
+
+"Why, no! She's one of the missionaries herself. She might think I ought
+to let her s'ciety look after these children as long as they've got hold
+of the mother already; but I--they'd be sep'rated as sure as fits,
+and--just look how teenty Rivers is to be taken away from _all_ his
+folks at once."
+
+"I don't want him tookened away," Fern spoke up. "Mamma told me to stay
+with him all the time, and I said I would. He can't talk much yet and
+there ain't anybody else can tell what he wants, now that mamma is
+sick."
+
+"Come here, dear." The lame girl held out her thin, blue-veined hands,
+and little, homeless Fern ran to her with a desolate cry.
+
+Peace was satisfied, and dropping down cross-legged in the grass at
+their feet, she remarked thoughtfully, "I _had_ to bring them here, you
+see. Our house is full already, and grandpa says grandma has all she can
+'tend to with the six of us. The parsonage is too small to hold any
+more, and besides, Saint John is away on his vacation, so the house is
+shut up for a few days. I knew Aunt Pen could mother a dozen, and I knew
+you'd want her to if she got the chance, so I brought 'em along.
+
+"Isn't it too bad there isn't a nice Children's Home in this state like
+there is in Kentucky or some place down South, where one lady has forty
+daughters? They ain't any of 'em her very own. She's really just the
+matron of the Home, like Miss Chase is of our Children's Home, only they
+don't call the place a Home. The lady is just like a real mother to
+them, and she won't let any of her girls be adopted away from her. She
+just takes care of them until they are old enough to look out for
+themselves or get a husband to look out for them. Then she takes some
+more in their place and keeps on that way. And they just love her to
+pieces. They wear nice clothes and she teaches 'em music and manners and
+how to keep house and makes useful wives out of them. Oh, that's the
+kind of a Home I'd like to have here! Then Lottie could live there
+'stead of being sent to the 'sylum."
+
+"Lottie sent to the asylum? Why, what do you mean, Peace?" cried the
+startled invalid, sitting almost upright in her chair.
+
+"Haven't you heard?" It was Peace's turn to look surprised.
+
+"Not a word of that sort."
+
+"Why, you know Lottie is a _norphan_, and when she was a baby somebody
+adopted her, but her new mother died last winter, and her new father put
+her in the Home 'cause he couldn't take care of her himself. Now he's
+been killed on the railroad, and his people don't want to be bothered
+with her, so she's to be sent to a Norphan 'Sylum, 'cause the Home takes
+only children who have somebody who will look after them a little.
+Lottie feels dreadfully bad and has 'most cried her eyes out already. I
+couldn't get her even to smile when I was up there this week. She is
+going to leave next Wednesday."
+
+For a long moment the lame girl lay in deep thought, still holding
+Fern's chubby hand in hers, though she had evidently forgotten all about
+the little stranger children in her concern for the friendless orphan,
+Lottie. When she spoke, she asked absently, "What was that you were
+telling me about the Kentucky lady? Where did you hear about it?"
+
+"That girls' Home in Kentucky? Oh, grandma was reading about it in
+Blank's Magazine the other day, and grandpa said that's the way all
+children's Homes ought to be carried out. Then the boys and girls would
+be happier and grow up into better men and women. That's what I think,
+too."
+
+"We take Blank's Magazine," said the lame girl irrelevantly. "Here
+comes Aunt Pen. We must tell her about Fern and Rivers, and she will
+telephone the ladies that they are safe with us. Poor little waifs! You
+are home now--until the dear mother is able to care for you again. Then
+we'll see."
+
+That was the beginning of it, but the next time Peace visited the Lilac
+Lady, she found a crew of noisy carpenters at work on the stone house,
+and in answer to her surprised questions, the invalid said, "This is to
+be an Orphan Asylum, dear. We shall not call it by that ugly name, but
+that is what it is really to be, and we have already two real orphans,
+not counting Fern and Rivers, who may be here for only a few weeks or
+months."
+
+"Who are the orphans?"
+
+"Giuseppe and Lottie."
+
+"Oh, my Lilac Lady! How did you ever think of such a splendid plan?"
+
+"I didn't, Peace. It was you."
+
+"Me?"
+
+"Yes, dear. When you told me about that Kentucky Home which all the
+children love, I wondered why Aunt Pen would not make a good mother for
+such a place in this state, and when I asked her, she was _so_ happy!"
+
+"But you? Where will you live if you turn your lovely house into a
+_norphan_ 'sylum?"
+
+"Right here--till the time comes to go home. It won't be long now, but I
+shall be content if I know the fortune which failed to make me happy is
+bringing joy and sunshine into the lives of scores of homeless
+children--hundreds in time, perhaps--and is giving them the education
+and self-reliance and refinement and love which will make them noble
+citizens of a noble country."
+
+Peace only vaguely understood her words, but it was clear to her that
+the stone mansion was to become a home nest now for helpless little ones
+whose own parents had been taken from them, and the thought that she had
+had even a small share in bringing to pass this splendid plan sent a
+thrill of joy singing through her heart. Hugging her knees together with
+both lithe brown arms, she puckered her lips and began to whistle the
+refrain:
+
+    "'Sca-atter sunshine
+      All along the wa-ay;
+    Cheer and bless and bri-ighten
+      Every passing da-ay.'"
+
+The lame girl joined in with her rich, sweet tones, and they sang it
+through to the end. Then as silence once more fell upon them, the young
+mistress of the place dropped her waxen hand lightly upon the brown
+curls resting against the arm of her chair, and said musingly, "That is
+to be the motto of our Home, dear. The song has brought me more
+happiness than any other thing in my life, I think. I want to pass it
+on."
+
+"And let me help," eagerly put in Peace.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE LILAC LADY FALLS ASLEEP
+
+
+So the summer swept rapidly on. The remodelled stone mansion was
+finished at last and daintily furnished to meet every requirement. There
+were school-rooms and work-rooms and play-rooms. There were parlors and
+pianos and piazzas. There were long windows and wide doors everywhere.
+The whole place was filled with sunshine and fresh air. Rare flowers and
+ferns from the conservatory peeped out from every corner; the polished
+floors were covered with thick, soft carpets; easy chairs and tempting
+couches were harmoniously arranged about the rooms. A wing of the
+basement was converted into a gymnasium with a brave array of dumbbells,
+Indian clubs, trapezes and ladders. The great house was complete in
+every detail, and all Martindale was interested in this unique Home
+which the Lilac Lady was founding. But, though the offers to help were
+many, the lame girl refused them all and pushed the work with untiring
+energy.
+
+Lottie had joined the three waifs already in the Palace Beautiful, as
+the Greenfield girls called it, although its real name was to be Oak
+Knoll; and one other little orphan maid had slipped in through the open
+doors. Aunt Pen had been persuaded to take a flying trip to the southern
+Home which Peace had so enthusiastically described, and returned fired
+with zeal for the new work which held so many opportunities. Plans were
+discussed, a Board of Directors elected, the business routine adjusted,
+and everything legalized in order that there might be no hitch in
+proceedings after the institution had been opened to the public.
+
+The lame girl developed a surprising business ability, and insisted upon
+looking after all the details personally, seeming to grow stronger as
+the work progressed, and she saw her plans nearing completion. Even Aunt
+Pen was deceived by the delicate flush which tinted the once colorless
+cheeks, and the keen, alive look in the deep blue eyes; but the girl
+herself understood, and so hurried carpenters and lawyers alike, until
+at length everything was done, and Oak Knoll had been formally dedicated
+and opened for its noble work.
+
+Autumn lingered long that year, cool and calm, as if to make up for the
+fierce heat of the summer months. But at last the frosts came and tipped
+every leaf and flower with gorgeous colors; the grass grew brown on the
+hillside; the brilliant foliage of the trees fluttered down with every
+breath of wind that stirred; and the crisp, hazy air was filled with the
+smell of fall. Then, when the chill of winter seemed upon them, the warm
+days of Indian Summer again held it in check and revived the fading
+flowers for one last bloom before going to sleep under blankets of ice
+and snow.
+
+Such a day was it the Sunday following Gail's twentieth birthday; and
+after dinner had been served, the family repaired to the wide veranda
+with books and papers to enjoy the freshness of the air and drink in the
+glories of the autumn afternoon, while they read or talked together,
+feeling that this was the last time for many weeks that they could sit
+in this fashion out-of-doors.
+
+But Peace was restless. There was a subtle something in the smell of the
+hazy atmosphere which appealed to her forcefully, and leaving the family
+gathered about the President on the piazza, she wandered down the
+driveway to the great bed of chrysanthemums growing in a sheltered nook
+where the frosts had not yet found them, and stood gloating over their
+splendid blossoms.
+
+"Chrysanthemums, chrysanthemums, oh, you dear chrysanthemums," she
+hummed to herself, then stooped and plucked one long spray, another, a
+whole armful, and with shining eyes she returned to the porch.
+
+"My, what beauties!" exclaimed Faith, looking up from her book as Peace
+passed. "Why didn't you leave them in the garden? They look so cheerful
+growing, now that all the other flowers are gone."
+
+"Hicks is coming after me this afternoon to visit Palace Beautiful, and
+the Lilac Lady loves chrysanthemums."
+
+She thrust her head deep into her bouquet, and they laughed at the
+roguish, round face peeping from between the great yellow and white
+balls. It was indeed a pretty picture, for both flowers and face seemed
+radiating sunshine.
+
+The chug-chug of an approaching automobile drew their attention to the
+road, and Allee exclaimed, "There's Hicks now!"
+
+"It's Hicks' machine, but that ain't him driving," answered Peace,
+studying the car slowing up in front of the gate. "Hicks always comes up
+the driveway, too. Why, it's Saint John and Elspeth!" They waved their
+hands at the little group on the porch, and the doctor walked down to
+the gate to meet the minister, who had leaped to the ground from his
+place at the wheel.
+
+"Run, get your hat and jacket, Peace," called Mrs. Campbell, as the
+child started as if to join her friends in the street, so she darted
+into the house for her wraps, impatient to be off in the throbbing, red
+car. She was back in a moment, her jacket thrown over one arm and her
+hat dangling down her back, but as she leaped onto the step beside
+Elizabeth, she was vaguely conscious that both the preacher and his wife
+looked strangely exalted, and they greeted her more tenderly and with
+less boisterous fun than was usual. Indeed, Saint John hugged her so
+tightly that it hurt, but she could not rebuke him, because he was
+speaking to the family gathered at the gate, and she caught the words,
+"Only an hour ago. We have just come from there."
+
+She wondered a little what they were talking about, but before she could
+ask, the preacher sprang to his place, released the wheel, and the car
+leaped forward as if alive, toppling Peace into Elizabeth's arms. When
+she had righted herself, she demanded, "Where is Glen?"
+
+"We left him with Mrs. Lane."
+
+"That's queer. Is he sick?"
+
+"Oh, no, but we thought it best to leave him at the parsonage this
+time," she answered evasively. "Those are beautiful chrysanthemums you
+have."
+
+"Ain't they, though? Jud does have the best luck with his asters and
+chrysanthemums. These beat Hicks' all hollow. Where is Hicks? I 'xpected
+he'd come for me today. I didn't know Saint John could drive well enough
+yet."
+
+"Hicks was--busy. So we came."
+
+"I s'pose that's why you left Glen. You didn't want to take the chances
+with Saint John driving the car. Is that it?"
+
+Elizabeth smiled faintly. "No, we never once thought of that, Peace.
+Mrs. Lane offered to stay with him, and so we let her."
+
+"Oh! Well, I s'pose I would have too, if I'd been you, 'cause 'tain't
+often Mrs. Lane makes such an offer," Peace chattered on. "Allee wanted
+to come today, but grandma said the Lilac Lady had asked for only me, so
+she wouldn't listen to Allee's going, too, I should like to have had
+her."
+
+"She can come Tuesday."
+
+"What's going to happen Tuesday?" asked the child, surprised at having
+so definite a date named. Elizabeth caught her breath sharply, but at
+that moment the auto drew up in front of the iron gates, and there stood
+Aunt Pen on the walk waiting for them, smiling her gentle smile of
+welcome, a little sweeter, perhaps, and infinitely more tender, for,
+like Moses, she had just come from her Mount of Transfiguration.
+
+Peace spied her first. "How is my Lady, my Lilac Lady?" she cried,
+springing into her arms and hugging her warmly. "It's been _so_ long
+since I've seen her! Is she _lots_ better, Aunt Pen?"
+
+"She is perfectly well now, darling," the woman answered, closing her
+fingers tightly over the little brown hand in her own, and leading the
+way up the path to the house.
+
+"She's not under the trees, and--"
+
+"It is November, childie. Have you forgotten?" interrupted Elizabeth.
+
+"So it is! Winter is 'most here. But look at the lovely chrysanthemums
+I've brought her. It isn't too cold for them yet. Won't she be pleased?"
+
+"I am sure she will," smiled Aunt Pen, and involuntarily she lifted her
+eyes to the clear blue sky above.
+
+The hall, as they entered its dim coolness, was deserted, and though
+Peace looked inquiringly about her for her small playmates who usually
+rushed eagerly to meet her, not one was in sight. From the rooms above,
+however, floated the sweet strains of Giuseppe's violin and the
+unrestrained, riotous melody of the lame girl's pet canary, and Peace
+skipped lightly up the wide stairway, eager to greet each member of this
+happy family.
+
+The door of the invalid's chamber stood open, and beside the window,
+shaded by the great oak, still hung with autumn colors, lay the beloved
+form of the Lilac Lady among her silken cushions. She was clad in simple
+white, with the heavy bronze braids trailing across her shoulders, and
+the waxen fingers twined in a familiar pose upon her breast. A soft
+smile wreathed the colorless lips, but the beautiful blue eyes were
+closed in slumber, and she looked as if she were resting after a
+hard-fought battle. So lovely a picture did she present that Peace
+paused on the threshold, and the gay words of greeting bubbling up to
+her lips died away in a deep breath of awe.
+
+The room was flooded with autumn sunshine and banked with the flowers
+the invalid loved best; a plate of luscious fruit stood on the table
+beside the wheel-chair, a late magazine lay open on the floor close by,
+and Gypsy sang deliriously from his perch in the big bay window. All
+this Peace saw, and more. The thin fingers clasped a knot of the
+once-despised, bright-faced pansies, and a single white one nestled in
+the red-brown waves at the left temple.
+
+"Oh," breathed Peace, scarcely above a whisper, "isn't she beautiful?
+She got tired of watching and fell asleep while she was waiting for me!"
+
+Softly she tiptoed across the thick carpet and laid her burden of golden
+chrysanthemums in the arms of the sleeping girl, and once more repeated
+the words, "She fell asleep while she was waiting for me! My Lilac Lady
+has fallen asleep!"
+
+"Yes," said Aunt Pen softly. "'He giveth His beloved sleep.'"
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lilac Lady, by Ruth Alberta Brown
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